Job – A Man of Great Patience

1. Job – A Man of Great Patience “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;  Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:20)

2. Job • Lived in Uz, thought to be a part of the land of Edom • Uz may be Huz the firstborn of Abraham's brother Nahor • "Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, "Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram." (Gen 22:20-21)

3. Job • He lived after Abraham: • One of his friends - Bildad the Shuhite (from sons of Shuah - son of Abraham from Keturah) (Gen 25:1-2) • He lived before Moses: • No mention of the Aaronic priesthood, nor the Mossoiac rites • No mention of events during Moses' time, but rather: Creation, fall of Adam, the Flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah

4. Theme • God is Caring! • It is "my" and "your" story • God is beneficent • Question: Why does the righteous suffer? • The difference between the weak comforting of humans and the true comforting of God. • Judge Not!

5. Outline • Between Heaven and Earth (1,2) • Human comfort (3) • First debate (4-14) • Second debate (15-21) • Third debate (22-31) • Elihu the wise (32-37) • Heavenly comfort (38-42)

6. Between Heaven and Earth • Read: Job 1:1-5 • “…and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil." (1:1) • He was upright - relative to his peers: • “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Rom 3:23) • His problem: he was blameless and he knew it! • Self-righteousness and pride • He offered sacrifices for all his children, but none for himself (1:5)

7. Between Heaven and Earth • He felt that he was blameless – self-righteousness • Job 9:21 • Job 10:1-2 • Job 29:14-17 • Job 30:1

8. Between Heaven and Earth • Read: Job 1:6-12 • God asked the Devil about Job and witnessed for him, even before the Devil questioned about him • God is proud of His children. • He allowed Job to be tempted to the fullest - He lost everything, even his health

9. Between Heaven and Earth • Job and the Devil • Job was righteous as witness by God (1:8), his wife (2:9), and himself (27:5), but the devil can not witness that anyone is righteous • He sees nothing but evilness, and excuses (1:9-11) • Satan judged that Job is unrighteous, though God witnessed otherwise

10. Between Heaven and Earth • The devil did not leave Job alone, but tried to destroy him completely, • "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph 6:12) • "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Pet 5:8) • "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat." (Luke 22:31)

11. Between Heaven and Earth • Job overcame Satan by his love: • He was righteous and loved God (1:8) • He loved his family and taught them love one another (1:4) • He cared about their salvation and offered sacrifices for them (1:5) • He loved and cared for the poor (29:16)

12. Between Heaven and Earth • Read: Job 1:13-22 • His temptations was great because he lost everything • Possessions • 1:21 • "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Tim 6:7) • Children • "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope." (1 Th 4:13) • Health • We are comforted as Jesus is our true physician

13. Between Heaven and Earth • The Devil tried to make him doubt his faith • "While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" ( 1:16) • All the disasters seemed "natural" (1:16-19)

14. Between Heaven and Earth • Read Job 2:1-10 • His wife – was a "thorn“: Job 2:9 • She was an "aid to evil" (St. Augustine) • His friends, who came to comfort him • Devil used them to move him until he cursed the day of his birth (3:1)

15. Human Comfort • Read Job 2:11-3:3 • His three friends heard of what happened and they went to comfort him. • He used to bless God even in his temptation (1:21), but they came and added to the temptation by their judgment and condemnation of Job • Their words caused Job to: • Talk about his righteousness • Blame God for the suffering of the righteous • Ask God to remove him from the earth

16. Human Comfort • Conclusion: • "Miserable comforters are you all!" (16:2) • Their failure to comfort him: • Job 2:12 • They had nothing to say, until Job cursed his day: Job 2:13 • Their judgment of him: • They condemned Job of unrighteousness, and judged him falsely. • They presented many correct conclusions about God's judgment, yet none of which were applicable to Job

17. Job – A Man of Great Patience • Why does the righteous suffer?? • Why does God allow temptations? • God witnesses for us and is proud of us • Satan hates us, and finds every opportunity to complain about us • He is violent in his attacks • We overcome him through love • He will try to make us doubt our faith in God • He may use our closest family and friends • Humans can only offer weak comfort • “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:20)