The Sovereignty of God

The Sovereignty of God
Job 1:6–12(ESV) — 6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7The Lordsaid to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lordand said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8And the Lordsaid 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?” 9Then Satan answered the Lordand said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12And the Lordsaid to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

I often think of this book of Job, especially when I don't feel well, or if things aren't going the way I think they should....one thing that is strangely absent from Job and his friends.....I don't find a place where any of them said, "Let's pray".....The purpose of our struggles, [and YES, they have a purpose or they wouldn't be happening] are to draw us to the Lord, period! To find our strength in Him...the place in life when we realize we are weak but He is strong....this is a default position for all Christians....whether we want to believe in the partial sovereignty of God is up to us....we will live a miserable existence if we don't give God His rightful place.....we are His creation, and it is His ABSOLUTE RIGHT to do with us as He pleases....

​So we see here a mystery solved.....God does allow testing.....Satan had to go through a lot of red tape to get to Job, but God indeed allowed it....it wasn't because Job was bad or had a bad thought or committed a small or large sin.....he went through this suffering because God had a purpose in it....and we learn that purpose later on in the book....the Bible tells us in 
Hebrews 12:11(KJV 1900) — 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Let us remember this always as we go through life.....God wants us to be closer to Him....fellowship with Him....to KNOW His love, mercy, peace that passes understanding.....you know if there was never a storm there would never be a rainbow.....if we didn't have tribulation we would never know peace all things being the same.....as far as the devil is concerned, yes, the prince of power of the air is hard at work in the world and in this country today....I've never seen hatred and bitterness and discord so rampant among our citizens....but I don't give him a whole lot of credit.....I like to think Martin Luther had it right when he said famously, "the devil is the devil.....but he's God's devil".....when we read Job we realize this truth to the fullest....

God bless your day!! 

​SW 



Also Jesus told us He has, through the power of the Holy Spirit, given us power over all the power of our enemies! Praise God!