These studies cover the ancient grouping of Hebrew Bible writings called Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). These books include from Joshua through Malachi in the conventional Christian canon.
This chapter recounts a beautiful example of a woman who trusted God. She was not a part of Israel, yet she trusted the God revealed by Israel. She spoke to Eliyahu (Elijah) about “the Lord your God” and she knew that this drought was due to the God of Israel.
There’s a tendency to discount what the friends of ’Iyyob (Job) have to say, because God corrects them at the end of the book. Yet, significant portions of counsel from one friend, Elihu, actually prepare ’Iyyob’s heart — for example, hope of a mediator with God and resurrection — for the epic encounter with God in the closing chapters of the book.
As we go through this book, Iyyob (Job) and his friends become more hostile. His friends can’t convince Iyyob that he is a unrepentant sinner, and Iyyob can’t convince his friends of his integrity. Iyyob said God was fighting against him, but Iyyob would not assume to fight against God.
We will answer two main questions: Was King Zimri of the southern kingdom of Yehudah (Judah) worse than King Omri? What is God’s purpose to replace one king with another?
When someone “disagrees” with God, we should encourage them to read the book of Job. God Himself tells us that ’Iyyob (Job) had integrity, fortitude and was a righteous man, yet he still to learn how God acts.
Most believers long to speak with God face to face, as Moshe (Moses) did. If you pray to God you willing to hear what He has to say in response, you will hear Him and have a fulfilling relationship.
Given an outside view of what the Adversary was allowed to do to ’Iyyob (Job), we can look down on the spiritual ignorance of his three friends and even of ’Iyyob’s statements in his defense. Rather, this is a powerful lesson on proverbially removing the “log” from one’s eye before looking for the “sawdust” in someone else’s.
When we deviate from God’s path, it is our duty to bring our deviations back to God’s path, following God’s guidance in doing so. Ba’asha, king of northern Yisrael, was warned by a prophet the danger of his path but refused to address the issue and turn back to God’s path. There is a seven-fold pattern in the lives of Yeroboam (Jeroboam), Ba’asha and Solomon in being God’s instrument but going too far. David provides the correct pattern.