The Biblical Job: A Paragon of Piety and Excellence

By Ronke Ruth Alao

This is a book with a difference. Its central focus is on the persona of the biblical Job, and it explores several underlining and eternal principles, which became reflected in the life of Job. The book highlights Jobs life from many perspectives, with interesting reflections on his responses to his situation, friends judgement, and Gods final appearance. It is not a review or analysis of Jobs vicissitudes or endurance in suffering, but a reflection on a life of nobility, integrity, piousness, and god-fearing attributes that were exhibited throughout this mans experience. The book can be used for personal study, individual or group retreats, group discussions, and cell group or fellowship meetings. It will appeal to the matured believer who wants to strengthen his or her walk with God, as well as those new to the faith by offering a wider perspective on one of the most notable characters in the Bible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: May 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543485479

Ronke Ruth Alao

Ronke Ruth Alao is an associate pastor at the Grace Outreach Church, London, an established Pentecostal church in Dartford, Kent. She’s a Bible teacher who is passionate about the Word of God and is involved in teaching, as well as writing books and articles on the subject dear to her heart, which is enriching the body of Christ through revelation of the Word of God. Her two other books continue to bless lives. Ronke is a solicitor by profession, and she practices in South-east London. She’s married and is blessed with two children, Fiyinfolu and Ajibola.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Ronke Ruth Alao.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2017907680

ISBN:               Hardcover               978-1-5434-8549-3

                         Softcover                 978-1-5434-8548-6

                         eBook                       978-1-5434-8547-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The Authorized (King James) Version of the Bible (‘the KJV’), the rights in which are vested in the Crown in the United Kingdom, is reproduced here by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are from The Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified Bible, New Testament copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Most Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible: The King James Version.

Also quoted: The Amplified Bible, Copyright ©2015 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 05/17/2017

Xlibris

800-056-3182

www.Xlibrispublishing.co.uk

754926

Contents

Appreciation

Foreword

Author’s Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: Job’s Travails – Losses Too Many

Chapter 2: Losses So Severe

Chapter 3: The Tangible Loss

Chapter 4: Reality Beckons – Job Confronts His Calamity

Chapter 5: Job And His Friends – Interesting Discourse

Chapter 6: When Friends Judge

Chapter 7: When Silence Is Not Golden

Chapter 8: Job And His Better Half

Chapter 9: Job And God – End Of The Matter

Chapter 10: Reaping The Fruit Of Audacious Faith In God

Endnotes

Other Books By The Author

For there is hope for a tree,

If it be cut down, that it will sprout again,

And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

Though the root thereof wax old in the earth,

And the stock thereof die in the ground;

Yet through the scent of water it will bud

And bring forth boughs like a plant.

Job 14:7–9

To my husband, Abiodun. You have been an inspiration.

And to our children, Fiyinfolu and Ajibola, for your consistent encouragement in my fulfilling God’s purpose through writing.

APPRECIATION

I would like to thank my husband, Abiodun for being there always as my first editor. I am willing to overlook the fact that my editorial request often involved several reminders because I understand your very busy professional and travelling commitments.

Special thanks to Pastor Sola Oladipo (Yes, Minister), my professional editor, who did the editorial with helpful suggestions and encouraging appraisal.

Finally, sincere thanks to my family, nuclear and also faith and friends, whose support and encouragement have been a strong motivation for forging on in fulfilling God’s ordained assignment.

FOREWORD

The Biblical Job – A Paragon of Piety and Excellence is a very important teaching manual laden with insights and revelation on how to respond to some unavoidable challenges of life. Although none of us ever wish to experience what Job went through, this book is a testament to the fact that those who maintain an unwavering trust in God will surely have the last laugh.

Pastor Ronke has done a great job by presenting a very fluent, easy-to-read book on the attitude, reaction, and result of Job’s life in times of great difficulty. Most readers will find it to be relevant and applicable.

The role Job played in the lives of his children and the kind of relationship that existed between him and his wife will no doubt help readers learn how to deal with some of the ongoing family crises in our society.

In addition, this book will touch and help those who desire to fulfil their God-given assignment on the face of the earth, against all odds.

It gives me great pleasure to present and recommend this book for your reading.

Bishop Paul Fadeyi

General Overseer

Grace Outreach Church

UK

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

Whenever Job’s name is mentioned, especially in Christian circles, one cannot help but consider the ups and downs that characterised his life. The sufferings and misery faced by Job have indeed been used to console those facing life’s challenges, with a pointer that ‘tough times never last, but tough people do’. The experience of Job can be an antidote for those at the receiving end of life’s challenges, but the result of his overall experience remains an encouragement to many. The rich moral of Job’s story rings true – that is, the righteous are never forsaken or forgotten. Apart from this, there are many other hidden lessons that can be gleaned from the life of this exceptional character.

This book focuses exclusively on the personality, character, and nature of the man called Job, as opposed to the more prevalent tendency of studying the subject that he represents, or even analysing his suffering. The book captures the hidden treasures embedded in the lifestyle of Job, the heart of the man, and his very essence. The lessons to learn for successful daily Christian living are littered in this man’s life, however these are often overshadowed by the more overwhelming circumstances that plagued his existence. This book will take you on a journey into a personality unbroken by suffering and unfazed by wealth, and whose milk of human kindness never weaned. Job’s life was characterised by integrity of heart and spirit with an undaunting fear of God.

The life of the biblical Job was not just legendary; it was an enigma. Thousands of years after he had left the shores of planet earth, his life continues to generate incredible interest, and this will probably continue eternally. There are several facets to Job’s life, each conveying a message and instructions to the world’s pilgrims on how to live, as well as the lifestyle that personifies a noble man or woman.

Who is this man who not only entered the biblical annals of history but captured forty-two chapters, which is quite extraordinary for a single individual? The history of this man’s life is as interesting as the entire contents of his life experiences. When his history is traced, perhaps more clarity and understanding will emerge on how he knew God and made Him a priority. This essence becomes quite apparent from the regular sacrifices to God