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“THE BACKSIDE OF THE DESERT, PT. III,”

PR. 3:5-7 (KJV)

Proverbs 3:5–7 (KJV)

⁵    Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;

  And lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶    In all thy ways acknowledge him,

  And he shall direct thy paths.

⁷    Be not wise in thine own eyes:

  Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

REVIEW

JOB 42:10-17 (KJV); MK. 10:28-31 (KJV)

Job 42:10–17 (KJV)

¹⁰ And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. ¹¹ Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.

¹² So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. ¹³ He had also seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴ And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch. ¹⁵ And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. ¹⁶ After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. ¹⁷ So Job died, being old and full of days.

Mark 10:28–31 (KJV)

²⁸ Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. ²⁹ And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, ³⁰ But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. ³¹ But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

WHAT DO WE DO IN TIMES OF TROUBLE?

The life of Job is one of the most powerful encouragements in confronting times of trouble. We all have trouble to come into our lives from time to time, yet it’s how we handle the trouble that makes all of the difference. What do we do, and how do we respond to the difficult and challenging times in our lives? Job is an example of things we should do and also the situation in this account of Job’s dilemma shows us things that we all mistakenly assume when we’re in stressful situations.

WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE

In this earthly journey, life has a way of squeezing us and God allows it because it’s the refiners fire that results in pure gold. The trials and tests of our faith in our lives are the hammer and chisel of God settling us in the things of God. Oftentimes we as saints try to handle the challenges in our lives through natural means, responding in the flesh, or through the senses. That’s why many of us give up, and quit. Many Christians start out of the starting blocks like a whirlwind, later though, to dwindle and fall by the wayside because we haven’t made up in our minds that for God we’ll live, and for God we’ll die, blessed be the name of the Lord.

SATAN BEHIND THE SCENE

The fight is not against flesh and blood, but our adversary, the devil, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. In Job’s situation it can be easily seen upon diligent study that Satan is the agent behind the catastrophes in Job’s life. Clearly in v. 12 of chp. 1 Satan is permitted to bring these calamities upon Job’s life. Often times in our personal lives we find ourselves attempting to fight our spiritual enemies through natural means because we do not recognize who our enemies are. Instead of fighting one another we need to first bind the enemy of our souls.

THE DEVIL NEEDS SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THROUGH WHICH TO WORK HIS PLANS

Now immediately after Satan is given permission by God, in the very next verses we see him in action against the man of God. Notice that little word “so,” in Job 1:12, indicating that that which comes after the word “so” was a direct consequence of that which came before the word “so.” Now Satan is behind all that happened to Job because the Bible says “so” Satan went from the presence of the Lord. Suddenly now, a scenario of events begin to transpire in the life of Job. Now if we are not careful, we will interpret Job in the wrong way. Some have used the book of Job to teach that God puts sicknesses on us and He brings tragedies in our lives to teach us and make us humble. What chapter and verse is that in the Bible? Because of certain comments that Job’s servant made, and some comments that Job made, does not mean that this is the will of God. Some of the comments made in the book of Job are contrary to the will of God. The Holy Spirit recorded what they said, but upon more diligent study we know that Satan was definitely the cause of all the calamities that occurred in Job’s life. One thing that we must take in consideration concerning Job and his experience. Job did not have all of the revelation of God’s Word like we have today. All of the Pauline epistles with all of their revelation were not around in Job’s day. As a matter of fact, Job is considered to be the oldest book of the Bible. The books of the Bible are not in chronological order. Though the events of Genesis, as far as the creation, etc., is concerned, were events before Job’s time, the Holy Spirit inspired the writer of Job the same as He inspired the writer of the first five books of the Bible, Moses. Actually, Job had no written word at all, as far as the Old Testament, nor what’s in the New Testament, but Job worshipped God the same way that the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshipped God. Yet what limited revelation Job had, he was able to stand his test, be victorious, and receive double for his trouble.

AN EXAMPLE FOR US TODAY

Now, if Job could get the victory over the devil with the little revelation he had, surely, we can be victorious when we have 66 books of revelation of who we are in Christ Jesus. Our problem is we don’t use what we have. One thing is sure, you can’t wait until you’re in trouble before you start to find out what’s in God’s Word.

KNOW FOR YOURSELF

Now, I wondered to myself concerning Job’s children. Why did God allow Satan to take their lives? I can’t answer that question, but there is a very important observation that we must make. Job had faith in God. I didn’t see or read anything about his children trusting in the Lord. As a matter of fact, Job 1:5 testifies to the contrary, “And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually,” Job 1:5 (KJV). Now I thank God for my father and my mother telling me about God. But I cannot depend on my mama’s prayers. Mama can pray for me, and she does, but if I don’t pray for myself then it’s on me, not my mama. Thank God for daddy’s prayers, but we have got to know God for ourselves. Now I am the first to tell anybody who have had a godly inheritance given to them, that you’d better be thankful to God for them, because you might not be where you are today if it had not been for your parents holding up the bloodstained banner. When we stand before God we’ll answer for what we’ve done in this body. Mama can’t answer for us, daddy can’t answer for us, sister can’t answer us, brother can’t answer for us, grandmama can’t answer for us, granddaddy can’t answer for us, husband can’t answer for us, wife can’t answer for us, children can’t answer for us, but we’ve got to know God for ourselves.

