Tag: invisible world
Satan, the accuser!
Scripture reading for May 17: Job 1-3
The Bible teaches us that the unseen world is eternal and the world that is visible is only temporary. (2 Corinthians 4:18) God dwells in the realm of the eternal and made this visible creation, including us. Because of Satan’s rebellion and man’s disobedience, sin and death now dominate the visible creation. God, in His love, seeks to redeem us from the world of sin and death. The Bible is the story of God’s gracious plan of redemption being implemented throughout history in the lives of people who by faith knew God. As we come to the book of Job we have a revelation of God at work behind the scenes in the invisible world revealing Himself to Job. We also find Satan, cast down to earth, accusing Job before God.
Job is one of the oldest books in Scripture. It begins with Satan having access to God. We find Satan accusing Job of serving God because of selfish motives. (Job 1:9-11) Satan also accused God of showing favoritism to Job, protecting and blessing him. He made the accusation that if God removed His protection and the blessings, Job would curse God to His face! God knew Job and agreed to allow Satan to test Job to show his faith was genuine. God placed boundaries on what Satan could do to Job personally and released Satan to his temptations. As a result, Job suddenly and catastrophically lost everything he owned as well as his ten children in a violent storm. (Job 1:19) Job’s response was to humble himself and to worship God. (Job 1:20-21)
As Job’s story continues, Satan and God continue their discussion. God commends Job for keeping his integrity during the temptation. Satan responds with another accusation and lie. He contends that if God will allow him to take Job’s health, Job will then curse God. (Job 2:4-6) God again sets a limit and releases Satan to inflict Job physically and emotionally. During this trial, Job’s own wife suggests that he curse God and die. Job rebukes his wife and sits in silent suffering. He finally curses the day of his birth but does not curse God. (Job 3:1-4)
What insight do you receive from this story of Job, Satan, and God? What response would you have towards God if you suddenly lost your possessions and children? What about your health being taken?
Our battle with the ‘accuser’!
Scripture reading for May 19th: Job 1-3
The Bible teaches us that the unseen world is eternal and the world that is visible is temporary. (2nd Corinthians 4:18) God dwells in the realm of the eternal and made the visible creation, including us. Adam’s disobedience brought sin and death into the world and corrupted both creation and man. Each of us are now born the first time into the visible realm and face life in a fallen creation with mortal bodies that have been corrupted by sin. Satan, the accuser, has been given permission to tempt, test, and try us. He seeks to steal our faith, kill our bodies, and destroy our souls in Hell. (John 10:10, Revelation 20:10)
God in His love seeks to redeem us from the world of sin and death. He reveals Himself to us through the creation (Psalm 19:1-3) and by revelation in our inner man. He gives each person a conscience with a basic knowledge of right and wrong. We have a free will and can choose to follow our fallen nature or live by God’s revelation in faith. Job is a story of God at work in the invisible world and Satan, through accusation, doing his best to steal Job’s faith in God’s revelation.
Satan first accused God of blessing Job and buying his loyalty. He accused Job of serving God because of what he had and would get. (Job 1:9-11) He implied that if God removed His hedge of protection and the blessings, Job would curse God to His face! God gave boundaries to Satan and allowed him take Job’s children and blessings. (Job 1:19) Job’s response was to humble himself and to worship God. (Job 1:20-21)
In his second accusation, Satan suggested that if God would allow him to take Job’s health, Job would curse God. (Job 2:4-6) God set a limit and released Satan to inflict Job physically and emotionally. Job’s own wife suggested that he curse God and die! He finally cursed the day of his birth but never God! (Job 3:1-4)
In these chapters of Job, we learn about the battle going on for our faith. Satan accuses us before God. God is on our side and supports us by revelation! It is faith in the invisible God of heaven that brings victory in every trial!