Job- Who Can Relate?

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TemporaryCircumstances

Guest
#1
#1
Who Can Relate?

Your words have supported those who stumbled;
You have strengthened faltering knees.
But now trouble comes to you and you are discouraged;
It strikes you and you are dismayed.
~Job 4:4-5



Why is light given to those in misery,
and life to the bitter of soul,
To those who who long for death that does not come,
Who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
Who are filled with gladness
And rejoice when they reach the grave?
~Job 3:20- 22


This is only two examples from Job.
I think this is one of the best books in the Bible to study because it highlights how we are people.
Just two pages earlier it tells us that Job did not sin by charging God with the wrongdoing, and then a couple pages later he is doubting and asking why.
God speaks highly of Job calling him blameless and upright.
But even someone blameless before the eyes of God went down when trial struck his life

http://ebible.org/kj
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#2
Jul 3, 2015
55,865
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#2
John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Sometimes I feel guilty because I am not ever joyous in the Lord.
But then even Paul said:

2 Corinthians 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 4:17 - For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;

Romans 5:3-5 - And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [SUP]4[/SUP]And patience, experience; and experience, hope:[SUP]5[/SUP] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

The revealed written Word of God promises deliverance to us in so many ways!

Psalms 34:19 - Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Yes, I can relate. But I can also acknowledge that I cause a lot of
my own problems through my thinking, attitude, and actions.
Thank God for Jesus Christ, Who lovingly lifts us up with Himself.
 
S

Stunnedbygrace

Senior Member
#3
Nov 12, 2015
9,112
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#3
TemporaryCircumstances said:
Who Can Relate?

Your words have supported those who stumbled;
You have strengthened faltering knees.
But now trouble comes to you and you are discouraged;
It strikes you and you are dismayed.
~Job 4:4-5



Why is light given to those in misery,
and life to the bitter of soul,
To those who who long for death that does not come,
Who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
Who are filled with gladness
And rejoice when they reach the grave?
~Job 3:20- 22


This is only two examples from Job.
I think this is one of the best books in the Bible to study because it highlights how we are people.
Just two pages earlier it tells us that Job did not sin by charging God with the wrongdoing, and then a couple pages later he is doubting and asking why.
God speaks highly of Job calling him blameless and upright.
But even someone blameless before the eyes of God went down when trial struck his life

http://ebible.org/kj
Click to expand...
I can definitely relate to that first part. It's easy to find the words to help someone in their trial and to build them up but much more difficult to maintain radical faith in your OWN trial. But it is the very trials themselves that develop perserverance of faith for the next trial. Paul said this. That we come to actually rejoice in our trials when we have a few of them and begin to see our growing perserverance by them. He lists a sort of growing chain or domino effect. Trials lead to increased perserverance which leads to building of character which leads to etc., etc.
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#4
#4
None of us can relate to Job. Not one person has the problems Job did. Why is that? Because we'd break down like a broken reed. I would not have the temerity to equate my little problems to the Hell Job endured.
 
JesusLives

JesusLives

Senior Member
#5
Oct 11, 2013
14,551
2,171
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#5
Job was an upright man who served God..... God said to Satan have you considered my servant Job? Job ended up being a pawn in a discussion between God and Satan.... Jobs friends basically said he was being punished because of some sin he must have committed but Job said not so....

Job is a good example of bad things can happen to good people that don't deserve it. But it is also an example of how living in a world of sin is not fair and at times it can seem that sinners go through life having it easy while good people suffer for no apparent reason.

Not many of us have had the total destruction and loss that Job experienced in a short period of time, but many have suffered because we live in this world of sin.

I just hope that I can be like Jobs example and still say though He slay me yet will I trust Him....
 
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TemporaryCircumstances

Guest
#6
#6
Galatea said:
None of us can relate to Job. Not one person has the problems Job did. Why is that? Because we'd break down like a broken reed. I would not have the temerity to equate my little problems to the Hell Job endured.
Click to expand...

I don't believe that's true,
We all doubt no matter who you are.
I know many people who have said the same thing job did and felt the same way he explains, including me sweetie :)
And, with the strength of God in us any child of God can make it through anything, including hell.
 
littlelady

littlelady

Junior Member
#7
Dec 28, 2015
69
71
18
#7
Galatea said:
None of us can relate to Job. Not one person has the problems Job did. Why is that? Because we'd break down like a broken reed. I would not have the temerity to equate my little problems to the Hell Job endured.
Click to expand...
I can understand your perspective here, although I definitely believe personally that we can relate to Job in the sense (as others have said) that we have doubts, fears, etc. as we journey through life. I myself wouldn't claim to suffer as extremely as Job did, and his trials can help me through my much smaller ones; but there are some (indeed, probably many) who suffer as much pain in their lifetime as Job did.
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#8
#8
littlelady said:
I can understand your perspective here, although I definitely believe personally that we can relate to Job in the sense (as others have said) that we have doubts, fears, etc. as we journey through life. I myself wouldn't claim to suffer as extremely as Job did, and his trials can help me through my much smaller ones; but there are some (indeed, probably many) who suffer as much pain in their lifetime as Job did.
Click to expand...
I can identify with Job in doubting, but not in fiery trials. I would not want to equate myself with him in that manner. I wanted to point out that we should not be hasty in identifying too much with people who underwent such intense suffering, it's hard to comprehend. You are right, there are many people who suffer. I think very few endure the level of Job's suffering, the loss of everything, and religious persecution besides.
 
