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THIS WEEK’S PASSAGE JOB 1:13-2:13
PREPARATION
You will need the livestock and family trump cards from last week (available to download from the link page). You will need to print out the script for the drama, and a way of playing the Stephen Fry video. You will need to print out the lyrics for ‘Blessed be your name’.
GIVE AND TAKE AWAY
15 mins
Play the same game as last week, using the livestock top trump cards cards. But this time add in an extra rule. At any point in play, you can stop the game by making a sound (you could use a horn or bell or something even more hilarious) and then declare that you are going to take away a card from anyone ‘wearing blue’ (you can make up the rule each time). On other occasions you can stop the game in order to give ‘everyone in year ten’ a card. Make the rules as specific and unfair as you wish!
BACK TO JOB
10 mins
Say: In today’s game, cards were given and taken away at random. Last week, we saw that Job was blessed with lots of animals and wealth. This week, we are going to see all of that taken away.
Read Job 1:13-1:22 together. You might like to write up on a board or piece of paper the various things that happen to Job and his livestock and family. Ask:
• What caused the animals the die? The sheep and shepherd? Servants and camels? Sons and daughters?
• Do you think these different causes are significant?
• Which of the different causes – do you find most difficult to accept?
• How do you feel knowing that the devil was behind these things?
• How do you feel knowing that all of these people and animals were all part of an elaborate way of testing Job?
JOB’S RESPONSE
5 mins
Say: Job’s response is quite remarkable. He tears his robe in grief and shaves his head (all of which were traditional mourning practices), but proceeds to fall to the ground in worship of God. What? Everything he owns and the people he loves have been wiped out, and yet he worships God. He doesn’t curse God, and never questions whether or not God is worthy of his praise. Ask:
• How would you respond if you heard that a family member had died?
• How about all of your family and everything you own - would your first thought be to praise God?
IT GETS WORSE
10 mins
Say: As before, ask a few young people to act out the script below (taken from The Message translation of this passage).
Narrator: One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan also showed up. God singled out Satan, saying…
(For the full script, head to the link page)
Say: Once again we see God talking with Satan. Ask:
• Why do you think God allows Satan to hurt Job further?
• How do you feel about the fact that Satan is able to barter with God here, and God seems to retract his earlier statement?
JOB’S RESPONSE
10 mins
Say: Job’s response is the complete opposite to how many people would respond. In the face of extreme suffering, a lot of people blame and reject God. Ask: did you see Stephen Fry’s video interview about suffering? Play the video to the group (link available at link page) and ask these questions:
• What’s Stephen Fry’s response to suffering?
• How does it make him feel towards God?
• Do you think he is justified? You may want to show some clips from Russell Brand’s response to Fry if you feel it would be appropriate or helpful.
JOB’S RESPONSE
5 mins
Say: Unlike Stephen Fry, Job did not blame God for what had happened. When his wife told him to curse God and forget his integrity, he said, ‘Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?’ Hand out copies of lyrics from ‘Blessed be your name’ by Matt Redman. You may want to play the song and allow the young people to reflect on the words, or sing it together. (The full lyrics are available online.)
Blessed be your name In the land that is plentiful Where your streams of abundance flow Blessed be your name.
Blessed be your name When I’m found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness Blessed be your name.
Every blessing you pour out I’ll turn back to praise When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say.
Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be your glorious name. You give and take away You give and take away My heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be your name.
CLOSING PRAYER
5 mins
Ask your young people to find a space alone in the room. Ask them to reflect quietly on what you’ve looked at today, and to present their thoughts, questions, concerns, anger and fears to God. If it’s helpful, read out the following prayer:
God, I don’t understand. I don’t understand why there is suffering, but you say that you are good and worthy of praise, and I will believe you. I don’t understand why you allow suffering, but you say that you are good and worthy of praise, and so I will praise you. I don’t understand why you give things and take them away, but you say that you are good and worthy of praise, and so I will trust you. Help me to understand. Amen.
