To and Fro
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Introduction
Introduction
Funny I’d preach about the devil on Halloween!
That was not my goal!
Ronnie trick-or-treating
Big kids ran after him
Suddenly, momma bear stepped up
The kids scurried off
Sometimes we need a reminder of who is really in charge!
Today looking at Satan dealing with Job - and God!
Job is likely oldest book in the Bible
Genesis is an older story, but wasn’t written down until Moses
Job likely lived during the time of Genesis, maybe between Noah and Abraham
The text is so old, some words we don’t know!
Fortunately we can still get the idea of the text
This book is an example of Hebrew poetry
We think more about timing and rhyming in poetry
ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
YOU HAVE A FACE
THAT BELONGS IN A ZOO
But Hebrew poetry has all kinds of literary devices
Very structured, almost always written - not spoken
Word plays, sound plays, special orders
On and on and on!
Job is a beautifully written account of a man, his friends, his God, and his enemy
Our series is about Satan’s attacks, we’ll see in chapters 1-2
However, his effect is throughout the story
Begin with Satan’s actions, then fly through remaining 40 chapters
YouVersion: To and Fro
Job 1-2 and the entire book
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. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 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. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
Job, not perfect, but complete in devotion, respect and obedience to God
Called blameless - horizontal
Means no one around him could hold something against him
Sinless is vertical, much harder because God knows everything we do
1 Tim 3 and Titus 1 say a pastor or elder must be blameless
If that meant sinless, we wouldn’t have an elder board!
Job is so concerned with Godly worship, he even offers sacrifices for his kids mistakes
The reason this is written, so you know he is a good dude!
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.”
This is key to this story:
The conversation between Satan and God is real, and affected the real world
BUT, Job has NO IDEA this is happening!
Satan’s actions impact the real world
Satan’s actions impact the real world
When we hear the story, we put ourselves in Job’s shoes
We get the backstory, Job never did - at least not before or during
So the sons of God come in (these are angels - created by God)
Satan walks in with them to disrupt the meeting
Satan has fallen because this is post-perfection - but still approaching God
Satan has to approach God as humbly as all the other angels do - he’s not God’s equal
And God says, “State your business. What have you been up to!”
Satan says he’s been, “Going to and fro, and walking up and down on the earth”
Illustration: My sister Katie
When we were kids, she was the informer
One time - crying, “Dan said he’s going to rip my cat in half...”
First of all, ever seen a 10 YO kid rip a cat in half? Not likely...
Second of all, she left out all the horrible things she did to make me angry enough to say that!
I’m not going to tell you because she’ll be visiting in a few weeks, and I don’t want to make her look bad...
That’s kind of also what Satan does:
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.
Satan and his demons are always on the move, looking for opportunities
When he gets one, he does what he can to entice us into sin
Again, he can’t force us but he can tempt us
When you give in and do it, he then scurries up to heaven before God to tell him everything
Satan looks for opportunities to entice and then accuse
Satan looks for opportunities to entice and then accuse
Before he has a chance to accuse anyone, God asks Satan about Job:
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?”
This makes me wonder, how would Satan respond in another situation
“Have you considered my servant Dan?”
Satan would have a field day with me...
Thank God we have the ultimate servant representing us in Christ
For Job though, he seems to have done very well
Not sinless, but God sees so much good in him he calls him blameless, upright and God fearing
So Satan simply changes his tactic:
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.”
Of course, he fears you! You give him everything!
Have you considered my QB Tom Brady?
7 of 11 Super Bowls, 3 MVP’s, 5 Super Bowl MVP’s, 600 passing TD’s, .766 win %
How would people respond?
He had a great o-line, Belichick, he’s a cheater, always had great defenses...
That’s what Satan does with Job
If you took his blessings away, he wouldn’t be the GOAT
He’d curse you!
He’s saying, “God, You’re wrong!”
He’s questioning God’s omniscience, His judgement, and His blessings
And watch how God responds:
Job 1:12 (ESV)
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.
God allows Satan to do whatever he wants, but don’t touch Job himself...
Satan only does what God allows
Satan only does what God allows
Here’s what Satan - the expert torturer - does
Job 1:13–19 (ESV)
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.”
Talk about a bad day… Job lost everything!
Notice something, Satan accomplishes many things
He influenced attackers and raiders to kill innocent people
He brought fire from heaven (meteors? volcano?)
He controlled the weather
Let me remind you, Satan is POWERFUL!
BUT, only when God gives him permission to do these things
Satan RUINED Job’s life, so how did he respond?
Job 1:20–22 (ESV)
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 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.”
22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
This is a very important first step
How to respond in severe loss:
Job is doing 3 things right:
1 He is mourning his loss
2 He recognizes that nothing was his to begin with
3 He worships God
All three of those things are the right thing to do during heavy losses and trials
How angry Satan must have been!
