April 2006 / Volume 17:4

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fact,Jobcon-tinuedtotrustGod.JobevensaidthatifGodkilledhim,hewouldstilltrustHim( Job13:15).

AfterJobwentthroughallhissufferingandcontinuedtotrustinGod,hewasblessedagainwithgoodhealth.Hisfinan-cialpossessionsincreasedtwiceasmuchashehadbeforehissuffering,andhehadtenmorechildren.Hegrewoldandwatchedhisgrandchildrengrow.

ButoneofthemostinterestingthingsaboutthestoryofJobisthefactthateventhoughGodspoketoJobinchapters38-41,Goddidnotgivehimareasonforhissuffering.Godnevereventriedtoex-plainwhyHeallowedJobtosuffer.FromtheBiblestory,wehavenorecordthatJobeverknewaboutSatan’stwomeetingswithGod,orwasevergivenareasonforhissuffering.Basically,GodhelpedJobunderstandthatGod’swaysarealwaysthebest,eventhoughwemaynotunderstandthem.

LookingbackonthestoryofJob,werealizethatGodwasusingJobtoshowtheworldthatnotallhumansareselfishandoutto“getthings”fromGod.Infact,JobshowsusthathelovedGodandwasgoingtotrustinHimregardlessofthetemptations

ManyyearsagotherelivedaveryrichmannamedJob.Heownedthousandsofsheep,cam-els,oxen,anddonkeys.Godhadblessedthismanwithmanyloyalservantsandwithsevensonsandthreedaughters.Jobwasarighteousmanwhodidwhatwasgoodandavoideddoingevil.Hewasre-spectedinhiscommunityandmanypeoplelookedtohimforhelp.Heoftenhelpedthepoor,widows,andorphans,andgaveexcellentadvicetoothers.

BecauseofJob’srighteouslife,SatanhatedhimandwantedtotempthimtogiveuphisfaithinGod.Oneday,SatancametopresenthimselftoGod.GodaskedifSatanhadtakenalookatJob,arighteous

manwhofearedGodandavoided

evil.SatanhadseenJob,butclaimedthatJobonly

servedGodbecauseGodhadblessedhimwithphysicalriches.

SatansaidthatJobwouldcurseGodtoHisfaceifJob’srichesweretaken

away.Godknewthiswouldnothappen,soHeal-lowedSatantostripJobofallhisearthlywealth.

InonedayJob’stenchildrenwerekilled,hislivestockandricheswerestolenordestroyed,andalmostallofhisservantswerekilled.WhenJobheardthetragicnewsofallhislosses,theBibletellsusthathe“felltothegroundandworshiped.”Hethensaid,“TheLordgave,andtheLordhastakenaway;blessedbethenameoftheLord”( Job1:21).Inallofhispainandloss,JobstilltrustedinGod.

ButSatanwasnotfinishedtormentingJob.InJobchaptertwowereadthatSatanagaincametoGod.GodagainaskedSatanifhehadtakenalookatJob.EventhoughJobhadsufferedsomuch,hestillhadhisfaithinGod.SatanrespondedthatJobstilltrustedGodbecauseJobhadnotsufferedphysi-calillnessordisease.IfJobwassickandhishealthwastakenaway,Satansaid,thenJobwouldcurseGod.KnowingthatSatanwaswrong,GodallowedSatantobringterriblephysicaldiseaseuponJob.

SatanstruckJobwithpainfulboils.Hisskinbe-camedryandcracked.WhenJobsatup,hehurt.Whenhelaydown,hehurt.Evenwhenhestoodup,thepainfromtheboilswasterrible.WhenhiswifesawJob’smiserablecondition,sheencouragedhimtocurseGodanddie.Buthewouldnot.Inallhissuffering,Jobdidnot“curseGod”likeSatanhadsaidhewould.In

thatSatanusedagainsthim.GodwasusingJobasanamazingexampleofpatienceintimesoftrouble.GodwasusingJobtowrite“thebook”onhumansuf-feringandendurance.Job’samazingpatiencehasbeenanexampleforliterallybillionsofpeopleforseveralthousandyears.Hisstoryhashelpedmanyotherpeopledealcorrectlywithtragedyintheirlives.EvenintheNewTestament,Job’sfaithfulattitudeisputforthasanexampletofollow(seeJames5:11).

