Week 1: Job 1-2

Introduction:
So you’re in the Old Testament book of Job. Way to go! You’ve stepped into one of the most sophisticated
and mind-bending literary works in the Bible. This book has been designed to stimulate your mind and heart by
raising huge questions about God’s character and the meaning of human suffering. But just so you know, no
straightforward answers lie within. The book of Job uses a common literary device from the wisdom traditions of the
ancient world: an extended conversation based on poetic speeches.

Bottom line: Struggles are not always the result of personal sin.

Who is Job? (Job 1:1-4)

● He lived in Uz.
● Blameless (innocent of wrongdoing) and upright man.
● He is wealthy and the most influential man in all the East.
● He offers sacrifices for the “hypothetical” sins of his children. This guy’s
incredible!
● He was considered by God as His servant (verse 8)
God’s heavenly throne-room:
● God’s divine command center where His executive staff reports for duty
● He’s a king who daily assembles his officers, surveys the land, and then sends them off for various mission.
● The angels (“sons of God”) report for duty as usual, and that among them is Satan.
Who is this satan?
● The word satan is not a proper name.
● Hebrew word satan is a descriptive noun, describing any person that stands “opposed to”, “an adversary”,
or an “accuser” to someone else.
● What was Satan’s accusation? (Job 1:9-11)
The Book of Job teaches us that there is an aspect of human misery that is not the penalty for sin, not correction in righteousness,
not redemptive in itself, and not the noble bearing of persecution for righteousness’ sake. Job’s suffering was of this aspect; we
might say that the reason for his suffering was as a tool to teach angelic beings. Job made known the manifold wisdom of God to
the principalities and powers in heavenly places (Ephesians 3:10-11).
Job’s first test (Job 1:13-22)

What was Job’s first test?

● Job went through some pretty intense testing. Have you ever experienced this kind of test in your life?
Have you ever blamed God?
● How did Job respond? (verses 20-22)
o Worship was Job’s first reaction to his crisis.
● Job maintains his integrity (Job 2:4)
Job’s second test (Job 2:1-10)
● What was Job’s second test?
● Whatever the exact diagnosis of Job’s condition, taken together, his medical problems were significant.
Other passages in the Book of Job tell us more of what Job suffered.

· Intense pain (My bones are pierced in me at night, and my gnawing pains take no rest; Job 30:17).
· Peeling and darkened skin (My skin grows black and falls from me; Job 30:30a).
· Pus-filled, erupting sores (My flesh is caked with worms and dust, my skin is cracked and breaks out
afresh; Job 7:5b).
· Anorexia, emaciation (My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh; Job 19:20).
· Fever (My bones burn with fever; Job 30:30b).
· Depression (I loathe my life; I would not live forever; Job 7:16 and My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest;
days of affliction confront me. I go about mourning, but not in the sun; Job 30:27-28).
· Weeping (My face is flushed with weeping; Job 16:16a).
 · Sleeplessness (When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise, and the night be ended?’ Job 7:4).
· Nightmares (Then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions; Job 7:14).
· Putrid breath (My breath is offensive to my wife; Job 19:17).
· Difficulty breathing (He will not allow me to catch my breath; Job 9:18).
· Failing vision (On my eyelids is the shadow of death; Job 16:16b).
· Rotting teeth (I have escaped by the skin of my teeth; Job 19:20).
· Haggard looks (When they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him; Job 2:12).
· Painful, swollen sores all over his body (painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head; Job
2:7).
· Intense itching (to scrape himself; Job 2:8).
· This condition lasted for months (Oh, that I were as in months past; Job 29:2 and I have been allotted months
of futility; Job 7:3).

● Is it possible that people could experience horrible pain and not deserve it?
● Answer Job’s question to his wife in verse 10.
God’s character:
● In this study, what does this tell me about the character and purposes of God?

Conclusion:
● Read 1 Peter 1:6-7 and share your thoughts.