The Book of Job Can Help You When You Give Counsel

 "Now, Job, please hear my words." - JOB 33:1.

THE news spreads like wildfire among the people of the East, Job, a man known far and wide for his riches, has lost everything. When three of Job's companions-Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar-learn what has happened to Job, they journey to Uz in order to comfort him. But they are prepared for what they see when they arrive. 

Imagine the scene. In a sense, everything that Job possessed had been taken from him. His vast herds of sheep, cattle, and donkeys are gone. His children have been killed and most of his servants have been slaughtered. And the house where Job's children were killed lies in ruins. As if that weren't bad enough, Job is personally affected. His body is now covered with painful boils. From distance, the three men see Job dejected and sitting in ashes. How do they react? For some seven days, they do not say a word to this man who in great pain. (Job 2:12, 13) At one point, a younger man named Elihu arrives and sits down nearby. Job finally breaks the silence by cursing the day he was born and wishing for death. (Job 3:1-3, 11) Clearly, Job needs help! What these men say and how they say it will prove whether they are really Job's friends and whether they are truly interested in his welfare. 

Jehovah had Moses record what Job's three companions and Elihu said and did. It is worth noting that some of what Eliphaz said seems to have been inspired by a wicked spirit. In contrast, Elihu's statements were inspired by Jehovah.  (Job 4:12-16; 33:24, 25) Little wonder, then, that even though the book of Job contains some of the best advice given, it also contains some of the worst. A key benefit that we can gain from the book of Job is how it can help us when we need to give counsel. First, we will consider the bad examples of Job's three companions. Then, we will discuss the good example of Elihu. In each case, we will learn how the Israelites could have benefited from the book of Job and how we can benefit from it today.

Next time: The Book of Job Can Help You When You Give Counsel - HOW JOB'S THREE COMPANIONS COUNSELED HIM

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The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer- USE THE BOOK OF JOB TO HELP OTHERS -Conclusion -

 Consider how the book of Job helped Mario. One day in 2021, a sister was doing telephone witnessing. On her first call, she shared a Bible verse with Mario and explained that God does not listen to our prayers but also offers us a future and a hope. When she asked for his thoughts, Mario told her that he had been writing a suicide note when called. He said, "I believe in God, but I was just wondering this morning if he had abandoned me." The second phone call led to a discussion about Job's. Mario decided that he needed to read the entire book of Job. So our sister sent him a link to the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. The result? Mario accepted a Bible study and was excited to learn more about the loving God who took an interest in him. 

Clearly, God's Word has tremendous power to help people, including those who suffer. (Hebrews 4:12) How grateful we are that Jehovah included the account of Job in His inspired Word! (Job 19:23, 24) The book of Job assures us for a certainty, God does not act wickedly." (Read Job 34:12) It also teaches us why God permits suffering. The next article will discuss insights from the book of Job, such as how to give effective counsel. 

Next time: The Book of Job Can Help You When You Give Counsel

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The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer -USE THE BOOK OF JOB TO HELP OTHERS -Conclusion

 Have you ever met someone in the ministry who ask you why suffering exists? How did you answer his question? You may have pointe to what the Bible says happened in the garden of Eden. Perhaps you started by mentioning that Satan, a wicked spirit, told the first human couple a lie that led them to rebel against God. (Genesis 3:1-6) Then you may have pointed out that after Adam and Eve's rebellion, the world became filled with suffering and death. (Roman 5:12) Finally, you may have explained that God is allowing enough time to pass to disprove Satan's lie and to spread the good news that in the future humans will again be perfect.  (Revelation 21:3, 4) This is a fine way to reason on the question, and it can lead to good results. 

Consider another line of reasoning that you may want to incorporate in your approach, one from the book of Job. You might start by commending the person for asking such a meaningful. Then, mention to Job, a faithful man who suffered greatly, raised a similar thought. He even believed that in some way God was the cause of his pain. (Job 7:17-21) The person you are speaking with may be somewhat impressed that his view has a long history. Next, you could tactfully explain that it was not God but the Devil who caused Job's suffering. The Devil did so in an attempt to prove that human serve God only for selfish reasons. You might add that although God did not cause Job's suffering, he did allow it, thus showing that God trusts faithful humans to prove Satan wrong. Finally, you could explain that in time God blessed Job for remaining faithful. So we can c0mfort others by assuring them that Suffering does not come from Jehovah. 

