I was asked my senior year in college to read a book called ‘The Man Who was Thursday’ by G.K. Chesterton for one of my English classes. At the end of the particular copy that I had of the book, the publishers included some other articles by Chesterton that they thought related to the book. One of the articles they included is called ‘The Book of Job.’ After reading ‘The Man Who was Thursday,’ still one of my favorite fiction books, I went ahead and read Chesterton’s article on the book of Job. In the article, he talks about the struggles in understanding the book of Job and the OT in general. He also speaks of the great paradoxes in the book, which is the notion that related the article to the novel I had just finished. The article really intrigued me and made me want to go back and study the book of Job. I want to say that since that time, I have been very fascinated and intrigued by the book. Indeed there is no way that in three weeks we can probe every question that comes up when studying the book. Yet, I do think that there is much we can learn from the book. My hope and prayer is that by the Spirit we will labor together in understanding the timeless truths that the book of Job speaks into our lives. May we indeed be overwhelmed at our great God as He speaks to us through this book.

My outline for the series will include us looking at Job 1:1-2:10 this morning. Next week we will be looking at 2:11-37:24 and in a couple of weeks we will look at chapters 38-42. Hopefully that will aid you in preparing for each week. Since we are dealing with such a big book in a short amount of time, I want to begin each week by simply giving you a brief sketch of the structure of the passage with which we are dealing. I will follow this with some thoughts concerning what the text is teaching and conclude with some points of application. Thus, this morning I want to begin by briefly walking us through the text of 1:1-2-10.

I. Structure of 1:1-2:10

Job 1:1-5 give us a brief introduction to the person of Job. We see in these verses a great emphasis on the righteousness of Job. Verse 1 tells us that Job is ‘blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.’ We see this affirmed by Job’s offering sacrifices for his children in verses 4-5. Later, God Himself will speak of Job’s righteousness in 1:8 and 2:3. It is clear that the author wants us to see Job as a righteous man. We also see here that Job is extremely prosperous, as the author tells us of his property and his children.

Job1:6-12 tells us of the first scene between God and Satan. Many questions can arise at this point concerning this meeting. What we know is that the author of the book is somehow, by the Spirit, given knowledge of these meetings and records what happens. All our questions are not dealt with, but what is told to us emphasizes God’s great control in the situation (He asks Satan and He gives Satan permission to strike Job’s possessions). We also see Satan’s accusation against Job that he only fears God for what he stands to gain from it, namely his great prosperity. The scene ends by God granting permission to Satan to torment Job.

Job 1:13-19 records the earthly outcome of the meeting that has just taken place between God and Satan. We are told that the Sabeans (a group of raiders) take Job’s oxen and donkeys, ‘the fire of God’ (probably referring to lightning or a storm) burns his sheep, the Chaldeans (another raiding group) take the camels, and then a wind blew down the oldest brothers’ house, killing all of Job’s children in one fatal sweep. Thus we see Satan’s affliction of Job carried out through these instruments.

Job 1:20-22 gives the reader Job’s first response to these terrible events. We will look at this more in a moment.

Job 2:1-6 then records the second meeting between God and Satan. The Lord again speaks highly of Job and his response to these tragedies. Satan then charges that Job will curse God if God removes the hedge of protection from Job’s very person. The Lord allows Satan to afflict Job’s skin but does not permit him to take his life.

Job 2:7-8 tells us of the earthly outcome of this second meeting by recording the horrible disease that Job is given.

Job 2:9-10 then introduces Job’s wife with her charge to Job. Verse 10 records Job’s response to his second affliction and his rebuke of his wife. Verse 11 then introduces the friends and we will pick up there next week.

II. Instruction: What can we learn from this passage?

First, we learn that we are not always given the whole picture.
One of the peculiarities of the prologue is that of perspective. As the reader, we are given more information than the characters. In other words, the author tells us things that Job does not know. Job has no idea of the meeting that is going on between the Lord and Satan. This makes it hard for us to really get into the shoes of Job. For us, as we read the book, we get both sides of the coin. For Job, all he gets is terrible news from four different servants about horrible raiders and awful weather. We are let in to a spiritual scene and so we are prepared for what happens to Job. In the second instance, Job is seemingly still mourning the loss of his children and property when out of nowhere he is afflicted with a terrible skin disease of some sort. Again, the spiritual scene has prepared us for what is about to take place, but not Job. Job is completely unaware of what is going on between the Lord and Satan.

