The Testing of Job - Job 1:20-2:10

by David Woods

In a sermon titled, In the Father's Arms, Jill Briscoe says:

Not too long ago I was babysitting one of our three, 3-year-old grandchildren. In our family, we had twins and a single birth all within 24 hours. We call them Search, Destroy, and Demolition. I was to babysit Demolition. As I waved good bye to his parents, he looked perfectly all right. We had a little story out of his favorite book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. I put him to bed and went to sleep.

In the middle of the night, I felt a little hand, and I turned on the light. I looked at Drew: chicken pox from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. "Nana," he said, "Me's having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Why should some things like this happen to I?"

I thought how like Drew we all are. Why should something like this happen to me? We cannot believe it. As Miss Piggy says, "Moi? Not moi." We cannot believe that God would allow something to happen to such nice people like us.

I gave Drew a bath in porridge--oatmeal. It's a wonderful remedy. It takes away the itch. He swam around in this porridge bath, and then I took him out and wrapped his bumpy, little body in a great, big white towel. As I held him against my heart, he just kept saying, "Hold me, Nana. Hold me, Nana. Hold me, Nana." I thought of Job as I held my little Job to my heart.

One of the "Pertinent Principles" for our lesson states: "God will not permit any trouble to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty." (Peter Marshall, p. 69)

Discussion: Do you agree or disagree? Has every trouble you have endured resulted in some kind of great blessing?

This lesson teaches us about the limits of the evil Satan can work against us.

Discussion: What are the limits of Satan?

We know and believe that God is good. He is not tempted by sin nor does He commit evil deeds.

Discussion: However, if Satan had to be allowed by God to harm Job, does that not mean that God is implicated in the evil that came upon Job? Why or why not?

I think that Americans especially are concerned about fairness. It is unfair if rich stockholders share insider information with one another. It is deemed to be unfair if workers are not given a wage that society as a whole deems to be fair.

Discussion: Is unfairness sin? Is God required to be fair with us? If so, why do some suffer great trouble and others suffer little?

Discussion: Was it fair for Job - an extremely righteous man - to be deprived of everything he had - family, fortune, and his well-being? (Read verse three again.)

Read Job 30:20-27

Discussion: Did Job think God was being fair to him?

Discussion: Is it wrong to be angry with God? Why or why not?

Discussion: Is it wrong to question God?

I've been asking a lot of questions that may seem quite troublesome. In my opinion, some of these questions are a bit unanswerable.

Indeed, as the writer of the "Doctrinal Discussion" says:

It is probably the greatest judgmental error of man to try to understand why either he or another suffers. Does God allow suffering because man deserves it, even over the course of time? Sometimes, but not always. Does God allow tragedy to enter our lives to teach us a lesson, cure our faults, or educate us? Sometimes, but not always. Does God permit disaster to fall upon His children to test them? Sometimes, but even this reason falls short of a complete answer. Is suffering planned for our lives to make us more sensitive to others in need? Probably more people respond in cynicism and bitterness; God knows that many will not gain this result. (pp. 71-72)

There are many things about trouble and suffering for which we do not have the answers. But I do believe that we can be confident of at least four things.

1. God is God.
2. God is good.
3. God loves us.
4. God knows what He is doing.

But I want us to consider at least one more tough question. God promises to be with us every step of the "Christian way". He promises to hear and answer our prayers. But when Job called to God - for some time God did not answer him. The skies were brass.

Discussion: How do you think Job must have felt when God was silent?

Discussion: Why is God silent sometimes? What should our response be to His silence?

Often, preachers and teachers will encourage their hearers to witness for Christ. Often, lay people feel very intimidated about speaking for Christ to their friends, co-workers, and complete strangers. They often say, "How I live is my witness."

Discussion: What does this scripture teach us about how great an influence our lives are - or can be?

Discussion: Why did Satan doubt Job's integrity? (vv. 4-5)
(The verse comments suggest that Satan thought everyone else was as selfish as he.)

Discussion: What can this example teach us about how to respond/feel to the suspicion of unbelievers concerning our character?

Discussion: What lesson should this example teach us about the importance of integrity?

No one wants to suffer. But most of us probably will go through some trouble or suffering - if we have not already.

Discussion: Should we attempt to prepare for trials? If so, how?

Discussion: Can we ever truly be completely prepared for trials? If so, how?

Read Job 42:1-6

Discussion: What was God's reaction to how Job had handled this adversity? What was Job's evaluation of his own response?

I don't know that we will ever be completely prepared for the trials that come upon us. After all, if we were prepared, why would God see a need to allow us to go through this trial?

Of course, that question assumes that God sees a need for every trial that we go through - and I'm not sure that supposition can be established without exceptions.

Still, for whatever reason I go through trials in life, I hope that in that trouble I will remember - and be ever more convinced of the fact - that 1) God is God, 2) God is good, 3) God loves me, 4) God knows what He is doing.

And, I hope that through the time of suffering I will become more Christlike - that it will refine my character and that I might profit from the trouble because I have trusted in God.

-- Jill Briscoe, "In the Father's Arms," Preaching Today, Tape No. 141.