Week 2 from Marsha

What I came away with out of Lesson 2 …..

Oh there is plenty to be learned from Job’s continued steadfast love and devotion to God – through not only emotional & financial pain and suffering, but now through the added physical suffering he experienced with painful boils. I suspect since this a woman’s Bible study and most of us are wives, there’s much to be learned about Mrs. Job’s “curse God and die” comment. (that section always makes me chuckle every time I read it. Can’t you just visualize that interaction in the eyes of your mind?) How we wives need to support our husband and encourage him through life’s tough times. (and – losing all your children, your livelihood, and now suffering physical pain would certainly qualify as life’s tough times).

But… what affected me most from this lesson was the beauty and comfort of Job’s friends. How these men, and I suspect they had a busy life too, just dropped everything to come to “keep him company and comfort him.” I don’t know where Teman, Shuhah, and Naamath are but I doubt Southwest Airlines had a direct flight to Uz. So these men had to put out quite an effort to get to Job. And when they saw Job, they mourned deeply – cried out in lament, ripped off their robes, sprinkled dust on their heads as a sign of grief. (Job 2:12). Then, these dear friends of Job, sat with him for seven days and nights without saying a word. They just sat there with their buddy to comfort and support him in his time of heartache and pain.

Here’s what keeps coming to my mind as my lesson from this study: am I that friend to someone? Do I offer that support and encouragement to someone? And even more poignant question: do I look for ways to be a friend to others? I guess if you are participating in this electronic Bible Study it is because you work during the day as I do. Do we look for co-workers who need a friend – someone to bring comfort and concern to them during their tough times? That is my “take away” from this lesson. I will look for people who need a friend – someone to sit with them during their tough time and I will try to be there for them.


** The day Bible study group is hanging onto Lesson 2 for another week and working through the Appendix section. How about we do the same? ** MM

Week 1 from Marsha

So Ladies... what did we learn from the book of Job this week?

What about Job?

He was an honest,insightful, truthful man who was totally devoted to God and hated sin with a passion. He was blessed with a wonderful family and had acquired much wealth. (Job 1:1-3)

What about Satan?

Satan is evil and cunning, desired only bad for us. (Job 1: 9-12) His goal is to destroy us and cause us to crumble. (Job 1:13-14) and to separate us from God.

How does Satan try to separate Job from God?
Job 1:8 -11 --- Satan, the accuser -- accused Job of honoring God only because he had a good life. So then.... bam, boom....
Satan is allowed to destroy Job's good life - his family and his wealth. So.. what does Job do? He mourns -- not just a little - but he mourns with all of his being. He rips off his clothes, shaves his head --- and then...... falls to the ground to worship God. Ah ha... take that Satan. Although Job's heart was broken (those of us who are parents -- can you imagine the pain of loosing just 1 child let alone all 10?) -he doesn't loose sight of God or the realization that even our children, whom we love with all our heart and all our "stuff" are not the meaning of life.

Out of Mediation II, "All my anxious thoughts and bitter cries occur when I forget that God's glory is the point of life." Bringing glory and honor to God -- through good times and bad -- that is the meaning of life. And Job did that -- despite loosing everything dear and important to him he fell to the ground and worshiped God. He did not loose sight of the important --the meaning of life.

And so... I get it... I understand the lesson and my head knows what my heart should do. And actually, there are times when personally I can praise God through difficult times. My dear Daddy died rather abruptly this past January. My heart was very sad. I was "Daddy's girl". Only other women- especially other "Daddy's girls" understand the honor and privilege of being Daddy's girl. I cried and I mourned -- for few days. Then, actually while out for a run a few days after the funeral, I again wept -- but this time my weeping was from joy and praising God that He took my daddy home -- before he had to suffer and just sit around unable to do anything -- before he suffered or was in pain. I praised God that I had been blessed by having such a great Daddy in the first place. But... I will admit I don't always come to that "praising God" attitude so quickly.. and.. dog-gone-it... it's usually about silly things that I want to control but can't. I do take my eyes off God and I do forget that my life is not the center of the universe and that I am alive for one purpose only and that's to glorify God . Rats!! I don't do that all the time. Why is that?? I suspect because I'm not "there" yet. I'm still working on getting "there".

I was moved this past Sunday when Ted spoke of several people who had taken their own life. Maybe they had lost hope -- lost sight of why we are here. Being honest --I suspect we all tip toe into dismal abyss at times as we journey on becoming a stronger and more faithful follower & believer. ahhh... the importance of Christian friends and fellowship -- other believers who can help pull us from that dismal abyss and bring us comfort , peace and hold us up until once again.... our eyes are on God and we again regain our footing on the solid rock of our Lord and Savior and realize -- HE is our purpose, Glorifying HIM in all we do and say.

MM