Have You Considered?

I. Satan’s Proposition of Wreckage

A. Text: Job 1:1-12 – Job’s Place of Ruin

(1) The word “blameless” in verse #1 is listed as “perfect” in the KJV.

B. We first find Job as a godly father, unspoiled by prosperity, ministering as a priest, to his large family (7 sons & 3 daughters)

C. Satan entered the scene insinuating that Job serves God because of special favors. Satan’s proposition? To destroy Job’s

(1) Family

(2) Farm

(3) Flocks

D. Verses 13-22. Satan is permitted to test Job. Notice, God didn’t cause Job to lose his property and his children, God allowed it! Notice that in verse #11, Satan, recognizing God’s power, suggested that God stretch out His hand to destroy Job, but He wouldn’t do it. He simply allowed Satan to do so.

E. Although Satan was successful in destroying Job’s family, his farm and his flocks, notice, as verse 22 indicates, “…Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”

(1) I wonder if some of us would have been so committed. I wonder whom we would have started blaming.

F. As we read chapter 2, we will find, yet another attempt from the enemy to destroy Job’s character. Let’s read on. {Read 2:1-10}

G. Again, in verse #5, Satan suggests that God stretch His mighty hand against Job and his flesh. Yet, once again, God doesn’t; He just gives Satan permission to do it himself (verse 6).

H. Even though his wife, who was all he had left of his large family, was frustrated enough to question Job’s integrity. She instructs him to curse God and die. But, I like Job’s response; verse 10 “But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

II. God’s Plan of Redemption

A. Throughout the book of Job, we find his time of frustration and dedication. We find his friends trying to “help” him in their own special way. While he cursed the day of his own birth, yet, Job remained faithful to God.

B. In Chapter 13, Job speaks one of his most famous lines. Verse #15 says, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”

C. I want you to notice, as you would read the book of Job, you would find that God has known all along what Job’s future would hold. Look at 8:5-7 “If you would earnestly seek God and make your supplication to the Almighty, if you were pure and upright, surely now He would awake (arise) for you, and prosper your rightful dwelling place. Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.”

(1) God has a plan of redemption for Job, and for you and I, all along!

(2) He promised in His Word, in Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the thoughts (plans) I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

D. Job’s Prayer for Relief

(1) Job 17:1-9

(2) Once again, Job makes a statement, after seven days of silent sympathy, that he will hold on until the end. No he is not excited about his condition! But, he remains faithful to God, nonetheless.

E. Job’s Praise for His Redeemer

(1) In Chapter 19, we find Job responding to one of his critics, his friend, and declaring that God will deliver him from his calamity!

(2) Verses 25-27 says, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold…how my hart yearns from within me!”

(3) Over and over again, Job’s friends maintain that his suffering is the result of personal sin.

(4) Yet, in chapters 4-31, Job defends himself and asserts his innocence.

F. Job’s Prayer of Repentance

(1) Now, in chapter 42, we find Job repenting of his constant complaining. He was a faithful man; he just wasn’t a “happy” faithful man!

(2) Read 42:1-6

G. Job’s Provision of Restoration

(1) Read 42:7-17

(2) Notice, it wasn’t until after Job interceded for his friends that God restored back to Job all that he lost!

(3) Notice verse 12 is the confirmation of chapter 8:7!