Lessons We Can Learn From Job In The Bible

Have you ever said “I hate my life?” Job said in Job 10:1 “I loathe my life”

We have all have bad days once in awhile, yet most of us won’t even come close what Job experienced when we utter those painful words. The account of Job tells us that Job was a good man who was afflicted with an unimaginable amount of suffering. Because of this most people shy away from the book of Job if want to have a pick me up. If you are one who avoids this book, you may be surprised to hear this but the book o Job can be encouraging. Reading this book got me through one of the darkest periods in my life.

There are a few lessons we can learn from the book of Job.

1. We will be tempted

You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. But now put forth your hand and touch anything he has, and surly he will blaspheme you to your face.

Job 1:10-13

Satan believed that Job was righteous because he had too many blessings. In other words, it’s easy to love God when you’re crushing through life with no problems at all. Upon hearing Satan’s theory, God granted him power over Job and the trials began to flow. Job was tempted to lash out at the Lord (who wouldn’t be), but he resisted, especially in the midst of suffering.

2. .Everything we have is a gift from God

After being informed that his sons and daughters perished in a great storm, Job tore his cloak and cut off his hair. Falling down and bowing his head the grief stricken father responded with these words:

Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb and naked I shall go back again. The Lord gave and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord

Job 1:21

Recognizing that everything in life is a gift from God, Job passed the first test with flying colors. Don’t get to attached to material possessions or favorable circumstances. The Lord give and the Lord takes away. Learning to accept this will bring you much peace.

I honestly feel for Job here. If you’ve lost a child how would react? I know I would be crushed beyond repair if I lost both my children.

3. God allows suffering

Satan’s next plot in Job 2:7 was to afflict Job with severe boils from the “soles of his feet to the crown of his head.” As if that was not bad enough his wife wasn’t exactly supportive. Implying that these misfortunes were a punishment for some wrongdoings, she urged him to “curse God and die!” Job’s response? “We accept good things from God; and we not accept evil?” Job 2:10).

Amazingly, Job didn’t question God’s goodness or say anything sinful. Instead he accepted the fact that God sometimes allow us to suffer. If suffering notes you life, trust that it can bell you in some way.

In my life I have suffered horrible things, and I have even cursed and hated God. But now I praise Him for the strength I have. They are few experiences in life I cannot get through because of that strength.

4. It’s okay to cry out to God

Job says in job 3:11, “Why did I not perish at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?”

It’s perfectly acceptable to cry out to God when you are suffering. The book of Psalms is filled with many cries from King David. So go ahead and tell God what’s on your mind and heart. I promise He can take it.

5. Sometimes we are wrong

Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again.

Job 7:7

It might seem like our suffering will never end, but only God know what will happen; In this case Job was wrong. He would indeed see happiness again.

I have learned feeling are not facts. We may feel hopeless, but that doesn’t make it true,

6. God cares for all His creatures

Your handed have formed me and fashioned me; will you then turn and destroy me?

Job 10:8

At this point, Job is wallowing in self-pity. He may not have realized it, but he makes an important point. It would make no sense for God to create us and then provide for our needs. He takes care of the birds (Matthew 6:26) and they are not even created in his image and likeness. God will not abandon us.

7. Life isn’t fair

Why do the wicked survive, grow old, become mighty in power?

Job 21:7

He’s right. Sometimes life isn’t fair. One look at the crucifix will confirm it. The best thing to do is accept it and remember that there’s a bigger picture behind everything. This life is not all there is.

8 Look to the past

Oh, that I were as in the months past. In the days when God watched over me.

Job 29:2

We all think of the good times in the past and wish for them when we are suffering.

God was watching over Job, even though he didn’t realize it. When we hit a rough patch, look back and remember all the difficult situations that the Lord got you through. Doing so will restore our hope and remind us that God still is watching over you.

9. Sometimes God s silent

I cry out to you, but you do not answer me.