Next time: The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer - USE THE BOOK OF JOB TO HELP OTHERS

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The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer - HOW THE ACCOUNT OF JOB HELPS US ENDURE - Conclusion

How we can benefit. As Christians, we too need endurance. (Read Hebrews 10:36.) For example, some of us are coping with a physical or an emotional problem, a difficult situation, the loss of a loved one, or some other serious problem. And at times, the comments or the actions of others may make our situation harder to endure. (Proverbs12:18) However, the book of Job teaches us that we can express our innermost feelings to Jehovah, confident that he will hear us. (1 John 5:14) He will not condemn us if our heartfelt supplications occasionally veer into the realm of "wild talk," as occurred with Job. Rather, God will give us the strength and the wisdom we need to endure. (2 Chronicles 16:9; James 1:5) He may also correct us to the extent needed, as he did Job. The book of Job also teaches us how to endure if we receive counsel or discipline from Jehovah's Word, His organization, or mature friends. (Hebrews 12:5-7) Just as Job benefited humbly accepting the correction he received, we benefit when allow ourselves to be readjusted. (2 Corinthians 13:11) What beneficial lessons we learn from Job! Now let us consider how we can use the account of Job to help others. 

Next time: The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer- USE THE BOOK OF JOB TO HELP OTHERS

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The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer - HOW THE ACCOUNT OF JOB HELPS US TO ENDURE

 In retrospect, we can see that Job's desperate plea reflected his unswerving devotion to Jehovah and unshakable hope that somehow God would recognize his integrity. When Jehovah finally did answer Job from a windstorm, He did not go into detail about the reasons for Job's suffering. Neither did he condemn Job for his complaints or mention his protests of innocence. Rather, Jehovah instructed Job as a father would son. And that was the right approach. As a result, Job humbly acknowledged how little he really knew, and he repented of his rash words. (Job 31:6; 40:4, 5; 42:1-6) How could this account have benefited people in the past, and how can it benefit us today? 

How the Israelites could have benefited. The Israelites could have learned from what happened to Job. Consider Moses' example.  He had to endure a multiple of hardships, disappointments, and discouragements as he took on the role of leader of the nation of Israel. In contrast to the rebellious Israelites, who often complained against Jehovah, Moses went to Jehovah with his concerns.  (Exodus 16:6-8; Numbers 11:10-14; 14:1-4, 11; 16:41, 49; 17:5) Moses also needed to endure when he was personally corrected. For example, while the Israelites were encamped at Kadesh, probably during the 40th year of their wandering in the desert, Moses "rashly with his lips" and failed to magnify Jehovah's name. (Psalm 106:32, 33) As a result, Jehovah did not allow Moses to enter the Promised Land. (Deuteronomy 32:50-52) This discipline must have hurt Moses; he humbly accepted it. The account about Job could have helped future generations of the Israelites to endure the trials they faced. By meditating on the account, faithful ones could learn how to express their feelings to Jehovah and how to avoid justifying themselves before him. They could also learn how to accept Jehovah's discipline with humility.  

Next time: The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer - HOW THE ACCOUNT OF JOB CAN HELP US TO ENDURE - Conclusion

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The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer - HOW THE ACCOUNT OF JOB HELPS US TO ENDURE

 Picture Job as he sat alone in ashes, covered in boils and bent double in pain. His skin blackened from the disease, peeled away from his emaciated frame. Physically exhausted, Job may have appeared to be doing little but scraping himself with pieces of broken pottery and giving vent to his despair. But Job was not merely surviving, he was enduring. (Read James 5:11.) What helped Job to endure? 

Job expressed his emotions to Jehovah. (Job 10:1, 2; 16:20) For example, chapter 3 tells us that Job complained bitterly about the tragedies that had befallen him, which he mistakenly assumed Jehovah had caused. Then is a series of debates with his three companions, Job strongly defended his integrity, often directing his responses to Jehovah. Job's words suggest that for a time he considered himself to be more righteous than God. (Job 10:1-3; 32:1, 2; 35:1, 2) In reality, though, he admitted his efforts to defend his integrity sometimes amounted to "wild talk." (Job 6:3, 26) In chapter 31, we read that Job spoke of wanting to be exonerated by God. (Job 31:35) Of course, Job was wrong to demand a direct answer from God as to what was behind his suffering. 

Next time: The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer - HOW THE ACCOUNT OF JOB HELPS US TO ENDURE

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The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer - JEHOVAH ALLOWES JOB TO SUFER

 How we can benefit. Sadly, many people today have lost faith in God because they cannot understand why bad things happen to good people. Consider the example of Hazel from Rwanda. When she was young, she believed in God. But then things changed. Her parents got divorced, as a result, she was raised by her stepfather, who treated her badly. As a teenager, she was raped. When Hazel went to her place of worship for comfort, she did not receive it. Later, Hazel wrote a letter to God. In it she stated "God, I prayed to you, I tried to do good, but you repaid good with evil.  I am not leaving you, and I plan to do whatever makes me happy." Our hearts break for people who, like Hazel, have been led to believe that God is responsible for their suffering!

