Job and his Friends, Ilya Repin
Theodicy, the theological term for the attempt to answer the question if God is good why is there evil in the world?
Perhaps put more simply, why do bad things happen to good people?
These questions and more are considered in the book of Job. This is a book in the Old Testament which confronts the problem of evil, suffering in the world, and the human and divine responses.
Job is not an easy book to read and it is even more difficult to digest. Over the next four weeks we will look at Job and we will consider the questions that it raises. We will ask hard questions of God, scripture and ourselves. We may not receive any answers, we may not be satisfied with the answers we do receive. However, we should not content ourselves with easy answers. This is a book of the Bible which demands more of us than that.
This Sunday we will consider the opening two chapters. We will witness a divine narrative and watch as the consequences of that conversation plays out in Job’s life.
Text: Job 1: 1, 2: 1-10
*Note: These are the verses we will read on Sunday. However, as you prepare for Sunday I would encourage you to read all of Job chapter 1 and 2.
Questions for Sunday
- Is God good?
- Why or how do you know this?
- What role does Satan play in Job’s situation?
- What role does God play in Job’s situation?
- How does Job respond to his situation?
- How might you respond?
Prayer for Sunday
Gracious God, there is so much that I do not understand. I look upon the world and I see suffering. I wonder why you do nothing about it? I wonder why you do not act?
Eternal God, there is so much that I do not understand. I continue to see suffering in the world. I wonder why I do nothing about it. I wonder why I do not act.
Almighty God, help me to understand. I seek your wisdom for I am lost without it. Amen.