My heart is still resting on the recent devotional, “The Faithfulness of God.” God called satan’s attention to Job. He wasn’t aware that he was the topic of conversation between God and satan. He was recommended because he was upright, shunned evil, and feared God.
Job had no say in the matter. Ugh.
I have a teenager who periodically reminds me I “Volun-told” them to do whatever I asked/told them to do. The teen’s understanding is that they really didn’t have a choice in the matter, which is correct.
Job hadn’t done anything wrong. But from our viewpoint, since Job had all his ducks in a row, why put him on the hot seat with satan? Job didn’t know it at the beginning, but he was embarking on a journey that would cause him to grow in God.
The enemy accepted the recommendation with one goal in mind – to get Job to curse God. That’s all he wanted – so he rolled out his strategy to God. The devil said if he was permitted to remove “people and things” from his life, that Job would curse God (walk away from him) and die (both spiritually and naturally). But God already knew Job wouldn’t bow to the pressure.
Yes, Job said a lot of things.
He wished he’d never been born.
He felt unseen and forgotten.
He was mistreated and misunderstood by his “friends.”
He even said that if he could, he would plead his case before God.
He was devastated.
Yet, the faithfulness of God kept him from giving satan what he wanted. It never happened. Job never turned away from the Lord.
It’s difficult for us to digest that God, being all-knowing, would place Job on satan’s radar. But God knew what satan would throw Job’s way—and He also knew what was already placed within Job.
It wasn’t random.
What is happening to you isn’t random. God knows. And the enemy of your soul knows it too.
Don’t allow what you see to be your guide. Remember that the faithfulness of God is at work whether you realize it or not. Could it be that the faithfulness of God has placed you in the very trial you are in? What feels like pressure is actually proving ground?
You may not have had a choice in the trial, but the faithfulness of God is at work.
Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Job 42:1-5 KJV
22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.Lamentations 3:22–23 (KJV)
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)