Job: A Friend You Want to Stay Away

Job: A Friend You Want to Stay Away

Zophar listened to Job respond to Bildad’s second speech and became impatient. He is one of those people who would rather talk than listen. Do you know anyone like that? Zophar said, “My thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.” He doesn’t listen while others talk. Instead, he thinks about his response and can’t wait to share it. Zophar also noted that he was insulted by Job’s remarks (Job 20:3).

Job: Room for Mystery

Job: Room for Mystery

Writing about the greatness of God, the prophet Isaiah asked, “Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? (Isa. 40:13-14) The answer to these rhetorical questions is, “No one!” No man or woman can understand the mind of God and all the ways he works in our lives and the world.

Job: God in Balance

Job: God in Balance

Job lost his family, wealth, and health, leaving him to grapple with questions about God. The foundation of his life has collapsed. He is in emotional pain from losing his family. He endures physical suffering due to his deteriorating health. It’s hard for him to breathe (9:18), and he has no appetite (3:24). He is covered in painful, ulcerous sores (2:7). Additionally, he faces spiritual turmoil. What is God doing? Can I trust him? Is he enough?

Job: Who Suffers Without Reason?

Job: Who Suffers Without Reason?

Many people believe that life’s challenges are always the result of sin. They hold a “cause and effect” view of God: sin leads to punishment, while obedience results in blessings. However, our study reveals that Job was “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” God was not punishing Job for sin; instead, he was permitting Satan to test Job’s integrity.

Job: With Friends Like These

Job: With Friends Like These

Someone has said you should walk a mile in another person’s shoes before criticizing them. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and have their shoes! I think that’s worth a chuckle. However, what follows with Job’s three friends isn’t amusing. They began their interaction with severe criticism. They hadn’t walked a mile, not even a yard, in Job’s shoes. Yet, they were convinced that Job had done something terrible to lose his family, health, and livelihood, which led them to reprimand him.

Before we move on to Job 4, let me introduce Job’s friends and present a framework for examining the upcoming chapters of the book.

Job: Rock Bottom

Job: Rock Bottom

God and Satan interacted in the courts of heaven. Satan leveled allegations against both Job and God. Reading their discourse reveals a unique perspective, and I want to emphasize that Scripture indicates Satan appears before God continuously. Revelation 12:10 states that Satan accuses us, “day and night before our God.” In the dialogue recorded in Job 2, Satan argued that God secured Job’s love through blessings, which led God to permit Satan to initiate severe tests to prove the charges false.

Job: Skin for Skin

Job: Skin for Skin

With all his business dealings, Job had numerous friends and acquaintances. When he conducted business, one might imagine that Job provided them with comfortable lodging and the finest meals. He aimed to satisfy his clients, who rented his camels—”the ships of the desert”—by offering top-quality products and services. However, many friends were left speechless when Job’s life fell apart, causing them to distance themselves (which we’ll discuss later). Three friends reached out to each other and decided to visit Job to express their concern. They set a day and time to meet their friend Job in Uz.

Job: Skin for Skin

Job: Skin for Skin

Carmen was adamant. “Job did something wrong to cause these calamities! There’s no way God would allow this to happen otherwise.” The passion in her voice—and frankly, the volume—created a sense of unease in our small group, which quickly fell silent. I reviewed Job’s characteristics. “Carmen,” I said, “let’s look at the text again. Job was blameless, upright, feared God, and shunned evil.” But she remained unconvinced. Carmen interjected and insisted that the text didn’t mention Job’s disobedient actions. She firmly held to her belief that Job had acted against God.

Job: Naked

Job: Naked

It’s hard to fathom how Job’s pain could have been worse. We might be tempted to say, “My situation pales in comparison to Job. I should never complain, question, or doubt.” If Job’s suffering serves as the benchmark for our suffering, then the response to our pain becomes, “Suck it up. It could be worse. Just look at Job.” But that is wrong thinking.

Job: The Accuser

Job: The Accuser

I’ve heard it said that people love God like a farmer loves his cow—for the milk and cheese. Undoubtedly, many connect with God for the benefits. But what if all those benefits were taken away? Would we still love God? Would we still worship him? Satan asserts that humanity loves God only for the perks.

Job: What Did I Do?

Job: What Did I Do?

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.

Job: When Life Seems Unfair

Job: When Life Seems Unfair

Deb and Samuel (never call him Sam) were introduced by friends. If it wasn’t love at first sight, it was close. The new couple wanted to do things right. They followed God’s instruction for dating, became engaged, and planned their wedding. It was a beautiful candlelight ceremony in the country church where Samuel grew up. After the ceremony, the couple jumped in a car surrounded by family and friends and took off for Reno. They would catch an early flight for an island honeymoon. They hardly noticed the rain that had started pouring down.

Genesis: REFRESH and RESET

Genesis: REFRESH and RESET

Thank you for participating in this study of Genesis. What an incredible book! Today, I have provided a Genesis Refresh for you to use as a resource and review. It serves as a recap of the book. Tomorrow, we will continue our journey in the Old Testament by studying Job, followed by Isaiah. After that, we’ll move to the New Testament to delve into the Gospel of John, Romans, and Revelation. Also, I’ve written a few personal reflections as we close out Genesis.

Genesis/Psalms: The Good Shepherd (Part 3)

Genesis/Psalms: The Good Shepherd (Part 3)

Our study of Genesis introduced us to the mighty Creator God, who spoke the world into being, as well as the personal God who writes his story in us. When the patriarch Jacob was nearing death, he stated that God had been his shepherd “all my life long to this day” (Gen. 48:15). Six hundred years later, when the nation of Israel was well established, King David echoed Jacob’s words in the twenty-third psalm. This psalm is rich in depicting how God cares for his own. In the past two days, we have explored the first three verses. Today, as we conclude this psalm, let’s begin with verse 4.

Genesis/Psalms: The Good Shepherd (Part 2)

Genesis/Psalms: The Good Shepherd (Part 2)

In Genesis, God’s people were primarily shepherds. They guided their flocks to the mountain pastures for grazing and returned them to the sheep pens for safety. They understood the shepherd’s role in ensuring success in this livelihood. When Jacob was close to death, he praised God, “who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day” (Gen. 48:15).