Let us again note the words of Romans 3:1 Romans 9:4 and 5.

Romans 3:1 and 2

“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”

Romans 9:4 and 5

“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”

There are some students of the Scriptures who believe that Luke was a Gentile; but they have no positive proof. Luke wrote “The Gospel of Luke” and “The Acts”. The other 64 Books of the Bible were written by Israelites. Remember the words of Christ, “salvation is of the Jews.” John 4:22. Note the testimony of the apostle to the Gentiles (Paul) : “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee.” Philippians 3:5. Note the words of the Psalmist

Psalm 135:4

“For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure.”

ISRAEL IN DEUTERONOMY

And now to Deuteronomy, the last of the Books of Moses, the Pentateuch:

Deuteronomy 14:2

“For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.”

In the Book of Deuteronomy God, through Moses, instructs His people how and why they are to enter Canaan and what they are to do and how they are to behave after they have reached that promised land.

Note:

Deuteronomy 7:1 to 3 and 6 to 8

1 “When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before. thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

2 And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.”

6 “for thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

Let us keep in mind that the children of Israel were not to possess Canaan; because they were worthy or obedient; but rather because God promised the land to the seed of His friend Abraham. Genesis 17:8. It was for this same reason that these rebellious, murmuring Israelites were taken out of Egypt. “God remembered His covenant with Abraham.” Exodus 2:24.

Read again Deuteronomy 7:8.

God will fight Israel’s battle for them.

Deuteronomy 7:22 and 23

“And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee. But the Lord thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.”

Deuteronomy 8:7 to 9

“For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valley and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.”

But after they get into the land, God’s continued blessing is to be conditional.

Deuteronomy 11:22 to 28

“For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be. There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you. Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known”

Deuteronomy 28:1 to 3 and 13

“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:”

But note what is to happen if Israel fails to be faithful and obedient:

Deuteronomy 28:15, 25, 26, 32, 47, 48 and 62

“But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:”

“The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them; and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

And thy carcass shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.”

“Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thine hand.”

“Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things:

Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.”

“And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars in heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the Lord thy God.”

Now note these very solemn words of the Lord to Israel:

Deuteronomy 30:19 and 20

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord aware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

THE REPORT OF THE SPIES

Numbers 13:16 to 20

“These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun, Jehoshua. And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes.”

These spies were in the land forty days. They returned after forty days.

Note their report to Moses and the Israelites:

Numbers 13:27 to 33

“And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people: for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”

After this report the Israelites were filled with fright. They wept and they cried, “would God that we had died in the land of Egypt, or would God we had died in this wilderness.” Numbers 14:2.

The two courageous men who stood against the murmurers were Joshua and Caleb. Numbers 14:6. They were sure that the Lord would lead them into the land flowing with milk and honey (Numbers 14:8).

God became very angry and spoke of disinheriting the rebels (Numbers 14:12). Then Moses again interceded for them. Read why Moses told the Lord that He should forgive and preserve Israel. He closed his intercession with these words:

Numbers 14:19

“Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven is people, from Egypt even until now.”

Note the result:

Numbers 14:20

“And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word”

But an awful judgment fell upon the sinful Israelites.

Numbers 14:29, 30 and 39

“Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness, and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me. Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.”

“And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.”

GOD’S LAW

CONCERNING SPIRITIST MEDIUMS, CLAIRVOYANTS AND FALSE PROPHETS

Deuteronomy 13:1 and 5

“If there arise among you a prophet, of a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,”

“And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.”

Deuteronomy 18:9 to 12

“When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. “

Deuteronomy 18:21 and 22

“And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not he afraid of him.”

GOD DEMANDS THE FIRST AND BEST

Deuteronomy 16:16 and 17

Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessings of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.

Deuteronomy 17:1

Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God.

Deuteronomy 26:2 to 4 and 10

That thou shalt take the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name there. And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the Lord thy God, that I am come unto the country which the Lord sware unto our fathers for to give us. And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the Lord thy God.

And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God.

GOD FORBIDS MIXTURES

Deuteronomy 22:9 to 11

“Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled. Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together. Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.”

CURSED IS THE MAN THAT HANGETH ON A TREE

Deuteronomy 21:22 and 23

‘And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”

Galatians 3:10 to 13

“For as many as are of the works the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”

THE DEATH OF MOSES

THE DEDICATION OF JOSHUA

Deuteronomy 31:1 and 2

“And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. And he said unto them, 1 am an hundred and twenty years old this day: I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.”

Deuteronomy 31:14

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.”

Deuteronomy 31:23 to 26

“And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee. And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished. That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.”

Deuteronomy 32:48 and 49

“And the Lord spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession.”

Deuteronomy 34:5 to 12

“So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses. And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. In all the signs and the wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.”

Numbers 12:3

“(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)”

In these lessons we have studied from the creation to the death of Moses; from Eden to Canaan; from Adam to Moses. We shall begin the next series of lessons with the conquest of Jericho, entering the promised land. Under the heading of “From Israel’s Commonwealth to Israel’s Messiah,” we shall have about ten lessons.

