April 11, 2024

Life Is Hard. Does God Really Care About Us?

Job 24

L.K. Ortiz
Thursday's Devo

April 11, 2024

Thursday's Devo

April 11, 2024

Thursday's Devo

April 11, 2024

Thursday's Devo

April 11, 2024

Big Book Idea

God is at work even when we can't see it.

Key Verse | Job 24:1

"Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty,
and why do those who know him never see his days?"

Job 24

1  Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty,
    and why do those who know him never see his days?
2  Some move landmarks;
    they seize flocks and pasture them.
3  They drive away the donkey of the fatherless;
    they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4  They thrust the poor off the road;
    the poor of the earth all hide themselves.
5  Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert
    the poor 1 24:5 Hebrew they go out to their toil, seeking game;
    the wasteland yields food for their children.
6  They gather their 2 24:6 Hebrew his fodder in the field,
    and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man.
7  They lie all night naked, without clothing,
    and have no covering in the cold.
8  They are wet with the rain of the mountains
    and cling to the rock for lack of shelter.
9  (There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast,
    and they take a pledge against the poor.)
10  They go about naked, without clothing;
    hungry, they carry the sheaves;
11  among the olive rows of the wicked 3 24:11 Hebrew their olive rows they make oil;
    they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst.
12  From out of the city the dying 4 24:12 Or the men groan,
    and the soul of the wounded cries for help;
    yet God charges no one with wrong.

13  There are those who rebel against the light,
    who are not acquainted with its ways,
    and do not stay in its paths.
14  The murderer rises before it is light,
    that he may kill the poor and needy,
    and in the night he is like a thief.
15  The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight,
    saying, ‘No eye will see me’;
    and he veils his face.
16  In the dark they dig through houses;
    by day they shut themselves up;
    they do not know the light.
17  For deep darkness is morning to all of them;
    for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.

18  You say, ‘Swift are they on the face of the waters;
    their portion is cursed in the land;
    no treader turns toward their vineyards.
19  Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters;
    so does Sheol those who have sinned.
20  The womb forgets them;
    the worm finds them sweet;
they are no longer remembered,
    so wickedness is broken like a tree.’

21  They wrong the barren, childless woman,
    and do no good to the widow.
22  Yet God 5 24:22 Hebrew he prolongs the life of the mighty by his power;
    they rise up when they despair of life.
23  He gives them security, and they are supported,
    and his eyes are upon their ways.
24  They are exalted a little while, and then are gone;
    they are brought low and gathered up like all others;
    they are cut off like the heads of grain.
25  If it is not so, who will prove me a liar
    and show that there is nothing in what I say?”

Footnotes

[1] 24:5 Hebrew they
[2] 24:6 Hebrew his
[3] 24:11 Hebrew their olive rows
[4] 24:12 Or the men
[5] 24:22 Hebrew he
Table of Contents
Introduction to Job

Introduction to Job

Timeline

Author and Date

The unknown Israelite author of this book presents Job as a person living in Uz (see note on 1:1). Job’s godliness (1:1) matches the ideals of Israelite wisdom literature. He clearly knows Yahweh (1:21). The events of the book seem to be set in the times of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).

Theological Themes

The book of Job concerns itself with the question of faith in a sovereign God. Can God be trusted? Is he good and just in his rule of the world? The book shows that the reasons for human suffering often remain a secret to human beings.

In the book of Job, God seems both too close and too far away. On the one hand, Job complains that God is watching him every moment so that he cannot even swallow his spit (7:19). On the other hand, Job finds God elusive (9:11). Though God is greatly concerned about humans, he does not always answer their most agonizing questions.

At the same time, Job’s friends offer no real help. They come to “comfort” him (2:11), but Job ends up declaring them “miserable comforters” who would console him “with empty nothings” (21:34). These friends represent an oversimplified view of faith. They think that all human troubles are divine punishments for wrongdoing. Their “comfort” consists largely of urging Job to identify his sin and repent of it. These friends are negative examples of how to comfort those who are suffering.

The book illustrates that one does not need to fully understand God’s will in order to be faithful while suffering. Those who suffer need not be afraid to express to God their confusion and questions.

Purpose

The book of Job was written to those who struggle with the question of how God can be good when the world is filled with suffering.

The author does not provide a formal defense of God’s justice. Rather, as Job’s friends offer their inadequate answers, the author shows how their reasoning fails. Then, in chs. 38–41, the Lord speaks in his own defense, bringing Job to fuller understanding (ch. 42).

