Job 1-5Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)http://infoglobal.altervista.org/blog/

POINT VM – Job 1:6; 2:1—Who were allowed to enter before Jehovah? (w06 3/15 13 _6)

1:6; 2:1—Who were allowed to enter before Jehovah? Among those who took their stand before Jehovah were God’s only-begotten Son, the Word; the faithful angels; and disobedient angelic ‘sons of God,’ including Satan the Devil. (John 1:1, 18) Satan and his demons were not ousted from heaven until shortly after the establishment of God’s Kingdom in 1914. (Revelation 12:1-12) By permitting them to enter before him, Jehovah brought before all spirit creatures Satan’s challenge and the issues it raised.

Job 4:7, 18, 19—What false reasoning did Eliphaz present to Job? (w14 3/15 13 _3; w05 9/15 26 _4-5; w95 2/15 27 _5-6)

*** w14 3/15 pp. 12-13 par. 3 How to Maintain a Positive Viewpoint ***3 For such brothers or sisters, negative feelings may

be triggered by disappointments, illness, or some indication of the limitations of old age. (Ps. 71:9; Prov. 13:12; Eccl. 7:7) Moreover, every Christian must face the reality that the heart is treacherous and may condemn us

even though God may be pleased with us. (Jer. 17:9; 1 John 3:20) The Devil falsely accuses God’s servants. And those who have Satan’s thinking may try to infect us with the view that faithless Eliphaz expressed—we are worthless to God. That was a lie in Job’s day as it is today.—Job 4:18, 19.

*** w05 9/15 p. 26 Resist Wrong Thinking! ***In all three speeches, Eliphaz presented the idea

that God is so exacting that nothing his servants do is good enough for him. “Look! In his servants he has no faith,” Eliphaz told Job, “and his angels he charges with faultiness.” (Job 4:18, footnote) Eliphaz later said of God: “In his holy ones he has no faith, and the heavens themselves are actually not clean in his eyes.” (Job 15:15) And he asked: “Does the Almighty have any delight in that you are righteous?” (Job 22:3) Bildad was in agreement with this viewpoint, for he stated: “There is even the moon, and it is not bright; and the stars themselves have not proved clean in [God’s] eyes.”—Job 25:5.

We must be on guard against being influenced by such thinking. It can lead us to feel that God requires too much of us. This view attacks our very relationship with Jehovah. Moreover, if we succumb to this type of reasoning, how would we respond when we are given needed discipline? Rather than humbly accepting the correction, our heart may become “enraged against Jehovah himself,” and we may harbor resentment toward him. (Proverbs 19:3) How spiritually disastrous that would be!

*** w95 2/15 pp. 27-28 A Lesson in How to Handle Problems ***

Well, they based practically all their counsel on an incorrect supposition: that suffering comes only to those who sin. In his first speech, Eliphaz said: “Who that is innocent has ever perished? And where have the upright ever been effaced? According to what I have seen, those devising what is hurtful and those sowing trouble will themselves reap it.” (Job 4:7, 8) Eliphaz mistakenly believed that the innocent are immune to calamity. He reasoned that since Job was in severe straits, he must have sinned against God. Both Bildad and Zophar likewise insisted that Job repent of his sins.—Job 8:5, 6; 11:13-15.

His three companions further disheartened Job by voicing personal ideas rather than godly wisdom. Eliphaz went so far as to say that ‘God has no faith in his servants’ and that it did not really matter to Jehovah whether Job was righteous or not. (Job 4:18; 22:2, 3) It is hard to imagine a more discouraging—or more untruthful—remark than that! Not surprisingly, Jehovah later rebuked Eliphaz and his companions for this blasphemy. “You men have not spoken concerning me what is truthful,” he said. (Job 42:7) But the most damaging assertion was yet to come.

What does this week’s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah?

*** w14 3/15 p. 13 pars. 3-4 How to Maintain a Positive Viewpoint ***The Devil falsely accuses God’s servants. And those who have Satan’s thinking may

try to infect us with the view that faithless Eliphaz expressed—we are worthless to God. That was a lie in Job’s day as it is today.—Job 4:18, 19.

