Job 1:16 Study Bible: While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, "The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the young men, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

◄ Job 1:16 ►

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: "The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

Study Bible

While he was still speaking
This phrase emphasizes the rapid succession of calamities that befall Job. The Hebrew word for "while" (עוֹד, 'od) suggests continuity and immediacy, indicating that Job's trials are relentless and overwhelming. This reflects the theme of suffering that is beyond human control, a key element in the Book of Job. The urgency and overlap of the messengers' reports underscore the intensity of Job's testing.

another messenger came and reported
The arrival of "another messenger" signifies the continuation of bad news. The Hebrew term for "messenger" (מַלְאָךְ, mal'akh) can also mean "angel," though in this context, it refers to a human bearer of news. This highlights the role of messengers in ancient times as vital conveyors of information, often bringing news that could change the course of events dramatically.

The fire of God has fallen from heaven
This phrase is rich with theological implications. The "fire of God" (אֵשׁ אֱלֹהִים, 'esh Elohim) is often interpreted as lightning, a natural phenomenon attributed to divine action. In the ancient Near Eastern context, lightning was seen as a direct act of God, demonstrating His power and judgment. This aligns with the belief in God's sovereignty over nature and His ability to use it for His purposes.

and burned up the sheep and the servants
The destruction of the "sheep and the servants" represents a significant loss of wealth and livelihood for Job. Sheep were a primary source of wealth in the ancient world, providing wool, meat, and milk. The loss of servants further compounds the tragedy, as they were essential for managing and maintaining the household and livestock. This highlights the totality of Job's loss, affecting both his economic status and his community.

and consumed them
The word "consumed" (וַתֹּאכְלֵם, vato'klem) in Hebrew conveys complete destruction. This term is often used in the context of fire, emphasizing the thoroughness of the devastation. The imagery of consumption by fire is a powerful symbol of irreversible loss, leaving nothing behind. It serves as a metaphor for the consuming nature of suffering and the feeling of being overwhelmed by circumstances beyond one's control.

and I alone have escaped to tell you
The phrase "I alone have escaped" underscores the isolation and survival of the messenger. The Hebrew word for "escaped" (נִמְלַטְתִּי, nimlatti) suggests a narrow escape from danger, highlighting the precariousness of life. The messenger's survival serves a dual purpose: to inform Job of the calamity and to emphasize the completeness of the disaster, as only one survives to bear witness. This sets the stage for Job's profound grief and the exploration of themes of suffering and divine justice.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job.

2. Messenger
One of Job's servants who survived the calamity to report the disaster to Job.

3. Sheep and Servants
The livestock and workers of Job that were consumed by the fire.

4. Fire of God
A destructive force from heaven, often interpreted as lightning or divine judgment.

5. Heaven
The realm from which the fire is said to have fallen, indicating a supernatural origin.

Teaching Points

Understanding Divine Sovereignty
Recognize that God is sovereign over all events, even those that seem destructive or chaotic. This challenges us to trust in His ultimate plan and purpose.

The Reality of Suffering
Suffering can come suddenly and without warning, as seen in Job's experience. Christians are called to prepare their hearts and minds to remain faithful amidst trials.

The Role of Messengers
Messengers in our lives can bring both good and bad news. How we respond to these messages reflects our faith and trust in God.

God's Power and Judgment
The "fire of God" serves as a reminder of God's power and the reality of His judgment. It calls believers to live righteously and be mindful of their actions.

Surviving Calamity
The lone surviving messenger symbolizes hope and the possibility of endurance through God's grace. Believers can find solace in knowing that God provides a way through trials.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the suddenness of the calamity in Job 1:16 challenge your understanding of God's sovereignty and control over events in your life?

2. In what ways can the account of Job help you prepare for unexpected trials or suffering?

3. How do other biblical accounts of fire from heaven (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, Elijah's sacrifice) enhance your understanding of God's power and judgment?

4. Reflect on a time when you received unexpected news. How did your faith influence your response, and what can you learn from Job's reaction?

5. How can the concept of a "surviving messenger" inspire hope and resilience in your current life circumstances?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 19
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire from heaven parallels the divine judgment aspect of the fire in Job.