Even during his suffering and confusion, before God finally speaks, Job can triumphantly declare, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (19:25).

Outline

  1. Prologue: Job’s Character and the Circumstances of His Test (1:1–2:13)
  2. Dialogue: Job, His Suffering, and His Standing before God (3:1–42:6)
    1. Job: despair for the day of his birth (3:1–26)
    2. The friends and Job: can Job be right before God? (4:1–25:6)
      1. First cycle (4:1–14:22)
      2. Second cycle (15:1–21:34)
      3. Third cycle (22:1–25:6)
    3. Job: the power of God, place of wisdom, and path of integrity (26:1–31:40)
    4. Elihu: suffering as a discipline (32:1–37:24)
    5. Challenge: the Lord answers Job (38:1–42:6)
  3. Epilogue: The Vindication, Intercession, and Restoration of Job (42:7–17)
The Global Message of Job

The Global Message of Job

Universal Questions

With its story of one man’s life and suffering, the book of Job raises universal questions. Why do people suffer, especially godly people? Where is God in suffering? Can God be trusted amid suffering? Job’s friends try to answer such questions with superficial and simplistic solutions, eventually earning God’s rebuke (Job 42:7–9).

Ultimately we learn from Job that we can hope steadfastly in our sovereign God. Instead of providing easy answers to hard questions, this incomparably glorious, all-knowing, and almighty God presents to people in all places and in all times the simplest, most powerful, and most universal answer to these questions. God’s answer to human suffering has everything to do with his own infinite goodness and care for his creation.

Suffering in a Fallen World

In the life of Job we see the breadth and depth of human suffering. We see suffering in health (Job 2:7), suffering in the loss of property (1:14–17), and suffering in the tragic death of family members (1:18–19). In Job we also listen in on a discussion in the heavenly courtroom between God and Satan (1:6–12; 2:1–7), in which God delights in the upright life of Job. There we are given a window into the normally invisible reasons for our trials and suffering.

Sin and suffering. Suffering is universal, though the kind of suffering differs from circumstance to circumstance. Sometimes we suffer because of our own sin. There is no such thing as sin without consequences. Sometimes God himself directly chastises his people for their sins. However, Job’s friends are wrong to assume that his suffering is a direct result of disobedience (Job 8:4), and it would likewise be wrong to conclude that all or even most suffering in the world today is divine punishment for specific sins. The speeches of Eliphaz (chs. 4; 5; 15; 22), Bildad (chs. 8; 18; 25), and Zophar (chs. 11; 20) reflect such wrong assumptions.

Common suffering. Another type of suffering is what we might call “common suffering.” This is suffering that affects all people without distinction. It is simply the result of living in a fallen world. It includes health problems from colds to cancer. It includes bad weather, earthquakes, and typhoons. It includes financial struggles, and even death itself. Each tragic incident in Job’s life includes an element of this common suffering.

Godliness and suffering. Not only are godly people afflicted with suffering just as others are, but the godly experience some kinds of suffering due specifically to their godliness (Matt. 10:24–33; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim. 3:12). Faithfulness to Christ will bring insult and at times persecution—suffering that could be avoided if we were not disciples of Christ. We see this principle in Job, for it was precisely Job’s uprightness that prompted God to single him out to Satan and then led Satan to seek to afflict him (Job 1:8–12).

Devastating suffering. Job’s suffering is uniquely profound and painful. Some suffering, we learn, defies any category. We discover in Job that Satan has a hand in some of the suffering of God’s people (Job 1:6–12; 2:1–7; compare 2 Cor. 12:1–10). But even such demonically instigated suffering is not outside of God’s sovereignty. Nor should our focus be on Satan when we suffer but rather on persisting in steadfast faith amid such God-ordained pain. At the very least a lesson to be learned from Job is that our vision and insight into suffering is severely limited. What is not limited, however, is God’s perfect understanding and sovereign control over every event in our lives. In the “Yahweh speeches” of Job (chs. 38–41), God does not engage Job in the details of his questions and complaints. Rather, God reminds Job that God is God and Job is not. God laid the foundation of the earth (38:4); he is God over the seas (38:8, 16), over the stars (38:31–33), and over every creature (39:1–30; 40:15–41:34).

