Prologue—Job 1:1–22
Topics: Character, Circumstances, Death, Evil, Faithfulness, Fear, God, Greatness, Perseverance, Possessions, Problems, Reputation, Satan, Suffering, Testing, Worship
Open It
1. *Who is the greatest person you know?
2. Why do you think bad things happen to people?
3. What is the most disappointing thing that has happened to you this week?
Explore It
1. Whom did Job fear, and what did Job shun? (1:1)
2. *What kind of man was Job? (1:1–3)
3. Who are the three main people in these events? (1:1–22)
4. *What is surprising about what happened to Job? (1:1–22)
5. How did Job purify his children? Why? (1:4–5)
6. What were the angels doing? (1:6)
7. Where did Satan come from? (1:7)
8. Why did Satan say that Job feared God? (1:9–10)
9. What did Satan say Job would do if God took away everything Job had? (1:11)
10. What authority did God give to Satan? (1:12)
11. What happened to Job’s livestock? (1:13–17)
12. What happened to Job’s children? (1:18–19)
13. *How did Job respond to the tragedies that happened to him? (1:20–21)
14. In what way did Job not sin? (1:22)
Get It
1. In what way do you fear God and shun evil?
2. Why do you think God gave Satan authority over everything Job had?
3. *What kind of people are considered great in our society?
4. How does society view individuals who are blameless and upright?
5. If you had been in Job’s situation, how do you think you would have responded?
6. Why is it easy to praise God when circumstances are going well?
7. How do you usually respond when tragedies happen to you?
8. When do you feel most like praising God?
9. When do you feel most like cursing God?
10. For what type of events do people blame God?
11. For what sort of events do people blame Satan?
12. *Why is it so hard to respond like Job when tragedies happen?
Apply It
1. What is one way you can fear God and shun evil today?
2. *What is one step you can take this week to improve your reputation as a godly person?
Job’s Second Test—Job 2:1–13
Topics: Character, Circumstances, Compassion, Evil, Faithfulness, Fear, Friendship, God, Integrity, Perseverance, Problems, Satan, Suffering, Testing
Open It
1. What does it mean to have integrity?
2. Who is someone you know with integrity?
3. *What physical ailment do you fear suffering from the most?
Explore It
1. What major events occurred? (2:1–13)
2. From where did Satan come? (2:2)
3. Why did God ask Satan to consider Job again? (2:3)
4. What did God say Job had maintained? (2:3)
5. *Why did Satan say that it was no big deal that Job had maintained his integrity? (2:4–5)
6. *What authority did God give to Satan? (2:6)
7. What did Satan do to Job? (2:7)
8. What did Job’s wife tell him to do? (2:9)
9. How did Job respond to his wife’s suggestion? (2:10)
10. *What did Job not do in the midst of his troubles? (2:10)
11. For what purpose did Job’s friends set out to meet Job? (2:11)
12. What did Job’s friends do when they saw him? (2:12)
13. Why were Job’s friends silent for seven days? (2:13)
Get It
1. In what way is it true that a person will give all he or she has for his or her life?
2. How do you maintain your integrity?
3. Why is it hard to maintain one’s integrity when bad things happen?
4. In what way would it have been easier for Job to curse God and die?
5. When have you been tempted to curse God and die?
6. *Why is it easy to accept good from God but not trouble?
7. *How should we respond when trouble comes?
8. What good things have you received from God?
9. When have you set out to sympathize and comfort a friend in trouble?
10. Why do we want our friends to sympathize with and comfort us when bad things happen?
11. When have you wanted your friends just to sit with you silently?
12. How would sitting in silence with a friend be helpful?
Apply It
1. Who is someone you can comfort this week?
2. *What is one thing you can change about how you respond when bad things happen?
3. What one thing can you do to improve your integrity?
Job Speaks—Job 3:1–26
Topics: Bitterness, Circumstances, Darkness, Death, Depression, Despair, Emotions, Feelings, Frustration, God, Grief, Hopelessness, Openness, Problems, Suffering
Open It
1. What types of emotions are best described with pictures or images?
2. When is it appropriate to share your disappointments in life with others?
3. What can make it difficult to be open and honest about your feelings?
4. *What feelings are the most difficult for you to put into words?
Explore It
1. *What did Job do when he opened his mouth? (3:1)
2. *What did Job say about the day of his birth? (3:2–10)
3. What questions did Job ask about his birth? (3:11–12)
4. Where did Job say he would be if he had died at birth? (3:13–15)
5. Where did Job say the weary are at rest? (3:17)
6. What beneficial effect did Job say death would have on slaves? (3:18–19)
7. What did Job say is given to those who search for death? (3:20–22)
8. *How did Job describe his groans? (3:24)
9. What did Job say had happened to him? (3:25)
10. What did Job say he did and did not have? (3:26)
Get It
1. *How would you describe Job’s mood?
2. What are some of the hard questions Job asked?
3. What descriptive words or pictures did Job use to describe his emotions?
4. In what way might a person’s mood affect the way he or she sees and values life?
5. When have you felt like cursing the day you were born?
6. *In what way do you identify with Job?