S

Stunnedbygrace

Senior Member
#9
Nov 12, 2015
9,112
822
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#9
Galatea said:
None of us can relate to Job. Not one person has the problems Job did. Why is that? Because we'd break down like a broken reed. I would not have the temerity to equate my little problems to the Hell Job endured.
Click to expand...
Others have lost their children, sometimes even all of them - to war or a car wreck. And others have suffered awful illnesses and the loss of all their wealth and possessions.

But most people don't experience all those things all at once, one right after the other after the other. So...yeah, you're right, it's too much at once and it leaves you speechless and scared at first when you read it because you don't want trials of faith, you want ease and pleasantness. But in my experience, He doesn't allow trial upon trial like that because if we faced it all at once, we'd turn back, just like He said He led Israel a roundabout way through the wilderness because if they faced warfare right away, they might turn back to Egypt. So He tried to build their faith up by their experiences, so they could see they could trust Him before warfare came to them. It's really interesting to read the Exodus at various times as we get to know and trust Him better because we can see our walk and growing faith there in the story. We can see, in hindsight, how we made most of their same mistakes of lack of faith at one point or another in our walking with Him. And you begin to see more and more of the spirit of the words as you go on from faith to faith. It starts coming alive for your inside man. Pretty amazing...! :)
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#10
#10
Stunnedbygrace said:
Others have lost their children, sometimes even all of them - to war or a car wreck. And others have suffered awful illnesses and the loss of all their wealth and possessions.

But most people don't experience all those things all at once, one right after the other after the other. So...yeah, you're right, it's too much at once and it leaves you speechless and scared at first when you read it because you don't want trials of faith, you want ease and pleasantness. But in my experience, He doesn't allow trial upon trial like that because if we faced it all at once, we'd turn back, just like He said He led Israel a roundabout way through the wilderness because if they faced warfare right away, they might turn back to Egypt. So He tried to build their faith up by their experiences, so they could see they could trust Him before warfare came to them. It's really interesting to read the Exodus at various times as we get to know and trust Him better because we can see our walk and growing faith there in the story. We can see, in hindsight, how we made most of their same mistakes of lack of faith at one point or another in our walking with Him. And you begin to see more and more of the spirit of the words as you go on from faith to faith. It starts coming alive for your inside man. Pretty amazing...! :)
Click to expand...
He gives us what we can handle. My life's not been so very rough- I know my weakness. Heck, a few English professors were enough to get me to become an atheist for a short while in college. I can most assuredly relate to doubt- but not to testing. God reserves that for those strong in faith. Martyrs and people suffering and losing all for His name's sake. Thousands of people even at this very minute are suffering for the cause of Christ. I wonder about the mayor of Jakarta, he has been arrested for being a Christian in Indonesia- the most Muslim nation in the world. What might happen to this Job? He may lose all, posessions, liberty, position. Who knows? Precious few of us in the US have suffered persecution of the type Job underwent. This is what I meant.
 
J

John146

Senior Member
#11
Jan 13, 2016
16,638
3,533
113
#11
TemporaryCircumstances said:
Who Can Relate?

Your words have supported those who stumbled;
You have strengthened faltering knees.
But now trouble comes to you and you are discouraged;
It strikes you and you are dismayed.
~Job 4:4-5



Why is light given to those in misery,
and life to the bitter of soul,
To those who who long for death that does not come,
Who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
Who are filled with gladness
And rejoice when they reach the grave?
~Job 3:20- 22


This is only two examples from Job.
I think this is one of the best books in the Bible to study because it highlights how we are people.
Just two pages earlier it tells us that Job did not sin by charging God with the wrongdoing, and then a couple pages later he is doubting and asking why.
God speaks highly of Job calling him blameless and upright.
But even someone blameless before the eyes of God went down when trial struck his life

http://ebible.org/kj
Click to expand...
Job's life is in type the nation of Israel during the great tribulation. It's 42 chapters compares to the 42 months of great struggle with the ending greater than the beginning.
 
S

Stunnedbygrace

Senior Member
#12
Nov 12, 2015
9,112
822
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#12
JesusLives said:
Job was an upright man who served God..... God said to Satan have you considered my servant Job? Job ended up being a pawn in a discussion between God and Satan.... Jobs friends basically said he was being punished because of some sin he must have committed but Job said not so....

Job is a good example of bad things can happen to good people that don't deserve it. But it is also an example of how living in a world of sin is not fair and at times it can seem that sinners go through life having it easy while good people suffer for no apparent reason.

