Book of Job pt. 3

7. a. What image do you have of Job? Bedrock of faith. Strong spirit.

b. How would you describe his response to all that has befallen him? Patience, acceptance,unwavering/unquestioning faith – If this is God’s will for me, so be it. He does not ask why he is suffering.

Job 2:11-13

8. Who came to visit Job and for what purpose?

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Offer their sympathies. To comfort Job – REMEMBER THIS. When they saw Job, they didn’t recognize him at first. Expressed tremendous grief at what had befallen Job (wailed, wept, tore robes, threw dust over their heads). For seven days and seven nights, Job doesn’t say a word. Out of respect, Job’s friends say nothing. They just sit there with Job.

WHY AM I SUFFERING? PT. 3

1) For 7 days, Job stayed silent in his tent. What do you think was going on inside of Job during this time? Inner turmoil; a growing heaviness in his soul; continued grief over the loss of his children. As we’ll see, something happened inside of Job during these 7 days that altered his response/reaction to all the suffering he has experienced. This noticeable change will have a tremendous impact on Job’s opinion of himself as well his relationship with his three friends and, most importantly, God.

2) Job finally speaks in chapter 3. In your own words, what did Job say? I wish I had never been born. Moreover, Job wished he had never been conceived. Prefers death over the life he is living now. To the point he would have given up all the blessings (wealth, fame, family) and the joy that came with those blessings that he had experienced in his life prior to his time of suffering. Verses 13-19 – Job makes some interesting statements. Kings and counselors who wasted their lives building & rebuilding castles/fortresses destined for ruin know rest that comes with death. Greedy princes/rulers who wasted their lives pursuing wealth know rest that comes with death. The wicked who have died – men who were unrighteous know rest that comes with death. Prisoners who have died – men who have committed crimes know peace that comes with death. Slaves who have died – the lowest of the low in society know the freedom that comes with death. Read between the lines, what is Job saying? Rulers who pursued selfish pleasures, the wicked, criminals, and slaves who have died know rest/peace/freedom yet I, a righteous man, a man of integrity, am denied the rest/peace/freedom that comes with death. How is that fair? How is that just? Read verses 20-23. Beginning in verse 20, Job asks a question. Why? Why has God kept me alive? Why can’t I know the peace that comes with death? Read verses 24-26. Job is in turmoil - a state of extreme confusion and/or agitation. Why is Job confused? Why do I continue to experience such extreme suffering? Why is God denying me peace/rest? Why can selfish, wicked men know the peace that comes with death and I don’t. More importantly, what I have done to deserve such extreme suffering? Why is Job agitated/upset? God is not treating him with fairness and justice. Rulers who pursued selfish pleasures, the wicked, criminals, and slaves who have died know rest/peace/freedom yet I, a righteous man, a man of integrity, am denied the rest/peace/freedom that comes with death. Consequently, Job feels uneasy/restless/impatient because after 7 days, God has not responded to Job’s why questions.

Were they similar to the words he spoke immediately following the catastrophic events that befell him in chapters 1 and 2? No. If not, how were they different? The man who once said “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity” is now questioning God as to why he is going through adversity. He is no longer accepting of his adversity. It is too much for him to bear. He wants it to end but for some reason, God is prolonging his adversity. Why were they different? What happened inside Job during those 7 days? Time happened. The terrible events that befell Job happened so quickly that he didn’t have a whole lot of time to process/digest what happened to him. His immediate response (acceptance, worship) to all that happened came out of his deep faith in God … a reflex reaction. Job did not question God about his suffering. But as time passed (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4), the initial shock of all that happened to Job began to wear off. As Job sat in ashes in utter agony, the reality of all that he loss (wealth, family, health) began to sink in. Consequently, where there was once acceptance of all that happened to him, there were now questions. Questions that for some reason God was not answering. And so by Day 7, lips that once spoke words of praise toward God were now lamenting over why God allowed him ever live. They questioned God’s fairness/justice.