Calvary
Chapel Fullerton
March
6, 2022
Why Is Life So Difficult?
Shallow lives
I don’t know if it’s an American thing, or just a human thing, but it seems
to me that most of us have as an underlying goal in life to be “comfortable”.
We want to live a life free from pain and trouble.
At the slightest headache I want to take some Tylenol.
When I have trouble in a relationship, I want the pain to go away, or the
person to go away.
We want the most difficult questions in life to consist of things like:
“Where shall I go to lunch today?”
“What shall I wear today?”
“Will the Angels make it to the World Series this year?”
I fear that most American Christians sound an awful lot like the church of Ladodicea:
(Revelation 3:16–17
NKJV) —16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable,
poor, blind, and naked—
Like the Laodiceans, we do everything we can to avoid the uncomfortable.
Jesus advised the church to buy “gold refined in the fire”, which speaks of
difficulty, of trials.
We seem to be like the seed sown among the thorns:
(Matthew 13:22
NKJV) Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word,
and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and
he becomes unfruitful.
Some of us have become so entangled with the things of this world that we
no longer are useful to God.
For those living shallow lives, the book of Job is a mystery.
It deals with things that make us uncomfortable.
It makes us ask the harder questions of life, like,
“Why do bad things happen to good people?”
“If God loves me, why is there pain in my life?”
Theologians calls these questions “theodicy”, trying
to answer why God allows evil.
The definition of “theodicy” is “the vindication of divine goodness in view
of the existence of evil”.
It comes from two Greek words theos
(“God”) and dike (“right”).
The book of Job is one of the earliest books of the Bible to have been
written, and we see that way back at the beginning of man’s history, he has
struggled with this problem of pain.
And just a heads up, the book of Job doesn’t really give us all
the answers we’re looking for.
There are some answers to these questions, and we will talk about some of
these things, but I have a feeling that some of these questions aren’t going to
be answered satisfactorily on this side of heaven.
I think that many of us don’t want to even ask these questions until we
find ourselves going through a difficult time.
Superstition
Some folks fall into thinking that reading or studying the book of Job is
going to result in our going through the worst problems we’ve ever experienced.
That’s just not true.
I had one friend who used to read through the Bible every year with me, and
he would read the book of Job in a single day just to get it out of the way.
What it will do is make you look at your troubles a little closer, and that
makes you think that it’s the book’s fault, when in fact
you’re just paying more attention to your problems. Everyone goes through
difficult times.
Background
We believe that the book of Job is the earliest book actually
written in the Bible. It would seem to have been written around the year
2000 BC, the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Let me just say this – from the earliest of times, men have struggled with
this concept of “theodicy”. Why would
God allow difficulty to happen to good people?
Even though the book of Genesis (chs. 1-11) covers
much earlier history, it wasn’t written down until 1400 BC by Moses.
This is a book of poetry. Many poets through the centuries have acclaimed
this one of the greatest epic poems ever written.
1:1-5 Meet Job
:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that
man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
:1 the land of Uz
We’re not sure yet just where this is.
There is a connection to the land of Edom, southeast of the Dead Sea. (Lam.
4:21)
(Lamentations 4:21
NKJV) Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, You who dwell
in the land of Uz! The cup shall also pass over to you And you shall
become drunk and make yourself naked.
But this might mean that it was just a land connected to Edom in the days
of Jeremiah.
Some have suggested it was the land of Bashan (northeast of Galilee), south
of Damascus. Others suggest northern Arabia.
We do know it was near a desert (Job 1:19), and
was fertile for agriculture and livestock (1:3; 14; 42:12).
(Job 1:19 NKJV) —19
and
suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four
corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I
alone have escaped to tell you!”
(Job 1:3 NKJV) —3 Also, his
possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large
household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
(Job 1:14 NKJV) —14
and
a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys
feeding beside them,
This area was also identified with Uz by Ptolemy, a Greek general under
Alexander the Great, in the third century B.C. (Ryrie)
:1 whose name was Job
– ‘Iyowb –
“hated”; “the one who turns back to God”, “the assailed or persecuted one”
Some have suggested that this might be the same individual mentioned in:
(Genesis 36:33 NKJV) And when Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his
place.
Reasons: It’s the correct time frame of Job. Jobab was one of the rulers of
Edom, and one of Job’s friends has a name that could be related to a descendant
of Esau (Edom) – Eliphaz the Temanite (Gen. 36:10-11)
(Genesis
36:10–11 NKJV) —10 These were the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah
the wife of Esau, and Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau. 11 And the sons
of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.
:2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
This was part of Job’s blessedness.
(Psalm 127:3–5
NKJV) —3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of
the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are
the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall
not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
:3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels,
five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female
donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all
the people of the East.
