August 1, 2026
Job's Servant - Part 1
JOB'S SERVANT - PART 1
Zichri sat on a wooden stump in the shed. He was frustrated and it showed. He muttered under his breath as he worked to splice the ends of the ragged, broken rope together by interweaving them. The rope was made from flax plants that had been woven together to make a strong, thick rope. However, it had become worn and eventually tore where it had been rubbing against the neck of the ox. Having to take time to fix the rope meant he wasn't out plowing the fields, which is what he wanted to be doing.
It was late autumn and Zichri and the other servants had flooded the fields several days earlier. They used an irrigation system, bringing water up from reservoirs where the water had been stored since the spring rains and floods. The mud had settled on the bottom of the reservoirs, but they stirred it up so the water they pulled up in buckets contained rich soil that would help the crops grow. After flooding the fields, they waited for several days so the water would soften the soil. Then they started plowing the fields, getting them ready to plant barley. After the barley crop was in, they would repeat the process in other fields so they could plant wheat.
Planting the crops was hard work, but Zichri didn't mind. The man he worked for, Job, was a very kind man and rewarded his servants well for their hard work. This was the first year Zichri worked for Job, and he felt very fortunate to be hired by the wealthy landowner. Job had 500 yoke of oxen, which meant 1,000 animals since each yoke had two oxen. The actual yoke was a simple piece of wood carved to fit over the necks of two oxen. It was held on by ropes made from flax that went around the necks of the oxen. There was also a thick rope going from a ring on the center of the yoke to the wooden plow that was placed several feet behind the oxen.
When the rope had broken, Zichri unharnessed his pair of oxen and took them to the pasture where the donkeys, sometimes called asses, were feeding. He figured they may as well rest and eat while he was fixing the rope. The shed where he was working was a short distance from the pasture.
Suddenly, he heard yelling and shouting! It wasn't the kind of shouting of two people arguing. It sounded more like a war cry, made by many people. In response, there were fearful cries from people. He recognized the voices of those in fear as some of his friends and co-workers.
What is happening? Zichri thought, his heart pounding in his chest. Fear gripped him as he got up from the stool and peered out the door of the shed, being careful to stay hidden. Outside he saw a horrifying sight. Sabeans, who were a nomadic tribe, were going from one yoke of oxen to another, using deadly swords to kill the servants who were plowing. The servants were unarmed, so were helpless to protect themselves. Some of the servants started running, trying to escape being slaughtered. However, the Sabeans ran after them and killed them. After each servant was killed, the Sabean would cut the rope that went to the plow and then drive the pair of oxen to an area where a group of Sabeans was gathering them together. They had also herded the donkeys to the same area. The donkeys and oxen were agitated and frightened, so the Sabeans had a hard time keeping them together. Besides the screams from the servants, there was noise from the donkeys braying and the oxen bellowing.
Zichri stood still, frozen by fear. He thought about trying to help the other servants, but that would only accomplish getting himself killed. He had no weapon. Even if he did, he would be no match for the large group of Sabeans who were killing every person they found, with no respect for human life. The Sabeans went through all the fields, as far as Zichri could see, killing as they went and driving the oxen and donkeys away.
Finally, the Sabeans and their stolen herds disappeared into the horizon. Everything became very eerie and quiet after the horrific noise from the slaughter. Zichri walked slowly out of the shed in disbelief, tears flowing down his face in grief for those who had died. Maybe some of the servants are still alive, he thought suddenly. The hope that he might be able to help the other servants caused him to start walking faster. Then he started running. He came to the first body that lay on the ground, hoping to see some indication of life. He gently shook the body of his fellow servant. The lack of response brought more tears to his eyes. He went from one body to the next until he knew it was useless to check anymore. The Sabeans had been skilled and ruthless in their attack, leaving no survivors other than himself.
Zichri realized the only reason he had survived was because he had been in the shed, and the Sabeans hadn't seen him. He was felt both relieved and guilty over not being killed. He sat down on the ground, overwhelmed by what had happened. After a few minutes he realized he needed to go to Job's house and tell him what had happened. He knew Job would be upset over the loss of his livestock but even more over the loss of the lives of so many of his servants.
He started running in the direction of Job's house. As he ran it seemed to alleviate some of the overwhelming feelings he was experiencing. He ran faster and faster until he was out of breath as he approached the home of his boss.
Job was a little way from his house at an altar where he made sacrifices to the Lord. He had been offering burnt offerings for his seven sons and three daughters. He had finished and was sitting on a stone bench nearby when Zichri ran up to him. Job could tell something was wrong. "What is it?" he asked Zichri.
"The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee," Zichri replied. His heart ached for the loss of so many other servants and for the kind man for which they worked.
He had hardly finished telling Job about the horrible events that had taken place when another servant came running up. The servant didn't even hesitate before saying, "The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."
Then came another servant and said, "The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."
Another servant came running up and said, "Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."
As each servant came and reported the horrible events to Job, Zichri was in shock. How could so much evil come to one man? His heart ached for his master, especially when he heard about Job's children dying. Zichri thought, if ever someone has the right to curse God, it's Job. What will he say?
Zichri watched as Job stood up, sorrow and shock covering his face. He rent (tore) his clothes as a sign of mourning. Then he shaved his head, showing his deep grief. The thing he did next shocked Zichri. Job fell down on the ground facing the altar where he had offered burnt offerings to the Lord, and he worshipped the Lord. Job said, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
Job didn't curse God like Zichri and the other servants had expected. His faith in the Lord drove him to worship the Lord instead. "Please give me faith like Job," Zichri silently prayed. He realized that only by great trials could great faith be shown to others, as Job had shown to him that day.
