1. According to Job, how would man fare if he tried to contend or argue with God?

He couldn’t answer one time out of a thousand. 9:3

2. How many wonders or miracles or great things does Job say God does?

They are without number. 9:10

3. How does Job feel about the fairness of the things that have happened?

He hates his life and he feels that God punishes both the good and the bad. 9:21-22

4. Why does Job feel that he cannot try to mediate or negotiate with God in some way?

Because God is not a man and there is no mediator between God and him.9:32-33

5. What does Job want to know from God?

Why these things are happening to him. 10:2

6. How does Job describe God’s care of him previously?

Life, favor, preservation of his spirit. 10:12

7. What does he ask God to do?

Leave him alone so he might take a little comfort before he dies. 10:20,21

8. Who speaks next?

Zophar the Naamathite 11:1

9. What does Zophar think of Job’s complaints and claims of righteousness?

He thinks Job is wrong; he must have sinned; he should confess and he deserves what has happened. 11:5-6

10. What does he advise Job to do?

Get rid of his sin so that God will release him. 11:14-17

11. What does he say is the hope of the wicked?

Loss of life. 11:20

Thought Questions:

A. Does God have to tell us why things happen and does He have to be fair in our eyes?

No, God is sovereign. He is God and doesn’t have to answer to anyone. Paul discusses this in Romans that God can do whatever He chooses and we don’t have to understand it.

“ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!

15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”

16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”

18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”

20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”  Rom 9:14-24

B. Please, share your thoughts about this week’s reading.

We often hear people refer to the patience of Job, but personally I see him as more persistent and faithful than patient. He is utterly miserable. Job teaches that even in the absolute worst of times, if we stand firm, God will reward us. It might not be until the next life, but we have His promise. We might feel miserable, but we can not ever afford, spiritually, to give up.