The Trouble with Trials
Job, short series • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Background
Background
We hear comments about the patience of Job…
Could be the pain of Job; should be the faith of Job
Author unknown; may have been an oral history, written down by Moses or a contemporary
Historical character, mentioned elsewhere in Scripture; not a nice allegory
Though the dialogue was no doubt later set down in poetic form
Narrative set in the time of the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob c. 2000-2100 BC
Wealth measured in possessions, persons controlled
Pre Moses; thus, pre-law
A rather familiar story
Quick summary:
Quick summary:
Satan (the adversary) comes into the presence of God—as something of an interloper
Linguistics suggest “what are you doing here?”
His answer suggests “looking to cause trouble where I can” (Pitcher Paraphrase)
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
He’d come to the right place; but, like the devil in the Charlie Daniels song, he was outmatched
Satan challenges God: “He’s only good because you bless him”
Property taken; kids taken; stayed faithful
Health gone; stayed faithful (next week)
Friends wrongfully challenged him as being unrighteous; he made defenses—we’ll bypass that one
Understanding of the day: righteousness/obedience corresponded to blessing; sin and rebellion to punishment (you deserved what you got in life)
Concept of discipline was not understood; concept of lessons not understood
Main Idea: How Can a Good God Tolerate Evil
Main Idea: How Can a Good God Tolerate Evil
Theodicy—the vindication of divine goodness and providence in view of the existence of evil (Oxford dictionary)
Certainly relates to Job…and to the days in which we live as well
How and why would a good God allow such to happen to a good and godly man?
How would a good God allow the “invasion” of a virus taking lives, disrupting families, livelihoods, lifestyles...
Jobs are gone, savings shrinking, (some) people behaving in worst possible ways...
Looking at Job helps us understand
How Do We Respond?
How Do We Respond?
How do we answer the questions, “Where is God?” “How could He allow...”
A full examination of Job shows that God never fully answers Job when he asks similar questions
Yet, the answer is revealed
Person
Person
In vv. 1-5
Shown as an upright man…a wealthy man
7000 sheep; 3000 camels; 500 yoke of oxen; 500 female donkeys
Fuzzy math ~$8 million, greatest man in the east Jeff Bezos (Amazon, 140 $Billion)
Loved his kids; all 10 of them
Served as a family priest—making intercession for his family just in case...
God identifies him as “My servant!”
…but wait, there’s more!
v.8, none like him…blameless and upright…fears God and turns away from evil
Proposal
Proposal
Satan baiting God…you’ve fenced him in from evil…loaded him with blessings...of course he serves you!
But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
Permission
Permission
God allowed the testing
God removed His hand of blessing and protection “Knock yourself out…”
…with one limitation (in round one); don’t harm the man himself
Gloves off in round 2—next week
Performance
Performance
Move into vv. 13-19
Oxen and donkeys stolen & servants killed
Sheep and more servants killed
Camels stolen, yet more servants killed
His children killed
All seemingly in a moment
Life as he knew it ended; he was in uncharted territory
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
Perspective
Perspective
Lets start with his faith; God Himself identified it
…fears God and turns away from evil
2 issues there
The faith—the fear—awe inspired reverence; does not preclude a knee-knocking fear; but more reverencing/worshipping...
The behavior
The OT statement was “he walked with God” as Enoch and Noah in Gen. 5-6
He lived by faith, though not mentioned in the “Hall of Faith” of Heb. 11, or in Romans
We don’t understand how the faith of Job came to be
We know God spoke directly to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and by angels, may conclude same with Job
Evidence is there; God identified him as His servant and the relationship was proven by the way Job lived
We have the ability to know the source of our faith through Jesus Christ; only through Him
Two things we should get right out of this
To have the faith; to have the walk
Many do try to get that backwards—to gain the faith by walking the walk—doesn’t work
Let’s Get This Right
Let’s Get This Right
Cannot be a loose, non-objective faith; must be in something—Jesus Christ: only He can save
We have to do it His way, not ours
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
We must believe that He is who He says He is; He says He’s God
I and the Father are one.”
…and that he’s the only way to the Father
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Cases of a 20 cent question and a 200 dollar answer
If the faith is true, the walk—like Job’s—will be right
Because of his faith, Job was able to stand the trip into uncharted territory—and it would get worse
How are you doing?
Having the firm faith in God, through Jesus Christ, we can survive whatever uncharted territory we must traverse
If you have fears, doubts, overwhelming cares and concerns, reach out via email, message...
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