7. Why do you think Job used such vivid language to describe his emotions?
8. In what way are the dead better off than the living?
9. When is it helpful for a person to talk honestly about his or her disappointments in life?
Apply It
1. *About what disappointment in your life do you want to be honest with God today?
2. What friend can you encourage to be more honest and open about his or her feelings?
3. With whom do you want to be more open and honest about your feelings?
Eliphaz—Job 4:1–5:27
Topics: Advice, Answers, Circumstances, Confidence, Discipline, Discouragement, God, Humanness, Life-style, Repentance, Sin, Suffering, Wisdom
Open It
1. *When is it hard to accept the advice of a friend?
2. When was the last time you were discouraged by the advice a friend gave you?
3. How might a person’s life-style negatively or positively impact his or her life?
Explore It
1. What did Eliphaz say that Job had done in the past? (4:2–6)
2. *What did Eliphaz say about Job’s piety and confidence? (4:6)
3. *According to Eliphaz, why do bad things happen to people? (4:7–11)
4. How did Eliphaz receive the message brought to him? (4:12–16)
5. What kind of people die without wisdom? (4:17–21)
6. Whom does resentment kill? (5:2)
7. To what did Eliphaz say a person is born? (5:7)
8. To whom did Eliphaz say Job should appeal? (5:8)
9. What type of things did Eliphaz say God did? (5:9–15)
10. According to Eliphaz, why did God do what He had done? (5:16)
11. Why did Eliphaz tell Job not to despise the discipline of God? (5:17–18)
12. What did Eliphaz tell Job would happen when God rescued him? (5:19–26)
13. *What did Eliphaz tell Job to do? (5:27)
Get It
1. *How would you summarize Eliphaz’s speech?
2. *What was wrong with Eliphaz’s advice?
3. How is a person’s life-style his or her confidence?
4. In what way are people who do evil paid back with evil?
5. What type of people die without wisdom, and why?
6. How do resentment and envy “kill” people?
7. When have you felt like taking your case before God?
8. Why is it easy to despise the discipline of God?
9. How do you normally react when bad things happen to you?
10. Why might a person think God is punishing him or her when something bad happens?
11. Why might you be tempted to think that bad things happen only to people who somehow deserve it?
Apply It
1. What is something negative about your life-style that you want to change this week?
2. *What is one way in which you will be more sensitive when giving advice to someone who is hurting?
Job—Job 6:1–7:21
Topics: Advice, Bitterness, Character, Confusion, Death, Depression, Despair, Discouragement, Friendship, Frustration, God, Hopelessness, Integrity, Life, Problems, Suffering, Unfairness
Open It
1. When have you felt let down by your friends?
2. What is something you think is unfair about life?
3. *In your opinion what is the single most important quality a good friend should possess?
Explore It
1. *What did Job say about his misery? (6:1–3)
2. What did Job say had been marshaled against him? (6:4)
3. What did Job want God to do, and what consolation did he say it would bring him? (6:8–10)
4. *What did Job say about his friends? (6:14–27)
5. *What did Job ask his friends to do, and on what basis did he ask them? (6:28–30)
6. How did Job describe life? (7:1–2)
7. What did Job say about his days and nights? (7:3–6)
8. To what did Job compare life? (7:7–10)
9. Why did Job say he would not be silent? (7:11)
10. Why was Job not able to find any comfort in sleep? (7:13–16)
11. Why did Job despise his life? (7:16)
12. In what way did Job say God made a big deal about mankind? (7:17–18)
13. What questions did Job ask God? (7:17–21)
Get It
1. How would you describe Job’s reply to Eliphaz?
2. What is the basic theme in Job’s answer?
3. When have you wished you could weigh your misery on a scale?
4. *When might you be tempted to abandon a friend who was going through a tough time?
5. *How can you be helpful to a person who is going through a tough time?
6. In what way do you think life seems meaningless?
7. In what way is life like a breath or a cloud?
8. When have you felt like life was either too short or too long?
9. Under what circumstances do you think someone would prefer death to life?
10. How might suffering make a person more sensitive to others?
11. Why does God care about people, and how does He show His concern?
Apply It
1. *What is one way you can be an encouragement to a friend who is going through a tough time this week?
2. What is something that you think is unfair about life that you will ask God to help you accept?
Bildad—Job 8:1–22
Topics: Advice, Answers, Character, Enemies, Foundation, Friendship, God, Integrity, Life, Life-style, Problems, Punishment, Questions, Righteousness, Suffering, Unfairness
Open It
1. What type of person do you go to when you need good advice?
2. For what type of infractions did your parents punish you when you were a child?
3. *When have you felt that you were being punished unjustly?
