Alva Review-Courier -

We recently came to the end of studying the book of the prophet Ezekiel several weeks ago in our adult Bible class. I asked the group what we should study next, and a resounding request to study the book of Job was their reply. I was quite surprised by this request as the book of Job describes his sorrow and struggles with both his friends and the Lord Almighty himself! But it was the overwhelming choice, so we began to delve into what I thought was going to be a long, sad and boring book.

To my surprise, reading the book of Job again brought new thoughts, feelings and understanding to light. Under all the normal sadness and pre-dedicated thoughts toward the patience of Job, there blooms the relationships he had with his children, his wife and his friends.

I would like us to concentrate on the relationship that he had with his ten children, seven sons and three daughters. It is very apparent in Chapter 1 that he loved and cared for his children a great deal. He wanted so much to be a righteous example for his children and ensure that they also would be right with God as well.

Many people might think that Moses brought all the worship practices when he met God on the mountain and received the Law, but many worship practices were well in place long before Moses arrived on the scene. In Job 1:4-5 it says that Job both purified his children and sacrificed for them because he thought that they might have sinned. Being purified from sin by water (Numbers 19) and sacrificing to atone for sin (Leviticus 16) were the things written in the Law that Job was already doing for his family, especially his children whom he loved dearly! Job had prepared his children for life after death by performing these two worship practices. He loved them so much that he made sure their sins were taken care of.

We all love our children, and we want them to be with the Lord in Heaven at the end of life’s journey, whenever that might be. Let the reader be encouraged to prepare our children by teaching them about the Lord God Almighty at an early age. Show them how God wants us to live and then, reinforce that teaching by our very own lives! We need to have the faith in God that Job displayed so that our children can witness it and be prepared for whatever trials that the Evil One comes at us with.

If you have a question about God’s Word, God Himself, or of a Christian spiritual nature, please send it to me at [email protected] and I will do my best, using scripture, to get you an answer.

We invite you to join us at College Hill Church of Christ, 1102 College Blvd., every Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. for worship or follow us on Facebook at College Hill Church of Christ Alva Oklahoma as we stream our worship service every Sunday. We are a fellowship of believers that follow God’s Word and love all who worship with us!