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. The Eternal God knew his servant and had confidence in his loyalty.
Job’s adversary, however, wasn’t smart enough to accept the witness of God. He totally rejected God’s confidence in Job. Note that satan couldn’t deny any of God’s praise for Job, but he had more confidence in himself than in God or Job. How foolish! He attacked Job’s dedication and claimed that Job only served God because of his many material blessings.
In effect, satan said, “Why wouldn’t he be dedicated to you? You have surrounded him with great material blessings. 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.” The adversary really meant: “I am confident I can entice Job away from you.”
Yet when everything except his wife was gone, Job was still committed to God and fell down in worship before God (v. 20-22). He was confident in God.
Dear Father, thank you for your confidence in us. Grant that no circumstance may turn us away from you. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in God’s confidence in you,