Fromthisstory,weshouldlearnthatGodmightbeusingthesorrows,troubles,andtrialsthateachofusgothroughforamuchgreatergoodthatwedonotunderstandnow.Intheend,wemustrememberthat“allthingsworktogetherforgoodtothosewholoveGod”(Romans8:28)—evenpainandsuffering.

Job’sAmazingExampleofEndurance

KyleButt

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Job’s Three Friends DaveMiller

Jobdidn’tknowwhathithim!Hewaslivinglifewithhisfamilyandfriends,enjoyingtheblessingsthatGodhadshowereddownuponhim.Suddenly,outofnowhere,calam-itystruck!Hewasplungedintomisery,heartache,andgreatpain.First,helosthisposses-sionsandhiswealth.Thenhelosthistenchildren—allononeday!Theywerekilledwhenatornadocollapsedthehousewheretheywerehavingabirthdayparty.Andasifthesesad

eventswerenotenough,Jobwasthenafflictedwithahorribleskindiseasethatcausedpainfulsorestoappearalloverhisbody.Thesorescausedhimconstantsuffering.He

tookapieceofbrokenpotteryandbeganscrapinghissoresashesatonanashheap.

ThreeofJob’sbestfriends(Eliphaz,Bildad,andZophar)heardofhistragedies.SotheytraveledtowhereJoblivedinordertocomforthimandmournwithhimoverhislosses.Job’sbodywassouglyfromthesoresthathisfriendsdidnotrec-ognizehim,andtheybegantocrywhentheysawhowmiserablehelooked.Theysatdownwithhimontheground,buttheystayedsilentforawholeweekbecausetheycouldseethattheirfriend’sphysicalsufferingandgriefwereveryintense.

Finally,Jobcriedoutinanguish.Hesaidhewishedhehadneverbeenborn,orthathehaddiedatbirth.Hefelthewasbeingtortured.Hewonderedwhyhehadtoenduresuchhorriblesuffering.Havingspoken,Job’sthreefriendsbegan

tospeakonebyone.Theyhadonemainpoint,whichtheyrepeatedoverandoveragaintoJob.TheyinsistedthathewassufferingbecausehehadsinnedagainstGod.

TheydidnotknowthatitwasactuallySatanwhohadbroughtJob’ssufferingsuponHim—notbecausehehadsinned—butbecauseSa-tanwantedtotrytogetJobtoturnhisbackonGod.ThefriendswerewronginfalselyaccusingJob.Whatisthelessonforus?Wemustnotassumethatwhenbadthingshappentootherpeople,

itisautomaticallyduetosomewrongthey

havedone.

Haveyoueverheardyourparentsorgrand-parentssay:“You’regettingtoobigforyourbritches”?Thisexpressiondoesn’tmeanthatwehaveoutgrownourpants.Ratheritmeansthatwearegettingoutofline,andareprobablyacting(ortalking)inawaythatisn’trespectfultoourparentsorelders.We’remakingrequestsordemandsthatweprobablyshouldn’tbemaking.Thisispre-ciselywhatJobdidashissufferingcontinued.HerequestedtospeaktoGod—evenstating,“Youcall,andIwillanswer,orletmespeakfirstandYourespondtome”( Job13:22).InthemidstofJob’ssuffering,heforgottoWhomhewasspeaking.