Explore It
1. How did Bildad characterize Job’s reply to Eliphaz? (8:2)
2. *What did Bildad ask Job about God? (8:3)
3. *Why did Bildad say God punished Job’s children? (8:4)
4. *What did Bildad say God would do if Job was pure and upright? (8:5–7)
5. Whom did Bildad suggest Job consult, and why? (8:8–10)
6. To what did Bildad compare the destiny of those who forget God? (8:11–13)
7. On what sort of foundation did Bildad say the godless were relying? (8:14–15)
8. To what did Bildad compare the godless person? (8:16–19)
9. How did Bildad say God would treat the blameless person and the evildoer? (8:20)
10. With what did Bildad say God would fill Job’s mouth? (8:21)
11. What did Bildad say God would do to Job’s enemies? (8:22)
Get It
1. How would you summarize Bildad’s speech?
2. *What did Bildad imply about Job?
3. Under what circumstances would you conclude that God was punishing someone to whom bad things were happening?
4. *Why might it be easy to assume that God was punishing someone to whom bad things were happening?
5. When have you felt as if God were punishing you for no apparent reason?
6. What can you learn from an older person that you cannot learn from anyone else?
7. When is it wise to consult an older person about your problems?
8. What kind of people forget God, and why do they forget Him?
9. How do we forget God in our daily life?
10. Why do you agree or disagree with Bildad’s description of the destiny of the righteous and the wicked?
Apply It
1. *How can you guard against judging others?
2. About what problem will you seek the advice of an older believer this week?
3. What is one thing you can change about your life-style in order to develop a more blameless and upright character?
4. What is one thing you can do to remember God in your daily routines?
Job—Job 9:1–10:22
Topics: Attitude, Circumstances, Confusion, Creation, Death, Despair, Discouragement, Frustration, God, Justice, Life, Problems, Righteousness, Shame, Sin
Open It
1. *If you were describing God to someone, what characteristics of God would you emphasize?
2. For what type of events or transactions would you seek out a lawyer?
Explore It
1. *Why did Job think that it is impossible for a mortal to be righteous before God? (9:2–13)
2. *How did Job describe the power and wisdom of God? (9:4–12)
3. In what way did Job think being innocent or blameless would change things? (9:14–20)
4. How did Job think God treats the blameless and the wicked? (9:22–24)
5. How did Job describe his days? (9:25–26)
6. *What did Job wish he had the opportunity to do? (9:32–35)
7. What did Job want God to tell him? (10:1–2)
8. Why did Job think that God was unfair? (10:3–7)
9. Who did Job say created him, and why is that important? (10:8–12)
10. What did Job say God concealed in His heart? (10:13–14)
11. What did Job ask God? (10:18)
12. Where did Job say he was headed? (10:21–22)
Get It
1. How would you summarize Job’s response to Bildad?
2. *What kind of picture of God did Job paint?
3. *In what way is it possible to be righteous or blameless before God?
4. When have you felt as if nothing you could say or do would change things?
5. When have you thought that God was letting wicked people go unpunished?
6. Why is it sometimes helpful to have someone else arbitrate a dispute?
7. When have you ever needed someone to arbitrate a dispute between you and another person?
8. When have you felt as if you needed a lawyer to represent you before God?
9. What difference does it make that people are created by God?
10. Why is it significant that God created you?
11. What purpose does shame serve?
Apply It
1. *What attitude about God will you make a commitment to reevaluate this week?
2. What can you do today to celebrate the fact that you were created by God?
Zophar—Job 11:1–20
Topics: Advice, Answers, Evil, Foolishness, God, Justice, Life, Life-style, Punishment, Questions, Repentance, Righteousness, Security, Sin, Suffering, Wisdom
Open It
1. What unusual ideas about God did you have when you were a child?
2. *What things in life give you a sense of security?
3. In what way would each of these give you a greater sense of security—more money in the bank and more friends?
Explore It
1. How did Zophar describe Job’s speech? (11:2–3)
2. What did Zophar wish God would do? (11:5–6)
3. How did Zophar depict the mysteries of God? (11:7–9)
4. Of what did Zophar say God took note? (11:11)
5. What did Zophar say about the witless person? (11:12)
6. *What did Zophar tell Job to do? (11:13–14)
7. What did Zophar say Job would forget? (11:16)
8. What did Zophar say life would be brighter than? (11:17)
9. *Why did Zophar say Job would be secure? (11:18)
10. *What did Zophar say would happen to the wicked? (11:20)
Get It
1. How would you summarize Zophar’s reply to Job?
2. *With what do you agree or disagree in Zophar’s speech? Why?
3. What is something that you wish God would speak up about?
4. Why is it impossible to totally understand God?
5. How can a person “keep evil from dwelling in his tent”?
6. When have you felt at peace with God?
7. *What can make a person feel secure in his or her relationship with God?
Apply It
1. What can you do today to gain a better understanding of God’s character?
2. What one change can you make this week to keep evil away from your home?
3. *What is something that you can do today to improve your relationship with God?
Job—Job 12:1–14:22
Topics: Age, Answers, Death, Discouragement, Embarrassment, Future, God, God’s Will, Hope, Life, Plans, Power, Questions, Sin, Sovereignty, Suffering
Open It
1. When was the last time you were really small or insignificant?
2. What is the dumbest advice you have been given by a friend?
3. *When have you felt misunderstood by your friends?
