Question about the Book of Job

[Giggles4God]

I love the idea that though satan talks to God...satan couldn't do anything to Job without GOD'S approval.

 

[Lion_of_Judah]

Thank you for your response and may God unite us in Christ Jesus!

AMEN!


Blessings, LoJ

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Job 1 is only part of the "understand not" things Job said. Naming all the wrong things Job, Eliphaz and Temanite said would take a lot of time.

Could you name the Biblical scholar whose teachings you are relying upon? You believe that Job wrote the book that bears his name. Whose writings (aside from your own) can you cite in support of this belief? I'm not the brightest bulb in the box, but I've never read anything from a qualified Bible teacher that supports that belief.

SLE

 

[Bambi]

Well said!

I'm coming into this a little late I know..

but for your brother and his situation (because he probably can't be rightly compared to Job, in so far as Jobs walk and overall life circumstances), and the practical side of life..

I have seen more times than not, that where a man finds himself in life.. with his wife/family/children.. are much about the choices he's made which brought him to where he finds himself at.
On the surface of this statement, that would seem obvious. Unless we begin to look at choices from outside our own understanding of them.
So often I meet guys and talk with them, who find themselves in circumstances just like your brothers.
And typically, it's because they haven't recognized what brought them there in the first place.

While we're young, we convince ourselves we're ontop of it all and we know the best route to go..
only to find ourselves years late in a position such as your brother finds himself in now.

I am assuming this of your brother of course, and I'm guess'n that I might be right.
The question(s) to be asked will help bring understanding to his situation today, as well as help in the future
not to make the same choices unknowingly of where the results will take him.

Job was a righteous man and made righteous choices through his life.
Your brothers marriage and choices which brought each other together, probably weren't as novel as Jobs.. like most of us today.

To compare our lives to Jobs, typically.., takes the focus off our choices and ...blames the devil instead.

He's in a tough place no doubt, and the kids are probably reeling inside about what's happening.

God is God.. may He be gracious in your brothers marriage and bring about reconciliation,

LoJ

Well said, I couldn't agree with you more.

 

[Doc]

Ok, so I have finished reading the book of Job and I have a question that I am trying to find a good answer for my brother with what he's going through; a good man getting a divorce with kids involved.

I understand that Job's faith was tested by God by allowing Satan to interfer however, why would our LORD allow Satan to do such wicked things to one of the most devoted followers?

I know that his family ended up showing their true colors to the LORD and he ended up with everything better than before, but again, why?

In closing, just trying to find the right words/reasoning to "break it down" for my brother.

Thanks

Of course, "Why do the righteous suffer?" is one of the great questions of all time.

If I may interject a thought, by asking a question: If a physician causes suffering in order to heal, is he not still considered to be a God-send? If I go "under the knife" to remove cancer that would otherwise cause much more long term suffering and an unnecessarily pre-mature death, did not the surgeon's knife cause pain FOR THE PURPOSE TO SAVE? As unpleasant as those procedures may be for the moment - and oftentimes resulting in long term painful rehabilitation - are they not ultimately considered a blessing?

Is it not amazing how the "heroic acts" of “man“ - even though at times the rescues themselves are painful - are applauded by some - and yet the heroism of God Almighty is questioned? Human nature - oh my - human nature - is it not interesting?

What is too often overlooked is that God's purpose in suffering is REDEMPTIVE - looking to Christ's example on the cross. It is redeeming, healing, restoring, instructive, and the BOTTOM LINE - IT ULTIMATELY BECOMES A BLESSING! Does it feel good at the time? No way! But is it a blessing? No question about it! Romans 8:18 states, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” And then we can look on down to verse 28 of that same chapter which states, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Understand, it is NOT the events of our life that shape our life, but HOW WE SEE those events. BLESSINGS. Doc

 

[Pedronewt]

A case against God

I have a different take on the story of Job.

I think it is more about Satan accusing/insinuating that the only reason Job (or anybody) serves God is because he is blessed by Him, or Job only loves God because God gives him stuff. If God buys the love of His worshipers, then Satan would have a case against God.

God, however is secure that Job's love is pure and true, and permits Satan to take away all that had been given him. Job 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Even when afflicted by physical suffering he still did not sin.

