Job 9-10

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Job’s Response to Bildad’s First Speech

BACKGROUND NOTES

As Job speaks about his God in response to Bildad here in chapter 9, does the first phrase that he uses in verse 8 have any possible scientific implications?
In verses 14-24, does Job deny God or the power of God? Does he misrepresent God?
What was the point that Job was making in verses 33-35 regarding his relationship with God?
In chapter 10, identify three of the challenges that Job makes to God.

While we cannot be sure that Job was aware that God had created an expanding universe, we do now know that it is true. And, other verses in the Bible confirm the concept, such as Psalm 104:2 and Isaiah 40:22. Job was certainly confirming the majesty and power of God.
In verses 14-24 of chapter 9, Job does not deny God or the power of God. This is important to recognize, because we do see that Job does misrepresent God. He says that God arbitrarily brings suffering without a good reason or cause (v 17), and further misrepresents God when he says that God had declared him guilty without considering his righteousness (v 20).
In verses 33-35, Job wished that he and God could go together to an arbitrator or umpire where Job would be declared righteous and God would be shown to be treating him unfairly. In implying that God is unfair, we see another case of Job misrepresenting God.
In chapter 10, we find several instances where Job challenges God. Job challenges God to give him a reason why He was contending with him, while knowing that Job was the labor of His hands (vs 2, 3). Job challenges God’s consistency, considering that God had at first cared for him but now seemed that God was setting him up to be destroyed (vs 8-13). Job challenges God’s wisdom in bringing him from the womb safely only to stricken him with suffering (vs 18-22).

Discuss the difference between challenging God and questioning His ways. Consider the times in your lives when you have challenged God and the times when you have questioned His ways, and discuss how God has responded to you in both instances.

Have you been declared justified and righteous before God? If you have not turned to God and believed in His Son Jesus, this is the time to get right with God. Jesus died on the cross so that you might receive forgiveness for your sins and be justified before God. It is when you turn in faith to Him that God sees and accepts you in the righteousness of Christ. Turn to Him today!

“God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea. He does great things past finding out, yes, wonders without number.” Job 9:4a, 8, 10