Explore It
1. *What did Job say about his “friends”? (12:1–3)
2. *Why was Job embarrassed? (12:4–6)
3. What kind of people did Job say are secure? (12:6)
4. What did Job think a long life should bring? (12:12)
5. How did Job describe God’s power? (12:13–25)
6. With whom did Job say he would like to argue his case? (13:3)
7. *How did Job characterize his friends and their advice? (13:4–12)
8. What did Job say he would do if God killed him? (13:15)
9. What did Job think would happen if he defended himself to God? (13:15–19)
10. What did Job ask God to grant him? (13:20–23)
11. How did Job feel God was treating him? (13:24–27)
12. What did Job say about the length of a person’s life? (14:5)
13. What did Job say about life after death? (14:7–14)
14. How did Job describe a person’s life? (14:11–12)
15. What did Job say God would do with his sins? (14:16–17)
Get It
1. *How would you summarize Job’s reply to Zophar?
2. How did Job feel about God, his friends, and his life?
3. *When have you felt like a laughingstock?
4. In what way does old age bring understanding?
5. How should the fact that God is all-powerful make us feel?
6. How should we demonstrate our hope in God in times of trouble?
7. In what way can a person be vindicated by his or her life-style?
8. In what way is life like a flower or shadow?
9. How has the fact that life is fleeting affected the way you live your life?
10. How is your understanding of life after death like or unlike Job’s?
11. In what way has God sealed all our sins in a bag?
Apply It
1. *With what disappointment in your life will you ask God to help you come to terms this week?
2. How can you make better use of your time in light of the fact that life is fleeting?
Eliphaz—Job 15:1–35
Topics: Advice, Age, Anger, Deceit, Evil, Foolishness, God, Life-style, Problems, Righteousness, Sin, Suffering, Trust, Wisdom
Open It
1. *When is the last time you got so angry about something that you wanted to scream?
2. In what sort of things do people trust?
Explore It
1. *What did Eliphaz say about Job’s speech? (15:2–4)
2. What did Eliphaz say prompted Job to speak? (15:5)
3. Against whom did Eliphaz say Job had testified? (15:6)
4. What questions did Eliphaz ask Job? (15:7–9)
5. Who did Eliphaz say was on his side? (15:10)
6. *Against whom did Eliphaz say Job had vented his rage? (15:12–13)
7. Who did Eliphaz say is pure in God’s eyes? (15:14–16)
8. What did Eliphaz say he would tell Job? (15:17–19)
9. *How did Eliphaz describe the life of the wicked? (15:20–35)
10. In what did the wicked person trust, and what benefit did it bring? (15:31)
11. To what did Eliphaz say the wicked would conceive and give birth? (15:35)
Get It
1. What is the main point of Eliphaz’s speech to Job?
2. *What kind of person did Eliphaz indicate Job was?
3. *When do you get angry with God?
4. How do you express your anger toward God?
5. In what ways do wicked people suffer?
6. How do people deceive themselves?
7. What are some of the worthless things we trust in?
8. How do we sometimes create our own problems in life?
Apply It
1. *What feelings of anger toward or disappointment in God do you want to resolve this week?
2. In what area of your life will you determine to trust God more?
Job—Job 16:1–17:16
Topics: Circumstances, Death, Desires, Despair, Discouragement, Encouragement, Enemies, Evil, Friendship, God, Hope, Hopelessness, Life, Mediator, Pain, Perspective, Plans, Suffering
Open It
1. What type of person offers the best advice and encouragement?
2. *What do you like to do after you have had a really bad day at work, school, or home?
Explore It
1. What kind of comforter did Job say his three friends were? (16:2–3)
2. What did Job say he would do if his friends were in his place? (16:4–5)
3. What did Job say God had done to him? (16:7–14)
4. According to Job, how had he responded to what God had done to him? (16:15–17)
5. Where was Job’s advocate-intercessor, and what was he doing? (16:19–21)
6. On what sort of journey did Job say he would be going? (16:22)
7. *What did Job say about his spirit? (17:1–2)
8. *What did Job say about God? (17:6)
9. How did the upright and the innocent respond to Job’s misery? (17:8–9)
10. What happened to Job’s plans and the desires of his heart? (17:11)
11. What did Job’s friends say was near? (17:12)
12. *What sort of hope did Job envision? (17:12–16)
Get It
1. How much do you think Job’s circumstances influenced his outlook on life?
2. *How would you describe Job’s mood at this point?
3. How did Job describe God in this speech?
4. As Job’s friend, what encouragement would you offer him?
5. How would your encouragement differ from the speeches that Job’s friends offered?
6. When have you felt that you had been turned over to evil people?
7. What was wrong with Job’s perspective?
8. *How would you respond differently from the way Job responded to his problems?
9. What sort of advocate-intercessor did Job envision?
10. Who is our advocate-intercessor?
11. When have your plans in life been shattered?
12. What is your hope in life, and how does that differ from Job’s hope?
Apply It
1. To what friend will you offer some words of genuine encouragement today?
2. How can you express your thanks to God for providing an advocate-intercessor in the person of His Son Jesus Christ?
3. *What can you do today to prevent your circumstances from clouding your perspective?
