Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." (Job 1:8 NLT). Some see this passage or verse as a question from a God that should know all things. But don't ever make the mistake to think God doesn’t know. There is no question that He could ask that He doesn't know the answer. So, why did He ask Satan that question? Why would the All-knowing God and the creator of all things need to ask a question like that? And to go another step, why did Satan gave an answer? His response was, "Job has good reason to fear you... You put a Hedge around him." (1:9-10) Wow, he walked right into that one didn’t he?! In our efforts to be the first one with the answer, we sometime missed the obvious. The question God put to Satan was more of a statement (He [God] knows all things). He knew Satan was fencing around Job (Satan gave himself away with his response "You have placed a hedge around him.” He had to be in the vicinity to see the ‘hedge’ and may have tried a few times to breach it. God took the opportunity to let Satan knows He saw him. He saw him going around trying to find a way into the circle of Job. But what Satan didn’t realize is, in serving God faithfully, giving Him thanks for everything, Job opened a trust account with God; a trust account where even if today he forgot to make a deposit, God would allow him to make a withdrawal (or a little overdrawn account). “Satan desire is to sift” separate/isolate us. The NIV states, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.” He wants to destroy us. Place us before a firing squad. Keep our minds bothered with the cares of life. But remember, “I have already prayed for you… that your faith should not fail.” (Luke 22:32) “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (Isa 59:19b KJV). Could God brag about us the way He brags about Job? Can He trust us not to give up or give in if He lifts the hedge from around us? It is quite possible to answer yes when all is going well. What about when the bills are just a day late in paying? Just a day! Some of us want to give up our salvation already. The funds promised to us didn’t come at the time it was promised and we falter and don’t want to trust God anymore. If you feel you are at your ‘last straw’, trust Him some more. Wait another minute before you call it quits. Read one more line of His promise. “For ever O Lord thy word is settled in Heaven.” Psalm 119-89 Acknowledge Him today- even in a whisper. “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities (lack of strength); but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:15-16) Our time for consideration will come. There will be a time in your Christian walk that Satan will ask permission to prove your love for God. His job is to try and show us up. Let him do his job, just don't let him succeed. |



