Lesson 101 - Elementary

Memory Verse

"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”  (Hebrews 13:5).

Notes

A Faithful Father

In a faraway land many, many years ago, lived a man named Job. He loved God very much, and God also loved Job. Shall we read what the Lord said about this man who lived so long ago? "There is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man." Job had a family of seven sons and three daughters. He also had very great riches; he had thousands of sheep, camels, and oxen. We read that in all the East there was no man so great as Job.

He wanted his children to love God also; and, no doubt, he told them much about God and His goodness. Job was a kind and faithful father. He rose early in the morning and prayed for his children. It is important that Christians pray every morning. Then we can have Jesus with us all through the day. We read in [MAK:1:35] that Jesus rose very early in the morning to pray. Just as every parent does who loves Jesus, Job prayed for his children. One of the greatest blessings children can have is Christian parents who pray for them and teach them to love and serve God.

When Trouble Comes

Although Job had everything in life that he needed, he was not without trouble. Trouble comes to all alike, rich and poor, high and low. Perhaps God does not send trouble to people, but sometimes He permits sorrow or trouble to come if it will do them some good.

Do we love Jesus today only so long as He showers us with good things " our good homes, cars, clothing, toys, good health, and many other blessings we receive from Him? Let us see how much Job really loved God.

Everything Lost

One day a messenger came to Job and said that all the oxen and the servants that took care of them had been killed by some wicked people. Before the messenger finished talking, another came and said that fire had burned up all the sheep " seven thousand sheep and the servants that cared for them, too. Only this one man escaped to tell about it. What did all this mean? Why all the trouble so suddenly? Presently a third messenger came along and interrupted the second man by saying that all the camels had been stolen and the servants killed; only this messenger was left to tell Job of it.

What a terrible blow! In one day this rich man was suddenly stripped of practically all that he had. Of course, he still had his family, as he thought. But wait! Another messenger is coming! Surely he is not bringing more bad news. What has happened now? He tells Job that a great wind has struck the eldest son's house where Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking, and the sons were killed. Although we are not told, we believe the daughters were also killed, for the messenger was the only one left. The loss of one child would have been terrible, but to think of losing a whole family in a few moments of time would seem unbearable.

Standing the Test

How do you suppose Job felt now? How would we feel if everything we owned was suddenly taken away; and then, as if that were not enough trouble, our whole family were killed? Of course, Job was very sad over all the bad news. What did he do? We read that he arose and tore his clothing and shaved his head, for that was what people did to show how sad they were. Then he fell down upon the ground and worshiped God! He did not murmur against God and was not angry or bitter. He said that the Lord had given him what he did have and had also taken it from him. Then he added, "Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job had proved that he did not serve God only for the things God gave him. Job still loved God just as much as he did before he lost all he had. But there was more trouble ahead " another great test for this man of God.

In Great Affliction

Satan, the wicked one, caused boils to come all over Job's body. From the sole of his foot to his head he was covered with terrible boils. He must have suffered very much; and perhaps it was hard for him to understand why he was having so much trouble. But it did not make him love God any the less " only God knew how great Job's love for Him really was.

Sometimes God lets Satan cause people to become sick. Satan has no power to hurt people unless God allows him to do so. If we are God's children we never need be afraid of Satan, for God will take care of us. God is much stronger than Satan. In great trials and troubles, God is very near His children. The harder the trial, the more grace he gives to bear it.

Job sat down on the ground among the ashes, which meant that he was in very great sorrow and pain. Oh, how he must have suffered with those burning sores all over his body! The only one left of Job's family was his wife. Did she try to comfort him while he was sick? Did she pray that God would heal him? We do not read that she did; instead, she said to him, "Curse God, and die." She certainly was no help to her husband.

Trusting God

Still Job trusted God. He did not speak against God or sin against Him. Although his body was a mass of sores and his suffering was very great, yet he kept his heart clean and pure before God. He had faith that God would heal his body.

Let us remember that although Satan, the devil, may cause sickness to come to our body, he cannot touch our soul. As long as we keep the love of God in our heart we can "keep sweet" even though our body suffers pain.

Three friends came to see Job and tried to comfort him in his sorrow and pain. They sat on the ground with him. They thought Job must have been very wicked to have so much trouble. But Job knew that he had not sinned. Although he could not understand the reason for all the suffering and trouble, Job knew that God had His own reason for it all. God was testing Job's faith and trust.

Surely Job loved God very, very much. He trusted God to heal him and said, "I know that my redeemer liveth" [JOB:19:25]). If God had not healed him, he would have trusted Him just the same: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" [JOB:13:15]). Job knew that it would be much better to die and go to Heaven than to displease God.

Faith Rewarded

God did not fail this faithful man of prayer. He took away the boils and made Job well again. He blessed his last days even more than his younger years. God gave him just exactly twice as many sheep, camels, and oxen as he had before! Not only that, but God gave Job another family, too. He had seven sons and three beautiful daughters. Did it pay Job to trust in God? It surely did! He lived a long time in riches and happiness under God's care. When Job was a very old man God called him home to Heaven. No doubt he was happy to leave his riches here on earth to go to a better place. Doubtless, God had a starry crown and a beautiful mansion prepared for this faithful man whom God called "my servant." We sing sometimes, "The harder the cross, the brighter the crown."

Perhaps if Job had murmured instead of having trusted God, the story of his life and his faith would not have been written in the Bible. A very great many people have learned to trust God in hard places through reading the Book of Job. The life of a good person may be a great help to others. We, too, can make our life count for Jesus. When things do not go as we think they should, let us try to do as Job did. Instead of complaining, murmuring or crying, let us praise God and see how quickly the trouble will vanish.

Questions

1. What kind of father was Job to his children? [JOB:1:5].

2. What was the first bad news that was brought to Job? [JOB:1:14-15].

3. How was he afflicted? [JOB:2:7].

4. Did Job sin while in great suffering? [JOB:2:10].

5. What should we do when we are in trouble? [PHL:4:4].