NBC Sunday School Manual For February 27, 2022 : Topic – SERVING A JUST GOD
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NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Sunday, February 27, 2022
TOPIC: SERVING A JUST GOD
Background Scripture reading: Job 42
Lesson Scripture reading: Job 42:1-6,
Golden Text: Surely, I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. Job 42:3b
By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
1. Compare and contrast Job’s beginning and his end;
2. Explain what Job meant by repentance in dust and ashes;
3. Express their resolve to depend solely on God in times of suffering rather than blame God.
Introduction
Last week, we learnt about the sad experience of Sister Mariam and how she was constantly tormented by her inlaws because of her inability to conceive. The pressure for a second wife was so much on her husband that he began to contemplate the option as the best solution. Suddenly, his attitude changed towards his wife and he began to act deceitfully. However, Sister Mariam was not bothered. She did not relent in her prayer for God’s vindication and intervention. Soon, she became pregnant and delivered a baby boy. On the day of the baby’s naming ceremony, she danced and rejoiced singing: “I am serving a just God who vindicates, blesses, remembers and restores.” Her testimony was “God has removed my shame and prospered my life with this bundle of joy. My end is better than my beginning.” Such was the experience of Joseph in Egypt when he was wrongly accused by Potiphdr’s wife and thrown into jail. Although he suffered, God eventually remembered him. At last, he became a Prime Minister in the land of Egypt (Genesis 41:43) and was able to deliver his brothers from hunger. Our lesson today centres on Job, who was afflicted by Satan. Despite the fact that his friends wrongly accused him, God eventually vindicated and
prospered him. God proved that He is a just God who judges rightly.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED A. Job’s Confession: Job 421-6
The last chapter of Job contains the epilogue of his personal discovery of God, his confession and restoration. He remembered the words he had uttered in ignorance and confessed his ignorance and repentance. He acknowledged God’s faithfulness and said:
1. I know you can do all things and no plan of yours can be frustrated.
2. Surely I spoke of things I did not understand; things that were too wonderful for me to know.
3. My ears have heard of you, but now I see and know whom you are in reality. Now, I am ready to accept your plans for my life, even in suffering.
4. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. The expression ‘dust and ashes’ is a symbol of humiliation and insignificance. It could also mean true repentance concerning the foolish words he had spoken.
Job finally realises that he dabbled into things beyond his understanding. Before God spoke to him directly, he had acted in ignorance and expressed things beyond his understanding. Notable in the passage is Job’s sincerity in his confession. Although his questions remained unanswered, he was satisfied having heard from God directly. Eventually, self-righteousness gave way as he regretted some of the bitter things he had said. This is a lesson to believers to be careful in our disposition in the face of suffering. We should learn from the experience of Job not to apportionblame either to God or humans for any affliction because the consequences could be grave.
Discussion Time
1. How would you describe Job in the confession of his misdeed?
2. Discuss the importance of repentance to receiving help from God like the case of Job.
B. God Restores Job: Job 42:10-11
After a long silence, God eventually spoke to Job in chapters 38 to 41. He commended him for speaking the truth while his three friends were guilty of misinterpreting the whole thing as they attributed his suffering to his sins. Their action aroused God’s anger (vs. 7-8) because they did not speak the truth about Him, unlike Job. God asked them to ask for forgiveness from Job before God would forgive them. They obeyed God’s command and sought help through sacrifices and prayers, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayers for them. Furthermore, God prospered Job twice as much as before that his acquaintances (brothers, sisters and former friends) came and feasted with him. One wonders where these people were during the time of Job’s suffering. Each of them brought material and monetary gifts; they expressed their sympathy and comforted him. No one can fully comprehend God’s ways, especially in times of suffering. Job’s restoration came when he discovered he had acted ignorantly and repented of his actions. He obeyed God’s command, prayed for his friends and the Lord prospered him again. The Bible says, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7) It was at the point when he accepted his suffering as God’s intention that his fortune was reversed. Everything was restored to him-family, prosperity, friends, and long life. God is truly just. When our ways are right with him, even though it seems as if we are suffering and it tarries, we will surely be vindicated and restored like Job.
Discussion Time
1. How would you describe Job in the confession of his misdeed?
2. Discuss the importance of repentance to receiving help from God like the case of Job.
C. God Demonstrates Justice: Job 42:12-17
The climax of Job’s experience is a confirmation that we serve a just God who rewards faithfulness. The passage shows that the last part of Job’s life was more prosperous than the beginning. The record in the first few verses of chapter 1 shows the sharp differences between his beginning and latter days. For instance, He later had:
14,0000 sheep as against7,000,
at the beginning 6,000 camels as against 3,000
2,000 yoke of oxen as against 500
l,000 donkeys as against 500.
The additional blessings Job received were that his daughters excelled in beauty and had inheritance along with their brothers. They were blessed as if they were sons. According to the Old Testament custom, daughters do not receive inheritance except there are no sons (Numbers 27:8). Job was also blessed with long life and was able to see his children and grandchildren to the fourth generation. He died at an old age of one hundred and forty years (140 years), according to the prophecy Eliphaz earlier made that he would come to the grave in full vigour, like sheaves gathered in season (Job 5:26). God is a just God. He will always vindicate the humble, honest and faithful when they least expect. Job’s experience should serve as encouragement to believers, particularly those who are suffering unjustly. The some God who justified Job and caused his end to be better than the beginning has not changed.
Discussion Time
l.tht counsel would you give someone who is suffering unjustly, using Job US Cl case study?
2. Why did Job treat his female ohildrenlike sonsbygiving them port of his possessions, even though it was not their custom?
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity
Let each class member write at least five (5) things he/she has learned from the life of Job and his/her plan to implement them.
Take Home
Write down three lessons you are taking home from today’s lesson
Prayer
1. Pray for the grace to be mindful of your utterances when faced with challenges.
2. Pray that God will restore everything you have lost, like He did for Job.
3. Pray that your latter days will be greater than the former and your life will bring glory to God.
Commitment
Based on today’s lesson, make a personal commitment to re o’n faithful in serving a just God.