How did Satan know God had made “a
hedge around him [Job],” “around his household,” and “around all that he has on
every side” (cf. Job 1:7, 10)? These dangerous creatures of darkness are drawn
to spiritual people of the Light like insects are attracted to physical light
in the darkness (Job 1:1). Given Job’s spirituality and being blessed by God as
“the greatest of all the people of the East” (Job 1:3), he was a large target!
The consuming desire of the devil and
his demons was to find a way to get to Job and cause him harm because of his
allegiance to God. Satan and his minions were like mosquitoes going along Job’s
protective spiritual shield looking for an opening in the defense screen. They
were out for blood but found nothing to penetrate the God-grid until God
allowed Satan to enter Job’s world (Job 1:12). Our enemy has already done his
homework and gathered intelligence and maintains constant surveillance on us,
by the way. Satan is simply waiting in the wings for permission to attack, “Have
you considered My servant Michael” ( Job 1:8)? Now, put your name in there if
you dare!
If you read Job, chapters 1 & 2, you discover
that God placed restrictions on what Satan was allowed to do to Job. Whatever
permissions were granted, Satan and his minions went the distance permitted in
their attack, why? I believe it is because there is no trace of mercy or grace
to be found in their being, only the coldness of death, hate, and cruelty
toward God’s saints. Such malefic spirits are more intense toward anything
related to God. If Satan is allowed to give us 2 miles of hell, he will not
stop short at 1.55 or 1.99 miles, but he cannot go beyond 2.0. He would if he
could, but he can only travel the length granted by the sovereign God and no more.
This reveals the animus of our
adversary and the lengths he will go to inflict damage or pain on us by any
means possible once permission is granted by God. Personal sin is what unlocks
most defense shields leaving us vulnerable to attack, but from the outset of
Job 1:1, we are not led to believe this was the case. Was Job sinless? No, but
something was going down for our benefit (Rom 15:4), and if you hadn’t noticed,
it was God who initiated the chain of events (Job 1:8). If truth is known, most
want Job’s station in life, saved and rich, except what followed, but this is
unrealistic.
In this, we see the awesome sovereignty
and wisdom of our God. Nothing enters our lives unless God approves of it. This
all sounds pretty good until it touches our lives personally, like Job, in a
way we deem as “awful” (contrast Rom 8:28). I have always contended that appreciation
of the truth of this passage demanded a mature mind. Of course, we revel in it
when things are going the way we like them, but what if the circumstances take
a turn for the worst? Is the truth of this verse any less effective?
No doubt there are some people who are bothered and disturbed
that God is giving our adversary permission to resist and cause us harm. We are
not privy to all that is happening in the universe of angels and demons, but
this is the way it has always been! Do you think Satan operates outside the sovereignty
of God? If he did God would no longer be absolutely sovereign. This makes for a
greater appreciation of God’s attributes like being all-knowing, all-wise,
everywhere present, and all-powerful. He’s got the ability and the power to
enforce His will.
This makes me very thankful that
Yahweh delights in exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness on
the earth (Jer 9:24). I gain greater comfort in knowing that my enemy cannot
touch me without God’s knowledge and authorization. Jesus died for me; I trust
Him to do right by me though I don’t have all the answers as to why Job and his family had to experience spiritual terrorism to prove Satan was wrong in his
assertions or why things happen to me the way they do. It comes with the
territory. If Satan was in charge there would be hell to pay to be under a
ruthless and merciless spiritual tyrant; imagine living under ISIL, the face of the evil one!
Imagine losing 10 children at one fell
swoop, all of your possessions, your health, and on top of that, the love of
your life venting for you to let go of your integrity and curse God and die!
This was more than a bad day for Job; he was stuck and stung at ground zero
surrounded by devastation and desolation. It was nothing short of shock and awe
from the enemy. Incredibly, in this spiritual battle Job never sinned against
God (Job 1:22; 2:10). I am of the opinion that other than Christ, this man
suffered like no other man on earth, ever. He is one of my heroes of the faith, and I am looking forward to spending some quality “time” with him up in glory.
Will living a godly life insulate us
from persecution? It didn’t for Job; he never saw it coming, but praying for
his children like he did indicates he knew of the spiritual warfare raging
since the Fall of Adam. What a priestly parent he was praying for his kids like
he did (Job 1:5). Paul instructed Timothy that living a godly life will not
insulate anyone from attacks (2 Tim 3:12). What is the best way to deal with
any future evil offensives that are sure to come?
This list is just a suggestion of
things that must be an integral part of our life, regardless of station. We are
in spiritual warfare for the long haul until we cross over into eternity. You
may step outside your lovely home and take in a deep breath and say to
yourself, “It is so peaceful here!” Do not be careless and forget you are in an
unavoidable spiritual conflict; nothing is forever this side of the “pond.”