Not many of us have had the total destruction and loss that Job experienced in a short period of time, but many have suffered because we live in this world of sin.

I just hope that I can be like Jobs example and still say though He slay me yet will I trust Him....
Click to expand...
God gave satan permission to do the things he did to Job, and God would not do that unless there was a very good reason for it. Each of our trials that we come through with God, He grows our perserverance of faith. He doesn't allow satan to sift a single one of us except to work it to our good. Our entire race is a race of faith, of trusting Him. And our faith is like a muscle that grows with exercise. Satan may mean it for harm, but God always means it for the good and blessing of our soul.

It's a race of trust we're in. Satan wants to trip us up in the race, so he goes after the one thing that could make us trip - our trust in God as we run. If some trial comes to us, he wants to get us to doubt if God REALLY can be believed that He works all things to our good. So he always tries what worked from the beginning - did God REALLY say...? Because He sure doesn't seem to be turning this thing to your good and seems very cruel right now.

Without trust, it's impossible to please God. Without trust, we can't overcome the world, our flesh or the devil. So trust is the one thing he's going to work to weaken because he wants us to stumble.
 
S

Stunnedbygrace

Senior Member
#13
Nov 12, 2015
9,112
822
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#13
Galatea said:
He gives us what we can handle. My life's not been so very rough- I know my weakness. Heck, a few English professors were enough to get me to become an atheist for a short while in college. I can most assuredly relate to doubt- but not to testing. God reserves that for those strong in faith. Martyrs and people suffering and losing all for His name's sake. Thousands of people even at this very minute are suffering for the cause of Christ. I wonder about the mayor of Jakarta, he has been arrested for being a Christian in Indonesia- the most Muslim nation in the world. What might happen to this Job? He may lose all, posessions, liberty, position. Who knows? Precious few of us in the US have suffered persecution of the type Job underwent. This is what I meant.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I understood what you were meaning to say. I was giving my perspective, building on the conversation. I don't care too much for argument but just like to add what I"ve learned or see. If I mean to actually say I disagree, I will always say: I disagree because such and such. I know it's not the usual way in these threads, but I am almost always adding and not refuting. :)
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#14
#14
Stunnedbygrace said:
Yeah, I understood what you were meaning to say. I was giving my perspective, building on the conversation. I don't care too much for argument but just like to add what I"ve learned or see. If I mean to actually say I disagree, I will always say: I disagree because such and such. I know it's not the usual way in these threads, but I am almost always adding and not refuting. :)
Click to expand...
Okay, I thought you were disagreeing. It seems these forums are like a point, counterpoint kind of set up. :) Thanks for clearing that up.
 
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Stunnedbygrace

Senior Member
#15
Nov 12, 2015
9,112
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#15
Galatea said:
Okay, I thought you were disagreeing. It seems these forums are like a point, counterpoint kind of set up. :) Thanks for clearing that up.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that is what they mostly are. I just refuse to follow the script in that. :) I'm never looking for debate. I want to hear what everyone has to add because it helps me to use the other parts of my body (like you) to inform me. :) It can take me a while (because I'm dense) to figure out that certain people just want to argue and not learn anything new, but once I see it, I usually just steer clear of them because they're never adding anything that helps to build up my trust in Him but are just running around knocking down what the Spirit begins to build in conversations here. If I continue to converse with them after I see what they're up to then I'm just giving the help they desire in tearing down instead of building up. I guess that might be selfish that I don't want to talk with anyone unless they are a help to me but I just don't have any patience for or desire for arguing the same things over and over again. I want to build and I want practical help that grows my trust in my actual day to day walk with God. I don't want to actually hear anyones theology. I want to hear their current struggles and what they are learning day to day in their actual life. And I want to hear what verses occur to everyone that they think are relevant to the conversation. It's like a giant waft of fresh air to find a good and honest conversation instead of doctrinal posturing, isn't it? That point, counterpoint thing is vomitous and it's never built me up to participate in it, not even once. Sorry, don't know why I can't seem to shut up tonight. ;)
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#16
Dec 12, 2013
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#16
I would say that most, if not all, can relate at one time or another and in various forms and fashions....!
 
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TemporaryCircumstances

Guest
#17
#17
dcontroversal said:
I would say that most, if not all, can relate at one time or another and in various forms and fashions....!
Click to expand...

I agree :)
I think the amazing thing about Abba's book is that it not only tells the story of His works but so often we can go through and just find passages that stuck out, and just have that "I know exactly what they are describing feeling"
 
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TemporaryCircumstances

Guest
#18
#18
Wow,
I did not expect so many different viewpoints on this!
How wonderful!!! :)
Have me a totally new view! :)
Thank you all for replying!
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#19
Dec 12, 2013
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#19
TemporaryCircumstances said:
I agree :)
I think the amazing thing about Abba's book is that it not only tells the story of His works but so often we can go through and just find passages that stuck out, and just have that "I know exactly what they are describing feeling"
Click to expand...
Exactly....and just wait....you will discover that God misses nothing....and has it all covered....peace friend!
 
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