Chronological Plan for Jan 4

Today's readings are Job 1-5. Tomorrow's are Job 6-9. 

Palestine is in the area
bordered by the black square.

Some think Job may be the oldest book in the Bible. Whether it is or is not, it teaches a universal lesson about suffering and God. The text provides no historical time frame other than the fact the Job lives in the land of Uz, roughly in the area settled by Shem, one of Noah's sons. We have no way of telling whether or not Job and Shem were contemporaries of each other.

Situating the events in Job in the middle of the timeline of Genesis is an important point. We have learned in Genesis that mankind is inherently sinful and unable to rescue himself from his own nature. God has exhibited grace in the garden and again in the flood. He has preserved a remnant each time, good and righteous people but not pure and holy people. They are people that still need work in order to be sanctified. Noah needs work to become the man God intends for him to be. 

Then we encounter Job. Job is a good and righteous man. God will point this out in the beginning of the Book of Job. But, as we will see, Job, as righteous as he is, still needs work in order to be the man God intends him to be. 

In the opening chapter of Job, we get a peek into what is apparently the throne room in heaven. It is significant to note that Satan appears there but is clearly subject in all he does to the sovereign authority of God. God goes so far as to point Job out to Satan, declaring Job to be righteous like no other man. 

Chapter one poses the question, "Can a righteous man suffer?" This is one of the most powerful lessons in Job. Conventional reasoning would dictate that those who are truly righteous would not have to suffer. This quaint notion is dispelled before the chapter ends. Job, in the space of a few minutes, loses nearly everything he owns including his children! At the beginning of Job 2, his health deteriorates at the hand of Satan. Yes, indeed! A righteous man can suffer, apparently with God's full knowledge and awareness. 

The rest of the Book of Job proceeds to answer the next eternal lesson we hear, coming directly from Jobs lips, 

Job 2:10 "...Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?"

Job's wife and friends try to counsel him, his wife just wanting to see his suffering end. His friends can't believe Job is as innocent as he claims to be. In their eyes, he must have done something wrong. They firmly believe that bad things do not happen to good people. 

Elipahz, one of Job's close friends, claims to "have a word" from God or an angel. Part of his proof that it is authentic is that he has goose bumps. His "word" (Job 4:17-5:27) is powerful and profound....except it is also wrong! Eliphaz believes the angel has told him that Job is being punished and should accept the discipline of the Lord. All this shows that Eliphaz has no idea what has transpired in the

heavenlies. Eliphaz has no clue that Job has been pronounced blameless and upright by the words of God Himself (Job 1:8). Neither does he understand that a righteous man can suffer for the purposes of God. Eliphaz would have an equally difficult time understanding the suffering of the cross.

"Words from God" can be a powerful influence on us. We must take great care in depending on the experiences and spirituality of other people for our guidance. We have to be equally careful of our own experiences. Eliphaz was depending on his tingling sensations to validate his feeling about his friend...and he was wrong.