lesson fourteenDECEMBER 24–30

Some Lessons From

“As you know, we count as blessed those who have perse-vered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of

compassion and mercy” (James 5:11, NIV).

Job

128

sabbathDECEMBER 24

Growing up, I was quite familiar with the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah—first as an audience member, then as a musician in my high school’s band and choir. Whether listening or performing, I always was swept away by the beauty and hope found in both its melody and its words. However, it wasn’t until I attended a professional performance of Messiah that I fell in love with the entire suite of pieces based on prophecies about Christ’s birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and His ultimate victory over sin at the end of time.

I especially appreciate the piece taken from Job 19:25, 26: “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” This passage encapsulates the faith and perseverance Job dis-played as he lost everything—his wealth, family, and health. Losing even one of these would cause many of us to “curse God,” as Job’s wife implored him to do. Yet Job 1:22 says, “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (NKJV).

While Job questioned why these troubles had befallen him, he never lost trust in his Creator and Redeemer, nor in the final vindication of God’s people to take place in the end times. Thus, he displayed the character of Christ and was a type of Christ—another righteous sufferer.

This unique book opens a window to the great controversy between good and evil that is demonstrated through our suffering on earth. The devil is a real and wily adversary who often uses the people closest to us to dis-courage us. In the case of Job—a man described as “blameless”—his well-intentioned but misguided friends told him that his troubles were a punish-ment for his sins. However, because of the fall of humanity, we always will have problems on earth. Job reminds us, though, that while God some-times withdraws His protection from us in order to refine our characters, He never takes pleasure in our suffering. There is a sharp contrast between God’s love and mercy and Satan’s malevolence. As John 10:10 reminds us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (ESV). Like Job, we can hold on to the promise that while the devil destroys, God restores.

Job 19:25, 26The Devil Destroys but God Restores

Christelle Agboka, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Like Job, we can hold on to the promise that while the devil destroys, God restores.

Introduction

129

Alexandra Yeboah, Ontario, Canada

sundayDECEMBER 25

No one likes to suffer. Yet the Bible talks about manifesting joy in the midst of despair, calm in the midst of chaos, and peace above the storm. The book of Job illustrates this theme. Job was considered a righteous man, yet his story speaks of untold suffering. The common thinking of the Jews during that time was that suffering was a result of one’s sinful actions. However, we read that Job was “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1, ESV). So, contrary to the popular belief of the time, Job was not suffering for his sins. In fact, we get the sense that Job’s trials are his faithful reward (Job 2:3; 1 Pet. 4:12–16).

The book of Job is divided into three parts: (1) Job’s dialogue with his friends, (2) his speeches, and (3) God’s intervention. However, even before Job’s suffering begins, we are introduced to Satan. He shows up uninvited and challenges God to test Job (Job 1:6).

In his hot pursuit, Satan targeted the first humans on earth. As a result, suf-fering is inevitable. However, as believers, we can respond to suffering as Job did: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15, NKJV). On several other occasions, Job boldly declared confidence in God (see Job 5:8; 19:25; 23:10–14).

God may not call you or me to suffer as Job did. However, we do know that we will undergo numerous trials during our time on earth. When we do encoun-ter difficult times, we should remember that God is with us, that in suffering, we are linked more closely to our Master in “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil. 3:10, NKJV). Also, undergoing trials humbles us because we are compelled to remember that we cannot understand the ways of God (Job 11:7; Isa. 55:8).

Often we think of a trial as the pit stop on the way to a greater destination, but we never stop to ponder the lessons that our heavenly Teacher may be seeking to instill in us. Let us remember that it is during our trying times that we especially need to have faith in the God who already has proven Himself to be faithful. Let us also remember that He has promised to be with us in the storm and will therefore give us strength to sustain us.

REACTWhat can we learn from Job, Paul, and Jesus about how to respond to life’s

challenges?

Trusting God in the StormJob 1:1; 2:3;

5:8; 13:15; Phil. 3:10;

1 Pet. 4:12–16

Evidence

Often we think of a trial as the pit stop on the way to a greater destination.

130

mondayDECEMBER 26

When we think of suffering, we often think of Job. Today, we are going to take time to go deeper into some the lessons found in the book of Job and elsewhere in the Scriptures that can help with our own daily struggles and hardships of life.