First, the best thing we can do is be
prepared by being blameless, upright, fearing God, and fleeing evil (Job 1:1,
8); this involves learning, loving, and living the Word. Since Job preceded Moses,
whatever oral traditions were passed down from Noah, Job integrated and
executed that truth in his life. This is the only way we walk away victorious
like Job, avoiding flesh flare-ups and accusing God foolishly of
unrighteousness or wrongdoing (Job 1:22; 2:10).
We need to learn the Word, love the
Word, and live the Word (cf. Rom 12:2; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 3:18); we have the
entire revelation (Genesis – Revelation, Route 66, the road less traveled) at
our ready, unlike Job. If we are not spiritual before a crisis hits, generally we
will not emerge spiritual; it’s wishful thinking. The Word prepares us for a crisis, not the other way around. I know this will sound like a depressing
insight, but we are either entering a storm, in the midst of a storm, or leaving a storm! What
is the latest forecast on your local live spiritual radar telling you?
Second, do not be so naïve to think that
spiritual attacks are avoidable if we are dead center in His will and in touch
with God loud and clear or five by five. Uh, remember the command to take up
your cross and follow Jesus (Mt
10:38)? I don’t know about you, but picking up a cross belonging to me doesn’t
sound very appealing if I am being honest with you. The footsteps of Jesus were
suffering steps. God allowed a hinge along the hedge, as with
Job, and the enemy poured into the opening like mosquitoes looking for blood; we
must ever remain vigilant and diligent (1 Pet 5:8; Prov 4:23).
Third, there is this matter of trust
(Job 13:15a). If the stuff hits the fan, trust Him; if it doesn’t hit the fan,
trust Him anyway (Prov 3:5-6). The ideal approach to a crisis (and we never
know when that is going to happen) is to grasp who He is before not after a crisis (Jer 9:23, 24), but that is not like most
of us. He is the Almighty; who can say to Him, “Why did You do this or that”
(cf. Job 9:12; Eccl 8:4; Dan 4:35; Rom 9:20)? But isn’t that just our response,
“Why?!” It comes across as if the creature is challenging and questioning the
Creator. I love Job’s response in all of this; rather than cursing God in his heart, he blessed
the LORD (Job 1:21). We usually emerge from the school of hardheaded knocks and
wind up confessing like Job, if we have a teachable spirit and are wise,
“I have heard of
You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself,
and repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:5-6).”
Fourth, God never
abandoned Job any more than He will leave us. He is not a fair-weather God. He
is going to hang with us and be there for us through thick and thin (Heb 13:5).
He will not leave us alone with the devil or his minions.
Fifth, keep in
contact with Him through prayer. You will be glad you did (1 Thes 5:17).
Sixth, perhaps the
hardest of all, give thanks (Job 1:21; Col 3:17; 1 Thes 5:18; Heb 13:15; Php 4:13).
Seventh, this is not all about us but Him, even though bad is happening to us (1 Cor 6:19; Col 3:17). Also, there is the need of being an example for others to follow; how does throwing in the towel inspire other believers (cf. 1 Cor 11:1; 1
Thess 2:10; 1 Tim 4:12; Titus 2:7; 1 Jn 3:16)? Consider the sufferings of our Lord (1 Pet 2:21) or even Paul's (Acts 9:16)! Are we better than them?
If we cop an attitude of bitterness
and resentment toward God after getting banged up by our enemies, well, the school
will remain in session a little longer. Saint Job was victorious in all of this, and
a double blessing came upon him at the end (Job 42:12, 13, 15-16, 17). But the
serious nature in all of this is that what took place in Job’s life can happen
to any faithful believer because we are all exposed to the sinful nature, the world system, and the evil one, fighting a spiritual war on three different
fronts, but we are more than conquerors aren’t we (Rom 8:37; Php 4:13)?
On Job’s property were 10 marked
graves that served as a reminder that spiritual terrorism is real (Job 1:19),
and there is no heartland security from Satan, the ungodly, or the flesh
without God’s intervention. God be praised that nothing enters our lives unless
He approves of it while we serve as good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Tim 2:3).
Go visit the Caribbean; buy yourself a sock bag, but above all, fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12) even though the war rages on three fronts and everywhere in between until you can say like the Apostle Paul,
Go visit the Caribbean; buy yourself a sock bag, but above all, fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12) even though the war rages on three fronts and everywhere in between until you can say like the Apostle Paul,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have
kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7).
Now, that is the way of dealing with three points and everything
in between for God’s glory. <><
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