4 Jehovah makes it clear in the Scriptures that he will be with those who “walk in the valley of deep shadow.” (Ps. 23:4) One way he is with us is by means of his Word. The Bible is “powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things,” including misconceptions and negative ideas. (2 Cor. 10:4, 5).

*** w14 6/15 p. 24 par. 5 Do You View Human Weakness as Jehovah Does? ***

Unlike Satan, who strips humans of their dignity, Jehovah views all of his servants, including those who seem to be weaker, as “necessary.” (Job 4:18, 19) That thought should help each of us to feel good about our role in the local congregation and about being part of the congregation of God’s people earth wide.

*** w14 9/15 p. 22 Questions From Readers ***Jehovah tells us that we will be persecuted in various ways.

He may allow us to undergo deprivation as we help to answer the charges brought by the Devil. (Job 2:3-5) For example, some of our fellow Christians, such as those who were put in Nazi concentration camps, have found themselves in peril because of persecution. Depriving the Witnesses of adequate food was one diabolical method used in an effort to break their integrity. Faithful Witnesses remained obedient to Jehovah; he did not forsake them. He allowed them to undergo this trial, just

as he permits all Christians to face trials of various sorts. However, there is no doubt that Jehovah supports all who suffer for his name’s sake. (1 Cor. 10:13).

*** w14 11/1 p. 5 Is Satan Just a Symbol of Evil? ***

Our second instance involves the account of the God-fearing man Job. That record recounts two conversations between the Devil and God. In both cases, God praised Job for his integrity. Satan asserted that Job served God only for selfish reasons, insinuating that God was buying Job’s loyalty. In effect, the Devil claimed to know Job better than God did. Jehovah allowed Satan to rob Job of his possessions, his children, and even his health. In time, it became obvious that Jehovah was right about Job, and Satan was proved a liar. God blessed Job for his integrity.—Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7.

In those conversations between God and Satan, was Jehovah speaking to an evil quality within himself? The Bible says: “The way of the true God is perfect.” (2 Samuel 22:31) God’s Word also says: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah God, the Almighty.” (Revelation 4:8) Holy means pure, sacred, set apart from sin. Jehovah is perfect and flawless. He simply cannot have any evil characteristics.

*** w08 10/15 p. 4 par. 7 Jehovah’s “Beaming Eyes” Examine All ***7 How wrong it is, then, to think of Jehovah as a celestial

policeman who peers down from above in order to catch us in the act of sinning! Satan is the one with a cynical, accusing eye. (Rev. 12:10) He even attributes bad motives where there are none! (Job 1:9-11; 2:4, 5) Concerning God, the psalmist wrote: “If errors were what you watch, O Jah, O Jehovah, who could stand?” (Ps. 130:3) The implied answer is, No one! (Eccl. 7:20) Rather, Jehovah watches us with the merciful, kind eyes of a caring parent who wants to protect his beloved children from harm. He often alerts us to our imperfections and weaknesses so that we can avoid harming ourselves.—Ps.

103:10-14; Matt. 26:41.

*** w06 9/1 p. 23 par. 7 How to Approach the “Hearer of Prayer” ***The patriarch Job approached Jehovah in behalf of his family, offering sacrifices for

them. When Job’s three companions sinned in their speech, Job prayed in their behalf, and “Jehovah accepted Job’s face.” (Job 1:5; 42:7-9) These accounts help us to identify matters we might take to Jehovah in prayer. We also see that Jehovah is prepared to accept the prayers of those approaching him in a proper manner.

*** w05 8/1 p. 27 par. 3 Jehovah Is “the Rewarder of Those Earnestly Seeking Him” ***

3 No one is immune to the pressures of this system of things—not even Jehovah’s people. We live in a world that is ruled by Jehovah’s archenemy, Satan the Devil. (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19) Rather than being miraculously protected, Jehovah’s servants are, in fact, the prime target of Satan. (Job 1:7-12; Revelation 2:10) Until God’s appointed time, therefore, we need to “endure under tribulation” and “persevere in prayer,” confident that Jehovah cares for us. (Romans 12:12) We should not give in to the thought that we are unloved by our God, Jehovah!

