My Redeemer LivesSýnishorn

The Devil’s Trickery

Previously, we looked at the battle for Job’s soul, and that story shows us so much about suffering and why it happens. Let’s look at this crucial passage again:

“Then Satan answered the Lord, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? … But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.” (Job 1:6–12)

Did you notice one incredibly important detail? 

The devil has to go to God to ask His permission to ruin Job’s life because God has put a fence around him. That word “fence” literally means a deep, thick hedge of protection. And with God standing at the entrance, the devil can’t enter. 

Now, here’s the thing. If you love Jesus, then you belong to God. He has put a hedge of protection around you, just like He had for Job. 

When the devil wants to attack you, he can only do it with God’s permission.

So, when you’re attacked, has God fallen asleep, or wandered off somewhere? Has the devil overwhelmed Him? No, none of those. God has given the devil permission to attack you.

And He always has a purpose in this. Always. 

That’s an important thing for you and me to know when we’re suffering, especially when we have that sense that we’re being attacked. Remember: God is in control. My Redeemer lives.

God’s plan in this is to test our faith and see how we will react. Because how we react to suffering says everything about what we believe and who we are and our relationship with Him.

He’s looking for you and me, through gritted teeth, to utter those words that Job uttered: “My Redeemer lives”. He’s looking for us to worship Him, to completely trust our lives into His hands, despite what our circumstances are screaming at us.

And when we come out of the other end of it all, having struggled, endured, trusted and grown, we discover that our faith is much, much stronger. 

So, the next time suffering comes your way… how will you respond?

Life Application Questions:

• Reread Job 1. Ponder the passage that says that the devil must ask for God’s permission to attack you. What does this tell you about his level of power?
• Ever pictured God’s hedge of protection around you? Picture it now. How does it make you feel? Does it change your perspective on the troubles in your life?
• Why do you think God allows the devil to cause Job to suffer so much? Why do you think He allows you to suffer?
• Think back to the last struggle you went through. With the benefit of hindsight, can you see any ways in which you grew through the experience?