Sitting there, watching, waiting for Job to curse God
Instead, he worships
Satan then starts scheming again
Job 2:1–2 (ESV)
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And 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.”
Virtually the exact same scenario as before, but now God goes further
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.”
See Satan! I told you! Don’t question God’s position!
Oh, but Satan isn’t done...
Job 2:4–6 (ESV)
4 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”
Satan’s not done...
Yeah Tom Brady can win Super Bowls in New England… but what if he was traded to Tampa Bay!
Satan is saying, “He’s only not cursing you because you wouldn’t let me touch him...”
I took everything away, but any man would give up everything to spare himself...
God says, go ahead and hurt him but don’t kill him
Job 2:7–8 (ESV)
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.
This is as bad as it gets
He’s mourning is ashes
Lost his servants, livestock, property and children
Now he’s covered in sores
But there are a few things Satan doesn’t take - starting with his wife
Job 2:9 (ESV)
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”
This is why I think his wife survives - she encourages Job to fail
I would imagine she’s struggling too
She also lost everything Job did
She doesn’t have boils, but her husband does
She’s like, Ew! Gross! Sitting there scraping that nastiness...
She says, “Why are you still doing the right thing?!”
To her, this is so bad, doing the right thing doesn’t even matter
A lot of us see the world this way - we’ll do what’s right if we get something in return
But if we don’t get the credit, we don’t get paid, we don’t get the accolade… then I ain’t doing it!
What’s understandable isn’t necessarily acceptable
What’s understandable isn’t necessarily acceptable
Growing up in a messed up home doesn’t make it okay to neglect your children
Having an alcoholic dad doesn’t make it okay for you to do drugs
Living on the street doesn’t make it okay to rob someone
Yes, the first part is horrible, but that doesn’t mean the result should be too
It’s always a good time to let your character shine through
Look at Job:
Job 2:10 (ESV)
10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
If we lose our stuff, lose our family… should we then curse God?
NO! Look at Job
God is worthy of our worship regardless of our circumstances
God is worthy of our worship regardless of our circumstances
He’s not only worthy of those things when He’s nice to us!
Let me challenge you with this:
If the Father never sent Christ to die on a cross, would you still worship Him?
Knowing you would go to hell, would you worship?
Many would not...
It is us that transgresses against God, we don’t deserve salvation...
So if we weren’t saved, we’d only get what we deserved!
But God would still be God!
He’d be just as powerful, creative, beautiful, righteous, and worthy of our worship
But we DO have that offer of grace and mercy - a chance for salvation
Gos is worthy of worship anyway, but even MORE because of His loving mercy!
Thank God we have a chance at hope as icing on the cake!
At this point, we don’t hear anymore from Satan… but we’re going to go on because the rest of the story is important
In fact, it’s a little weird
You’re probably thinking, “Wait, what?!”
Job is good and then God allows Satan to take everything from him?
I can’t wait to see why God did this
Why does God allow good people to suffer?
Surely God tells us why at the end of the book
Actually, no. He doesn’t.
The book is actually teach much deeper lessons than that
As Job sits in miserable mourning, he’s approached by 3 friends (and then a 4th)
They have an interesting and poetically organized conversation
Back and forth 9 times
They’re all trying to explain this conundrum - without the view of what happened in heaven
The conundrum is this:
1. Is God just?
2. Does the world experience God’s justice?
God may be just, but if He’s not in control it doesn’t matter
But if God DOES run the universe, we should see His justice enacted on the world
3. Why is Job suffering?
The friends answer yes to the first 2 questions
God is just and the world is subject to God’s justice
So to answer the 3rd question (why is Job suffering) they make an assumption
Assumption: If you are good, you are blessed
If you are bad, you are cursed
So if Job is suffering, he must be a bad person!
Job’s response though, is “I’m innocent, I’m not being punished by God!”
Keep in mind, Job is right! God Himself said Job was blameless...
So Job takes another route in the puzzle
I’m innocent so...
Either the universe is not subject to God’s justice - or God Himself isn’t just
Now we see that Job is starting to slip...
He then starts to accuse God of being unjust!
job 9:22-23
Job 9:22–23 (ESV)
22 It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 When disaster brings sudden death,
he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.
Job starts making his defense in chapters 29-31
In 29 - I was a father to the fatherless, I fought the unrighteous, I counseled people
In 30 - Now I am laughed at, I am in pain, my skin turned black and is falling off
in 31 - If I lusted, let my wife cheat
If I ignored the poor, dislocate my shoulder
If I loved money and power, let the judges decide my fate
But at the end of chapter 31, he says something very serious:
Job 31:35 (ESV)
35 Oh, that I had one to hear me!
(Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)
Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!
He challenges God!
You are unjust, now answer me!
The Job’s friends are upset with Job and leave him
Suddenly, Job hears from a 4th friend with some wise words
His name is Elihu - a Hebrew name but a Buzite
He’s young and was quiet, but is now upset with Job
Job 33:12–14 (ESV)
12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,
for God is greater than man.
