Zambia Hunt

Introduction

Why does God allow suffering? This question has been asked and debated across the centuries. Some believe that a Christian should never suffer—to them, suffering indicates a lack of faith or worse, sin in the life of the sufferer. This idea is nothing new; it’s as old as one of the oldest books in the Bible—the Book of Job.

The Book of Job depicts a battle between God and Satan. The spiritual struggle taking place answers the question: Is God worthy of man’s worship?

The message contained in the first chapter of the Book of Job is of vital importance to each of our lives. The spiritual battle being waged in this ancient text continues in your life and mine. Which God will we worship? The God of Heaven or the god of this world, Satan?

The Character of Job (Job 1:1)

Job was described as perfect and upright (Job 1:1). Character has been described as what you are when no one is looking. As the saying goes:

“Sow a thought, reap an act;
sow an act, reap a habit;
sow a habit, reap a character;
sow a character, reap a destiny.”

Reputation is what you are supposed to be; character is what you are. Reputation is made in a moment; character is built in a lifetime. Your character is what God knows you to be. Your reputation is what others think you are.

Job was perfect and upright—complete and mature. “Perfect” (complete) speaks of Job’s salvation. In every person, there is a God-shaped void that people seek to fill with many things.

Understanding the Gospel

The gospel tells us that God created us for fellowship with Him, but our sins separate us from God. Sin cannot be removed by good deeds. Jesus paid the price for sin when He died and rose again. Everyone who trusts in Jesus alone has eternal life. Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever.

Job’s uprightness speaks of his spiritual maturity. He was a man of integrity (Job 2:3, 9; 27:5; 31:6)—real, without hypocrisy or duplicity. There was no window dressing or pretense with Job, unlike the Pharisees in the New Testament. He was a disciple, growing in God-like character (Job 28:28).

We too should be real (1 John 1:5-9). When we fail, we shouldn’t deny or lie! Honesty means being transparent with God and others.

The Foundation of Character

Fearing God (Job 1:1)

Job feared God. A rational fear is a healthy dread of something or someone who is powerful and present. This differs from pagan fear—fear of something that doesn’t exist except in the imagination. Satan often takes advantage of this ignorance and affirms the lie.

Many people have an uninformed fear—fearing something because they don’t know what it is. Many don’t really know God and therefore either ignore Him altogether or fear Him in the wrong way.

The fear of the LORD is coupled with reciprocating love; He loves us, and we love Him in return (Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:19). Our daily walk as Christians is in the light of His love, but our actions and attitudes are held in check by our knowledge of His presence and power. Our love for Him causes us not to want to disappoint Him, and our fear of Him holds us back from sin when we’re tempted to give in.

Shunning Evil (Job 1:1)

Job hated evil and understood its devastating consequences. He knew that shunning evil was more than just his actions; it was an issue of the heart. Obedience means doing what we should do, when we should do it, how we should do it, with the right heart attitude toward the authority asking us to do it.

We must flee youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22) and guard our eyes (Job 31:1). We must also guard our minds—what do we allow our minds to think about? Do we think about hateful things? Do we scheme about how we can get the advantage? Do we think wrong thoughts about others? Do we harbor bitter thoughts toward our brothers or sisters in Christ?

As Proverbs 23:7 reminds us, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he!” Philippians 4:8 encourages us to meditate on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. We should fill our minds with the word of God!

We must also guard our hearts—the seat of affection, the place of inner longings. Daniel “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8). Proverbs 4:23 advises, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Jeremiah 17:9 warns that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?” The heart is the well from which all sin flows. Sin in our hearts is the magnet that draws us to fulfill sinful desires through our actions. As James 1:15 illustrates, lust in the heart leads to sin in action, which results in death.

Worshiping God (Job 1:2-5)

Job regularly and consistently worshiped God (Job 1:2-5). He was sensitive about sin because he feared God. He kept short accounts with God, seeking forgiveness promptly and making things right.

Character Displayed Through Trials (Job 1:6-22)

Even in the midst of his dark trials, Job maintained faith in God. He believed in God for salvation and continued to believe God during his suffering. As Hebrews 11:35b-39 illustrates, faith often perseveres through tremendous hardship.

“Faith is living without scheming.” How often when things don’t go as we plan or in a way we like, we complain. All complaints are ultimately against God! (Job 1:22)

Job worshiped God despite his anguish and suffering (Job 1:20b). He looked back, recognizing he was born with nothing (Job 1:21a). Everything he had came from God; he was merely a steward (1 Timothy 6:7). He also looked forward to his death (Job 1:21b), knowing he would take nothing with him into the next life. “Only one life will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Job declared, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15) and “He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

As Warren Wiersbe noted, “All Job had left to give God was his suffering by faith—but that is just what God wanted to silence the devil.”

Conclusion: Four Truths for Suffering

Here are four truths to orient your life in the midst of suffering:

1. God is sovereign in all things. Whatever you are facing, whatever discouragement or dark valley, take courage because your loving, omnipotent Father is sovereignly in control.
2. Satan has access to God’s throne in heaven and regularly enters to accuse you to the Father (Job 1:7, 1 Peter 5:8).
3. God found no fault with Job, but Satan did (Job 1:8). God’s children will be presented faultless before His throne through the redemptive work of Christ. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!
4. Satan can only touch God’s people with God’s permission—his ability against us is limited and controlled by God. With God’s permission, Satan may afflict God’s people, but then God uses it for our good and for His glory (Romans 8:29).

Remember that there is a cosmic struggle that Job knew nothing about, a war in which Job proved that God is worthy of our worship regardless of the circumstances we face.