RPG Adults
A HEAVENLY SCENE
TUESDAY, APRIL 5
Job 1:6-12
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
“…by manifestation
of the truth…”
A HEAVENLY SCENE
We have, in this portion of Scripture, a report of a heavenly scene. This not only gives us the key to understanding the book of Job but also to understanding some of the reasons Christians suffer. Job evidently wrote about these events in retrospect because, at the time they were occurring, he was unaware of them.
The angels (“the sons of God,” Job 1:6) were coming before God to make their reports. Angels are spirits (Ps 104:4), and one of the duties of angels is to minister to God’s people (Ps 34:7; Heb 1:14). As they came before God, Satan (meaning “the accuser”) was among them. Originally called Lucifer, he was cast out of heaven as he was filled with pride and desired to take God’s place. He is now the enemy of God and His people (Luke 10:18). Satan had no right to be with the holy angels to enter into the presence of God. He is, however, presumptuous, with no respect or humility. God questioned Satan to expose his wicked activity. Satan’s answer (Job 1:7) showed he is not idle in the battle for the souls of men.
Satan complained that God had blessed Job far beyond other men and dared God to take away Job’s blessing, claiming that this would reveal Job’s true motive in obeying God (Job 1:11). God offered Satan a chance to prove his point. Here, we note that Satan is powerful, but he is limited by the greater power of God: Satan would be permitted to take away all that Job had, but could not touch Job’s person.
We can rest in the assurance that God’s hand is upon us. Nothing happens to us that God does not permit and He invariably provides the strength for us to pass through (1 Cor 10:13; John 10:29). After this exchange, Satan went forth from the presence of God as he had no legitimate part in the meeting that was taking place.
Job was unaware of what was happening in heaven and how it would affect him. Let us always be mindful of the spiritual battles we are in (Eph 6:12). Let us continually be on our guard so that our lives will be a testimony to God’s grace and saving power.
THOUGHT: Why is Satan a danger to the Christian?
PRAYER: Father, help me to always watch and pray.