Joab's Fire

by Lynn Squire

  And when we are the ones hearing such a complaint, how should we respond? Read Galatians 6:2; Psalm 112:4–5; I Peter 3:8; I John 3:17.

  Chapter 20 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 10. What does Job request of God?

  1. What did Sarah long for? What did her momma symbolize? Where do you retreat to in times of great sorrow and stress? Read Philippians 4:11–12; Psalm 118:5–9; Psalm 121.

  2. Read Philippians 4:6–8. Was Sarah doing all of this? What did she lack that could have helped her?

  3. When hard times hit, where can we find comfort and respite? Read Psalm 27. Where did David go for help and comfort? What did he ask for God to do? Read Psalm 27:4, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14.

  Chapter 21 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 40:6–41:31. When we look at nature, can we get a glimpse of the greatness of the Creator?

  1. Who is God? How does one know He exists? Read Acts 17:22–31; Romans 1:18–2:16. Additional study: Exodus 3:1–15.

  2. What do false prophets do? How can we identify a false prophet? Read I Timothy 4; II Timothy 3:1–8; II Peter 2:1–3; I John 4; II John 7–11; Jude 17–19.

  3. How has God demonstrated that, though He is a just and holy God, He is also kind and loving? Read Romans 3:19–26.

  Chapter 22 Discussion Questions

  Are there times when God is silent? Read Job 31:35. When Job suffered, he defended himself with an accounting of his good works (Job 29–30). And yet he agonized over not receiving an answer from God.

  What should our response be when God seems silent?

  1. Consider your answer carefully. Joab’s desire for God to answer him raised questions in Dixon’s mind. What were these questions, and how did they affect his relationship with God? People watch us and how we respond to hardships. Trials reveal the depths of our faith. What we do under those circumstances will have an effect on those around us.

  2. Consider Moses’ response to God upon God’s declaration that if He came into the midst of the Israelites He would consume them. What did God say and how did Moses respond? Read Exodus 33:2-3, 13–16.

  3. Consider David’s foretelling of Christ’s suffering and Jesus’ own words. Read Psalm 22; Matthew 26:38–42.

  And remember God’s promise in I Corinthians 10:13.

  Recall times when you have watched a loved one suffer. How did you respond? What did your response say about your faith and about God to those around you? To an unbeliever? Read Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:8; Matthew 9:11-13; 23:23.

  Chapter 23 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 40:3–5. What was Job’s response to God?

  1. What did Abbadon do when Pastor Perkins looked at him? How did he look? When Jesus came to the country of Gadarenes He was met by a possessed man. Read Mark 5:6–12.

  Jesus has the victory over Satan and all his minions. What can we do? Read Ephesians 6:11.

  2. Why was Dixon uncomfortable around Pastor Perkins?

  Jesus blessed Peter with a tremendous catch of fish. Read Peter’s response in Luke 5:8. Can you see any similarities between Dixon’s response to Pastor Perkins and Peter’s response to Jesus?

  3. Proverbs 15:11 says, “Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?”

  Since God knows everything about us, even our secrets, how should we respond to Him? Read James 4:6.

  Chapter 24 Discussion Questions

  Compare Job’s words in Job 7:20–21 with his words in Job 40:4–5 and 42:1–6. What is the difference in Job’s manner toward God in these two confessions?

  1. How did Dixon feel when he realized Joab harbored murderous hatred against Abbadon?

  2. How did Dixon feel about himself? Is there anyone good enough to come before God? Can good works save your soul? Read Isaiah 64:6–7; Romans 3:10, 23; Ephesians 2:8–9.

  Realizing our wretched condition as sinners should lead us to humble ourselves and understand who we are in light of who God is. Until we are ready to do that we won’t be able to grasp the salvation He offers us.

