Yahweh
Again Satan tried to make Job sin by
Lesson 6, Biblical Commentary
When Life Falls Apart (Job)
Biblical Passages: Job 1:1–2:10; 42:10–17
Supporting Passages: James 1:2–4; Job
42:1–10; Ephesians 6:10–11; 1 Peter 5:8–9
Memory Verse: Job 1:21
Biblical Truth: Evil is a real and present danger,
yet God is faithful to limit evil and direct
circumstances so as to accomplish His purposes
on earth.
Context: Tragedy tests our faith in God more
than anything else. With money in our pockets,
food on our tables, and houses full of blessings,
following God seems easy. We rarely doubt God
during those times. But what happens to our faith
when tragedy strikes? In dark times we question
God’s goodness. Consider Job. Job was
righteous before God. He had a life full of family
and blessings and then lost everything. Job
endured incredible hardships and persecution.
Heaven seemed silent. But Job faired well
through the dark times. He learned a lot about
himself, his friends, and God. When we walk
through difficulties the only thing that will get us
through is an accurate perspective of God. Job
questioned God. God did not answer his
questions but responded with more questions of
His own. Even though Job walked away with
more questions than answers, he gained a
perspective of God that gave him confidence and
restoration.
INVESTIGATION
Job was a blameless, upright man who feared
God. He was well respected and rich. He had
7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 oxen, 500
female donkeys, and many servants. He and his
wife had seven sons and three daughters. God
allowed Satan to try to make Job sin. In one day
Satan took all Job’s animals and children and
most of his servants. Through all of this, Job did
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, 2007. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
not sin.
putting boils all over his body. Job still did not
sin. Although God allowed such pain, He did not
let Satan take Job’s life.
Job responded with worship. During this time
Job asked God a lot of hard questions, cried,
and argued with his friends. Still, he remained
faithful to God. In the end God blessed Job by
doubling his previous wealth.
IMPORTANCE
This passage of Scripture is important to study
because it vividly shows that God Is. God is in
control of all things, and nothing happens outside
His control. Even as Job suffered, God’s
character did not change, and Job’s obedience
stayed intact because he trusted God.
Circumstances brought suffering, but in the end
God blessed Job again.
God always has a purpose for people’s good
when they persevere through trials. James 1:2–4
says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds, because
you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.” Trials ultimately make a person
“mature and complete,” and God has more
concern for humanity’s holiness than happiness.
In His sovereignty He allows circumstances
people might not understand in order to develop
their hearts.
Satan stands ever ready to attack believers’ faith
in God, but God stands ready to defend His
people. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Put on the full
armor of God so that you can take your stand
against the devil’s schemes” (Eph. 6:11). God in
His wisdom and power has equipped us with
defensive tools to fight Satan’s attacks. The
Apostle Peter said, “Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him,
standing firm in the faith . . .” (1 Peter 5:8–9).
While believers know they will face Satan’s
schemes, they can rest by faith in God’s gracious
provision of Christ’s finished work on the cross
Yahweh: Lesson 6, Biblical Commentary, Page 1
and the equipment He has given to them through
the power of the Holy Spirit.
Knowing God is in control of all things is essential
to faith in Him when circumstances get difficult.
By studying the way God dealt with Job, believers
will realize God’s complete control and their need
to trust Him—even when life makes no sense.
This passage also touches on other key truths:
The Future is in God Hands and People are
God’s Treasure.
INTERPRETATION
Job 1:1 The author set the scene: Job was a
righteous man who lived in Uz. The Bible does
not give the exact location of Uz, but it was
probably somewhere in the Middle East. The
author then described Job’s character: “blameless
and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” In
the Hebrew language it is understood that the
author did not suggest Job was sinless. Job could
not be sinless; he repented in 42:6. It implies
instead that he lived as an upstanding citizen free
of any major character flaws. His respect for God
led to reverence, and he turned from evil things.
Job 1:2–3 Job had a large family and great
wealth. He had seven sons and three daughters.
Both of these numbers are symbolic numbers
found throughout Scripture. The number seven
carries the idea of wholeness and completeness.
The number three carries the idea of unity and
perfection. These numbers have significance:
This man had the perfect life. He was completely
upright and wealthy. This verse also mentions his
vast livestock in very symbolic numbers.
