Job 9:1-35
Q.1. How did Job express his frustration with God’s perfection, sovereign power, and inaccessibility? How did he see the state of his relationship with God? – (Job.9:1-12)
When Adam sinned and threw the creature out of union with the Creator, God designed suffering as one of the mechanisms to bring us back to Him (Rom.8:20, 24-25). All of humanity suffers (Rom.8:22) … this includes God’s own (Rom.8:23). When trials come, God gets our undivided attention. They cause us to search our hearts for sin that must be confessed. Until we get an answer and fellowship is restored, we tend to feel that we are powerless to appeal to a God Who is almighty, perfect, and sovereign – 2 … But how can a man be in the right before God? 3 “If one wished to dispute with Him, he could not answer Him once in a thousand times … 12 “Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, `What are You doing?’ (Job 9:2-3 & 12). Job rehearsed God’s wisdom and power over nature, and control over the universe. He acknowledged – Who does great things, unfathomable, and wondrous works without number (Job 9:10). However, God seemed so distant and indifferent to his plight.
Q.2. How did God’s silence and lack of explanation for his suffering leave Job confused? What do we learn about the ability of sustained trials to bring despair? – (Job 9:13-24)
God’s silence confused Job. He pondered over how he could make his appeal to God – 14 “How then can I answer Him, and choose my words before Him? 15 “For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge. 16 “If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice (Job 9:14-16). Job’s sustained suffering caused him to question his own standing with God – 19 “If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him? 20 “Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty. 21 “I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life (Job 9:19-21). Job despised himself and was left in despair. Unexplained suffering can do that.
Q.3. How did Job view his life in the midst of suffering? What had happened to his confidence in a good God? How can Job’s opinions help sufferers and carers? – (Job 9:25-35)
Job’s whole life had become pointless to him, as one day of pain ran into the next. He felt that he was treated by God no differently from the way that the ungodly were treated. He felt that there was no justice for him. He feared what the future held – 33 “There is no umpire between us, who may lay his hand upon us both. 34 “Let Him remove His rod from me and let not dread of Him terrify me. 35 “Then I would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself (Job 9:33-35). The Founder of the Christian faith suffered. Therefore, we should never be surprised if we are called to suffer. There is an in-built tendency to compare our lot with others (especially the ungodly). This can lead to an intense sense of injustice. Though we know God’s over-arching plan is to conform us to the likeness of Jesus, we rarely appreciate the reason God deals with us as He does (Rom.8:29). This should influence our own response to personal suffering and help us to minister to those who encounter trials.