It would help us to consider that our Heavenly Father is a God of order. We have been taught that Genesis is the first book that was given to us by God. But no. Job is the oldest book in the Bible written about three hundred years before Moses. Let's Learn...
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” - John 1: 1-4
Some ask where is Christ in the Old Testament? Actually everywhere. Christ is the Word of God.
God who is the same yesterday today and forever changes not. There is life in Him those who hear Him receive life. This explains the difference of Cain and Abel the one who believed was made righteous. It would help us to consider that our Heavenly Father is a God of order. We have been taught that Genesis is the first book that was given to us by God. But no. Job is the oldest book in the Bible written about three hundred years before Moses.
First Holy Spirit inspired book was given to man, definitely deserves our utmost attention. Unfortunately, it has received little importance in the eyes of scholars, therefore the Church has suffered a lot for lack of very important teaching.
The inspired book starts out giving us God's evaluation of the man Job.
“There 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: 1
Land of Uz. Uz was a son of Aram who was a son of Shem. See Gen. 10: 22,23
In Ezekiel, we see again God's high regard for Job. "Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD." Ezekiel 14:14 In the book of Job, we have teaching that helps explain what so many believers are in need of understanding.
For one satan's part in God's perfection of the Bride of Christ. Also, the fact that God started right away in bringing people into the family of God. These two things are monumental. Satan is a creation of God and God makes no mistakes it behooves us to understand His purpose in creating Lucifer.
The purpose of God in the creation of man (Gen 1:26) is primarily to provide a bride for His Son.
This wonderful plan will reveal God's love and compassion for all and give all men an opportunity to be members of the body of Christ. All are called because God is not a respecter of persons all are called but only a few are chosen. There will be taken a few from every generation from the beginning to the end. All men in every generation are given an opportunity because God is not willing that any should perish.
"Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he." Isaiah 41: 4
"For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation." Isaiah 51: 8
"Thy seed will I establish forever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah." Psalms 89: 4
"And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:" Daniel 4: 34
1. There were believers in the body of Christ from the beginning.
Job 1: 1 The simple truth of the fact that this man was considered righteous flies in the face of modern teaching. Job demonstrates how true believers are to receive the trying of their faith." In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." Job 1: 22
2. The Church or the Bride of Christ was born in the heart of God before the foundation of the world. (Ef.1: 3)
We see believers in the book of Job.
In the book of Job Children of God are meeting with God. This inspired book says children not angels. Today we are told they are angels, God is not the author of confusion. If they were angels he would say so. The foundation for the Church was laid before the foundation of the world.
"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" Titus 1: 2
“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1 Pt.1: 10,11
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: ( takes away the sin of the world, all sin of all men in all generations.) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” 1 Pt.1: 19-21
God is not willing that any should perish. God so loved the world He gave his only begotten son before he made man. Christ in His foreknowledge so loved us He was crucified before we were ever created.
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." 1 Peter 1: 2
The early believers were saved just like we are by believing the promise of God.
In Heb. 11: 17 we read:
"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,"
I have a question for you did Abraham offer up Isaac? He had full intention of killing Isaac as commanded but He was stopped then offered up ram in His place. Even though he didn't actually kill Isaac, God saw his heart and received his offering. Once God who cannot lie promises something it is a done deal. Christ was crucified from before the foundation of the world, ever since those who believe the promise are washed pure in the blood that was offered.
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1: 4 Ro. 10: 17
3. The purpose of satan is made known and his part in the perfecting of the Saints. In spite of his hatred for the believers.
Notice it is God who initiates the conversation with satan. Once you have read the whole account it is obvious that God deliberately is using satan in His perfecting of Job. Today when you hear about Job you only hear how much he suffered and he did most certainly suffer but what he suffered can not be compared to what God did for Him in the end. In Chapter 42: 5,6 we read: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee (invisible God). Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
in Ph 3: 9,10
Paul speaks of this high calling. "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means, I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Job was a true believer because he had heard and believed. In Ro.10: 17 It says: “Faith cometh by hearing and by the word of God.” The Word hear is interesting it holds dual meaning. I discovered this while studying Russian. I found The word for hear in russian was slushet then I discovered the word for repent is slushet the same word. Then I remembered when I was a child often my mother would say “ James didn't you hear me?” after telling me to do something and I hadn't done it, knowing full well I had physically heard her but had failed to obey. This explains why so many who confess to be believers are not walking in the light because they have never really heard.
But Job had heard God and believed God. His testimony was:
“For 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:” Job 19: 25,26
But like many of us he fell short in knowing God and it is only in the fellowship of His suffering.
When you are willing to stand where Christ is and go where he leads you and rejoice in suffering with Him. That is when you can see God, when your cupboard is bare and you see the hand of God provide for you. Or your child is dying and you see God heal her. Only in suffering with Christ can we truly know Him. This is why we are told to deny ourselves take up our cross and follow Him. 4. Our Heavenly Father's love and good intentions for the righteous is revealed.
He does not try man for any vile purpose. But much the contrary. He is intent on bringing man into his own Divine nature. This requires serious testing of the believer. “
" I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee." Job 42: 5
Ph. 3: 9,10
Only this way can we know Him and be like Him.
Sons of GOD bear His image. Not angels. (some teach in Job 1: 6 he means angels instead of sons.) The Word of God is clear, not confusing, God is not the author of confusion. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as he is pure.” - 1 John 3: 1-3
Job offered animals (burnt offerings) showing his faith in the blood of Christ that was promised. Like Abel who was taught by Adam who was taught by God.
"And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:" Genesis 4: 4
"By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." Hebrews 11: 4
These men are ever bit as righteous as you today. Anyone who believes the promise of God is made righteous. Heb.11: 6 Ro.10: 9,10
Adam taught by God.
Genesis 3: 7,10,11 " And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. Man is still trying to cover his nakedness (lack of righteousness) with his own works (religion). And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" (The tree of the knowledge of good and evil.)
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." Genesis 3: 21 This is the first recording of blood being shed. All who believed the promise, of salvation before Christ came. Made burnt offerings. Abel, Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, etc. etc... These offerings were a shadow or type of the blood of Christ. Hebrews 10: 9-14 "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified."
Titus 1: 2 1 Pt. 1: 20 2 Pt. 1: 4 Re.13: 8
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