With All the Lobbying of the Devil, you came through successfully
AI Overview
Satan was confident in telling God to remove the hedge of protection around Job (Job 1:10) because he believed that Job’s righteousness was superficial and “mercenary”—a transactional relationship rather than genuine devotion. Satan argued that Job only feared God because of the immense wealth and security God provided, maintaining that if those blessings were removed, Job would immediately curse God- credit: Join the Journey
Discussion
Other words such as insincere, shallow, artificial and posturing can be used to describe the word, ‘superficial’. What the devil meant to tell God was that, Job cannot be trusted, he is not deep enough to defend his faith, he is a pretender, and he puts on an appearance that he is not. The enemy meant Job was not qualified enough to defend himself based on these flaws and that it implies, something was behind his righteousness. On the basis of this, the devil charged God to remove ‘that thing’ that helped Job to live the lifestyle that God was so proud of.
The devil also said, Job was greedy, grasping, covetous, gold-digging and moneygrubbing to interpret the word, ‘mercenary’. Why? In our World today when people see you are wealthy, most persons think they just went there grabbing money unlawfully from a source. In fact people who are extremely poor can hate rich people. It pained the devil that Job was rich for a righteous God fulfilling the scripture ‘wishing above all things that we prosper and be in good health’. Indeed Job did not grasp. He got a reward deservingly given to him by God. God does not bless lazy people. Indeed Job was hardworking and God rewarded his hard work with wealth fulfilling his covenant with righteous men.
Job did not cover anyone’s wife, neither did he cover anyone’s property. Bible never recorded anything evil of Job. It suggest that Job naturally practiced some good character. God does not input his righteousness. God helps people who help themselves. Even though Job was not a sanctimonious individual, there were some great qualities and a role he played in whatever cover he got from God. Of course, God must protect the properties of the one’s who love Him and so the devil has no reason being enraged to ask God to remove Job’s hedge.
Transaction mean, deal, business or contract. Do you know many people think you’re following God because of what you get from Him? Some Christians are tasking God that ‘I have fulfilled this condition so fulfill your part’. ‘I have accepted to be born again, now give me my wife, and give me my husband’. Some believers are speaking this way. ‘Once I am a believer, you have to supply my needs according to your riches in glory’- business way of speaking. I have to prosper as a Christian. ‘God you told me that when I come to you, my suffering will come to end’. Believers who tell their souls that, all is well in Christ must change their orientation.
Indeed God is bound by his word to reward you. It’s a privilege and therefore the enemy do not have a point going to God to remove your hedge because you came to Christianity with the mindset of rewards. We do err but it doesn’t change God’s responsibility towards us once we meet his requirements.
When it happens this way, then the commitment of the believer is questioned. Indeed some people come to God for what they can receive than give to Him. In fact, the hedge works when your spiritual devotion to God is unquestionable. Job was offering sacrifices on behalf of his family for unconfessed sins and so on (Job 1:5).
It was an indication of a spiritual father that did not compromise his position. Now, if this man is faithful in his spiritual practices and God is rewarding him by protecting his stuff, what is wrong with this?
The basis of the devil’s argument against Job was quite weak. Look at the way you hold morning and evening devotions with your family. God is so proud of you. You are doing the spiritual exercises that mandates God to protect your family because you call on Him every day. What is the devil’s beef therefore? Indeed Christians who have prosperity mentality alone without spirituality, they lose everything in the day of calamity. Many Christians of today may not have survived Job’s ordeal.
It’s interesting how people out there will see your prosperity and how you’re enjoying and all of a sudden feel you’re driven only by your wealth. Of course God gives us all things to freely enjoy. But anyone who has genuinely gone through training by God is duly aware of the disciplines that contributed to his reward. An overly happy man can be careless. The devil could have looked at the way Job enjoyed the moment and say he was after God because of what he got. Be careful the way you portray yourself out there. Stay on the quiet. Going loud opens you up for attacks. With little money, you see believers out there celebrating. We have to be very moderate in our spending in order not to create a false picture. It shows wisdom. David disguised himself like a mad man to go through his enemies (1 Samuel 21:10-15). You have to make yourself unrecognizable to avoid unnecessary battles.
Be steady in your celebrations because it can actually reduce your awareness and focus about the disciplines that keeps the hedge. You gave people the reason by your loud celebrations to attack you. You gave them the reason to question God about your viability for your success. You duly deserve whatever you have today. Besides the devil making a case about your prosperity. Celebrate and rejoice forever. Accept the accusation in good faith, go through your trial because even though the devil pushed God to remove the hedge, look! You came well. You proved to the devil that you were prepared for your success and that you haven’t forfeited all the disciplines responsible for your success. The suffering today was greater than yesterday because the hedge was removed for a second test. This could have taken your life but you survived. Give God all the praise.
