Job and What Happened to Him, Job 1:1 - 2:10

8/27/17                                                                                                                                                                Part One: Job and What Happened to Him

Job 1:1-2:10

                Have you ever had one of those days where nothing seems to go right or you receive all kinds of bad news or find yourself in extremely difficult circumstances? A day that has been so frustrating and depressing that by the time you go to bed you’re just glad it’s over or maybe you wish it just never happened. I would suggest to you that the next time you run up against such a day that you sit down and read the first two chapters of Job. I guarantee that once you finish your day will not seem quite so bad.

                This morning we are going to fathom those two chapters together as we observe Job and what happened to him. Here we find a man of great character and great wealth, a man of integrity and faith. We find that life is going very well for him, likely because of his trust in the one true God. But one of those days comes where all the goodness is disrupted. It is replaced by the worst possible calamity. What will this man of faith do when he faces the severest of trials? Will he curse God as the Accuser claims, or will he maintain his faith and integrity and continue to honor God?

                Each one of us has had and will continue to have times of testing and trial as a Christian. Sometimes such tests will be quite severe. We may never fully know why the Lord brought such trial into our lives, but I guarantee we have more knowledge about such things than Job did. May this study teach us about the ways of God, the work of the Adversary, and the purpose of trial by fire.

                 We are introduced to Job in the first five verses. The rest of chapter 1 and 2:1-10 reveal the calamities that befell him and his responses to them.

I. The Character and Circumstances of Job, 1:1-5.

                The introduction is simple and straightforward revealing the main character of the story and where he was from. You will remember that Uz was in the land east of Jordan, likely in the northern regions of Edom. It was fertile land capable of providing agricultural substance and sustenance for animal husbandry.

A. Job’s Upright Character, v. 1.

                1. Perfect and upright –

·         Similar to NT idea of blamelessness – he was complete or whole in his walk with God so that nobody could truthfully accuse him of wrong actions or attitudes. This word describes spiritual integrity and maturity.

• Uprightness refers to behavior that is in harmony with God’s will and ways. Job was conscientious of walking with God in the way that the Lord wanted. It also suggests rightness in relationship to other people.

2. The reason that Job was a man of integrity is that he feared God and shunned evil.

• The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. This conveys having a right and reverent attitude about the Lord. Fearing God reveals faith, the fact that you believe he is real and that he is someone who should be highly revered.
• When a person has the right attitude about God and his power/authority he will be concerned about how he lives. That person is going to eschew or turn away from evil. He is not going to probe into evil, he is not going to play around with it, he is going to avoid what he knows God forbids.
• It also suggests an attitude of repentance – that when you discover you have done wrong you confess it and then turn from it.

B. Job’s Unparalleled Wealth and Greatness, 2-3.

                1. He is blessed with a large family, 2.

·         In ancient times the birth of a son was greatly heralded because it meant the family name would be carried into the future. Seven sons is significant since this was viewed as having the perfect family, seven being the number of fulness or completeness.

·         Three is also a good number and Job is blessed with three daughters. The total number of ten is a significant number in the Bible too.

·         Our author seems to be stressing the concept of blessing and fulness in Job’s family life.

2. Job is blessed with tremendous wealth, even in 21^st century terms, v. 3.

• One way that the Lord rewarded the faith of the patriarchs was through material blessing. This showed his favor upon them for their faith and integrity. (read)
• As a result of God’s gracious provision for Job and Job’s character of integrity he became renowned in the land, 3b. He was considered to be the greatest man in all of the eastern region of the world. He was a world leader if you will.

C. Job’s Utmost Concern, 4-5.

                We might think that Job’s time would be consumed by overseeing all of his enterprises, but we find his utmost area of concern was for his family. He was a priest to them, much like the ancient Hebrew patriarchs.

                1. It seems that each of the sons held a feast on regular occasions to which the other brothers and sisters were invited.

·         This indicates that the sons were of an age where they lived in separate dwelling from their father. We are not told if they were all married, but it would seem that some of them would have been.

