Job 1:1-5

“God, what did I do to deserve this!?”

Have you ever asked that question? Sheila has. The signs of her multiple sclerosis worsening appeared after the birth of her second son. She attributed the increasing weakness in her right leg to the exhaustion of being a new mother. Additionally, during her last checkup, there were signs of improvement. The doctor even mentioned the word “remission.” However, chasing a two-year-old around all day and not getting much sleep at night caused her MS to flare up significantly. This realization triggered overwhelming fear and anxiety. One afternoon, while both boys were napping, she sank into a chair and cried through her tears, “God, what did I do to deserve this!?”

Many people believe that God continually punishes them for their sins. They think that every misfortune in life results from something they did or didn’t do, suggesting a direct connection between disobedience and personal struggles. Being imprisoned for murder or being isolated in an apartment after an affair that devastated your family are two clear examples of the consequences of sin. It’s easy to identify the sinful act that led to these situations. However, in many cases, the connection may not be as clear. We will observe this in Job’s life.

The author of Job begins his theological and literary masterpiece with a clear statement: “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job…” (Job 1:1a). Job lived in Uz, but the exact location of this land is debated. Some scholars believe Uz is synonymous with Edom, a kingdom located southeast of Canaan (now the southern regions of Jordan and Israel). However, Jeremiah 25:20-21 describes Uz and Edom as distinct places. Lamentations 4:21 suggests that Uz was a neighboring country to Edom. Most scholars assert that Uz was in northern Arabia, which aligns with Job’s description as “the greatest of all the people in the east” (Job 1:3).[1]

In Genesis, God declared that One would be born who would crush Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15) and chose a people through whom to send his Son. Genesis reveals how the powerful and personal God interacted with a select few, while the book of Job broadens the perspective to show that God is actively calling people to himself worldwide. God, Elohim, is the sovereign One over heaven and earth! His work in people’s lives is not confined to certain families. This is evident in God’s call to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:17-24). Another example is in Joshua, where God inspires a Canaanite prostitute to proclaim, “The Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath” (Josh. 2). Similarly, Job lived in the time after Genesis 3 and was affected by sin just like you and I (Rom. 5:12), yet God miraculously transformed his heart. This is confirmed as the writer delves deeper into describing Job with four attributes:[2]

• Blameless. This is the Hebrew word tam. It describes a person who is complete, upright, and honest. In Genesis 25:27, tam is used to describe Jacob and translated as “quiet” or “even-tempered.” Job wasn’t sinless, but he wholeheartedly desired to please God. He was absent from observable sinful acts.
• Upright. The Hebrew word for this is yashar, meaning straight. Job remained faithful to God’s standards. This word describes an individual’s relationship with others (Ps. 25:21, 37:37).
• To fear God. An unbeliever fears God’s judgment. It is a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). However, for a believer, fearing God means living in devotion and admiration of him. Job offered God “acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…” (Heb. 12:28). Job did not fear God. He desired to surrender to God’s leading. This fear, as the proverb states, “is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7).
• Turned away from evil. To “turn away from” means to “abandon” or to “stand at a distance from.” Once again, Job was not sinless but committed to avoiding anything contemptible or corrupt.

God was at work in Job’s life, allowing him to live in reverence and awe, avoid evil, and maintain integrity before God and man.

The opening verses of Job illustrate his immense wealth. Job owned seven thousand sheep, which provided food for his family, warm clothing, and a significant income from wool sales. He possessed three thousand camels, likely rented out to caravans traveling east and west. Camels were often referred to as “ships of the desert.”[3] Job had one thousand oxen to cultivate the vast fields for planting and harvesting.

Furthermore, he owned five hundred female donkeys. Some were used to transport essential equipment from one place to another, while others provided donkey milk—a delicacy at the time.[4] One can only imagine how many workers Job employed to oversee such an enterprise.

And God blessed Job with a wife and ten children—seven sons and three daughters—a large family that embodied God’s love and approval. An added benefit was that they enjoyed spending time together! Imagine that!

Job 1:4-5
His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

There is no evidence that the family birthday parties turned into wild celebrations. However, as the pastor of his family, Job was concerned about the state of his children’s hearts. What a model parent! He continually prayed for his family, engaged with them, and offered sacrifices on their behalf… just to be safe.

So… let me present Job. He was a man who had it all: Love for God? Check. Successful? Check.  A loving family? Check. When you ask people how they’re doing, they might jokingly say, “Living the dream!” Job was truly living the dream until his life came crashing down one day, and he had done nothing to deserve it! That’s where we’ll start next time.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 1:1-5
Get to know Job. Review the four attributes given to describe him. Do these describe you?

Talking to God
Talk with God about the character traits Job exhibits. Seek his guidance in honestly evaluating how you are performing in these areas.

Have Questions?
Please let us know if you have any questions about today’s reading or teaching. Our team is here to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we will reply soon.

To gain a deeper understanding of Satan’s work and how believers can resist, listen to the six-part sermon series titled “Battle Ready” HERE.

Hear my conversation with Arie Harel about his parents’ survival during the Holocaust and their differing responses to God. Tune in to The Journey with Ron Moore Podcast, Episode 67, on your favorite podcast platform.

[1] John Peter Lange et al., A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Job (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2008), 289.

[2] We will consider more characteristics of Job throughout our study. Here is the survey of Job’s additional attributes. “Additional biographical facts about this patriarch are given elsewhere in the Book of Job. He was highly respected (Job 29:7–11), a fair and honest judge (29:7, 12–17), a wise counselor (29:21–24), an honest employer (31:13–15, 38–39), hospitable and generous (31:16–21, 32), and a farmer of crops (31:38–40).” Roy B. Zuck, “Job,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 719.

[3] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 310.

[4] Charles R. Swindoll, Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance (Thomas Nelson, 2004), 6.