We will begin reading Job this week. Job was a great man who served the Lord with all his heart (Job 1:1). He was blessed with great wealth and a big family (Job 1:2-5). Eventually, the devil began assaulting him. God took his protective hedge from Job, and he began to suffer.
The book of Job teaches many important lessons about God and His dealings with men.
God doesn’t fit in our box.
- Eliphaz believed that Job was suffering because he was a wicked and terrible sinner (Job 4:7-9; 22:21-22). In Eliphaz’s mind, only good things were supposed to happen to righteous people. He had a very simplistic view of suffering.
- God corrected Eliphaz’s erroneous thinking (Job 42:7).
- Understanding the source of suffering is complicated. There are many reasons why people sometimes experience trials (Proverbs 6:20-29; Ecclesiastes 8:14; 9:11; Job 2:7). Sometimes God will allow us to suffer to refine and help us become more like Jesus (James 1:2-4).
- We need to avoid being quick to blame our suffering on God.
God is always there.
- While Job never sinned against God, there was an occasion when he began to question God (Job 30:20-23. Job felt forsaken and abandoned by the Lord.
- Job was wrong! God never forsook him. Instead, He was right by His side and watching over him.
- God did not take kindly to Job questioning his dealing with men (Job 38-41).
- Let us always remember that no matter what trials we face, God is there. He sees what He is going on. He cares about our problems. If we pray and trust Him, He will help in His time (1 Peter 5:6-7).
God is always worthy of praise.
- Despite all the difficulties he faced, Job never stopped acknowledging and praising God (Job 1:20-22; 2:9-10). He never cursed or blasphemed the name of God.
- Let us always worship, obey, and speak of the wondrous glory of God.
- Let us always praise God even while suffering because He gave us His Son to die on the cross (john 3:16)!
Conclusion:
Like Job, are you serving and trusting the Lord?