*** w01 10/15 p. 15 par. 15 Who Will Separate Us From God’s Love? ***15 Whatever misfortune life today may bring us—whether a debilitating accident, a

terminal disease, or an economic calamity—nothing can destroy God’s love for his people. Powerful angels, such as the disobedient angel who became Satan, cannot influence Jehovah to stop loving his devoted servants. (Job 2:3) Governments may ban, imprison, and mistreat God’s servants and may label them “persona non grata.” (1 Corinthians 4:13) Such unjustified hatred by the nations may pressure humans to turn against us, but it does not sway the Sovereign of the universe to abandon us.

*** w01 11/1 p. 12 par. 15 Jehovah Is a God of Long-Suffering ***15 Why does Jehovah exercise long-suffering? Primarily in order to magnify his holy

name and vindicate his sovereignty. (1 Samuel 12:20-22) The moral issue raised by Satan over the way Jehovah uses His sovereignty required time to be settled satisfactorily before all creation. (Job 1:9-11; 42:2, 5, 6)

*** w94 9/1 pp. 9-10 pars. 7-8 Despite Being Made of Dust, Push Ahead! ***7 Still, Jehovah’s servants may at one time or another feel discouraged. Dissatisfaction

with our own achievements could also be a reason. Physical factors or strained relations with family members, friends, or workmates may be involved. Faithful Job became so discouraged that he pleaded with God: “O that in Sheol you would conceal me, that you would keep me secret until your anger turns back, that you would set a time limit for me and remember me!” Now, if difficult circumstances could push Job, “a man blameless and upright, fearing God and turning aside from bad,” to have bouts of discouragement, it is small wonder that the same thing can happen to us.—Job 1:8, 13-19; 2:7-9, 11-13; 14:13.

8 How consoling to know that Jehovah looks into hearts and does not overlook good motives! He will never cast off those who strive in all sincerity to please him. Occasional discouragement, in fact, may be a positive sign, indicating that we are not taking our service to Jehovah lightly. Viewed from this standpoint, the one who never struggles with discouragement may not be as spiritually aware of his weaknesses as others are of theirs. Remember: “Let him that thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.”—1 Corinthians 10:12; 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chronicles 28:9.

*** w94 11/15 p. 23 par. 11 Throw All Your Anxiety Upon Jehovah ***11 If we are humble, we will admit that God’s thoughts are vastly superior to our own.

(Isaiah 55:8, 9) Humility helps us to recognize our limited mental range in comparison with Jehovah’s all-encompassing perspective. He sees things we do not discern, as shown in the case of the righteous man Job. (Job 1:7-12; 2:1-6)

*** w87 9/15 p. 12 par. 9 Breathing This World’s “Air” Is Death-Dealing! ***Jehovah will safeguard us, but he does not place “a hedge” around us, nor does he

miraculously shield us from this world’s “air.” (Job 1:9, 10) So our challenge is to be in Satan’s world, yet being no part of it, to be surrounded by its contaminated “air,” yet not breathing it in. When we read secular publications, watch television, or go to places of entertainment, we are likely to be exposed to the world’s “air.” While some contact with worldly people is unavoidable—at work, at school, and otherwise—we must be vigilant so as to keep from being sucked back into the death-dealing atmosphere of this world.—1 Corinthians 15:33, 34.

*** w80 4/1 p. 13 Beware of Imputing Wrong Motives to Others ***Wrong motives have been imputed even to Jehovah God. Satan and his demons

maintain that God does not rule out of love. Rather, the Devil contends that Jehovah egotistically withholds something good from humans in setting moral and ethical boundaries for them. Moreover, Satan holds that God “buys” obedience. (Job 2:3-5) In a similar manner, the noble motives of God’s servants are questioned by Satan. Why, the Devil ‘has accused them day and night before our God!’ (Rev. 12:10) Certainly, godly individuals would never want to emulate Satan in unjustly imputing wrong motives to others.

What points from this week’s Bible reading can I use in the field ministry?

*** w15 9/1 p. 14 Are You Disappointed in God? ***The Devil raised yet another issue. He accused humans of serving God with selfish

motives. About faithful Job, the Devil said to God: “Have you not put up a protective hedge around him and his house and everything he has? . . . But, for a change, stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your very face.” (Job 1:10, 11) Though Satan’s words were about Job, the implication was that all humans have selfish motives for serving God.