:3 five hundred female donkeys
Female donkeys produce a type of milk that is considered a delicacy in the MidEast
:3 the greatest of all the people of the East
Job was a “somebody”, one of the greatest men alive at that time.
:4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed
day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
:4 feast …each on his appointed day
It could be that this means that they rotated the parties every day.
It might mean that they celebrated on each child’s birthday with birthday
parties.
:5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run
their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in
the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them
all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their
hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
:1 blameless and upright, …feared God…
Job was a good guy.
This doesn’t mean he never sinned. We all sin.
This means he was a man of integrity.
You can’t point to Job and say that his difficulty was some sort of
punishment for his sin (though this is what his friends will accuse him of, and
Job himself wonders about).
Bad things happen to good people.
That’s what makes this book so difficult for some of us. We don’t understand why bad things could
happen to good people.
And yet …
We live in a fallen world ravaged by the consequences of sin.
Everyone experiences difficulty.
Before this morning is over, we will explore this.
:5 rise early … and offer burnt offerings
Lesson
Parental responsibility
After each time the family parties, Job would get up early the next day and
offer sacrifices for his kids just in case some of them had done something bad.
This was before the time of Moses and the Law. Job is functioning as a priest
for his family.
I think that all of us parents
ought to be praying every day for our kids, naming them by name, asking for
God’s help and guidance in their lives.
Even if you’re not married or don’t have kids, there are
people you should be praying for every day.
Video:
War Room:
Miss Clara’s Closet
https://youtu.be/DV4FxJErRKg
Even though the apostle John was talking about spiritual children, it does
echo a parent’s heart:
(3 John 4 NKJV) I have no
greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
1:6-12 Satan’s first challenge
:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves
before the Lord, and Satan also
came among them.
Let me simply say here that Satan is a very real individual.
He still has access to heaven where he accuses us day and night before God
(Rev. 12:10
:6 sons of God – a term used for angels
:6 Satan – satan – adversary, one who withstands.
As you’ll see, Satan is a very real person. He is not just “evil
influence”. He has a will. He challenges God. He roams the earth.
:6 before the LORD – Satan and his demons have access to heaven.
Some folks have the mistaken idea that Satan can’t even get close to God.
He has a purpose in heaven, he acts as heaven’s
“prosecutor” before God:
(Revelation 12:10b
NKJV) …for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night
When he accuses us before God, Jesus is our defense attorney.
(1 John 2:1 NKJV) My little
children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone
sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
There will be a day when Satan is kicked out of heaven, but that won’t
occur until half-way through the Tribulation period. (Rev. 12:9)
(Revelation 12:9
NKJV) —9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the
Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and
his angels were cast out with him.
:7 And the Lord said to
Satan, “From where do you come?” So
Satan answered the Lord and said,
“From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking
back and forth on it.”
:8 Then the Lord said to
Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him
on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
It sounds as if God is kind of proud of Job.
We’ll talk more about this later…
:9 So Satan answered the Lord
and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
:10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around
all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his
possessions have increased in the land.
:10 a hedge around him
Satan is complaining that God has protected Job from difficult times and
this is the only reason why Job fears the Lord.
“He only serves you because You’re nice to him”.
Lesson
Fair weather Christian
Are you a “fair-weather” Christian?
Do you follow Him only when things are going good?
Jesus said,
(Matthew 13:20–21
NLT) —20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message
and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They
fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s
word.
Satan is suggesting that Job only serves the Lord because he gets blessed
for doing it. Is that the case with us?
Sometimes you will hear Christians praying for people, asking God to “put a
hedge around them”.
But perhaps we have it all wrong.
Instead of asking God to keep Satan from us, perhaps sometimes we ought to
be asking God to make us strong enough to withstand Satan when the hedge is
down.
:11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will
surely curse You to Your face!”
:12 And the Lord said to
Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand
on his person.” So Satan went out from the
presence of the Lord.
:12 only do not lay a hand on his person
God is giving permission for Satan to touch Job.
Yet God also sets limits on what Satan is allowed to do. God is setting boundaries.
Though you might be going through a tough time, you are not at the mercy of
your enemy. He can only go as far as God permits Him. God knows what your
limits are.
(1 Corinthians
10:13 NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;
but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what
you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that
you may be able to bear it.
The word for “temptation” could also be translated
“trial”.
God always promises a way of escape.
Sometimes it’s through enduring the trial with His help.
Sometimes it’s by running for the hills.
1:13-19 Job’s First Losses
Let me summarize verses 13-19 by just saying that Job’s servants, flocks,
and even his sons and daughters are all killed by marauding Sabeans and
Chaldeans.
:13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and
drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house;
:14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the
donkeys feeding beside them,
:15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have
killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to
tell you!”
:15 the Sabeans raided them
The Sabeans were nomadic Bedouins.
Job’s servants in the field were attacked and killed while the animals were
stolen.
