Skin for skin

Why doesn't God do more to protect his people from harm? There are at least a couple of explanations:

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word (Ps 119:67).

As long as evil is just an abstraction, we don't take it seriously. Indeed, evil often has a short-term payoff. That's what makes it appealing. Unless we experience the undesirable consequences of evil firsthand, we don't appreciate the malignity of evil. 

9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face” (Job 1:9-11). 

4 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face” (Job 2:4-5).

There's the danger of following God for the wrong reasons. Following God for the benefits, and not because it is right, true, and good. 

Now, as needy creatures, there's nothing inherently wrong with an element of self-interest to motivate religious devotion. But that shouldn't be the only incentive. It's not like God ought to bribe us in exchange for our fidelity.