Have you ever noticed in Job that it is God who starts the conversation that leads to all the things that Job undergoes? God did not inflict Job with all the terrible things that happen, but He does allow Satan to do them. Did He do this to set Satan up for a lesson? It certainly cost Job dearly (though he ended up with even more), but Satan was given a clear reminder of Who is really in charge, and Who really knows a man’s heart.
“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind” (Jeremiah 17:10a)
Satan falls for it, of course – the ‘wily serpent’ thinks he can prove to the God who created Job that he actually knows Job better than God does - silly devil...
The result was this - Job’s response to the calamity Satan brought upon him are some of the most profound and beautiful words ever written:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21)
But Satan - the Father of lies - still can’t see a setup, or recognize that only God truly knows the heart of His people. God asks the serpent the same question again after Satan failed – with a twist.
“Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” (Job 2:3)
By the time we get to Job 2:9-10 - the affliction has reached a point where Job’s wife has finally had enough, but Job continues steadfast.
His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
God knew Job's heart in a way the father of lies cannot. Oh, to have the faith of Job!
#LoveMatters