Category Archives: Job

As we continue to struggle with the Covid19 pandemic it will do us good to turn to the book of Job for some time tested counsel. In Job 1:1 we are told that he lived in the land of Uz (probably just below the Dead Sea between Edom and North Arabia). It seems most likelyContinue reading “Counsel from the Book of Job | 1”

We have seen that the book of Job consists of a short prologue (chap 1&2) and an even shorter epilogue (chap 42). The rest of the book consists of a series of dialogues that Job has with three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar before a fourth friend Elihu enters the fray in chapter 32. YesterdayContinue reading “Counsel from the Book of Job | 2”

The first two lessons Job has to teach us is to remind us that God is sovereign and that we can add to people’s suffering if we are poor counsellors. This morning Job teaches us something about the added burdens prolonged suffering can bring to bear on someone’s life. A faith that starts out strongContinue reading “Counsel from the Book of Job | 3”

Job’s three friends adopted a “cause and effect” world view which implied that problems (like human suffering) are analogous to maths problems. They might look hard at first, but they are easily solved once you apply the right formula. For them it was simple – either Job was bad or God was bad. In responseContinue reading “Counsel from the Book of Job | 4”

In JD Greear’s book “Not God Enough” he invites us to imagine a seven year old on a field trip to Cape Canaveral to observe a rocket launch. The child begins lecturing the rocket scientist about why the rocket won’t fly. “That rocket is too heavy. It’s the wrong shape. It needs wings.” The scientistContinue reading “Counsel from the Book of Job | 5”

Joni Eareckson Tada once spoke to a former pastor on the phone. He had broken his neck in a motor cycle accident. As a result he had to resign from his pastoral position. He was deeply depressed. His wife had asked Joni to contact him. She shared her own life story with Ron and readContinue reading “Counsel from the Book of Job | 6”