·         Since the daughters are not mentioned as having husbands, we may assume they are not married and are still living with Job, but they participate in the feasts of their seven brothers.

·         A picture of joy and family love is portrayed for us.

2. But the main point is Job’s spiritual concern to act as a priest for his family.

• He was concerned about their walk with God as well as his own. He was concerned about their purity (sanctity). At the end of each time of feasting Job would send for his sons and daughters that he might purify them. This was done through the offering of burnt sacrifices signifying the need for atonement as well as the desire in the heart of the worshiper to be dedicated to God.
• The reason Job did this was in case any of them had sinned during the course of their festivities. To curse God means to renounce him or in some way deny him or turn away from him. Note, this is not something they did outwardly, but in their hearts. Job did not want his children to trust in their riches, their family relationships, or anything else that might turn their hearts away from the true God. His attempts to help them in their walk with God were through offering these sacrifices.
• How we need men to be spiritually concerned for their families today. Men who will pray for their children’s salvation and spiritual needs. Men who will lead them in Bible study, worship and service at home and church.

·         Note that Job was consistent and faithful in this effort – thus did Job continually. He was not haphazard about his spiritual leadership in the home. This was a mark of his integrity as it should be ours.

As we are introduced to Job and his character, what happens next seems quite stunning to us.

II. The Calamities of Job, 1:6-2:10.

                What is now portrayed are two severe trials that fall upon Job. Two heavenly scenes are disclosed where we are made privy to two dialogues between God and the Satan. The result of these two councils brings calamity upon Job and his consequent response to what happens. Remember that Job is totally unaware of the heavenly challenge.

A. Job’s First Trial – the Removal of Wealth and Family, 1:6-2:10.

                1. The Heavenly Council, 1:6-12.

• 6-7 - “Sons of god” are angels. The scene suggests a heavenly council where God’s messengers meet with him. It appears that Satan is allowed to approach the Lord on some occasions. Note that he has come from roaming the earth, showing he also has access to the world in which we live. In it he roams about “seeking whom he may devour.”
• Who initiates the conversation? God initiates the conversation by calling attention to the integrity of Job, v. 8.
• Satan – lit. “the Satan” throughout the passage. He is the Adversary and Opposer of God, his kingdom, and his saints. Here he challenges the Lord’s assessment of Job. He first claims that Job only serves God for personal gain. He then accuses God of putting a hedge of protection around Job. If the Lord removes that protection and takes away Job’s possessions surely Job will curse (renounce) the Lord. Does Job serve the Lord by conscience or convenience? Is God worthy of our worship for who he is or for what he gives?
• God’s permissive will, v. 12 – Satan is allowed to strike Job’s possessions, but he is not allowed to touch Job’s person. God’s purpose in this allowance is to test the faith and integrity of Job to see if it is genuine or based on false premises. Satan’s purpose is to destroy Job’s faith and get him to renounce the Lord.

We must remember that everything that happens to us is within the sovereign will of God. God will always have a good purpose in it. If Satan is involved, he will always have an evil purpose.

                2. The earthly calamity, 13-19.

There was a day, just like every day with the prospect of prosperity, joy, etc. But, the joyous circumstances of Job’s life come to a screeching halt as calamity strikes him one powerful blow after another.

• The first messenger comes with a report that the Sabaens, a nomadic tribe, had stolen all the oxen and donkeys and killed the servants tending them.
• His words are hardly out of his mouth and another messenger comes with equally bad news. The fire of God or lightening has struck from heaven and consumed all the sheep as well as the shepherds.
• Before he can finish what he has to report, a third servant enters and blurts out the calamity fallen upon the herds of camels. They have been stolen by Chaldeans and likewise the servants were slain.
• The final blow must have been paralyzing – Job hears that all of his children have been swept into eternity by a tornado that struck the home in which they were feasting.
• In one horrendous moment of time Job has lost all his earthly possessions, the vast majority of his servants, and worst of all – every one of his children. He has fallen from the level of a prince to that of a pauper – a man of greatest wealth and standing to a man with no wealth and no standing. Can you think of any worse scenario?
• How would you respond in a similar situation? You lose your job and all sources of revenue; you lose all your bank accounts to identity theft, your house burns down, your vehicle is totaled in a car wreck and all of your children are killed – not over a period of years, but in one single day. Would you curse God?

