Darren, I have that very same question!
I lost my mentor suddenly 4 years ago. She was the most loved woman I've ever known and her ministry (outside the church) was huge. She was the healthiest person I've ever known as well and took better care of herself than anyone I know. Yet, at 61, she dropped dead. Many of us were crushed by the loss and none of us can fathom why God would take her. I was angry with God for a long time. Then I did as she taught me and I released her and the need to know why.
I often think this is what I have to do where Job is concerned.
George, you asked, "Do you really believe Job was fearful of anything besides God?" That's a great question.
Since we know everything he feared came upon him, we know that he feared losing his family, losing his wealth, and losing his health. If he only feared God then he feared that God would take these things from him? I don't have that kind of fear of God. I don't understand that kind of fear of my Heavenly Father so I can't say that it is a healthy, sinless fear.
I would have to do some more study to Scripturally answer this.
"I personally don't believe there is anything I can do that would cause God to either curse me or bless me. "But this is what I found quickly...
Deu 11:25 No one shall be able to stand against you. The LORD your God will lay the fear of you and the dread of you on all the land that you shall tread, as he promised you.
Deu 11:26 "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:
Deu 11:27 the blessing,
if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today,
Deu 11:28 and the curse,
if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known. "
And...
Gen 27:12 "Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and
bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing."
It doesn't set right in my Spirit to think God would ever "curse" me. He is my Dad and as a parent I would never curse my children. I am certainly not even close to having the kind of love God has.
I know that my trials bring me closer to being more like Him, but I don't consider my trials a curse but a blessing. Because when I come out of them, I come out stronger.
Again, all my oh, so humble opinion from my reading of the Scriptures...
In Love,
Linny