13 Why do you contend against him,
saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’?
14 For God speaks in one way,
and in two, though man does not perceive it.
Why we shouldn’t accuse God:
First of all, you’re wrong to accuse God!
Second, God’s ways are higher than yours!
Third, He may be speaking too you in ways you may not realize!
In chapter 34 Elihu breaks this down
God allows suffering for many different reasons
Yes, it may be for punishment...
But sometimes for teaching, warning or character development
He doesn’t know why Job is suffering, but it may not be because he’s done wrong
One thing is certain, Job has NO BUSINESS accusing or questioning God!
Ultimately, Elihu answers the conundrum
God IS just
He DOES rule the universe with His justice
And Job’s suffering likely has nothing to do with justice at all...
God likely has other purposes that Job isn’t aware of
We aren’t either, but we did get to see that glimpse into heaven...
Then, Job gets a special glimpse too
This is one of my favorite parts in all of Scripture
You want to understand a little bit more about God and our place in the universe?
Read Job chapters 38-41 - WOW!
Look at how God starts it:
1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
How TERRIFYING
I can’t imagine what poor Job is feeling at this moment
I guess the same thing we will all feel in the presence of God - especially if we don’t have Jesus
I’m going to read just a little bit of what God says just to get you started
Feel free to read the rest at home, it’ll shatter you
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
God goes on like this the whole chapter - the enormous things He is responsible for
Then in chapter 39, He points out the immense detail of HIs creation
Job 39:1–3 (ESV)
1 “Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?
Do you observe the calving of the does?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfill,
and do you know the time when they give birth,
3 when they crouch, bring forth their offspring,
and are delivered of their young?
Then, at the start of chapter 40, God let’s Job speak - watch:
Job 40:3–5 (ESV)
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Good idea Job! Time to shut up...
But still, Job asked for God, now He’s got Him!
God continues again, but now He tackles Job’s accusations:
Job 40:8–10 (ESV)
8 Will you even put me in the wrong?
Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
9 Have you an arm like God,
and can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;
clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
Then God talks about a couple of incredible beasts!
The Leviathan and Behemoth
No one knows what these are...
Some think they are a crocodile and a hippo
However, no known animals fit every part of the description
Except for dinosaurs!
This suggests humans were alive when dinosaurs walked - a view that I actually favor
However, some think these are mythical creatures
God is then describing how He’s more powerful than the stuff we can imagine
Either way, God is making it clear He is powerful
Honestly, I feel sorry for Job! This is difficult...
But it’s an incredibly important conversation for us
The conversation
1. Job accuses God of being unjust
God’s response? You don’t even know what you’re talking about...
You are so small and simple, and the universe is so big and complex, you can’t handle it
It’s like teaching quantum physics to a houseplant or calculus to a goldfish
And honestly, you’d have more success with the goldfish...
Job simply says:
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
2. Job demands an explanation from God
Rather than explaining, God asks for trust
When we can’t comprehend something, we look to the character of the source
God has clearly shown He is trustworthy
We can’t understand justice, and so we must trust God
We can’t understand justice, and so we must trust God
Finally, God rebukes Job’s 3 friends and tells them to make an offering with Job
This is because Job spoke RIGHTLY and the friends WRONGLY about God
(Back to that in a second)
THEN he tells Job to pray for his friends
He does, and God restores everything taken from Job
Actually, he gives Job even more than he had before
And Job went on to live a full and happy life for another 140 years
David Guzik: “As good as Job was at the beginning of the book, he will be a better man at the end of it. He was better in character, humbler, and more blessed than before.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
In Job’s life, God unashamedly took Job’s side
God said Job spoke rightly
Can’t apply to EVERYTHING
He overstepped and accused God of injustice
But I think there are some things to consider
God seems to approve of Job’s struggle - he never gave up
He was honest with God - not pretending
And He continually sought the Lord in prayer - even when he didn’t understand
It’s okay to struggle with God, but we must always remember in that struggle that He is God
And remember that we also stand before God blameless - if we know Christ
He sees us as perfect and sinless - not because we are, but because we are loved
It’s God that determines our righteousness, and we certainly miss it
But God has constructed this beautiful picture that Job couldn’t grasp
Church, neither can we!
And yet somehow we know, this perfect God chose to see us as perfect because He gifted His Son to us
We need to know this: It’s all God’s story
Illustration: Candi’s bible study
Satan never came looking for Job
He was just wandering to and fro
God is the one that mentioned Job!
Think about that - naturally we’d say “Shhh… leave me alone!”
I don’t want to be tested or challenged
But think of it this way: God was so thrilled about Job, He wanted to show him off
That is a loving Father who was proud of His creation
Greg Laurie: “A faith that can’t be tested is a faith that can’t be trusted.”
Next time you face something, remember that it might no be a punishment or an injustice
Maybe God just wants to show off how far you’ve come