Today’s Devotion
Topic: While He Was Still Speaking…
Text: Psalm 34: 19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Amen
In the land of Uz there lived a man who was blameless and upright. He feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons, three daughters and several thousands of livestock. A large number of servants served under him and was the greatest man among all the people of the East. He was Job!
One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Job himself had no idea of the above challenge between God and Satan. He didn’t know, maybe, that God was so proud of him to challenge Satan of his (Job’s) steadfastness. All he knew was that one day a messenger came to him saying, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Wow! Beloved do you see how trials can be totally unbearable? Sometimes they come in succession; before you can figure out what to do, another emerges. Other times they are from different quarters you least expect. They may even come at times when you are least prepared for them. The most confusing of all is when they come during your period of consecration while your intimacy with God seems to be getting stronger by the day.
However, don’t fret; God promised us no less. But He does not allow any temptation beyond our strength to come our way. The many trials (not the temptations, but trials) we see happening in our lives are allowed by God because He has weighed us and concluded that we can stand to the end for the crown of glory. They are not made to break us but to build us and also to prove to all that our love for God is not just because He supplied everything we need.
We are told to ‘count our blessings and name them one by one.’ Often we lose count because they are a lot. But so has been out trials too; try counting them and you would see. However, David observed the life of the righteous and made a stunning discovery — that, many can be the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of THEM ALL! Oh yes He does. He does not suffer our feet to be moved. The Great God who watches over Israel never slumbers nor sleeps. Like Job, whenever life gets overwhelming, fall to the ground in WORSHIP. Exalt Elohim and let Him handle it.
Meditate on this and begin to pray. Ask for grace and strength to go through each trial trusting in God’s ability to save. For He will surely save, restore and increase you if you don’t give in. Always remember that in all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. And you shouldn’t too.
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