I think the point of Job is that God doesn't buy the love of His followers, that Job truly was a man who loved God whether he was blessed or cursed. He stood strong in the face of Satan, his wife, his friends who were all pushing him to curse God. Wow what a Man of God!!!

The question is... can we say the same thing about our selves. Do we only "love" God when we feel blessed by him, or when hardships come do we begin to question His goodness and our love falter?

My brothers, we must be careful lest we fall into the temptation of accusing God. We fall into this trap when we ask, why would God do this to me. Instead we should judge every situation based upon what we know to be true of His character. He is loving, just, righteous and truth. He is good and there is no darkness in Him at all, He is the Father of Lights from which every good and perfect gift comes from.

Why not instead accuse the father of lies, who roams the face of the earth seeking whom he destroy?

 

[Doc]

I have a different take on the story of Job.

I think it is more about Satan accusing/insinuating that the only reason Job (or anybody) serves God is because he is blessed by Him, or Job only loves God because God gives him stuff. If God buys the love of His worshipers, then Satan would have a case against God.

God, however is secure that Job's love is pure and true, and permits Satan to take away all that had been given him. Job 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Even when afflicted by physical suffering he still did not sin.

I think the point of Job is that God doesn't buy the love of His followers, that Job truly was a man who loved God whether he was blessed or cursed. He stood strong in the face of Satan, his wife, his friends who were all pushing him to curse God. Wow what a Man of God!!!

The question is... can we say the same thing about our selves. Do we only "love" God when we feel blessed by him, or when hardships come do we begin to question His goodness and our love falter?

My brothers, we must be careful lest we fall into the temptation of accusing God. We fall into this trap when we ask, why would God do this to me. Instead we should judge every situation based upon what we know to be true of His character. He is loving, just, righteous and truth. He is good and there is no darkness in Him at all, He is the Father of Lights from which every good and perfect gift comes from.

Why not instead accuse the father of lies, who roams the face of the earth seeking whom he destroy?

Pedronewt: I certainly understand your take on this. A couple of additional thoughts. No doubt, Job started off well. In the midst of unimaginable loss, he maintained his integrity and faith. And this is many times the initial response for many of God’s people at the beginning of a major trial. However, what works against us, is the same thing that worked against Job - time. The longer the ordeal continued, the harder it was to understand why God was allowing this to happen. Sound familiar? It certainly does to me.

We must not forget that Job 1:22 is at the beginning of this enormous tragedy of events. As we read further on into the Book of Job, we see a definite change in attitude. I will not quote all of the verses here, but suffice it so say God has a reason for saying what He said in Job 40:6-8. I will quote those verses here from the King James Version: “Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind and said, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?” (The “bold” highlighting is mine.) As you read through the chapters of this marvelous portion of Scripture, you find Job makes some pretty harsh complaints against God. As a result, the Lord very sharply rebukes him through a number of verses that follow.

But the important conclusion is that it was the enduring of the pain and suffering - both physical and emotional - that brought Job to a different place of understanding. Job 42:1-6 is the fruit of Job understanding God - and himself - in a very different light than he ever had before.

As horrible as this all was for Job, it was a necessary chain of events that God used for good in Job’s life. It is suffering that refines the faith of all God‘s people. Faith untested - is no faith at all. And God didn’t just help Job - He helped untold millions of others throughout history through these events in Job’s life. BLESSINGS. Doc

 

[Hekuran]

Along the same lines as Pedronewt, I think.

I find that the Book of Job resists explanations of why we suffer. In the text, Job never receives any kind of account of why he went through that loss.

Let's be honest and say that we do not know why the righteous suffer. God's answer boils down to saying, "your ways are not my ways"

If the text does not give many pointers on to answer the question "why do we suffer", there is far more to glean about what is an appropriate response to pain when we experience it.

 

[Lion_of_Judah]

Let's be honest and say that we do not know why the righteous suffer. God's answer boils down to saying, "your ways are not my ways"
...there is far more to glean about what is an appropriate response to pain when we experience it.

X2



His ways are higher than our ways.

 

[complete]

'If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.' (1Co 15:19)

Hi there,

Paul said this (abiove), for he knew what it was to suffer too.

