Identifying the True Enemy

Scripture: A messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword." ... Another came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants." ... Another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword" ... Another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead" Job 1:14-19 (excerpts)

Observation: The Lord said that satan was in control of all that Job has, and this is the result. Everything is destroyed, and his children are all killed. However, there is something interesting about all of this. At no time of satan ... actually appear to do anything.

There are four events that cause the destruction of Job's world. Two are caused by other people - the Sabeans and Chaldeans raid his livestock. Two are caused by nature - a fire from above (lightening) and a great wind strike and kill his sheep and family.

In this way, it would be natural for Job to blame mankind, or to blame God (the second servant even does that, calling if the 'fire of God'). And this is what almost everyone in the world does during times of hardships ... they look at the immediately "causes" of the issue - which may be other people acting as individuals up to large society movements, or natural disasters that appear to be violent moves of the created world - and they question the role of God in these causes. Certainly the problems are the result of either God's created world, or God's ambivalence toward 'wrong' people.

The bible is very clear here. The problems are completely controlled, orchestrated, and initiated by satan.

Application: This is a great lesson for me to remember when hardships strike ... there is one and only one perpetrator of evil in the world. Yes, there are many people who yield to satan's manipulation and lies, and thus are the instruments of chaos and pain and hardship and hurt. Yes, there is a created nature with elements that can destroy earthly items and even kill people. However, it is satan who plants in our minds that God is to blame for any and all such hardships, and then it is satan who brings such hardships as attacks, especially against the Lord's faithful.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for reminding me of the true nature of the enemy this day. I know you are my source of strength and my protector and my provider, and I know who stands against me. May I continue to forgive those who have been used by him daily for evil and destruction and harm. Amen.