God Does Not Desire for Us to Suffer (Job 1:12; Matt. 4:1–11; 1 Pet. 5:8)

In the beginning, God created His people to live with Him in paradise. Be-cause we all sense that suffering isn’t meant to be our destiny, we fight suffer-ing every time we experience it. However, have you noticed that no matter how many times you have suffered, you never quite get used to it?

One thing we really need to remember when we are going through chal-lenges is that suffering is a result of sin. We also need to remember that God can use our suffering to develop our character and to teach us valuable les-sons. All too often we forget who our real enemy is. All too often Satan tempts us to blame God for the struggles in which we find ourselves. However, we really struggle with suffering because God never meant for us to suffer.

First Peter 5:8 tells us that the devil is like a “hungry lion roaring to frighten and to catch its prey—an apt figure of the devil, who, through persecution, was seeking to frighten the Christians, and thus to force them into apostasy.”1

Character Is Formed Through Affliction (Rom. 5:3–5; 2 Cor. 4:16–18; James 5:11)

Job developed perseverance, a character trait that is highly prized in a Christian. Let us not think that for one moment Job looked back on his life and pitied himself. I believe he took time to reflect, to think, and to learn the lessons God was teaching him.

With God’s assistance, Job sought to develop his character. Thus, when great trouble came, he did not turn against God. In fact, when his wife encour-aged him to curse God and die, he rebuked her by saying, “ ‘Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ ” (Job 2:10, NKJV).

Because Job understood suffering, he chose to make the best out of a hor-rible situation. He chose, with God’s help, to be the best version of himself that he could be, realizing that his character was the only thing he had left.

“Few men have been called to demonstrate their faith under more trying circumstances. Obviously the writer of the epistle [James] considers Job a his-torical, not an allegorical, person.”2

Job 1:12; Matt. 4:1–11; Rom. 5:3–5; 1 Cor. 2:9; 10:13; 2 Cor. 4:16–18; Heb. 4:16; James 5:11; 1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 21:1–4

A Beautiful Hope

We are all in the process of becoming diamonds.

Logos

131

It is our decision as to what our character shall be. God allows us to choose who we are and how we want to portray ourselves to those around us. Next time you are struggling with something, prayerfully search for the lesson God is teaching you. Notice how He is molding you to become like a diamond. A diamond starts off as a dull rock, but through heat and pressure and by being cut, a diamond develops great value. We are all in the process of becoming diamonds. Yet that is the very part of becoming that we hate. Let us learn to love all of the journey, not just the destination.

Even Through the Suffering, God Loves Us and Is in Control (1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 4:16)

More than anything, God wants to help us in our time of struggle. It is His desire to hold us in His arms of love and to comfort us when we mourn. It is His desire to be the One we go to for support and encouragement. In Hebrews 4:16, God invites us to come to His throne in our time of need.

How many kings have you heard of who invited individuals to come boldly to their throne whenever they requested their presence? Even Esther, the wife of a king, needed permission to come before his throne! Our Father tells us that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear and that He will create a way for us to escape (1 Cor. 10:13). God does not desire to see us suffer. He is in control. He has a beautiful plan to end all suffering in this life and to restore us to the paradise that once existed before sin entered our world.

Heaven Is Cheap Enough (1 Cor. 2:9; Rev. 21:1–4)Have you ever purchased anything so wonderful that you would have paid

even more for it than you did? This is exactly how Jesus feels about us. He paid the highest price of all! He left heaven and came to our sinful planet. Then He died the death that was ours, so we wouldn’t have to!

Considering all that Jesus did for us and that we can never repay Him, our trip to heaven will be cheap enough. When we see Jesus and the place that He has prepared for us, we will forget all about what we went through to get there. I believe Job understood that this world was not his home, that he was just passing through.

More often than not, we focus too much on the struggles we face here and not enough on our heavenly home. As Christians, we have such a beautiful hope. Therefore, let us put our struggles into perspective. Let us focus on the beautiful home that will be ours with Jesus. ____________

1. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, 2nd ed., vol. 7, p. 587.2. Ibid., vol. 5, p. 539.

