Book of Job pt. 2

4. Do you find anything unusual about God and Satan’s conversation? Who brings up Job? God. Why does God go out of his way to bring Job to the attention of the enemy? Seriously, He might as well have painted a bull’s eye on Job. Of all the people on the face of the planet, why does God point out Job?

God had confidence in Job to pass the test/face the challenge the Accuser will throw at him. God knew Job better than Satan did. God knew that Job’s faith in Him was not based on enjoying a good life. Job’s faith was much like that of Enoch’s - see Hebrews 11:5-6. Job’s faith rested on the fact that God exists. Nothing more, nothing less. He is the only God that exists and therefore is the only one worthy to be feared, to be worshipped.

5. Having said all that, why does God allow Job to experience the tremendous suffering that we all know is coming his way? Who knows the mind of God?

Job 1:13-22

6. In what ways, does Satan attack Job? See vs. 13-19

Job does not have time to process one catastrophic event before he is told of another.

7. What is Job’s response to all that befell him? Grief, worship, acknowledge God’s sovereignty (Everything I had … children and wealth … came directly from God; therefore, He has the right to take it all away.), praise. Job did not sin. Job did not curse God.

The Book of Job Pt. 2

Job 2:1-6

Young’s Literal Translation of Job 2:3 - And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, ‘Hast thou set thy heart unto My servant Job because there is none like like him in the land, a man perfect and upright, fearing God and turning aside from evil? And still he is keeping hold on his integrity, and thou dost move Me against him to swallow him up for nought!

Hebrew word “move” – to incite, instigate, lure, entice

Despite your efforts to incite/lure/entice me to destroy Job for no just cause/for no good reason, Job still remains true to me and to himself.

1. What was Satan’s next challenge to God in regards to Job? Paraphrase what Satan said – Man values his physical life more than anything, even God. According to Satan, a person who has contracted a debilitating illness (leprosy, muscular disease, etc.) or terminal disease (cancer), that person would be willing to give up everything, even faith in God, to live the rest of their life in perfect health. Attack Job physically to the point of death and he will curse you to your face. In other words, Satan once again argued that Job’s faith in God was shallow. It was based on God blessing him with excellent health. If Job contracted some debilitating illness, he’ll reject God in a heartbeat.

2. What was God’s response? Do what you want, but don’t kill him.

Job 2:7-10

3. a. What did Satan do to Job? Afflicted Job with painful sores all over his body.

b. Describe what Job’s physical condition must have been like.

Runny sores from top to bottom. Pain 24 hrs a day, itchy scabs that peeled and became black (using pieces of pottery to scratch himself), overwhelming stench, bad breath, disfigurement, revolting appearance, excessive thinness, fever.

4. What words did Job’s wife offer to her husband in his time of anguish? She lashed out at Job. Why do you cling to your integrity? Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. Job’s integrity was based on his faith in God. It was the code he lived by. Job’s wife is telling him to reject it. Curse God and die. No empathy for her husband. No compassion.

5. Why did she say what she said? Job’s loss was her loss. Like Job, she lost wealth and children. Her world had been turned upside down. She’s going through a difficult time as well. Emotional turmoil. Who did she blame? God. Look at where clinging to your integrity/faith in God has gotten you Job. It has cost us our wealth, our children, and now your health and my husband. The God that you persist in following has brought all these undeserving calamities upon us. Such a God is not deserving of your faith so curse Him – tell Him how much you hate Him for what He has done to you and then die. Job’s wife said these words, but who put the words in her mouth? Satan. Couples – It is in times of stress, anxiety, anger that we are most vulnerable to the Enemy’s temptations. It is in those times we are most susceptible to fall under his influence to say or do something that will drive a wedge in our relationship with our spouse.

6. a. What was Job’s response to his wife? “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” Job acknowledged and defined the sovereignty of God. God is the Creator and I am the created. God makes the rules; I don’t. The reason why I experienced years of blessings is not because of anything I did; it’s because God chose to bless me. The reason why I am experiencing adversity now is not because of anything I did; it’s because God has allowed it to happen. To solely embrace the former and not acknowledge the latter is foolishness. Therefore, the fact that I am presently experiencing adversity after years of blessings is not sufficient reason for me to reject God.

b. What did he refuse to do? Refused to sin with his lips by cursing God.