20 Jun Job’s Spiritual Status – A Challenge for Satan

In the game of World Wrestling Entertainment, we see wrestlers coming before one another in a ring with the cheering audience around to challenge one other before they begin their game.

One wrestler challenges the other to fight against him in the upcoming match. The other wrestler accepts the challenge to fight, either keeping his own strength in mind, or to show a positive attitude towards the challenge, to show his passion for the game or not to be humiliated before the audience. Whatever may be the reason, the challenge is accepted.

In the book of Job chapter 1 we see God challenging the Devil regarding the character of His servant Job. “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.” (vs. 8). God declares to Satan the spiritual status of Job. In verse 3 we see the Holy Spirit recording Job as one of the wealthiest persons in the East. This was also God-given economic status to Job. But during the interaction with the Devil, God testifies that Job was Number One in the matter of uprightness, blamelessness, fearing God and shunning evil. He was topmost in spiritual aspects as testified by God. And God challenged the Devil regarding Job’s uprightness.

In reply, Satan challenges God about sincerity/selfishness in Job’s commitment. He argues that the God-fearing life of Job was a result of His abundant blessings. “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan counter-questioned “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” (Vs. 10). Now Satan challenges God to take away everything from Job and see Job fail in maintaining his spiritual status.  “But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face” (Vs. 11). God, keeping in mind the blameless character of Job accepted the counter-challenge of Satan. He allowed Satan to destroy all his earthly blessings, his children and his health. Satan quickly destroyed everything belonging to Job.

Yet we see in verses 2:3 and 2:9 that Job maintained his integrity. “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (vs. 1:22). He maintained his spiritual status and Satan was miserably put to shame. God’s acceptance of challenge knowing the faith of His servant achieved grand success.

Similar challenges take place even today in heaven. The Accuser Satan accuses us continuously before God regarding our love, loyalty, self-denial, dependence, commitment, faith, etc. (Revelation 12:10). The question arises here: Does God accept the challenge of Satan or answer him about our spiritual status? Do we keep our spiritual status far above the earthly things/status as Job did? Do we maintain our integrity and spiritual level as Job maintained in times of testing? Who is glorified by us in all these, Satan or God?

In Isaiah 14:13 we see Satan tried to raise his status : “I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon” but God’s word in Jude 1:6 says that angels failed in keeping their positions in heaven “the angels who did not keep their positions (status) of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day” (Jude 1:6). The Satan used the same strategy in Eden Garden by enticing Adam and Eve to uplift their status from being human to become like God (Genesis 3:6), the result was the Fall of their spiritual status. Today many believers are victims of the same strategy of Satan. They are very much status-conscious. They try hard to uplift their different status in terms of finance, property, education, position, etc. God Himself provides and lifts up people to different positions (Job 36,7; James 4:10; Prov. 4:8). But we all know that these statuses were not discussed at all in heaven in Job Chapter 1.

Our Lord Jesus accepted the challenges: to defeat Satan, to overcome temptations, to live a sinless life on earth, to overcome world and to defeat death itself. He put His status as God ASIDE, took the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Hebrew 2:9 says He was lowered for a little while. He fought and achieved the greatest Victory of all Eternity. And God seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion (Ephesians 1:21-22).

Dear fellow believers, we are not in a game of WWE. We, as children of God are in the battlefield, in actual fight with the Devil and his forces. We are required to accept challenges in our day to day life, family, career, ministry and social life, etc. Let’s work hard at maintaining and concentrating on our spiritual status. Let Satan be defeated and God be glorified through us. Let’s be less concerned about earthly status and become Spiritual-conscious children of God.

Mr. Martin Christian, serves as Office Assistant at UESI Gujarat Office. He and his wife Rita are blessed with two daughters Shrusty abd Dhrasty.