Monday, September 30, 2024

Job

Haiku for testing


Wealth and possessions

have long been seen as proof of

a virtuous life.


Surely God blesses

the ones who are deserving!

Yes, but not always.


The poor are not blessed;

their poverty evidence

of their shortcomings.


The story of Job,

written to challenge. The good

don’t always prosper.



In the land of Uz,

so the ancient tale goes; lived

Job, a righteous man.


Blameless and upright,

bulk money, stacks of children;

Job had a good life.


God boasts about Job.

Satan calls his bluff. Test him;

let’s see what he does!


In but a moment

it is gone. Taken away,

the blessings withdrawn.


Job remains faithful.

God boasts again. Satan laughs;

I’ll really test him!


Satan inflicts Job

with sores from head to toe. Let’s

see what he says, now!


Job’s wife speaks to him:

Enough! It is surely time

to curse God and die!


Job replies:


The good we receive

comes from God, surely we must

accept the bad, too.


© Ken Rookes 2020, 24

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