Job 1:4–5 Job was a loving father concerned for
his children’s well-being. Understanding Job’s
love for his family gives insight into his
perspective and patience later in the story.
Interestingly, Job made sacrifices only for his
children, not for himself. Perhaps he was such a
righteous individual he rarely needed to sacrifice
for himself. Or the author may have wanted to
emphasize Job’s concern for his family.
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, 2007. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Job 1:6–8 This passage sets up Job’s testing
phase. God, not Satan, brought up Job. The
conversation implies previous conversation:
When God asked Satan if he had considered His
servant Job, Satan knew exactly whom God was
talking about. Possibly Satan tried to attack or
dissuade Job before but to no avail. It is almost
as if God was antagonizing Satan because Job
remained “blameless and upright, a man who
fears God and shuns evil” despite Satan’s
attacks.
Job 1:9–12 Notice how Satan began to attack
Job’s character, which God had just praised.
What God called “blameless and upright” Satan
called shallow and materialistic. Satan responded
in anger and frustration. In verse 11 Satan
challenged God: Take away Job’s material
blessings, Satan guaranteed, and Job would
curse God.
God agreed to allow Satan to test Job. Notice
how He put the testing in Satan’s hands instead
of testing Job Himself. God allowed the
destruction but did not instigate it.
Job 1:13–19 Everything Job had was destroyed
except his wife, four servants, and Job himself.
The day started festively for Job’s family (v. 13).
Then tragedy struck, reported by four servants.
The first servant told how Sabeans stole Job’s
oxen and donkeys and killed all the servants; only
he escaped to report to Job. While he was still
telling Job the news, a second servant arrived. He
told Job fire fell from the sky and consumed all
the sheep and servants (v. 16). While the second
servant was telling Job of tragedy, a third arrived
to announce the Chaldeans stole all the camels
and killed all the servants there (v. 17). While the
third servant was reporting to Job, the fourth
servant arrived: A wind swept in on all four
corners of the house in which his children had
feasted. The wind destroyed the house and all
inside it (vv. 18–19).
Most of the good things in Job’s life were gone.
He was left with his own life, his wife, and
apparently four servants. This day must have felt
something like September 11 for Americans when
Yahweh: Lesson 6, Biblical Commentary, Page 2
they heard about the first plane, then the second,
then the Pentagon, and then the other hijacked
plane that went down. With each bit of news
hearts sank a little more.
Job 1:20–22 Job responded to the calamity. His
response was very poetic and symbolic. Notice
he rose, tore his clothes, shaved his head, fell,
and then worshiped. Tearing one’s clothes
symbolized grief (Gen. 37:29, 34; Josh. 7:6, Job
1:20), as did shaving one’s head (Job 1:20; Jer.
7:29; Micah 1:16).
This sequence gives a snapshot of Job’s life to
this point. It begins with his rising and ends with
his falling and worshiping. Notice Job’s strength
after this tragedy; he charged God with no
wrongdoing.
Job 2:1–3 Chapter 2 begins with a scene similar
to chapter 1. The angels approached God, and
Satan came with them. The opening dialogue is
the same (1:6–8; 2:1–3). Yet in chapter 2, God
asserts Job’s integrity despite Satan’s
destruction. God knew Satan had considered Job.
Satan had tested him and failed to make Job
curse God. Satan’s response to God shows his
anger and frustration.
Job 2:4–7 In his anger Satan complained the
only reason Job did not give in was because he
still had his own health. God would not let Satan
touch that. Satan used the logic that a man would
give everything he has to keep his health. This
starkly contrasts his reasoning in chapter 1 when
he argued Job’s commitment was because of
material possessions. Again, Satan insisted God
should strike Job, but God left Job in Satan’s
“hands” to carry out more destruction. Again, God
allowed Job’s pain but did not directly cause it.
Satan left God’s presence and covered Job’s
body with painful sores. The author wrote “from
the soles of his feet to the top of his head” to
imply total sickness, intense pain, and suffering.
Job 2:8–10 After being inflicted with a terrible
skin disease, Job sat in a pile of ashes, possibly
from the earlier devastation, scraping his sores
with broken pottery. Ashes symbolize grief and
repentance (2 Sam. 13:19; Job 1:20; Jonah 3:6).
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Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Job’s wife made her only appearance in the book.