*** w14 2/1 p. 11 Why Does God Allow the Strong to Oppress the Weak? ***Remember, too, that Satan claims that people serve God only for selfish reasons. (Job

1:9, 10; 2:4) If God protected all his servants from all forms of domination, would that not tend to substantiate Satan’s claims? And if God prevented all forms of oppression for everyone, would he not be responsible for an even greater falsehood? Under such protection, many might assume that humans can rule themselves successfully without God. But God’s Word says the very opposite—that man is completely incapable of governing himself. (Jeremiah 10:23) We need the Kingdom of God to come; only then will injustice end.

*** w12 8/15 p. 21 par. 5 Beware of the Devil’s Snares! ***5 How can we quench the fire of uncontrolled speech?

Jesus said: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt. 12:34) So the first step is to examine our own heart. Do we shun the bad feelings that fuel destructive speech? For example, when we hear that a brother is reaching out for some privilege of service, do we readily believe that his motives are pure, or do we suspect that he is driven by self-interest? If we have a tendency to be cynical, it is good to remember that the Devil questioned the motives of God’s faithful servant Job. (Job 1:9-11) Rather than being suspicious of our brother, we would do well to consider why we are critical of him. Do we really have good reason for being that way? Or has our heart been poisoned by the unloving spirit so prevalent during these last days?—2 Tim. 3:1-4.

*** w12 9/15 p. 24 par. 6 “You Know Neither the Day Nor the Hour” ***6 A second benefit of our not knowing the day or the hour is that we thus have the

opportunity to make Jehovah’s heart glad. When we serve him out of love—not because of a date or solely because of a reward—we contribute to Jehovah’s answer to the baseless taunts of his adversary, Satan. (Job 2:4, 5; read Proverbs 27:11.) Considering all the pain and sorrow that the Devil has caused, we gladly stand up for Jehovah’s sovereignty and reject Satan’s wicked rule.

*** w12 10/15 p. 8 par. 6 Meeting Today’s Adversities With Courage ***6 Job experienced extreme pressures. Imagine how he felt when everything in his life

seemed to go wrong. (Job 3:3, 11) Making matters worse, he did not fully understand why all those things happened to him. Still, he never gave up. He maintained his integrity and his faith in God. (Read Job 27:5.) What a fine example for us to imitate!

*** w11 4/15 p. 20 par. 11 “The Fruitage of the Spirit” Glorifies God ***11 The apostle Paul urged Christians: “Always rejoice in the Lord. Once more I will say,

Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4) Why is it important for Christians to carry out their service to Jehovah with joy? Because of the issue Satan raised in connection with Jehovah’s sovereignty. Satan claims that no one serves God out of a willing heart. (Job 1:9-11) If we were to serve Jehovah dutifully but joylessly, our sacrifice of praise would be incomplete. We therefore endeavor to heed the psalmist’s exhortation: “Serve Jehovah with rejoicing. Come in before him with a joyful cry.” (Ps. 100:2) Service rendered from a joyful, willing heart glorifies God.

*** w11 5/1 p. 17 Why Does God Allow Evil and Suffering? ***Satan claimed that Jehovah cannot win the loyal obedience of

anyone. God’s patience allows all of us opportunity to show whether we favor rule by God or rule by man. We indicate our choice by the way we live.—Read Job 1:8-11; Proverbs 27:11.

*** w11 7/1 p. 9 A Meaningful Life—Now and Forever ***Building a good relationship

with Jehovah can add meaning to your life in a very special way. How? Not only did Satan lead Adam and Eve into rebellion against God’s rule but he also implied that no one would remain loyal to God under test. (Job 1:9-11; 2:4) You can help to prove Satan a liar! How? By remaining loyal to God, by sticking to his principles, and by demonstrating that you recognize Jehovah’s supreme right to determine for us what is good and what is bad.—Revelation 4:11.

*** w10 4/15 p. 6 par. 15 Young People—Strengthen Your Desire to Serve Jehovah ***

15 We live in a world filled with people who are lovers of themselves, haughty, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, fierce, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God—to name some of the characteristics listed by Paul. (2 Tim. 3:1-5) So it can be a real challenge for you to maintain exemplary conduct despite being surrounded by this wicked environment. However, each time you do what is right and refuse to share in ungodly conduct, you prove that you are on Jehovah’s side of the issue of universal sovereignty. (Job 2:3, 4) You also have the satisfaction of knowing that you are responding to Jehovah’s warm appeal: “Be wise, my son, and make my heart

rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me.” (Prov. 27:11) Moreover, knowing that you have Jehovah’s approval will strengthen you in your desire to serve him.

