Job

OBJECTIVE

  • The objective of this module is to have a basic understanding of the Wisdom books, learn how to read and apply the Wisdom books, and learn to see and identify Christ in the Wisdom books.
  • The objective of this lesson is to introduce Job as a Wisdom book, outline the main events narrated in this book, contemplate the morals of this book, and finally see images of Christ throughout.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 10 Minutes

  • Balloon Activity
    • Materials: balloons, water, candle or lighter
    • (Practice this ahead of time to be sure that it works for you.)
    • Blow up 2 balloons - fill one about 1/3 full of water and leave the other one with only air.
    • Light a candle or lighter and hold the empty balloon over the flame.
      • The candle represents the trials and troubles that come into our lives. The empty balloon represents a person who doesn't put faith in God's ability to bring us through trials. It should pop right away.
    • Next, hold the balloon with water in it over the flame.
      • This balloon with the water inside, represents a person who has faith in God. When the balloon comes in contact with the flame, it should not pop.
    • Although both of these balloons faced the same trial (the fire), the one with the water is the only one that came through without damage. All of us face trials and temptations in our life. If we trust in God, He will guide us through our difficulties.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

  • 20 "From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? 21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air. 22 Destruction and Death say, 'We have heard a report about it with our ears.' 23 God understands its way, And He knows its place. 24 For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens, 25 To establish a weight for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure. 26 When He made a law for the rain, And a path for the thunderbolt, 27 Then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out. 28 And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding'" (Jb. 28:20-28)
  • Key passages: Job 1:1-5, 13-22, Job 38-42

Memory Verse

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth" (Jb. 19:25).

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

Introduction to the Book

  • About the book
    • The author is unknown
    • Job is a historical person who lived during the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
    • Although it tells a story, Job is a Wisdom book written as a poetic dialogue in a prose-narrative literary style
    • The Coptic church reads from the book of Job on the Wednesday of Pascha
  • Structure
    • The Testing of Job (Jb. 1-2)
    • Job's Dialogues with Eliphaz, Bldad, and Zophar (Jb. 3-27)
    • Poem on Wisdom (Jb. 28)
    • Job's cry for Vindication (=to be released from suffering) (Jb. 29-31)
    • Elihu's Monologue (Jb. 32-37)
    • Discourse between God and Job (Jb. 38-42:6)
    • Healing and Restoration of Job (Jb. 42:7-17)

Story of Job

  • Righteous Job is Tested (Jb. 1-2)
    • Job was a blameless, upright, God fearing man, who God blessed with seven sons, three daughters, and plentiful livestock
    • When Satan was invited by God to consider Job, Satan said Job only loved God because of all the blessings, so God gave Satan power over Job but did not allow him to touch his person (=his body)
    • When all of Job's children and property were destroyed, he tore his clothes, worshipped, and neither sinned against or blamed God
    • Again, when Satan was invited by God to consider Job, Satan said Job was faithful because his body was spared, so God allowed Satan to touch his body, but to spare his life
    • Despite Job's great physical suffering and the harsh words from his wife, Job did not blame God
  • Discourse among Job, his Three Friends, and Elihu (Jb. 3-37)
    • Job's three friends mourned with Job seven days and seven nights in silence, seeking to console him
    • Job finally spoke, to which point his three friends turned against him to convince him that his punishment was caused by sinning against God
    • Job continued to defend his innocence, and became upset with their accusations.
    • Job hit a low point and started to have bitter thoughts, but He never blamed God. He asked God for an explanation of what was happening to him.
    • Eventually a young man Elihu came and contradicted both Job and his three friends
  • God Restores Job (Jb. 38-42)
    • Finally, God appeared as a whirlwind, and showed Job many amazing parts of creation; He showed Job His power and might and wanted Job to see that the whole universe and its complexity is run by His infinite wisdom.
    • Job realized that he could never begin to understand God's infinite wisdom, and was filled with humility and awe of God's power
    • Although he never understood why he suffered, he prostrated himself, and repented for ever being bitter with God and questioning His love and power
    • Although God rebuked Job, he charged Job's friends with sin and would only forgive them if Job would offer a sacrifice on their behalf
      • The Church Fathers understand that Job was found perfect before God, but was chastised so he would not fall into pride since he lived many years after this event
      • God humbled Job so he would continue to live in righteousness
    • The Lord restored Job's losses, and gave him twice as much as he had before
    • He lived one hundred and forty years; saw his children and grandchildren for four generations; then died old and full of days (cf. Jb. 42:16)

