Scripture Reading: Job 1:20–22

Introduction

A. Job is written to answer a question that has been asked by people of all times and cultures: Why do people suffer?

B. From this book we learn that while we cannot always understand God’s doings, we must always maintain our faith.

Discussion

I. To understand his suffering, we must see how far Job fell.

A. Job was rich in every sense of the word (1:1–5).

B. In one day he lost almost everything he had (1:14–18).

C. As hard as it is to imagine, this was not the end of Job’s sorrows (2:7–10).

D. Because many suppose that all suffering is the result of wicked-ness, Job also lost his reputation (29:7–11; 30:1, 9–11).

II. Through all of these calamities Job persevered.

A. When Job suffers loss, he blesses the God of heaven (1:20–22; 2:10–11).

B. This isn’t to say that Job is perfect (38:2–3).

C. Even though Job was not perfect, he continued to trust in God (13:15–16; 27:2–6).

D. He also repented when he learned his wrong (42:1–6).

A. There are times when a Christian must suffer even when he has done no wrong (1 Peter 2:18–23; 4:12–13; 2 Timothy 3:12).

B. In Christ we can find the strength to persevere no matter what hardships we face (Philippians 3:14; 4:12–13).