Bildad—Job 18:1–21
Topics: Anger, Answers, Darkness, Death, Evil, Foolishness, God, Judgment, Life, Life-style, Name, Pain, Problems, Punishment, Questions
Open It
1. *When was the last time you sat through a really long and senseless speech?
2. How can anger hurt a person?
Explore It
1. *How did Bildad respond to Job? (18:1–21)
2. *What faults did Bildad see in Job? (18:1–21)
3. *How did Bildad characterize the wicked? (18:1–21)
4. What did Bildad think of Job’s speeches? (18:2)
5. What did Bildad say Job did to himself? (18:4)
6. What did Bildad say would happen to the wicked? (18:5–6)
7. How do the schemes of a wicked person affect him or her? (18:7–10)
8. What did Bildad say is hungry and ready for the wicked? (18:12)
9. Where did Bildad say the wicked were taken? (18:14)
10. According to Bildad, what will happen to the wicked? (18:17)
11. What is the fate of the person who does not know God? (18:18–21)
Get It
1. *What was wrong with Bildad’s speech?
2. *What topics do you sometimes find yourself rambling on about when talking to friends?
3. How do people tear themselves to pieces with their anger?
4. How do the wicked bring harm to themselves?
5. What sort of people would you characterize as people who do not know God?
6. What does it mean to know God?
7. How does knowing or not knowing God affect your life?
Apply It
1. *In what contexts can you make an effort to restrain your tongue?
2. How can you change the way you deal with anger so that it does not destroy you?
3. What one activity can you do this week to get to know God better?
Job—Job 19:1–29
Topics: Abandon, Assurance, Convictions, Death, Embarrassment, Family, Friendship, God, Honor, Hope, Life, Mediator, Relationships, Resurrection, Salvation
Open It
1. What badges of honor do people wear?
2. What is one thing you long for in life?
3. *What relationships are the most important to you?
Explore It
1. *What question did Job ask his friends? (19:1–3)
2. *Whose concern did Job say it would be if he had truly gone astray? (19:4)
3. How did Job say his friends had exalted themselves? (19:5)
4. What did Job say God had done? (19:6)
5. What response did Job say he had gotten? (19:7)
6. Of what did Job say God had stripped him? (19:9)
7. Among what group of people did Job say God counted him? (19:11)
8. *What happened to all Job’s relationships? (19:13–19)
9. Why did Job ask his friends to have pity on him? (19:21–22)
10. What did Job wish would happen to his words? (19:23–24)
11. What did Job say about God? (19:25)
12. What did Job say he would see after his death? (19:26–27)
13. Where did Job’s friends say his troubles came from? (19:28)
14. What warning did Job give to his friends? (19:29)
Get It
1. How would you describe Job’s mood at this point?
2. *How do you think Job felt in light of the fact that all his relationships had gone sour?
3. *If you had been in Job’s shoes, how would you have felt?
4. In what way do you agree or disagree with Job’s statement that if he had truly gone astray, it would have been his concern alone?
5. Why is a person’s honor so important to most people?
6. When have you felt that God was treating you like an enemy?
7. When was the last time you felt pity for someone?
8. What did Job mean when he said that he knew his Redeemer lived and that he would see God?
9. In what way should believers fear God?
Apply It
1. What friend who is going through a tough time will you make an effort to comfort? When?
2. What can you do today to make certain that you will see God when you die?
3. *What broken relationship can you try to mend this week? How?
Zophar—Job 20:1–29
Topics: Accomplishments, Achievements, Ambition, Anger, Consequences, Darkness, Death, Evil, God, Life, Life-style, Possessions, Pride, Punishment, Security, Success, Truth, Wealth
Open It
1. When have you been so upset by an article in the newspaper that you wanted to (or actually did) write a reply letter?
2. *What is an example of a “truth” or axiom about life that most everyone accepts?
Explore It
1. What prompted and inspired Zophar to answer Job? (20:1–3)
2. *What did Zophar say about the happiness of the wicked or godless person? (20:4–5)
3. In the long run, what difference do the achievements of the godless person make? (20:6–7)
4. *What did Zophar say would eventually happen to the godless person? (20:6–11)
5. What is sweet in the godless person’s mouth? (20:12–13)
6. What will happen to the good things that the godless person enjoys? (20:14–18)
7. Why is the godless person prevented from enjoying the things he or she acquired in life? (20:19)
8. What did Zophar say about the godless person’s ability to save himself or herself? (20:20–23)
9. What is the ultimate fate of the wicked? (20:24–29)
10. *What did Zophar say about the role God plays in determining the fate of the wicked? (20:29)
Get It
1. When have you been prompted to speak because you were disturbed by what someone else said?
2. What sort of portrait of the godless (or evil) person did Zophar paint?
3. How did Zophar view God?
4. *What did Zophar consider obvious?
5. *What was true and what was false about what Zophar said?