  He’s not a God to buddy up to, though He is a friend. He’s not a God to become allies with, because we are not His equals. He’s a Sovereign Lord to fear and honor and give glory to for His great mercy and loving-kindness. Don’t let false teachers fool you into believing you don’t have to turn away from your slavery to sin. Read Romans 6:12–23. Seek Him, humble yourself, repent, and call on Him.

  Do we have to be perfect to come to God? No. Repenting does not mean you seek to appease God by good behavior. Repentance is an issue of the heart. To repent means to change one’s mind.

  Consider it a change of direction. You are walking down one path where you followed the desires of your sinful nature. You meet Jesus along the way. He says to come and follow Him. To do so you must step off the path you are on and onto the path He is on. That path is one that does not follow the desires of your sinful nature but a desire to serve Jesus, to glorify Him with all that you do, say, and think—to sacrifice your own desires in order to fulfill His.

  Salvation is not about fire insurance. That is, it is not about making sure you go to Heaven and not hell, though you do receive the gift of eternal life when you are saved. Salvation required God’s ultimate sacrifice, the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. Here is what Jesus said:

  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works (Matthew 16:24–27).

  For further study, meditate on Mark 4; Acts 2–4, 8:9–24; Romans 10.

  3. What was Pastor Perkins really saying when he said, “Who is this that darkens the counsel by words without knowledge? Be a man, Joab?” Read Job 38:1–4.

  We don’t always understand why things happen to us. We are incapable of knowing the mind of God. True faith enables us to continue trusting Him even when it seems He’s deserted us or chosen to wreak His vengeance on us.

  Chapter 25 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 8. What did Bildad believe would happen to Job if Job would seek God and make his supplication to the Almighty? What does God say about Job’s friends and what they said to him (Job 42:7)?

  1. How did the stranger tempt Sarah? What are temptations? Read I John 2:16; Hebrews 13:5.

  2. What characteristics of Joab drew Sarah to him and eventually to Christ? In the following verses conversation (in the KJV) refers to the manner or way we live.

  Read Philippians 1:27 and I Peter 2:12, 3:16; and II Peter 3:11. How should we live before others?

  3. Sarah walked away in the end, deciding that all the wealth in the world could not replace what she had with Joab. Their marriage had been founded on faith in God. What does James 4:7–10 tell us we should do when the devil tempts us?

  Chapter 28 Discussion Questions

  Job 27:1–6. What was Job determined to do?

  1. Where did Sarah turn to when she realized she needed strength? Where can we turn to? Read Psalm 18:2.

  Read Psalm 103:20. How do you excel in strength? By listening to God’s Word and doing His commandments. You cannot know God’s commands or be able to listen to Him unless you know the Bible. Strength doesn’t come from man. It isn’t inherited. True strength comes from full immersion into God’s Word, accompanied by swimming with the strokes of obedience and living by the breaths of faith.

  2. When hardships come our way, do we need to know why God allowed them? Study Psalm 139 and James 1:2–4.

  The value in asking why is to see if our hardship is a result of our sin so that we can confess and make things right. However, sometimes things come our way that are not a result of our sin. These are particularly
trying times. In those times comes the testing and purifying of our faith.

  Throughout Scripture we read of trials that came to people. There is much to gain through hardships. We don’t want to go through them. We’d rather God, in His mercy and grace, took them away. But through those trials we can gain so much if we do not falter in our faith.

  3. What did Sarah not lose? Read John 10:28–29; Romans 8:38–39; and Ephesians 4:30.

  4. What must you do to have the same security Sarah had? Study Romans 10:9–13.

  If you are reading this and you are not sure that when you die you will have eternal life, please do as Scripture says:

  Acknowledge your need of a Saviour.

  Believe that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to pay for your sins.

  Call on the Lord Jesus Christ to save you.

  Chapter 27 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 31:35. What did Job desire of God? Did God grant that desire?

  1. Where was Sarah finding solace? Read Psalm 8:1, 3–5, 9.

  2. Why did Sarah not fear eternity, but Dixon did? Read Romans 6:23 and Revelation 20:6, 11–15. What do these verses teach us about eternal life?

