We are studying Job, a wealthy man described as blameless, upright, feared God and shunned evil. Last week, we noted God allowed satan to change what Job had but not to touch Job personally. But Job, losing just about everything, including all his children, humbled himself before God and actually worshiped and praised God, in spite of all the loss! We read at the end of Job Chapter 1, “Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing!”
Open your bibles now to Job Chapter 2…..
Read along with me Job 2:1-10…..
Let us summarize what happened….
V1: Again, the angels and satan “presented” themselves to the Lord, who is Jesus Christ. We noted last week that “presented” means required attention, as a soldier reports to Superiors.
V2: Satan was questioned again by God and he answered as he was allowed to roam the earth. Let us again note, although satan and demons are allowed to be loose on earth, they are always subject to the authority of Jesus Christ.
V3: The Lord challenged satan again with Job! Let’s answer the question why God did that in our applications later.
V4-5: Satan challenged God! Let us note here and discuss it more in our applications, what did satan know? Remember that Satan has been around since humans were created and he roams the earth observing people all the time! Satan knows a lot about human nature; that humans are prone to sin! But satan thought he knew how Job would respond negatively against God; but God knew Job would not sin! God is omniscient, satan is not!
And so, v6-7: God allowed satan to afflict Job with painful sores from head to toe! Note the important words here… God allowed!
And how did Job respond to the painful sores? Picture Job here with his painful sores…… Job was diseased! What did he do?
V8…… Job humbled himself and tried his best to cure himself of the painful disease!
Here’s an application question, How do we handle sickness today?
Let’s discuss this more later.
Now, we note here in v9 that Job’s wife didn’t die along with all the children and many servants. What was Job’s wife’s suggestion? V9…
Now, we cannot be too hard on Job’s wife here; later in the story, she is honored; but we can note a few things here: In this instance, we note what not to suggest to anyone! But in v10, we can note the important reason God placed this statement here from Job’s wife! Look again at v10…
3 important things to note from V10:
1. Suggesting to people to sin against God is foolish!
2. Accept all God allows (good and bad)!
3. In spite of losing much and having a painful disease, Job did not sin!
Again, there are so many things to apply to our lives from this passage (I encourage you to review last week’s message as well). For today, let us highlight a few applications for us:
First of all, let us always note that the devil, satan, is allowed by God to roam the earth and he knows a lot about our sinful nature; and so, let us memorize and put into practice daily 1 Peter 5:8…
A. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). What does this mean? In the physical realm and you’re in a jungle with wild animals, will you just casually walk around and your mind just wanders all over the place? What would happen if there’s a hungry lion nearby and your not aware at all? In the same way in the spiritual realm, satan is nearby and hungry to devour somebody, will it be me or you?
But again as we noted last week, God allowed satan to afflict Job, because God is omniscient and knew that Job would not sin! Remember…
B. Romans 8:31….. God is for us! And, 1 Corinthians 10:13…. We will be tempted to sin as a Christian but,…. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Now, remember what Job’s wife said as Job was struggling with life? We must be careful of being foolish to those having troubles to the point of suggesting sinning against God! We might say to ourselves, we will never say anything like that! Let’s look at this from the perspective of Job’s wife…. What do you think was Job’s wife’s attitude towards Job? She said “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” Wasn’t Job’s wife’s attitude towards Job condescending? It is so easy for us to knock down someone who is already struggling with troubles!
C. We must be careful in our suggestions to people having troubles when our attitudes are condescending (i.e. looking down on them)! We sin and we encourage people to sin when we are condescending! Do we ever do that? We should pray before we give a suggestion to those having difficulties!
The main point for us to consider is what Job said… “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Especially here in America, we want everything just to be right and fun! Not only in dealing with a pandemic (or ignoring it), we seem to have a drug for everything; aspirin, antidepressants, Tums, antibiotics, the flu shot…. Mine is coffee 😊
D. Troubles in this world will happen even to us Christians and we must know how to godly respond to them. Remember what Jesus said to His disciples in John 16:33b - In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
There will be troubles! How should we respond to troubles?
- Trust Jesus Christ for He has overcome all troubles for us!
And like Job who did his best to care for himself…
- Humble yourself before God and do the best you can to alleviate the problem! Remember that Jesus basically said in Matthew 9:12-13, there is a need for physicians for those physically sick. Troubles? Humble yourself before the Lord, pray and seek help!
Take a moment to quietly ponder about these things and pray to God….
Benediction – Jude 17-25…
