Heaven
Our next scene opens in heaven, and what a scene it is. Neither Job nor any of the other people in this book knew that this took place at all. But this scene will enable us today to understand and interpret some of the things which happen to God's people. I don't say that it is the total explanation, but it is a part of it.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them (Job 1:6)Now this is the scene in heaven. The sons of God, His created intelligences, come before Him. I must confess I know very little about them. I think they are numberless, as numberless as the sand on the seashore, which means you and I cannot count them. And they are not human beings; they do not belong to our race. Yet these are God's created intelligences, and the are responsible creatures. They must come to report to God as a matter of regular routine. That is something I suppose we would expect. But there is also something here that is rather shocking. We are told that "Satan came also among them." That is a surprise.
Ant the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it (Job 1:7)By the way, Satan must also make a report. That is amazing, isn't it? Do you think he came from hell? No, he didn't. Friends, hell hasn't been opened yet. No one is in hell today. It will not be opened up until the Millennium takes place on this earth. Hell is the place prepared fro the Devil and his angels, but they are not there yet. The fact of the matter is that Satan has as much access to this earth as you and I have, and more so.
This earth is the domain of Satan. He has not been in hell. He says that he has been going up and down - east, west, north and south - on this earth. Remember that Scripture calls him "...the god of this world..."(2 Cor. 4:4) and "...the prince of power of the air..."(Eph. 2:2). So that we know that he has great access and freedom on this earth today. We are warned by Peter, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). My friend, this is a warning, and this is exactly what we are told her in the Book of Job. Satan himself said that he has the freedom to go up and down this earth.
You remember that when Satan tempted the Lord Jesus he offered to Him the kingdoms of this earth. The Lord Jesus never said, "You don't have them to offer. " He simply refused the temptation. Apparently those kingdoms are accessible to Satan, and he has that kind of freedom.
When you look at this earth today, it does look like Satan is running things, does it not? God is overruling all things but He has given Satan a period of freedom. We are told that this world is which you and I live is controlled by Satan. He must be overcome, and we can only overcome him by the blood of the Lamb. Now this is quiet a revelation, isn't it. And it is contrary to modern thinking.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, on that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (Job 1:8)God gives a good report of Job. He says he is an outstanding man. It would seem that Satan has been trying to get at Job. I draw that conclusion from Satan's next statement.
Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Though hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land (Job 1:9-10)Apparently Satan had been trying to get through to Job and made the discovery that he couldn't get through to him because there was a hedge about him. He tells the Lord, "You have put a hedge around him, and I can't touch him."
I believe that there is a hedge about every believer today, and I do not think that Satan can touch you unless God permits it. And if God permits it, it will be for His purpose. That is what this book teaches us.
Now Satan casts this slur upon Job. I think he despises mankind. He suggests that Job is really a timeservant to God. And Satan has no use for you or me. He says we are timeservants and that if God took down that hedge and took everything from us, we would curse God.But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face (Job 1:11).
Mind you, there are a lot of people in the world who would curse God. There is no question about that. All one needs to do is listen to men on the street her in Southern Cal. I hear God cursed nearly every day.
One day I walked by a construction sit4e where on of the foremen was attempting to make some sort of an adjustment. It didn't work and the piece fell down. My, he began to curse God. Now he may go to church on Sunday and carry a big Bible under his arm - I don't know about that. But I do know this, he cursed God. We hear that constantly today. Men are not rightly related to God, my friend.
This man Job had a hedge around him, and when Satan found he couldn't touch him, he said, "I'd like to get to him." Satan hates mankind. Why in the world anyone wants to serve Satan is more than I know, because he despises us. I wouldn't want a master like that, I want a master who will love me and be sympathetic toward me. And that is the kind of Master I DO have.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord (Job 1:12).We learn here that sometimes God permits Satan to take away from us those things that we lean on. I know that when our little security blanket is taken away from us we feel so helpless, incapable, and lost in this world. Many of us cry out to God at such a time.
Notice that God is going to permit Satan to take all Job's possessions from him. Believe me, Satan would destroy us if he could. He has slandered both God and Job, inferring that God is not worthy to be served and loved for Himself alone, but that He must pay Job to love Him. Satan is the enemy of God and man.
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Today, think about some of our topics on loosing our peace because of the things we cannot control. Think about what that states about our faith in God verses our ability to handle things in our own strength.
I thank God that we live in the times when His spirit is within us and we are one with Him unlike Job who I respect immensely for doing all he did to uphold the commandments in his own strength allowing the hedge of protection to stay in place. I thank God for His mercy and grace for the way He stayed with Job through all this. I pray that when you are feeling attacked that you too feel His loving kindness upon you, rise up from within you and see the enemy flee.
When you have done all to stand, remain standing,
Kisses,
Candace
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