2024_02_26 Insight Post- Kim Feld
This week’s reading- Job 1-3, Job 19, Job 31
This week’s reading has us looking at five chapters out of the book of Job, but if you have time, it would be great to read the entire book. It is overflowing with insightful takeaways. Job is the first of the poetic and wisdom books of the Old Testament. The others are Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Some also include the Book of Lamentations in this list.
The author of the Book of Job is unknown. Still, Job is referred to as a historical character in the books of Ezekiel and James (see Ezekiel 14:14, 20; James 5:11). In James, Job is counted among those who have persevered in the face of suffering. Let’s take a look:
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy (James 5:10-11, NIV).
Job’s story is a difficult one. At one point, he had it all – wealth, family, prestige – but God offered him to Satan to be tested. Look at Job Chapter 1:
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger” (Job 1:8-12, NIV).
Incredible tragedy follows, with Job literally losing nearly everything. Yet, Satan’s prediction was wrong; Job never cursed God. Job’s life is a study of perseverance in suffering. Still, even more than that, I think his life is an example of the importance of building a solid foundation in your relationship with God. Jesus talked about the importance of a strong foundation in Matthew 7:
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law (Matthew 7:24-29, NIV).
This week, focusing on Job’s story has encouraged me to inspect my foundation. Are there weak spots that need to be reinforced? Are there cracks that need to be repaired? We all face storms, maybe not as dramatic as Job’s, but challenging, faith-testing things, nonetheless. Is our foundation ready?
Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach