January 9, 2024

Job 1:6-22 (HCSB)
Satan’s First Test of Job
6 One day the sons of God  came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan  also came with them. 7 The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”  “From roaming through the earth,”  Satan answered Him, “and walking around on it.” 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity,  who fears God and turns away from evil.”  9 Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven’t You placed a hedge around  him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out Your hand and strike  everything he owns, and he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 “Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, you must not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence. 13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and reported: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby, 15 the Sabeans  swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!” 16 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: “A lightning storm  struck from heaven.  It burned up the sheep and the servants and devoured them, and I alone have escaped to tell you!” 17 That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!” 18 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house. 19 Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job stood up, tore  his robe, and shaved  his head.  He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21 saying:  Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life.  The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh. 22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.

Pastor HD Jones
Does it bother anyone else that Satan has the right to step into heaven; or that Satan has the ability to accuse us before God; or that Satan has the power to utilize creation like lightning and wind to bring destruction on God’s people?  I have read this passage several times but never thought about what power and authority Satan has in our world.  I’m glad one day that Jesus will cast Satan out of our presence.  What a punk!!  Hard to believe some people worship Satan. Anyway, back to Job.  What an amazing response to total devastation.  Would you be willing to praise God if you lost all your kids and your wealth in the same moment?  Years ago I was at a pastor’s conference when the speaker made this remark… “you want to think you’re steadfast in your faith with an exclamation point on top of your head, but really most of us have question marks over our head”.  He illustrated by saying what if we got the bad news Job got?  Would we go to the alter to praise God or would we be at the bar getting drunk? This is a difficult story but we will note God is always in control and hopefully it will encourage us through our sometimes difficult journey of life.