6. What was Zophar trying to tell Job about Job’s life?
7. What false assumption about Job did Zophar make?
8. Why did Zophar assume that Job was a wicked man?
9. Why do you agree or disagree with Zophar’s belief that the happiness of an evil person is short-lived?
10. In what way do people try to save themselves with their money?
11. What “treasures” are you using to give you a sense of security in life?
12. According to Zophar, what determines the fate of the wicked?
Apply It
1. What step can you take this week to place security in your relationship with God rather than in money or things?
2. *What people have you misjudged because of an assumption that people who suffer misfortune bring it on themselves?
Job—Job 21:1–34
Topics: Advice, Answers, Assumptions, Beliefs, Consequences, Evil, Experience, Fairness, Friendship, God, Life, Life-style, Punishment, Questions, Unbelievers, Unfairness
Open It
1. What is the most nonsensical piece of advice you have ever received?
2. What belief that you held as a child have you given up as an adult?
3. *In what way have you found that life is not fair?
Explore It
1. What did Job ask his friends to do? (21:1–3)
2. What questions did Job ask about the wicked? (21:7)
3. *What observations did Job make about the wicked? (21:8–13)
4. *What attitude did Job say the wicked had toward God? (21:14–15)
5. *Why did Job avoid the advice of wicked people? (21:16)
6. What questions did Job ask about the fate of the wicked? (21:17–18)
7. For whom did Job say God stored up a person’s punishment, and why did this bother Job? (21:19–21)
8. What did Job ask about teaching? (21:22)
9. What common fate is shared by the person who dies full of vigor and the person who dies in bitterness? (21:23–26)
10. What did Job say his friends thought about what he said? (21:27–28)
11. What did Job say about the fate of the evil person? (21:29–33)
12. Why did Job conclude that his friends’ consolation was nonsense? (21:34)
Get It
1. To what extent do you believe people get what they ultimately deserve in life?
2. How did Job characterize the advice his friends had given him?
3. How would you describe Job’s attitude?
4. When have your experiences in life contradicted your desire for fairness?
5. *Why do you think Job was so astonished by his observations about the fate of the wicked?
6. Why do you agree or disagree with Job’s conclusions about the fate of evil people?
7. In what way do you think evil people today get away with their wicked life-styles?
8. What did Job mean by his statement that God stores up a person’s punishment for his or her children?
9. What assumptions about life do you think influenced Job’s conclusions about the fate of the wicked?
10. *What has caused or would cause you to conclude that life is not fair?
11. If you were one of Job’s friends, what kind of advice or consolation would you give to him?
Apply It
1. *What can you do to take consolation in the fact that God is the ultimate judge?
2. What is one thing you will change about the way in which you advise hurting people or about the way in which you try to console them?
Eliphaz—Job 22:1–30
Topics: Advice, Answers, Backslide, Beliefs, Consequences, Doubt, Enemies, Evil, God, Life-style, Problems, Punishment, Repentance, Righteousness, Salvation, Sin, Submission
Open It
1. What strongly held belief of yours has been challenged lately?
2. *How does it feel to be falsely accused or to have your actions misunderstood as being malicious?
3. When have you found it difficult to submit to authority?
Explore It
1. What answer did Eliphaz seem to imply in his question about people benefiting God? (22:2–3)
2. *Why did Eliphaz think God was punishing Job? (22:4–5)
3. *What did Eliphaz accuse Job of doing to his brothers and others? (22:6–9)
4. *What explanation did Eliphaz give for Job’s troubles? (22:10–11)
5. What was Eliphaz implying about God by asking, “Is not God in the heights of heaven?” (22:12)
6. How did Eliphaz describe Job’s questions about God? (22:13–14)
7. In what did Eliphaz say the righteous and innocent rejoice? (22:19–20)
8. What did Eliphaz tell Job to do? (22:21–22)
9. What did Eliphaz say would happen if Job returned to God? (22:23–28)
10. Whom did Eliphaz say God would save? (22:29–30)
Get It
1. How would you summarize the main idea in Eliphaz’s reply to Job?
2. How did Eliphaz view God?
3. *What was wrong with Eliphaz’s accusations against Job?
4. How is it that God could find pleasure in the righteousness of a person?
5. What truth did Eliphaz’s speech contain?
6. Despite believing that God knows everything and can do anything, when have you ever wondered what in the world God was doing?
7. When is it proper for a righteous or innocent person to rejoice in the destruction of his or her enemies?
8. What is the purpose of punishment?
9. When and how do you delight in your relationship with God?
10. How can a person return or submit to God?
11. In what way did Job need to return to God?
12. *If you had been Job, how would you have responded to Eliphaz’s speech?
Apply It
1. *How should you reply the next time someone falsely accuses you or misunderstands your actions to be malicious?
2. What is one specific area in your life that you want consciously to submit to God today?
Job—Job 23:1–24:25
Topics: Answers, Assurance, Character, Darkness, Evil, God, Injustice, Life, Life-style, Light, Materialism, Obedience, Poor, Problems, Questions, Righteousness, Security, Suffering
Open It
1. *When have you ever wondered why something was happening?
