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Last Lesson on Job
Week of February 5-11. 2012
Dr. Alden Gannett
This is
the last of five intense lessons on the book of Job. Dr. Alden Gannett
always enjoyed teaching from the Old Testament book of Job. This was
clear to everyone under his reaching during his Bible teaching years.
The question before us for all these five lessons has been, ‘Why does
someone like Job have to suffer?” We will understand everything one
day in glory, but there are also some answers for us this side of  glory
-- answers that Dr. Alden Gannett has explore with us for the last four
weeks.
We need to keep in mind that it was God who initiated all that was
described in the book of Job – and Job knew nothing about it. Job did
not know he was the showcase for what a man of faith should be.
Throughout the book God never explains the “why or what” of it all.
Just why do the Godly suffer?
[The
plate above is from William Blake's "Book of Job" 1825. ...so the Lord
blessed the latter end of Job's life more than the beginning. Job
42:25]
Remember that the theme of the book of Job is one that has puzzled
mankind since… almost the beginning – “Why do the godly people, who do
good, suffer? We understand why the ungodly might have problems but
what is the reason for the godly going through such stress and strain?
We are all tested, every moment of every day. Burdens,
disappointments, discouragements, unfulfilled needs, and even
straight-out personal attacks have to be fielded and handled by all of
us. We all need the grace of the Lord to rest upon us and ease the
pain.
Dr. Gannett begins this last lesson by summarizing God’s message
to Job in chapter 38. “Remember Job, I am Omniscient and you can trust
Me!” God in infinite in His knowledge and existence and has all the
answers. Job had not one answer. God had chosen not to reveal the
answers to Job nor the arrangement that God had with satan. “If you
can accept the reality that I am Omniscient you can trust me…..!”
Then,
Alden moves to chapter 40 and discusses Job’s answer to God. Job says,
“Lord, how can I answer You? I’m vile and evil and have no right to
question you because I have nothing to say and am ashamed.” It’s a
beautiful account of Job growing in his understanding of an infinite
God Who is all knowing and righteous. Job grew in his faith in coming
to understand the integrity of God Himself.
Alden is using the outline of Dr. J Campbell Morgan, a scholar from the past century
Dr. Alden Gannett is now with the Lord after having “finished his
course” -- and finishing well”. As “stewards of words”, we’ve
preserved and archived his teachings of the unchangeable Gospel to
share and instruct the next generation. This is why this teaching
immensity, through broadcast and Internet, continues after it’s
beginning in 1960 – 49 year’s ago.
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