Oswald Chambers writes, “Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is.” — My Utmost for His Highest (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour & Company, Inc., 1963), Jan. 2.

What do you think Chambers means by this idea?

As we know, the book of Job begins with great personal tragedy for Job. He loses everything, except his life and his wife, and she suggests that he “curse God and die!” (Job 2:9, NIV). What follows is a discussion in which his friends try to work out why it has all happened. Throughout all of these discussions, God remains silent.

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Then suddenly in Job 38:1-41 God appears and speaks: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2, NIV). Without pausing, God asks Job some 60 jaw-dropping questions. Open your Bible and scan through these in Job 38:1-41 and Job 39:1-30.

After the last question, Job replies, “I am unworthy — how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer — twice, but I will say no more” (Job 40:4-5, , NIV). But God is not finished. He then begins again and asks another set of “big” questions in succession.

Read Job’s final response in Job 42:1-6. What was God trying to tell Job, and what was the effect on him?

God never answers any of the “why” questions of Job’s friends. But God does paint a picture of His unparalleled greatness as revealed through the astonishing works of creation. After this, Job certainly does not need any answers. The need for explanations has been eclipsed by an overwhelming picture of the magnificence of God.

This story reveals a fascinating paradox. Hope and encouragement can spring from the realization that we know so little. Instinctively, we try to find comfort by knowing everything, and so we become discouraged when we cannot know. But sometimes God highlights our ignorance so that we may realize that human hope can find security only in a Being much greater than ourselves.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Amen!(1)

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Key Thought: Understanding the plan of salvation and prophetic events helps us to cultivate the hope that helps us overcome trials. The key is knowing who God is and that He is with us.
August 13, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Job 42:1-6..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What was God trying to tell Job and what was the effect on him?
3. Personal Application: Are there things happening right now that you can’t understand? How do we deal with these things? Ignore them? Try to face them? Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Why did Job abhor himself and repent in dust and ashes when he came into the presence of the Lord? Shouldn’t he have rejoiced that God had favoured him?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 41:8-14.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What reasons for hope are there for people waiting for deliverance?
3. Personal Application: How can we make the reality of God holding our right hand sure in our lives? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why does God tell Jacob He is with him, but then calls him a worm? That doesn’t sound very encouraging.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Jeremiah 29:1-10.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What reasons for hope are given in Jeremiah?
3. Personal Application: What do you look for in hope? A friendly smile? Financial security? A stable marriage? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbours states: “Why does God tell Israel to not listen to those who said that God would bring them out of captivity? Why did He tell them that it would be seventy years before He would deliver them?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 12:5-13..

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What is the message to us here?
3. Personal Application: What is the source, the response, or the goal of discipline? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(0)

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