(Job 1:1-5) There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
Here we see a scene somewhere in heaven, where God initiated a conversation with Satan to point out Job's righteousness. When Satan tried to accuse Job of sin and say that Job would sin even more if he experienced a test, God allowed Satan to attack Job's possessions...
(Job 1:6-12) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.
Satan's first attack was against Job's possessions, as Satan was trying to prove that Job was only serving God for selfish reasons - that Job loved money and things more than God.
Satan also had all of Job's sons and daughters killed, to prove that Job loved his family more than God.
And here we can see that these attacks which came from people and nature (the wind, and maybe a lightning bolt) were somehow due to demonic activity...
(Job 1:13-17) Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
But Job remains focused on God...
(Job 1:20-22) Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said,
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
From this we see:
- Satan's name means "adversary"
- God allows demons to meet with Him in heaven for now (1:6)
- demons have access to the heaven for now (1:6)
- sons of God are angels (1:6)
- Satan and demons are spiritual beings (1:6)
- demons are also beings like people (1:6)
- demons can roam and walk the earth (1:6)
- demons can hold conversations (1:7)
- demons have emotions, Satan was antagonistic toward Job (1:8-11)
- demons are intellectual and calculating (1:8-11)
- demons have some amount of power, but are limited by God's sovereign control (1:12)
- demons seem to have some sort of power over some of nature (1:16, 19)
- demons lie and try to accuse God's children (1:9)
- demons desire to disgrace God and oppose and destroy God's Person, His plan and His people (1:11)
- demons cannot act without God's permission (1:12)
Personal experience: back when my husband and I were first married, we did what we could to earn and save up for certain things - for our life together and for bringing children into this world. We weren't expecting to be rich in money and things, but to be "rich" in God's love, and to trust God to provide what was needed.
It was only two years into our marriage when we were transferred to another city, which had a much higher cost-of-living. After calculating out what would be needed to survive over there, my husband requested and was promised a raise. But when we got there, that promise was broken. So for a while, we were living at poverty level.
We still continued to faithfully tithe what little money came in, and trusted that God would bless and provide. And He always did. Somehow we would even manage to save up a little... and then when something broke down, we always had just enough to fix or replace it.
As well, just when we would need something, we would be given things like free babysitting, hand-me-down baby clothes, food, diapers... Our loving and generous parents were the ones who provided extra things like toys and certain household goods. And since my mom had a good job that provided extra income for them, they were able to take us clothing shopping once in a while. And one year - they bought us a barbecue!!! It may not sound like much to some, but this was huge for us and greatly appreciated, especially in hot weather.
We went on like that for about two years, until a better job opportunity came along for my husband. It was also just after this that my mom passed away. We know that this is only a temporary loss, but bsides missing her, she had been the "glue" to keeping our family "close" even though we were physically so far away from one another.
I'm not saying that all of this was a result of demonic activity, because I have no idea about that. We can say that we were being tested and going through trials! Through all these struggles we definitely could have gotten angry and bitter towards God, but how would that have helped? Instead we got more opportunity to depend on God, and experience His love and faithfulness, and see the miracles of provision! Some of my happiest moments have been during "tight-times"!!!
Today's takeaway: if we love money or people more than God, then the loss of any of these things would be a great upset to us. But if we put God first, and praise Him and trust Him for comfort and guidance and support, we can experience hope and joy...
(James 1:2-27) Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
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