Job: The Question of Suffering

Lesson for May 6, 2018

Job 1; Job 16:1-5,18-22; Job 40:1-5, Job 42:7-9

If you were stepped on by a brontosaur,
dinner for a carnivore,
or your hair was singed by your pet dragon.

If the smoke from his nose is on your clothes,
his scales frightened all your bros
and your life is a drag--no fun

I agree you've faced some suffering,
and have a case for grumbling, but
remember Job, God, and the leviathan.

The family motto at my house is 'Bains don't complain'. Of course, it seems like no one ever pays attention to the family motto.  If anyone ever had a reason to complain, it was certainly Job.  Job was a man who probably lived some time before Abraham.  He was exceedingly rich and respected in his community, but above all else, he lived a life that demonstrated his love and reverence for God. God prospered Job in all he did and Job never forgot where the blessings come from.

However, things were about the change for Job.

Read Job 1:1-19.

What did Job have and what did he lose?
Why would God let Satan do something like this?

Read Job 1:20-22

What was Job's response to his calamity?
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like Job?  How did you respond?

Circumstances that cause suffering fall upon the righteous and wicked alike, just like the rain.  Job did not do anything specific to deserve what he went through; but like Job, we live in a fallen world that has been corrupted by sin.  My sin, your sin, and all of humanity's sin is the reason for suffering in the world.  So, in fact, we ALL deserve the suffering that comes upon us.

When Job did not sin by accusing God of wrongdoing, Satan requested permission to test Job by afflicting him directly with painful sores all over his body.  Job's friends came to visit him and attempt to comfort him.  For a whole week they sat with Job, and no one said anything.  Then Job complained in ways no different than the rest of us.  His friends listened patiently for a while, but then made the mistake of arguing with Job about what was happening.  They made the mistake of assuming that Job had done something to bring his troubles upon himself.

Read Job 16:1-5

Like many of you, I want to 'fix' things.  Sometimes rather than attempting to 'be helpful', it is best to be a quiet comforter as people go through things rather than attempting to fix things that can only be resolved in God's timing.

Think about a time when someone you know was going through some troubles.  Were you helpful or not?

Job 16:18-22 reminds us that our true comforter and intercessor is in Heaven.  His name is Jesus.

At the end of it all, God interceded for Job and restored him.  God admonished Job for his complaints by reminding him of the Behemoth (Job 40), an animal Job would have been familiar with.  It ate grass like an oxen, had powerful legs and muscles in its belly.  Its tail swung like the trunk of a cedar tree. It was certainly no elephant or hippopotamus.  Then God reminded Job of the Leviathan (Job 41): a creature whose scaly body was impenetrable, who poured out smoke from his nostrils and flames from his mouth.  This was also a living animal Job was familiar with that demonstrated the chasm between God and man.  Job repented from questioning the sovereignty of God in prosperity and in suffering.  Job prayed for his friends and they were forgiven as well.

Read Job 40:1-5, Job 42:7-9

Ultimately, there has only been one man that has suffered unjustly.  Jesus accepted unbelievable suffering to restore all who believe to a right relationship with God, and also, to give people a home in Heaven where there are no more tears.

What are you suffering from today?  How can you give it over to God's will and let him take you through it?  Ask God to help you through your area of suffering.