A Hedge of Protection

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, ‘From where do you come?’ Then Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.’ Then Satan answered the Lord, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about 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. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.’ Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.’ So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.” Job 1:6-12

Have you ever read the whole book of Job? If not, it may have to do with the fact that we naturally do not want to subject ourselves to the misery and pain of others. But the book of Job has some profound insights to reveal regarding our physical state versus our spiritual state.

How would you have responded if you were in Job’s place? What if yo had completely lost everything dear and precious to you in a quick series of catastrophes? Would your faith be pounded into powder, or would your circumstances cement your trust in God? Until we find ourselves in Job’s shoes, these are difficult questions to answer. How careful we must be not to become “Job’s friends” to those who are in deep adversity.

God lowered Job’s protective hedge, allowing Satan to test Job’s dependence upon God. Note: It’s one thing for God to lower or break down His hedge of protection around an individual for the purpose of testing; it’s quite another thing for us to make an opening in that hedge, allowing Satan access to our lives.

Have you - by your attitudes or actions, by your sin or self-will - caused a gap in the hedge around your life? Rebuild it today.

Thought for the Day:
“He cannot have taught us to trust in His name and brought us thus far to put us to shame.” - Hudson Taylor