Today's Word of Encouragement (9/21/2020)

We are continuing with using God’s promises in affliction. Today, let us be encouraged by God’s promise of protection against ruin.

When we considered the promise of God’s presence in our affliction, we mentioned Isa. 43:1-3. “Of Isaiah 43:2, Leigh says: ‘Fire and water are two merciless enemies, yet the fire shall not burn, nor the waters overflow them, as God has promised…. They must not pass by these, by the fire and by the water, but through the fire, and through the water.’ While God keeps us from some trials, He may deem it better for us to face others” (pp. 78-79).

The authors present Job as “the best example of such suffering.” His suffering was not just bad luck; it was “ordained by God, not to destroy him or punish him for his sins, but to test him…” (p. 79). The Lord loved Job and delighted in his faith and righteousness. He said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8)? The reason God allowed Satan to afflict Job was to test (in the sense of demonstrating) the genuineness Job’s faith. When Job passed the test, God restored his fortunes two-fold. “In God’s providence, He allows us to suffer only trials that work for our good. He prevents us from enduring trials that would destroy us” (p. 79).

How was Job able to withstand Satan’s affliction and the temptation to “curse God and die”? Was it because he kept his faith strong while God was far removed from him and his suffering? No. First of all, God set the boundaries for Satan’s affliction on Job: “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand” (Job 1:12); “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life” (Job 2:6). Do you think Satan, being Satan, dutifully obeyed these restrictions? I don’t think so. But if he could not violate these restrictions, it was because God stopped him. “Like the log that Moses threw into the bitter waters at Marah to make them sweet, God promises us His sweetening presence in every affliction. When afflictions strike and terrors encompass us, we have the abiding hope that God will uphold us and fulfill His good purposes for us, for His steadfast love is great to the heavens and His faithfulness to the clouds (Ps. 57:2, 4, 10)” (pp. 79-80). Even if Job did not see it or feel it, God was with Job as his Shield and Protector, helping Him to endure what was beyond his ability to do so.

May the Lord open our eyes to see His sweet presence in our lives, even in our afflictions!