Quote from Forum Archives on July 23, 2002, 2:09 pm

Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>

Subject: Job's Animals and Children
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2000

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BIBLE NOTE:  Job’s Animals and Children

  In the book of Job we find some interesting math in regard to

Job's animals and children when comparing the numbers before and

after Job's time of great trial.

  Let's start with Job 1:1-3.  Here we find that Job had an

"inventory" of 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 she

asses, and -- his most prized possessions -- 7 sons and 3

daughters.  In Job 1:13-19 we discover that all of his animals were

either stolen or destroyed and that all his children died.  It is

important to note that Job's perfection of character was proven in

part by the fact that he "continually" paid particular attention to

the spiritual condition of his children (read Job 1:5).

  Now let's go to the concluding chapter of the book.  Job 42:10

tells us that “the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

“Twice” means two times, or 2 X __.  In Job 42:12, 13, we see the

results of God's math: 14,000 sheep (2 X 7000), 6000 camels (2 X

3000), 1000 yoke of oxen (2 X 500), 1000 she asses (2 X 500), and 7

sons and 3 daughters (2 X 7 and 2 X 3   ???)  It might appear that

God's math is a little different when it comes to counting

children.

  However, with the care that Job showed for the spiritual welfare

of his children, Job now had "twice" as many children.  How so?

Well, he had 7 sons in Heaven plus 7 sons on earth = 14 sons (2 X

7) and he had 3 daughters in Heaven plus 3 daughters on earth = 6

daughters (2 X 3).

  From this study, I believe we can try to answer the question of

whether or not animals go to Heaven.  You see many of us assume

that animals do not have an immortal soul like we humans do.  Here

is some evidence that our assumption is correct, especially in the

case of Job's sheep: Job's 7000 sheep were burned up by fire –

they died.  If they had souls and went to Heaven like Job's

children did, then God would only have given him 7000 in order to

double his "inventory".  But, God gave him 14,000, because when the

sheep died they were no more.  

  Then again “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this

the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)  Those who try to put mankind and

animals in the same category are not willing to accept the fact

that God made man in His own image with a purpose of eternal existence.  Also, whoever denies man’s immortality, is denying the

eternal value of a human soul and of a human life.  It is no wonder

that people are devaluing people and wanting to destroy them

including the unborn, unwanted children, the handicapped, the aged,

various other “nonproductives”, and even themselves (by suicide).

Yours In Christ,

The Bible Note Writer

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