REFLECTIONS

Lessons from Job

Refreshed from the Archives of July 21, 2013

“Have you considered my servant Job?” God asked. Satan had joined a gathering of angels who had come to present themselves to the Lord. We are familiar with the strength of Job’s faith from his ensuing trials from this gathering. But from Job’s story we learn more about Satan, and we learn more about God.

Satan seemed to have joined the gathering of angels as an uninvited guest. “Where did you come from?” God inquired. “From roaming the earth and going back and forth in it,” Satan replied, inferring the havoc his presence brings. Then with angels gathered around him, God accepted the Satan’s challenge, but with one rule. “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Satan accepted the rule, and went from the Lord’s presence to set about his work.

To recall some of the tragedies that befell Job, we remember that he lost his health, his family and friends, his wealth, and his wife’s respect. Satan felt sure these terrible losses would drop Job to his knees and he would blame God for them. But Job’s steadfast faith never faltered. The strength of his faith is the enduring lesson, but other lessons emerge in the story too.

The story reveals that Satan roams through the earth; we learn that he has access to God; and we learn that he does his work away from the presence of God. And the story reveals that Satan cannot conquer unwavering faith in God.

We also learn that God is accessible to the angels; and if He allows Satan in his presence, then surely his open-door policy extends to us too.

We learn that God allows evil to roam the earth. We know that God provides our many blessings; but we learn that He also allows them to be taken away. But here’s what’s important: God sets the rules. And like Jesus’ victory over death after suffering on the cross, in the end,

God wins!

You are the light of the world,

Richard +www.reflectingthesavior.org

Click here for Printer Friendly Version