Category Archives: Book of Job

“Answers for a study in the book of Job” (and other books of the Bible) is a weekly post in addition to the regular “apologetics” posts on the weekend where the original questions can be found at the bottom of the study, and then answers appear here mid-week. This gives you time to do your own research, and then check your answers. Keep in mind these will be basic answers with a little depth, but you can go much deeper for discussion if you’d like.

To finish our chronological study of the book of Job we will look at some specific question from the narrative. As an early narrative chronologically, we will keep in mind the story is said to have happened after the flood and the other events of Genesis 1-11, but prior to the time of Abraham in Genesis 12.

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

If you have not done so already, read through the book of Job (or listen to an audio version) in one sitting to get the big picture of the narrative. Use this framework as the lens for your reading:

• God’s Kingdom and His sovereignty throughout the story
• Humanity’s fallen nature and imperfect interaction with each other and with God – thus the need for a Savior (Jesus)
• God’s restorative power and promise of a return to perfection – a picture of the Redeemer and Promised Messiah of Genesis 3:15 (Jesus)
• A picture of the Redeemer and Promised Messiah of Genesis 3:15 (Jesus)

Context of the reading: Look for answers to these key questions from your reading:

1) What was the interaction between God and Satan, and how does this interaction show God’s sovereign control over all things?

^“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.”  Job 1:6-12 (NASB)

“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.” Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.” So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life. Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” Job 2:1-7 (NASB)

• God questions Satan about his whereabouts and actions
• God presents Job’s righteousness to Satan, and Satan tells God that Job only honors and respects God because God has blessed him and protects him – but notice Satan lied, because what he said did not come true.
• God allows Satan to take everything away from him, even his health – yet Job does not curse God.

Notice: In the entire interaction God is always in control of both the conversation with Satan, and what He allows Satan to do. This also seems to indicate that God has foreknowledge of how Job would handle the situation, and ultimately God is right in His judgment and actions (Satan is not – he is a deceiver).

2) Who were the four people that came to talk to Job after Satan had afflicted him? List a few of the good things they did to help Job, and some of the bad things they said or did that actually hurt Job.

They all did the right thing for the first week by just listening to Job, sitting silently with him and grieving with him. Then they all had to speak…

Eliphaz the Temanite: Tells Job that the innocent do not suffer, and that he is suffering because he has sinned. Tells him to go to God and place his cause before him. Job tells him, to stop the accusations and take them back because they are false.

Bildad the Shuhite: Tells Job that God rewards the good and that Job won’t admit he sinned, so he’s still suffering – he asks him how long will he (Job) continue to say the things he saying in his own defense. Job tells him that God is the only one who can tell him why these things are happening to him.

Zophar the Naamathite: Rebukes Job and tells him that his sin deserves even more suffering that he’s experiencing. He tells him to put his sin far away. Job says in his own defense that he knows he will be vindicated.

Elihu the Buzite (the youngest one): Tells Job that God is using suffering to mold and train Job. Even though he’s the youngest, he still tells Job to keep silent and listen, and that he will teach Job wisdom. Elihu claims to speak for God (33:4) but that is questionable. Job does not make a response to Elihu.

3) What was Job’s overall demeanor and attitude during this ordeal, give a few examples? Did he ever reject God?

Job never rejected God, but he did question:

• Even though Job was grieving, hurting and at a loss to understand why, he never did what his wife said, and that was to “curse God and die.”
• Job had a reverent respect for God through it all, yet he questioned why God even allowed him to be born, and why he even existed (his purpose) at all.
• Job says that God has shattered him and that he has become a byword among everyone.
• Even though Job was hurting beyond measure, he still claimed that his Redeemer lives (19:25) and that he still longed for God (23).

4) How did God finally respond to Job in the last few chapters (what are some important points to remember)?

First: God questions Job, and speaks to His own authority and power in chapters 38 – 41, this includes:

• His mighty power over all things
• His control over all nature and how it came into being
• His power shown in created creatures (like Behemoth and others) and in nature itself (such as weather, seasons, life and death)

Second: God rebukes Job’s friends in chapter 42 because they did not speak what was right about God, so He has them do a burnt offering for forgiveness, and instructs that Job would be the one to pray for them. Job becomes an intercessor, just as Jesus would.

Read the passage:

God Displeased with Job’s Friends

 ‘It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job.”  Job 42:7-9 (NASB)

Third: God restores Job and all that he had is increased tremendously (chapter 42) more than he had before. READ CHAPTER 42 FOR A GOOD ENDING TO THE STORY!

Note: Job’s kids were not a replacement for the others, rather it symbolically showed God’s restorative power and ultimate redemption (were they reunited in Heaven? Probably!) We can also note the importance of kids in ancient cultures (a sign of wealth and blessing, needed to work and continue the family line). Also, the importance of fulfilling God’s command to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.

5) Where is Jesus? What are some things we see in this book that point to, or foreshadow, Jesus and the promise God has made of salvation through Him?

• The book of Job can be seen as a picture of life here on this earth, including all of the suffering and evil we experience, and the ultimate restoration and redemption promised from God’s Covenant from the beginning (Genesis 3:15), we will experience in the end (in Heaven).
• Jesus specifically fulfilled this promise in His death and resurrection that made it possible for us to have an eternal home with Him in Heaven.
• We can see a glimpse of what Jesus would suffer for us in Job’s suffering – reference 2:12 – Job gives us a picture of Jesus (unrecognizable, like Job, after His beating and crucifixion).
• We specifically see this reference to the Redeemer, Job’s Redeemer, in chapter 19:23-27: READ…

“Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! “That with an iron stylus and lead They were engraved in the rock forever! “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!”

6) Application: Looking at the overall context of the book, what are some personal life applications you can take away from this teaching in God’s Word (how does this help us understand our own struggles and sufferings today)?

Answers here can vary, but might include…

• We, like Job, can say “I know that my Redeemer lives” and this can give us comfort that we are only in suffering for a moment in time and that Jesus has prepared a place for us where there will no longer be any suffering, pain or death (see Revelation 21:1-7).
• Unlike Job, we can see the big picture, and we know the end of the story, so our hope can be based on truth, and we can trust that God is with us through both the good and the bad here in this life.
• Job helps us to see that there is a spiritual world (and spiritual warfare) going on all the time, and all around us. Knowing that, we should keep our eyes on God, praying for protection and comfort for ourselves, our loved ones, and our Christian family.

7) Going Deeper for an apologetics’ discussion: Based on your reading of Job, do you think there is an equal power struggle between good and evil, or even the idea that evil does not exist, as many schools of thought say today, and why? Defend your answer using Scripture.

Answers here can vary, but might include…

• Reviewing the interaction between God and Satan in chapters 1 and 2, we can see that God is in control of all things and puts limits on what Satan can do.
• There is no equal power between good and evil, but because of the Fall (Genesis 3) we experience evil in this world due to a few factors:
  • Our own sinful desires (Pride, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes)
  • Demonic forces at play in the spiritual realm
  • Natural consequences of the Fall (death, disease, natural disasters etc.)

8) The Shelf: Are there any additional questions, comments or concerns you have after reading and discussing this book?

Answers here may vary...

Please join us each week as we continue our case for the Old Testament!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

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Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15