2. With what kind of people do you find it difficult to schedule an appointment?
3. Why do you think there are poor and homeless people?
Explore It
1. *What did Job wish he could do? (23:1–7)
2. *Why did Job think God would not press charges against him? (23:6–7)
3. *How did Job characterize his response to his suffering? (23:8–12)
4. Why was Job terrified and fearful before God? (23:13–17)
5. What kind of appointments did Job wish he could set up with God? (24:1)
6. In what type of evil activities did Job say people engage? (24:2–4)
7. How did Job describe the poor? (24:5–11)
8. What did Job say God did not do despite people’s dying groans and cries for help? (24:12)
9. Why do evil people prefer to do their evil deeds in darkness? (24:13–17)
10. What did Job say would be the fate of evil people? (24:18–22)
11. Why did Job say God kept a watch on the ways of evil people? (24:23)
12. How long will evil people get their way? (24:24)
Get It
1. What title would you give to Job’s speech?
2. Why do you think Job was so eager to confront God with his complaint?
3. If you were Job, why would you or would you not have been so eager to take your case before God?
4. *Why did Job long for an explanation of his suffering?
5. How do you think most people respond to suffering?
6. How can we follow closely in God’s steps and treasure His words more than daily bread?
7. *Why do you think God allows some evil to go unpunished and some suffering to go unexplained?
8. Why do you agree or disagree with Job’s assertion that the exaltation of evil people will be short lived?
9. Why would it matter if evil people were not eventually brought low?
Apply It
1. *In what area of life can you trust God despite your lack of understanding of His ways?
2. How will you treasure God’s Words today?
3. In what one area of your life will you begin to look to God rather than things, people, or pleasant circumstances for happiness?
Bildad and Job—Job 25:1–31:40
Topics: Accomplishments, Achievements, Approval, Character, Confusion, Embarrassment, Evil, God, God’s Will, Humiliation, Integrity, Justice, Life, Life-style, Perspective, Popularity, Problems, Punishment, Relationships, Reputation, Righteousness, Security, Self-esteem, Sin, Success, Suffering, Unfairness, Wisdom
Open It
1. *What saying, proverb, Bible verse, slogan, etc., would you use to summarize your approach to life?
2. What makes a person popular or unpopular with others?
3. What thing, event, or person has had the biggest impact on your concept of God?
Explore It
1. How did Bildad think God viewed humankind? (25:1–6)
2. What was Job’s initial reply to Bildad? (26:1–4)
3. How did Job describe God’s power? (26:5–14)
4. What did Job say God had denied him? (27:2)
5. What did Job pledge that he would not do as long as he lived? (27:3–6)
6. According to Job, what is the fate of the wicked? (27:7–23)
7. Where did Job say people search for wisdom? (28:1–19)
8. According to Job, what is wisdom and where can it be found? (28:20–28)
9. How did Job describe his life before his suffering? (29:1–25)
10. *What kind of man was Job before his suffering began? (29:1–25)
11. *How did Job describe his life since his suffering began? (30:1–15)
12. *How did Job characterize his present relationship with God? (30:16–23)
13. How did Job describe his suffering? (30:24–31)
14. What did Job wish God would do? Why? (31:1–40)
15. Based on the evidence Job supplied in his own defense, what kind of man was he? (31:1–40)
Get It
1. *How would you summarize Job’s approach to life, both before and after the onset of his troubles?
2. Before his suffering, where did Job get his sense of security?
3. *How did Job let his circumstances shape his perception of his life?
4. How did Job let his circumstances affect his relationship with God and his relationship with others?
5. How do you let circumstances shape your perception of life?
6. How do you let circumstances affect your relationship with God and your relationship with others?
7. What significant events in your life have helped to shape your view of life and your view of God?
8. How is our self-esteem affected by our achievements or failures?
9. Why do you think Job found his personal suffering so confusing and unfair?
10. When have you ever felt that you did everything right and yet still God did not come through for you?
Apply It
1. *What can you do today to avoid letting circumstances spoil your relationship with God?
2. In what way can you seek security in your relationship with God rather than in your personal accomplishments this week?
3. What is one thing you can do today to improve your relationship with God?
Elihu—Job 32:1–37:24
Topics: Advice, Answers, Assumptions, Character, Circumstances, Correction, Faith, God, God’s Will, Life, Life-style, Mediator, Obedience, Opinions, Perspective, Problems, Punishment, Relationships, Repentance, Rewards, Sin, Suffering, Wisdom
Open It
1. When you were growing up, what sort of discipline did your parents use?
2. When you were a child, what motivated you to be obedient or disobedient to your parents and other authority figures?
3. *What do you think is an awesome display of power?
