Prayerfully, after reading through it, you will glean some wonderful truths about the battle that is going on behind the scenes. May the Lord give you answers concerning your own personal battle.
Job 2:7 says - "So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown."
As much as he would like for us to believe it - Satan is not in control! In this scenario, we find him leaving "the presence of the LORD." In other words, he has to check in with God before he can do his "dirty work." In this case, he was leaving God's Presence with power, authority, leave, and license to do more mischief to Job - God's righteous servant.
When we read between the lines here, we find this adversary leaving in a hurry. He got Divine Permission, and he can't wait to terrorize and afflict Job.
Do you sense the utmost hatred that he has for those who are righteous and holy before God - for those whom the Lord has set apart for Himself?
You can almost feel the malice, animosity, and spite that is oozing out of him for this godly man.
Oh! How he hates with a great passion all Christians who desire with all of their hearts to live for and please their God! He is constantly looking for ways to tear at them or vex them.
"So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown."
Of all the diseases which Satan could choose from to afflict Job, he picked the most loathsome and grievous one. He afflicted this righteous servant of God with "sore boils" or as the Greeks termed it - Elephantiasis. The Arabs referred to it as being the worst form of leprosy - black leprosy. It was called this because the bones and skins became covered with spots and tumors which at first appeared red but then turned black.
It was one universal inflammation - resembling a cancer, running sore, or a hot and burning ulcer spreading itself over the entire body from head to foot. It gave the appearance of being one boil covering the body - even though it was actually many thick boils close together - leaving no part free.
It made the victim appear very repulsive to himself as well as to others. It made him terrible and hideous to behold - causing the loss of hair and feeling...the swelling of the face... and a hoarse and nasal voice. It gave him the appearance of an animal - rendering his skin to develop a hard coating or scales and become dark-colored like that of an elephant's. His feet swelled to the size of an elephant's. And his limbs became jointless lumps like an elephant's legs.
This disease was accompanied with intolerable bodily itching and was extremely painful. At times the limbs would fall completely away.
Can you imagine the sight of one who suffered as a victim to this horrible condition?
To make matters worse, it was highly contagious - easily communicated by breath. Understandably, it made him an object of repulsion and disgust to others. All dreaded to live or have any fellowship with such an invalid.
In summary, we would like to quote a description of this disease from the Speaker's Commentary which says - "An intense heat, a burning and ulcerous swelling, or leprosy in its most terrific form, taking its name from the appearance of the body, which is covered with a knotty cancerous bark like the hide of an elephant; the whole frame is in a state of progressive dissolution, ending slowly but surely in death."
This was what Satan was in such a hurry to "throw on" Job.
We must remember - this disease did not come on gradually. The boils did not start as little pimples or sores. They came on at once in their height. Job was mourning the loss of his children and possessions when all of a sudden - from seemingly nowhere - this horrible disease came on him in full strength.
What was Satan's main objective in attacking Job with such physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual suffering?
His basic design was to -
...wear out Job's strength
...make him an object of abhorrence so as to cut off all sympathy from others
...lead him to regard his sufferings as coming from Heaven
...and tempt him to entertain harsh thoughts of God.
This was Satan's basic design, but what was his main objective?
His main objective was to turn this righteous servant against God.
Was he successful in his plan?
The answer can be found in Job's statement as recorded in Job 13:15 - "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him..."
Although he was wrong in judging that God was behind his terrible suffering, nonetheless, he "held fast his integrity" (Job 2:3) until the end.
Are you under attack today?
Has Satan tried to -
...wear out your strength
...make you an object of abhorrence so as to cut off all sympathy from others
...lead you to regard your sufferings as coming from heaven
...or tempt you to entertain harsh thoughts of God?
If so, know this - this is his basic design!
Or has he sought to turn you against God - whereby you find it very difficult to pray, read the Bible, praise and worship, fellowship with other believers, or believe for a breakthrough to come your way?
If so, know this - this is his main objective!
Why not do as Job did and, by the grace of God, "hold fast your integrity" by boldly declaring to Satan - "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him"?
Just as God "turned the captivity of Job" and blessed him with "twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10), believe for Him to do the same for you!
There is a battle going on behind the scenes. Prayerfully, this message opened your eyes to the one that you may be presently facing.
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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