God Allows Testing

In the book of Job, God allowed Satan to test Job twice to prove to Satan that Job was faithful and loved God with no ulterior motives. Satan argued that Job only loved God and was faithful because he had everything: a large family, wealth (he was the richest person in the entire area, and had his health.

So those are the areas where God allowed Satan to test him.

Test 1: Satan took everything from Job, except Job's wife. He lost all of his animals, his children...all of his material things. Job mourned, but remained faithful to God.

When that did not work God allowed Satan to test his health because Satan accused Job of still remaining faithful because he was physically healthy.

Test 2: He gave Job boils all over his entire body. Painful, oozing boils. At this time Job's wife told him he should just curse God and die. He was in pain, still recovering from loosing everything and now dealing with this health struggle, but he remained faithful.

In our lives, if God were to allow Satan to test our faith, would we prove Satan right or God?

Would we remain faithful and our love for God steady?

Or would we curse God for causing us to go through so much pain and loss?

My prayer is that our life, our faith, & our love will prove God right.

Sadly, that is not always the case.

It's easy to blame God the moment something goes wrong in our lives. It's easy to be like Job's friends and blame people for the reasons they are going through something hard and painful.

But what we learn through the story of Job is that we could be the product of a spiritual test where God is trying to prove to our enemy that "you can test them, but they love me no strings attached".

We also see that even though God allowed Satan to test Job, He put limitations on what he could do. Satan still answers to God. This means that to beat him, we have to stay close to the power that he answers to and use that power to defeat him.

I love you Lord, and I am so sorry for the times where I questioned you and when my faith wavered because of what I was going through. Thank you for this eye opening, glimpse into how you go to bat for us against Satan. Lord, help us remain strong and faithful. Help us bring our sorrow, pain, frustrations, sadness and anger to you with a heart of humble love. Thank you for being such an amazing advocate, Father, and friend. In Jesus name, AMEN.

I encourage you to read the full book of Job. Love you guys and hope you have a blessed day.

❤️✝️🐑🙌

Job 1:1-22 NLT

[1] There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. [2] He had seven sons and three daughters. [3] He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.

[4] Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. [5] When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

JOB'S FIRST TEST

[6] One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. [7] “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” [8] Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

[9] Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. [10] You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! [11] But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

[12] “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

[13] One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, [14] a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, [15] when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

[16] While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

[17] While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

[18] While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. [19] Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

[20] Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. [21] He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” [22] In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

Job 2:1-10 NLT

JOB'S SECOND TEST

[1] One day the members of the heavenly court came again to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. [2] “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

[3] Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.”

[4] Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. [5] But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

[6] “All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.” [7] So Satan left the Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.

[8] Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. [9] His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”

[10] But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

https://bible.com/bible/116/job.2.1-10.NLT

🙌🐑✝️❤️