A Global Message of Comfort and Hope

The almighty, all-good God. Despite its focus on challenges and sufferings, the book of Job speaks a message of great hope to the world. We live in a world longing for comfort and hope, and such hope is found in the sovereign God who sees, who is good, and who is faithful. We are not victims of random fate or uncontrolled circumstances. We are loved faithfully and passionately by a sovereign God who works all things for our good (Rom. 8:28). The suffering global church can take comfort amid suffering, knowing that God is pleased with our faithfulness to him, even as God expressed delight in “my servant Job” (Job 1:6–8; 2:3). James 5:11 reminds us that God will fulfill his good purposes and is indeed compassionate and merciful toward his people.

No neat formulas. Living an upright life of faith in God does not exempt us from suffering. This was the fundamental misunderstanding of Job’s friends (Job 8:6) and the reason that their “comfort” was so “miserable” (16:2). Indeed, in Job and in all of Scripture we see that suffering is a part of the experience of godly people, and that suffering is also a means for our sanctification. Suffering is a blessing as through it we learn that God’s ways and purposes are much greater than we can know (chs. 40–41). His purposes and faithfulness are much greater than the achievement of ease and a comfortable life; the global church must not make an idol out of worldly comfort and earthly abundance.

The sufferings of the Savior. Job confessed faith in the living Redeemer (Job 19:25). That Redeemer would one day come and suffer for us on a cross. Here we have yet another kind of suffering, the atoning sufferings of Christ. He suffered for our salvation, bearing the penalty for our sin. It is also our great privilege to share in his suffering (2 Cor. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:8; 2:3; 1 Pet. 4:13). These are not the sufferings of health problems or bad weather or the consequences of our own folly. These are sufferings that flow from our union with and loyalty to Christ. There is a global attack on the righteous, but God will continue to provide sufficient grace to his people (2 Cor. 12:9).He will grow both his people and his kingdom through such suffering as it is endured in faith.

Our Intercession and Mission of Hope

Though God’s righteous anger burned against the three friends of Job, their folly was forgiven in response to the righteous intervention of Job’s prayers (Job 42:7–9). What then is the Christian response to those who suffer—and to those who cause suffering?

We are to intercede for the world, both in prayer and in life. We are to “comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:4). This comfort must find expression in our ministry and service to those in need both where we live as well as around the world—to orphans, widows, and all those who suffer.

This comfort is most gloriously and eternally known as the church ministers the gospel of new hope in Christ to the world—to the lost, to the downtrodden, and even to our enemies (Matt. 5:44). For the greatest suffering in this world is not the loss of property or even family; it is to be lost in sin, without the living Redeemer.

Proverbs Fact #1: Wisdom

Fact: Wisdom

Wisdom is a key term in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. The word can mean “skilled at making sound decisions in life.” Proverbs 9:10 states that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”

Job Fact #1: Comfort

Fact: Comfort

Comfort is a key word in the book of Job. When faced with personal tragedies, Job receives no comfort from his friends (16:2). But when God answers him (see chs. 38–41), he finds the comfort he needs.

Job Fact #7: Three cycles of conversations

Fact: Three cycles of conversations

The book of Job includes three cycles of conversations in which the friends of Job offer their comfort and advice, and then listen as Job responds. The first cycle covers chs. 4–14.

Job Fact #15: Elihu

Fact: Elihu

Elihu is the only character in the book of Job with a Hebrew name.

Job Fact #12: Those who rebel against the light

Fact: Those who rebel against the light

Those who rebel against the light is how Job describes people who oppose wisdom and righteousness (24:13). They sleep during the day and do their evil deeds at night.

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar

After the Lord allowed Satan to afflict Job, three of his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came to comfort him. However, all three wrongly assumed that Job’s suffering was the result of some hidden sin. Each man urged Job to repent so that God would have mercy on him. But Job insisted that he was innocent. Although it is true that some suffering is a result of sin, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar oversimplified this truth. They believed that all troubles are punishments for wrongdoing, which was not the case for Job. The wrong actions of Job’s three friends should remind believers today to be wise and sensitive when dealing with people in distress. The Lord rebuked Job’s three friends and instructed Job to pray for them. (Job 42:7–9)

Study Notes

Job 24:1 Job asks, why is it that (1) the wicked do not seem to experience times of judgment and (2) the righteous never see his days? Both parts of the question probably refer to the OT idea of the “day of the Lord,” which often denotes the coming judgment (see Joel 2:1–11; and note on Amos 5:18–20) but which also represents the full revealing of God’s glory.

Study Notes

Job 24:2–12 Job describes the injustices of the wicked (vv. 2–4) and the effects of the injustices on their victims (vv. 5–12). He concludes that God ignores these evils (v. 12). For a very different conclusion, see Lam. 3:31–36.

