Job

[burgyeb]

Are you looking for one to supplement your e-commerce hobby or business?

Have you recently landed one with the same goal in mind?

Or have you ever considered the man Job from Uz?

What word(s), thought(s) comes to mind when you consider Job?

Job 1:1 says that Job was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. (NIV)

[CarnoustieCats]

What word(s), thought(s) comes to mind when you consider Job?

Because he had faith he had patience and acceptance of everthing that was thrown at him....
Not easy to live up to, but it worked for him!!!

[burgyeb]

Yes, Job was a man of faith. In Job 1:1-5 he was shown to be a priest of his household. His children held frequent feasts in their homes, and Job is shown offering sacrifices to purify them, in case they sinned. Fathers in Job's day acted as priest for their family, before the sacrificial laws of Moses were introduced.

His patience in the face of everything that was thrown at him can be seen in the first series of tests, after Job lost his vast wealth and his children. (Job 1:6-19) Through all of his great loss he did not charge God with doing wrong (Job 1:20-22)

Job's faith and patience were further tested when he was afflicted in his body with a terrible disease. Even his wife told him to curse God and die. (Job 2:1-9) But even through all of the additional pain and suffering, Job held on to his integrity and did not charge God with wrong doing. (Job 2:10)


Questions: 1) Is patience the same as acceptance? 2) Did Job accept everything that was thrown at him? 3) Who or what caused Job's testing and suffering?

[burgyeb]

Questions: 1) Is patience the same as acceptance? 2) Did Job accept everything that was thrown at him? 3) Who or what caused Job's testing and suffering?

Acceptance: to receive willingly; to endure without protest or reaction; to regard as proper, normal, or inevitable; to recognize as true...... [Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition]

Patient: to suffer; bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint; manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain; not hasty or impetuous; steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity; able or willing to bear [Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition]

The words accept and patient are addressed differently in natural terms and in the scriptures. Patience and faithfulness are both described as being fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) Being patient or having patience appears to be an attribute of character. The portion of Webster's definition "able or willing to bear" could also be seen as the willingness to accept. So the two words are different, but seem to also be linked.

The scriptures seem to handle the words accept or acceptance as actions. "The wise in heart accept commands" (Proverbs 10:8) ; "Listen to advise and accept instruction" (Proverbs 19:20); "My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer...." (Job 42:8) ; "....humbly accept the word planted in you...." (James 1:21); "....Do not accept a bribe....." (Deuteronomy 16:19)

All things were not to be accepted in the Bible, but patient suffering of the upright was always commended. In Job 1--2, the man Job is seen as patiently suffering under his trials and tribulations. Job had no understanding or knowledge of the behind the scene conversation between God and Satan. (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7) Job did not understand, but he did not accuse God for his suffering. Job also was unaware that God was bragging about his integrity in the face of bitter suffering without cause. (Job 2:3)

Beginning in chapter 3 of Job it will become quite apparent that Job was not passively accepting his situation. Job refused to turn his back on God and walk away. But Job stood up to his 3 friends, and faced God with many questions, complaints, accusation, and appeals. Job did this in a series of 10 speeches (Job 3---31)

So patience and acceptance are not the same thing. Job demonstrated patient suffering in chapters 1-2, but Job did not accept everything that was thrown at him. Satan, the accuser launched the attack against Job, and God allowed this to happen. (see Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7) Job's 3 friends came to console him in his suffering, but no one said a word for 7 days and 7 nights because they saw how great his suffering was. (see Job 2:11-13)

[HerMajesty]

Interesting subtle differences in the definitions. Hadn't thought about the differences before...

[burgyeb]

I hadn't thought about the differences either, but Carnousties comments made me think about it.

[burgyeb]

What Do We Know About Job?

Described as "blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1)

Described by God as..."my servant Job; There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." (Job 1:8, 2:3)

Job was a sage (wise man)

He was a priest to his household (Job 1:5)

He was a father to his children (Job 1:2, 4-5)

He was a husband to his wife (Job 2:9-10)

Job was an employer of many people (Job 1:3)

Job was a community leader; he instructed, encouraged, upheld, strengthened, and supported many in his community (Job 4:3-4; 29:7-17, 21-25)

Job was the suffering servant of God (Job 2:3) ..........a type of/or foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, The Suffering Servant of God (Isaiah 52:13-15; 53)

[billsstamps]

The moral of the Book of Job is simple.

• Lot of complaining in the first three chapters.
• Skip the speeches (waffle) in the next 36 chapters.
• God answers in the last three chapters.

So, if you want the answer to suffering - wait 36 years

[burgyeb]

The moral of the Book of Job is simple.

• Lot of complaining in the first three chapters.
• Skip the speeches (waffle) in the next 36 chapters.
• God answers in the last three chapters.

So, if you want the answer to suffering - wait 36 years

Hi Bill,

IMHO, I do not think 36 years is long enough. How about not even in a lifetime

• First two chapters there was no complaining by Job or his friends. Job only spoke two times in 1-2, and each time he either praised or worshiped God. His 3 friends said absolutely nothing in those chapters. The only one complaining was Satan, because he wanted permission to attack Job.
• Those speeches made by Job and responded to by his 3 friends (chapters 3-31), hold life lessons.
• The speeches of Elihu (chapters 32-37) holds keys to some understanding about suffering, and some keys to the proper response to suffering. He was the only one (including Job) who received no rebuke from God for his words. But even he did not have full understanding or disclosure of Job's situation.
• God answers in the last 5 chapters (chapters 38-42), by thoroughly upbraiding Job for his words (chapters 38-41); securing Job's repentance for his words that lacked understanding (chapter 42:1-6) thoroughly rebuking Job's 3 friends (chapter 42:7-9); and restoring to Job more blessings than he had before his testing. (Chapter 42:10-17)

Job contains many gems for practical living in the face of suffering.

[burgyeb]

In chapters 1-2 Job is seen as maintaining his integrity in the face of severe suffering. Job did not blame God for his suffering, and he remained silent for the most part. His few comments were in defense of God, whom he praised and worshiped. Job's three friends who had come to comfort and console him, maintained silence as they sat on the ground with him. There was no conflict or friction in the absence of words.

In James 3:1-12 the tongue is shown as difficult to control. The person who can always control what they say, is said to be perfect. But since we all stumble in so many ways, there is probably none who could claim to be perfect. It is ironic that Job 3:1 shifts gears so sharply........."After this, Job opened his mouth.........." ; what transpires between Job and his three friends over the next 29 chapters is difficult to navigate.

Although difficult to interact with the text; to get your head around what is actually being said; without making the same mistakes as Job's friends made; it is worth the effort to go through Job 3--31. Doing so will let you know what is being said for yourself, enabling you to draw your own conclusions. Also mixed in with the arguing and complaining are many real truths and valuable lessons.

I have often thought that many people only read the first two chapters and the last chapter. Then make sweeping statements about Job or the Book of Job. Those 29 chapters (69% of the Book of Job) are there for a reason. Take a bit of time and look at it.......you will be glad you did.