Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?
What a righteous man about whom God boast’s !!!
What a lifestyle that God throws a challenge to Satan !!!
Job was a descendant of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. Job who was a very wealthy man lived in the land of Uz. The story of Job is considered even before Abraham. As per chronological order, Job comes after Noah , the Flood and Babel.
God is sovereign, all powerful. Satan is accountable to God since he came to present himself to God
(Job -1: 6). We see God asks Satan from where did he come which means Satan has to confess and he is answerable to all questions asked by God (Job -1: 7). We also know that without divine permission of God, Satan cannot do anything (Job -1: 10). We can infere that the Satan is allowed to bring calamities only with due permission from God.
In this time of pandemic, we can say that the hedge of protection that God provides the whole world has been ruptured. God is the Supreme and in control of everything. God has a plan which is far beyond our understanding and imagination. But in these times, God has permitted Satan to struck the world. God is always in charge. God will fulfill His divine purpose through this pandemic also.We need to understand today that how did Job get the hedge of protection around him.
Job is said to have very peculiar character. He is considered as one of the most righteous man who ever lived on the face of the earth.Let us see what lifestyle of Job pleased God so much that He made a hedge around Job, around his household and around all that he had on every side. God blessed the work of his hands and his possessions increased in the land.
Job’s character:
1) Job was blameless
2) Job was upright
3) Job feared God
4) Job shunned evil
5) Job sanctified his children for any sin and cursing against God in their hearts.
1) Job was blameless
Blameless means without defect. Blameless people are those who cannot be accused of wrongdoing before people or God. David asks God to clear him from hidden and unconscious faults. He asks God to keep him back from presumptuous (failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate)sins.( Psalms 19:13). We should lead a life that approves the things that are excellent. We should do all things without complaining and disputing,
(Phil 1:10, 2:14). We should strive to lead a life that cannot be accussed of wrongdoings.
2) Job was upright
Upright means vertically erect or straight. An upright man has unchanging standards, correctness and genuineness. Integrity of heart and always doing right is a sign of upright man.Crookedness or perversity of heart is the opposite of upright character. God has created man upright but it is man who plans many schemes. Today, we do not maintain the integrity of heart, we consider ourselves as the age of brilliant mind with cunning thoughts and we make complete attempt to mask that with our polite actions and words . Let your yes be yes and no be no. With integrity of heart, we should not manipulate others. Let us have unchanging standards.
3) Job feared God.
Fear of God refers to sense of awe, respect and submission to God. God said to Moses that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.(Deut 6:2 ). The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. ( Prov 8: 13 ).
By fearing God we become obedient and we grow in sanctification.
4) Job shunned evil.
To shun evil means to consistently ignore, avoid and reject evil through caution. Apostle Paul teaches us to abstain from every form of evil.
(I Thess 5:22 ). Be not be wise in your own eyes, fear God and depart from evil. When people act wisely in their own eyes, they act independently of God; nor acknowledge Him, nor seek to Him for help and direction; nor ask nor take the advice of others; but conduct all activities self pleasing. Such people, do not fear God but behave in evil ways. We should turn away from evil and do good. We should seek peace and pursue it.
(I Peter 3:11)
5) Job sanctified and offered sacrifice for all his children.
When the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify all his children, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly. (Job 1:5 ). Job lived before Mosaic law even then he was so conscious about sin and that they should not curse or disown God or His existence that he offered sacrifice on his children’s behalf. We should not just live righteously ourselves but also strive that the people around us also lead a God fearing life. We should not turn a blind eye for the sins of the people around us. We should ask God fervently for the forgiveness of their sin. We should live and pray in such a way that the righteous kingdom of God is established around us.
Let us examine our life. Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.(Psalm 115:3). Many times, we claim the promises of God with all sin in our life and no sign of righteousness. After accepting Christ, we are still entangled in the chains of our old life and we continue to claim the promises of God in times of trouble. Instead, we need to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.(I Timothy 6:11) The righteousness of God comes by believing with personal faith on Jesus Christ(Romans 3:22).
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
(I Peter 3:12 )
With the righteousness of Christ Jesus, let us become
1) Blameless
2) Upright
3) God fearing
4) Shunning evil
5) Asking for sanctification of people around us.
Let us strive to live such a righteous life like Job that God may provide a special hedge of protection around us which Satan cannot trespass without God’s permission.
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