Please consider with me the plight of a man named Job.
Job 1 (Amplified Bible)
1. THERE WAS a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who [reverently] feared God and abstained from and shunned evil [because it was wrong].
2. And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very great body of servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East.
4. His sons used to go and feast in the house of each on his day (birthday) in turn, and they invited their three sisters to eat and drink with them.(A)
5. And when the days of their feasting were over, Job sent for them to purify and hallow them, and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed or disowned God in their hearts. Thus did Job at all [such] times.
6. Now there was a day when the sons (the angels) of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (the adversary and accuser) also came among them.(B)
7. And the Lord said to Satan, From where did you come? Then Satan answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it.
8. And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns evil [because it is wrong]?
9. Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job [reverently] fear God for nothing?
10. Have You not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have conferred prosperity and happiness upon him in the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face.
12. And the Lord said to Satan (the adversary and the accuser), Behold, all that he has is in your power, only upon the man himself put not forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
13. And there was a day when [Job's] sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house [on his birthday],
14. And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15. And the Sabeans swooped down upon them and took away [the animals]. Indeed, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.
16. While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, The fire of God (lightning) has fallen from the heavens and has burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.
17. While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, The Chaldeans divided into three bands and made a raid upon the camels and have taken them away, yes, and have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.
18. While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
19. And behold, there came a great [whirlwind] from the desert, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.
20. Then Job arose and rent his robe and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped
21. And said, Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother's womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord!
22. In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly.
Job 2
1. AGAIN THERE was a day when the sons of God [the angels] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (the adversary and the accuser) came also among them to present himself before the Lord.
2. And the Lord said to Satan, From where do you come? And Satan (the adversary and the accuser) answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it.
3. And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns all evil [because it is wrong]? And still he holds fast his integrity, although you moved Me against him to destroy him without cause.
4. Then Satan answered the Lord, Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has will he give for his life.
5. But put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse and renounce You to Your face.
6. And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.
7. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with loathsome and painful sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
8. And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself, and he sat [down] among the ashes.
9. Then his wife said to him, Do you still hold fast your blameless uprightness? Renounce God and die!
10. But he said to her, You speak as one of the impious and foolish women would speak. What? Shall we accept [only] good at the hand of God and shall we not accept [also] misfortune and what is of a bad nature? In [spite of] all this, Job did not sin with his lips.
Some of us know this story well, but what does it really depict? It depicts what goes in heaven with every single Christian. Satan goes before God and asks for permission to deal with them.
If I were God ( and Thank God I am NOT ) I would not allow satan to come into heaven, let alone stand before my throne. But God does. Why? Because HE has the ultimate control not satan!
As mentioned before, Satan had to ask permission to touch Job's possessions, then his family,and finally him. But, God was very specific in letting Satan know that he could touch Job's body, but he was NOT allowed to take Job's life. Why? Because that power belonged to the Lord God Almighty!
Why am I writing this? Satan knows we as Christians are living in his territory, because he is the prince and the power of the air ( which is the first heaven - where the birds fly ). Here satan has power over governments and municipalities, etc. Most are corrupt and becoming worse due to world wide Godlessness. So satan uses these vast resources to ambush and attack God's saints. If he can't destroy them out right, he will wear them out so they are too tired to fight, too tired to go on.
When situations happen like that you as a believer must realize that it's not the people or person who is doing the act, they are satanically motivated to do it. Remember, satan is a disembodied spirit that needs someone to allow him to use them. Unforntunatelly, there are many who have no clue and are "usurped" by him in order to accomplish his task. Once the deed is done, he leaves them alone.
Unlike God who respects man's sovereingty and will not just take over. Satan "shanghi's" man's will by enticing him with something pretty or his desires. Power, money, prestige, etc. But, God dosen't use these tactics on man. Even though God is not a man, He is a GENTLEMAN!
I've said all of this to encourage my fellow believers to continue to trust God even though He may have you in the "firey furnace". Remember He is in there with you. Trust Him to fight the battle. He will not lose, because the VICTORY HAS ALREADY BEEN WON!
And just like with Job, God will only allow certain encounters with people and circumstances to happen to you. If it is not His will, it will not happen! If it is His will, It will happen! Whatever it is, like the old hymn says: "It is well with my ( your ) soul."
Blessed Be!
