Oct. 18, 2026
Unwanted Attention
Two Conclusions from Job 1 and 2
You and I are being thought of by God Himself.
We are also being thought of by the evil one
1. Our View of God Conditions Our View of Ourselves
A. The vocabulary of lament
“It seems, that it is precisely those who have the closest relationship with God who feel most at liberty to pour out their pain and protest to God-without fear of reproach. Lament is not only allowed in the Bible; it is modeled for us in abundance. God seems to want to give us as many words with which to fill in our complaint forms as to write our thank-you notes. Perhaps this is because whatever amount of lament the world causes us to express is a drop in the ocean compared to the grief in the heart of God Himself at the totality of suffering that only God can comprehend.” -Christopher J.H. Wright, The God I Don’t Understand, 51
B. We have an enemy
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” CS Lewis, Preface to The Screwtape Letters
C. Job’s Limited View of Reality
2. The Question Asked Again (vs. 17, 18)
A. The Calamity of Job
Destruction and theft of Job’s property (1), the death of all of his children (1), Broke out in sores (2), Wife’s advice
Job versus Bildad, Zophar, Eliphaz
B. A Labored Breath (vs. 6, 7-10, 16)
C. The Answer in the Question (vs. 17, 18)
I cannot escape this trial I’m under.
3. When the Perceived Test Is Too Much (vs. 19-21)
A. How Long? (v. 19)
B. His Sin Has Been Singled Out and Not Forgiven (vs. 20, 21)
Satan is innovative in his devices to try to destroy God’s people.
C. The Human Experience Includes Suffering
Reflection:
What do you find in Job’s conclusion of being examined continually by the LORD to be consistent with your human experience?
How does Jesus meet you there?
Follow UP in the Word through the Week…
Monday:
Read: Psalm 8:3-4
What is different about the psalmist’s question about God being mindful of humans compared to Job’s mention of God’s attention in Job 7:17, 18?
Tuesday:
Read: Job 1:6-12
What questions do you have about how this conversation goes between the LORD and Satan? How does it explain at least some of the suffering and calamity in the human experience? What from your experience does it not explain?
Wednesday:
Read: Revelation 1:4-8
What characteristics of Jesus and titles are included in this passage? How are those important to understanding who He is? How can that help you in your moments of suffering?
Thursday:
Read: Psalm 144:3-4
How does the answer to the question in this Psalm compare to the way Job understands the question “what is man?”
Friday:
Read: Zechariah 3:1-5
How would you explain Satan’s accusations? How does his accusing compare to the Holy Spirit’s conviction? What is the difference?
Saturday:
Read: Isaiah 53:5
How does this passage describe the work of Jesus?
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