This blog is following Tara-Leigh Cobble on The Bible Recap (TBR) Podcast, which takes a chronological approach and places Job between the flood and Abraham. For further information, see thebiblerecap.com.
God Speaks
TBR Day 004: Job 1-5
Job 1-5, source BibleGateway.com
Audio Bible: Job 1-5
The Bible Project: overview of the book of Job
God Brags about One of His Children
Verse of the Day: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” (Job 1:21 NIV)
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Job 1-5:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Job 1
1. God is very pleased with and blesses people who seek to live blameless and upright lives, fearing God and shunning evil as Job did.
2. People cannot be harassed by Satan (or anyone or anything else) without God’s permission.
Job 2
1. God commends those who maintain their integrity despite calamity.
2. People, like Job’s wife and friends, may not understand how a faith like Job’s can be so strong in the midst of such great suffering and misery.
Job 3
1. God wants people to be honest and acknowledge their feelings without blaming or complaining.
2. There are times when people are in such anguish that they wish they had not been born; they long for rest, relief, or death.
Job 4
1. God is far purer and more righteous than the human beings He created, but He has made a way for them to be purified and made righteous.
2. People do not suffer only because of their own sins, as Eliphaz assumed.
Job 5
1. God Almighty corrects His servants and disciplines His children, but not in Job’s case.
2. Fools (as the Bible defines them) do suffer the consequences of foolish attitudes and/or actions, but not in Job’s case.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Job 1-5?
LORD God, I thank You for the relationship Job had with You and his children that he interceded on their behalf just in case they had offended You. May I love You and other people, especially family members, in a similar way. Holy Spirit, please help me seek to live a blameless and upright life, fearing You and shunning evil. I want You to be able to brag about me to Satan. I know in my mind that I can’t be harassed by Satan (or anyone or anything else) without Your permission; help me to know it in my emotions and will as well. God, You commend those who maintain their integrity in spite of calamity or catastrophic circumstances. I want to be one of them. People around me may not understand how a faith like that can be so strong in the midst of such great suffering and misery. May it pique their curiosity so they ask me and I can point them to You. I know You want me to be honest and acknowledge my feelings without blaming or complaining. There are times when people are in such anguish that they wish they had not been born; they long for rest, relief, or death. Give me the courage and love to show them that You listen, know, and care. Lord God, You are far purer and more righteous than any of the human beings You created. You have made a way for us to be purified and made righteous through faith in Jesus’ cross and resurrection and by cooperating with the Holy Spirit. People suffer for many reasons, possibly including because of their own sins, or because of the sins of other people, governments, or evil entities. You, God Almighty, also correct Your servants and discipline Your children. Fools, as You define them in the Bible, suffer the consequences of their foolish attitudes and/or actions. Whatever the reason for our suffering, may we all bring everything (bad or good) to You so that You can fix, heal or bless it. Then You will receive all the glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Job 1-5? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will seek to make God pleased with me and want to bless me as I strive to live a blameless and upright life, fearing God and shunning evil.
- I will sit with a friend in distress and just let them talk out their feelings and perspective without trying to tell them what to do.
- I will be honest and acknowledge my feelings on a particular issue without blaming or complaining at least three times this week.
- I will pray that God will give my friends His perspective on them and their problems.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.