The Truth About Job

I registered for the July 4th 47th Annual Twin Sizzler Bike Race. in Medina. Back in May I registered for this race, and it happened on July 4th. I got the T-shirt.

The real deal- Job.

Job 1:1 ESV

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

The character of Job.

Perfect and upright (integrity)

Integrity- whole

Not sinless, but with integrity. He was not without sin, but he was not a hypocrite or doubleminded.

His friends would accuse him, but Job maintains his wholeness, his integrity- and God honors that integrity.

Foundation of Job’s character was his fear of God and his disdain for evil.

To Fear God is to Respect God, the Lord, to respect Him for who He is, what He says, and what He does.

It is not a fear that cringes constantly, but one that loves their father and respect is lived ou in obedience.

Job 1:2 ESV

2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

Job’s Family.

a large family represented blessing from God.

They gathered ofgten.

Job’s sacrifices were not for their wickedness, but rather for his piousness and his reighteous respect for God on behalf of them.

Job 1:3 ESV

3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.

His material wealth.

Job’s wealth was from God- SEe Job 1.21

Job 1:21 ESV

21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

He used his wealth generously for others. See Job 29.12-17

Job 29:12–17 ESV

12 because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. 13 The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. 15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. 17 I broke the fangs of the unrighteous and made him drop his prey from his teeth.

Job was a walking picture of what Paul wrote about in 1 Timothy 6.6-19

1 Timothy 6:6–19 ESV

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Job’s Disaster (Job 1.6-19)

Job 1:6–19 ESV

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. 13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Job lost everything.

500 yoke of oxen stolen

500 donkeys stolen

3000 camels stolen

7000 sheep-lightning

all 10 of his children killed in a windstorm.

Ecclesiastes 9:12 ESV

12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

When you go through the storm, once the smoke clears you get to see what happened. Job saw what happened. The problem is “why” it happened. Job did not have that answer.

But you and I do- we sat in the throneroom of God and heard Satan’s request. If we did not know this, we would probably be just like Job’s friends who would come and blame Job for the tragedy that occurred.

Side note:

I think the biggest challenge to faith is not believing in God- it may well be failing to believe Satan exists.

Job’s Disaster gives us a few things to learn about God and tragedy:

Job’s Disaster

God is Sovereign in Every Circumstance

He is on the throne. Angels do his will and submit to Him. Satan can do nothing without God’s permission.

The word “Almighty” is used 31 times in reference to God in the book of Job.

No matter what happens in this world, in our lives- God is on the throne and sovereign in all things.

Job’s Disaster

God is Sovereign in Every Circumstance

Satan Has Access To God

Isn’t Satan supposed to be in hell? Not yet.

See Job 1.7

Job 1:7 ESV

7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

SEe 1 Peter 5.8

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Job’s Disaster

God is Sovereign in Every Circumstance

Satan Has Access To God

Isn’t Satan supposed to be in hell? Not yet.

Satan is not cast into the lake of fire until before the final judgment in Rev. 20.10-ff

Satan’s Accusation (against Job)

The scripture shows clearly that God had no problem with Job- Satan did. Here is what God thought of Job, in Job 1.8

Job 1:8 ESV

8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”

He continued to think the same of Job- SEe Job 2.3

Job 2:3 ESV

3 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”

But, Satan said this: in Job 1.9-11

Job 1:9–11 ESV

9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”

Satan’s accusation is not your reputation.

Satan’s accusation is not God’s reputation.

We live in an age where the minute you disagree with something or someone, you are accused of something. You will be cancelled.

Cancel culture-crowd rule.

We live in an age of crowd sourcing, crowd funding. The one gets to join with the many and that becomes the truth or the reality.

Gong Show. America’s Got Talent. American Idol. Star Search.

Everybody gets a vote.

Wikipedia.

Satan loves to have crowd sourcing for truth. Because He’s a liar, and the truth is not in Him.

Remember what Satan’s accusation was against Job: in Job 1.11

Job 1:11 ESV

11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”

But, what really happened?

Job 1:22 ESV

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Satan’s Accusation (against Job.)

Satan’s accusation didn’t work.

We’ve lost our baseline. Our guide.

What is Truth? The truth of God’s Word.

The crowd will never know the truth. Satan knows the Truth, but Has chosen to be the Liar. The Accuser.

See John 18.37-38

John 18:37–38 ESV

37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.

God’s Truth Was Standing Squarely in front of Pilate- but he couldn’t see it. Pilate’s next words are, I find no fault in this man, but you have a custom- who do you want, Jesus or Barabbas? They chose Barabbas.the untruth, the lie.

Satan’s accusations about Job were not about Job- they were about God.

You’ve heard people say, “That’s Not My truth...” I’ve god news for everyone- there’s only one truth, and you don’t get a vote.

When You Know God’s Truth God Knows The Truth About You

God’s truth is not a concept, it is not a fact, it is not a belief or even a belief system- it is a person.

God’s truth is Jesus Christ.

See Job 42.7

Job 42:7 ESV

7 After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.

God’s Truth is Jesus Christ.

I am the way the truth.....the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.

God knows the truth because it is Him.

I didn’t race. I only registered.

I have literally “Been There, Didn’t Do That, And Got the T Shirt.” If you listened closely, I told you I registered for the race. I never told you I started or finished it…