SCRIPTURE: JOB 1
INTRODUCTION:
The book tells the story of Job, the man of God. It is a drama of riches to rags to riches – about suffering and divine sovereignty and a picture of faith that endures.
Job had a prosperous life filled with prestige, possessions and people. But he was suddenly assaulted, devastated and stripped down a lowly side. Satan claimed that Job was trusting God because he was wealthy. When his children, servants, livestock, herdsmen and home were destroyed, he continued to trust in God. Satan then attacked him physically with painful sores and his wife told him to curse God. Then his three friends came insisted that he was suffering as punishment for his sins. Elihu extended the debate but Job defended himself. Then God spoke out of a mighty storm. Job fell in humble reverence before God speechless. God rebuked Job’s friends and Job was restored to health and wealth.
This book described three encounters – Job and Satan, Job and his friends and Job and the Lord. It questions the reasons for suffering. Job finally admitted that God is too great and wonderful for us to understand. In reality, only God knows exactly why things happen and we must submit to him as our sovereign Lord. Trust God no matter what happen. We must love God regardless of whether he allows blessings or suffering to come to us. Those who endure the testing of the faith will experience God’s great reward in the end. When trials come, do not ask “Why” or “How can I get out of this?” but “What can I get out of the suffering?”
PROLOGUE (vs. 1-5)
Job as a blameless and upright man who lived in the land of Uz. He feared God and shunned evil. He had 7 sons and 3 daughters. He owned 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 donkeys and a large number of servants.
JOB’S FIRST TEST (vs. 6-22)
One day, the Lord met Satan and told him that Job was blameless and upright, a man who feared God and shunned evil. But Satan replied: “He feared God because you have blessed him with wealth. If you stretch out your hand and struck everything he has, he will surely curse you to your face” (v. 10-11). So God allowed Satan to do it but not to lay a finger on him.
THE FOLLOWING DISASTERS CAME TO JOB:
- The Sabeans attacked and carried all the donkeys and carried them off.
- The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants.
- The Chaldeans raided and swept down all his camels and carried them off.
- Suddenly, a mighty wind swept into the house while his sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine and struck them dead.
When Job heard these, he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked will I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord had taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised.” (v. 21)
THOUGHTS:
Satan accused Job of being a hypocrite. He said that the reason why Job worshiped God was not out of love but because God had given him so much. Faith weather believers follow God when everything is going well for for what they can get. Adversity destroys superficial faith but strengthen real faith. Put the roots of your faith deep down into God so that you can withstand any storm that you will face.
In the first test, Job lost his possessions and family. But he acknowledged God’s sovereign authority over everything God had given him when he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked will I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord had taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised” (v. 21). When setbacks, tragedies and sorrows strike us, how do you respond? Do you ask God: “Why me?” or do you say “Thy will be done”?