Leader Guide

Game

Let’s find out who can answer our two bonus questions!

1. How did God come to Job and his friends? In a windstorm, whirlwind.

2. How many of Job’s servants returned to him, bringing bad news? Four.

Can you say our SuperTruth from memory? “Jesus is my Redeemer!”

Jesus redeemed us by rescuing us from sin and death. Job certainly needed to be rescued from his situation. He was in agony and dealing with grief from the loss of his family and fortune. Yet even in the midst of his suffering, Job declared that he knew his Redeemer lived and he would see Him one day! God returned all that Job had lost, and more. Let’s play a game today where we will return what Job lost. 

Divide the class into two teams; they do not need to be equal. One team stands behind one of the starting lines while the other team stands behind the line on the opposite side of the pillowcase/rectangle. Give each team 11 sheets of one color paper per team. If your class is large, give each team 22 sheets of one color paper per team. Have the team members crumple the papers into tight balls, then place them in the box, can or bag by their team’s starting line.

The pillow case or rectangle in the middle represents Job’s land. The paper balls represent Job’s possessions. At the beginning of the book of Job, Job 1:3, the Bible says Job had many camels, oxen, donkeys, and sheep—totaling 11,000 animals. After he lost everything, the Bible tells us, in Job 42:12, that God gave him twice as many camels, oxen, donkeys, and sheep. How many animals would that be, altogether? 22,000 animals.

If we used one ball for each animal, we might be playing all week! So let’s say that each ball represents 1,000 animals. We will give each team 11 balls to represent Job’s animals. Each team must return all 11 balls to Job by tossing or rolling the balls so they land and stay on the pillowcase, which represents Job’s land. The first team to get all of their balls onto Job’s land wins! However, the ultimate goal is for both teams to get all of their balls on Job’s land—symbolizing 22,000 animals!

One player on each team plays at a time. Teams play simultaneously and continuously. Each team’s player will toss—underhand, overhand, rolling, standing, or sitting—one paper ball toward the pillowcase, then the next player takes a turn, and so on. Each team should not wait for the other team at any time. Part of the fun is that balls may be knocked off the pillowcase by the other team during play.

When all of a team’s balls have been tossed, a player must quickly gather any of the team balls that are not on the pillow case, then bring them to the team to throw again. Play until all balls are finally on Job’s “land.” Play another round as time permits.

Conclusion: That was really exciting! In the last chapter and paragraph of the book of Job, we read that Job was indeed rescued, restored, and blessed with even more than what he had in the first part of his life! The Bible said Job lived 140 more years after God blessed him—long enough to see four generations of children. Job knew that God, his Redeemer, lived, even when his life was at its darkest point. Now, let’s learn more about how Job’s life serves as a Signpost to Jesus!