Questions (Jeremy Stewart) 11-26-23

Job 42:1-6

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“I know that you can do all things,
    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
‘Hear, and I will speak;
    I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
    but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
    and repent in dust and ashes.”

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FROM THE LESSON

Job’s Friends: Job’s friends utilize the standard wisdom of the ancient world, leading them to the conclusion that, because Job’s suffering is so immense, he must have committed evil acts.

Their debate with Job, who maintains his innocence, takes place across three cycles, wherein Job states his case, and his friends respond (chapters 13-14, chapters 15-21, and chapters 22-28).

The arguments they present take the basic following forms:

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The Big Assumption: Both Job and his friends are operating on the assumption that God works in the following way:

Transactional Relationships: a transactional relationship operates with the assumption that when you provide someone else with something favorable, they are obligated to respond in kind. When we view our relationships with people as transactional, we are looking for ways to control them.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Ice breaker: what are some funny questions you’ve run into. What are some hard questions you’ve pondered?

2. How did you feel about the story of the father and his 9-year-old daughter? Which parts of the story did you relate to or connect with?

3. When have you found yourself viewing others through a transactional lens? What does it look like when we view God this way?

4. How can hard or challenging questions draw us nearer to God rather than distance us from him? Are there certain approaches we can take to questions that can impact that?

5. Job, although he doesn’t get the answer to his question, does get a glimpse of how vast creation is, and how amazing it is that the God who made it all would come and speak with him. What are some things that remind you that you are significant and precious to God?