InJobchapter38,GodrespondedtoJob.Thispassagebegins:“ThentheLordansweredJoboutofthewhirlwind,andsaid:‘Whoisthiswhodarkenscounselbywordswithoutknowledge?Nowprepareyourselflikeaman;Iwillquestionyou,andyoushallanswerMe.’”Godbasically

toldJob:“Youngman,you’vegottentoobigforyourbritches.Standuptallbecause

youandIaregoingtohaveatalk!OnlyI’mtheoneWhoisgoingtobedoingallthetalking.”So,forthenextthreechapters,God

poundedJobwithquestionafterquestion—manyofwhichwestillhavenotbeenabletoanswer.Con-sidersomeofthequestionstheLordaskedJob.

• WherewereyouwhenIlaidthefoundationsoftheUniverse?

• Canyoucommandthemorn-ingandcausedawn?

• Haveyouenteredintothespringsofthesea?

• Whereisthewaytothedwellingoflight?

• Haveyouenteredthetrea-suryofsnoworhail?

• Whomakesthepathforthethunder-bolt?Canyousendoutlightnings?

• Doesthehawkflybyyourwisdom?

• Canyoucontrolthebehe-mothortheleviathan?

GodwastryingtoshowJobjusthowmightyHewas.ThishumblingpassageisaremindertoallofusofjusthowpowerfulGodtrulyis.Hope-fully,Job’sexperiencewillhelpusremembernotevertobecometoobigforourbritches.

Too Big For Your BriTches? Brad harrub

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True or False

1. _____ Jobsufferedgreatloss,butstill trustedinGod.

2. _____ ThebookofJobsaysthatGod eventuallytoldJobwhyhewas suffering.

3. _____ Jobwasarealperson.

4. _____ Eliphaz,Bildad,andZopharstayed silentforawholeweekbefore speakingtoJob.

5. _____ Joblosthistenchildrenandallofhis wealthinoneday.

6. _____ GodblessedRahabforlying.

7. _____ Eliphaz,Bildad,andZopharaccused JobofsinningagainstGod.

8. _____ Jobisnevermentionedoutsideof thebookofJob.

Dear Digger Doug,

In the old Testament, when rahab hid the two spies to protect them, and then lied to the people about not know-ing them, did God consider that a sin? and if God considered it a lie, why was she rewarded?

Tucker anderson

age 11, stark City, Mo.

DearTucker,

Thankyouforyourquestion.Godhascertain-lyalwaysbeendispleasedwiththesinoflying.Proverbs6:17saysthat“theLordhates…aly-ingtongue.”OneoftheTenCommandmentswas,“Youshallnotbearfalsewitnessagainstyourneighbor”(Exodus20:16).IntheNewTestament,theapostlePaulwrote:“Donotlietooneanother”(Colossians3:9).

Rahabdid,indeed,lieabouttheIsraelitespies.ButshewasnotrewardedbyGodbecausesheliedorbecauseshewasaharlot.TheBiblerecordsmanysinfulactsthatGod’sservantscommittedthroughthecenturies.WhentheBiblepraisesthesemenandwomen,however,itisnotfortheirevildeeds.Noahwas“righ-teous,”notbecausehegotdrunkfollowingtheFlood(Genesis9:20-23),butbecauseheobeyedGodbybuildingthearkandpreachedGod’smessagefaithfully.Also,Davidwasoncecalled“amanafterGod’sownheart”(1Samuel13:14),butthiswasnotbecausehecommittedadulteryandhadamanmurdered.

RahabwasrewardedforherfaithintheonetrueGod,whichwasshownbythefactthat“shereceivedthespieswithpeace”(Hebrews11:31;James2:25).Scripturenowhereap-provesofRahab’ssinoflying.Rather,herrighteous worksarewhatGodcommendedandapproved.

ON A SEPARATE

SHEET OF PAPER

1. WritedownsomeofthequestionsGodaskedJob.

2. Whatlesson(s)canwelearnfromJob’sfriends?

1. _____ ToldJobtocurseGodanddie

2. _____ InsultedGodbyallegingthatJob onlyservedGodbecausehewas blessed

3. _____ Godaskedthismanquestionsthat hecouldnotanswer.