Explore It
1. Why did Elihu become angry with Job? (32:1–5)
2. Why did Elihu wait to speak, and what finally prompted him to answer Job? (32:6–22)
3. By what authority did Elihu claim to speak? (33:1–7)
4. In what different ways does God speak to people (according to Elihu)? (33:12–22)
5. According to Elihu, how does God turn people from the pit? (33:23–30)
6. How did Elihu summarize Job’s speeches? (34:5–9)
7. What did Elihu say about God? (34:10–30)
8. How did Elihu describe Job’s reply to God? (34:31–37)
9. According to Elihu, how does a person’s sin or righteousness affect God? (35:1–8)
10. Why did Elihu say God does not always answer people who cry out to him? (35:9–15)
11. According to Elihu, how does God treat the wicked and the righteous? (36:1–15)
12. *How did Elihu describe the greatness of God? (36:22–33)
13. *How did Elihu describe the power of God? (37:1–13)
14. *What series of questions did Elihu ask Job? (37:14–20)
15. With what advice did Elihu conclude his speech? (37:21–24)
Get It
1. How would you describe Elihu and his speech?
2. What is one theme that runs through Elihu’s speech?
3. What assumptions about God or about life in general influenced Elihu’s evaluation of Job’s situation?
4. In what way do you agree or disagree with Elihu’s evaluation of Job’s response to his suffering?
5. What false assumption did Elihu make about the connection between suffering and sin?
6. What valuable point did Elihu make that Job’s other “friends” had not made?
7. What general assumptions about life or God influence the way you think, live, or relate to other people?
8. What methods does God use to bring people back to Him?
9. How does our wickedness or righteousness impact God and others?
10. How does obedience to God result in a better life?
11. In what way does disobedience to God diminish a person’s quality of life?
12. *Why did Elihu get so excited when speaking about the power and greatness of God?
13. *What effect did Elihu’s view of God have on his view of life?
14. What do your relationships with other people say about your relationship with God?
Apply It
1. *What is one step you can take today to affirm God’s greatness, wisdom, and high purposes for your life?
2. What can you do this week to improve your relationship with one other person?
3. How can you respond with faith and trust in God the next time you face a big disappointment or hurt?
The Lord Speaks—Job 38:1–41:34
Topics: Angels, Answers, Awe, Challenge, Creation, Earth, God, God’s Will, Humility, Justice, Perspective, Purpose, Questions, Strength, World
Open It
1. When in your life have you been utterly speechless?
2. As a child, what decisions or actions of your parents did you question?
3. *If you could ask God any question about life, what would it be?
Explore It
1. *What do the Lord’s questions reveal about Him? (38:1–39:30)
2. *What do the Lord’s questions reveal about Job and human nature? (38:1–39:30)
3. For what did the Lord tell Job to brace himself? (38:3)
4. What is the focus of the Lord’s first round of questions to Job? (38:4–41)
5. What is the focus of the Lord’s second round of questions to Job? (39:1–30)
6. What did God challenge Job to do? (40:1–2)
7. *How did Job respond to God’s challenge? (40:4–5)
8. What did God say Job must do before God would admit that Job could save himself? (40:6–14)
9. What did God say about the behemoth? (40:15–24)
10. What did God say about the leviathan? (41:1–34)
11. What belongs to God? (41:11)
Get It
1. How would you summarize the Lord’s answer to Job?
2. What point did God want Job to understand through this series of questions?
3. *In what way did Job find God’s answers to his questions satisfying or dissatisfying?
4. *Why was Job unable to defend himself?
5. If you were Job, how do you think you would have responded to the opportunity to present your case to God?
6. If you were Job, what questions would you have asked God?
7. Why did God tell Job to look at the behemoth and leviathan?
8. What questions did God’s reply to Job leave unanswered or unresolved?
9. How does God’s answer to Job affect your perspective on God or life?
Apply It
1. What is one thing you can do today to appreciate the awesomeness of God?
2. *What can you do this week to gain a deeper understanding of God’s character?
3. How can you be more respectful and less demanding of God?
Job—Job 42:1–17
Topics: Anger, Attitude, Blessing, Forgiveness, Friendship, God, Greatness, Humility, Justice, Life, Reconciliation, Repentance, Sacrifice, Wealth
Open It
1. What event, thing, or person has had the biggest impact on your life?
2. *When have you ever had to take back something you said?
3. Why do people often associate material prosperity with God’s blessing?
Explore It
1. *What did Job say about God? (42:1–2)
2. *What did Job say about what he had previously said? (42:3)
3. *Why did Job say he would repent? (42:4–6)
4. Why was God angry with Job’s three friends but not with Job? (42:7)
5. What did the Lord tell Eliphaz and his two friends to do? (42:8–9)
6. What did the Lord do for Job? (42:10)
7. What did Job’s brothers, sisters, and friends do for Job? (42:11)
8. How did the Lord bless Job’s life? (42:12–15)
9. What was the rest of Job’s life like? (42:16–17)
Get It
1. How did God’s reply change Job’s attitude?
2. In what way did Job speak about things that he did not understand?
3. *Why was it necessary for Job to repent?
4. How should we repent or turn away from our sins?
5. Why did God have Job pray for his three friends?
6. If you had been Job, how would you have felt about having to pray for friends like the ones Job had?
7. *What difference does it make that God made Job prosperous again?
8. What is the relationship between God’s blessing and prosperity?
Apply It
1. What is one thing you can do this week to develop a greater appreciation for God’s greatness?
2. *What can you do this week to develop a greater sense of humility before God?
3. What friend who has hurt you will you pray for today?
Adult Questions for LESSONmaker (2024). Bellingham, WA: Logos, p. Job 1:1–42:17.