Day 16 · Part 2: Abraham’s Family
Job’s Trouble
In the Story
In context
The book of Job is set in the land of Uz, which Lamentations links with Edom (Lamentations 4:21). It doesn’t say when Job lived or who wrote the book; the Story places it here, beside the families of Genesis, and doesn’t date it. Ezekiel names Job with Noah and Daniel as men known for their righteousness (Ezekiel 14:14), and James speaks of “the perseverance of Job” (James 5:11).
Readers see what Job does not: the scene before the Lord, where Satan says Job fears God only because God has blessed him (Job 1:6–12; 2:1–6). The reading is hard. Raiders and fire take Job’s animals and kill his servants, and a great wind brings down the house where all ten of his children are feasting, and they die. Job tears his robe and worships: “Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name” (Job 1:20–21). Then painful sores cover his body (Job 2:7).
Three friends come to comfort him, and they sit with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights without a word, “for they saw that his grief was very great” (Job 2:11–13). Then Job speaks, and from here until the last chapter the book is almost all poetry. He begins by cursing the day he was born (Job 3).
Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:1–4 · Job wishes “the shadow of death” on the day he was born (Job 3:5); Psalm 23 walks through that valley and says, “you are with me.”
For families
Job had seven sons and three daughters. The sons took turns giving a feast in their homes and invited their three sisters, and afterward Job got up early to offer a burnt offering for every one of his children, in case they had sinned (Job 1:2–5).
Job’s grown children got together for feasts and made sure their sisters came. What does your family do when everyone gets together?
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
Job 1
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Job 2
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Job 3
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A hymn for today
It Is Well with My Soul · words by Horatio G. Spafford
- When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,It is well, it is well with my soul.RefrainIt is well with my soul,It is well, it is well with my soul.
- Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,Let this blest assurance control,That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,And hath shed His own blood for my soul.RefrainIt is well with my soul,It is well, it is well with my soul.
- My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—My sin, not in part but the whole,Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!RefrainIt is well with my soul,It is well, it is well with my soul.
- And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend;Even so, it is well with my soul.RefrainIt is well with my soul,It is well, it is well with my soul.