4. _____ AnanimalthatGodmadealong withJob

5. _____ ThisOldTestamentprophet mentionedJobbyname

6. _____ GodansweredJoboutofthis

7. _____ AllowedSatantotake Job’swealthandhealth awayfromhim

8. _____ Whilesuffering,Jobsat upononeofthese

9. _____ Job’sperseveranceis referredtobythis NewTestamentwriter

10. _____ OneofJob’sfriends

MaTChInG

A. Ashheap

B. God

C. Whirlwind

D. James

E. Satan

F. Zophar

G. Job’swife

H. Job

I. Ezekiel

J. Behemoth

CoMpleTe

The BIBle Verses1. “TheLord______,andtheLordhastaken

away;_______bethenameoftheLord”( Job1:21).

2. “Andweknowthat____thingsworktogeth-erforgoodtothosewho_____God,tothosewhoarethecalledaccordingtoHispurpose”(Romans8:28).

3. “ThoughHeslayme,yetwillI_____Him”( Job13:15).

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BaseduponthedegreeofsufferingthatJobendured,andtheshorttimeframeinwhichitalloc-curred,somepeoplebelievethatJobwasnotarealperson.Instead,theythinkhesimplywasmadeuptoteachalessonabouthumansuffering.Perhaps,theysay,heistobevaluedlikesuchBible-storyfiguresasthegoodSamaritan(Luke10:30-37),theprodigalson(Luke15:11-32),ortherichfool(Luke12:16-21).

IfJobwerenotmentionedanywhereelseintheBible,apartfromthebookofJob,thosewhoclaimhewasnotarealpersonmightbeabletoarguetheirpositionmoreconfidently.Butthefactis,JobismentionedinthreedifferentversesinScripture(outsidethebookofJob),andinallthreepassagesheisconsideredanactualperson.

ThefirsttwoplaceswherehisnameisfoundareEzekiel14,verses14and20.Inverse14,theprophetstated:“Evenifthesethreemen,Noah,

Daniel,andJob,wereinit,theywoulddeliveronlythemselvesbytheirrighteousness.”Verse20records:“[E]venthoughNoah,Daniel,and

Jobwereinit,asIlive,saystheLordGod,theywoulddelivernei-thersonnordaughter;theywoulddeliveronlythemselvesby

theirrighteousness.”Ezekiel’spointinbothverseswasthattheungodlyconditionsinthelandduringhisdayweresuchthatevenifNoah,Daniel,andJoblivedinthatcity,nooneelsewouldbesaved.Ezekielspokeofallthreeof

thesemenasbeingrealpeople,notlegendarycharacters.Jobisalsomentionedinthelatterpartofthebook

ofJames.Inchapterfiveweread:“YouhaveheardoftheperseveranceofJobandseentheendintendedby

theLord”(verse11).James,whowaswritingthroughin-spiration,wasnotwritingaboutanimaginaryperson!

Finally,thatJobwasarealpersonisstatedplainlybyGodwithinthebookofJobitself.Inhissecond“speech”toJob,Goddeclaredthatthemightybehemothwas“madealongwithyou”(40:15).IfJobwere

justafairytalecharacter,Godcertainlywouldnothavespokenashaving“made”him.EventhoughmuchaboutJobremainsamystery,wecan

knowthathewasarealpersonwhosufferedfarmorethanyouandme,andyetremainedfaithfultohisGod—justlikewemustdo.

32 Discovery • April2006 www.DiscoveryMagazine.com

True or False:1-T;2-F;3-T;4-T;5-T;6-F;7-T;8-F.MaTChInG:1-G(Job’swife);2-E(Satan);3-H(Job);4-J(Behemoth);5-I(Ezekiel);6-C(Whirlwind);7-B(God);8-A(Ashheap);9-D(James);10-F(Zophar).CoMpleTe The BIBle Verses:1-gave;blessed;2-all;love;3-trust.

Was Job a real person?

ERICLYONS

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