  3. Why did Dixon have no peace? Read Isaiah 48:22.

  Where is peace found? Study John 14; Philippians 4:6–8.

  Chapter 28 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 1 and 2. What did Satan believe was the reason Job feared God?

  1. Who does Abbadon resemble? Read I Peter 5:8.

  2. When temptation comes, what should our response be? Study James 4.

  We need to understand that often the root of the temptations we experience is our great and overwhelming desire for and worship of pleasure and comfort. Consider Sarah: remember the pride she took in her house in chapter 2. Consider what Abbadon approached Sarah with to tempt her away from Joab. And what is her thought at the end of this chapter?

  Consider again James 4:1–5. What does it mean to be a friend of the world? What sort of things do we do that makes us friends of the world? Where does this friendship place us with regard to our relationship with God?

  Read James 4:6–8 again. What are we to do when the devil treads near? What did Joab tell Sarah they needed to do?

  3. Can God help us win against temptation and the devil? Read John 10:28–30; I John 4:4; and I Corinthians 10:12–14.

  Temptation will come. The devil doesn’t want you to succeed in your Christian walk. But I’ve read the end of the Book, and I know Who has the victory. Do you? Do you know if you can claim that victory? Read Revelation 22:12–17.

  Choices are given to us daily. Wisdom tells us that obedience to God will keep us from suffering the consequences of our sin. Yes, we may suffer for our faith and sometimes for doing what is right. Look not at today and this world. Look to eternity and what God has planned for your eternal life.

  To know what God’s commandments are requires full immersion into His Word, comparing Scripture with Scripture, taking in the whole counsel of God. Develop a hunger and thirst for knowledge of Him through His Word and you will find you can know right from wrong, discern what is of God and what is of the devil, and gain victory on a daily basis.

  Chapter 29 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 42:7–9. What wrongdoing did God say Job’s friends committed? What did God want them to do?

  1. What did Abbadon want from Joab’s father? What does Proverbs 15:27 say about this?

  2. Abbadon drew the hired men from Joab’s father. Consider how Abbadon captured the admiration of Joab’s friends in chapter 3. In the issues of faith, can you think of ways that Satan draws us away from truth? Read I Timothy 4:1; II Timothy 4:3–4.

  3. How can we resist being deceived and ruined by those who would rob us of true faith?

  Study II Timothy 2:14–19. If time allows, study all of II Timothy to get the context. To whom we listen, whether we like it or not, has great influence over what we believe. The only sure way of knowing if you are being deceived or not is to study the Bible on your own.

  The hired men and the neighbors chose to listen to Abbadon. Words that make us feel good or tickle our ears often take us away from truth. Does that mean praise or feeling good is wrong? No. Not at all. But if those words increase our pride and lower our opinion of God or our confidence in God, then they are deadly.

  There are many deceivers living today. Keep your sword (God’s Word) by your side so you can slay their words, and hold your shield of faith up to keep their fiery darts from piercing you.

  Chapter 30 Discussion Questions

  Study Job 1–2. What did the Lord ask Satan? What was Satan’s reply?

  1. What did Dixon suspect Abbadon did with the information he had on people? Who is our accuser? Read Revelation 12:10.

  2. Why do you think Ruth Clumpit was warning Dixon? Can you hide your sin? Read Numbers 32:23 and Luke 12:1–3. Study also Romans 6:16, 23 and I Corinthians 4:5.

  3. Did Dixon give into temptation by determining to go into Abbadon’s room without a warrant? What does the Bible say about our thoughts and how they affect us? Read Matthew 9:4, 15:19–20; and Psalm 139:23–24. Also study Proverbs 15:26; Isaiah 55:7; Jeremiah 6:19; Hebrews 4:12; and James 2:4.