Job 30:20

In the first 37 chapters of this book, Job poured out his heart and soul and God said nothing. Sometimes the Lord is silent. Don’t stop speaking to Him. He eventually answered Job and He will answer us too… when the time is right.

Sometimes we feel like God has forgotten us, or is angry with us and He is giving us the silent treatment. It’s important that we do not stop talking and praying to Him.

10. God is God and I Am not!

Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me if you have understanding.

Job 38:4

As the Creator of the universe, God really does know best. Give Him the benefit of the doubt. Job eventually learned his lesson.

In the end God gave Job twice as much as he had before the trials. Even though life can be difficult, there is happy ending awaiting us. It may not occur in this life, but it will happen in the next life if we do not give up. Keep crying the Lord. He will not desert you.

And, “the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than the earlier ones” – Job 42:12.

What’s The Significance Of The Number 7

Throughout the Bible, God often gives symbolic significance to mundane items or concepts. For example, in Genesis 9:12-16, God makes the rainbow the sign of His promise to Noah (and by extension, to all mankind) That He will not flood the whole earth again. God uses bread as a representation of Bis presence with His people Numbers 4:7); of the gift of eternal life (John 6:35); and of the broken body of Christ, sacrificed for our sins (Matthew 26:26). The rainbow and the bread are obvious symbols in scripture. Less obvious meaning seem to be attached to some numbers in the Bible, especially the number 7, which at times provides a special emphasis in the text.

The first use of the number 7, to the creation weekend genesis 1. God spent six days creating the heavens in the earth, and then rests on the 7th day. The 7th day was to be set apart and was a holy day of rest (Deuteronomy 5:12).

Right at the start of the Bible the number 7 is identified with something being “finished” or “complete.” From then on, the association continues, as 7 is often found in contacts involving completeness or divine perfection. So we see the command for the animals to be at least 7 days old before being used for sacrifices in ancient times (Exodus 22:30), The command for leprous Naaman to bathe in the Jordon River 7 times to effect complete cleansing (2 Kings 5:10), and to the command to Joshua to March around Jericho for 7 days (and on the 7th day to make 7 circuits) and for 7 priests to blow 7 shofars outside the city walls (Joshua 6:3-4). In these instances 7 signifies a completion of some kind: a divine mandate is fulfilled,

Interestingly, man was created on the sixth day of creation. Some passages in the Bible, the number 6 is associated with mankind. In Revelation 13-18 “The number of the beast” is called the “number of man.” That number is 666 (Revelation 3:23). If God’s number is 7, then man’s number is 6. Six always boss short of seven, just like “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Man it’s not God, just as 6 is not 7.

Series of seven things crop up often in the Bible. For example, we find seven pairs of each queen animal on Noah’s ark (Genesis 7:2); seven stems on the tabernacles lamp stand (Exodus 25:37); seven signs in John’s Gospel; seven things the Lord these in Proverbs 6:16; seven parables in Matthew 13; and seven woes in Matthew 23.

Multiples of 7 also figure into the biblical narrative: “seventy weeks” prophecy and Daniel 9:24 concerns 490 years (7 times 7 times 10). Jeremiah 29:10 predicted the Babylonian captivity that would last for 70 years (7 times 10). According to Leviticus 25:8, the Year of Jubilee was to begin after the passing of every 49th year (7 times 7).

Sometimes, the symbolism of the number 7 is a great comfort to us: Jesus is the seven-fold “I AM” in the gospel of John. Other times, it challenges us: Jesus told Peter to forgive a wrongdoer “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18 22). And then there are passages in which the number 7 is associated with God‘s judgment: the seven bowls of the great tribulation for example in Revelation 16:1, or gods warning to Israel in Leviticus 26:18.