CHARACTER STUDY

Let us note the meaning of the names of some of the men we have mentioned in our lessons: Adam meaning “ruddy.” Abel—“vanity.” Abraham—“father of many nations.” Joseph—“added.” Jacob—“supplanter.” Israel—“prevailing with God.” Isaac—“laughter.” Noah—“rest or quiet.” Enoch—“dedicate.” Peleg—“division.” Eber—“across.” Melchisedec— “king of righteousness.” Judah—“celebrated.” Levi—“attached.” Moses—“drawn out.”

Also in the study of these characters, note a few dispensational lessons. Adam lived in Eden before the fall and then outside after the fall. Noah lived 600 years before the flood and 350 years after the flood. After the flood Noah entered into a new age under a new covenant. In this sense he lived during two different dispensations. Moses lived 80 years under the Abrahamic Covenant, before the law was added because of transgression, and then he lived 40 years after the law was added; that is, he lived 40 years under the covenant that was made old at Calvary when the Lord Jesus died. So Moses also lived in two different dispensations. Israel, under the law, was protected and preserved because of God’s promise to Abraham and His oath.

We learn from the study of Genesis 5, Genesis 11, and other chapters of Genesis and Exodus these interesting facts; that Adam’s son, Seth, was 168 years of age when Noah’s father, Lamech, died.

We learned that before the flood six to nine generations were living at the same time. We also learned that Noah, who saw eight generations before the flood, lived until Abraham’s father, Terah, was 128 years of age.

We learned that Abraham was 150 years of age when Shem died. Shem was born nearly 100 years before the flood. Shem and Abraham could have had some very interesting and instructive conversations concerning the antediluvian days. Adam’s grand-son, Enos, and Noah were contemporaries for 84 years.

THE PATIENCE OF JOB

James 5:11

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

Every child of God should prayerfully and carefully study the Book of Job. Truly Job was a man of God. In Ezekiel 14:20 he is mentioned with Noah and Daniel. Job lived some time between the days of Noah and the days of Moses. There are some wonderful statements concerning God’s glory in the Book of Job not to be found elsewhere in the Bible.

In the Book of Job we have the record of conversations between Job and four men. Three of these men conspired together against Job trying to convince him with their wise arguments that his afflictions were from God because he was a hypocrite. These three man were Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. The fourth man was Elihu. Elihu knew very much concerning the character of God and His dealings with man. He gave Job some very good advice. But note what God thought of the other three who claimed to be Job’s friends

Job 42:7

“And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job hath”

We quote from the pen of another concerning these four men and their attitude toward Job, his God and his sufferings.

“Despite minor differences, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar have one view of the problem of Job’s afflictions. He is a hyprocrite. Outwardly good, he is, they hold really a bad man. Otherwise. according to their conception of God, job’s sufferings would be unjust. Job. though himself the sufferer, will not accuse the justice of God, and his self-defense is complete. Before God he is guilty, helpless, and undone, and there is no daysman (Job 9). Later, his faith is rewarded by a revelation of a coming Redeemer, and of the resurrection (Job 19). But Eliphaz, Bildad. and Zophar are sinners also as before God, and yet they are not afflicted. Job refutes the theory of the three that he is a secret sinner as against the common moralities. but the real problem, Why are the righteous afflicted? remains. It is solved in the last chapter”

“Elihu has a far juster and more spiritual conception of the problem than Eliphaz. Bildad, and Zophar because he has an infinitely higher conception of God. The God of Eliphaz and the others, great though they perceive Him to be in His works, becomes in their thought petty and exacting in His relations with mankind. It is the fatal misconception of all religious externalists and moralizers. Their god is always a small god. Elihu’s account of God is noble and true, and it is noteworthy that at the last Jehovah does not class him with Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar (of Job 42:7) : but he is still a dogmatist, and his eloquent discourse is marred by self-assertiveness (e. g. Job 32:8 and 9; Job 33:3). Jehovah’s judgment of Elihu is that he darkened counsel by words (Job 38:2); the very charge that Elihu had brought against Job (Job 34:35: Job 35:16). Furthermore the discourse of Jehovah is wholly free from the accusations of Job with which even Elihu’s lofty discourse abounds.”

JOB’S WEALTH AND PROSPERITY

The Book of Job opens with this record of Job’s wealth

Job 1:1 to 4

“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. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and drink with them.”

The Book of Job closes with this record of Job’s wealth:

Job 42:10 to 17

“And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousands camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days.”

Between the time that Job lost all his possessions and was again brought to prosperity he suffered much in body, soul and spirit.

SATAN DEALS WITH JOB

In chapters one and two are recorded Satan’s arguments that Job fears God because he is enjoying good health and material prosperity. Satan challenged God to deprive Job of his earthly possessions and take away his health and he would turn against God.

Job 1:9 to 12

“Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.”

Job 2:4 to 6

“And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.”

Job lost all his possessions. The members of his family died. Satan smote Job with disease. God permitted Satan to deal with Job.

