Sometimes it’s almost comical-the amount of distractions and setbacks that comes our way. Well, maybe not all that funny but these “thorns in the flesh” has made me smirk and give a few eye rolls more than once in my 46 years! Do you ever feel like this? Do you ever feel like you have a bullseye on your back? If you said yes there may be some good news for you!! For real. You could be going through what you’re going through because you are a major threat to the devil’s schemes!
That’s good news! Remember Job? Although, I don’t think we should chalk up his experience as a mere setback or a distraction he was actually targeted because he was, “blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”(Job 1:8) If you are not smiling at this good news yet, I totally understand. No one asks for suffering and Job’s suffering was intense. He lost IT All. ALL of his belongings, ALL ten children…gone. What’s more, he lost his health as well. His whole body was covered in painful sores. Very few of us can say we have dealt with suffering at this level, especially all at once. Prior to all this pain, Job was the man. He was respected more than any man on the face of the earth. He had it all. Respect, a close family, prosperity, even the endorsement of God. So, what happened?
When we really look closely, God was under attack as well as Job in chapter 1. Look at what Satan says:
“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” Job 1:10&11
This means Satan was saying in effect…Job only serves you for what he can get out of it and you are spoiling him rotten with all the material possessions and protection you have given to him. We definitely need to hear this lesson today. This can be a wake up call to check and see if this is true of us.
It was after Job “kept his integrity”(2:3) and kept on praising God even after loosing his children and his possessions, when Satan really got ticked off and attacked Job’s character:
“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 2:4&5)
In the book of Job we get to see the whole picture because it mentions what was happening in the heavenlies and God’s conversations with Satan on Job’s behalf. Job was not privy to these conversations. Knowing this I have so much respect for Job! He was indeed righteous and blameless, like God declared of him. Upon hearing the dreaded news he fell to his knees and praised God! When harassment came from even his own wife he declared the sovereignty of God. “ He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (2:10) In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. He kept his integrity. We can sometimes feel like we are invisible to God and left wondering if He really cares. Much like the disciples did that day when Jesus decided to take a snooze on their boat during a storm. Of course, when they woke Him up and He calmed the storm and called them out we can determine that the disciples were the ones who weren’t seeing clearly. We are definitely not invisible to God.
With that said I am reminded of Elisha and his servant when the Armenian army surrounded the Israelites after learning where they made camp. Elisha told his terrified servant:
Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. (2Kings 6:16-18)
When trials come our way, like Job, we will not be able to see and hear the conversations in Heaven either. But we can pray for spiritual eyesight and study what it says in the Bible about Spiritual warfare and our enemy’s tactics, that we may gain the upper hand on our enemy. Then we can declare as Job did:
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)
smallbeginningsblog.org Post #4
By Carole Ann Landon
Pictures by Carole Ann Landon
Small Beginnings Blog 