Sometimes, life’s windstorms hit us hard and knock us off our feet. One person likened the storms to a blizzard and wrote, “The blizzard of the world has crossed over the threshold, and it has overturned the order of the soul.”[1] The blizzards outside make their way inside and disrupt the rhythm of our lives. That’s what happened to Job. As we have seen, he lost everything and still praised the Lord. But Satan was merciless in his attacks. He was convinced that Job was self-centered and would turn on God when he encountered personal illness.
Job 2:1-6
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And 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, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”
Unrelenting. That’s one word (there are many others) that describe Satan’s attacks. Job remained faithful in the greatest loss a parent can experience. But Satan turns up the heat to what he thinks will be an unbearable temperature.
In today’s passage, we see what drives the Enemy. While most people would willingly die for their children, Satan’s self-centeredness is seen in his reasoning— “All that a man has, he will give for his life.” Satan’s twisted thinking concludes that a person can withstand the loss of loved ones but will cave when they personally experience bodily pain. This is the logic of one who knows nothing about love…except for miserable self-love.
The bell rings to start Job’s second round of trials. This round attempts the same knock-out punch as the first— God is loved only for what he gives, not for who he is. But Job teaches us through painful days and dark nights that we can still love and worship when all is lost. God has purchased our eternal salvation with the precious blood of his son, but he won’t buy our love with temporal blessings.
Father, may I always love you for who you are—not for what you give, withhold, or take away. In Christ’s name. Amen.
[1] Leonard Cohen quoted in John Ortberg, Soul Keeping (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 43.
Thanks for the reminder that our Gid is unchanging no matter what our circumstances!
God bless brother