• sighing • groaning • fear • dread • not at ease • no quiet • no rest • trouble
👉 Job’s current question:
• why? v 11 • why? v 12 • why? v 16 • why? v 20 • why? v 23
👉 Haven’t we all been there? There are seasons when the hits just keep coming and all we can utter is, “Why, Lord?”
Don’t jump ahead but I’ll let you in on a little secret – we don’t hear from the Lord for 35 more chapters. But, when we do, he speaks for four chapters and, spoiler alert, he doesn’t answer Job’s question of “Why?”
But – he answers a more important question.
It’s not that “Why” is wrong to ask. It’s not that it’s a bad question – but it isn’t the best question.
I think I love the book of Job. It certainly isn’t an easy one – but remaining steadfast in the face of suffering is an example we all need in our lives.
You are cherished and adored and the apple of your Father’s eye.
After tremendous loss, the Lord described Job as, “still holding fast” (v 3).
This idea of holding fast is found throughout all of Scripture. It would make an amazing topic of personal study. [Deuteronomy 10:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Hebrews 3:6 / 4:14 / 10:23, Revelation 2:15 – Just to get you started.]
👉 Satan made a second accusation – that Job only feared God because he enjoyed good health (v 4-5). The Lord again gave Satan access – “he is in your hand” – but also limits – “only spare his life” (v 6).
So Job was covered in loathsome sores and was in such misery that he sat in the ashes and scraped himself with broken pieces of pottery (v 7-8).
👉 Along Came Three Friends (v 11-13)
These three friends get a bad rap because they said a lot of unhelpful things. But we aren’t there yet. 😉
[Bible Study Tip: don’t mentally jump ahead when reading Scripture. Stay with the story as it progresses or you will miss valuable nuggets of truth.]
In this moment, Job’s three friends responded well. They…
• went out of their way to be with him • showed up • sympathized and comforted • grieved with him • sat with him • were silent • recognized his suffering was great
Sometimes, the best thing we can do for hurting people is to show up, be silent, and sit with them.
👉 Grief changes people (v 12).
Job’s friends didn’t even recognize him. [We see this also with Naomi in Ruth 1:19.]
Grieving people don’t need the added weight of trying to pretend to be who they were before. There can be growth and goodness that is born out of great loss but – make no mistake – it changes people.
Whatever trial you are facing today – hold fast, friends. You are loved and God is for you.
🎉 Don’t forget to download your copy of Journal With Me – Proverbs! Post a pic on your social media and tag me! 🎉
• lived in Uz • blameless and upright • feared God • turned away from evil • 7 sons and 3 daughters • a great number of livestock • many servants • greatest of all the people in the east • would rise early to pray • was consistent
In fact, the Lord said that there “was none like him on the earth” (v 8 ). [This is interesting because many believe that Job lived at the same time as Abraham. So, this is high praise indeed.]
👉 Satan entered the scene and what had he been doing (v 7)?
• going to and fro on the earth • walking up and down on in
Evil walks among us, friends. And he isn’t just out for a stroll to clear his head. [Why does Satan walk up and down on the earth? Read 1 Peter 5:8 for the answer.]
👉 The Lord turned Satan’s attention to the blameless and upright Job. But what is Satan’s accusation (v 10)?
• Satan believed Job only feared God because he had been given so much stuff. He accused Job of only loving the Lord because he had been blessed financially.
👉 The Lord gave Satan access to Job (touch all that he has) but also limits (don’t touch him) (v 12).
• oxen and donkeys are stolen / servants killed (v 14-15) • sheep and servants consumed by fire (v 16) • camels stolen and servants killed (v 17) • sons and daughters killed when house collapsed (v 18-19)
👉 Job’s Response (v 20-22):
• tore his robe, shaved his head • fell on the ground, worshipped • blessed the Lord, did not sin • did not accuse God of wrong
This scene is a beautiful reminder that mourning and worship co exist.
What a dramatic beginning of a book, right?
The book of Job will make us examine the reasons behind our reverence. Do we fear God because of what he has given or because of who he is? Do we trust him when things don’t make sense? Do we ask the right questions in the face of adversity?
🎉 Did you download the new Proverbs Journal? September would be a great time to work through this beautiful book of wisdom and instruction! 🎉
Esther 9:1-10:3
👉 The enemy’s plan:
• to gain mastery over the Jews (v 9:1)
👉 The Lord’s plan:
• the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them (v 9:1)
[ 🎵 You take what the enemy meant for evil and you turn it for good – you turn it for good.]
👉 Mordecai:
• feared by the officials (v 9:3) • great in the king’s house (v 9:4) • famous in provinces (v 9:4) • increasingly powerful (v 9:4) • given high honor (v 10:2) • second in command (v 10:3) • great among the Jews (v 10:3) • popular among people (v 10:3) • sought welfare of his people (v 10:3) • spoke peace to all people (v 10:3)
👉 No one could stand against them [God’s people] (v 9:2).
This is the “Where are they now?” portion of our story.
👉 Esther
• was given the house of Haman (v 1)
• set Mordecai in charge of the house (v 2)
👉 The King
• gave Mordecai his signet ring (which used to be on Haman’s finger) (v 2)
• told Mordecai to write an edict allowing the Jews to gather, defend themselves, and kill anyone who tried to harm them or take their things (v 8 )
👉 The Jews
• had the power and permission to defend themselves (v 11)
• had light, gladness, joy, and honor (v 16)
• had a feast and a holiday (v 17)
👉 Mordecai
• given royal robes of blue and white and a golden crown (v 15)
🎉 Here is what I don’t want you to miss.
The Lord took his people from…
loud and bitter cries great mourning distress
in chapter 4 to…
light gladness joy honor
in chapter 8.
The people went from
fasting
in chapter 4 to
feasting
in chapter 8.
If you are in distress right now – if life seems hard and bitter – don’t give up. You may only be in chapter four or five. But God is at work behind the scenes and chapter eight is coming.
Good things are coming.
Glory things.
God things.
Remember – God’s people will not be overcome (Esther 6:13).
You are precious in the eyes of God and he is for you.