Study Notes
Job Fact #12: Those who rebel against the light

Fact: Those who rebel against the light

Those who rebel against the light is how Job describes people who oppose wisdom and righteousness (24:13). They sleep during the day and do their evil deeds at night.

Study Notes

Job 24:13–17 Job describes people who oppose wisdom and righteousness as those who rebel against the light. Their reversal of the typical times of sleep and activity (deep darkness has become morning) shows that they do not know the light and instead have chosen to become friends with the terrors of deep darkness.

Study Notes

Job 24:18 “Swift are they on the face of the waters” may be a popular saying from the time of Job, but its meaning is unclear.

Study Notes

Job 24:18–20 Job restates his friends’ assertions to show that they seem to ignore the actual state of affairs on earth.

Study Notes

Job 24:21 Job notes the prevalence of injustice to the barren, childless woman and the widow. The care of such helpless people was an important part of the law (see Ex. 22:21–27; Deut. 24:17–22), and yet it seems as though God is not judging those guilty of such injustice.

Study Notes

Job 23:1–24:25 Job is tired of arguing his case before his friends. In this reply, he ignores most of Eliphaz’s most recent response. Instead, he expresses his desire to stand personally before the Lord.

Job 24:1–25 Job wishes that God’s plans for the world and for Job would be more apparent.

S3:070 Job 24

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | Job 24

Why does God allow evil and suffering? In Job 24:1, Job proposes the question to point to God's sovereignty. Job asks: Why do the righteous not see God punishing the ungodly during their time on earth; and, even further, why do they succeed and live in open defiance? Job illustrates that many evil atrocities go unpunished, and many suffer from the evil inflicted upon them without deserving such treatment. Job's friends are convinced his suffering is caused by his own evil actions, but if what Job's friends were saying were true, then all the ungodly would suffer because of their sins.

We often want justice to be served immediately and question why God allows evil to happen. The Lord reminds us in His sovereignty that He is the one who appoints the Day of Judgment (Romans 2:16; Revelation 20:12). Job asks his friends to reconsider the idea that his suffering is caused by his own sin. Rather, Job professes that it is not our place to assume we know the divine timing of God's judgment.

I find this chapter a great comfort. Like Job, I have learned through my trials that we can quickly make assumptions about God's will and plans. I am cautious when advising others or attempting to understand the meaning behind their suffering. Rather, we must trust that God's justice and the meaning behind our sufferings are known by Him. Although Job was righteous, he suffered greatly. 

Job's story ultimately points us to Jesus, who came to take on our sins that He did not deserve. Jesus offers the gift of salvation to all, but there also will come a day when all will stand before the God of justice and account for their deeds on this earth. We must trust Him even when it feels like evil is winning. We must trust Him in our suffering and cling to His truth to point others to the God who sees all, will judge all, and has paid for it all upon the cross.

This month's memory verse

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

– Galatians 5:22-23

Discussion Questions

1. Job 24 presents questions we all ask at some point in our lives: Why does God allow evil, and why do we not see His justice for it here on earth? In our broken world, we can often feel helpless when evil seems to prevail. How do you wrestle with this question?

2. This chapter reminds us that just because someone seems to be "getting away" with sin, they will not go unpunished. Perhaps we think our hidden sin will never be known on this earth. Do you have any secret sin in your life that you need to bring to light? (See 1 John 1:6-7)

3. Elisabeth Elliot beautifully reminded us, "We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited to redeem. We receive His poured-out life and, being allowed the high privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for others." Do you ever want immediate divine justice in a culture running from God? Do you realize that Christ has already redeemed it and that we are called to suffer with Christ on this earth? (See John 16:33.)

As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!

