The Suffering of Job (Book of Job)
Dear families,
Job’s story is an impactful passage on human suffering and God’s sovereign goodness that transcends any circumstance. The book of Job shares of a God-fearing, virtuous man who continually turned from evil. Though he was not sinless, Job was counted righteous by his faith in God until the end.
How does Job respond when unexpected suffering comes to him? How does Job’s story encourage us in our own suffering?
In the beginning of Job, we see an interaction between Satan and God, in which the Creator allows Satan to test Job to see if he would continue to follow God amidst suffering. Job would lose his sheep, camels, servants, and children. In response to this loss, Job worshiped God and refused to blame Him. Next, Job would become afflicted by painful boils. Despite Job's tragic sufferings, he refused to speak ill of God, even when his own wife told him to give up his faith.
In the following chapters, Job wrestled with his experiences in suffering, as his three friends tried in vain to comfort and help him in his pain. They could not fathom that Job’s suffering did not result from sin. However, another voice, that of Elihu, spoke into Job’s circumstances with true wisdom: God is greater than man, holy, and just; only He is righteous and sinless.
God met Job amidst his questions, reminding him of man’s place within His created universe. Though mankind is unworthy of God’s goodness, the Creator delights in showcasing His glory to the ones He has made. After Job prayed for his friends, his fortune was not only restored, but it was doubled.
Although God allowed Job to suffer, His hand was there to guide him, and His comfort remained by his side. What we glean from Job’s story is that God’s righteousness is so much greater than our own, that He is worthy of worship despite our circumstances. In 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul declared that “our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.”
There is only one truly righteous person who suffered unjustly: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Help kids see that God is good, and His full worthiness is displayed in Jesus, the only truly righteous One. By faith in His finished work on the cross, we are counted as righteous and granted eternal hope. Pray that your kids will experience God's goodness and place their faith in Him alone.
Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
STORY POINT
This is the main point to emphasize from today’s Bible story.
Preschool: God is always good.
Kids: God is good even in suffering.
CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
Babies & Toddlers: God is strong and mighty and good.
Younger Preschool: God is all-powerful and good. When we face hard times, we can trust God. God sent Jesus to die on the cross and rescue people from sin.
Older Preschool: Job saw that God is all-powerful and good. When we face hard times, we can trust God. God sent Jesus, who never did wrong, to suffer and die so that everyone who trusts in Him can have life with God forever.
Kids: In his suffering, Job recognized that God is all-powerful and good. When we face suffering, we can hope in God. God sent Jesus, the only truly innocent One, to suffer and die so that everyone who trusts in Him can have forgiveness and eternal life.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
Younger Preschool: Who is in control? God is in control.
Older Preschool: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything.
Kids: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth. Nothing is outside of God’s good plan.
KEY PASSAGE
This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
Babies & Toddlers: God can make bad things good. Genesis 50:20
Younger Preschool: God can make bad things good. Genesis 50:20
Older Preschool: You planned evil against me; God planned it for good. Genesis 50:20
Kids: You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people. Genesis 50:20
** Next week: God Called Moses (Exodus 1–4)