Whom shall I fear - Example from the Bible: Job and the Divine Hedge

When we meditate on the story of Job, we find that the devil set his will to accuse Job and harm him. This was done step-by-step through the following stages:

First: He accused Job in front of the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” (Job 1:9). Satan is also accusing us and our brethren day and night.

Second: He put forth his hand - after the Lord granted him permission - and struck all of Job’s property (cows, sheep and camels).

Third: He sent a great wind which struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on Job’s children, and they all died.

Fourth: When he saw that, despite all that he did, Job not sin, Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

Fifth: He fought against Job with thoughts of despair, using his wife, who said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9).

Sixth: His friends rose up against him and they charged Job with receiving punishment from God because of his evil, to the point that Job said of them, miserable comforters and vain doctors.

Seventh: Satan caused Job to fall into self-pity and lament, so that when he opened his mouth, he insulted and cursed the day he was born.

My brother, the devil may use some of these methods with you, to make you fear and tremble, to sadden and depress you. But when we look further in-depth at the temptation of Job, we find that God’s dealings with Job cause us to be confident and rejoice.

Now, let us consider the Lord’s protection of Job from the various schemes of Satan.

First: There was a divine hedge of blessing completely surrounding Job and his house and all his possessions. This is acknowledged by Satan himself. The hedge is not even seen by Job.

Second: The Lord is an advocate on behalf of Job in response to Satan’s accusations against him. “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). The Lord intercedes on our behalf at all times in response to Satan’s accusations against us.

Third: The devil was not able to touch Job or stretch out his hand against him without the Lord’s permission allowing him to do so. Our lives are not left to the frivolity of the devil, but are held in the hands of the heavenly Father. “But not a hair of your head shall be lost” (Luke 21:18). “The very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7).

Fourth: God did not allow the devil to do whatever he wanted to do with Job, but He set a limit which Satan could not cross, so as to ensure Job’s safety and survival. And the LORD said to Satan, “Only do not lay a hand on his person” (Job 1:12). The second time, the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life” (Job 2:6).

Fifth: God used the warfare of Satan against Job to purify his life and strengthen his faith. Then Job said, “When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). All that Job lost during the attack of Satan was his dependence on his own self-righteousness.

Sixth: The Lord did not leave Job a victim to his private thoughts, the words of his wife, and the attack of his friends. But He spoke to him from within the storm and He delighted him in the pleasure of His fellowship and teaching, until Job exclaimed: “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You… I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You” (Job 42:2, 5).

Seventh: The LORD accepted Job. And the LORD restored Job’s losses, giving him double for everything that the devil was able to take from him. Therefore, the Bible says “You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord“(James 5:11).

Thus we see that God kept Job, and turned the attack of the devil into great goodness in Job’s life. This is what He is doing with you too, my dear reader. The Lord is stronger than Satan. The devil cannot touch you, as long as you are a child of God and his Spirit is dwelling in you.

Practical Excerpts

 Do not underestimate the power of the devil. Insidious and evil, the book of Job warns us of his thoughts and deceitful schemes. However, never exaggerate his power, for Christ defeated all powers and forces, triumphing over them in the cross. (Col. 2:15). Therefore Satan is a defeated enemy.

 Do not give the devil room to attack you with his evil thoughts, “Has God indeed said?” Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. (Eph 4:26, 27). Do not hold on to any negative feelings, or unconfessed sins.

 Cast away from your thoughts any conviction that Satan can harm you as a true believer. Or that you may be subjected to the work of witchcraft, the influence of envy, or demon affliction or possession, as people may suppose. The devil cannot come near the believer who is protected by the blood of the Son of God, and indwelt by the Spirit of God.

 Take all your matters as from the hand of God and not from the hand of Satan. When God allowed Satan to afflict Job, he said, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1: 21). When Paul was tormented by the devil, Paul did not speak with the devil, but he pled with the Lord three times. Therefore, direct your sights and thoughts towards your God only.

 Trust that there is Divine Protection surrounding you. Do not consider the temporary loss, but trust that the God of compensation will give you abundant grace in your battle with the devil. This grace will cause you to shout with Paul: “When I am weak, then I am strong,” as he experienced the promise of the Lord: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10).

The Pavilion of God is strong and the powers of Satan can never overcome it.

Magdy Samuel