Speaking of the book of Revelation, the number 7 if you use more than 50 times in a variety of contacts: there are seven letters seven churches in Asia and seven spirits before God’s throne (Revelation 1:4)). sevem golden lampstands (Revelation 1:16), seven seals of God judgment (Revelation 5:1), seven Angels rest seven shofars (Revelation 8:2). In all likelihood, the number 7 represents completeness or totality churches represent the completeness of the body of Christ: the 7 The seven churches represent the completeness of the body of Christ. The seven seals on the scroll represents the fullness of God‘s punishment of a simple earth, and so on. And, of course, the book of Revelation itself, with all its 7’s, is the capstone of God’s Word to man. With the complete book of Revelation, the Word was complete (Revelation 22:18).

In all, the number 7 is used in the Bible more than 700 times. If we also include the word related to seven times (terms like seven-fold or seventy or seven hundred), the count is higher. Of course, not every instance of the number 7 in the Bible carry deeper significance. Sometimes a7 is just a 7, and we must be cautious about attaching symbolic meaning to any text, especially which group here is not explicit about such meanings. However, there are times when it seems that God is communicating the idea of divine completeness, perfection, and wholeness by the means of the number 7.

The Shepherds In The Field

Imagine being a shepherd in ancient Israel: Your job is mundane, dirty, and maybe even a little frightening. You are out in the wilderness, away from any town, the only light you see at night comes from the fire around which we are huddled and the moon hanging overhead.

With the small field of vision, you’re supposed to not only keep track of the sheep but also protect them from any attacks.

Suddenly, you see a supernatural brightness- “the glory of the Lord” blinding you and there’s someone there, unlike anything you’ve seen before. Perhaps you immediately recognize that it’s the angel of the Lord, or maybe you are so confused that it takes a minute to sink in that this being is from the heavenly realm. Either way, you are so awe-struck that the angels first words are, “Do not be afraid.”

He says “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be for all people. For these is one born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this is a sign for you. You will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.”

I often wonder if the shepherds fell to the ground during this overwhelming experience. We know they were in fear, but can you imagine the flood of emotions they felt as they realized that the angel of the Lord was proclaiming the good news of the arrival of the Messiah!

The Messiah that was promised since Genesis 3, who would come and rescue all of mankind. For the Jewish people, this was the one they had been longing for. And the shepherds were some of the first to hear of His arrival.

If the knees of the shepherds hadn’t buckled by this point, you can be sure they did when suddenly the skies lit up and one angel became “a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men.

It was no surprise that they immediately started to follow the star of Bethlehem to find the Child in the manger, and returned glorifying and praising God.

The shepherds experienced fear, confusion, awe and joy on that historic night. Every time I tell this story I am filled with awe when I try to envision the shepherds perspective on that holy night.

Shine Like A Lighthouse

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. -John 12:46

One of the strongest images of standing strong in the storm is the lighthouse. In the era before radar, satellite navigation and GPS systems, lighthouses were vital to protect ships from crashing onto rocks, shoals and shores. Building lighthouses can be considered one of man’s most noble endeavors. Since the beginning of seafaring p, family and friends have lit bonfires at night to guide sailers home.

“I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouses. They were built only to serve” – George Bernard

Lighthouses were built to shine.

Jesus used this imagery of light to describe our role in His kingdom. We are the light of the world. He said after claiming Himself to be the true light. Therefore we should function much like a lighthouse, both internally and externally.

The first design for a lighthouse is the internal function of generating light. Early lighthouses used a literal fire that had to be constantly fed and watched. Later electric lights were utilized and ultimately laser lights. But this light still has to be internally projected.

So we too as followers of Jesus project internal light, the outer expression of the inner life under the control of the Holy Spirit.

The other aspect of a modern lighthouse is that it also is an external reflector. Over the years of improvements, revolving lenses have been developed to reflect that internally generated light further into the darkness.

As the moon reflects the light of the sun, so we should reflect the ,Ishtar of the Son in a world of darkness.

Lighthouses remind me of God’s love. Like the bright shining beam of a lighthouse. He love reaches out…piercing through the darkness of any storm.

“You are like the light of the world. A city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put in under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16.