Instead of consoling him, she suggested Job had
acted pridefully by not cursing God. But, recall her
losses. She lost her children and wealth, and
seemingly her husband would go next. She must
have thought Job did something to incite God’s
wrath. Job responded with powerful perspective:
We cannot expect only good things from God. If
we could, it would be because God owes us for
good things we have done. This is incorrect.
Based on Job’s statements in 1:21 and 2:10, he
understood the concept of eternal life. He seemed
to understand this world is temporary and only a
relationship with God lasts forever. After immense
tragedy, perspective kept Job strong.
Job 42:10–17 After the tragedies of the first two
chapters Job stood sturdy. He did not fare so well
thereafter. In the chapters that followed three of
Job’s friends tried to console him but did more
harm than good by accusing him of doing wrong.
After they had thoroughly grilled him, Job began
to question God. God responded, and dialogue
began between He and Job. But here in chapter
42, God made known his anger toward these men
for not speaking “what is right” (v. 7). God told
them to take a sacrifice to Job and have Job pray
over them; then God would not “deal” with them
(v. 8).
Apparently God stood ready to exact judgment on
these friends who spoke wrongly but left it up to
Job to forgive them first. God always acts as the
avenger, but the best thing believers can do is
forgive their enemies just as God has forgiven
them. In verse 10 Job did this. He prayed for his
friends what one can only assume was a prayer
of forgiveness, and then God made Job
prosperous again.
The story leaves us wondering what would have
happened if Job had rejected these so-called
friends and refused to forgive and pray for them.
It seems this forgiveness served as the
prerequisite to Job’s returned blessings. God
returned Job’s prosperity after he forgave those
who had wronged him when he was at his lowest.
Yahweh: Lesson 6, Biblical Commentary, Page 3
In verse 10 God gave Job twice as much as he
had before. Concerning the list of what Job lost
and what God restored to him, the double return
holds true except for Job’s children. He has the
same number of children as he did in the
beginning. This is where Job’s view of eternity
comes in again. Though people may die, their
souls live forever. So in the end Job still had his
first set of children in eternity; 10 more were born
for a total of 20, which is twice as many. The
Book of Job ends with a reminder that God
restored everything Job lost, and he enjoyed his
children and grandchildren to four generations.
Notice that in the beginning of this story Job had
four tragedies strike at once that claimed the lives
of his children. In the end God allowed him to
enjoy his posterity for four generations.
loss of loved ones when prior experiences have
been relatively free from tragedy. They must
remember Satan’s goal is to kill, steal, and
destroy them, yet at the same time, they must
understand the essential truth God Is. Satan
sought to destroy Job’s faith in God and his
perspective of God. Yet throughout the story
Satan reminds us of a whining child because he
cannot have everything the way he wants it.
Satan had no power other than what God allowed
him. Total control lies in the hands of God alone.
Because evil is at work in the world, tragedy still
strikes our lives. How encouraging to know, then,
that God is ultimately able to conquer evil,
bringing good through even the most dire
circumstances.

IMPLICATIONS
This passage is especially important for new
believers. Often, people assume conversion
means life will get easier. This is not the case.
Obedience to God does not ensure tragedy will
not strike. If becoming a Christian meant that life
had less difficulty, pain, disease, and sickness,
then people would line up to join. But Scripture is
clear: Being a Christ-follower is one of the most
dangerous things you can do. The disciples, the
Apostle Paul, and many martyrs in the early
Church testify to the danger and suffering
associated with believing in Christ. God is close
to the brokenhearted. Yet, He will not necessarily
protect us from heartbreak. God is a father to the
fatherless and a husband to the widow. But for
that to happen fathers have to die and leave
families behind. God is always with us, and the
only thing real and eternal comes after this life.
So we make our way through this life by faith in
God’s provision, looking forward to the reality of
heaven, a place devoid of hardship.

This passage is equally applicable to more

mature believers. The story seems to imply that
Job had lived as a righteous man for quite some
time before tragedy struck his life. At any time,
Satan can strike lives with tragedy, leaving
believers with questions about God’s character.
Aging adults may face sickness, disease, and

Copyright © Clarity Publishers, 2007. All rights reserved. Yahweh: Lesson 6, Biblical Commentary, Page 4
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.