Lesson 8
Scripture: Job 42:
7-17
We have come to the point in this
study when we close up what we have learned. My hope is that at this point, we have all come to understand the truths
of Job more clearly and that understanding or wisdom brings us into closer
relationship with God. We finished last section with Job admitting that he
was speaking of things he did not understand and his asked for forgiveness. Job
repents of this lack of understanding but never admits to some sin that would merit
such punishment from God. Rather he
repents for saying that God was not administering justice fairly and God is his
enemy. But before Elihu speaks, Job (31:23) tells us that his desire to
love God comes not from faith alone, but his fear that he would lose all he
has. Not surprising, this was Satan’s argument all along and Elihu picks up on
this as central to his complaint against Job. But by being faithful in this
way, a theology of fear, Job had lost sight of what is important about God. One of the greatest themes of the story is
the character of God. So often, especially in our modern world today, we
see God as distant and impersonal, an uncaring God who is not part of our world
even as we acknowledge that God created it. We see God as having little
compassion for our trials and tribulations and our suffering. Or some might
argue as Job’s friends argued, God is a judgmental God who causes us to suffer
for our sins, something as humans we do all too often. And then we encounter
this loving God in the New Testament that forces us into a new perspective of
God. But in the story of Job, Job has little or no knowledge of this loving
God. Rather, we are given to understand that Job agrees with his friends that suffering
is a result of his own sin or that of his ancestors.
God starts
out by rebuking Job’s friends. God
challenges the things they said about God. God challenges their compassion
of Job and the idea that God would cause Job’s suffering. In order for them to
get right with God, they must make penitence with God. Remember that Job had
entered into the story as a righteous person in God’s eyes and Satan challenged
God that Job was righteous because his life was so good. And Job understood
that he was suffering not because of some sin, but because of something other
than that. His friends on the other hand had little compassion for Job and
refused to believe that Job was blameless. And
God responded to Job not by addressing their concerns, but by showing Job a
broader perspective of God. And God’s response is a wonderful way to strip
away how we view God and show us a greater perspective of who God is. We can no
longer look at our lives in terms of good or bad based on material things, but
rather that we must look at our lives in the context that we are here to serve
God. That is not easy, nor is it worldly rewarding. Rather it is that we are
here in the midst of a greater battle of good and evil played out often in the
world in front of us and so often we are the actors and actresses in this play.
We must deal with the fact that when we are in fact living in this new reality
of life, we can neither anticipate nor plan for the future. And suffering is a
real part of this world in which we live when we follow Jesus.
God in his
response and throughout this story shows us that God is a God of compassion and
a caring and loving God who watches everything we do. God constantly is working
in the world limiting Satan’s power in our lives and those around us. Having
said that, God does not stop evil from permeating its way into our world.
Certainly 9/11 and the events of April 16th on the VT campus are
examples of that evil played out through the actions of humans. What God also
wants us to see and understand is that God is fighting that battle for us and
often with us. IN our modern perspective (modern here because Job knew nothing
of Jesus or did he [allow time]) we have the sacrifice of Jesus through the
cross to see this caring, loving and compassionate side of God. But we also must not ever lose sight of the
suffering that God was willing to share through Jesus and so we as Christians
must accept that suffering is a reality of this life and our journey.
In the end
God restores what Job has lost. But not just what Job has lost, God restores
double. In Exodus God decreed for the life of the Israelite, that if they do
harm to another that they must return that which was lost in twice the quantity
(Ex 22: 1-9).
NRS Exodus 22:1 When
someone steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, the thief shall
pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. The thief shall make
restitution, but if unable to do so, shall be sold for the theft. 2
If a thief is found breaking in, and is beaten to death, no bloodguilt is
incurred; 3 but if it happens after sunrise, bloodguilt is incurred.
4 When the animal, whether ox or donkey or sheep, is found alive in
the thief's possession, the thief shall pay double. 5 When someone
causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets livestock loose to graze
in someone else's field, restitution shall be made from the best in the owner's
field or vineyard. 6 When fire breaks out and catches in thorns so
that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, the one
who started the fire shall make full restitution. 7 When someone
delivers to neighbor money or goods for safekeeping, and they are stolen from
the neighbor's house, then the thief, if caught, shall pay double. 8
If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall be brought before God,
to determine whether or not the owner had laid hands on the neighbor's goods. 9
In any case of disputed ownership involving ox, donkey, sheep, clothing, or any
other loss, of which one party says, "This is mine," the case of both
parties shall come before God; the one whom God condemns shall pay double to
the other.
And so God makes good in the same way that God has decreed
in us. This also shows God’s compassionate and fairness, something that Job had
spoken out against. And so we come to this point with several important themes
in this story. They are:
1. Even
good Godly people suffer.
2. Truths
that we have been taught, like suffering is the result of sin, are not always
true.
3. One
can question, maybe even argue with God if the argument is truthful and honest.
4. We
should love God not for what we might gain, but simply because that is what we
must do.
5. God
is God! God is so complex that we can neither fully appreciate nor understand
God. Remember, Solomon was given total wisdom and drove him insane.
And as a side note, think about how Job’s story and Jesus
story parallel or divert. How can we see Jesus in Job’s story or hear of Jesus
there. And how is the story of Job different?
Lesson 8 Questions
Read Job 42: 7-17
Answer
the following questions in discussion group:
1.
Why
does God rebuke the three friends?
2.
What
does he demand of them?
3.
What
do you make of the fact that God does not speak about Elihu?
4.
In
this whole story, where do you see injustice?
5.
Where
do you see justice?
6.
Why
did God restore double what had been taken (hint: see Exodus 22: 1-9)?
7.
Tell
how the story of Job might parallel the story of Jesus?
8.
What
are your final thoughts on the story of Job?
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