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When Tragedy Strikes
The Book of Job:
“The Question of the Ages—Why?”
When Tragedy Strikes
Job 1:13-19 (NIV) – [13] One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, [14] a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, [15] and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” [16] While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” [17] While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” [18] While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, [19] when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
1. Financial Loss #1 – the loss of oxen, donkeys, and servants (vv. 13-15)
a. This is an attack by man – the Sabeans.
1) The Sabeans were nomadic marauders descended from Sheba, a grandson of Abraham. (Genesis 25:3)
2) They eventually settled in the southernmost part of the Arabian Peninsula and became a wealthy nation.
3) During Solomon’s reign, he was visited by the Queen of Sheba.
b. This is a crime of robbery and murder.
c. KEY POINT – Satan uses people to cause evil and accomplish his sinister plans.
2. Financial Loss #2 – the loss of sheep and servants (v. 16)
a. This is a disaster of nature – fire from the sky.
b. “The fire of God” is inaccurately named, for we know that this disaster is not from God, but from Satan.
c. KEY POINT – Satan does have the ability to use nature to cause harm and accomplish his sinister plans.
d. However, God has greater power:
Mark 4:35-41 (NIV) – [35] That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” [36] Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. [37] A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. [38] Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” [39] He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. [40] He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” [41] They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
3. Financial Loss #3 – the loss of camels and servants (v. 17)
a. This is another attack by man – the Chaldeans.
b. They were a nomadic people from the northeast and were Mesopotamians.
c. They later became the Babylonian Empire.
d. KEY POINT – Financial loss will expose our hearts and reveal to us where our treasure is.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) – [19] Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
4. Personal Loss – the loss of children (vv. 18-19)
a. This is another disaster of nature.
b. Up to now, all of Job’s losses have been financial in nature; now his loss will be personal on the largest scale imaginable.
c. Job’s kids were partying again and it’s during one of these parties that disaster strikes.
Deuteronomy 24:16 (NIV) – [16] Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.
Ezekiel 18:20 (NIV) – [20] The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.
Matthew 18:5-6 (NIV) – [5] “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. [6] But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
d. KEY POINT – God is not to blame for our tragedies, but He will use them for our good and for His glory.
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By Bakersfield First Assembly
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The Book of Job:
“The Question of the Ages—Why?”
When Tragedy Strikes
Job 1:13-19 (NIV) – [13] One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, [14] a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, [15] and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” [16] While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” [17] While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” [18] While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, [19] when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
1. Financial Loss #1 – the loss of oxen, donkeys, and servants (vv. 13-15)
a. This is an attack by man – the Sabeans.
1) The Sabeans were nomadic marauders descended from Sheba, a grandson of Abraham. (Genesis 25:3)
2) They eventually settled in the southernmost part of the Arabian Peninsula and became a wealthy nation.
3) During Solomon’s reign, he was visited by the Queen of Sheba.
b. This is a crime of robbery and murder.
c. KEY POINT – Satan uses people to cause evil and accomplish his sinister plans.
2. Financial Loss #2 – the loss of sheep and servants (v. 16)
a. This is a disaster of nature – fire from the sky.
b. “The fire of God” is inaccurately named, for we know that this disaster is not from God, but from Satan.
c. KEY POINT – Satan does have the ability to use nature to cause harm and accomplish his sinister plans.
d. However, God has greater power:
Mark 4:35-41 (NIV) – [35] That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” [36] Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. [37] A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. [38] Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” [39] He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. [40] He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” [41] They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
3. Financial Loss #3 – the loss of camels and servants (v. 17)
a. This is another attack by man – the Chaldeans.
b. They were a nomadic people from the northeast and were Mesopotamians.
c. They later became the Babylonian Empire.
d. KEY POINT – Financial loss will expose our hearts and reveal to us where our treasure is.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) – [19] Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
4. Personal Loss – the loss of children (vv. 18-19)
a. This is another disaster of nature.
b. Up to now, all of Job’s losses have been financial in nature; now his loss will be personal on the largest scale imaginable.
c. Job’s kids were partying again and it’s during one of these parties that disaster strikes.
Deuteronomy 24:16 (NIV) – [16] Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.
Ezekiel 18:20 (NIV) – [20] The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.
Matthew 18:5-6 (NIV) – [5] “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. [6] But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
d. KEY POINT – God is not to blame for our tragedies, but He will use them for our good and for His glory.