THE TRIALS OF JOB PART 1

 

THE TRIALS OF JOB PART 1 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith (more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire) may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:6-7 Job was an incredibly wealthy man. He had houses, sheep, camels, oxen, donkeys, servants and riches galore. He also had seven sons and three daughters. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East. Scholars believe Job was born around the time of Abraham, and he may have been a relative. The book of Job is the oldest in the Bible. Job was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil. He taught his children to fear God and offered sacrifices for them so God would accept them. Then one day Satan strolled into heaven and told God that Job would certainly curse Him if all the wealth and blessings were taken away. Satan said that Job only served God because of the privileges God had given him. So, God told Satan to do whatever he wanted with Job, but Satan must spare Job's life. In one day, Job lost everything: health, wealth, sons and daughters. And God allowed it. In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing. Job 1:22 We have struggled to understand all this. Our sympathies are definitely with Job. This wasn't fair at all! And even if God made it up to Job later on, how could anything make up for the loss of his ten children who died? Apparently Job's story is not a lesson on fairness. Job was a devout, godly man; and Job's ordeal was entirely about a trial of FAITH. So this lesson is for believers. This week, we will look at the major points of Job's story. WHAT WE LEARN ABOUT SATAN 1. He has access to God. 2. He made accusations against Job. 3. He wanted to destroy Job. 4. Satan was limited by God in how much destruction he could do. 5. The heavenly, spiritual realm is real and spiritual beings are very interested in us. JOB PART 2 continued TOMORROW.