Michelle Solheiro, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

132

tuesdayDECEMBER 27

“In all ages God’s appointed witnesses have exposed themselves to re-proach and persecution for the truth’s sake. Joseph was maligned and perse-cuted because he preserved his virtue and integrity. David, the chosen mes-senger of God, was hunted like a beast of prey by his enemies. Daniel was cast into a den of lions because he was true to his allegiance to heaven. Job was deprived of his worldly possessions, and so afflicted in body that he was abhorred by his relatives, and friends; yet he maintained his integrity. Jeremiah could not be deterred from speaking the words that God had given him to speak; and his testimony so enraged the king and princes that he was cast into a loathsome pit. Stephen was stoned because he preached Christ and Him crucified. Paul was imprisoned, beaten with rods, stoned, and finally put to death because he was a faithful messenger for God to the Gentiles. And John was banished to the Isle of Patmos ‘for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.’

“These examples of human steadfastness bear witness to the faithfulness of God’s promises—of His abiding presence and sustaining grace. They testify to the power of faith to withstand the powers of the world. It is the work of faith to rest in God in the darkest hour, to feel, however sorely tried and tempest-tossed, that our Father is at the helm. The eye of faith alone can look beyond the things of time to estimate aright the worth of the eternal riches. . . .

“In all ages Satan has persecuted the people of God. He has tortured them and put them to death, but in dying they became conquerors. They bore wit-ness to the power of One mightier than Satan. Wicked men may torture and kill the body, but they cannot touch the life that is hid with Christ in God. They can incarcerate men and women in prison walls, but they cannot bind the spirit.

“Through trial and persecution the glory—the character—of God is revealed in His chosen ones. The believers in Christ, hated and persecuted by the world, are educated and disciplined in the school of Christ. On earth they walk in narrow paths; they are purified in the furnace of affliction. . . . Being partakers of Christ’s sufferings, they can look beyond the gloom to the glory, saying, ‘I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.’ Romans 8:18.”*

REACTHow can you use your current circumstances to be a witness?

____________* Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 575, 576.

2 Cor. 5:7The Worst Is the Best

Brittany Venus Hudson, Brampton, Ontario, Canada

“In all ages Satan has persecuted the people of God.”

Testimony

133

Simone Samuels, Montreal, Canada

wednesdayDECEMBER 28

Perspective is everything. It’s the difference between despair and hope. Recognizing that the trials we face on earth are temporal and relative and that all things work for our good, we have reason to trust God. What the devil means for evil, God will use for our good (Gen. 50:20). Our role, as seen in Job, is to trust Him. The following are some strategies to help us maintain the right perspective.

Reacquaint and Remind. Reacquaint yourself with and remind yourself of God’s character. He gets a lot of blame for a lot of bad stuff. But Job didn’t blame God for his pain. He didn’t blame God because he knew his sickness and his losses were not God’s fault. Job trusted in His character and knew that any pain would be for his ultimate gain.

Rest and Relax. When you know God’s character, there is no need to get upset or worked up. There is no wondering what to do or wondering how long you will have to run around in circles. You can rest and relax in His presence, basking in the peace that passes understanding (Phil. 4:6, 7).

Realize and Resign. At the end of the book of Job, God reveals a bit of His great power to remind Job that he doesn’t know everything—nor does he need to. All he needs is faith and trust in a powerful, unchanging, loving God. We, too, must resign ourselves to the knowledge that we will not know everything, that we will never fully understand God’s purposes for what He allows to happen. Like Socrates said, ultimately the only thing we know is that we know nothing at all.* That’s OK, because we serve a God who “knows the way that [we] take” (Job 23:10, NKJV). We don’t need to know or understand why. We probably couldn’t understand it even if it were explained to us. All we need to know is that Jesus is leading. That truth should be and must be enough for us to trust Him.

REACT1. What are some attributes of God’s character in which we can find solace

when our faith is under pressure?2. List the questions you want answers to. Do these questions, or the fact

that you have these questions, keep you from serving and trusting God? Why, or why not? Do you need answers to follow God? Has He given you enough reason to have faith in Him even if He doesn’t answer your questions?

____________* Socrates said, “As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.” Theaetetus, 161b.

Faith Under PressureGen. 50:20;

Job 1:22; 23:10; Rom. 8:18, 28;

Phil. 4:6, 7

How-to

All we need to know is that Jesus is leading.

134

thursdayDECEMBER 29

Everyone can testify that life includes trials. This is because there is a war taking place for every soul. The beauty of being a follower of Christ is that we have the assurance that there is a greater purpose for every difficult circumstance in which we find ourselves.

God gave Adam and Eve all that was good. Unfortunately, when Adam and his wife ate of the forbidden fruit, sin entered the world. God never intended for us to be separated from His love and presence, nor did He intend for all the destruction, anguish, and distress that we wit-ness today. Yet, Satan had succeeded in deceiving Eve by insinuating that God was withholding something from them when he said, “ ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’ ” (Gen. 3:4, 5, NKJV).

