Job 1: How to Handle Adversity
Have you ever heard the boys with the most toys wins? Amazing how the world can contort things from God-centered fact to self-proclaiming malarkey!
This morning I want to look at an ancient account of the suffering of Job and contextualize some of its components into today’s world!
Perhaps the key word here is “Realization.”
Job had some realizations: like: where his source, substance and power in life came from! GOD!
Let’s look at these 3 simple components this morning
Source of Life
We will see at the end of Job chapter 1 (in Job 1:21) that Job believed his source of God came from God: “. . . And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither” (Job 1:21a).
We will be using the term source quite a bit this morning:
Source can be defined as: “anything or place from which something comes, arises, or is obtained; origin” (dictionary.com).
Returning to the idea of Source of life: not only did Job attribute this to God; BUT,
Moses ALSO believed God is the source of life:
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
The Apostle Paul ALSO believed God is the source of life (past, present and future):
Colossians 1:16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
1 Corinthians 6:19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Source of Substance
Here is a brief overview of Jobs substance
- 7 sons and 3 daughters (vs.2)
- 7,000 sheep (vs. 3) - provided clothing and food
- 3, 000 camels (vs.3) - provided transportation and milk
- 500 yoke of oxen: a total of 1,000 oxen (vs. 3) - provided food, milk, plowing assets
- 500 donkeys (vs. 3) - provided transportation
- a very great household (vs. 3)
A SUMMARIZATION of Job possessions can be found in vs. 3: “so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.” East is considered: Kedar in Northern Arabia!
Let’s Touch on Job’s Source (origin) of Problem: (though many times problems are self-inflicted in this case it is from without)
We see in Job 1:6, where the “sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD” This also included Satan.
Identification of the sons of God:
Job 38:7: (Job 38 is specifically speaking of creation of world) “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy”?
In Hebrews 1:14 we the angels giving accounts to happenings throughout the universe: Hebrews 1:14: “Are they [angels- vs. 13] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation”?
We see in Job 1:7, the Lord asked Satan, “Whence comest thou”? Satan replied “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”
WHY IS SATAN WALKING TO AND FRO ON THE EARTH? – This word means to hurry rapidly, heatedly or in a frenzied state!
Remember what Peter wrote? In 1 Peter 5:8, it tells us to: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil (the accuser), as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (dominate).”
Satan is that bully that used to walk the corridors of your school. He wants to instill fear in you! He wants to dominate you and have you revere him!
It is interesting the term Satan literally means “one who lies in wait, an adversary or an opponent to God.” Folks, Satan is still the same today!
In Job 1:8, God asked Satan, “Hast thou considered (set thy heart upon or observed the conduct of) my servant Job”
God goes on to describe Job as:
- there is none like him in the earth
- as a “perfect and an upright man
- one that feareth God
- one that “escheweth” (hated) evil?
In Job 1:9, Satan raises the question, “Doth Job fear God for nought (nothing)?
In Job 1:10, Satan continues by challenging, “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.”
The BKC summarizes the challenge like this: “Is worship a coin that buys a heavenly reward” (BKC Job 1:10).
Does ones righteous living guarantee an easy and worry-free life?
- In other words: What is the driving motivation for Job’s worship to God?
Maybe this is a good passage to explain why evil befalls upon good people? Just like the rain, it blesses both good and evil folk?
In Job 1:11, Satan continues his assault: “But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.”
“Job, Satan claimed, would no longer insert his coins of worship if nothing came out of the machine” (BKC Job 1:10).
Is Job’s worship (or ours) self-seeking and self-centered?
IMPORTANT NOTE: Satan has to obtain God’s permission for the assault against Job!
In Job 1:12, God lays down the rules for engagement: “And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” (surely, happy as a lark)!
In the ATTACK (Job 1:13-19), Satan (the lurking one) systematically attacks Job by taking all Jobs: material possessions, household servants, children; and in chapter 2 Job’s health.
In Job 1:20, we have Jobs reaction! Grief beyond measure!
Here is where I want to challenge each of us this morning? Now that we have come to see the position Job finds himself in; this morning, how would you react to such an assault?
Let’s Look at Job’s Source of Strength
Let’s begin by reiterating Job 1:21, but in its entirety this time:
Job said this, “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither:
- The LORD gave, and
- The LORD hath taken away;
- Blessed be the name of the LORD.
“Our strength for the present and hope for the future are not based on the stability of our own perseverance but on the fidelity of God” (Gorder).
YOU SEE: Job realized his source of his life, substance, and strength is found entirely in God. The Net result was this: Job 1:22, “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”
YOU SEE: Job maintained his integrity before God. WHY, because ultimately, it is more important than:
- Possessions
- Achievements
NOTE:
- Job recognized God had sovereign rights (The Lord gave and can take away)
- Job praised God: Giving ADORATION after ADVERSITY. WORSHIPPING after WOE.
- Job did not become embittered
- Job refused to blame God for wrongdoing
No, this morning, I cannot unequivocally answer why God allows evil things to happen to good people” BUT . . . IF, we follow Jobs example we can keep our integrity through every circumstance in life.
So where are you this morning? What is it that you might be blaming God for this morning?
KEEP THIS IN MIND Job’s Formula for life’s ADVERSITIES:
- Realize: We owe our life, substance and strength to God!
- Realize: God loves you from eternity and has a plan for your life
---- But first He wants to save you!
FOLKS,
- You know that Jesus died on the cross for you.
- He wants to save you.
- He wants you to be in His family.
- It does not matter what you have done or failed to do in the past.
- What matters is what you do right here and right now.
- If you will come to Him just like you are, He will save you.
- If you would like to receive Jesus Christ and be saved: - As we sing, I am asking you in just a moment, to indicate by a raised hand that you would like to accept Christ this morning!
- We can come to you and help you come to faith in Christ."
- Won’t you just trust God and refuse to charge God foolishly?
References:
Van Gorder, Paul. Our Daily Bread: RBC Ministries; The Father’s Faithfulness: April 24, 2009. http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml.
