Job 1:13-22 Job – Part 1: “The Relevance of Suffering”

Job 1:13-22 (NIV) One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, a messenger came to Job and said,

Job 1:13-22 (NIV) "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

Job 1:13-22 (NIV) While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

Job 1:13-22 (NIV) While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said,

Job 1:13-22 (NIV) "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

Job 1:13-22 (NIV) While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house,

Job 1:13-22 (NIV) when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

Job 1:13-22 (NIV) At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:

Job 1:13-22 (NIV) "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Job 1:13-22 (NIV) In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job Suffering is so hard to understand because it suggests there is a randomness to God. Job's suffering seems to come out of nowhere and have no connection to his character.

Job His story is recorded for us so that we will have some help in living through these calamities—bowing reverently and trustingly before the sovereign goodness of God.

Bottom Line: A Jesus-centered response to suffering moves us from the “why” questions to “who” question.

A Brief Description of the Book of Job “a man in the land of Uz... blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” - Job 1:1 The purpose of the book is to make a clear case for God’s righteousness in the midst of innocent suffering.

Testing a Righteous Man (1:1-2:10) Two tragedies came from known enemies. Two tragedies came from what we would call “acts of God”.

Testing a Righteous Man (1:1-2:10) At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (1:20-21).

Tough Questions and Unhelpful Friends (3:1-37:24) The irony of the speeches is that Job’s friends are wrong but they argue their case well. Job, on the other hand, is right but he argues it poorly.

Tough Questions and Unhelpful Friends (3:1-37:24) "Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding” (Job 36:5). “He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity” (Job 36:15).

Tough Questions and Unhelpful Friends (3:1-37:24) ”Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?” “Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, 'You have done wrong'?” (Job 36:22- 24).

The Who Question (38:1-42:6) “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me” (38:2-3). “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (38:4)

The Who Question (38:1-42:6) “Have you entered into the springs of the sea?” (38:16) “Are you a father to rain?” (38:28) “Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?” (39:1)

The Who Question (38:1-42:6) “Do you give the horse his might?” (39:19) “I heard of you by the hearing of the ear but now my eye sees you; therefore I repent in dust and ashes” (42:5-6).

The Who Question (38:1-42:6) God is worthy of faith and trust even though his ways are often mysterious.

The Restoration of Job (42:7-17) “blessing the latter days of Job more than the beginning” (42:12).

How Job Helps Us It shows us that suffering, while mysterious, is never pointless “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).

How Job Helps Us “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb 12:11).

How Job Helps Us It reminds us that sorrow and tough questions are not signs of a weak faith. It calls us to live on “who?” and not “why?”

How Job Helps Us It invites us to be Jesus- Centered and choose to bless

How Job Helps Us 1:21 - “the Lord gave and Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord” 42:5 – “I heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.”

Finding God in the midst of all the pain, confusion and uncertainty of life is a difficult task. Trusting God is an even more difficult journey.