The Lord Tested Job by Means of Satan

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” 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?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Job 1:6-12 NKJV

Three things we can observe out of the account recorded in Job’s first chapter. First, God allows troubles and difficulties in our midst. Without God’s recognition and permission, nothing can happen no matter how it seems trivial and commonplace or serious and large-scale in our lives. All things are from God, even sufferings and tribulations. God puts us into tests through which He molds and disciplines us to be fully equipped for His good work. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NKJV)

Next, notice God initiated the testing of Job and permitted the devil to strike Job. So, the devil could only harm him within the boundary of God’s approval. He is not an independent agent, working for him. He is fully and completely submissive to God. It is a significant fact for us to remember, especially when we are tried and tested. Our God knows what He is doing simply because He is in control fully and completely. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)

Lastly, it is noteworthy to understand the fact that what is seen is not everything. What is seen is temporal but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). There is the invisible kingdom of God just as there is the visible universe. In fact, what is seen is the manifestation of what is unseen. What is unseen is true reality. You see that God talks to Satan just as we talk to others. The existence of the devil is not illusion or fantasy but reality. Although it is real that the devil exists in our midst, he has already been judged on the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:8-11 NKJV)