Bible Study “Having Faith Through Good and Bad”
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Today’s reading is the first of four from the Book of Job. Job is a very faithful servant of God’s and he is tested by Satan in this series. This series highlights themes of justice and suffering. The Book of Job takes place during 4th or 5th century BCE. In this series God shows divine ways beyond human understanding. The issue at hand between God and Satan is the suffering of innocent people. Job’s friends believe that suffering only follows sin. Job does not curse God after the many calamities caused in Job’s life due to Satan being allowed to test his faith in God. Job decides that he needs to confront God to ask him why he is allowing this to happen. God’s answers are beyond Job’s and any human’s comprehension.
Today’s Old Testament reading allows us to ponder the question: Why are we faithful? Job is a dedicated servant of God. He is blameless and upright, he is fearful of God, and he turns from evil, as an honest person. Job’s misfortunes come from a wager between God and Satan. The Satan portrayed in the Old Testament is not the evil, demonic character like the one we see in the New Testament. The Old Testament Satan is more a prosecuting attorney or even a Devil’s advocate character. Satan wants to know if Job’s faith is genuine and disinterested. Job gets a skin disease and has his health taken away from him. Job’s livestock, children, and servants are either killed or removed from him. After all this has happened to Job and his family, Job’s wife questions his continued dedication to God and Job tells her that he believes that being faith filled toward God means accepting both the good and the bad. Satan thought God was over estimating Job but indeed God was correct. Job does not lose his faith in God.
Opening Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your servant Job. Guide us in our faith as do we our best to honor you. Help us to be as faith filled as Job. In your name we pray, Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Job1:1; 2:1-10 and read or read the scriptures below.
Job1:1; 2:1-10
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
2 On another day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Reflection Questions:
- Would you continue to believe in God’s goodness with sores all over your body?
- Do you know a person that is like Job, completely faith-filled? Share that story with your family or friend.
- How do you honor God every day?
- How could you be more like Job?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on the words or url)
Overview: Job - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQwnH8th_fs
The Book of Job - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GswSg2ohqmA
Activities:
FAITH with Leaves and Cut-Out: Leaves, pine needles, grass, small things found in your natural setting, glue, large paper, crayons, markers, decorations (bling, glitter) and scissors.
Make a design with leaves (or other things found in your natural setting) on a large sheet of paper that spells out the word FAITH and use crayons or markers, words or drawings to express yourself and what your faith looks like to you. Write names of people that have taught you about your faith on the paper. Place the Faith Cut-Out in a visible place in your home to help remind you about your faith.
Word Search: https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/2821158/having-faith-through-good-and-bad/
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for all you share with us. Help us to see all that we can be and to share our love for you with others. In your name we pray, Amen.