*** w10 10/15 p. 13 Excuses—How Does Jehovah View Them? ***Admittedly, when we are tired or

discouraged, we may at times have to force ourselves to attend a meeting at the Kingdom Hall or to share in the ministry. If that is the case, should we then conclude that we do not truly love Jehovah? Not at all. Faithful servants of God in the past also had to strive hard to do God’s will. For instance, Paul stated that he ‘pummeled his body,’ as it were, so that he would obey God’s commands. (1 Cor. 9:26, 27) So even when we have to force ourselves to carry out the ministry, we can be sure that we will be blessed by Jehovah. Why? Because we

compel ourselves to do God’s will for the proper reason—out of love for Jehovah. By doing so, we provide an answer to Satan’s claim that God’s servants would deny Him if they were put to the test.—Job 2:4.

*** w09 10/15 p. 29 Family Worship—Vital for Survival! ***The Bible indicates that God’s angelic sons are invited into his presence at appointed

times. (Job 1:6) Do the same with your children. Set a definite day and time for your Family Worship evening, and then stick to it. In addition, have an alternate time set aside to allow for unforeseen circumstances.

*** w08 3/15 pp. 14-15 par. 14 Jehovah Hears Our Cries for Help ***14 Our adversities may not be removed immediately. They may even continue for

some time. If that is the case, what will help us to endure? First, remember that when we continue to serve Jehovah faithfully despite difficulties, we prove our love for him. (Acts 14:22) Keep in mind Satan’s accusation concerning Job: “Would Job worship you if he got nothing out of it? You have always protected him and his family and everything he owns. You bless everything he does, and you have given him enough cattle to fill the whole country. But now suppose you take away everything he has—he will curse you to your face!” (Job 1:9-11, Today’s English Version) By means of his integrity, Job proved that accusation to be a base lie. By our enduring under distressing circumstances, we too have an opportunity to prove Satan a liar. In turn, our endurance strengthens our hope and confidence.—Jas. 1:4.

*** w08 7/1 p. 6 Coping With Grief ***Many bereaved ones have found that talking can be a helpful release. Notice, for

example, the words of the Bible character Job, who suffered the loss of all ten of his children and endured other tragedies. He said: “My soul certainly feels a loathing toward my life. I will give vent to my concern about myself. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul!” (Job 1:2, 18, 19; 10:1) Notice that Job needed to “give vent” to his concerns. How would he do so? “I will speak,” he explained.

*** w08 12/15 pp. 4-5 par. 10 Why Keep Your Integrity? ***10 Consider how your integrity is involved. Satan has in essence claimed that no

human will stand up for God’s sovereignty, that no one will serve Jehovah out of unselfish love. In front of a vast assemblage of spirit creatures, the Devil said to Jehovah: “Skin in behalf of skin, and everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul.” (Job 2:4) Notice that Satan did not limit that slur to the righteous man Job but stated it as a general rule regarding mankind. The Bible accordingly calls Satan “the accuser of our brothers.” (Rev. 12:10) He taunts Jehovah with the claim that Christians—including you—will not remain faithful. Satan claims that you would betray Jehovah in order to save your own skin. How do you feel about such charges being heaped upon you? Would you not welcome an opportunity to prove Satan a liar? By keeping your integrity, you can do just that.

*** w08 12/15 p. 13 pars. 9-10 Appreciate Jesus’ Unique Role in God’s Purpose ***

9 Jesus is “the Amen” to all the divine promises. His flawless life course on earth, including his sacrificial death, confirmed and made possible the fulfillment of all the promises of Jehovah God. By remaining faithful, Jesus also proved false Satan’s claim, recorded in the book of Job, that under privation, suffering, and test, God’s servants would deny Him. (Job 1:6-12; 2:2-7) Of all God’s creatures, the firstborn Son could give the most conclusive answer to that charge. In addition, Jesus provided the finest evidence supporting his Father’s side in the greater issue of the rightfulness of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty.