Morals on the Book of Job

  • Humility & Repentance
    • We should love God not because of what He gives us, but because of who He is.
    • If we lose something or things don't go our way, we should not become angry or upset with God. Instead, we should be humble and remember that God with His infinite wisdom is in control.
    • We should strive to live a righteous life like Job did by constantly repenting and confessing our sins.
  • Faith & Trust
    • We must trust that God is always with us, even in difficult situations.
    • We may not always understand why certain things happen to us, but we have faith that God loves and cares for us.
      • "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rm. 8:28)

Christ in Job

  • To review, we study types of Christ within the Old Testament to learn more about Him through hidden images that weren't recognized until the coming of Christ
    • This is an example of using the New to read the Old Testament
  • Christ is the Righteous Man
    • As Job is a righteous man, Christ is truly righteous and blameless
    • As Job regularly met with his children to eat together and sanctify them, so we meet Christ in the church regularly to partake of communion and be sanctified by Him
  • The Humility of the Suffering Christ
    • As Job suffered patiently while blameless, Christ, Who is blameless and without sin, suffers on our behalf
  • Christ is Betrayed
    • As Job describes his sufferings saying that his friends and loved ones do not recognize him, so was Christ not accepted by the Jews, but rather was betrayed and condemned to death (Cf. Jb. 19:9, 13)
  • Sacrifice for forgiveness of sin
    • As Job offered a sacrifice on behalf of his friends, Christ offers Himself on the cross so that we may be redeemed from sin and may share in salvation
  • Resurrection
    • As Job was restored at the end of his life and his family was restored, so too does Christ resurrect after dead and acquire the church through His blood
    • As Job was made greater after his restoration, so the church was purchased by the blood of Christ, sanctified in the waters of baptism, and made participants of the resurrection

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 7 Minutes

  • Review
    • How did Job act when he lost everything? (He continued to praise God and persevere)
    • How did Job's friends perceive what was happening to him? (He thought that Job sinned and was being punished)
    • How did God respond when Job asked Him for an explanation? (That there are mysteries beyond his comprehension, and that Job must trust God to take care of what he and others cannot know or do.)
    • How did Job respond to God, even though he didn't find out why he was suffering? (He was filled with humility and trust in God and repented)
  • Reflect
    • Think about the worst day you ever had. How did you respond?
    • How do you think you would have responded to Job's situation?
    • How can we have joy when we are going through hard times?
    • What should we do if we find ourselves feeling angry or resentful because of something bad happening to us? (Be humble, repent, and go to confession)
    • How can we take a step back to remind ourselves of God's glory and wisdom? (We can find something about God by looking carefully at the world that God has made.)

LIFE APPLICATION - 7 Minutes

  • Perseverance & Thanksgiving
    • Persevering in our spiritual life and during trials or difficult times will make our faith stronger and bring us closer to God.
      • This week, have the students practice perseverance in doing good, by finding one good thing to do daily.
    • We should praise God and give thanks to him in all situations, not just when we are happy.
      • "...we thank You for every condition, concerning every condition, and in every condition, for You have covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us unto You, spared us, supported us, and brought us to this hour" (Prayer of Thanksgiving).
      • Encourage the students to recite the Prayer of Thanksgiving each morning as part of their daily routine.

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

  • Collage
    • Have the students put together a collage or slideshow incorporating different elements of God's beautiful creation (E.g., mountains, the ocean, flowers, intricate details of nature, etc).
    • This will remind the students that God created and sustains the world in His infinite wisdom, so we can trust in Him to take care of us and guide us through difficult times.

SERVANT RESOURCES

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

  • This week, write down 3 things each day that you are thankful for in a journal. When you find yourself in a difficult situation and are having a hard time praying, you can look in your journal to remind yourself of all of God's blessings in your life.