Job -- This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test.

This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. If this had been an actual emergency…

Do you remember this? Every so often there would be this high-pitched tone come across the television invariably during my favorite program to warn everyone the siren they just heard was just a test. There was no cause for alarm because there was no emergency. Had there been an actual emergency there would have been some kind of instruction come across the screen.

In Job 1 and 2, we see Satan gives Job 2 tests, but personally, if I was Job, I’d call them emergencies.

Satan’s plan of attack:

·         Recognizant:

o   He observes, watches and takes a similar form as his victim. – “From roaming through the earth,” Satan answered Him, “and walking around on it.” Job 1:7, 2:2

o   He takes note of what God has done for his victim.  Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? Job 1:10

o   He notices God’s protection.

·         Presents his case:

o   Satan goes before the Lord two times. When the first plan of attack did not get the desired results, he tried again.

§  Attack 1 – take away God’s blessings

§  Attack 2 – take away Job’s health

§  Residual effect of Satan’s work – a defeated wife and pompous, self-righteous friends thinking they speak for God

o   Satan stays within the parameters God has place but isn’t satisfied with Job’s reaction and choices. Satan wants his glory.

o   Satan presents psychology to God – Skin for skin. A man will give up everything he owns in exchange for his life. Job 2:4

·         Outcome:

o   Job did not sin. Job 1:22, 2:10: GOD – 1,  Satan – 0

o   Job became destitute losing all of his children, servants, blessings, home, but he didn’t lose his faith. GOD – 2, Satan – 0

o   Job suffers excruciating pain and physical illness but does not sin.  GOD – 3, Satan – 0

o   Job’s wife is defeated, and his “friends” bring additional hurt, but Job spoke truth about God.  GOD – 4, Satan – 0

o   God reveals Himself to Job. Job – 1, Satan – 0

o   Job’s relationship with God becomes deeper and richer as a result. Job –2, Satan – 0

o   Job’s friends had to apologize and provide a burnt offering to Job and request Job pray on their behalf.  Job – 3, Satan – 0

o   God restores Job and doubles his original blessing.  Job – 4, God – 5, Satan – 0

Not that any one’s life is a game, but I wanted to show you who is defeated. It’s not the one who is tested. It’s not the One who allows the test. It’s the one testing.

If you are being sifted like wheat by Satan right now, know this. He is going to lose. If you don’t believe so, read Revelations.

So if you feel as if your life resembled the commercial for the Emergency Broadcast System, know these two things:

·         If you are being tested, know it is not the end. This was a season in Job’s life. It didn’t last forever.

·         If you are enduring an emergency, you have a place to find instructions – the Word of God.

Job - Counting blessings

Blessings. What do blessings look like? Where do they come from? Who guards them? Have you ever thought about blessings? I don’t know that I really ever have until I listed Job’s blessings.

·         10 grown children – 7 sons, 3 daughters.

I remember studying genetics in college, and I remember being amazed that any child could be born without major defects because even if the slightest gene was altered there were ramifications. If the mother became ill, some diseases could be passed to an unborn baby. And Job and his wife had 10 kids! From someone who couldn’t get pregnant with one, I am at awe when a baby is born. And Job had 10 miracles walking around on two legs, and probably each one had their own personality, their own strengths and weaknesses, and their own gifts.

·         Then these 10 children had their own homes. None of them were living with Job and his wife. His kids were standing on their own two feet and handling their own business. Can I get an AMEN? That’s my goal for my two miracles.

·         Not only did he allow his children to live through puberty, but his children actually LIKED each other. They would have banquets at each other’s homes. There was harmony among them. That is no small miracle! If we were to stop right here, would you agree Job was very blessed? I would. But we can’t stop here because there’s more.

·         Job owned 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. Keep in mind he didn’t win the lottery. His kids are grown which means Job is a mature man. He’s worked for these things. He invested wisely and bought wisely. He employed wisely.

·         He had a large number of servants. He employed wisely, and I bet he had a good reputation as a boss otherwise it would be difficult to maintain good servants who cared about doing a good job making sure the flocks were safe and well-fed.

·         God had a hedge of protection around him, his household, and everything he owned. As my daughter would say, mic drop.

If you notice, the blessings listed in Job 1 come AFTER a description of Job’s character. I don’t think that is by accident. Job was looking to up to Yahweh. Job was a righteous man. Job feared God, and God blessed Job. Praisin’ goin’ up. Blessings comin’ down.

When you look at the people and things in your life through the filter of each being a miracle it can help to change what you thought of as a curse into a challenge. A challenge can be overcome. Psalm 18:29, For by You I can run through a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. It would definitely be a challenge for me to get over a wall of any height. There are hurdles in life that are challenges not curses. If you start looking for the miracle, for the blessings, be sure to show your gratitude to God. Tell Him so because we know every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:17).