1 Kings 18
Elijah's encounter with the prophets of Baal, where fire from heaven consumes the sacrifice, shows God's power and presence.

Luke 17
Jesus references the days of Lot, drawing a connection to divine judgment and the suddenness of God's actions.

Revelation 20
Fire coming down from heaven in the final judgment, illustrating God's ultimate authority and power.

Sermons

The Calamities of Job	John Clayton.	Job 1:16
The Design of Affliction	A. S. Cannon.	Job 1:16
The Mystery of Pleasure and Pain	Robert A. Watson, D. D.	Job 1:16
The Severest Temptation Last	J. Caryl.	Job 1:16
The Testing of Job	Homilist	Job 1:16
The Tests to Which God Puts His People	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Job 1:16
The Three-Fold Calamity	Robert Tuck, B. A.	Job 1:16
Usually Where God Gives Much Grace, He Tries Grace Much	J. Caryl.	Job 1:16
Whom He Loveth He Chasteneth	Bishop Perowne.	Job 1:16
The Trial of the Righteous Man	R. Green	Job 1:6-19
God Sets Bounds to the Afflictions of His People	J. Caryl.	Job 1:12-22
The Foe of Foes	Homilist	Job 1:12-22
Job's Unparalleled Calamities	W.F. Adeney	Job 1:13-19
The Invasion of Trouble, and its First Effect on Job	E. Johnson	Job 1:13-22

People

Job

Places

Topics

Alone, Burned, Burneth, Burning, Completely, Consumed, Consumeth, Declare, Escaped, Fallen, Fell, Fire, Flock, Goats, Got, Heaven, Heavens, Messenger, News, Safe, Servants, Sheep, Sky, Speaking, Talking, Yet

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Job 1:16

4838 lightning
4854 weather, God's sovereignty

Job 1:12-19

5295 destruction

Job 1:13-19

8809 riches

Job 1:13-21

5447 poverty, causes

Job 1:13-22

6705 peace, experience

Job 1:14-19

5568 suffering, causes

Job 1:14-21

5426 news

Job 1:15-19

5398 loss

Library

Blessed Adversity.
INTRODUCTORY. In our meditations on the first Psalm we have dwelt on "Blessed Prosperity." But all GOD'S dealings are full of blessing: He is good, and doeth good, good only, and continually. The believer who has taken the LORD as his SHEPERD, can assuredly say in the words of the twenty-third Psalm, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever;" or, taking the marginal reading of the Revised Version, "Only goodness and mercy …
J. Hudson Taylor—A Ribband of Blue

Sorrow that Worships
'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 i. 21. This book of Job wrestles with the problem of the meaning of the mystery of sorrow. Whether history or a parable, its worth is the same, as tortured hearts have felt for countless centuries, and will feel to the end. Perhaps no picture that was ever painted is grander and more touching than that of the man of Uz, in the antique wealth …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Satan Considering the Saints
Up there, beyond the clouds, where no human eye could see, there was a scene enacted which augured no good to Job's prosperity. The spirit of evil stood face to face with the infinite Spirit of all good. An extraordinary conversation took place between these two beings. When called to account for his doings, the evil one boasted that he had gone to and fro throughout the earth, insinuating that he had met with no hindrance to his will, and found no one to oppose his freely moving and acting at his …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 11: 1865

Whether all Men Equally are Required to have Explicit Faith
Whether all Men Equally are required to have Explicit Faith We proceed to the sixth article thus: 1. It seems that all men equally are required to have explicit faith. For it is clear from the precepts of charity that all men are required to believe such things as are necessary for salvation, and it was said in the preceding article that explicit belief in some matters is necessary for salvation. It follows that all men equally are required to have explicit faith. 2. Again, no one should be examined …
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

Marriage, I Say, is a Good, and May Be...
24. Marriage, I say, is a good, and may be, by sound reason, defended against all calumnies. But with the marriage of the holy fathers, I inquire not what marriage, but what continence, is on a level: or rather not marriage with marriage; for it is an equal gift in all cases given to the mortal nature of men; but men who use marriage, forasmuch as I find not, to compare with other men who used marriage in a far other spirit, we must require what continent persons admit of being compared with those …
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

