What About Job (Part 2)
All that he (Job) has is in your (Satan’s) power (Job 1:12)
A traditional view concerning Job is this: God allowed Satan to ravage his life as a test of Job’s character and love for God. This may sound plausible to some, but it is a teach- ing that leads to hopelessness and confusion about when we are to resist the devil.
We’ve already introduced Job 3:25 as the open door for Job’s troubles - “What I have greatly feared has come on me.” This fear is manifested in Job 1:4,5 where a worried and stressed out Job is continually offering sacrifices for his children. He was afraid that something bad was going to happen to them.
Look at verse twelve of chapter one. Notice what God said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power.” This was not a handing over of Job to Satan, but a declaration of what was already true - because of Job’s open door of fear. God did not put Job in Satan’s hands. Job’s fear put him in the hands of the enemy. This was not a handing over of Job to Satan, but a declaration of what was already true because of Job’s open door of fear. God did not put Job in Sa- tan’s hands. Job’s fear put him in the hands of the enemy.
Is this difficult to accept? Maybe, but the alternative view is even more implausible – saying that God will use the devil to kill our family, destroy our property, and afflict our body. Again, if we accept this second view, then we are des- tined to never be able to pray in faith for specific areas of our lives, nor can we ever really be confident of God’s will in our lives.
Declare: God is good and Satan is bad. Jesus came to de- stroy the works of the devil, not partner with him to accom- plish God’s purposes.
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