3. The Faithful Confession, 20-22.

• Amazingly, Job did not, he still maintained his integrity.

• Was Job upset, was he saddened and troubled? Yes, tore his coat, shaved his head, and threw himself prostrate before the Lord.
• Did he curse and swear? Did he ask the Lord why? Did he wonder how the Lord could be so cruel and unjust? No – he worshiped! We have a hard time worshiping when life is going well – Job worshiped even when his life was turned upside down.
• Job recognized two important principles – that he brought nothing into the world and would take nothing out of it. He also recognized that all that he had was due to the gracious hand of God. If God deemed to take it all away, so be it! Blessed be the name of the Lord!
• In this entire calamity Job did not sin in attitude or action and he did not charge God with wrongdoing in any way! He did not do what the Satan said he would do.

B. Job’s Second Trial – the Removal of Health and Support, 2:1-10.

If this wasn’t bad enough God was not finished with Job yet. One may be able to withstand a huge financial blow and begin to recover. One may be blessed with more children, but when you lose your health there is little hope left.

1. The heavenly council, 1-6.

• Here the Lord reminds Satan that Job still walks in his integrity even though Satan incited the Lord to destroy him without a reason.
• The word “destroy” literally means to swallow. This is similar imagery to Satan’s desire to devour people in his attempts to turn them away from God.
• Satan replies with another challenge, 4-5.

• Skin for skin – may be a challenge against Job, suggesting that he is satisfied with the loss of possessions and other people’s lives as long as his own “skin” was saved.
• Satan says that if God will allow him to touch his body (flesh and bone) then Job will denounce God.
• Once again, the Lord agrees to let Job be tested.

2. The earthly calamity - 7-10.

• Stricken with boils – malignant ulcer. Many believe this to be a form of leprosy, perhaps elephantiasis.
• Job is in misery; his only relief is to constantly scrape himself with a pot shard.
• He also is forced to sit among the ashes, a reference to the city dump where the ashes and garbage of the city were brought. He was once a man who was revered, sitting in the gates of the city, but his physical condition has removed him from society as an outcast. He has lost his former status as a leader in the city.
• Few of us praise the Lord when our health is removed even for a few days. It seems that this condition may have lasted several weeks or even months.
• Even his wife unwittingly takes up the words of Satan’s purpose – give up your integrity and curse God. The result would be sure death. But Job reminds her that she is speaking like the foolish people of the day attributing some kind of injustice to the Lord.

3. The faithful confession, 10.

• If we can gratefully receive good things from the Lord’s hand, then we should not complain when we receive calamity.
• Job maintained his integrity and would not bring reproach on the name of God. In all this he did not sin with his lips. What a great example to us of a man who could still hold on to God when his world turned upside down.

Lessons from God’s testing of Job:

1. Saints like Job will be given opportunities to prove the genuiness of their faith – that it does not depend upon their immediate circumstances or material blessings from God. Their faith lies in his person, not what he gives to them. In spite of the loss of all things, we can never lose Christ.

2. God allows the Satan, the Accuser, to be a secondary cause of testing. The accuser’s purpose is to harm, destroy, and break our faith. We must rely upon Christ to help us stand in the day of trial.

3. God is glorified in such trials and Satan is shamed if we remain steadfast. Even though Job does not know about the heavenly council, his response brought glory to God and proved the Satan to be a liar. He shamed the devil and honored the Lord.

4. Job foreshadows another Sufferer who bore the pains of all our sins. He too was undeserving of punishment, he gave up the glories of heaven to be a poor man on earth, he faced the ridicule and derision of men even though he was the king of glory. He faced the lies of the Satan and prevailed. He is the one who took the punishment that we deserved so we could honor and glorify God. Why should we complain when we face times of calamity and suffering when they serve as opportunities for us to be like Christ?