Job's Lesson

Sermons

Murray Wade
12/29/24 - Sunday

Job’s Lesson, Oak Ridge, TN, December 29, 2024

Have you ever questioned God? Maybe asked Him, “Why Me” or “Why is this happening to me?” As we mature in the Lord and deal with trials and challenges, hopefully the questions become more like, “What can I learn from this trial?”

From man’s point of view, Job had reasons to question God. Job is unaware of Satan challenging God by removing the hedge around Job, to try to cause him to curse God. Satan then is permitted to take away all that Job has; his wealth, his children, his health, and his social standing. Even his wife at one point says for Job to curse God and die. Then three of his friends assume because Job is being punished that he must be in sin. People make this assumption today (John 9:1-3).

Satan/Job’s wife/Jobs 3 friends were wrong. However, God does have a very important lesson to teach Job! Even Job recognizes God is in control and does not forsake Him, yet he dares to question Him.

Job 7:11-21 - Job complains of what God has/has not done that are really from Satan.

Job 10:1-17 - Job claims God will not acquit him of his iniquity.

Job 13:3-18 - Job wants to defend his ways before God.

Job 14:3-6 - Job asks why God troubles such a man.

Job 16:6-17 - Job claims that God has worn him out and delivered him to the ungodly.

Job 19:5-13 - Job claims God has stripped him of his glory.

Job 23:1-7 - Job complains, is bitter, and wants to present his case before God.

Job 30:20-23 - Job charges God with being cruel

Job 40:1-2 - This passage sums up Job’s problem. He contends with and rebukes God.

God uses Evidences from His own creation to convince Job of his proper place. Brethren, we can use evidences of God to convince our friends, neighbors, and loved ones of their proper place with God!

THREE EXAMPLES OF GOD’S CREATION

Job 38: God mentions the foundations of the earth and seas

Job 39: God refers to the lion, deer, bear, donkey, ox, ostrich, horse, and hawk

1. Job 9:7-10, 38:31-33 - Job recognizes God’s Heavens, but does not comprehend them (Ps. 19:1) [PP 6-21] – Galaxies & Planets). Have you ever heard advertisements to name your own star? This has been going on for decades and there are always enough stars to name a new one.

2. Job 40:15-24 (verse 15 is against evolution) - God tells Job about Behemoth. Could be a description of some sort of dinosaur? God’s message: Job, you cannot control the behemoth and you dare to stand before the Creator of the behemoth. [PP 23-30] Rancho La Brea Tar Pit)

3. Job 41:1-34 – God tells Job about Leviathon (Ps. 104:26) - maybe the king of all creatures in water? This seems to be a creature such as a dragon, a large crocodile, or a whale. God makes the point again that you cannot control Leviathon, how do you think you will be able to stand before the Creator of Leviathon. [PP 33-36] Blue Whale; Facts about Blue Whales

As a side note: Have you ever had someone say that the Bible does not mention dinosaurs. Well, the simple answer is yes it does. The water dinosaurs were made on Day 5 of Creation and the land dinosaurs were made on Day 6 of Creation!

In all examples, Job recognizes what God has created but he lacks the wisdom to understand it. Therefore, how dare Job the creature, question God the Creator (Romans 9:19-21).

Job 42:1-6 - Job, God’s servant, gets the point (James 5:10-11). God shows Job, by His creations, that Job’s wisdom is nothing. Job’s wisdom is in his submission to the Almighty Creator who has made and controls all things (the stars and planets in the sky, all land creatures, and all sea creatures). Job may not have ever known the whole story, but he did learn one thing. No one is to question, contend with, or rebuke the Almighty Creator! This also applies to us when we are tempted to not obey His Word or honor His Word. Evidences of the power of Almighty God pricked Job’s heart to realize he was out of line and out of his proper place with God. God uses those evidences to show Job his proper place, and we can do the same with our friends and neighbors.

Ironically his friends who accused Job of sin have to ask for Job to pray for them (Job 42:7-9).

*When we are tempted to question God’s will, we need to:

Embrace and Trust His Will (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Obey Him (Hebrews 5:9)
Seek Him First (Matthew 6:33)
Please Him (John 8:29, Hebrews 11:6)

Job got the point, have we? Do you need to become a Christian this morning? Or are you resisting the Creator? If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and He died for you, you need to repent (like Job) of your sins and be buried in the waters of baptism for the forgiveness of sins. TODAY! NOT NEXT WEEK; NOT NEXT YEAR. NOW IS THE TIME TO OBEY! The time is now for you to repent and be baptized!

If we can help you now, please come forward as we stand and sing.

EVIDENCES FROM THE BOOK OF JOB (SLIDE KEY)

The Heavens (PP 6-21)

Galaxies

Cartwheel Galaxy

Edge of Galaxy

Satellite through Milky Way

Neptune and Triton

Uranus

Saturn Aurorae

Jupiter

Venus

Moon

Earth, seeing Egypt/S. Arabia

Sun

Eclipse

Orion

Ursus Major

Ursus Minor

La Brea Tar Pits (PP 23-30)

Fossil Birds from Rancho La Brea

Saber-toothed Cat

Dire Wolf (400 lbs)

Mammoths and The Lake Pit

Mammoth Skeleton

Life Size Imperial Mammoth – 5 times size of African Elephants at the Knoxville Zoo

Two Murals of the world Job may have lived in

Blue Whale (PP32-35)

Blue Whale

Skull

Whale and Man

Whale and Baby

PP 36 – FACTS ABOUT BLUE WHALES

• Largest animal of all time and God created him

• Babies can gain 200 pounds per day

• Can grow to a length of 100 feet

• Can grow to a weight of 300,000 lbs

• Can eat 40,000,000 krill (small shrimp) or about 8,000 lbs per day

• Can live to be 100 years old