THE CONTEST FOR JOB’S ALLEGIANCE
IS A CONTEST WE ALL FACE
IN THE CONTROVERSY OVER SIN

     The book of Job is placed as the 18th book of the Bible. But scholars believe that Moses wrote the book of Job and Genesis in the land of Midian, prior to his call to be the LORD’S instrument to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt. In a practical sense it seems very likely given the fact that the books of Genesis and Job give the great stories of the lineage of the Hebrew family to remind the Hebrews of their heritage. And Job illustrates the reality of man’s entanglement with Satan’s onslaught of affliction against GOD'S people, and with his unceasing accusations, “which accused them before our God day and night” (Rev.12:10). The Hebrews could read for themselves the great controversy between good and evil and the two beings in the contest: One Holy, and the other unholy: One delivers, and the other oppresses.

     What we see in the first chapter of Job is a lesson that applies to us all. GOD watches over His children every day. His “mighty arm” and “right hand” protects them from Satan’s full ability to sweep away their every comfort and their lives. If given full freedom to carryout his desires the level of suffering this world would endure cannot be measured. Prophecy forecasts a bitter future at the hands of Satan. And GOD desires His children to know what is to come and be prepared to meet it as Jesus Christ would meet it, with obedience to the Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Ghost Who never leads away from Scripture.

     Although they know it not, even the atheist owes his/her normal everyday life to GOD’S protecting hand. But Satan’s special targets are the suffering and deaths of those who love Jesus. They love Him not for the promise of prosperity and rewards or vengeance on their enemies, but because “God is love.” And His Spirit brings His love into the heart. They love Him also because of the comfort found in His Word, the Holy Bible in the midst of a fundamentally immoral world. “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.” “O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful.” Ps.116:1; 31:23. Because of Christ’s great love the Bible believing Christian desires to follow Him, and be with Him, forever. After the resurrection there’s going to be a lot of hugging!

     But in the midst of this spiritual rest and joy provided through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the great antagonist, Satan, who makes demands of GOD to test our loyalty. This is the great lesson from the book of Job. The devil came complaining to GOD over a claimed injustice: “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” Job 1:10,11. This has ever been the controversy over Satan’s rebellion against the Ten Commandments, and lays at the heart of the principle seen throughout the history of GOD’S people, where the LORD “may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.” “that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.” Jud.2:22; Ex.16:4. And the test then is the test today: “For not the hearers of the law are just before GOD but the doers of the law shall be justified” “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rom.2:13; Rev.22:14.

     It is faith in GOD and the laws of His government that must be fortified to stand through every test, as Peter gave counsel: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” I Pet.1:7-9.

     As this world winds down and sinful men both in and out of the church are placed on the throne of government, the commandment-keeping saints are to pass through an ordeal that none of us can fathom its extent both physically or spiritually. Only when it is unleashed will the full weight of Satan’s wrath be experienced. Through the calamities of nature united with the pitiful judgment of men (as evidenced by what we already see today in a relative time of peace) GOD’S faithful children are called to endure the final test.

     But leading up to this time, the LORD, in His mercy is acclimating His children to the great contest ahead between good and evil as the prophet Malachi gave counsel: “Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” Mal.3:18. Step by step, test by test, the LORD desires our faith and understanding be fortified to withstand the wrath of the world against the saints. And even family and friends will disown us as we enter the final contest, as Jeremiah prophesied: “Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jer.30:6,7. This prophecy is closely knit to the prophecy in the book of Daniel: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Dan.12:1.

     Our GOD is so gentle so as to never push us beyond what we are able at any given time as it is written “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I Cor.10:13. It is just as David prayed: “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.” Ps.18:35.

     This call to persevering faith is also closely knit with examples of the Apostles rejoicing even when going through tumultuous times such as Paul and Silas being beaten and thrown in prison. “And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Acts 16:22-25.

     This is why Jesus admonished: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matt.5:11,12.

     From victory to victory is our Saviour’s desire for us. And when failure occurs, He will walk us over that same ground again and again until our faith becomes unshakable. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom.10:17.