Did you expect we would jump over to Job so soon in our chronological study of the Bible? I knew that Job had an early date, but honestly, I expected we wouldn't study it until somewhere along with Judges. Check out this link that gives some of the most common understandings of where Job lived and when. http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=903
It mentions that one of the major reasons to believe that Job lived before Moses is because Job made sacrifices for his children rather than taking the sacrifice to be made by the priest. Also, Jewish tradition places Job in the time of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph).
Job Chapter 1 Have you ever had a day like Job's, when you stood and watched your world crumble around you?
Job Chapter 2 When I feel physically ill, it is very difficult to keep a positive outlook and stay focused on God's goodness. I'm thinking Job's wife, bless her little heart, would not have been a very good hospice nurse. LORD, help me be an encouraging wife when my husband is feeling low. Job's friends do the right thing in verse 13, "Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was." They should have stuck with this tactic because everything they say and do from here on out just makes things worse.
Job 3 Job is feeling utter despair and wishes he had never been born. Ever been there? Verse 25, "What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me." What is the worst that could ever happen to you? Job's worst fears came true even though God called him blameless and upright. Even when the worst happened, Job survived. He kept the faith, and stuck to the discipline of praising God. And Job didn't have a supportive men's Bible study group to encourage him. When tragedy strikes, ladies, it is not the end of the world for us. God may or may not restore our fortunes, but will we keep praising Him?
Job didn't have just one bad thing happen, they just kept coming, one after another...from losing all of his belongings and his children to his health.
ReplyDeleteJob 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
How often we hear that blame being placed on God when bad things happen. I'm reminded of Jer. 29:11that God does not want to harm us but only wants to give us hope and a future...forever with Him!
I was immediately impressed with Job 1:5 as he offered burnt offerings according to the number of all of them because his sons may have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. Job was interceding on his children's behalf and I wonder if they knew that. He was making atonement for suspected sin areas in their lives and I wonder if they knew that. How often do we stop to realize that Jesus is interceding on our behalf all the time?
ReplyDeleteGod offered Job to Satan which is hard for me to wrap my mind around! His world came apart very quickly, one thing right after another but when all is said and done Job 1:20 - 21 states that he fell to the ground and worshipped and immediately recalled how he came into this world and how he would leave it and he recognizes that IT IS the Lord who gives and the Lord who takes away blessed be the name of the Lord. Just shortly before my dad died this is the passage of scripture the Lord brought to my mind and it continues to confort me because no matter what the storm, Blessed is the Name of the Lord. As the song says I will praise Him in the storm and I will lift my hands...(I'd rather do that than tear my clothes and shave my head!)
I invisioned God setting with Satan having this conversation, and wondered does the same thing happen now? Does he choose to let Satan have control for a short time because he knows what the outcome will be? Is that why we say God will never give us more then we can handle? ok I admit I have asked if God is so powerful why does "this" happen. But in reading about Job, God pointed out to me that maybe I focus to much on the negative side of it......maybe I should say,No, it's not a bad thing that I am in this storm, it's a good thing because God trusts me enough in my faith with Him that He is showing Satan that I will not stray from God. So I will only praise God more just to prove to Satan that God is more powerful. My Bible says that God cannot be fooled by Satan. Job's suffering was a test for Job, Satan, and us -not God. Satan believes that we only praise God when everything seems good. And what happens when we let Satan see that is true?
ReplyDeleteI also feel that alot of times the storms we are in can be the result of things we said or did and if we are seeking the Lord each day maybe we would make different choices. I have had to dig myself out of some pretty deep holes and then when I reflect back on the situation I realize that God was either not included in my initial decision or somewhere along the way I lost my focus on Him. I am God's body on Earth and He gives us the chance to move for Him and shine to others...forgive me Lord for missing so many opportunities.
ReplyDeleteJob's experiences opened His eyes even more to the Holiness of the Lord and that after the suffering he received blessing and restoration.
I love you ladies so much! I see God at work in you as He speaks to you through His Word. Thanks so much for coming on this journey. You encourage my heart!
ReplyDeleteMelinda, the Jeremiah passage is showing up as a theme in our discussions. Thanks for applying it to our discussion of Job.
Cindy, do you think Job's example of making atonement for his children might be a good one for us to follow?
Yeah, I don't think tearing clothes and shaving heads would go over well at church on Sunday.
