ANGRY
WITH GOD
Steve W. Reeves
stevereevesoutlines.blogspot.com
INTRODUCTITON:
A. In
Job 13:3 there is a statement that reflects the feelings of many people.
1. In the midst of physical, emotional and
spiritual pain Job cried out, “But I would
speak to the Almighty, And I desire to
argue with God.”
2. Job was under attack. He had lost his
wealth, his family and his health. His friends
had become his accusers. In verse 4 Job
rebuked his friends by saying they
smeared him with lies and were
worthless physicians.
B. Do
you have questions you would like to ask God? Are there times when you are
ready to argue with God?
1. The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk was
angry that God was going to allow the
Babylonians to destroy Judah because of
its wickedness. He cried out in
Hakakkukk 1:1-3, “How long, Lord,
have I called for help,and You do
not
hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet
You do not save.3 Why do You make
me see disaster, and make me look
at destitution?”
2. David had occasions in his life when he
questioned God. In Psalm 13:1-2 he crid
out, “How long, Lord? Will
You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your
face from me? 2 How
long am I to feel anxious in my soul, With grief in my heart
all
the day? “
3. Many of you can remember a time in your
life when you have felt abandoned
by God and have your cries to Him. You
may be going through such a time in life
right now.
C. We
sometimes forget that the men and women pictured in the Bible were not “super
action heroes but people like us. Their
feelings and fears were like ours. They
encountered problems and perils like we do.
This was certainly true with Job. The
great lesson Job needed was the same one we
need. It is the lesson born out in Job’s argument with God and God’s response
to Job.
I. JOB’S ARGUMEENT WITH GOD
A. In the midst of his suffering Job was
ready to debate God and ask God why such
calamity had befallen him. Notice these
verses beginning in chapter 13.
1. In verse 15 he said, “Though He slay
me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will
argue
my ways before Him. “
2. In verse 18 Job said, “Behold now, I
have prepared my case;I know that I will be
Vindicated.”
B. Hear Job’s cry from chapter 23:1-5, “Then
Job responded, 2 “Even today
my complaint is rebellion;His hand
is heavy despite my groaning. 3 Oh that I knew
how to find Him, That I might come to
His home! 4 I would present my case
before
Him And fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I
would learn the words which He
could answer, and perceive what He would tell
me.”
C. Job was asking God for an explanation.
Why had he lost everything? Why had his
friends turned against him?
1. The same is true of us. We want
answers from God. How does all of this fit
together?
2. When I am working on restoring an
old radio I download or order a schematic for
the electronics. This enables me to see
how the components work together to
transform radio frequencies into
sound..
3. At the heart of Job’s argument were
the questions “why” and “how?”
a. Why is this happening to me?
b. How is this accomplishing your
purpose?
II. GOD’S RESPONSE TO JOB
A. Where was God? As chapter aftter chapter
unfolds in Job we do not hear from
God? After the second encounter between
God and Satan in 2:1-6 God does not
speak again until the opening of
chapter 38.
“Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind
and said,
2 “Who is this
who darkens the divine plan
By words without knowledge?
3 Now tighten the belt on your waist like a man,
And I shall ask you, and you inform Me!
4 Where were you when I laid the foundation of the
earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,
5 Who set its measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the measuring line over it?
6 On what were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who enclosed
the sea with doors
When it went out from the womb, bursting forth;
9 When I made a cloud its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling bands,
10 And I placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘As far as this point you shall come, but
no farther;
And here your proud waves shall stop’?
B.
This is just the beginning of God’s response to Job. While Job was demanding an
explanation, God provided a revelation.
God was saying to Job, “before you begin \
arguing with me can you explain:
1. How I created the earth, planets and
stars (38:1-38). It amazes me that after
centuries of speculation the best
science can do is say, “boom.”
2. How I caree for the creatures I have
made (38:39 – 39:30).
3. How I am sovereign over all things.
C. In response to God’s challenge Job
responded, “I know that You can do all things,
And that no plan is impossible for
You.”
1. Job learned a lesson all of us must
learn nin the classroom of suffering. We
must not trust in ourselves. We
must not trust in human wisdom. We must trust
fully and completely in God.
CONCLUSION:
A.
Until a few years ago I drove everywhere. When Tami and I were in the car
together I
drove. On trips across town or across
country I drove. It was not a reflection on her
excellent driving skills. I really enjoyed
driving. When I began having visual
impairment one of the most difficult things
for me :====owas to stop driving – on
the
highway at first and then altogether. Even
as I sat in the passenger seat I was always
saying, “watch out,” “do you see the light
ahead,” “there is a stop sign,” etc. Tami is
very mild spoken and would usually say, “I
see it,” but one day she finally said, “shut
up.” The real issue, you see, was my
unwillingness to let go. I wanted to be in control.
B.
Job’s life had been run with recision and order. His had was firmly on the
wheel. As
good as he was there was a lesson he needed
to learn. Trust God!
1. That’s what you and I need to learn and
be reminded of each day. Trust God!
2. You have the opportunity today to turn
your life over to Him. Allow Jesus to be the
Lord of your life as you confess
faith in Him, repent of your sins and are buried with
Him in the waters of baptism. Come back
to Him is you have wandered away.
Trust God!
a.
