Prophet Ayoub
Translated From the book: Good Stories for Good Children.
The Days of Blessings.
Ayoub became a prophet to spread the word of Abraham’s God.
Ayoub was a farmer and God blessed him and his family with acres of land with green pastures, many sheep and cows, a home and fine children.
Ayoub was a wealthy man in his time. He worshiped God and was thankful for what was blessed to him.
Satan began to temp people by saying ” Ayoub has everything and when you have everything it’s easy to have faith. He expects all the people to worship and have faith in God as well. If we had as much luxury as Ayoub we would be saying the same thing otherwise how can one worship God when one is in need and poverty.
Days of Intensity.
And so God decides to test Ayoub’s faith. One day Ayoub was resting in his home when a field worker rushed in and said.”I don’t bring good News, your supply ship sank.”
“what news of the captain.” Ayoub asked
“he survived.” the field worker said.
Ayoub said.”thank God the captain is alright. God gives and takes from us what he wills.”
Next day, news came that a thunderbolt burt all the crop.
Ayoub replies.”praise to God, God makes green pastures as well as dries them. Water and fire both have their own properties, It will strike an empty field with no effect but a cultivated field will burn. God knows best.”
Another day news came that flood took the lives of all his livestock.
Ayoub said.”that is fine. A flood does not know what it’s doing but God knows. Flood took my livestock and I am glad my neighbors livestock is unharmed. I am not the creator of cows and sheep, God has trusted them to me and now he has taken them back. I thank God for both giving and taking them from me.”
News came that Ayoub’s children fell off a cliff and parashed.
Ayoub said with teary eyes” my heart aches with pain but just like me they were Gods creation. Their lived was not in my hands but in God’s hands. The only thing that is eternal is God and he is worthy of our worship.”
News came that the roof of his house caved in.
Ayoub said. ” all homes are one day build and another distorted. The home that is forever glowing is our heart and our intelligence to have wisdom and belief that once we leave this life, God’s home is where we shall live. Make your hearts strong because all other homes are made from mud and straw.”
Satan stood their and was bewildered. “this is a disaster, I have had it with him” he thought. “this man is not a human but an angel.”
So Satan went among the people and said “you know what it is, this man is now alone in this world with no one to console him. He has a healthy body and all he really needs is a bit of bread to keep him from hunger. His constant praising is because he is slowly going in sane. If he develops a painful sickness he would not be able to preach patience.”
And one day Ayoub became very ill and got worse each day. People began to stay away from him but he never complained.
Satan took a human form and pretended to be a doctor and said.”Ayoub’s sickness is contagious and everyone needs to keep away from him.”
So people told Ayoub “your sickness worries us. You must leave the city”
Ayoub’s Patience.
Ayoub moved into a small deserted shack outside the city and continued to preach patience and to worship the one God. Time came when no one came to visit except his wife who continued attending to him and aged from worry.
One day Ayoub’s wife came into the city to buy bread but had no money and no job. A hairdresser told her ” I will pay you for your hair.”
So she cut off her hair for a piece of bread.
Satin took this opportunity and visited Ayoub to tell him the untrue version of his wife’s doing.
“I have bad news. Your wife was caught steeling and the store owner cut off her hair.”
Ayoub’s heart ached and he became angry and waited until her return.
Ayoub said “why did you do something that resulted in loosing your hair, be judged and ridiculed.”
His wife said ” we did not have any bread and I did not want any hand outs and people feeling sorry for us. I sold my hair for bread.”
Ayoub said “we did not need this bread. God is good and he will provide.”
Satan told the people.”maybe Ayoub committed a serious sin to be in this situation. Maybe he lied about being a prophet. Let’s go and ask him what great sin he has committed to deserve such illness.”
People gathered and asked Ayoub “you were a prosperous and happy man. Tell us the truth, what great sin have you committed to deserve seven years of poverty and illness that does not get better. Maybe when you were rich you did not help those in need or when you spoke of God you were misleading us? We can bring an idol and you can repent your sins.”
Ayoub said “God is great and not for one instance did my mind wonder elsewhere. I never lied and never put my heart into this material world. And I did not eat food unless included a less fortunate person at my table. I always worshiped the one God, but it was you, the nonbelievers, that made me become so ill.
Poeple listened and became ashamed of themselves.
Ayoub’s heart broke and he turned to God. “dear God, your blessing is more than my praise for you. I want to be patient, but your patience is much more than mine and people’s false accusations is very hurtful. Dear God, I have no complaints from being poor or sick. You gave me wisdom to withstand people’s blame. Give me more patience and forgive me for the way I spoke to those people.”
God listened and Ayoub’s test in faith came to an end. Ayoub regained his health and received the news that ruthless Pharaoh ‘s life came to an end and he got all his land returned to him. When Ayoub came back to the city people understood the power of pray and patience and began worshiping the one God.
And so Ayoub’s life was returned to him and once again had children and his life got better each day.