10 How can we imitate Jesus in his unique role as “the Amen”? By remaining faithful to Jehovah and supporting his universal sovereignty. In so doing, we will be responding positively to the request recorded at Proverbs 27:11: “Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me.”

*** w07 5/15 p. 29 par. 14 The Resurrection—Is It Real to You? ***14 How can the resurrection hope affect the way you live right now? You can draw

strength from this hope when facing hardships, challenges, persecution, or danger. Satan wants you to be so terrified of death that you would willingly barter your integrity for some hollow promise of safety. Remember that Satan said to Jehovah: “Everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul.” (Job 2:4) In making such a statement, Satan maligned all of us, including you. Is it true that you will quit serving God if you face danger? By contemplating the hope of the resurrection, you can make firm your determination to keep on doing the will of your heavenly Father.

*** w07 8/1 p. 25 par. 17 “Guard Against Every Sort of Covetousness” ***17 To rest one’s hope on riches is unwise because they are “uncertain.” The patriarch

Job was very well-off, but when disaster struck suddenly, his riches could not help him; they vanished overnight. It was his solid relationship with God that preserved him through all the trials and tribulations. (Job 1:1, 3, 20-22).

*** w06 2/1 p. 21 pars. 18-19 Imitate the Patience of Jehovah ***18 Job experienced profound distress. He suffered financial ruin, the loss of his

children, and a painful disease. He also grappled with false charges that Jehovah was punishing him. Job did not suffer in silence; he lamented his situation and even implied that he was more righteous than God. (Job 35:2) However, he never lost faith, nor did he break his integrity. He did not curse God as Satan said he would. (Job 1:11, 21) The outcome? Jehovah “blessed the end of Job afterward more than his beginning.” (Job 42:12) Jehovah restored Job’s health, doubled his wealth, and blessed him with a full, happy life with his loved ones. Job’s faithful endurance also enabled him to understand Jehovah more fully.

19 What do we learn from the patient endurance of Job? Like Job, we may suffer sickness or other hardships. We may not fully understand why Jehovah allows us to undergo a particular trial. Yet, of this we may be sure: If we remain faithful, we will be blessed. Jehovah without fail rewards those earnestly seeking him. (Hebrews 11:6) Jesus said: “He that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.”—Matthew 10:22; 24:13.

*** w06 3/15 p. 14 pars. 4-7 Highlights From the Book of Job ***1:8-11; 2:3-5. As shown in Job’s case, along with proper action and speech, integrity

calls for the right motive for serving Jehovah.

1:21, 22. By remaining loyal to Jehovah under favorable as well as unfavorable circumstances, we can prove Satan a liar.—Proverbs 27:11.

2:9, 10. Like Job, we should remain firm in faith even if family members do not value our spiritual pursuits or pressure us to compromise or give up our faith.

2:13. Job’s companions had nothing comforting to say about God and his promises because they lacked spirituality.

4:7, 8; 8:5, 6; 11:13-15. We must not quickly assume that a person in distress is reaping what he has sown and does not have God’s approval.

4:18, 19; 22:2, 3. Our counsel should be based on God’s Word, not on personal opinion.—2 Timothy 3:16.

*** w06 8/15 p. 27 par. 10 “You Have Heard of the Endurance of Job” ***

10 Despite Job’s dire situation—including the verbal abuse from his “comforters” and his own confusion over the true cause of his calamity—Job still kept his integrity. What can we learn from his endurance? Without doubt, the fundamental reason for his success was his faithfulness to Jehovah. ‘He feared God and turned aside from bad.’ (Job 1:1) That was his

way of life. Job refused to turn his back on Jehovah, even when he did not understand why things had suddenly gone wrong. Job believed that he should serve God in good times and in bad.—Job 1:21; 2:10.

*** w05 4/1 p. 14 par. 4 Parents, Protect Your Precious Inheritance ***4 If you knew that a lion was loose in the neighborhood, protecting your children would

surely be a primary concern. Satan is a predator. He seeks to corrupt God’s people, thus making them unworthy of God’s approval. (Job 2:1-7; 1 John 5:19) Children are an easy target. To escape the snares of the Devil, children must come to know and obey Jehovah. Bible knowledge is essential.

