Job 1

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” Job 1:1 (NKJV)

I believe the two most dreaded verses in the Bible are “Turn away from Me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23) and “Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant...?’” (Job 1:8a)  Personally, the notion that God & Satan may be talking about ME at this very moment terrifies me! I would rather live a peaceful life, having received salvation. I would be content to simply read my Bible, share the gospel, love my family, earn an honest wage, and maybe vacation at the beach for a week every year. I would be good with that!  But my “American Dream” scenario is not found anywhere in Scripture. The reality is that the “accuser,” Satan, is always trying to convince God to condemn us.  And how does Satan know that he has a case against mankind?  Because he is the one who enticed us to sin in the first place!

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

We should not be surprised at the notion that our lack of righteousness is being discussed in Heaven, nor should we be afraid. Just as we have an accuser, we also have an advocate (attorney).

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2 (KJV)

So, Satan’s ongoing argument about the sin of God’s people (and his demand that God rebuke & cast us away) presents us with a dilemma for which we have no human solution. After all, Satan is correct in his assertion that we deserve judgment. Enter Messiah Jesus. Not only is Jesus our advocate (argues on our behalf), but He is also our “propitiation”. That is, Jesus has paid the fullness of our sin penalty, in its entirety, forever!

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” Revelation 12:10 (NKJV)

Job’s name in Hebrew translates as “Hated/Persecuted.” While Job was hated and persecuted by Satan (and later also by his so-called friends), he was loved and sheltered by God. That is encouraging for us!  We should take courage that while Satan and the world may hate us as believers, God loves us!  (John 3:16)

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” John 15:18 (NKJV)