Job 2:9 and 10

“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”

JOB’S COUNSELORS

Then Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, went to Job

Job 2:11

“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made all appointment together to come to mourn with him, and to comfort him.”

Job, too, grieved much because of his sufferings. Note his words in:

Job 3:11

“Why died I not from the womb? why did I hot give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?”

Note how Eliphaz accounted for Job’s sad predicament.

Job 4:7

“Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?”

He reasoned that Job was not right with God. Job replied:

Job 6:8 and 9

“Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!” Bildad added no comfort. He also accused Job of sin and hypocrisy.

Job 8:6 to 8

“If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers.”

Job 8:13

“So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish.”

Job 8:20

“Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers.”

GOD’S WONDERFUL WORKS

In chapter 9 Job has much to say concerning the power and glory of God. We quote a few verses:

Job 9:7 to 10

“Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth hot; and sealeth up the stars; Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea; Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.”

Then note what Job’s counselor said concerning God.

“Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?” Job 37:14 to 16.

“Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.” Job 37: 23.

“Behold God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.” Job 36:26.

“God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.” Job 37:5 and 6.

“Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail?” Job 38:22.

“Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?” Job 38:28 to 31.

“Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat” Job 38:41.

“Hast thou given the horse strength? bast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.” Job 39:19 to 21.

“both the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.” Job 39:27.

“Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?” Job 9:1 and 2.

“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” Job 9:20.

“If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.” Job 9:30 to 33.

Here Job argued that only a Divine-human Arbiter could adjust the difference between the holy God and the unholy man. Then read how Christ came to be that Daysman

I Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”

and:

I Timothy 2:5

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Then Zophar added his remarks in chapter eleven. He said to Job, “know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.” Job 11:6.

“And Job answered and said, No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.” Job 12:1 and 2.

“What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.” Job 13:2 to 5.

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15.

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” Job 14:1 and 2.

Then note these two questions of Job:

“But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” Job 14:10.

“If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” Job 14:14.

Note these two very interesting and important questions “Where are the dead?” “If a man die shall he live again?” Note several Scriptural answers to these questions

Ecclesiastes 12:6 and 7

“Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave It.”

Now for the believer’s experience note:

II Corinthians 5:8

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present (at home) with the Lord.”

John 11:25 and 26

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

After Eliphaz had again accused both Job and God, note what Job said:

“Then Job answered and said, I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.” Job 16:1 and 2.

“God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.” Job 16:11.

“Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?” Job 17:2.

Then Bildad brought this accusation the second time and Job’s answer:

 “How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?” Job 19:2.

“My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.” Job 19:20.

“Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.” Job 19:21.

Then note these words:

“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: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:25 to 27.

Then Zophar repeated his charge against Job:

“That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?” Job 20:5.

“This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.” Job 20:29.

Note Job’s reply:

“Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.” Job 21:3.

“How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?”

Job 21:34.

After some further charges by Eliphaz and his companions, we read:

Job 32:1 to 3

“So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.”

Elihu proceeded to give Job some splendid advice, showing much knowledge of God’s wisdom and ways:

“He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his fate with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.” Job 33:26.

“For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.”

Job 34:11 and 12.

“But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.” Job 35:10 to 13.

In chapters 38 to 41 we have a record of God’s very plain talk with Job:

Job 38:1 and 2

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?”

Read those wonderful sayings of God and note their effect upon Job:

Job 40:3 to 5

“Then Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.”

Job 42:2 and 6

“I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

And then note what happened:

Job 42:10

“And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

And we have already mentioned how God then blessed Job with greater prosperity than he had ever enjoyed.

QUESTIONS—LESSON FOURTEEN

1. In what verse are recorded the words of Christ “salvation is of the Jews”?

2. In what verse is Israel called God’s peculiar treasure?

3. From how many nations in Canaan did God promise to deliver Israel?

4. What would Israel find in, the promised land according to Deuteronomy 8:8?

5. Mention several things that God would do for Israel in the land of Canaan if they would obey His commandments.

6. Tell of the report of the spies.

7. What did the people of God do when they heard the unfavorable report of the spies?

8. What did God do to the Israelites because of their murmuring? What did Moses do?

9. Who were the two Israelites of great courage?

10. Mention God’s commandments against necromancers and mediums.

11. What did God demand concerning the sacrifices and gifts which Israel offered to Him?

12. What mixtures did God forbid?

13. Why was Christ made a curse on the tree?

14. Whom did Moses command to put the Book he wrote in the ark?

15. At what age did Moses die and what is written concerning his eye and natural force? Mention the mountain that Moses ascended.

16. Upon whom did Moses place his hands to be dedicated to take up the leadership of Israel?

17. Under what two dispensations or covenants did Moses live?

18. How meek was Moses?

19. How did Job’s possessions in the end compare with his possessions in the beginning?

20. Relate some of the outstanding statements of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar and Job’s reply to them.

For more articles by Pastor J. C. O'Hair, visit the J. C. O'Hair Online Library.