Job 1:1-22 How to Suffer Well

(How can I suffer well?) K V: 20 & 21

Today we want to skim through the story of Job. The story of Job is likened to the suffering of Christ in the NT. The difference is, Christ suffered and died on the cross whereas Job lived a long happy life after he suffered for a while. The type of Christ in the book of Job is suffering for doing the right thing for Christ’s sake. Believe it or not, everyone suffers in life anyway. Therefore, it is a no brainer to endure suffering by doing what we know is right. Job’s profile is an impressive one. Job was upright, a man of integrity. We want to learn from him his loyalty, honesty, being a man of his word who loved God, and hated evil. Job is a champion for actively refusing to turn from God under pressure. His refusal to turn away from God includes turning from all kinds of explanations given by his four friends that would reduce God to a simple question to be answered to solve all our problems. Job thought more of God than that. Job shows us how to push hard under pressure and take the pains to grow into a mature faith. 

We can see that the story of Job is different from the rest of the stories in the Bible. Job was believed to be the contemporary of Abraham, though he was a Gentile. We do not know who wrote the book of Job in the Bible. But the story was listed under wisdom literature showing us that God is God of both the chosen people and others. We ask why God allows unfair suffering to us when we try to live a good life, doing the right thing. Our understanding of God is, if I live a good life, God will bless me. But God said, wait a second, let me be God, I know what is happening in the world, and I know exactly what I have in mind for you. You will see that I am God. The title of today’s message suggests that “It makes it easier to accept suffering.” In other words, we want to talk about “How can I suffer well”? The key verses are Job 1:20 & 21. 

Let us read verse 1 together. “There was a man in the land of Uz named Job. That man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” What does “blameless and upright” mean? The answer is found in verse 1b. It means, “fear God and hate evil.” Job was not a perfect human being, he was just like one of us, but he loved God and made God his priority. Upright means always looking up to do the right thing. Job was loyal, honest, devoted to God, and he hated evil with passion. He was a man of integrity, during good times and bad times, whether people saw or not, his love for God and people was the same. Under social pressure Job did not curse God, but remain steadfast in his love.

In verses 2-5, the author reported that Job had seven sons and three daughters, and many other belongings in his household. He was the wealthiest man in the east (3). His life was in harmony. In case his children sinned at night, Job gave burnt offerings for each of them in the morning (5). Job’s life was in an ideal life situation. However, this ideal life attracted violence later. 

Look at 6-12. There was a gathering of divine beings in heaven in God’s presence, like a morning meeting in your workplace. Here, the other word for “Satan” is “Adversary” or enemy. Remember Satan is the enemy of God. He came to the morning meeting uninvited perhaps to oppose everything God had to say. He competes with God at every level. This is what the enemy does. So, the Lord asked Satan, have you noticed my servant Job, he is a good man, he is blameless and upright, he fears God and shuns evil (8) It was pure grace that Job could live a Godly life among the people of his generation. So, the enemy Satan picked a fight with the Lord God. Look, Job did not trust you for nothing, he said. You gave him everything a man can desire in this world. You made him the envy of the world. I tell you what, if you take away his wealth and fame including his children, I promise you, Job will curse you. Satan was suggesting that if Job’s life was going well, the man could hold his faith to the end, but when trial and testing comes, he will fall away. Satan knew the human heart, their loyalty and devotion. He knew their vulnerability. If he inflicts them with suffering at some point, they will doubt God’s love. However, our relationship with God is not based on our love for him only, but in truth it is based on he loved us first. It does not matter whether we live in a bungalow or in a slum, still we love him, and we will not change our loyalty to him. I will suffer if he wants me to. All I am asking is, be near me, Lord. So, we should not fall into Satan’s trap at the time of trial and suffering in life. Satan did not know God’s plan, all he wanted was to destroy Job’s faith in God. But the Lord took hold of Job and said to his enemy. In other words, he gave permission to test Job. “Go ahead and handle my servant Job, just do not touch his life (12).” Sounds scary, right!

