Good morning everyone,

Job 1:9-12-9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

It can be very easy to assume naturally that since God is our Father and sent His Son on our behalf, that such thoughtful care and love should protect us from all harm. Yet biblically and through experience being protected from evil is not the ultimate goal of God, since Satan is defeated and subjected to do God’s power and will (Colossians 2 v15). However like Job, Satan is used as an instrument of God to test Job’s faith. Also to prove to Satan and to Job himself that he does not serve God because of how rich and blessed God has made him. So in this ultimate collision between “Good and evil” the believer is tested to prove not only to Satan that he is defeated, but to himself that he loves God for God, not for His blessings. Even though Job was filthy rich for his time.

I don’t believe, given the many things God reveals in us through hard times, that we can say anything “indefinitely” as to what we would never do. Many times we say things in great confidence and even faith before we are severely tested, just like Peter! We find this all the time in relationships and marriages. It is not until you actually begin to see the raw truth of one another that relationships are put to the test. Everyone is in love when things go as planned in life. Yet it is that thinking that God test for, when He wants to show us and shame the devil how faith and love are unconditional attributes when it comes to worship.

So the question many times for the book of Job is why? Why did God “touch” all he had and leave him to suffer like that before his friends and community? It seems rather cruel and un-loving for a Father to do that. Yet here is what we don’t take in consideration when God tests faith and even calls it more precious than wealth! (1 Peter 1 v7) That God knows in life, what we will have to face down the road, being omniscience and knowing everything. And if have shunned the test of faith, which builds us to withstand the upcoming trials of life we will sink in the next set of trials we face. The kind of trial that makes money irrelevant! This is why faith is more precious than wealth. God knew Job’s faith in Him was genuine, but I believe it was for Job to know that, for His own confidence and assurance to deal with this life. It is completely dysfunctional and a lack of faith for a parent to try keep their child from ever being tested in life. As much as we want to keep them from all harm, if we knew the outcome like God does, we would allow them to go through what they can handle because it will help them later in life. That is how and why God test the faith of you and me (1 Corinthians 10 v13)

In His love, Ld