Job: Trusting God When Suffering Comes

by Lydia Brownback

A 10-Week Study of the Book of Job, Great for Women’s Groups From Job’s beginnings as a wealthy, God-honoring family man, through his time of intense suffering and grief, and finally to the abundant restoration of everything he’d lost, Job’s story helps us learn more about God’s power and purposes―even in a world full of pain. In this 10-week Bible study, Lydia Brownback goes beyond the familiar lessons from the Old Testament book of Job and invites women into an in-depth, exegetical journey through the text. Written for individuals or groups, each lesson explores topics around faith, doubt, and suffering and explains the context of Job in redemptive history. With resources including reading plans and discussion questions, this challenging yet accessible study encourages women to love studying God’s word.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2023

About the author

Lydia Brownback (MAR, Westminster Theological Seminary) serves as a senior editor at Crossway in Wheaton, Illinois, and an author and speaker at women’s conferences around the world. Lydia previously served as writer in residence for Alistair Begg and as producer of the Bible Study Hour radio program with James Montgomery Boice.

Reviews

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great study! Thought provoking, mind-blowing and simple to follow along in.

[C.E. Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Job went through so much. This study is eye-opening.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this Bible study was excellent. I have done three of the studies in this series, and they have all been excellent. Lydia Brownback does her research; she asks provoking questions and gives good explanations for difficult sections, all in a way that is both appealing to women, and yet not too fluffy.

There is controversy over some things in Job, and so if you disagree with the stance that Brownback takes, you might not appreciate the lessons having to deal with those things (as some women in our Bible study group did). In particular, Brownback takes the view that Elihu is a prophet of the Lord who speaks truth. All of the questions regarding Elihu have this viewpoint in mind and are very positive towards him.

Brownback also views that Job sinned in his suffering (not that his suffering was a cause of sin as the friends accuse him) and so at the end of the book God rebukes Job, and he repents. This seems to be the view of many theologians. However, apparently there is a view that God kept Job from sinning in all that he said in the book of Job, and so at the end of the book he does not repent, but is rather just comforted by God's presence. Some women in our study hold this view and think that it is integral to the book and how we view Job as a Christ-figure. Therefore, they did not agree with some of Brownback's questions in the last lesson.

I do find it interesting that Brownback does not at all address these controversies in the study. This made for some interesting conversations, but I greatly appreciated this Bible study.

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Job: Trusting God When Suffering Comes is the third book I’ve read in Lydia Brownback’s Flourish Bible Study series, and I can’t pick a favorite. Each of them inspires me, teaches me something new, and helps me absorb God’s Word. Just as with the previous Flourish books I’ve reviewed, this one belongs on my 2023 Favorites list.

The biblical story of Job has always fascinated me. I am inspired by how one man can suffer and grieve so much, yet never lose faith in God. There isn’t a soul that can’t learn from him about faith, patience, perseverance, and redemption.

I haven’t completed this study book yet, but I’m enjoying its thorough and explanatory look into the Book of Job’s forty-two chapters.

First Lines (Introduction): Why? There comes a time when each one of us asks that why question in bewildered, heart-searing pain.
Series: Flourish Bible Study
Genre: Christian Bible Study, non-fiction
Author: Lydia Brownback
Page Count: 128

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

A 2023 Fav♡rite

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Bible study is appropriate for both individual and group use, and I like that it's cheaper than many Bible studies, without the expectation that you should also pay for a code to stream videos. It's just the book study, and the book has rich content with the author's thoughts introducing each section and the Bible study portions helping readers dig into Scripture.

The interpretation questions encourage people to closely read and process the text instead of just thinking about their thoughts or feelings, and there are also thoughtful prompts for thinking about personal applications. This Bible study is very substantial, and although it is mainly geared towards women, it is appropriate for anyone.

My only critique is that when the author shares an inset quote, she doesn't tell you who said it, and you have to flip to the numbered endnote to find out. I don't know why she did this, but I found it distracting, since I wanted to know who these quotes belonged to and would always flip to the back to find out.

I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read Job before but this was the first deep study I had done in the book. Wow! Sooo good because you come away with a deeper understanding of God and how he uses suffering to shape us into the image of His Son. We don’t naturally want trials to come our way but they are always for our good and His glory. One big takeaway: ask God to deliver you from the suffering but don’t ask Him why he’s allowing it to occur. We already know why ^^. Our church women's Bible study group is currently going through Lydia Brownback's Flourish Bible Study series because they are so rich and she always draws our attention to Christ no matter whether the study in the OT or NT. She organizes the study well and provides new insights (to me anyway) in each lesson. Content: clean, Biblical

[Misty Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is new to Bible studies and reading the Bible in general, this was a phenomenal study guide for me. It was easy to understand with practical application and lots of reflection. It really made me look at suffering in a whole new light.

[Nikki Lansing]

Bible study with Baba 💖