Yet, as hard as it is for us to really see things in the book of Job from Job’s perspective, it is not hard for us to recognize this in our own lives. Suffering and difficultly do not usually send us a heads up that trouble is on the way. No, it often blindsides us and catches us completely off guard. I have experienced this in my own life. When I was in the sixth grade and found out that I have diabetes, I was not overly prepared for the news. Even though I had been having some weird symptoms for quite a while, I simply figured we would go to the doctor, get a prescription for some drugs and be done with the whole deal. But that was not the case.

The reason why it is important for us to understand this is that we often expect the whole picture. When things happen we want all the answers and we want them now (something we will see Job struggle with in some of his speeches). There are answers to questions that we simply will not know in this lifetime. This does not mean that we will never be able to answer any of the questions that come with suffering. No, I think this book and the rest of the Bible often helps us to understand the reasons behind suffering. Yet, the truth remains, we are simply not always given the whole picture. In this passage, the author gives us a glimpse into the bigger scene, so that we might understand that there is more to the story than simply what we see and know. This book improves our perspective that we might be better prepared to trust in God when suffering comes (see below).

Second, this passage clearly teaches us that God is Sovereign over all, including suffering.
We see clearly that God is sovereign in the spiritual scene and in the earthly scene. During the first meeting between God and Satan, it is the Lord who begins the conversation with Satan and brings up Job. Also in verse 12 we see God’s clear instructions to Satan: And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.’ Then, when we move to the earthly scene we see Satan do only that which the Lord allowed. The same is true the second time. In chapter two we see the Lord initiating the conversation between Himself and Satan and we read in verse 6: Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life. This is what we see happen then in the earthly scene. Thus, as much as we see Satan challenging Job’s righteousness, it is still clear to us that it is God who is in control of the situation.

Also in this passage, as we look at Job’s responses, we see his belief in the Sovereign control of God. Look at Job’s first response in 1:20-22. Job says in verse 21: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Likewise in his second response we read in 2:10: Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil. Upon reading this we might be inclined to think that surely Job has spoken falsely. I mean we have already pointed out that he did not know what was going on in the spiritual scene. Yet, the text does not let us get very far with that thinking for we read in 1:22: In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong and in 2:10: In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Thus, Job demonstrates his belief in God’s control over everything and the text commends him for this belief.

The sovereignty of God over all things is a theme we will see throughout the book of Job. We see clearly from this text that Job believes this. As we look at the speeches of the friends, we see that they believe in God’s sovereignty. In their attempt to comfort Job, they never dismiss the sovereignty of God. Elihu believes in God’s sovereignty. Indeed, if the Yahweh speeches teach us anything, they teach us that God is in control of the universe (and that man is not). Thus, a theme throughout the book of Job (and the whole Bible) is God’s sovereign control of the universe.

This theme is also the great difficulty of the book. If Job is indeed righteous and God is indeed sovereign, then why the suffering? As we shall see, this is what much of the debate centers around. The friends simply conclude that Job is not righteous. Job struggles with the justice of God. Yet, none of them argue that God has lost control. The text simply will not allow that option.

Yet, people want to find comfort in that option all the time. In dealing with the problem of evil, which basically asks if God is completely Sovereign and completely good, how can evil exist, people so often simply want to dismiss or downgrade God’s sovereign control in order to comfort themselves. I remember one time after a terrible storm had hit and killed some people, I heard someone who I respect and consider to be very knowledgeable of the Bible, comment that sometimes things happen outside of God’s control. I don’t think the book of Job allows for that response. Granted all our questions about the problem of evil are not answered by this book, but we cannot walk away from this text thinking that there is comfort in God not being sovereign.

We are given in this text a glimpse into God’s sovereign control and how that works. For example, if we ask the question, what directly caused the suffering of Job? Our reply would include the Sabeans, Chaldeans, lightning, windstorm, and some dreaded disease. If we then ask who or what was behind them, our reply would be Satan. Then if we ask who or what controls him, we would reply that the Lord is over him. Obviously this brings up some difficult questions about how all this exactly works out, but we see clearly that God is sovereign and that he uses means (whether they be Satan, raiders, or the weather) to bring about his plan. Consider Joseph’s words in Genesis 50:19-20 when he is responding to his brother’s plea for forgiveness: Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive as they are today. Thus, as we consider our passage this morning we can say that the Sabeans and Chaldeans and Satan obviously meant evil against Job and they will be held responsible for their sin. Yet, this does not exclude God from being sovereign over the situation and indeed bringing to pass His good and right pleasure.