*** w05 4/15 pp. 17-18 par. 12 Let God’s Word Light Your Roadway ***Our having a wholesome dread of God, manifested by avoiding what he disapproves,

is vital if he is to sustain us as his servants. Reverential fear of Jehovah caused Job to live a righteous life. (Job 1:1; 23:15) Godly fear can enable us to persevere in a divinely favored course regardless of what we must endure. Endurance, though, calls for earnest prayers said in faith.—James 5:15.

*** w04 6/1 pp. 15-16 par. 6 Blessed Are Those Who Give Glory to God ***6 Like the tribe of Gad, Christians

today are exposed to the pressures and burdens of Satan’s system; no miraculous protection spares us from grappling with them. (Job 1:10-12) Many of us must cope with the pressures of attending school, making a living, and rearing children. Not to be overlooked are the

pressures of a personal or internal kind. Some must endure “a thorn in the flesh” in the form of a serious disability or ailment. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Others are plagued with feelings of low self-worth. “The calamitous days” of old age may hinder elderly Christians from serving Jehovah with the vigor they once had.—Ecclesiastes 12:1.

*** w04 8/15 p. 13 pars. 5-6 Hated Without Cause ***

5 What is behind Satan’s hatred of true worshipers? In a plot that betrays colossal conceit, Satan has pitted himself against “the King of eternity,” Jehovah God. (1 Timothy 1:17; 3:6) He contends that God is unduly restrictive in his rulership over his creatures and that no one serves Jehovah with a pure motive, that people

do so only for selfish gain. Satan claims that if allowed to put humans to the test, he can turn every one of them away from serving God. (Genesis 3:1-6; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7) In vilifying Jehovah as an oppressor, a liar, and a failure, Satan seeks to establish himself as a rival sovereign. Thus, his rage against God’s servants is driven by his craving to be worshiped.—Matthew 4:8, 9.

6 Do you see how this issue touches your life? As a servant of Jehovah, you have likely found that while doing God’s will requires earnest effort, the benefits of doing so are surpassing. What, though, if circumstances in your life made it difficult, even painful, for you to continue to comply with Jehovah’s laws and principles? And what if you seemed to receive no benefit in return? Would you conclude that it is not worthwhile to go on serving Jehovah? Or would love for Jehovah and deep appreciation for his magnificent qualities move you to continue to walk in all his ways? (Deuteronomy 10:12, 13) By allowing Satan to bring a measure of hardship upon us, Jehovah has given each of us the opportunity to furnish our personal answer to Satan’s challenge.—Proverbs 27:11.

*** w03 1/15 p. 4 Has Evil Won? ***Later, in the days of the patriarch Job, Satan raised another issue. Seeking to break

Job’s integrity to God, Satan said: “Skin in behalf of skin, and everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul.” (Job 2:4) What a sweeping claim that was! By using the general term “a man” instead of the name Job, Satan brought into the arena of doubt the integrity of every human. He, in effect, asserted: ‘A man will do anything to save his life. Give me a chance, and I can turn anyone away from God.’

*** w01 8/1 p. 20 Let Force of Habit Work for Your Good ***Job’s good habits helped make him a man “blameless and upright.” (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3)

He customarily, or habitually, acted as the family priest in offering sacrifices in behalf of his children after each one of their banquets, in case they had “‘sinned and [had] cursed God in their heart.’ That is the way Job would do always.” (Job 1:5) In Job’s family, customs that centered on Jehovah’s worship were undoubtedly prominent.

*** w99 2/1 p. 7 How Can You Show True Humility? ***Can you meet the challenge of adversity? Humility will enable you to face up to difficult

circumstances and to endure, even as Job did. If you are proud, you will tend to be frustrated and may rebel at grievous circumstances and supposed slights.—Job 1:22; 2:10; 27:2-5.

*** w96 9/1 p. 5 Does the Bible Teach Belief in Fate? ***Floods, storms, earthquakes—such catastrophes are often called acts of God. Yet the

Bible does not indicate that God causes such disasters. Consider a tragedy that occurred centuries ago in the Middle East. The Bible tells us that the sole survivor of this catastrophe reported: “The very fire of God [Hebrew expression often meaning lightning] fell from the heavens and went blazing among the sheep and the attendants and eating them up.”—Job 1:16.

