Job as a Father

Text: Job

Job’s story is well known. Satan is given permission to take everything Job has: his business, his property, his family, and his health. But through this, Job defends the LORD at great personal cost to him. It’s often said that this book is about suffering and why good people suffer. That is certainly in here, but that isn’t the point of Job. Verse 1:22 brings out the point of this entire book. This is exactly how the book starts with Job’s concern for God’s reputation in his children.

Job’s concern (1:5)

  • Job is a man who wants to protect God’s reputation in his children’s minds. The idea of accusing God shows up immediately in 1:5. It is Job’s chief concern that his family is right with God. And make sure that if they have even thought about accusing God, God would pass over that transgression.
  • Job balances work and family.
  • What does Job’s faith look like among his family? Why is that important? Are there ways parents encourage accusations against God? Or ruin God’s reputation in the mind of their child?
  • Blaspheming the LORD is a sin
    • Romans 2:24
    • 1 Timothy 6:1
    • Titus 2:5

Job’s carefulness (1:5)

  • Job is more than a praying parent. Job will do more than pray for his children. He’s going to get up early, he’s going to sanctify his children, he’s going to make sacrifices for his children.
  • Job is concerned about their hearts.
  • Job continues this regularly. He is consistent.

Job’s character (1:18-22)

  • What incredible confusion! Job has been so careful to make sure his children have not offended the LORD and now the LORD has allowed all his children to die. Through it all Job refuses to curse God or accuse him of wickedness.
  • God’s testimony of his servant Job (1:1)
    • Perfect
    • Upright
    • Fears God
    • Eschews evil – he shuns evil. Paul would say abstain from all appearance of evil.
  • This is a man’s reputation with God who has chosen to defend God’s righteousness.