Highlights In Today's Reading:
A great godly example, Job acknowledges God as his source of wealth and family (1:1-5). God allows Satan to attack Job (1:12 — 2:9). In pain, Job curses the day he was born (chap. 3), while his friends offer "advice" (chap. 4).
Who can understand the suffering of Job — the servant of the Lord who was stripped of family, possessions, and health? This suffering was not misfortune or bad luck; it was not punishment from God for his sins, as Job's friends supposed. All of Job's sufferings were attacks of Satan to test the genuineness of Job's loyalty to God as well as to reveal to Job how desperately his friends needed his prayers (42:8). Without a doubt the most important reason for his suffering was to illustrate the importance of faithfulness to God even in times of suffering.
It may seem strange to some to find Satan in the presence of God, not in heaven as some have thought, but on earth when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord (1:6-12; 2:1-7). True to his nature, Satan, the accuser of our brethren (Rev. 12:10), accused Job before the Lord saying: Doth Job fear God for nought? (Job 1:9). He was there to slander and accuse a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth (hates and avoids) evil (1:1,8; 2:3). Satan did not deny that Job worshiped God, but he assumed that Job's motive for loyalty was to gain material benefits.
The god of this age blinds the minds of unbelievers, and behind all the world's evils is the master mind of Satan, going to and fro in the earth, and . . . walking up and down in it (1:7), indicating his restless, continuous efforts to destroy all that is good. Unlike God, Satan can be in only one place at a time, he can do nothing without the permission of God, and he is under the continual surveillance of the Almighty. Isn't that wonderful!
God allowed Satan to test Job's faithfulness by causing the tragic loss of his children, his wealth, and his health. Even Job's friends slandered him and accused him of hypocrisy.
Spiritual victories in times of trials do not just happen. They are dependent upon our faith in the wisdom and the Word of God, and in the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit using His Word to help us to live a victorious Christian life.
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:7).
Thought for Today:
Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. . . . Blessed are that do His Commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life (Rev. 22:12,14).
Christ Revealed:
In the conversation between Satan and God Almighty (Job 1:6-12). We can see the meaning of Christ's warning to Peter that Satan wanted to sift him as wheat (Luke 22:31). It is comforting to know that Satan cannot test us beyond the will of God.
Word Studies:
1:20 rent = tore; mantle = robe; 2:8 potsherd = piece of broken pottery; 3:16 untimely birth = stillborn; 3:24 roarings = grief, groanings; 4:2 assay = attempts; 4:4 upholden = helped, upheld.
Prayer Needs:
Pray Radio Sri Lanka Broadcasts sponsored by Mr. Duane A. Estey • for Staff: Gina Lesnefsky • Government Officials: Rep. Richard Larsen (WA), Rep. Adam Smith (WA), and Rep. Todd Tiahrt (KS) • Country: Qatar (600,000) in southwestern Asia • Major languages: Arabic and English • Muslim conversion to Christ is forbidden, but expatriate Christians are allowed to meet informally • 79.5% Muslim; 10.5% Christian; 7.2% Hindu; 1.8% Buddhist; .9% non-Religious/Other • Prayer Suggestion: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10).
Optional Reading: Galatians 4
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 7:13