Wednesday, 6 July 2016

Job

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Job 1 & 2
There was a man named Job who lived in the country of Uz. He was a good, honest man. He respected God and refused to do evil. Job had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 1000 oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He had many servants. He was the richest man in the east.

Job’s sons took turns having dinner parties in their homes, and they invited their sisters. The day after each of these parties, Job got up early in the morning, sent for his children, and offered a burnt offering for each of them. He thought, “Maybe my children were careless and sinned against God at their party.” Job always did this so that his children would be forgiven of their sins.

Then the day came for the angels[a] to meet with the Lord. Even Satan was there with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you been?”

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been roaming around the earth, going from place to place.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He is a good, faithful man. He respects God and refuses to do evil.”

Satan answered the Lord, “But Job has a good reason to respect you.10 You always protect him, his family, and everything he has. You have blessed him and made him successful in everything he does. He is so wealthy that his herds and flocks are all over the country. 11 But if you were to destroy everything he has, I promise you that he would curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan, “All right, do whatever you want with anything that he has, but don’t hurt Job himself.”

Then Satan left the meeting.

Easy To Read Bible Version

Job 1:13-19  Job loses all he had, YET in vs 20 he tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground and worshipped God.

Job 1:20-22 and Job 2:10   Here we see Job’s response to calamity.
  • He BLESSED the name of the LORD
  • Job did not sin against God nor charge Him with wrong
  • Job did not sin with his lips
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.
Job 2:1-10  Satan comes again, this time to ask for Job’s bone and flesh.

Characteristics of Job
  • Job was blameless
  • Upright
  • Feared God
  • Shunned evil
  • Job was a man who had great possessions (7000sheep, 3000 camels, 500 female donkeys, large household
  • Job was the greatest of all the people of the East
  • Raised had children and raised godly children
  • Children were united and fellowshipped together often
  • Job sanctifies his children after feasting  “often” “regularly”
  • Job rises early in the morning to offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all
  • Job offers burnt offerings because he recognises that his sons may have sinned and cursed God in their hearts
  • Job, as a family burden bearer, who did not leave his children to their own devices
  • I see Job as a man after God’s own heart, a man who has crucified flesh even though he lived “before the Cross”
God confirms Job’s characteristics (God’s testimony about Job)
  • God calls  Job “My servant”
  • God testifies that there is none like Job on the earth
  • God declares Job a blameless, upright man who fears God and shuns evil.
Satan’s thoughts
  • Thinks he knows why Job feared God. “
  • Thinks Job feared God because God has made a hedge around him, his household and all that he he has on every side
  • He knew God blessed the work of his hands
  • He knew his possessions have increased in the land
  • Satan thinks if God stretches out His hand and touch ALL that Job has he will “surely” curse God.
  • Satan thinks a man will give all he has for his life
  • He asked God to touch Job’s bone and flesh and he will “surely” curse God.

PRAYER  POINTS
  • Let us thank God because He is more than enough to support us through trial.
  • Lord, let my joy be in Your testimony of my life, not in any man’s testimony
  • Let Christ be fully formed in me so that my life can reveal Jesus to people around me Galatians 4:19.
  • Thank God because He is beautiful for situation Psalm 48:2
  • Lord, help me to live a blameless and upright life, shunning evil Job 1:1
  • Merciful Lord, I pray as I go through time of suffering, enable me like Job not to sin or charge You with wrong Job 1:22
  • In my trial period, do not let me sin with my lips Job 2:10
  • Father, like Job some of us cannot sleep because our sorrow is deep, I pray that You comfort them and pour out Your mercy on them Job 7:4
  • In the midst of trial, my Lord, may I know that You are the one who has granted me life and favour and that Your care has preserved my spirit   Job 10:12
  • I thank You, my Father because You know the way that I take. When You have tested me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10
  • Teach to me know what to say when I am faced with trial or calamity or when I have to counsel some one through similar situations. If it is to be quiet, Lord, grant me grace to do so, so that I might not sin against You.
Sometimes things are allowed to happen so that the quiet power of our Lord to arrange and rearrange events according to His purpose may be shown.
AMY CARMICHAEL
Culled from: Women of Destiny Bible - New King James Version

Finally, Job was able to say

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know that in my flesh I shall see God”

Job 19:25-26

And in Job 42:12- 16  we see that God blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…..He lived 140 years and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. He died, old and full of days.

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