Job Description: Kill, Steal and Destroy

Today we are picking up in Job 1 by looking at what satan did to show God he was right about Job and the things he elaborately planned in order to provoke Job to curse God to His face.  First, I would like to start by framing our mind with some truths to enlighten our view points.  All the scriptures are from the NAS translation:
John 10:10-13

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have  it abundantly. 11 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 "He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd,  who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 "He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.

  Romans 8:20 and 21 where Paul states:

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because  of Him who subjected it, in hope  that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And  not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan  within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the  redemption of our body.  For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Luke 11:21-23:

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe.  But a stronger man than he may attack him and defeat him.  Then the stronger man will take away all the weapons in which the strong man trusted and will divide the loot.

Genesis 2:15,16 and 3: 16, 19

Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to farm the land and to take care of it.  The Lord God commanded the man.  He said “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden.  But you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it you will certainly die.
……"I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children……………
………For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

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With this frame of thought let’s read about the next few pieces of Job’s journey as satan goes about killing, stealing and destroying what God has created.  Job 1:13-22 (GWT):

One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s home, a messenger came to Job.  He said “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, men from Sheba attacked.  They took the livestock and massacred the servants.  I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “A fire from God fell from heaven and completely burned your flocks and servants.  I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.” 
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three companies and made a raid on the camels.  They took the camels and massacred the servants.  I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine at their oldest brother’s home when suddenly a great storm swept across the desert and struck the four corners of the house.  It fell on the young people, and they died.  I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.”
Job stood up, tore his robe in grief and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground and worshiped.  He said, “Naked I came from my mother, and naked I will return.  The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away! May the name of the Lord be praised.”
Through all this Job did not sin or blame God for doing anything wrong.

There are several things that we need to be aware of here.  First satan uses the people in our lives who are easily manipulated to carry out his plans.  This does not mean that the people are evil or possessed.  It simply means they do not guard against false imaginations by casting them down and filling that space with a truth of God.  Satan spared a mouth piece in each situation who believed exactly what he wanted them to believe and ran in fear to make the report he wanted made to Job.  God did not send the natural disaster, satan did.  Satan must have loved the fact that he was being called God Almighty, he must have felt so very powerful in those moments. 
Can you imagine how his ego shriveled up and he ran when his scheming didn’t overtake Job’s love and trust in the faithfulness of our Lord God Almighty.  Even though Job did not understand that it was not God that took anything away, He only gives blessing.  Job did not allow satan to be the strong man in his land.  Job was righteous as God had stated.  Satan was proven once again to be the deceiver and God was magnified even on the worse day Job had ever imagined possible. 
Satan left a loser but that is not the end of this journey.  Satan does not give up when he sees that we do not fully comprehend the truth.  When he sees a foot hold you can sit back and collect bets, cause he will return…..as soon as we have our house swept and put in order.
Today, just read through this and think about it.  Tomorrow I want you to read it again, and write about it.  I will come back and post notes from one of our groups meeting tomorrow morning to give you some feed back.
Today I give thanks for the things we already see, I give thanks for the hopes that we have in our heart and I ask for his sight to keep your eyes set on the horizon where they will appear before you.  I lift His name on High to receive all praise honor and glory for all eternity.
In Christ, with Love,
Candace

God Is Always Holy, Lovey and Pure.....But What Are We?

Genesis 3:1 (GWT) The snake was more clever than all the wild animals the LORD God had made. He asked the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must never eat the fruit of any tree in the garden'?"

We discussed how Adam was told to protect the garden and creatures from things.  We discussed him having a reason other than himself in order to correctly protect it.  And her right out of the shoot Adam was with Eve and when this "most clever" snake started speaking to Eve he did nothing.....NOTHING.  Why did he not stand before Eve and say "snake leave me alone - she is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh you can't distort what God said like that."  "She had not been created when God told me that we could eat from any tree in the garden except from the tree in the middle of the garden or we shall surely die"  "So GO and be silent - you are a creature and I Am man, created in God's image!" "I subdue things around here not you!".

That is my fairytale version which would go on to say .....and they lived happily ever after.  But....the facts are different, aren't they.  Knowing the words we are going to be going over I think some proverbs from the wisdom of Solomon are the perfect reflecting point today. 

As for me and my house...we will serve the Lord!
With Love Candace

1 A gentle answer turns away rage, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge,but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity.
3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere.They watch evil people and good people.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,but a deceitful tongue breaks the spirit.
5 A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline,but whoever appreciates a warning shows good sense.
6 Great treasure is in the house of a righteous person, but trouble comes along with the income of a wicked person.
7 The lips of wise people spread knowledge,but a foolish attitude does not.
8 A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to the LORD,but the prayers of decent people please him.
9 The way of wicked people is disgusting to the LORD,but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10 Discipline is a terrible {burden} to anyone who leaves the {right} path.Anyone who hates a warning will die.
11 If Sheol and Abaddon lie open in front of the LORD how much more the human heart!
12 A mocker does not appreciate a warning. He will not go to wise people.
13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but with a heartache comes depression.
14 The mind of a person who has understanding searches for knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity.
15 Every day is a terrible day for a miserable person, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better to have a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and turmoil.
17 Better to have a dish of vegetables where there is love than juicy steaks where there is hate.
18 A hothead stirs up a fight, but one who holds his temper calms disputes.
19 The path of lazy people is like a thorny hedge, but the road of decent people is an {open} highway.
20 A wise son makes his father happy, but a foolish child despises its mother.
21 Stupidity is fun to the one without much sense, but a person who has understanding forges straight ahead.
22 Without advice plans go wrong,but with many advisers they succeed.
23 A person is delighted to hear an answer from his own mouth, and a timely word—oh, how good!
24 The path of life for a wise person leads upward in order to turn him away from hell below.
25 The LORD tears down the house of an arrogant person, but he protects the property of widows.
26 The thoughts of evil people are disgusting to the LORD,but pleasant words are pure to him.
27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble to his family,but whoever hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of a righteous person carefully considers how to answer,but the mouths of wicked people pour out a flood of evil things.
29 The LORD is far from wicked people,but he hears the prayers of righteous people.
30 A twinkle in the eye delights the heart.Good news refreshes the body.
31 The ear that listens to a life-giving warningwill be at home among wise people.
32 Whoever ignores discipline despises himself,but the person who listens to warning gains understanding.
33 The fear of the LORD is discipline {leading to} wisdom,and humility comes before honor.