While this terrified man may have thought that God was accountable for the fire, the Bible shows that He was not to blame. Read Job 1:7-12 for yourself, and you will learn that the lightning was caused, not by God, but by his Adversary—Satan the Devil! Not

that all mishaps are the direct work of Satan. But clearly, there is no reason to blame God.

*** w94 2/1 p. 29 Do You Dignify Others When Offering Counsel? ***Satan’s tactics are designed to strip you of dignity, to produce feelings of disgrace,

worthlessness, and despair. Notice how he used a human agent to stimulate negative emotions in faithful Job. Hypocritical Eliphaz claimed: “In his servants he [Jehovah] has no faith, and his messengers [holy angels] he charges with faultiness. How much more so with those dwelling in houses of clay [sinful humans], whose foundation is in the dust! One crushes them more quickly than a moth.” (Job 4:18, 19) So according to him, Job was of no more value to God than a moth. Indeed, the counsel of Eliphaz and his companions, far from being upbuilding, would have left Job bereft of even the memory of better times. In their view his past faithfulness, family training, relationship with God, and gifts of mercy were worth nothing.

Likewise today, repentant wrongdoers are particularly susceptible to such feelings, and the danger exists of their being ‘swallowed up by being overly sad.’ Elders, when counseling such ones, “confirm your love” for them by allowing them to preserve a measure of dignity. (2 Corinthians 2:7, 8) “Being treated with a lack of dignity makes it difficult to accept counsel,” admits William. It is essential to strengthen their belief that they are valuable in God’s eyes. Remind them that Jehovah is “not unrighteous so as to forget [their] work and the love [they] showed for his name” during their past years of faithful service.—Hebrews 6:10.

*** w94 3/15 p. 19 par. 13 Trust Jehovah to Fulfill His Purpose ***13 Several hundred years later, there was Job, who lived between the 17th and 16th

centuries B.C.E. in what is now Arabia. He too lived before the Bible began to be written. Job “proved to be blameless and upright, and fearing God and turning aside from bad.” (Job 1:1) When Satan inflicted a loathsome, painful disease upon Job, that faithful man “did not utter one sinful word” throughout his ordeal. (Job 2:10, The New English Bible) Job trusted God. And while he did not know the details as to why he was suffering so much, he staked his life on God and His promises.

*** w94 10/1 p. 32 The Power of a Kind Word ***CHRISTIANS are not immune to adversity. At times they experience anxiety because

of living in these “critical times hard to deal with.”—2 Timothy 3:1.

When suffering such calamity, what a blessing it is to hear kind words from a loyal friend! “A true companion is loving all the time, and is a brother that is born for when there is distress,” says the Bible. (Proverbs 17:17) The faithful man Job was known for being this type of friend. Even Eliphaz said of him: “When someone stumbled, weak and tired, your words encouraged him to stand.”—Job 4:4, Today’s English Version.

*** w89 1/1 p. 30 Why Should We Fear God? ***

Unlike Adam and Eve, Job was a man who remained faithful to Jehovah despite the most severe testing. Why? Jehovah himself said that Job was ‘a man who feared him and therefore would turn away from bad.’ (Job 1:8; 2:3) Today we must be sure that Jehovah can say the same thing about us! The fear of God is proper, and it must be a part of our thinking.

*** w86 5/1 p. 27 Can You Accept Discipline? ***Job was counseled by the young man Elihu and could have angrily rejected the

counsel. Although Job had suffered terribly at the hands of Satan, he had refused to “curse God and die.” With such a record, he might have seen no reason to listen to the counsel of this young man. Job did listen, though, and learned that, despite his integrity, his attitude needed some adjusting. Then he was privileged to receive counsel from Jehovah himself and finally he was rewarded with many blessings. (Job 2:9, 10; 32:6; 42:12-16) Thus, discipline can help even those with outstanding records of endurance and faithfulness.

*** g 6/09 p. 6 When Does a Human Life Begin? ***Please note also that the Bible does not say that a woman conceives a piece of tissue.

Instead, it states: “An able-bodied man has been conceived!” (Job 3:3) This too indicates that according to the Bible, a child exists as a person from the time of his conception. Yes, that is when human life begins.