Title: The Question, “WHY?”
Text: Various texts in Job
Introduction: How many times have you asked “why” in your life? It is a big question.
--Death of a loved one. Why did it happen?
--Our world’s idea of morality. (Homosexuality, abortion, honesty, etc.)
--Why does God allow it to continue?
--Why can’t we seem to make headway?
--What about disease? Why do good people have to suffer?
--Why spirituality?
--Why do innocent people have to die because of one crazy person?
**Whether one admit it or not, some of these questions have entered our minds.
**If anyone had a right to ask “why” it would have been Job.
Tell the story of the hardships of Job. Job 1:13-22 In one day he lost all his camels, sheep, donkeys, oxen, servants, and even his ten children. His health was taken from him. He was stricken with sores that itched so bad he had to scrape them with pottery.
1. The "Traditional" look at Job
a. We always here about the patience of Job, and indeed he was.
"You have heard of the perseverance of Job..." --James 5:11
b. We always here of Job’s faithfulness, and he was.
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” --Job 1:21-22
c. Most of the time we stop here in the book of Job and talk about how we should stay faithful through adversity and that all things work together. Those are lessons we can learn from Job.
d. My goal is different in that I want us to see the heart of Job further in the book.
1. How was Job’s attitude toward God later on?
2. Did Job ever question God’s actions?
3. What does this story have to say about our own growth of faith?
2. Attitudes of Job
a. Bitterness. Job 10:1-7
b. Hopelessness and depression. Job 14:1-12
c. Loneliness and self-pity. Job 19:13-22
d. Frustration and willingness to argue with God. Job 23:1-7
e. He remembered the past Job 29:1 7
3. What do these passages tell us?
a. Job did not understand why these things were happening.
1. His "so called" friends tried to tell him it was sin.
2. Job knew he had sinned, but not so as to deserve this.
i. After Eliphaz, Job’s friend comes to him and tells him that his sin was causing all of his problems, job answers rather strongly.
1. Job 6:24-30 "Teach me, and I will be quiet. Show me where I have been wrong. {25} Honest words are painful, but your arguments prove nothing. {26} Do you mean to correct what I say? Will you treat the words of a troubled man as if they were only wind? {27} You would even gamble for orphans and would trade away your friend. {28} "But now please look at me. I would not lie to your face. {29} Change your mind; do not be unfair; think again, because my innocence is being questioned. {30} What I am saying is not wicked; I can tell the difference between right and wrong."
b. If Job did not doubt God’s judgement, he, at least, wanted an explanation from God concerning the matter of justice.
c. Job was willing to address God on the matter.
1. Job feared God and he knew that God could answer his questions (see Job 28:27-28), but he was willing totalk to God from the heart as we saw in Job 23:1-7.
Summary: --Yes Job persevered, but not without questions.
--Yes Job was faithful, but not without doubts.
--Yes Job was a man just like us who was growing in his faith.
4. What was God’s response? Maybe He would strike him down.
a. Stand Up Like A Man Job 38:1-3 "Then the LORD answered Job from the storm. He said: {2} "Who is this that makes my purpose unclear by saying things that are not true? {3} Be strong like a man! I will ask you questions, and you must answer me."
b. God Asks Some Questions Listen with me Job 38:4-11, 19-33
1. These questions are not meant to be answered. They can’t be. Except by God Himself.
2. They show His power and authority.
c. Job’s Response
1. Job 40:1-5 "Then Job answered the LORD: {4} "I am not worthy; I cannot answer you anything, so I will put my hand over my mouth. {5} I spoke one time, but I will not answer again; I even spoke two times, but I will say nothing more."
5. What are some lessons for us?
a. Job went to God with His problems You may say, “Yes, but His answers were so harsh.
1. Sometimes our answers may seem harsh to our children, but we still expect them to come to us.
2. We should never be ashamed to express ourselves to God on a matter.
i. He says, Hebrews 10:19 "So, brothers and sisters, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place WITHOUT FEAR because of the blood of Jesus’ death."
ii. We are adopted as Sons. Ephesians 1:5
b. Understand that God is in control
1. He is in control of ALL things.
i. Listen to 1 Corinthians 1:25 “Even the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom....”
ii. Romans 1:22 "They said they were wise, but they became fools."
iii. Next to God we must sit and be quiet as Job found out.
Conclusion: Not being in charge is hard for us. We are in charge of homes, businesses, at school, and work. When it comes to life, we must give in to the higher power.
--Truth is, the answer to “why” is not always clear.
--It is never easy, but the ultimate answer is to submit to His will.
Do you like that idea? Many don’t, but it is the only way to rue happiness.