We, like Job and Paul have the hope of resurrection life in Christ don't we (Rom. 6:23), and the sufferings of this life are nothing to be compared with what is prepared for us there. Rom. 8:18)

In this life we will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Job would know that his children would be raised to life with him one day. He had acted as their priest as Head of the family, and had offered sacrifices on their behalf (Job 1:5), he had sanctified them before God, as was required in that dispensation. (Job 19:25)

Abraham also was prepared to sacrifice his son in the belief that God would raise him from the dead. (Heb. 11:17-19)

For the hope laid before Him our Lord endured the cross, despising the shame, and we are to arm ourselves with the same hope so that we too may endure. (Heb. 12:2)

We are being tested and tried, and the work of perfecting (Eph. 4:13)is being done in us by the Holy Spirit, for it is important that we should grow in grace and truth and in the knowledge of God our Saviour, becoming mature in our faith. So that we will not be blown about by every wind of doctrine, but stand firm on the rock of our salvation. (Eph. 4:14)(2 Cor. 12:9)

I hope that you feel that this has relevance.

In Christ
Chris

 

[MelechYisrael]

We suffer so that when we experience His comfort, we are then in a position to use that comfort to comfort others. Also, trials produce patience. James 1:3

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3,4

 

[Doc]

Along the same lines as Pedronewt, I think.

I find that the Book of Job resists explanations of why we suffer. In the text, Job never receives any kind of account of why he went through that loss.

Let's be honest and say that we do not know why the righteous suffer. God's answer boils down to saying, "your ways are not my ways"

If the text does not give many pointers on to answer the question "why do we suffer", there is far more to glean about what is an appropriate response to pain when we experience it.

Hekuran: Irrespective of one’s understanding of the Book of Job, Scripture is clear on the fact that all believers are called to suffering. Philippians 1:29 states, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Simply stated, the Christian faith is a call to glory through a journey of suffering. It is God-ordained. The entire book of First Peter is dedicated to this reality, not to mention numerous other Scriptures woven throughout the Bible. God’s plan for a believer’s life includes suffering.

And even though we may not fully understand all of the nuances of the reasons for Job’s suffering - one thing is certain - it was all under the directive will of a Sovereign God and it was for Job’s good. Romans 8:28.

 

[SaviorNChrist]

Thanks everyone, I have a lot better understanding on the book of Job. I'm just beginning to learn how to study and finding helpful people/information here all the time. Thanks again.

~Your brother in Christ

 

[Hekuran]

And even though we may not fully understand all of the nuances of the reasons for Job’s suffering - one thing is certain - it was all under the directive will of a Sovereign God and it was for Job’s good. Romans 8:28.

Agreed.

But I find it difficult to imagine anybody reading the Book of Job and concluding it without having more questions than answers.

There are places in Scripture where the problem of evil is addressed, and put together they can build up a picture of God's purposes. Job deals with inexplicable pain, and gives full vent its anguish and confusion. For that alone, it is a precious portion of Scripture.

 

[Doc]

Thanks everyone, I have a lot better understanding on the book of Job. I'm just beginning to learn how to study and finding helpful people/information here all the time. Thanks again.

~Your brother in Christ

God bless you my dear brother.

 

[Doc]

Hekuran wrote:

"Agreed. But I find it difficult to imagine anybody reading the Book of Job and concluding it without having more questions than answers."

Without question, we find this true with much of Scripture. When I consider salvation, even though I KNOW that I am saved based on God's revealed truth, I really don't understand it. Why in the world would the Lord of Glory do for me what He did on the cross? Why would such a marvelous and Holy God care that much about a sinner like me?

And then, why the cross? Surely He could have accomplished the work of redemption in some other fashion. But for some reason, in the mind and plan of God, He has chosen suffering as a means of redemption. And HE set the example! Understand it, I don’t. But what I do understand is this - the Lord has shrouded the Word of God in enough mystery to require that we live by faith. Indeed, we do “see through a glass darkly.” But since “the just shall live by faith” - and since “without faith it is impossible to please Him” - suffice it to say we must simply trust His ways without many of the answers this side of Heaven. BLESSINGS. Doc