When God Lowers the Hedge

What is the Biblical Way to Respond to

What Feels Like an Attack from the Adversary?

Job is a character in the Old Testament that many people look to for inspiration to help them get through hard times. The Book of Job itself has a very defined poetic structure to it; which makes it easy to read and follow. The story of Job is descriptive in how it reveals to us the details of Job's sufferings, and the emotional turmoil that Job was thrust into because of that suffering. Job knew not where the issues he faced originated from; he did not understand why he was being singled out; he struggled to learn the lesson in the midst of the trial. But in the end, God met with Job. God told Job only what he needed to know. One fact that Job learned stands out above all the other lessons, God is God. He is The Great I Am.

Follow along as Job learns this lesson.

Where does the trial come from?
In the early chapters of the Book of Job, we can clearly see that Job's trials came from Satan, not God. But we are quick to say, "But God allowed it to happen!" This statement is certainly true. God allowed Satan to afflict Job; He essentially lowered the protective fence that surrounded Job. Upon further examination of the book, it is important to note that Job never cursed God like Satan expected. However, he did ask God why these things were happening.

He never got his answer.

Job never found out why. He suffered immensely, and never knew why. Only God knows why the fence was lowered.

We are not told anywhere in Scripture a logical reason for our suffering in this life.

However, we are told in Romans 8:15-18,

"¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption; whereby we cry Abba Father. ¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. ¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. ¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Where the trial came from, and why we must go through the trial are questions that should never be asked of God. We must remember that we are heirs with Christ. And as such, our future glorification far exceeds the level of suffering in this land. The glory we will experience someday is not proportionate to the suffering we endure in the here and now.

Why me?
In Job 10:2, Job said, "I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me." It is easy to feel the pain with Job as he begs God to end the lesson. At this point Job just wants it all to be over so he can move on with his life, such as it was.

2 Timothy 1:7-9 says:

"⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ⁸ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; ⁹ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"

We are told yet again that fear is to have no place in the believer's heart and mind. We are to take part in the sufferings of the Gospel with Christ; and it is the power of God that will bring us through to the other side, according to the grace of God. It is not our place to wonder why bad things happen to us. It is our responsibility to trust the power and grace of God to get us through.

How do I learn what God wants me to learn?
Throughout the Book of Job, Job converses with those who would help him. He uses logic to determine God's methods. When God begins to speak to Job, Job shuts his mouth, and is reluctant to open it. In Job 40:4, Job says to God, "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth."

In 1 Kings 19 Elijah witnessed much destruction in the earth. The Bible is clear to state the God was not in this destruction. It was only after all the destruction that Elijah heard "a still small voice." (v 12) Elijah had to be settled, and quiet for God to be able to talk to him.

In Matthew 14, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. In the middle of a raging storm, Peter climbed out of the boat to go to his Lord and Savior. Peter was overwhelmed with peace as long as he saw Jesus. He took his eyes off Jesus briefly and began to sink. Jesus grabbed him before he went under and spoke to him about his faith. When the two men climbed into the boat, the storm ceased.

In Mark 4, Jesus calmed the wind and the waves with words from His mouth. Then He questioned the disciples about their faith.

In all these examples, the individuals involved struggled with fear. This fear ultimately led to doubt, doubt that God could overcome anything. Too often, we focus on learning the lesson so that the trial will be over. When we focus on God, however, we have no choice but to stand in awe of who He is, and just how powerful He is. The lesson God has for us is secondary to God.

At the end of the Book of Job, Job says to God in Job 42:5, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee." God got the attention of Job only when Job stopped long enough to see Him.

When we face the trial, look for God. He is there, always.