Whether all are Equally Bound to have Explicit Faith?
Objection 1: It would seem that all are equally bound to have explicit faith. For all are bound to those things which are necessary for salvation, as is evidenced by the precepts of charity. Now it is necessary for salvation that certain things should be believed explicitly. Therefore all are equally bound to have explicit faith. Objection 2: Further, no one should be put to test in matters that he is not bound to believe. But simple reasons are sometimes tested in reference to the slightest articles …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Hypocrisy is Always a Mortal Sin?
Objection 1: It seems that hypocrisy is always a mortal sin. For Jerome says on Is. 16:14: "Of the two evils it is less to sin openly than to simulate holiness": and a gloss on Job 1:21 [*St. Augustine on Ps. 63:7], "As it hath pleased the Lord," etc., says that "pretended justice is no justice, but a twofold sin": and again a gloss on Lam. 4:6, "The iniquity . . . of my people is made greater than the sin of Sodom," says: "He deplores the sins of the soul that falls into hypocrisy, which is a greater …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether all the Angels who are Sent, Assist?
Objection 1: It would seem that the angels who are sent also assist. For Gregory says (Hom. xxxiv in Evang.): "So the angels are sent, and assist; for, though the angelic spirit is limited, yet the supreme Spirit, God, is not limited." Objection 2: Further, the angel was sent to administer to Tobias. Yet he said, "I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the Lord" (Tob. 12:15). Therefore the angels who are sent, assist. Objection 3: Further, every holy angel is nearer to God than …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Sacrifice Should be Offered to God Alone?
Objection 1: It would seem that sacrifice should not be offered to the most high God alone. Since sacrifice ought to be offered to God, it would seem that it ought to be offered to all such as are partakers of the Godhead. Now holy men are made "partakers of the Divine nature," according to 2 Pet. 1:4; wherefore of them is it written (Ps. 81:6): "I have said, You are gods": and angels too are called "sons of God," according to Job 1:6. Thus sacrifice should be offered to all these. Objection 2: Further, …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Gifts Differ from the virtues?
Objection 1: It would seem that the gifts do not differ from the virtues. For Gregory commenting on Job 1:2, "There were born to him seven sons," says (Moral. i, 12): "Seven sons were born to us, when through the conception of heavenly thought, the seven virtues of the Holy Ghost take birth in us": and he quotes the words of Is. 11:2,3: "And the Spirit . . . of understanding . . . shall rest upon him," etc. where the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost are enumerated. Therefore the seven gifts of the Holy …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Epistle Xl. To Mauricius Augustus.
To Mauricius Augustus. Gregory to Mauricius, &c. The Piety of my Lords in their most serene commands, while set on refuting me on certain matters, in sparing me has by no means spared me. For by the use therein of the term simplicity they politely call me silly. It is true indeed that in Holy Scripture, when simplicity is spoken of in a good sense, it is often carefully associated with prudence and uprightness. Hence it is written of the blessed Job, The man was simple and upright (Job i. 1). …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

St. Peter of Alcantara Comforts the Saint. Great Temptations and Interior Trials.
1. When I saw that I was able to do little or nothing towards avoiding these great impetuosities, I began also to be afraid of them, because I could not understand how this pain and joy could subsist together. I knew it was possible enough for bodily pain and spiritual joy to dwell together; but the coexistence of a spiritual pain so excessive as this, and of joy so deep, troubled my understanding. Still, I tried to continue my resistance; but I was so little able, that I was now and then wearied. …
Teresa of Avila—The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus

The Writings of Israel's Philosophers
[Sidenote: Discussions the problem of evil] An intense interest in man led certain of Israel's sages in time to devote their attention to more general philosophical problems, such as the moral order of the universe. In the earlier proverbs, prophetic histories, and laws, the doctrine that sin was always punished by suffering or misfortune, and conversely that calamity and misfortune were sure evidence of the guilt of the one affected, had been reiterated until it had become a dogma. In nine out …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

Our Attitude Toward his Sovereignty
"Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight" (Matt. 11:26). In the present chapter we shall consider, somewhat briefly, the practical application to ourselves of the great truth which we have pondered in its various ramifications in earlier pages. In chapter twelve we shall deal more in detail with the value of this doctrine but here we would confine ourselves to a definition of what ought to be our attitude toward the Sovereignty of God. Every truth that is revealed to us in God's Word …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus.
[3712] I.--Comments [3713] On the First Epistle of Peter. Chap. i. 3. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by His great mercy hath regenerated us." For if God generated us of matter, He afterwards, by progress in life, regenerated us. "The Father of our Lord, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" who, according to your faith, rises again in us; as, on the other hand, He dies in us, through the operation of our unbelief. For He said again, that the soul never returns a second …
Clement of Alexandria—Who is the Rich Man that Shall Be Saved?

