To continue the study, I would like to direct your attention to the second chapter of Job. This time God went to Satan and said: "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 without any reason." "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face." Job 2:3 � 4.

The first time I read the book of Job I was horrified at the circumstances that was afflicting Job. I even said the words; "Wow that is cold blooded." Because what happens to Job in the second chapter, (needless to say) made me want to cry out for the man. But as I read the rest of the book I realized that Job was actually fortunate in all of his suffering. I know. That's the craziest thing I ever heard of too. But it's the truth. In the course of this lesson on Job maybe we can see why the story of Job is important to us as Christians. God uses Job to repel Satan's mockery. God thinks highly of Job. He loves Job so much, that he lets Job prove himself in tests. Job goes on to teach generation upon generation to be thankful for God's affliction as well as his blessings. Because even the gravest affliction has God's protection behind it. Satan is the enemy of everyone in existence. The word Satan means "Accuser". When he was cast out of heaven, he made it his personal vendetta to bring about the end of the human race. "Better to rule in hell, then to serve in heaven." These are the prideful words that started the war between Heaven and Hell. Satan lay in wait for each and every one of us to fall and become his prey. He his like a panther stalking us throughout the night. He tempts our souls with our wildest desire, and snares our souls with trickery and deceit. From the first time man and woman set foot in the Garden of Eden Satan was there to cause rebellion in our hearts. He wants us to fail. God is our only defense against this horrendous beast who stalks our nightmares. For God to trust in Job to the point where he is willing to let Job go up to bat against the Devil himself says quite a bit for the integrity of Job. So Satan mocked God and called him out. So first God caused Job's children to run away and be killed, and all of his livestock was stricken with death, but Job did not accuse God of wrongdoing. And God used Job to rebuke Satan's onslaught. But Satan wasn't satisfied. He wanted to test God's patience a little bit more. So he asked God to put Job through another test. God put painful sores, lacerations, and boils to form over his flesh, and he crippled his bones, but he did not take Job's life. Job's suffering was bad enough for his wife to say: "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" And Job replied: "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" Job 2: 9 � 10.

Job understood that God can cause trouble for the good right along with the righteous. And he can cause good right along with evil. It is the will of God who makes it rain or the sun to shine. It is God who gave us life, and it is God who will take life away. We should be thankful that he doesn't go ahead and wipe us off the face of the planet. We should be thankful for every breath we draw, even the death rattle. We are fortunate to be thought of in the grand design. And never take a single breath for granted because God can take it away at the drop of a hat. Job also understood that God is the creator of everything in existence. Whatever God may say or do is right. If God decided that the moon was going to be neon green one night. Guess what? It will be done. He commands the moon and the stars. He can straighten the course of any river, or he can flatten the tallest mountain at will. We are his servants. He is our headmaster. Bare in mind that as you go through your daily rituals, that what you do is provided solely by the creator. Let our world rest in the will of God. Be thankful for all that God gives you rather it is good or bad. For if God sends an attack dog you can be sure that his teeth are filed. Let God have the authority that he has earned by creating the universe. The secret of life is God rules. Amen!


Conversations with Job,God Speaks with Job