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31/01/2021 03:00 - 01/02/2021 02:00

“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong” - I Cor 16:13 (NIV).

One of the most remarkable stories in the Bible and one that has meaning beyond is the story of Job. In it we see glimpses of the workings of the devil and his nature. 

We are here introduced to Job as a wealthy man, blessed with “seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East” (Job 1: 2-3).  This has not pleased Satan because in spite of all his accomplishments he is a man who is “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” (vv 1). Job would go at great lengths to make sacrifices for his children, “thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts” (vv 4).

So in comes Satan, whose itinerary involves “roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” (vv 7). Must you know that his is not a party walk, but serious scouting business looking for recruits? In the case of Job, who is still a hold out, Satan is embittered. When the Lord presents Job as a hold out, he pouts, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face” (vv 9-11).

Once Satan is given a gap he does not waste time but moves to exterminate Job’s entire family and wipe away all his possessions.  But when Job still remains firm in faith he asks for the real prize, his life! “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life.  But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face” (Jobs 2; 4-5).

What we see here are two things. First, Satan, is on a daily hunting mission. Now had Job blessed as he was been a man who had sold his heart to him, he would of course have been safe. There are many people whom Satan has left untouched in their glory because he knows they are tight under his cold grip. When you see someone doing well even though he is far from things of God do not think all is well; it could well be the way Satan has kept him there in his fold.

The other thing we see is that Job was protected, until then, because as Satan observed “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has” (Job 1:10). The important point for us to observe is that we need that hedge around us, since as we see, Satan is never at rest, looking for those to devour. Constantly we should pray for the Lord’s hedge to cover and protect us, our families and all that we cherish!

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray for your hedge to cover me, my family and possession from the wicked one, Satan, against his wiles and attacks!

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