Whether it is Proper to the Rational Nature to be Adopted?
Objection 1: It would seem that it is not proper to the rational nature to be adopted. For God is not said to be the Father of the rational creature, save by adoption. But God is called the Father even of the irrational creature, according to Job 38:28: "Who is father of the rain? Or who begot the drops of dew?" Therefore it is not proper to the rational creature to be adopted. Objection 2: Further, by reason of adoption some are called sons of God. But to be sons of God seems to be properly attributed …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Scriptural Types.
1. The material world is full of analogies adapted to the illustration of spiritual things. No teacher ever drew from this inexhaustible storehouse such a rich variety of examples as our Saviour. His disciples are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and a city set on a hill. From the ravens which God feeds and the lilies which God clothes, he teaches the unreasonableness of worldly anxiety. The kingdom of heaven is like seed sown in different soils, like a field of wheat and tares …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Of his Cross what Shall I Speak, what Say? this Extremest Kind of Death...
9. Of His cross what shall I speak, what say? This extremest kind of death He chose, that not any kind of death might make His Martyrs afraid. The doctrine He shewed in His life as Man, the example of patience He demonstrated in His Cross. There, you have the work, that He was crucified; example of the work, the Cross; reward of the work, Resurrection. He shewed us in the Cross what we ought to endure, He shewed in the Resurrection what we have to hope. Just like a consummate task-master in the matches …
St. Augustine—On the Creeds

The Redeemer's Return is Necessitated by the Present Exaltation of Satan.
One of the greatest mysteries in all God's creation is the Devil. For any reliable information concerning him we are shut up to the Holy Scriptures. It is in God's Word alone that we can learn anything about his origin, his personality, his fall, his sphere of operations, and his approaching doom. One thing which is there taught us about the great Adversary of God and man, and which observation and experience fully confirms, is, that he is a being possessing mighty power. It would appear, from a …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

Grace Before Meat.
O most gracious God, and loving Father, who feedest all creatures living, which depend upon thy divine providence, we beseech thee, sanctify these creatures, which thou hast ordained for us; give them virtue to nourish our bodies in life and health; and give us grace to receive them soberly and thankfully, as from thy hands; that so, in the strength of these and thy other blessings, we may walk in the uprightness of our hearts, before thy face, this day, and all the days of our lives, through Jesus …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Heb. 4:14 Our Profession
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."--Heb. 4:14. A CAREFUL reader of the Epistle to the Hebrews can hardly fail to observe that the words "let us" are found no less than four times in the fourth chapter. In the first verse you will read, "let us fear,"--in the eleventh verse, "let us labour,"--in the fourteenth verse, "let us hold fast,"--and in the sixteenth verse, "let us come boldly to the throne …
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.
^A Matt. IV. 1-11; ^B Mark I. 12, 13; ^C Luke IV. 1-13. ^c 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, ^b 12 And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth ^c and ^a 1 Then [Just after his baptism, with the glow of the descended Spirit still upon him, and the commending voice of the Father still ringing in his ears, Jesus is rushed into the suffering of temptation. Thus abrupt and violent are the changes of life. The spiritually exalted may expect these sharp contrasts. After being …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Use to be Made of the Doctrine of Providence.
Sections. 1. Summary of the doctrine of Divine Providence. 1. It embraces the future and the past. 2. It works by means, without means, and against means. 3. Mankind, and particularly the Church, the object of special care. 4. The mode of administration usually secret, but always just. This last point more fully considered. 2. The profane denial that the world is governed by the secret counsel of God, refuted by passages of Scripture. Salutary counsel. 3. This doctrine, as to the secret counsel of …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

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