The Great Controversy

The Book of Job

Lesson 2 Oct. 1-7/8 The Great Controversy

MEMORY TEXT: And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? (Zechariah 3:2).

Scattered across the pages of both the [Old Testament] and the [New Testament] lie many references and allusions to an unrelenting war between God and Satan, between good and evil on both cosmic and personal levels. Comparing these passages, we inlay their individual insights to form a mosaic window of truth through which we can perceive the total message of Scripture with greater clarity than otherwise.The Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2000), p. 969.

The great controversy theme forms a template that can help us better understand the total message of the Bible, especially the plan of salvation. Though the theme is much more apparent in the New Testament, it is found in the Old Testament too. And perhaps nowhere in the Old Testament are we given a clearer glimpse of Satan and this conflict, and how they can powerfully affect life here, than in the book of Job.

This week well look at the broader reality behind this immediate reality thats the main focus of Job. And though our lives and stories are different from Jobs, we have one thing in common: like Job, we are all involved in this controversy.

Sunday Oct. 2nd.A Little Heaven on Earth

The book of Job begins on a relatively positive note. From a worldly perspective at least, we see a man blessed in every way.

Read Job 1:14. Job 1:1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. Job 1:2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. Job 1:3His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. Job 1:4And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

What do the texts reveal about the kind of life that Job lived? What were the positive aspects of Jobs existence? A Possible Answer: It tells us that Jobs life was like that of a well to do religious/spiritual person who was blessed to own and managed many possessions and still enjoyed the wonderful things a person and family would enjoy.

Job certainly seems to have it all, including a righteous character. The word translated in Job 1:1 as blameless (NIV) comes from a word that can mean complete or full of integrity. The word for upright means straight, which can give the idea of walking on a straight path. In short, the book opens with an almost Eden-like scene depicting a wealthy man of faithfulness and integrity who has it all.

Nevertheless, he has it all in a fallen world.

Read Job 1:5, 6. 5. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. Satan Allowed to Test Job Job 1:6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

What do these texts reveal about the reality of the fallen world that Job inhabits? A Possible Answer: The reality is seen in the portrayal of Satans claim to ownership of this world and the fact that sin was very present even in the families of those blessed by God... sin and its consequences are real, proclivities towards sin is seen and sacrifices offered because Job knew of the sinful nature of his children and the world around them.

Amid the festivities of his sons and daughters, he trembled lest his children should displease God. As a faithful priest of the household, he offered sacrifices for them individually. He knew the offensive character of sin, and the thought that his children might forget the divine claims, led him to God as an intercessor in their behalf.Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1140.

Clearly Job had it good, about as good as it can get here. As Eden- like as the scene is presenteda man with a full life, big family, a great name, and many possessionsits still a life lived on a fallen planet steeped in sin, and so, as Job will soon see, it comes with all the dangers that existence here brings.

What are the good things in your life right now? A Possible Answer: Health. Family/children. Relationship with Jesus. Knowledge and understanding of truth. Roof over ours heads. Transportation. Education. Friendships. Church affiliation. How can you learn to be always in an attitude of thankfulness for them? A Possible Answer: By praying for a grateful heart and spirit. By remembering that what we have is because of Gods love and blessings. Be aware of the fact that we can lose them... life is fleeting and very changeable. Chance impacts each of us. There is nothing within us that can demand the heavenly blessing that we have. Living in a world dominated by an evil ruler, the very fabric of our lives and all that we have is threatened by sinister forces every moment of each day.

Monday October 3 Cosmic Conflict

The book of Job begins on earth, in a place of peace and tranquility. However, by the sixth text of the first chapter, the venue changes. It instantly shifts to an entirely different aspect of reality, one that is not seen by humans unless through divine revelation. And interestingly enough, this other aspect of reality, heaven, doesnt seem to be as tranquil and peaceful as things are on earth, at least in what is first presented here.

Read Job 1:612. Satan Allowed to Test Job Job 1:6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. Job 1:7And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. Job 1:8And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Job 1:9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Job 1:10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. Job 1:11But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. Job 1:12And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Though we will study these texts in more detail later in this quarter, what is happening here? A Possible Answer: Representatives from various inhabited areas meet... Satan comes representing the earth. His eligibility is questioned based on the fact of Jobs presence and loyalty was a verification that the earth was part of Gods kingdom. Based on Satans claim that Jobs loyalty was not of his free will, God permitted Satan, with some limitations, to test Job. How does it contrast to what we have just seen happening with Job on earth? A Possible Answer: 1) Here Satan given sovereignty over Job. 2) Before God protected Job, now Satan has permission to do as he wills with that which is in Jobs care and custody. 3) Both before and after Jobs allegiance is to God the owner and creator of the universe. 4) Before, Job experienced blessings, prosperity and gains...now personal and material loss.

Theres so much to explore in these few texts. They reveal aspects of our universe that all our space telescopes dont detect and that human science doesnt even begin to fathom. Whats fascinating, though, is that they also reveal a cosmic conflict. Its not a calm, peaceful, and tranquil conversation that we access in this passage. God talks about Job with (to use a human idea) a sense of pride, like a father proud of his son. Satan, in contrast, mocks what God says about Job. So Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? (Job 1:9, NKJV). One could almost hear a sneering sarcasm, a mocking tone in what Satan says to God.

Though the text doesnt explicitly say that this confrontation was in heaven, thats surely where it was. And thus you have this created being, an angel, standing before God in heaven and challenging Him to His face, before other sons of God. Its hard to imagine some- one talking to a worldly leader like that, but here we have a being doing so to God Himself. How could this happen?

The answer is found in a theme that appears in various places and in different ways all through the Bible. Its called the great controversy, and it provides a powerful template to help us to understand not just the book of Job but the entire Bible and its explanation of the whole sad story of sin and suffering on earth. And even more important, it helps us better understand just what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross in order to solve the problem of sin and suffering on the earth.

Tuesday October 4 The Conflict on Earth

The book of Job pulls back a veil and reveals a dimension of existence that our eyes and ears and worldly philosophies could never show us. (If anything, these texts should show us just how limited our eyes and ears and worldly philosophies are when it comes to understanding the big picture!) And what these