5 Minute Lessons on the Kingdom of God
God Is Right and We Are Wrong
Read time: 8 minutes
Downloads
Audio Lesson
00:00
00:00
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
My wife and I and our good friends the Weavers, embarked on a Bible study using the book of Job that was about a 15 week program. Here are some highlights from what I observed from that study.
It started like this, Job's first test:
Job's second test:
Job's friends tried to comfort him:
From Job chapter 3 through chapter 37, Job's friends tried to correct him by sharing their theology and accusing Job that his sin had lead to his suffering. Many points they brought out were good and I have even heard ministers quote and use these points in their sermons. But Job's friends did not have the full story. They did not have the truth and understanding that God had. So God corrected Job and His friends by stating,
My thoughts are this:
It was not that Job's friends were absolutely wrong in the things they were saying. It was not that Job was wrong (although he was) in what he was saying that came out of his suffering. The point is Job and his friends never had the full understanding of what was going on in the heavenly realm and God never chose to tell Job these things. There will be times in our life when we will go through suffering and it will appear that God is not there. That is when our faith is being tested.
It started like this, Job's first test:
"6One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. 7'Where have you come from?' the Lord asked Satan.
Satan answered the Lord, 'I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on.'
8Then the Lord asked Satan, 'Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.'
9Satan replied to the Lord, 'Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!'
12'All right, you may test him,' the Lord said to Satan. 'Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically.' So Satan left the Lord's presence.
13One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother's house, 14a messenger arrived at Job's home with this news: 'Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, 15when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.'
16While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: 'The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.'
17While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: 'Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.'
18While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: 'Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother's home. 19Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.'
20Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21He said,
'I came naked from my mother's womb,
22In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God." (Job 1:6‑22 NLT)and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!'Job's second test:
"2One day the members of the heavenly court came again to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. 2'Where have you come from?' the Lord asked Satan.
Satan answered the Lord, 'I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on.'
3Then the Lord asked Satan, 'Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.'
4Satan replied to the Lord, 'Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. 5But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!'
6'All right, do with him as you please,' the Lord said to Satan. 'But spare his life.' 7So Satan left the Lord's presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.
8Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. 9His wife said to him, 'Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.'
10But Job replied, 'You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?' So in all this, Job said nothing wrong." (Job 2:1‑10 NLT)
Job's friends tried to comfort him:
"11Now Job had three friends: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When these friends heard about Job's troubles, they agreed to meet and visit him. They wanted to show their concern and to comfort him. 12They saw Job from far away, but he looked so different they almost didn't recognize him. They began to cry loudly and tore their robes and put dirt on their heads to show how sad they were. 13Then they sat on the ground with Job seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw how much he was suffering." (Job 2:11‑13 NCV)
From Job chapter 3 through chapter 37, Job's friends tried to correct him by sharing their theology and accusing Job that his sin had lead to his suffering. Many points they brought out were good and I have even heard ministers quote and use these points in their sermons. But Job's friends did not have the full story. They did not have the truth and understanding that God had. So God corrected Job and His friends by stating,
"2'Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
3Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
and you must answer them.
4'Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
"3Then Job replied to the Lord,
"7...the Lord... said to Eliphaz the Temanite: 'I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. 8So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.' 9So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job's prayer.
Tell me, if you know so much." (Job 38:2‑4 NLT)
"3Then Job replied to the Lord,
4'I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?
I will cover my mouth with my hand.
5I have said too much already.
I have nothing more to say.'" (Job 40:3‑5 NLT)
"7...the Lord... said to Eliphaz the Temanite: 'I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. 8So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.' 9So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job's prayer.
10When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!" (Job 42:7‑10 NLT)
"So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning." (Job 42:12 NLT)
"So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning." (Job 42:12 NLT)
My thoughts are this:
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts." (Proverbs 21:2 KJV)
It was not that Job's friends were absolutely wrong in the things they were saying. It was not that Job was wrong (although he was) in what he was saying that came out of his suffering. The point is Job and his friends never had the full understanding of what was going on in the heavenly realm and God never chose to tell Job these things. There will be times in our life when we will go through suffering and it will appear that God is not there. That is when our faith is being tested.
"6...There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
8You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:6‑9 NLT)
Questions
-
One thing we can learn from reading the book of Job is:
- Job's friends knows what's best
- Job knows what's best
- God has all wisdom and knowledge and only He knows the fullness of truth
Answer -
Read and discuss Job chapters 38-39.
We want to hear from you!
We would love to hear your feedback on these lessons and how you use them in your own study or in discipling others. If you have any thoughts, stories, testimonies, comments, or questions we would love to hear them!
Next Lesson:
The Priest That Disappeared