I must say that these are difficult truths to comprehend and I do not claim to have it all figured out. Yet, my prayer is that as we study the book of Job, and indeed the Bible, we will labor to better understand what God has revealed concerning Himself through His Word.

Third, we are to trust that God is working all things, including suffering, for our good and ultimately His glory.
We cannot help but be amazed at the faith and trust of Job in these passages. His responses in 1:20-22 and 2:10 make it clear that he acknowledges and trusts in God’s sovereign reign. As we move through the speeches next week, we will see that this is no easy task for Job. Job does not simply shoulder his suffering like a good soldier and move on with his life. No, his struggle will be severe. Yet, in these first two chapters we are given a glimpse into his great persevering faith and trust in God as the book of James records in 5:11: Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful (see also Ezekiel 14).

Notice also in Job’s response of his understanding that everything he has is a gift from God. Look at 1:21: The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Job does not start listing his rights to the Lord. He recognizes that God has every right to do what He has done. Again, Job will struggle as he seeks to understand why God would do this and how these sufferings have been just, yet, in these first two responses we see that Job entrusts himself to the sovereign plan of the Lord.

III. Application: How do we apply these truths to our own lives?

First, preach to yourself the extent of God’s sovereignty, specifically that it extends even over suffering.
How in the world could we ever expect to respond as Job did to his suffering? We must begin by believing in the sovereignty of God over all situations. When evil seems so real and so tragic, it becomes very easy for the believer to doubt God’s sovereignty. The way to avoid this is to constantly labor to understand the extent of God’s sovereignty as pointed out in Scripture. I can talk all day about my thoughts and conjectures about the sovereignty of God, yet, when I am confronted by the truth of the book of Job (and other books of the Bible), I am left little room for doubting God’s control of all things.

Second, like Job, we need to humble ourselves before God and His sovereignty.
When Kyle Mathis and I were studying through this book, I remember being overwhelmed by Job’s humility even after what happened. To be honest, my first response to suffering is not usually to humble myself before God and His plan. My natural response is to kick and scream about how I have been wronged and how I have received something I did not deserve. And although Job will struggle with these thoughts during his speech sections, initially, he simply worshipped God and submitted to His plan. I admit that this is extremely difficult at times, but this is seemingly a lesson that we need to learn from the book of Job. Like Job, we are not always going to see the whole picture, but this is never an excuse to not be humble before our God.

Third, we need to trust in the goodness of God’s sovereign plan.
It is one thing for us to acknowledge that God is sovereign over all. It is another thing for us to humble ourselves in light of that. But it is even another thing for us to trust in the goodness of that sovereign plan. There is often a fear of God and His reign that stems from a lack of trust in His goodness or righteousness or justice. Let me give you an example from my own life. Sometimes my thoughts will go something like this: ‘What if the Lord decides to send terrible suffering in my life? What if my disease (diabetes) just takes over and I simply lose all control of my health? What if I develop horrible complications from the disease? After all, maybe I have not been thankful or grateful enough over the past few months as I have really been able to regain control of the disease? And on and on…’ Here’s the problem, it is not as if I can argue that God would never allow this, He might very well. The problem with this sort of thinking is that I forget His goodness in all His purposes for His children. Has He not redeemed my soul? Has He not poured out His wrath upon His Son in my stead? Has He not promised to complete the work that He has started (see Philippians 1:6)? And has He not purposed from the foundation of the world, as we read in Ephesians 1, to capture a Bride for Himself that He might conform Her into the image of His Son? In light of this, shall I fear His plan? The means He will use will include suffering and toil in this life, but ultimately it will result in conformity to His Son and great glory to His name!! Shall we not entrust ourselves to such a Savior?

How do we know that Ephesians 1 is true and that we can trust that God has a great plan for His children? We look to the cross…

GOD, SUFFERING, AND THE PLIGHT OF MAN

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