GodEncounters The Book of Job Job From God
God-Encounters The Book of Job
Job: “From God to Us” � The Oldest Book in the Bible � “The Problem of Pain” � We Face Tremendous Suffering “…TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR…TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE
Job: “From God to Us” � The Oldest Book in the Bible � “The Problem of Pain” � We Face Tremendous Suffering Jas. 5: 11 “You have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings… “The Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. ”
Meet Job (1: 1 -3) There was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7, 000 sheep, 3, 000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and he employed many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person
Meet Job (1: 1 -3) ‘Without Blame’ And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as Respect Wealthy righteous because of his ed God faith. Genesis 15: 6
Meet Job (1: 1 -3) ‘Without Blame’ Respect ed God Wealthy
Meet “The Accuser” (1: 6 -7) One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. “Where have you come from? ” the Lord asked Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching [over] everything that’s going on. ”
Meet “The Accuser” (1: 6 -7) � “I have been patrolling the earth…” › “…watching over everything that’s going on” � “Satan, who is the god of system…” 2 Cor. 4: 4 this
Meet “The Accuser” (1: 8) Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. ”
Meet “The Accuser” (1: 8) “He reveres God and stays away from evil” “Not everyone loves your foul system!”
“The Accusation” (1: 911) 1: 9 -11 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his Job 1: 12 “All right, you may test him, ” the home and his property. You have made him Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want prosper in everything he does. Look how rich with everything he possesses, but don’t he is! But out and. So take away everything harm himreach physically. ” Satan left the he has, presence. and he will surely curse you to your Lord’s face!”
“The Destroyer” (1: 9 -11) Job lost it They have as king over The devil said to Him, the angel of the all: You all this "I will give abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon [“the destroyer”]. Revelation 9: 11 domain and its glory; Children for it has been handed over. Wealth to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. ” Luke 4: 5 -6 Livelihood
Job’s Wisdom (1: 20 -22) � Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. � He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” “It’s only paper”
Job lost it Destroyer” Part 2 No trial “The has overtaken you such. God as issaid, “he still holds all: � 2: 3 but Later… fast his integrity. ” common to man; and Children God is faithful, who will � 2: 4 -5 Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A Wealth man will you giveto upbe everything he has to save his not allow life. But reach what out and tested beyond youtake away his health, Livelihood and he will surely curse you to your face!” are able… � 2: 6 “All right, do with him as you please, ” the 1 Corinthians 10: 13 Health! Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life. ”
Reactions to Suffering Option #1 (Job 2: 9 -10 ): � His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die!” � But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never
Reactions to Suffering The “Curse God!” option… Why “…DIE”? Common… Not brilliant “Like kicking a tank. . ” -Ravi Z
Reactions to Suffering Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar � 2: 12 -13 When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him… Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days Possibly and nights. No one said a word to Job, for Option #2: wisest they saw that his sufferingtheir was too great for Silence words. moment
Reactions to Suffering Option #3: Postmodern Folly � 4: 15 -16 “A spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body stood on end. It stopped, but I could not tell what it was. ” Fear is the path to the dark side…
Reactions to Suffering Option #3: Postmodern Folly � 4: 15 -16 “A spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body stood on end. It stopped, but I could not tell what it was. ” Option #3: “Follow your god…” True? False? Imaginary? Real? A loving Creator would never abandon us…
Reactions to#4 Suffering – Bribe God Eliphaz Continues… Wrong: ‘good’ � “Remember now, who ever perished peoplebeing DO innocent? Or where were the upright suffer! destroyed? According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity And those who sow Wrong: trouble harvest it. God did NOT cause � By the breath of God they perish, Andthis! by the blast of His anger they come to an end. ”
Reactions to Suffering Option #5: Job Complains 6: 4 For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. Their poison infects my spirit. God’s terrors are lined up against me. Don’t I have a right to complain? Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass, and oxen bellow when they have no food? � 24 Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred. �
Job: “Reactions to Suffering” Option #5: Job Complains 13: 15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face… 18 Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated. . . #5 “I Deserve Better!” Appeal to justice
Reactions to Suffering Poor Reactions • • Curse God Create-a-God* Bribe God Complain * i. e. , like “Build-a-Bear” God’s Turn 38: 1 -3 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you
Encounters With God 38: 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. 5 Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? 6 What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
Encounters With God 38: 31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars— binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? 34 -35 “Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?
Encounters With God 40: 1 -2 Then the Lord said to Job, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers? ” 3 -5 Then Job replied to the Lord, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say. ” 6 -7 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: “Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. “
Encounters With God 40: 8 -9 “Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right? Are you as strong as God? Can you thunder with a voice like his? 40: 10 -14 All right, put on your glory and splendor, your honor and majesty. Give vent to your anger. Let it overflow against the proud. Humiliate the proud with a glance; walk on the wicked where they stand. Bury them in the dust. Imprison them in the world of the dead. Then even I would praise you, for your own strength would save you.
Encounters With God It is easy to criticize God • …behind His back! It is easy to know it all • …when God’s not asking the questions.
What Did Job Discover? 42: 1 -6 Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is that questions my wisdom with such ignorance? ’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. …I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back
What Did Job Discover? Encounter With God See God for Who He Is • Better than explanations. • See Problems for what they are. Small God • BIG PROBLEMS BIG GOD • Small Problems
How Does it all End? 42: 10 -12 …the Lord � Did God zap Job? restored his fortunes. In he Lord died, gave an old � Does God smash Then fact, the him man had as lived a twicewho as much before! the critics? …So full the life Lord long, . blessed Job 42: 17 � Did God wipe out Job in the second half of his life even more than in the opposition? the beginning.
The Point in Job… “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. 19: 25 life goes two ways…. Decay OR Redeem
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