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| 1 | We Will Be Tempted
“You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.” (Job 1:10-11) Satan believed that Job was righteous because he had many blessings. In other words, it’s easy to love God when you’re cruising through life with no problems. Upon hearing Satan’s theory, God granted him power over Job and the trials began to flow. Job was tempted to lash out at the Lord, but he resisted. Don’t be surprised when you too are tempted, especially in the midst of suffering. Pray for the grace to resist. Overcoming Adversity Everything We Have Is A Gift From God After being informed that his sons and daughters perished in a great storm, Job tore his cloak and cut off his hair. Casting himself prostrate on the ground, the grief-stricken father responded with the following words: Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!”(Job 1:21) Recognizing that everything in life is a gift from God, Job passed the first test with flying colors. Don’t get too attached to material possessions or favorable circumstances. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Learning to accept this will bring you much peace. |
| 2 | Satan Has a Limit on His Power When It Comes to Our Suffering
Satan can only afflict us as much as God allows him to. Although he wreaks havoc on Job’s life, God doesn’t allow him to take away Job’s life (Job 2:6). In our greatest hours of darkness, it can feel as though the devil has unlimited power, but he can only move when God gives him permission to move. Often Christians can think Satan and God are evenly matched. This couldn’t be further from the truth. God has no equal. God created Satan. The created cannot overthrow an omnipotent creator. Rest assured, God still has a wonderful plan for your life, and Satan cannot undo that plan. God Allows Suffering Satan’s next plot (Job 2:7) was to afflict Job with severe boils from the “soles of his feet to the crown of his head.” If that wasn’t bad enough, his wife was not exactly supportive. Implying that these misfortunes were a punishment for some past wrongdoing, she urged her husband to “curse God and die”! Job’s response? “We accept good things from God; and should we not accept evil?” (Job 2:10) Amazingly, Job didn’t question God’s goodness or say anything sinful. Instead, he accepted the fact that God sometimes allows us to suffer. If suffering enters your life, trust that it can help you in some way.
Comfort for Those Who Hurt |
| 3 | It’s Okay to Cry Out to God
Why did I not perish at birth, come forth from the womb and expire? (Job 3:11) It’s perfectly acceptable to cry out to the Lord when you are suffering. The Book of Psalms is filled with many such cries. Go ahead and tell him what’s on your mind. He can take it! |
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| 5 | Many Miracles 3 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Job 5.9, 10 God’s miracles are “more than we can count.” there are real miracles all around for those who can see them – the movements of the heavens, the beauty of the earth, the gift of life, the wonder of friendship. These are all miracles.We are surrounded every day with marvelous gifts from God, yet we often call them “ordinary.” look for his gifts in your world today. |
| 6 | I Give Up 4 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Job 6.8-10 Job was filled with anguish. He knew that he was blameless and full of integrity. And yet his suffering was unyielding. God seemed to be against him and he didn’t know why. He had been betrayed by his fair-weather friends who turned against him when the heat was on (vv.15-17), In his pain, Job wanted to give up, be released from his circumstances, and die.When the stress of life overwhelms despite your efforts to live the kind of life that pleases God, you must not think that he is no longer on your side. We may not comprehend the ways of God (Ecclesiastes (11.5) or figure out why he allows certain things to happen. However, we can be confident that in the end God himself will bring us out of despair and make us complete, steady, strong, and firm (1 Peter 5.10). |
| 7 | Sometimes We Are Wrong
“Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again.” (Job 7:7) It might seem like our suffering will never end, but only God knows what will happen. In this case, Job was wrong. He would indeed see happiness again. Feelings are not facts. You may feel hopeless, but that doesn’t make it true. Despair in the Midst of Suffering |
| 8 | Everyone Needs a Mediator 6 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Job 9.33 One of the big differences between games played in the backyard and those played on a professional field is the presence of the referee. This person acts as a mediator between players and enforces the rules of the game. In his despair, Job cried out for someone to stand between God and himself. He wished for someone who could plead his case before the Almighty – a referee.But there was no one who could represent Job, and he certainly could not think of anyone who could represent God. however, we are blessed to know that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is our Mediator (1 Timothy 2.5; Hebrews 12.24). His death on the cross stands between the judgment of God and the sins of humanity. It is because of his death and resurrection that we can make our lives right with God. Job’s hope of a mediator had become our reality. |
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| 10 | God Cares For His Creatures