We, however, have learned from the account in the book of Job that God is not responsible for suffering-Satan is! We have also learned not to assume that those who are suffer are reaping what have sown. The Scriptures tell us that "time and unexpected events" can affect anyone at any time. (Ecclesiastes 9:11; Job 4:1, 8) And we have learned that by our enduring trials faithfully, we give Jehovah a reply to Satan's taunts. That helps to defend his reputation. (Job 2:3; Proverbs 27:11) We do not take what we have learned for granted-these insights enable us to know the truth about why we and our loved ones suffer. Later, Hazel studied with Jehovah Witnesses and came to understand that God did not cause her suffering. She said: "I prayed to God again from the bottom of my heart. I told Jehovah that when I had said I was leaving him, I was not really leaving him. After all, I didn't really know him. Now I understand that Jehovah loves me. I am finally happy and content." How grateful we are to know why God allows suffering! Let us now consider how the account of Job can help us personally during trials.

Nex time: The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer - HOW THE ACCOUNT OF JOB HELPS US TO ENDURE

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The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer - GOD ALLOWS JOB TO SUFFER

 During the time the Israelites were suffering in Egypt, a man named Job was living in the land Uz, possibly located east of the Promised Land and somewhere north of the Arabia. In stark contrast to the Israelites who had begun worshipping idols in Egypt, Job served faithfully. (Joshua 24:14; Ezekiel 20:8) Jehovah said of Job: "There is no one like him on the earth." (Job 1:8) Job was extremely wealthy and enjoyed great prestige/greater than that of any other person of the East. (Job 1:3) How infuriated Satan must have been to see this prominent and influential man serving God with integrity!

Satan claimed that Job would abandon true worship if he suffered. (Job 1:7-11; 2:2-5) Though Jehovah loved Job dearly, Satan's brazen claim raised many important issues, so Jehovah allowed Satan to try to prove his case. (Job 1:12-19; 2:6, 8) Satan took away Job's flocks and herds, cause the death of Job's ten children, and struck Job with painful boils from head to toe. But these sadistic attempts to break Job's integrity failed. (Read Job 1:20-22; 2:9, 10.) In time, Jehovah gave Job ten more children. He also miraculously extended Job's life for 140 years, long enough for him to see four generations of his descendants thriving. (Job 42:10-13, 16) How could this account have benefited those in the past, and how can it benefit us today? 

How the Israelites could have benefited. The Israelites had not lived easy lives in Egypt. For example, Joshua and Caleb had spent their youth as slaves. Then through no fault of their own, the wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. If the Israelites had knew about the story of Job's trials and the outcome of his life, no doubt it helped them, as well as the Israelites of future generations, to understand who is ultimately responsible for suffering. They could also better understand why God permits suffering and how much he values human integrity and faithfulness.

Next time: The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer - GOD ALLOWS JOB TO SUFFER - Conclusion

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The Book of Job Can Help You When You Suffer

 "For a certainty, God does not act wickedly." - JOB 34:12.

Have you recently had the pleasure of reading the book of Job? Though written some 3,500 years age, this ancient book is often counted among the masterpieces of world literature. Commenting on its simple structure, beautiful style, and expressive language, one reference work calls its writer "a literary genius." Moses was the man who penned the remarkable book, but the real Author is Jehovah God. - 2 TIMOTHY 3:16. 

The book of Job is a key part of the Bible. Why? For one thing, it clearly reveals the great issue facing all intelligent creation-the sanctification of Jehovah's name. It also teaches us about Jehovah's marvelous qualities, such as his love, wisdom, justice, and power. For example, the book of Job refers to Jehovah as the "Almighty" 31 times, more than the rest of the Scriptures combined. The book of Job also answers many of life's questions, including one that still troubles many: Why does God allow suffering? 

Just as a mountain give us a vantage point from which we can see our surrounding clearly, the book of Job helps us to view life's trials from an elevated perspective-Jehovah's perspective. Let us see how we can benefit from it today. We will also learn how we can use the Bible account to help others.

Next time: The Book of Job Can You When You Suffer

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You Can Successfully Fight Negative Feelings -LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE

 Even if we have a good spiritual routing and a good study program tailored to our needs, we cannot expect negative thoughts and feelings to disappear completely. We may still have days when we feel miserable! However, with Jehovah's help, we can lessen negative feelings when they arise. We can be confident that on most days we will enjoy a clean conscience and have every reason to rejoice in our life and our service to Jehovah. 

Let us be determined not to be controlled by negative feelings about our past, our troubles or our imperfections. With Jehovah's help, we can keep negative feelings in check.  (Psalm 143:10) We can look forward to the day when positive thinking will no longer be a struggle.  Rather, we will be able to wake up each morning without having any anxious thoughts, happy to be serving our loving God, Jehovah!

Next time: The Book of Job Can Help When You Suffer

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