Students of the book of Job who delve into the Hebrew come across an interesting phenomenon. Job’s wife’s words to him are translated, ” ‘Curse God and die’ ” (Job 2:9, NKJV). Job 1:5 is translated: ” ‘it may be that my sons have sinned andcursed God in their hearts’ “(NKJV). And Job 1:11 is translated: … Continue reading –>
Job 1:22 reads: “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (NKJV). Job 2:10 reads: “In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (NKJV). In both cases, despite the attacks, Job stayed faithful to the Lord. Both texts stress the fact that Job did not sin, either with actions or with … Continue reading –>
This is probably as good time as any to deal with another victim in the story of Job: his wife. She appears only in Job 2:9-10. After that, she vanishes from the story and from history. We are told nothing more about her. However, considering all that happened, who could imagine the grief that this … Continue reading –>
After Satan’s first attack on Job, after the news came to him about all the calamities that befell him, how did Job respond? (See Job 1:20-22.) What is the significance of the fact that, even amid such tragedy, Job “sinned not, nor charged God foolishly”? Central to God’s government, a government based on love, is … Continue reading –>
Job 2:1-3 begins almost repeating some of Job 1:6-8. The big change is the last part of Job 2:3, where the Lord Himself talks about how faithful Job remained despite the calamities that befell him. Thus, by the time we get to Job 2:3, it looks as if Satan’s accusations have been shown as false. … Continue reading –>
Read Job 1:1-22. Focus specifically on Satan’s accusations against Job. What is Satan saying? What’s implied in his attacks? Who, in the end, is Satan really attacking? ” ‘Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Job 1:1-22, Job 2:1-13, 1 Cor. 4:9, Gen. 3:1-8, Phil. 4:11-13, Matt. 4:1-11, Phil. 2:5-8. Memory Text: “But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not … Continue reading –>
The concept of a struggle, a controversy, between good and evil is found in many cultures. The idea has persisted through the millennia often expressed through myths. Today, because of the influence of higher criticism and modernist rationalism, many Christians deny the reality of a literal devil and evil angels. These were, the argument goes, … Continue reading –>
The book of Job brings up many important issues. But many of these same issues do not get answered there. We need the rest of the Bible. And even then we still “see through a glass, darkly” (1 Cor. 13:12). As we saw yesterday, for example, the book of Job says nothing about how Satan’s rebellion … Continue reading –>
The opening scenes of the book of Job show us a few crucial points. First, as we have stated, they reveal the reality of another dimension beyond what, of ourselves, we can now know-a heavenly dimension with heavenly beings other than God. Second, they also show just how interconnected our earthly life here is with … Continue reading –>