“Your hands have formed me and fashioned me; will you then turn and destroy me?” (Job 10:8) At this point, Job is wallowing in self-pity. He may not realize it, but he makes an important point. It would make no sense for God to create us and not provide for our needs. He takes care of the birds (Matthew 6:26) and they aren’t even created in his image and likeness. God will not abandon us. God Watches Over Us |
| 11 | Secret Sins 8 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Job 11.13-15 We all have secret sins – those things in our lives that we don’t want anyone, especially God, to know about. The good news is that we don’t have to struggle to hide those sins anymore. God already knows them. He knows exactly what our secret sins are.When we surrender our hearts to God and “turn to him in prayer,” he will be quick to forgive all our sins – even those we wish he didn’t know about! He will graciously replace our shame with confidence so we might live with strength and fearlessness. |
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| 13 | Unwavering Trust 9 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Job 13.15 The saying goes that “those who are strong are only strong in God, and those who are strong in God rise above all the circumstances of human life.” The daily disciplines of the Christian life develop our character and strengthen our capacity for enduring the trials of life.Was Job less spiritual because his property was gone; less genuine because he had lost his social standing, or prayerless because he was no longer wealthy? No! his ability to withstand the suffering that Satan had thrown at him arose not through a single act or one effort. Rather, Job’s character had matured over many years of faithful service to God through a lifestyle of prayer and obedience to him (Job 1.1, 5)Job’s amazing declaration of unwavering trust in God is a powerful inspiration to anyone ready to give up on God. The true believer walks by faith, and not by sight. Job’s trust was not based on the seen, but on the unseen. His possessions, children, and friends were gone, yet he still says, “The Lord alone gives and takes. Praise the name of the Lord!” (Job 1.21). This is faith, not sight. |
| 14 | How We Die 10 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Job 14.1-14 There is a lot of talk today about “dying with dignity.” It runs rampant among the courts, the talk shows, and the best-seller lists. Unless our death is sudden and unexpected, we will all face the moment when we realize that our life on earth is over. And most of us have a concern about “dying well.”Is there a secret to dying well? It truly is no secret because it was revealed long ago – for our dying hand to be in the grasp of the living Christ is the secret to dying well. Not the lack of pain, not the presence of family and friends, and not the compassion of a kind doctor. It is love of God that puts the fear of death in its place. |
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| 17 | A Bed of Darkness 11 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Job 17.11-15 These words were spoken in a moment of deep depression. Job’s emotions went back and forth from faith to bleak despair.We can think of our lives as slender candles. Once the wick has been consumed there is no more time remaining. Those who have spent their lives with no regard for God and eternity are making a bed of darkness for themselves. This is also true for those who are obsessed with making money and spending it on themselves.What kind of hope is that? Rather than trivialize our lives, let’s concern ourselves with eternal matters. Begin today to prepare for yourself a bed of hope. |
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| 21 | Life Isn’t Fair
“Why do the wicked survive, grow old, become mighty in power?” (Job 21:7) He’s right. Sometimes life isn’t fair. One look at a crucifix will confirm it. The best thing to do is accept it and remember that there’s a bigger picture. This life is not all there is. |
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| 23 | Finding God 12 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Job 23.3 Life only has meaning when we focus on God. He is not always easily found because he does not reveal himself on billboards along the road of life. Sometimes his presence is a mystery that surrounds us, causing us to peer this way and that, looking for evidence of him (v.8).When our eyes are looking for God, our attention is pulled away from ourselves. Our petty concerns fade into the background and the glimpse of God scatter the shadows from the corners of our souls. |
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| 26 | The Silence of God 13 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Job 26.14 “Why doesn’t God speak to us anymore?” is a question that had plagued many of us. What we need to realize is that his words are written upon the pages of his creation, and his syllables are spoken by ten thousand voices. it is our ears that are deaf and do not listen to his sweet voice. It is our eyes that are blind to the words written in the sky. It is the heart of humanity that is dull and sluggish in the presence of the living God.We must stop to peel the scales from our eyes and remove the plugs from our ears in order to train our hearts to hear the whisper of God’s voice. Then we can truly begin to seek the face of God and hear his voice. |
