“And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord” (Job 1:8-12).
Our study writer begins this week’s study, “The Battle” with these words. “On that dark day in history when our first parents sinned, the whole world was thrown into the war of the ages—God and His kingdom of light versus Satan and his kingdom of darkness. God called them together and gave them the game plan—even announced the ending score. But the second He gave Satan limited authority over the earth, the devil promptly closed his ears to the rest and went to work. The Enemy’s plan has not changed, nor has his strategy. His hatred for God and His Son has been passed onto His followers. It is Christ in the Christian and the Christian in Christ that our enemy hates and is committed to destroy.”
This battle is waged against even the finest of God’s servants. No one is excluded. We can choose whether to be a victim or a victor.
Today’s verses describe a meeting of God and His angels in which Satan, called the “accuser” also attended. When God asked where he had come from, Satan more or less answered that he had been roaming around the earth. With that in mind, the Lord asked him if he had ever considered His servant Job.
Satan seemed to know a lot about Job when he started making accusations. First, he questioned God’s fairness. That was wrong because God is always fair. However, he was right that God always protects His own. Then Satan accused Job of loving his wealth more than God. In fact, he wanted God to touch all Job had so Job would “curse Him to His face.” God was not about to do anything evil to Job. However, He did allow Satan to test him. God knew Job would remain loyal to Him in spite of his troubles. God set the rules. Satan was not to kill Job.
Satan might cause us troubles, but it is God who controls the lives of His children.
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Today begins the Tennessee Spring Retreat (March 11-13), an event that also draws women from North and South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia. Pray for Elizabeth Hodges as she attends and interacts with women from these states.
