Topic: Book of Job
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. (Job 1:1-5 KJV)
We all have problems in our lives. Whether we’d face the death of our family members or face financial problems to take care of our families. In this new series, we will look Job’s life. We will spend several weeks to focus on Job 1-2. In these two chapters of Job, there are many important lessons we can apply in our lives. In later of Job 1, we will see how Satan attacks Job’s life and how Job would respond to his miserable situation.
The Hebrew word for Job is ÕIyowb { ee-yobe’}, which means persecuted. Most biblical scholars believed that he lived in early part of Patriarch Era. As we read Job 1:1-5, he was righteous man and had reverence for God. Also, he was the wealthiest person with several farm animals and ten children. He and his family lived in the land of Uz, near Canaan. Even though his seven sons were not respect for him and God, Job continued to pray and fast for all of his children.
We, too, have responsibilities to take care our families. Being Christians mean that we need to take positions as priests. I Peter 2:9 says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light…” There are some Christian families do not take this verse seriously. As we read 1 Peter 2:9, it does not only apply to priest in the church building. Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 6:19, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
In later chapter of his book, Job will face several tragedies in his life. But God will not leave him there. We will see how God turns Job life 360 degrees.
Often, many Christians want wealthier lives by listening to some TV and radio evangelists. Even though we can be rich by God, He would like to have personal relationship with each of us. God did not bring His Son, Jesus, to show the way for us to become worldly riches, but relationship. Job 1:21 says, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Our treasures are in Heaven, not in this world.