Terrific questions, Hilary! I do believe that Satan has to have God's permission to interfere with the life of a believer. In Luke 22:31 Jesus says to Peter, "Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back [because Jesus already knew that Peter would deny Him], strengthen your brothers.
I Corinthians 10:13 is the verse that says, "God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." Paul also talks in II Corinthians 11:30 and 12:7-10 about boasting about our weaknesses because it is then that Christ's power is made perfect in our lives.
Let's stand together praising God in the face of adversity today!
I love this type of conversation. It blesses my heart to hear how God speaks to us in different ways and with different messages. Just another reminder of our uniqueness.
ReplyDeleteAs I ponder Dana's question I say YES to following Job's example of making atonement for our children. I will write more on this as I cannot pen my thoughts at this moment. The Holy Spirit is encouraging me to "sit" on Abraham's belief and Job's atonement for his children. Something is formulating with these passages of scripture but I'm not exactly what that is. I went to sleep last night asking God to connect those dots for me but it's not there yet. He's definitely rearranging some things in my life.
I know that I do not take enough time to pray in detail for my family. Too many times my prayers for them are, "Lord bless my family." Yuck. What does that mean, anyway? What do I want God to do for my husband and children? God says ask, and I'm not asking specifically.
ReplyDeleteI want my husband to be known as a godly man in the community. I want him to feel God's power in his life every moment of every day. Lord, empower Trent with your Holy Spirit.
I want my son to grow into a godly leader who knows Jesus as his best friend. I want him to be kind and for others to enjoy his company. Lord, fill Zach with your love.
I want my daughter to remain holy and pure in mind, soul, and body. I want the love of Jesus to overflow in her life. God, thank you for calling Jacque to be your child.
Wow! Wow!! Wow!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how powerful and insightful these comments are. So many times I wanted to pick up the phone and call each one of you to pick your brains a little more!!
Ch.1 v. 8 at first glance I was thinking, poor Job, God POINTS him out to Satan!! Thanks a lot, God. But, then, like Hilary said, God knew that Job would remain faithful, thus DEFEATING Satan and his evil plans, Amen Job. Lord, help me to defeat Satan each day as I continue to praise you even and especially when things are difficult.
In Ch. 2, v. 10, Job poses a very good question! Shall we accept good from God and not trouble? Not sure if my thoughts are in order here, but I think too often when things go wrong, or problems arise, or even a glich in my plans I BLAME Satan, which in affect DOES take my focus off God and gives Satan control. Just that little attention in my mind to Satan, even if it's blaming, can get a snowball rolling. Sort of like when you see kids starving for attention, they will act out because negative attention is better than no attention at all. And as soon as our focus is shifted from God to the Satan, he can get a foothold. Darn him!
And how God wants us to shine for Him even through the hard times that he allows, so that he can look at us and say, "My good and faithful servant." How easy it is to lose that focus though! My, how we need to surround ourselves with support and prayer warriors!!
By the way, I've had a couple bad hair days...so I'm all for shaving my head!!!
I know that I get used to living without possesions and my health, but it would be hard to lose your children, that would be the hardest to deal with. I know that you still would look to Jesus also.
ReplyDeleteIsn't the how it is today? When we as God's people are actually listening to God and doing His Will. And we can see God blessing peoples lives and that blesses us so much. And that is when the devil, our enemy, plots against us and our plans. The devil he just cannot stand it. He is constantly trying to destroy God's people mentally, physically, and spiritually. We see it happen so many times today, and it just shows you how much people need the Lord, so they would have someone to lean on and cling to.
Everyone had great thoughts about these verses and some of them I would've never thought about, like interceding for his children's sins. Good pick up, Cindy! As some of you know I have really been having a hard time lately and I have so related to Job's feelings of "Why was I born?" and feeling as if everything has been taken away. But in the end, God knows what is best for us and wants us to move closer to Him. I think how great it is when I can praise Him during the troubled times, but there is so many times that I do the opposite. I blame Him for all my troubles, instead of saying Thank You for having so much faith in me. I still wish God would've just taken care of Satan in the beginning, so we wouldn't have to go through all of this. But we have to trust that His way is higher than our way!! Keep reminding me of this.
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Melissa! I'm so thankful you have joined us. Keep taking the high road, and don't let the enemy (even though we agree that God should have taken him out from the beginning), don't let him have any victories. Faith is the Victory!!!! (this is an old hymn from my childhood that we need to sing soon.)
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