JOB
"Faith Under Attack"
Job 1:1 A righteous man - But bad things do happen to good people.
Eccl. 9:2 "Everything occurs alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; And he who takes an oath as he who fears an oath."
God blesses everyone with good:
Mt. 5:44-45 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
Job 1:2-3 A wealthy man - Wealth is not the security to put our trust in:
1 Tim. 6:17-19 "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (18) Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, (19) storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
Prov. 23:4-5 Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! (5) Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven."
Job 1:4-5 Job was conscious of sin & offered sacrifices.
Note: We, in this age, are blessed in Christ by His sacrifice.
Heb. 10:11-14 Those animal sacrifices looked forward to Christ's sacrifice.
What is our part in forgiveness of sin?
1 Jn. 2:1 "My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
1 Jn. 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Job 1:6-7 Without Job's knowledge, the heavenly council takes place - and Job is the subject of discussion. - Are we being discussed?
Note: Satan had been walking to and fro in the earth.
1 Pet. 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
Job 1:8 Is our faith such that God would put such confidence in us?
1:9-11 Why do we serve God? Do we serve Him when it isconvenient & it
suits our circumstances? Such as loyalty to local work & brethren.
Suffering is not intended to be convenient . It is not pleasant. Suffering is an opportunity that has been given to us for spiritual growth
That is why James says:
Jas. 1:2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
Suffering proves the genuineness of our faith?
How else can we know how healthy our faith in God really is?
1 Pet. 1:6-7 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,"
Job 1:12 God limits Satan's power. Satan had to askpermission from God.
1 Cor. 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you area able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (14)Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." Note our responsibilityto use that gift.
We need to realize where temptation comes from - Satan, not God
Jas. 1:12-15 God does not tempt us with evil - Satan tempts us.
Job 1:13-19
1. Oxen & donkeys stolen, servants killed.
2. Sheep & servants burned up by fire from
heaven.
3. Camels stolen & servants killed by a band of
Caldeans.
4. All his children killed when wind collapses
their house.
Job 1:20-ff See Job's integrity - his character - his faithfulness!
Job 2:1-6 Another heavenly council convenes between God & Satan Again, Job is the subject of discussion.
Job 2:7-8 Boils! Personal pain can wear us down. Job still doesn't know why.
2 Cor. 12:7-10 Paul's thorn in the flesh was not a direct result of faithfulness. It was a test of his faith, given for a purpose. Notice his acceptance of this "thorn" and his attitude.
Do we view suffering as a test of our faith or as a reason to turn from God?
Part 2
Job 2:9-10 His wife, his closest partner in life, discourages him.
Job still maintains his integrity.
Job 2:11-ff Job's 3 friends (?) come. They don't even recognizehim. They sit with Job 7 days in silence.
Job 3:1-3, 11,16; 6:8-9 Job wishes he was never born - that he could die
The erroneous assumption of Job's 3 friends:
1. Suffering = punishment proportionate to sin.
2. Job is suffering.
3. Therefore, Job must have sinned grievously.
Jn. 9:1-3 "Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. (2) And His disciples asked Him, saying, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' (3) Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.' "
Job 4:7-9 Eliphaz \
\
Job 8:3-6 Bildad \ Instead of comforting him, they discourage him.
} They accuse him of some sin, assuming his
Job 16:2-6 Zophar / suffering is the result of sin.
/
Job 22:3-5 Eliphaz /
Job 16:2-5 Job rebukes them for their discouragement rather than comfort.
Job 7:6-7 Job loses hope - He sees no end to his suffering. He had no way of knowing this would end.
Job 19:13-20 A sad description of Job. Forsaken by family & friends.
Job remains steadfast in his determination to be true to God
Job 13:15 "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him."
Job, not knowing why he is suffering, begins to charge God:
Job 7:19-20 Job questions God as his Attacker, not knowing why.
Job 9:14-18 Job believes God is being unjust to him.
Job 13:23-24 Job believes God has abandoned him.
Job 23:2-7 Job unjustly questions God's motives by desiring to defend his own uprightness before God.
Lessons for us to learn from Job: Satan is subject to God!
1. God is author & sustainer of the universe (Job
38-41)
2. God's ways are higher than our ways
We view things from a different perspective
than He does.
Isa. 55:8-9 " 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. (9) 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.'
3. God does not reveal everything to us that we may want to know This demands trust in His motives & His purposes.
Deut. 29:29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
4. What are our motives in serving God? Is it
only in response to how He blesses us?
Job 1:9-11 "So Satan answered the Lord and said, 'Does Job fear God for nothing? (10) Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around 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 now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!"
God is worthy of honor based on who He is - rather than what He gives us. Otherwise, we would forsake Him in time of trial.
5. No one has a right to accuse or criticize God
or His motives.
Isa. 45:9 "Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say, 'He has no hands?' "
Job 42:1-6 Job's response to God: Humility & Repentance
God is merciful to Job & brings an end to his suffering.
Job 42:10-ff God blesses Job twofold.
6. Our final lesson: When all others fail us - God
remains faithful
The message to us: Patient Endurance - With a view toward heaven.
Jas. 5:7-16 "The end intended by the Lord" may be unseen to us, but we must wait on Him & put our trust in Him.
Isa. 40:29-ff "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. (30) Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, (31) But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
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