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| 28 | Fool’s Gold 14 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Job 28.12-24 Money has become an idol for many people today, but such idolization is meaningless in the eyes of God (Ecclesiastes 6.2) There are seven different Hebrew words for gold, and at least four of them appear in this chapter. The gold discussed in these verses is a refined gold gathered as a treasure.Money can buy many things, but it can’t buy the jewels of peace, love, joy, or happiness. With god, our wealth is of no concern. Everyone is treated equally before his throne. The foolish person does not mind being trapped in the world of financial gain, whereas the wise person abides in the freedom of God’s wisdom. |
| 29 | Look to the Past
“Oh, that I were as in the months past! As in the days when God watched over me.” (Job 29:2) God is watching over Job, even though he doesn’t realize it. When you hit a rough stretch, look back and remember all of the difficult situations the Lord got you through. Doing so will restore your hope and remind you that God is still watching over you. |
| 30 | Sometimes God is Silent
“I cry to you, but you do not answer me.” (Job 30:20) For the first 37 chapters of this book, Job poured out his heart and God said nothing. Sometimes the Lord is silent. Don’t stop speaking to him. He eventually answered Job and will answer you too… when the time is right. |
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| 37 | The Light of God 15 # Short Commentary and Lesson from Job 37.19-24 The great German teacher Neander once said, “I see before us a deep abyss, but above it shines a bright light. It is the dawn, or is it the evening twilight?” Today we stand before the godless abyss of our society. The clouds of unbelief are rolled back and we begin to see a glimpse of the light of God.Does the light grow dimmer with each passing day because of our sins? Or does it become brighter, exposing our hidden sins? May our eyes be opened to the brilliance of God’s glory and his compassion on us. |
| 38 | God is God and I Am Not!
“Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” (Job 38:4) As the Creator of the universe, God really does know best. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Job eventually learned this lesson and so should we.
In the end, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before the trials. Even though life can be difficult, there is a happy ending awaiting us. It may not occur in this life, but will happen in the next life if you don’t give up. Take a page from the Book of Job and keep crying out to the Lord. He will not desert you!
Job Meets God God Doesn’t Always Provide an Answer for Our Suffering (But He Does Still Have Everything Under Control) Job, although faithful, does want God to provide reasons for why he allowed him to suffer. God appears in a whirlwind (Job 38-42) and essentially, through a series of rhetorical questions, says, “Don’t question me. You’re finite and your mind can only understand the things of creation beyond a certain scope. I am infinite and all powerful.” Nevertheless, he does restore Job. But, the first time I encountered the passage, I was somewhat frustrated Job doesn’t receive an answer, after all the suffering he’d been through. However, this article by Rosemary Bardsley helped me to reorient my thinking about God’s response. God shows Job his unlimited knowledge and power to show him he has everything under control. It essentially calls Job to trust in God’s promises that he does have a plan for his life. |
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| 42 | Our Friends Don’t Always Give the Best Advice When We Suffer
Although his friends comfort him at first, they very quickly deliver their verdict: Job must’ve sinned to bring this disaster upon himself. Job defends his actions and says he never sinned, but his group of friends barrage him until God comes onto the scene and berates them for their unwise words (Job 42:7). In a similar fashion, our friends may not know what to say during our times of grief, and will end up twisting the truth or sounding pharisaical. Phrases such as: “Heaven has a new angel now” or “maybe you’re atoning for some past sin,” ect not only downplay the agony of the sufferer, but they often misconstrue the truth found in Scripture. When your friends offer advice, make sure to double check it against Scripture. Even if they use Scripture, read verses in context and understand the author’s original intent. |
| Promises for Us Job’s life had become a battlefield on which God and Satan did combat. The outcome depended on Job, who didn’t know anything depended on his response to a series of personal tragedies. Satan proposed the wager our of total confidence in his experience with human nature. God accepted the wager because he knew Job’s enormous trust in him was something Satan could not understand.Faith and doubt waged war for Job’s soul. They war in us, too. Every temptation to sin, every opportunity to help someone else, every ethical choice, every conversation is a skirmish that claims some of the terrain of our souls for light or darkness.Job never knew why his well-ordered life ripped to shreds. He raged at God because he couldn’t find out why, but he didn’t turn against God. Job shows us how to keep the faith, no matter how grim the circumstances of life may be. Sometimes the stakes are enormous, In the unseen world, Satan and the armies of darkness will be defeated because of our faith.For Consideration How can a person maintain faith in God in the face of apparently meaningless suffering? How could you relate to people who are suffering in order to comfort and encourage them? What do you think happened within the heart and mind of Job because of his suffering? |