:16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The
fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants,
and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
:16 the sheep and the servants
Some servants were killed by marauding Sabeans.
Others were struck by lightning.
Insurance companies call it an “act of God”.
It seems that God gets blamed for some things that perhaps He didn’t do.
The context would seem to indicate that Satan was behind this attack of
lightening.
:17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The
Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and
killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to
tell you!”
:17 Chaldeans
The inhabitants of Chaldea, living on the lower Euphrates and Tigris.
People from Iraq.
You might think this seems awfully early in history considering that the
Chaldeans won’t rise to be a world power for 1500 years. But keep in mind that Abraham (a contemporary
of Job) fought a battle against a group of kings from the east (ie “Shinar”, Gen. 14:1).
:17 Chaldeans formed three bands – could these have been the deadly
“rock” band, “marching” band, and the scariest of all, the “polka” band?
:18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your
sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest
brother’s house,
:19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck
the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are
dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
:19 it fell on the young people
The worst of all bad news.
Job’s children are dead.
1:20-22 Job’s response
Let’s stand and read the last three verses together…
:20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the
ground and worshiped.
:20 fell to the ground and worshiped
worshiped – shachah – to bow down, prostrate oneself;
before superior in homage; before God in worship
Job didn’t blame God (yet), he worshiped God.
:21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And
naked shall I return there. The Lord
gave, and the Lord has taken
away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
:22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
:21 The Lord gave…has
taken away
Lesson
Understanding Possessions
It’s important to realize that all that we have has been given to us by
God.
As toddlers, one of the first words we learn is “MINE”. We have to unlearn it.
Video – “It’s Mine”
Hold things lightly in your hands.
God gave me all I have, He can take it away as
well.
It’s all His, not mine.
So let’s step back a minute and ask the big
question …
Why is life so difficult?
I’m going to give you some ideas, but I may not have all the answers you
are looking for.
The book of Job is a long one. Job
and his “friends” spend almost 40 chapters debating the issue of why Job is
having such a hard time.
To be honest, I could come up with more than three things, but for the sake
of time, let me just name three.
#1 You may
be in sin
This is the first answer that most of us jump to.
It’s certainly the answer that Job’s friends jump to, and even Job himself
buys into it at times as he wonders what he’s done to deserve such misery.
We ask ourselves, “What did I do to deserve this?”
The author of Hebrews wrote,
(Hebrews 12:5–6
NKJV) —5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to
sons: “My son, do
not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be
discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the
Lord loves He chastens, And scourges
every son whom He receives.”
Just a side note – the writer of Hebrews is actually
quoting from Job, though he’s quoting from one of the guys who attacked
Job. There is much truth in the book of
Job that is good, solid truth, but Job’s friends misapply truth and accuse Job
of things he didn’t do.
The word for “chastening” has to do with the discipline and training of
children.
When a child disobeys, a good parent will try to respond with the
appropriate discipline.
When our boys were young, it might include a “time-out”, along with a
little bit of discussion like, “It’s not good for you to bite your
brother. If you grow up biting everyone
you are angry with, no one will want to be your friend…”
Yet note – “chastening” comes to those who belong to God, to those He
loves.
If you truly think that what you are going through is a result of sin (like
you robbed a bank and you are in jail right now), then know this – God still
loves you.
He just wants to turn your around.
#2 You are being refined
Sometimes our difficulties have nothing to do with sin on our part.
Sometimes God is simply working at helping us to grow and mature, and to be
honest, that doesn’t always happen unless we are going through a hard time.
Peter wrote,
(1 Peter 1:6–7
NKJV) —6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need
be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the
genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that
perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory
at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Gold is refined in the fire.
It is melted down so the impurities can be removed.
Paul wrote,
(Romans 5:3–4 NKJV)
—3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Paul also talks about learning to be joyful (“glory”) in our difficulties
because of what they produce in us – qualities like perseverance, character,
and hope.
This little jewel comes from Charles Spurgeon regarding this verse:
God trains His soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning
them out and using them in forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams,
and swim through rivers and climb mountains, and walk many a weary mile
with heavy knapsacks on their backs.
Well, Christian, may not this account for the troubles through which you
are passing? Is not this the reason why He is contending with you?
Source: Streams in the Desert for April 10
#3 God is proud of you
Don’t forget how Job’s difficulties start.
(Job 1:8 NKJV) Then the Lord said to
Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him
on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
This is the exact opposite of saying that Job is being punished for
something he did wrong.
God was so proud of Job’s faith, that He allowed Satan to bring difficulty as a way to show the entire universe, how a man or woman of
God will respond to difficulty.
Illustration
I remember reading years ago about an architect who oversaw the building of
a railway bridge over a large chasm. The
designer had a long train filled with cars laden with iron stop in the middle
of the bridge. A newspaperman asked the
architect if he was trying to make the bridge collapse. “No” answered the designer. “I want to show that it will NOT collapse”.
