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This sermon series explores how God allowed Satan to tempt Job with the deaths of his children, the destruction of his property, the intense pain boils, and the loss of his wife's sympathy. Job's props were completely knocked out from under him, and he didn't know what was going on behind the scenes between God and Satan. Many people today struggle with maintaining their faith when tragedy strikes. Some win that battle; others turn their back on God. Job felt abandoned by God. He faced thoughtless judgments and callous remarks by his friends. In the beginning, Job did not sin. But his dire circumstances and insensitive friends so wore him down that he finally began blaming God for his misery. Then God sent Elihu to reveal to Job and to us how he works in the realm of suffering for our benefit. Life is about death and trials. Studying how God forced Job to re-examine his relationship with him helps us put our struggles in perspective so we can increase our faith. It teaches about God's providence, and how he works in ways we know nothing about. These sermons not only build our own faith, they also teach us how to treat those who are suffering. Anger towards God: The intense emotion of anger often clouds judgment and usual good sense. Death, marriage problems, child-raising issues and disappointments, and caregiving burdens can all lead a person to start blaming God, just like Job did. Studying God's purposes for suffering before life hurls a devastating blow helps protect one from that consuming anger. Job learned these lessons after suffering severe misery; thus, spending time in the book of Job can help a person sort through intense feelings to maintain and restore faith and confidence in God and to find mental clarity for dealing with the problems of life. "I'm impressed with the way you get down to the foundation when it comes to scripture and truth." (Christian) |