GJ

greg jones

Up to this point Job has contended that unrighteousness on his part is not the reason for what he is experiencing. “Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?” is a change of pace in dialogue for Job. Genesis 6 might be an example of a time when immediate judgement that was kept. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6:5-8 Numbers 14 might be an example of a time when immediate judgement isn’t kept. And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” Numbers 14:11-12 But according to Moses interceding on behalf of Israel a quick strike justice that all the other nations would witness would give them a wrong impression about Israel’s God. So an example answering the question of “why” might be in Numbers 14 also. Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, ‘It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’ And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.” Numbers 14:15-19 Three interesting things pop out that lead to one big irony. 1-The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ That’s what Job’s friends who have the wrong impression of what is going on between Job and God are saying. “Hey Job, your kids are dead because, your iniquity, was visited on them because God, by no means, will clear the guilty.” 2-Part of Numbers 14 is about God being seen in the right light. To Job’s friends Job contending that he is innocent puts God in a bad light. 3-Therefore in a Moses like manor Job’s friends are defending the integrity of God much like when Moses himself interceded on the behalf of Israel. Ironic-Job, the guy accused of putting God in a bad light will intercede for his friends in the end. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” Job 42:8 Moses interceded for the Israelites in the desert and God dealt with them according to their folly. They wandered in the desert 40 years and never entered the promised land. As for Job’s friends, “Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty?” Apparently because Job intercedes on their behalf. God did not deal with them according to their folly. The study note for verse one is worth clicking on. Known for his ambiguity Job may be saying about his friends-if you can’t understand why God would sometimes hold off punishment though you “know him” you can’t “see his days”. Or other words from the note, see all God’s glory.
SB

Sue Bohlin

Thanks so much, LK! I so enjoyed visiting with you at the JTJ Editors dinner! And thank you for this: "I have learned through my trials that we can quickly make assumptions about God's will and plans." So, so true. I am such an optimist that I automatically go to the best possible scenario in any situation; I assume God's on board with it too. But MY idea of the best possible scenario (usually involving a swift resolution, especially of pain and suffering) turns out to not be God's best. Yesterday I received another treatment from a physical therapist trained in lymphatic massage drainage. It's been 15 months since my tongue cancer surgery and my tongue is still swollen because of the removal of 20 lymph glands. And since it affects my speech (I literally still grieve internally every time I talk), I want a swift resolution to the swelling so I can get to my new normal TOMORROW, The therapist, instructing me on what I can do myself at home, said something about this being a long-term management of my broken lymphatic system. I cringed. I wanted my body to rebuild what the surgeon destroyed. Really, what cancer treatment destroyed. But turns out, it doesn't work that way. So I am in the same place Job is: needing to trust God in this hard place of disappointment because the day of His restoration is still in the future . . . much farther away than I want.
JC

Jason Cromwell

A lawyer came to Jesus one day, and asked, "Good Teacher what must I do to be saved?" Jesus responded, "Why do you call me Good? There's none Good but God." We, like James and John, want to call down the thunder whenever we feel we have been wronged, and cry for mercy the very second we Sin.
MS

Michael Scaman

A forensics profiler might write this in her summary: God did not 'show up" in a manner Job expected. God is not judging the wicked but God;s hammer if falling on Job. Instead God is not focused on the real oppressors of the poor or the immoral who sneek around at night believing no one even God is looking on. We can see a complex individual grappling even harder than before in the book with profound existential angst and moral conflict Job is drawing on concrete specific examples and is lengthening his arguments bringing up new points. His friends getting shorter and often repeating what was said already. His angst is not answered by his friends and consipcuously ignored. Also conspicuosly missing, demonstable evidence of God's faithfulness, concern or love here. Existential Angst: Job exhibits deep existential angst stemming from his inability to reconcile the apparent absence of divine justice with the suffering he experiences. Despite his righteousness, Job perceives God's silence and the seeming impunity of the wicked as evidence of a profound cosmic injustice. Moral Integrity: Job's unwavering commitment to moral integrity and righteousness is a key aspect of his psychological profile. Despite facing immense suffering and temptation to curse God, Job maintains his moral compass and refuses to compromise his principles. Sense of Victimhood: Job's sense of victimhood is a central component of his psychological makeup. He perceives himself as unjustly targeted by divine punishment, despite his innocence and devotion to God. Resilience and Determination: Despite his suffering and despair, Job demonstrates remarkable resilience and determination in his quest for understanding and justice. He refuses to succumb to despair or abandon his faith, instead actively seeking answers. How could this be what God loves looks like? For now, God is silent and there are no immediate answers. respectfully T Gregario
AL

Amy Lowther

1. Evil is a potential human behavior of all humans. God accepts evil because he accepts each us as we are. Justice occurs as possible. God helps us handle evil by helping us see the whole picture of situations and people in life for who they are. We must not change evil into what we want. We must do our best as ourselves and with others as God prefers. 2. None. 3. Yes. Yes. We should do our best ourselves and with others as God prefers and guides us to do. L. K. - Thank you for sharing your ideas. Thank you for being honest in saying, “I am cautious when advising others or attempting to understand the meaning behind their suffering. Rather, we must trust that God's justice and the meaning behind our sufferings are known by Him”. Wonderful! This is something for all of us to consider.