However, the truth is that God withholds “no good thing” “from those who walk uprightly” (Ps. 84:11, NKJV). Every word from God is true, because “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Num. 23:19, NKJV). In fact, the Bible states that He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Thus, it becomes clear that He is not to blame for all the calamities that have taken place since the fall of humanity. Instead, God is just and “righteous in all His ways” (Ps. 145:17, NKJV) and has given every one of us freedom of choice. In order for that choice to be fair, it is necessary for us to see the effects of both good and evil. That is why God will not stop the work of Satan. Even so, it is reassuring to know that He can take any challeng-ing situation and turn it into a blessing if we, like Job, endure to the end.

We find great hope in the book of Job. In spite of the great difficul-ties he faced, he remained loyal to God. He knew that God is good. He understood that in the end, all things, including adversity and suffering, “work together for good for those who love God” (Rom. 8:28, NKJV).

REACT1. What does it mean to you to know that God is working out all things

for your good? How will this help you to confront future trials with con-fidence?

2. How can you help those who question God’s goodness?

Job 19:25–27

Endurance

Jennifer Alicia Alvarado, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

We find great hope in the book of Job.

Opinion

135

Tim Lale, Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A.

fridayDECEMBER 30

CONCLUDEOne takeaway from the book of Job is that we can understand suffering

in this world, but not simply by observing it and jumping to conclusions. Job’s story reveals what was hidden from him and solves the mystery of the unseen forces fighting for and against us. It exposes the malice of the evil one, the faithfulness of God, the reasons for us to endure suffering, and the power of God to restore what was harmed without breaking His own rules. We know our role in the great controversy, and therefore, with God’s power, we can endure and conquer.

CONSIDER• Composing a song after you listen to the entire work of Handel’s Mes-

siah. While you may think you can’t add to such a message about Je-sus, pray for a revelation about the Savior in a song for our time.

• Painting a scene from the life of Job that best sums up your visual im-pression of his story. Which scene captures your imagination? Another step to take: seek out a puzzle company that could produce your picture for sharing with others.

• Creating an interactive Web page using Job 1 and 2:1–10 that allows a person to put their name (and possibly circumstances) in place of Job’s. Thus, they can customize the story and read it as though it happened to them.

• Visiting someone this week (or as soon as you can) who has been through a tragic life event. Practice not concentrating on the role of sin and the great controversy in tragedy but, instead, on the love and sup-port they need.

• Researching and writing an “elevator speech” that helps you to explain tactfully the biblical view of suffering to someone who blames God for the suffering in the world.

CONNECT Nathan Brown, I Hope (Signs Publishing, 2014).Jimmy Phillips, “Coming to Grips with Suffering,” Adventist Review, July

12, 2013, http://www.adventistreview.org/2013-1519-p15.Oswald Chambers, “Partake of His Suffering,” Relevant, February

28, 2002, http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/blog/175 -partake-of-his-suffering.

Learning Our PlaceJob 42:1–6Exploration

Edited by NIKOLAUS SATELMAJER • JOHN MATHEWS

Giving is a volatile topic for most of us.

But it is a biblical principle that needs

more attention. For some, talking about

faithful stewardship is like walking on

thin ice. Reactions range from “All you

want is my money!” to “Isn’t that trying

to strike a bargain with God?” Where is the

truth? Where is the blessing? Is there a balance?

One thing is certain—we either steward our possessions

faithfully or allow them to become a spiritual barrier

between us and God.

©2016 Pacific Press® Publishing Association Please contact your ABC for pricing in Canada. 1555901200

Beyond Blessings 978-0-8163-4509-0 US$7.97

Beyond Blessings 2 978-0-8163-5765-9 US$12.99

US$29.98 ISBN 10: 0-8163-3403-X

©2013 Pacific Press® Publishing Association Please contact your ABC for pricing in Canada. 35590317

Although God’s Word touches on a variety of

disciplines, it is first and foremost a revelation

of God’s will, revealing God’s eternal truths

to the human race.

If you have never studied the

Bible before, you will be amazed

at how clear and powerful it is.

Allow God’s Word to answer your

deepest questions and speak to

your heart’s deepest needs.

Do you have questions about God and faith, life and death, the present and the future? The Bible provides reliable, credible answers.

