Ouch!

Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:10-12 ESV). The Book of Job reveals the true greatness of God. As we continue to look at some of the thoughts throughout the book, we must understand that God is in charge, and He will always be in charge. In my study of this book many have written that the central story revolves around a “heavenly war” where God and Satan are engaged in battle and Job is simply caught in the middle. Doesn’t it seem strange to you that in this war, one side must get permission from the other before it attacks? And yet that is the situation in this book of Job. Satan comes to God and asks permission to do something against Job. Now that is not a battle; it is not warfare; it is a test. That is what we need to see. Job's faith is the subject of a very rigorous test. Satan is the one who brings it about, but God permits it. I am forced to ask, “What about me?” I wonder what Satan is saying about me now and if he's asking permission to get me! If that is what you are thinking, my advice is, don’t worry; live one day at a time. For the thing this book tells us is that if Satan had his way, every one of us would always be in this kind of difficulty. Satan would tear us apart all the time if he could, not because he is angry with us, but because he wants to get at God, whom we serve. But God's protecting hand is over us. The hedge he places around us protects us and brings us great and wonderful blessings. While I may not know what the future holds, I do know where it ends. If my future holds some kind of testing or trial, it is only because, God knows what we can bear, and He will not put us to the test so severely that it will destroy our eternal hope. As we will see in the coming days, there are principles and lessons in every test that go far beyond the circumstances of the situation. These principles are what make this book so important to us. Today, I want to merely call your attention to one overarching truth. It is a simple call to gratitude. In the midst of the test, when we are stretched beyond what we think we can endure, taken far from what we dreamed our days might look like, give thanks for the amazing protection of God’s hand on us. Thank God for this marvelous hedge placed around you and that with every test comes the strength to endure. When life gives you a huge “ouch!” give thanks and rest in the enduring strength from the indwelling Spirit of Christ.