Job, who was the greatest of all the men of the east, with his material wealth and family blessings: properties, home, sons, daughters, thousands of sheep, camels, oxen, she asses and a very great household. He was stricken with almost devastating and surely great temporary misfortune.
At initial glance one might assume, “He will never get out of this!” However, he came out of his misfortune victoriously. Let’s talk about this conversation between the Lord and the adversary’s (Satan’s) role in the conversation with the Almighty God.
Satan can go no farther against the Lord’s children, those who truly belong to him, without Eloah’s (Hebrew for God) permission. God is holding heavenly court with His divine beings, His angels, His heavenly hosts. God is having a meeting holding court you might say. All these divine beings come under the supremacy of God. They are not separate decision makers. When the divine beings came to the meeting, the Adversary (Satan) also came like a chief prosecutor.
The conversation between God and the Adversary is written in Job 1:1 – The sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord. Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth. He is blameless and upright. He fears God and turns away from evil.” 9 Satan said to the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 You have made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him, or his life.”
Satan departed from the presence of the Lord and went about to strike Job maliciously and for no reason. The Lord allowed the adversary to issue an almost devastating strike on his family and material goods. Job was extremely sorrowful and decried the day he was born (Job 1:20)
He was deeply saddened, saying, “Naked I came into the world and naked I am.” At one point he said to his wife, “Can we expect only to receive good from the Lord and not some mishaps?” His response was sorrow, but still worshipping the Lord. There is another conversation between the Lord and the adversary in Job 2. His wife was not encouraging to him during this situation.
What can we learn from Job’s experience? Life may have its mishaps. Job was comforted that he had not sinned against the Lord. Sometimes, our own thoughts can lead us into a downward spiral trajectory in life. That happened to Eve. She was deceived. She and Adam’s downfall led to the downfall of the entire human race and man forfeited dominion. Our decision making must be very well explored prior to making a decision, which can take years from our lives and massive discouragement.
The Almighty God is victorious, as always, with Job and in every way. We don’t know God’s reason for allowing the adversary to gain captivity over Job. We know that the Lord released Job from captivity. The adversary was defeated (Job 42:10-13) Job was blessed double. The Lord healed Job of his boils from all over his body but multiplied him twice as much both materially and with children.
The adversary can do no more to Jesus Christ’s children than He allows. Oh! The “Goodness of God” – CeCe Winans.
Writing for the Lord and loving it! Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is the founder-superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, L.A. 90043, 323-293-9826, www.todaysfreshstart.org, (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) “Inquiring Minds Want to Know.” All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © [email protected]. References: The Holy Bible. StudyLight.org. Any errors? Please let me know.