M A r k A. F I n l e y

©2016 Pacific Press® Publishing Association Please contact your ABC for pricing in Canada. 15590297

Journey Through the Bible will help you not to miss any directions God has for you. The

series is a study of the history, significance, and meaning of each book of the Bible from Genesis through Revelation. These three volumes, Journey Through the Bible: From

Genesis to Job, Journey Through the Bible:

From Psalms to Malachi, and Journey Through

the Bible: From Matthew to Revelation, will help you to grasp the central message of each book and encourage you to persevere through the portions that may seem obscure or difficult. Read them and be blessed in your journey toward the kingdom. $14.99 each

978-0-8163-4309-6

978-0-8163-4433-8

978-0-8163-3940-2

N O T E S

139

N O T E S

©2016 Pacific Press® Publishing Association Please contact your ABC for pricing in Canada. 155590320

Kenneth Cox

You can’t turn on your TV or open your Internet browser without the next catas-trophe hitting you in the face. The toll taken by natural disasters—flooding, fires, droughts, tornadoes, and more—grows worse each year. Four Winds of Revelation examines what the Bible says about the crises that we are facing and shares what it tells us about the future.

Elizabeth Viera Talbot

When the rubber meets the road, when we come to the end of our journey, or when the life of a loved one is about to slip away—we need assurance and rest. I Will Give You Rest is perfect for shar-ing with friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family—or anyone who is experienc-ing or has experienced difficult times. Also available in Spanish!

Four Winds of Revelation 978-0-8163-5884-7 • US$1.99 Quantity pricing available

I Will Give Your Rest 978-0-8163-5841-0 • US$2.99 Quantity pricing available

Books for Sharing

N O T E S

141

N O T E S

Illustrated for a new century, Ellen White’s classic set of five volumes, spanning time from before the earth’s beginning to the fulfillment of God’s plan for His people, is reintro-duced in hardcover and matching paperback bindings.

©2015 Pacific Press® Publishing Association Prices subject to change without notice. Please contact your ABC for pricing in Canada. 145590966

Paperback, 4333003499, US$39.99 • Hardcover, 4333002871, US$89.99

5–VOLUME SET

143

If you have not yet received a copy of CQ for first quarter 2017, here is a summary of the first two lessons:

Lesson 1 The Holy Spirit and Revelation

Logos: Deut. 18:18; Ps. 119:160; Mic. 3:8; John 5:39, 46, 47; 7:38; 17:17; 1 Cor. 2:9–13; 2 Pet. 1:19–21.

Memory Text: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righ-teousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17, NKJV).

Key Thought: Scripture fulfills the role of doctrine, reproof, correc-tion, and instruction in righteousness because it is the Word of God, revealed to humanity through the Holy Spirit. Today, the Holy Spirit is involved with the Word of God in many other important ways. Perhaps the most important is our reading the Word and desiring to understand it. For this, we need the Holy Spirit. He gives us the desire to embrace God’s Word and to apply it to our lives. Thus, the Spirit works to trans-form us into new creatures in Christ. This week we will trace the work of the Holy Spirit as it relates to the Scriptures.

Lesson 2 The Holy Spirit: Working Behind the Scenes

Logos: Gen. 1:2; Exod. 25:8; 31:1–5; Job 26:13; 33:4; Pss. 33:6; 104:29, 30; Ezek. 37:5, 9; Luke 24:44–49; John 3:3–8; Gal. 5:16–23; Eph. 4:23, 24.

Memory Text: “ ‘He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you’ ” (John 16:14, NKJV).

Key Thought: At God’s creation of this world, the Holy Spirit was at work in the background. He was active in the inspiration of God’s proph-ets, and He also was involved with the conception of Christ in Mary’s womb. Yet we know amazingly little about Him. He remains in the back-ground because His role is to advance the work of Jesus—God’s Son—

next quarter’s lessons

The Holy Spirit and Spirituality FIRST QUARTER 2017

Pacific Press® Publishing AssociationP. O. Box 5353

Nampa, ID 83653-5353 U.S.A.

and to give glory to God the Father. All this is so we might be saved from the eternal death that sin would otherwise bring to us. From Scripture, we learn that the Holy Spirit willingly and gracefully accepts a support-ing, helping, sustaining, and equipping behind-the-scenes role. No matter whether it is in creation, redemption, or mission, He does not seek the spotlight.