UNMASKING THE DEVIL

Now we’ve got to unmask the devil in the book of Job. He always, I repeat, he always come at us through the sense realm. He attempts to get us out of faith. First thing he does to Job is start taking his possessions. That’s why the Bible commands us not to have any other gods before Him, not houses, boats, cars, clothes, families, friends, husbands, wives, children, money, etc. Satan operated thru the Sabeans in v. 15 of chp. 1, to steal the oxen, the donkeys, and kill the servants. That didn’t stop Job, nor did he curse God as the devil had predicted in Job 1:11. Then the devil used fire to take the sheep and more servants. Job did not curse God nor lose his integrity. Satan works thru the Chaldeans to steal the camels and murder more servants. Job still does not curse God. He didn’t get anywhere with taking Job’s possessions. If Satan can’t destroy you one way, he’ll try and destroy you another way. Now he comes a bit more nasty. He uses a storm to kill Job’s children, after all , Satan is the prince of the power of the air, Eph. 2:1-3. Ephesians 2:1-3 (KJV):

2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; ² Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: ³ Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Satan has limited abilities to cause storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. This is proven time and time again in scripture. Job refused to curse his God. Satan is allowed to attack Job in his body. Satan really works on Job now, and attacks him with boils that you can’t even recognize the man. These sores, according to some, are large swellings running with puss and pain and inflammation. And if that wasn’t enough, the devil tempts Job through his wife, to tell Job to curse God and die. Job said, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.” In the midst of this trial of Job’s faith, there are some comments made that are not necessarily the will of God. In chp. 1, v. 16 , the servant said, “fire of God is fallen from Heaven.” We know that it was not God but Satan who was behind all of Job’s calamities. That is why we are to obey Eph. 6:10-18. Ephesians 6:10–18 (KJV):

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

In Job 1:21, Job said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away,” but it was not the Lord that took Job’s oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, servants, nor his children. It was Satan. There are many similar statements in Job that are out of harmony with the heartbeat of God.

SATAN’S WORK BLAMED ON GOD

Since I have come into the knowledge of the truth of God’s Word, it grieves me to experience the resistance within the Christian community to come up to God’s standards. We are still blaming God for many of the catastrophes in this world that Satan is behind. This is what I believe is the purpose of the book of Job, as well as the Bible in general, to reveal to us the enemy of our souls, and the salvation plan of God for man. Satan comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. Also, the Word reveals to us the ability of Satan to work through people. Satan has to have someone to work through. Eph. 4:27 reads: “Neither give place to the devil.” Don’t give him place and we stop the advancement of Satan in our lives. Too many saints, during times of testing, will take 1 step forward and then 2 steps backward. When what we need to do is make up in our minds, I am not giving up any ground to the devil.

JOB’S MISERABLE COMFORTERS

In all of these terrible calamities, Satan stole Job’s sheep, camels, oxen, donkeys, killed his servants and his children, struck him with boils, from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet, used his wife against him and in all of this, Job did not curse God. So now, Satan pulls his last trick. He now uses Job’s friends to work through them to get to Job. Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, Zophar the Naamathite, and Elihu the son of Bat-achel the Buzite. Some of the things they said are recorded in Job 4:7–11 (KJV):

⁷    Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent?

  Or where were the righteous cut off?

⁸    Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity,

  And sow wickedness, reap the same.

⁹    By the blast of God they perish,

  And by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

¹⁰   The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion,

  And the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

¹¹   The old lion perisheth for lack of prey,

  And the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.

Job 8:2–6 (KJV)

²    How long wilt thou speak these things?

  And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

³    Doth God pervert judgment?

  Or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

⁴    If thy children have sinned against him,

  And he have cast them away for their transgression;

⁵    If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes,

  And make thy supplication to the Almighty;

⁶    If thou wert pure and upright;

  Surely now he would awake for thee,

  And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

Job 11:1–6 (KJV)

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

²    Should not the multitude of words be answered?

  And should a man full of talk be justified?

³    Should thy lies make men hold their peace?

  And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

⁴    For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure,

  And I am clean in thine eyes.

⁵    But oh that God would speak,

  And open his lips against thee;

⁶    And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom,

  That they are double to that which is!

  Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

This is why many Christians need to get delivered from people. You’ve got to put your trust in the Lord. People will fail you. I didn’t say they might fail you, they will fail you, are going to fail you, have failed you, whatever tense you want to put it in, past, present, or future. God never intended for us to put our trust in anything or anybody more than in Him.

GOD DEMANDS OF JOB

Now, during Job’s testing, he made some erroneous accusations against God that God demanded of Job later in chps. 38-41. Where were you Job when all of these were created? 1. Earth, 2. Stars, 3. Water boundaries, 4. Day, Night, 5. Light, Darkness, 6. Eternal God (number of days great), 7. Rain, 8. Heaven, 9. Clouds, 10. Lightning, 11. Animals, 12. Birds, 13. Hawk, & 14. The Eagle.

CONCLUSION: HOW DO YOU HANDLE TROUBLE

How do you handle trouble when trouble hits your house? Do you respond like a real eagle Christian? Get your wings of faith up. Let the storm become your drive to higher heights in God. When your storm comes, do you run like a chicken? You can’t wait until you get in trouble to open your Bible and have a 15 second Bible study, but you’d better be studying your Bible right now. You can’t wait until you get in trouble to start praying. You’d better get prayed up right now. You can’t wait until you get in trouble to attend Bible study, but while the bloods running warm in your body, you’d better get to Bible study while you can. You can’t wait until you get in trouble to come to worship service, but you’d better get to the worship service while you can. You don’t get strong overnight. You’ve got to trust God through every trial. You’ve got to trust God through every test, consistently. In the end you’ll get double for your trouble. Tell somebody double, double, double. Next time your supervisor get full of diabolos, just don’t say anything, but just look at him and say, “double.” Next time trouble come, don’t think about the trouble, but think about the double. You’ve got to go through your trouble to get to your double. Trouble may come my way, but payday is coming afterwhile.