For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.
Passage: Job 1:1-5
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ This was Job’s regular custom.
A. Find Out
- How is Job described? v.1
- How many family members did he have? v.2
- What did he own? v.3
- What did his family do regularly? v.4
- What would he do for his family? v.5a
- Why? v.5b
B. Think:
- What was Job’s relationship with God?
- How did Job lead his life?
- In what practical way did he bring the two together?
C. Comment:
Uz (v.1a) is thought to be north of Arabia, near the Euphrates river. There lived a prosperous, affluent, godly and upright man by the name of Job. Observe the first description given of him: blameless and upright (v.1b). To be blameless means that you cannot be declared guilty of any wrong. To be upright means to be morally good. We must remember in all that follows Job is NOT being punished for his wrongs; there are none!
He fears God (v.1c) so he has an awareness of God and has a reverential attitude toward Him. Perhaps it might be said that at the moment he knows little of grace, but for that you can’t fault him because at that time revelation was strictly limited. He shuns evil, i.e. he positively steers clear of wrong. This is a good man by every standard!
Note also that he is a very prosperous man. By any standard it is an impressive list of the creatures he owned (v.3). When he is described as “the greatest man among all the people of the East” (v.3), this says he was very rich!
He is also mindful of the potential sin of his children (v.4,5). He cares for them and seeks to protect them from God’s anger by sacrificing on their behalf after parties. In every way he is a good man, so why did disaster fall on him? We will see in the ensuing studies. It certainly wasn’t because he deserved it!
D. Application:
- Do we equate disasters with our having done wrong?
- Can we trust in God’s love even when things go wrong?
Passage: Job 1:6-12
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’
Satan answered the Lord, ‘From roaming throughout the earth, going to and fro on it.’
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.’
9 ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’ Satan replied. 10 ‘Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.’
12 The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.’
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
A. Find Out
- Who came where, to do what? v.6
- What did the Lord ask & what answer was given? v.7
- How did the Lord describe Job? v.8
- Why did Satan say that was? v.9,10
- How did he say things might change? v.11
- What parameters did the Lord set? v.12
B. Think:
- Who instigated this test?
- What sort of man is Job according to God? (Remember this!)
- What was going to happen to Job in this first test?
C. Comment:
We see here a conversation between the Lord and Satan. It happens when God has all the angels (including Satan, the accuser) in His presence for a time of accounting (v.6). The Lord knows everything and so His questions are simply to allow the angels to contribute to the heavenly gathering. When He questions Satan (v.7), Satan reveals he has been on the earth (which the Lord knew) and so the Lord focuses the conversation on Job (v.8a).
It is important to note God’s description of Job in all that follows: blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil (v.8b). He is a good man – and that’s God’s assessment of him. Now I would suggest that the Lord knew exactly how Satan would respond. Satan snidely suggests that Job is only like that because God has protected him (v.10) and blessed him, but if He removed all that, it might be very different (v.11). Very well, says the Lord, take away all his possessions (v.12) and see what sort of person he is (implied). It is never specifically stated but the clear and obvious test is to see that Job remains righteous – blameless, upright, fearing God and shunning evil in the face of having everything taken away
D. Application:
- Testing of our faith produces perseverance (Jas 1:2,3) and develops maturity.
- Successfully passing the test also glorifies the Lord.
- Satan tempts to get us to fail, God tests to get us to pass!
Passage: Job 1:13-22
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the eldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the eldest brother’s house, 19 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!’
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I shall depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.’
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
A. Find Out
- What first happened? v.14,15
- What next happened? v.16
- What third thing happened? v.17
- What fourth thing happened? v.18,19
- What was Job’s immediate response? v.20
- What did he declare? v.21,22
B. Think:
- What do the four catastrophes tell us about Satan’s power?
- Yet how was he limited?
- What does Job’s response tell us about him?
C. Comment:
From the previous verses we know that all that follows is at Satan’s instigating. First of all he provokes some Sabeans to steal Job’s oxen and donkeys (v.14,15). Next he provides lighting to kill all Job’s sheep (v.16). Third, he provokes Chaldeans to steal all Job’s camels (v.17). Finally he provides a mighty wind that collapses the house where all Job’s children are feasting and they are killed (v.18,19).
Thus we see two instances of his provoking hostile peoples to rise against Job and two instances of Satan being able to change the weather for his purposes. This is power to provoke people and power to change nature.
Now what is very important to remember is that he is only allowed to exercise this power at God’s discretion, and he can only go as far as God allows him – and it is all in accordance with God’s plans and purposes that he is working out on the earth.
Job’s response is quite remarkable: first he mourns his loss and then he worships God (v.20). It is right to mourn but he holds himself in a right place by worshipping God – despite whatever happens! He recognises (v.21) that everything he has in the world is a gift from God and if the Lord decrees it should be taken away, then he will rest in the Lord’s will!
D. Application:
- Can we rest in the sovereignty and love of God, knowing that whatever happens, He is supreme and works for our good? (Rom 8:28)
- Can we worship the Lord, whatever happens in life? (see also Hab 3:17,18)