What happened next will surprise us? Look at verses 13-19. Meanwhile, the enemy Satan went out and made hell out of Job’s life. Satan struck Job’s sons and daughters and destroyed them in one day (13, 18, 19). Next, he struck Job’s oxen, and sheep, camels, and finally tragedy struck their house, and all his children were lost in a single day (14-17). When we see tragedy happening with good people, the first thing which comes to our mind is why God allows bad things to happen to good people? Or we can ask what the meaning of my suffering is. Job might have tried, but he could not find the answer to the why question in life. Notice that in the story, Job’s suffering involved God’s purpose and we are to learn from it. In the NT, James 1:1-2, it says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”  The main point here is, trials are the test of our faith, it produces perseverance. Elder James is saying that we do not ask God to give us suffering to live in the ghetto all our life. But he encourages us when it comes to consider it as pure joy, because suffering makes you a nobler human being. Suffering makes you a strong person you always wanted to be. So, the meaning of suffering is to make us a better person, loyal, honest, pure, and holy, like OT Job. Apostle Paul has something to say about this matter of suffering. In Romans 8:28, Paul says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” First, we know that God loves us dearly no matter what. Second, God will make something good even out of unjust suffering. In fact, sometime God allows suffering, and he makes something good out of it. In this life, we suffer unfairness, even in our own family. The reason God allows suffering is to make us like his Son (Rom 8:29). Remember, even that unfair treatment or injustice, God will turn it into something good, because he loves you. He is for us, not against us. In this case, God allowed Satan to handle Job, but he protected Job. Likewise, no enemy’s scheme will snatch away from the hand of our Father in heaven. 

What was Job’s response? Read verses 20 & 21. It says, Job tore his clothes and shaved his head, meaning that Job expressed his angst and sorrow in his bones. Job was honest about his situation. He did not make a plastic smile and say that everything was going okay when things were going badly for him. He honestly admitted that his life was in ruin. Honesty is the best policy. We must be honest to ourselves first, then we can be honest to God and others. In other words, do not go around telling nothing is going wrong when you are battling like hell about your situation. When we humbly place ourselves in a position of vulnerability, then we can experience a deliverance. Vulnerability is a mark of humility. Vulnerability is to admit that I need help, then we have hope to be healed. It also means that when someone is going through trial of any kind, we must allow them to speak about their struggle and listen instead of being judgmental. Identify with them in their suffering silently. In verse 20, “worship” means Job completely submitted to God’s will and purpose. Like we all do, Job might have freaked out at first, but he immediately turns his heart toward God. When the enemy struck Job and the calamity fell on his head, Job sought God first. In his teachings Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt 6:33). Instead of worrying, Job sought God. This shows that Job’s priority in life was God. Job does not pretend to know everything, but he offered it to God and trusted his love for him. Look at verse 21. Job praise God in his situation. Here Job acknowledged and accepted the reality of his situation. Throughout the book he tried but Job could not find the answer to the why question. This is the main message for all of us to take home. When God allows suffering of any kind, which is better, to ask why or embrace it? We see that we ask the why question a million times, still the answer is not coming. But if we simply embrace it, then we have a better chance to know how we can navigate through our situation. Acceptance of our circumstances as is makes it easier for us to endure. From today on, let us ask God, how can I suffer well, instead of asking why I am suffering?

Look at verse 22. “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” Job did not say he was right, and God was wrong. In other words, Job respected and honored God as God. In good times and bad times, Job feared God. He was a man of integrity. 

In conclusion, we see there are three ways to look at our suffering: a) the enemy Satan is attacking me, b) I am suffering because of my sin, c) or to view suffering in God’s larger picture. We should have the right perspective of our suffering, to see God’s larger plan. We may never know the answer to why we suffer in life, especially when we endure unjust suffering. It is better to ask the question, how we can suffer well?  It is pure joy because suffering makes us mature in faith. We know that God loves us, and he knows our suffering. First, bring them to God and lay in his hand and ask him to take care of your suffering. Second, and most importantly, embrace your suffering, meaning accept it, then it will make suffering easier to endure. The more you resist, the more it will come nagging at you. Remember, God is bigger than all of us and he loves us dearly. Nothing is happening in the universe out of his loving bounds, and he cares for you. This is good news. May God richly bless you!

General Outline of the book of Job

• Prologue: 1:1-2:13
• The dialogue: 3:1-31:40
• Elihu’ speeches: 32:1-37:24
• The Lord’s speeches: 38:1-42:6
• Epilogue: 42:7-9; 10-17

Type of Christ in Job. Enduring suffering for doing the right thing!

The key of Job is 19:25.

Bible Study Questions

1. Read Job 1:1. Here “blameless and upright” is described as “feared God and hated sin” (1b). What does this description tell us about Job’s character? (Integrity, honesty, devoted) What does this tell us about Job’s priority in life?

2.Read verse 2. Why did a good man Job suffer trials? (Read James 1:2-3; also, Rom 8:28; 1 Pe 4:9) How can we suffer well instead?

3.How did Satan accuse God (9-10)? How did Satan inflict suffering on Job intentionally to distract him from God (11-19)? Read verses 20-21. How did Job accept suffering, and stand tall (22)?