Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Job 1:8 (NIV)
What a marvelous witness that God gave for Job. First, he challenged Satan to consider this man. The concept of “considering” here includes the idea of setting one’s heart on something to make it one’s own. So in effect, God is challenging Satan to attempt to turn Job away from serving God to serving Satan. We can almost hear the gasps of readers. Why would God do that? But think about the confidence God has in Job. Second, God called this man “my servant.” Third, he said, “there is none like him in the earth.” Next, he states, “he is a perfect and upright man.” And finally, God says of Job, “he fears God and shuns evil.” Any one of these five statements was sufficient to honor Job’s faithfulness but all of them together should teach us that God knew the character and integrity of the man. Job had convinced God that he was committed to God. These statements from the Eternal God serve to show us that God has confidence in those who are committed to him.
The enemy of our souls, however, wasn’t smart enough to accept the witness of God. He totally rejected God’s conclusions about Job and began immediately to rationalize Job’s dedication. Note that he couldn’t deny any of God’s praise for Job. So, he simply attacked his dedication. Satan claimed that Job only served God because he enjoyed many material blessings. In effect, he said, “Why wouldn’t he be dedicated to you? You have surrounded him with great material benefits. You protect his family. You have prospered his business. He is healthy and wealthy. That is the only reason he is dedicated to you. Job is a hypocrite. Withdraw your protection and blessings and he will renounce you and blaspheme your name.”
But when everything except his wife was gone, Job fell down and worshipped God and committed the situation unto him (v. 20-22). He refused to blame God in any way. Job had a resolution of dedication.
Dear Father, thank you for loving us. Thank you for the confidence you place in us. Forgive us and deliver us from the sin that entangles us so easily. Empower us to follow Job’s example. Enable us to be dedicated to you no matter what may occur in our lives. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for who he is and live for his glory,
Pastor Smith