The Book of Job’s Significant Questions

• There are at least four questions asked in the book of Job worth studying.
• And the Holy Spirit’s role in the Book of Job? He’s doing it right now. (hint hint…)

QUESTION ONE: "Will Any Man Serve God For Nothing?"

• This question was asked by Satan (1:9-10).
• Satan was arguing that the only reason Job was so righteous was because of the way God had blessed him.

• • And God allowed Satan to take everything away from Job.

• Answer: YES.

• • Job answered it this way: “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).
  • He also said, “Though he slay me, yet will I praise Him” (13:15).
  • I would also put it this way: A Christian will always be “stuck” in the same spiritual place if he/she does things to earn favor from man or from God.
    • Jesus said “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39).

QUESTION TWO: "Why Am I, A Righteous Man, Suffering?"

• • Everybody say “Life’s Not Fair.”
  • This question was asked by Job (Job 3:1-26).
  • Six times in chapter 3, Job asked the question "Why!"
  • It IS the major question of the entire book, the classic, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

• First, let’s deal with the word “righteous”

• • And remember that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard. (Rom 3:23)
    • Save Jesus, that means Job, too.
  • Job himself said, “How can a man be righteous before God? If one wished to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.” (Job 9:2-3)
    • Yes, God declared Job righteous - but God’s declaration over Job is in the same understanding as it is over Abram when God declared *him* righteous - by his faith and trust in God.

• Second, Job was aware of a coming Savior.

• 19:25, “I know that my redeemer lives…”

• • • • Every scholar I trust insists Job is talking about God’s plan to send a Redeemer who would be God on earth. Job doesn’t appear to know how God was doing it, but Job’s redeemer was coming!

• But let’s go a step further:

• • • God declares US righteous, by our faith in Christ Jesus.
    • He has forgiven our sins, past, present and future.
    • Why do we - declared righteous by God because of Jesus - suffer?

• Answer: Because this world is fallen and corrupt due to sin.

• • • Yes, there’s more to it than that, so let me keep going…

QUESTION THREE: "Does Suffering Have Significant Spiritual Value?"

• • This question was asked by Elihu, a younger friend of Job's, who waited until the older men had given their advice (32:1 - 37:24).

• Answer: YES.

• • • We - individuals - are part of the larger story that belongs to God, not us.
    • As His children, we will never be the star - we’re not purposed or created for that.
    • And once we understand that, the better we comprehend being part of a larger picture of God’s plan and purpose.
  • Selfish people don’t appreciate this.
    • They feel used by God, and long for a way that brings them happiness and glory.
      • Satan and evil promise that road to those seeking it. 
        • For some, earthly pleasures are received, but even for them, eternity is eternal suffering.
      • Whereas for the servant of the King of kings, eternity is coming. Perfection, sinlessness, and nothing but goodness surrounding us forever and ever is coming.
      • THAT’s the Biblical narrative.
      • Your suffering is a result of the Fall, and the ONLY way God can allow you to still LIVE in this fallen world while He uses your RESPONSE to suffering to show others God must be who He claims to be.

• Life’s not fair.

• • God never promised fairness.
  • He promised salvation from an unfair earthly life.

QUESTION FOUR: "Can A Mere Man Be A True Judge Of God's Activity?"

• • This question was asked by God, Himself (Job 38:1 - 42:6).

• Answer: NO (38-42)

• • It isn’t even possible for you and I to comprehend fully how and why God does what He does. 
  • In this Fallen world, AND in heaven, there are limits to man's legitimate questioning of God’s activity, and God demonstrated that very convincingly.

So, what is the Holy Spirit’s role in Job? (purpose of this series…)

• • As we have established that the Spirit of God breathes life into each of us, to live out the design God has purposed us to live…
  • And as we have established that by our faith we are declared righteous by God…
  • And as we have established that by our faith in Christ Jesus, we are now inhabited by the Holy Spirit who lives in us…
  • We can see the application - the role of the Holy Spirit in Job - clear as day:

• 32:8  But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. (NKJV)

• • In US lives the Spirit of God!
  • And God’s breath  gives us UNDERSTANDING.
  • Some say this means general knowledge.
  • Others say this means special knowledge - like how to clearly understand the 4 deep questions posed in Job.
    • That’s the camp I fall in.