In Job’s story the question is, “can a man lose everything and still follow God?”

1 – Accused by Satan (vs. 1-8)

• Satan’s persistence (vs. 1-3) – God initiates the conversation with Satan. Satan does not give up easily. He wants to try again at Job.
• Satan’s persuasion (vs. 4-5) – Satan knows that Job still has his health as he himself has been untouched. He believes that Job is only praising God because he has not been touched.
• Satan’s permission (vs. 6) – Satan is allowed to have the body of Job but cannot kill him. God is in control. Satan can go so far and no further. He needs permission from God.
• Satan’s persecution (vs. 7-8) – Job is struck with a disease that causes boils/sores all over his body. It is like those in Exodus. The pain was intense and affected every aspect of his life.

2 – Abandoned by his wife (vs. 9-10)

• Her advice – It appears that Job did not kill Job’s wife as he knew he could use her to do more damage to Job! She asks Job to do exactly what Satan wanted Job to do! We have to be careful listening to the advice of those close to us. After all the suffering she may have thought it the best option. He was already out of the house and living at the city dump!
• Job’s answer – Job does not listen to his wife. Job’s wife was talking like an unbeliever. Job has been stripped of all props. He still believes in God. A good wife is needed in hard times. We need help when difficulties come. It is important to pull together and not apart.

3 – Assaulted by his friends (vs. 11-13)

When we talk today about Job’s counsellors we talk about those who make you feel worse after they came! They did some good things. They all went together to see Job. They all had hearts of compassion when they saw his appearance and they began to weep and tore their robes. They kept quiet for seven days. The best thing they did! What followed afterwards was negative. They thought they knew the answers but they were wrong.

4 – Lessons learnt

• Trials teach us patience – Job showed his patience to his wife. He reasons with her to see God through his eyes. See James 5:11. Satan’s purpose was to get Job to be impatient and give up. Job never loses faith in his God. He knew that he could trust God. Patience is something we need and can only get by going through trials. See James 1:2-3. If you pray for patience you will get trials!
• Trials teach us perspective – Perspective is how we look at things. Job had a perspective on his trials. He realised that he had been the recipient of many undeserved blessings from God. Instead of asking why so many die. We should ask why there are so many people still living. Too many people ignore God in the good times and complain when their world shakes. Job accepted good and bad and praised God.
• Trials teach us persistence – Job proves it is possible to worship God in difficult times. Even if God does not give us the answers. The circumstances of life do not have to alter our commitment to the Almighty God. If God will see us to heaven, then He will see us through today till tomorrow.

Categories: Job