Why suffering?
I don't know why I am suffering. I have done nothing to deserve this.
Job
True/False
The ancients had a strong belief in an afterlife and that justice would be served, even after death.
False
The ancients did not have a strong belief in an afterlife. Justice must be served in one's lifetime.
Who challenged God in heaven?
Satan
How does God show up in Job 38?
In a storm
You have sinned and are being punished, so you must repent.
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar (The three friends)
True/False
The ancients believed that if you were righteous, you would be blessed.
True
What challenge was issued to God in the prologue?
That Job only followed God because he was blessed. If Job lost all of his blessings, he would turn from God.
True/False
God answers Job's questions.
False
God is using suffering to teach and correct you.
Elihu
True/False
The ancients believed even people who did evil would be blessed.
False
The ancients believed that people who did evil would be punished.
True/False
After losing all of his blessings, Job sinned by charging God with wrong-doing.
False
“In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrong-doing.” (Job 1:22)
How does God respond to Job?
By challenging Job through a series of questions.
You have falsely accused Job and have spoken falsely about God. You have tried to fit Him into your own belief system. You need to trust in God's wisdom and power.
God
True/False
The ancients believed that the only way to be restored to God was to admit your sin.
False
The ancients believed that you must admit your sin, repent, and ask for forgiveness.
How much of Job's blessing was restored to him at the end of the book?
Twice as much as he had before.
How does Job respond to God?
He humbles himself and repents.
Can we explain why good people suffer and bad people prosper?
We cannot answer this question. We can only trust God’s purpose since His perspective and knowledge is so much greater than our own.