Questions for God Versus Questioning God

I. FOUNDATIONAL DETAILS OF JOB

A. The Occurrence of Troubles (Job 1:1 up to Job 2:8)

B. The Conversations of Comfort (Job 2:9 up to Job 31:40)

1. Job (Job 3:1-26)
2. Eliphaz (Job 4:1-Job 5:27)
3. Job (Job 6:1-Job 7:21)
4. Bildad (Job 8:1-22)
5. Job (Job 9:1-Job 10:22)
6. Zophar (Job 11:1-20)
7. Job (Job 12:1-Job 14:22)
8. Eliphaz (Job 15:1-35)
9. Job (Job 16:1-Job 17:16)
10. Bildad (Job 18:1-21)
11. Job (Job 19:1-29)
12. Zophar (Job 20:1-29)
13. Job (Job 21:1-34)
14. Eliphaz (Job 22:1-30)
15. Job (Job 23:1-Job 24:25)
16. Bildad (Job 25:1-6)
17. Job (Job 26:1-Job 31:40)
18. Zophar (N/A)

C. The Entrance of Elihu (Job 32:1 up to Job 37:24)

D. The Conversation Between God and Job (Job 38:1 up to Job 42:9)

II. THE QUESTIONS ABOUND

A. Comparison of Questions

1. Job contains 329 questions.
2. This is more than any other book of the Bible.
3. The Law of Moses contains 302 questions.
4. The Book of Psalms contains 164 questions.

B. The Widespread Nature of the Questions

1. Zophar = 12 questions
2. Bildad = 17 questions
3. Eliphaz = 39 questions
4. Job’s wife = 1 question
5. Satan = 2 questions
6. Elihu = 31 questions
7. Job = 139 questions
8. The Lord = 88 questions

III. THE ENCOUNTER OF JOB AND GOD

A. Job’s Request (Job 23:1-12)

B. The Lord’s Response (Job 38:1 up to Job 40:2)

1. The first time God spoke since Job 2:6.
a. Speaking unto Satan
b. Speaking of Job – “Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.”
2. The Lord rattled off forty questions in Job 38.
3. Each question meant to magnify that Job is not God.
4. The Lord’s call for an answer (Job 40:2).

C. Job’s Response (Job 40:3-5)

1. I am vile (Job 40:4).
2. I will not answer (Job 40:4-5)

D. The Lord’s Response (Job 40:6 up to Job 41:34)

1. The Lord provided twenty-four more questions.
2. Both the questions and comments are again given to emphasize the distinctions between God and man.

E. Job’s Response (Job 42:1-6)

1. The exaltation of God (Job 42:2)
2. The humility of Job (Job 42:3-6)