Job’s Children & The Resurrection

picture source: Laurent de La Hyre, Job Restored to Prosperity.

In the beginning of the book of Job, we notice:

"Seven sons and three daughters were born to him [Job]. He had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 1,000 oxen, 500 female donkeys, and many servants. He was the greatest of all the men of the east."
- Job 1:2-3

Then we see how God allows the devil to tempt Job through his unrighteous acts. Even though Job loses everything (his sheep, camels, servants and even his sons) except for his life, he does not give in to sin and keeps on being faithful to God. Job is rewarded for his faithfulness:

The Lord brought more good to Job in his later years than in his beginning. He had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 2,000 oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters also.
- Job 42:12-13

Job received the double amount of animals.

One might wonder:

“Why wasn’t Job blessed with the double amount of children?”

Well… we know that Job interceded for his children:

When the days of their special supper were over, Job would get up early in the morning and send for them. Then he would give burnt gifts for each of them so that they would be pure. For Job said, “It might be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job always did this.
- Job 1:5

And we know that he believed in the resurrection, since he exclaimed:

But as for me, I know that the One Who bought me and made me free from sin lives, and that He will stand upon the earth in the end. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see Him.
- Job 19:25-27a

So maybe this was God’s wink towards Job of saying: “Job, you will see your children again! Your intercessions were not in vain! Your children are saved from their sins! You will meet them again when you and your children will be resurrected!”

In this way, Job’s wish for a future resurrection and constant intercessory prayers might have been answered in the most beautiful way he could ever imagine!

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Scripture passages are taken from the New Life Version (NLV). Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International.