Considering God's Servant Job

"Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"

Job 1:8

After Satan had walked to and fro on the earth, God asked him if he had considered "My servant Job."  Based upon the devil's answer, it is plainly evident he had.  It was Job's upright and God-fearing conduct that drew God's and Satan's attention, and this was for different purposes.  Satan considered ways he could bring Job down to the level of the basest, sinful man.  From the time Satan was lifted up with pride against God he has sought to steal glory that is rightfully God's, to kill human beings made in the image of God with sin, and delights in the destruction of their souls in hell.  God's purpose in bringing up Job was to see him refined by grace through faith as James 5:11 says:  "Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful."

The interactions of God with Satan in the book of Job throw headlong a lot of what is passed off today as spiritual warfare.  Satan may be compared to a lion seeking whom he may devour, but that does not make Christians lion tamers who dissuade his attacks by barking rebukes and cracking the whip of Christ's authority.  The passage in Job shows Satan is always looking for opportunities to pounce, however God has him on a tight lead.  God sets clearly defined boundaries over what Satan is permitted to do concerning God's people.  Satan recognised the hedge of protection God had put around Job, and there was nothing he could do unless God decided to remove it and gave him permission to do anything.  We can focus more on opposing Satan the enemy of our souls rather than resting in God who is the lover of our souls.

When God said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job?" it is remarkable God knew and considered Him, even as Jesus Christ is considerate towards all who trust Him today.  Can you imagine God, out of all the people who walk the planet at once, would bring you up in conversation and say your name?  God did this knowing what would transpire, and by His grace would humble both Job and show the victory of faith in Him over all schemes and attacks of Satan.  The book of Job tells us Satan can only go so far as God permits in persecuting the saints, will go as far as he possibly can, and is overcome by the redemptive power of God's grace.  Even for those delivered unto Satan for the destruction of their bodies there remains hope in Christ for their souls when such humble themselves under the mighty hand of God.

This rings true under the New Covenant as well for Paul prayed three times for God to remove a messenger of Satan from his life.  It seems God said no twice and the third time God changed the subject.  God revealed He sanctioned and approved spiritual assault upon Paul for a good purpose he could learn to rejoice in.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says, "And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  God's answer was not to rebuke the evil messenger or to deter him, for God's grace was sufficient for Paul and for us to humbly walk in victory with rejoicing.  The power of Christ rested upon Paul when his flesh was weak, and because of God's good purposes he learned to rejoice in the LORD rather than resent trials God allowed.

When God allows Satan to take well-aimed shots at believers with his fiery arrows, it provides opportunity for God to demonstrate to all the victory and supremacy of Jesus over all.  Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:14, "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."  This is amazing!  Satan was involved in the killing of Jesus Who, through His death and resurrection, made eternal salvation possible through the Gospel.  When God allows Satan to buffet and persecute His people, a purpose God has in mind beyond our personal refinement and strengthening is to "diffuse the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."  Jesus triumphed openly over the condemnation of the Law and Satan on Calvary, and His followers triumph daily over principalities and powers, not by foolish attempts to bind Satan (which God will do), but by allowing the devil to take his best shot and by God's grace His people continuing to survive and thrive.

Knowing God is the sovereign God of all who considers and loves each one of us and does everything is a key factor in experiencing rest and perfect peace in a world of spiritual warfare.  We were once dead in sins and now have been made alive to God according to His glorious purposes.  Every moment we are called to consider and praise our God who saves us, for all victory and abundant life is in Him.