Reflections from Job - in God's Court

The council in God’s court - Job 1:6-12 The Angels gathered. Even the fallen one, Satan. God called on Satan first. Where’ve you been? Roaming everywhere. There is a similarity between the picture this gives and a passage in I Peter 5:8: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Taken together, I get the picture Satan is roaming about looking for a victim to pick on!

So, God knows he’s looking for a victim and asks “Have you thought about Job?” 

God, the Almighty, is the first one to mention Job. God took the initiative. It’s at God’s suggestion that Job becomes the enemy’s next target. I am shocked! God started this “little” confrontation that resulted in so much devastation in Job’s life! God!???! But I thought God was a friend!

Let’s think about a couple more ideas revealed here.  

                Satan wants to have his way. He says, no wonder Job likes you since you’ve blessed and prospered him in every way! “But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He’d curse you right to your face that’s what.” (Job 1:11, The Message; I added italics for emphasis)

                God limits and sets the boundaries. The Lord tells Satan to do whatever he can, to disturb Job and make this curse come out of his lips. But the Lord says Don’t Hurt Job.

So Satan does his best to cause that curse. Job lost property and people including all his children. But Job’s first response to all his loss and pain is: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I’ll return… God gives, God takes, God’s name be ever blessed.” (Job 1:21, the Message) He didn’t curse; he blessed God! So much for Satan’s understanding of human nature.

Yes, bad things happened in Job’s life. Bad things happened in your life. Satan wanted to control Job’s circumstances; however, God didn’t give him that control. God is the One in control. Who would you rather have controlling the situation when bad things happen – Satan who wants to devour and destroy you, or God, Who limits the destruction and promises to be with you through it all, and Who promises to redeem, restore and build you up even in times of trouble? God, Who made you, knows you and loves you, is in control for you now, too.

The next step requires a leap of faith since this controlling (in the nicest sense of the word) God has allowed your losses, but He can be trusted. One of the keys to understanding the relationship between God and Job is in Satan’s words: “He [would] curse you right to your face…”  Job has a face-to-face relationship with God! Intimacy and trust. That’s the relationship the Father offers you too. Just like Job, you can have a face-to-face relationship with the One Who limits Satan’s attacks on your household.  Leap and trust and find comfort in His love.