I don’t know if this will bring some of you much comfort, but what if you
are that jewel in God’s treasure box that He wants to display to the world?
What if the best way to display that jewel is against the backdrop of great
difficulty.
He wants the world to see how you trust Him.
How do I respond to difficulty?
All these answers come from Job.
Self-examine
Job will say this to God:
(Job 13:23 NKJV) How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know
my transgression and my sin.
I think I must be a little too sensitive.
I don’t like it when somebody points out something I did wrong.
I get defensive and start making up excuses for
what I did.
??
I found a video from a renowned expert that will fix all
us overly sensitive people. Pay close
attention.
I hope Mr. Parks’ buzzer has fixed you. Would you like
for me to play it again? J
I think Mr. Parks belongs to the Bob Newhart
school of counselling…
I wish it were this easy to “fix” us.
??
We hurt ourselves when we aren’t willing to listen to criticism.
Solomon wrote,
(Proverbs 13:18
NKJV) Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who
regards a rebuke will be honored.
If we have sins, we certainly want to turn from them. Job certainly wanted to.
David wrote,
(Psalm 139:23–24
NKJV) —23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and
know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in
the way everlasting.
Are you open to God pointing things out that need to change?
How about if it’s someone who you don’t like that points out a thing or
two?
Some of you might find that you don’t actually know
God.
If you were to be honest you would have to admit that you have not found
the peace with God that comes from surrendering your life to Jesus.
Jesus died on a cross so that your sins could be paid for.
He paid a debt He didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay.
Your response to difficulty might simply start by saying to God, “I need
You. I need your forgiveness. I need your help.”
One of the things we all might do if we are struggling with guilt over sin
in our life, and that is to bring that sin to God.
God wants us to learn to deal with unresolved guilt.
David wrote,
(Psalm 25:7 NKJV) Do not
remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to
Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
God desires that we move beyond those days where we were driven by guilt
and move into His forgiveness and grace.
John wrote,
(1 John 1:9 NKJV) If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
When we are aware of something we’ve done wrong, we need
to confess it to God and realize that He’s promised to forgive us and cleanse
us.
He’s faithful. He
will forgive.
He’s “just”. He
forgives us because Jesus has paid for us.
Sometimes we also need to confess our guilt to another person, when we’ve
wronged them.
(James 5:16 NKJV) Confess your
trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails
much.
In the TV series “The Chosen”, season 2, episode 6, there’s a picture of
repentance and forgiveness.
Mary Magdalene has backslidden and went back to
her drinking. Peter and Matthew find her, and convince her to come back to Jesus. The scene is about what happened when Mary,
swimming in her shame and guilt, finally comes back to face Jesus…
Video: The Chosen 2.6 – Mary’s
Repentance
https://youtu.be/1eW4zzOgYMk
When we’ve done our part, in confessing and turning from our sin, then we
need to receive forgiveness and move on.
Pray
Throughout the book you will see Job turning to God in prayer (you have to look hard, but it’s there).
In contrast, Job’s “friends” will often talk about God, but Job actually talks WITH God.
You’ll see some of Job’s prayers in Job 7, 10, and 14.
Job’s prayers aren’t always “sweet”.
He’s often asking God hard questions, things he doesn’t understand.
But he still prays.
James writes,
(James 5:13 NKJV) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.
Paul writes,
(Philippians
4:6 NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Perhaps at the end of the service you may want to
go to the prayer team and ask someone to pray with you.
If you’re watching online, text your prayer requests to the church and we
will pray.
Trust
I think one of the greatest displays of faith is shown by Job himself …
(Job 13:15 NKJV) Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Sometimes we hear folks tell us that we need to be challenged to have
enough faith to be healed, or have enough faith to
make our problems disappear.
Perhaps a tougher question is: “Do you have enough faith NOT to be healed?”
I think Job’s is the stronger faith.
Even if God slays Job, Job won’t stop trusting in the Lord.
He may still want to have his day to speak to God, but He will still trust
Him.
Worship
One of the ways Job responded to the first batch of trouble was to worship
God.
(Job 1:21 NKJV) And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall
I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be
the name of the Lord.”
I believe that our worship of God, in the middle of our troubles, silences
Satan.
Job was responding in a manner contrary to how Satan want him to respond.
His submission to God, his responding in worship of God, is silencing the
challenge of Satan in heaven, at least for now.
Warren Wiersbe writes,
The fundamental reason for Job’s
suffering was to silence the blasphemous accusations of Satan and prove that a
man would honor God even though he had lost everything.[1]
What would you rather do, give Satan something to boast
about, or shut him up?
I find in my personal devotional time with God each morning, it’s best to
start by giving thanks to God.
Force yourself to think about why you are thankful about God – Who He is,
what He’s done.