Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: RASH (04/12/18)
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TITLE: Trashing Job Didn't Work | Previous Challenge Entry
By Rebecca Lunn
04/19/18 -
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Jobe shifted sideways in his overstuffed armchair and did a high-five with his father, Lord God. The two chuckled, then fell silent smiling into the flames flaring inside the glistening marble fireplace. When Lord God comes to visit Jobe, servants hurry to pull out two plush golden chairs for the silver-haired gentlemen.
“Your tenacity was what I banked on,” Lord God began as he sipped wine from a crystal goblet. “I knew all along your faith was strong, but I didn’t know if you’d have enough patience to endure fools like Sultan this time round.” The crystal captured ruby sparkles from the fire as the wine swirled gently in his goblet.
Jobe sighed at the memory, “Aye, Sultan can be as brash as they come; savage and diabolical too, if he can get away with it. And you,” Jobe stabbed a finger in his father’s direction, “let him get away with it.”
“Only thus far, and no further.” Lord God took a deep breath and leaned back, his piercing blue eyes reflecting twinkles from the fire. “You know I did you no wrong. Sultan is a shallow thinker and I came to your defense. He recklessly charged that you would curse me to my face. You and I proved him wrong, didn’t we? Good job!” Jobe and Lord God bumped fists and snickered together like young kids.
A maid quietly slid a gnarly log into the fire, poking the blaze here and there, then silently slipped out. The butler placed a platter of jewel-like cakes on a side table, and began serving the father and son.
Jobe reminisced, “Sultan had thugs sneak onto my property to run off with all the oxen and donkeys. By the time I got the report, the sheep and camels were all gone as well. I was baffled and infuriated at such a spate of crime. The next day a signed letter came from Sultan saying that you did it—that the devastation was an ‘act of God’! But you were the one who gave me everything; why would a father turn around to rob from his son? I had never met the illogical creep. He’s not one of your former disgruntled employees, is he?”
“Now that you should ask; he was,” Lord God replied looking down at his last bite of sweet, velvety cake. “But before we muse about that rogue again, I must admit I am most satisfied with your defense of me.”
“Father, I would never ever curse you. I’d curse myself first, and I do remember doing that back then. All that I have come from you; even if you were to slay me, I would still trust you to resurrect my life!” Jobe laid his gilt-edged china plate down and picked up his goblet, slowly sniffing the mellow aroma of dark berries in his wine.
“Why the scowl? Is something wrong with the wine?” Lord God wanted to know.
“Nothing’s wrong with my drink. The red just reminded me of the dreadful time I broke out with bloody blisters. My hair matted with the oozing from my scalp. I couldn’t sit for the sores on my backside, I couldn’t sleep for the endless scratching, I couldn’t eat for the cracks in my gum and lips, I hardly bathe as none of the servants would come near to help. When three friends came for a visit, they sat across the room because I smelled like decaying flesh. I think they were crying a bit for me. I don’t know, my eyes were swollen shut except for a slit. Other than that, I was alright.”
Jobe gazed into the snapping fire, “I guess man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” Lord God blinked back tears of diamond splinters. He reached for his son’s hand to kiss it.
Lord God faced Jobe. “I’ve gathered enough criminal evidence to lock Sultan up for a thousand years. When he showed up at the office last year, I took advantage of his eagerness to poison you, to outsmart him. Your tenacity was the template I needed for all who love me yet suffer outrageous injustice at his hands. Your steadfastness, my son, shone through like gold, which I now reward you, with even more gold. See? Sultan’s devilry backfired. I can just hear him cursing himself.”
“Isn’t having the last laugh just the best?” Father and son ding their goblets together, “Cheers for the end of fiery trials!”
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The story of Jobe is based loosely on these Scriptures:
Job 42:16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years.
Daniel 7:9 The Ancient of Days took his seat…the hair of his head was white like wool.
Job 3:1 Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.
Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth
as gold.
Job 38:11 I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther.’
Job 5:7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience
of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and
of tender mercy.
Revelation 20:7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison.
Job 42:10-11 The Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had
before…[all his family and friends] each gave him a piece of silver and a
gold ring.
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