  Each one of us is a sinner. If it were not for the sacrifice God made for us, we would all die in our sins and spend eternity in a horrible place known as the lake of fire. Preaching about the consequences of our sin and hell is despised in the greater Christian circle, and yet hell is a very real place.

  To not acknowledge that hell exists is the same as being a blind passenger on a train heading straight onto a broken bridge over a great canyon. If you don’t want to believe the train will end up in the bottom of the canyon, you’ll just stay on that train. But if someone tells you that the bridge is broken, you can jump from the train and be saved. Wouldn’t you be indebted to that person for saving your life? So we should be indebted to Jesus for saving us from the train wreck our lives are headed toward.

  When a person is saved, he no longer fears the final consequence of his sin. Instead, he rests in the knowledge that Jesus’ shed blood covers him.

  Chapter 31 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 26–31. How did Job reply to his friends? Did he consider them helpful or hurtful? What did Job long for in Job 29:2? And what did Job desire of God in Job 31:35?

  1. Dixon, fearful of his future and wanting to “bring down the enemy” decided to take things into his own hands. Not being a man of faith, he wasn’t about to turn to God for help. What often happens when we don’t wait on God for solutions to our problems? How does one trust God? Read I Peter 1:13–25. What did Peter encourage his readers to do when tested?

  2. Is it ever right to break the law, especially if the end result brings about good? Read James 2:10–26; Matthew 12:1–14; Luke 11:42; I Corinthians 10:23–33; Romans 13:1–7; I Peter 3:13–17. If you take the law into your own hands, are you trusting God? Read Proverbs 3:5–6; II Corinthians 1:9.

  3. What is the best course of action when you meet a roadblock in your pathway to success? Consider Psalm 23:5–6; Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 20:22.

  Chapter 32 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 2:11–13; Job 32–37. Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, sought to find fault with Job, believing Job suffered disaster because of some sin Job had committed. Elihu, a younger man, was angered by Job’s attempt to justify himself. In Job 33:12–13, what did Elihu say about God and man? What does Elihu tell Job to do in Job 37:14?

  1. How would you feel if you knew someone held evidence against you that could destroy your career? Read Revelation 12:10.

  2. What did Abbadon say he held that belonged to Dixon? Read Proverbs 16:18. Abbadon means destroyer. Read Revelation 9:11.

  3. Why did Abbadon target Dixon? What is Dixon’s relationship with God? Who do you think Dixon fears more at this point—Abbadon or God? Read I Peter 5:8.

  If Dixon were saved, would he have any reason to fear Abbadon? Read Romans 8:35–39;
John 10:28; and II Corinthians 5:1.

  Chapter 33 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 42. Job recognized his pride and humbled himself.

  1. What was Sarah’s concern at the start of this chapter? What did Sarah admit she lacked?

  2. When Sarah realized her lack of faith and her need, do you think it prepared her to receive the gifts her friends would bring? What does James 1:17 say about gifts?

  3. Do you think Sarah’s faith was increased by the generosity of her neighbors? Can we help someone who has suffered by looking past their situation and giving to their need? Is this a way God can use us? Read Job 42:11.

  Chapter 34 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 38:1–3; Job 40:1–15; Job 42:1–6. What was Job guilty of?

  1. Has guilt ever gnawed at you? How can you overcome it? Read Psalm 119:69 and study Psalm 51.

  2. Can you hide your sins? Read Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:12; and Revelation 20:12.

  3. But if you call on the Lord and believe on Jesus Christ for the salvation from your sins, will you be condemned? Read John 3:16–18; I John 1:9; and Isaiah 43:25.

  Through faith in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection we can have our sins washed away and our names written in the Book of Life (Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 20:12). If we trust that Jesus paid the full price for our sins, then we will not stand condemned in the final Day of Judgment with those whose names are not written in the Book of Life.

  Chapter 35 Discussion Questions

  Read Job 42:9–10. What did God do for Job when he acted on behalf of his friends?