Testing God’s Wisdom

Sermon Follow Up

Summary

Job is a good man. The Bible’s description of him as “blameless and upright” prevents us from explaining his suffering as punishment for wrongdoing. Unbeknownst to him, Job’s faithfulness serves purposes larger than his own life, as he serves as God’s star witness in a heavenly court case wherein Satan questions God’s wisdom. Job’s faithfulness includes deep mourning and fierce lament. Humility is not docility, and trusting God does not require us to pretend that the evil He brings good out of is itself good.

Discussion/Reflection Material

-Read Job 1:1–5. Why is it important that the book establishes Job’s goodness before describing his suffering? How might we misuse true doctrines about human sinfulness to dismiss someone’s pain?

-Read Job 1:6–12. Satan claims that Job fears God because it pays well. How does this accusation challenge both Job’s sincerity and God’s wisdom?

-The divine council scene shows God including His creatures in His work. What does this reveal about His character?

-Read Job 1:20–22 and 2:12–13. Do these expressions of grief strike you as over the top? What’s the utility of this kind of mourning? On the flip side, how would we know if our expression of grief went too far or was disproportionate to the circumstance?

-Read Job 3. Do any of Job’s words strike you as impious or inappropriate? If you were one of his friends, would you be likely to correct Job and call him to repentance? At the end of the book, God’s problem is not with Job, but with his friends, indicating that Job chapter 3 represents appropriate speech rather than impious speech. Does that make you think any differently about how Christians should grieve?

-How does Job’s story make you think about God’s sovereignty, specifically Job’s question to his wife in 2:10: “Shall we receive good from God, and not evil?”

-“Humility is not docility.” What might humble, honest prayer sound like in a season of suffering? How can we bring our questions and anguish to God while remaining open to His correction?

-Have you ever offered—or received—a silver lining before there was room to mourn? What might faithful companionship look like instead? Consider one practical way to sit with someone in grief this week.

Family-friendly short

Job loved God, but terrible things still happened to him. He cried, mourned, and told God how deeply he was hurting. Loving God does not mean that we must always look happy or pretend that sad things are good.

Discuss together:

• Can someone love God and still feel very sad?

• What can you tell God when you are hurt or confused?

• How can you help someone who is sad without trying to make the sadness disappear immediately or minimizing what they feel?

Pray together for someone who is suffering. Ask God to comfort them and help your family love them patiently.