Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
This first passage of Job confirms to us that he was a righteous man, walking by faith in obedience to all of God’s commandments as best he knew how. This fact should put whatsoever comes next in its proper context so as not to blur the lines between the truth and other fanciful interpretations of the narrative.
There are some in Christian circles who reject this account as being fictional, and others question the veracity of what the Bible says took place with Job. So, for starters, let us be as clear as possible, if one deliberately rejects the scriptural account of Job, it will become impossible to understand what’s taking place across the globe right now.
God went to extreme lengths to shed light on some questions that had haunted human minds for many centuries. Very important questions as it pertains to the unfolding of the great controversy; issues about human suffering and tragedy and issues pertaining to God’s great mercies towards us, which, prior to Job’s trials, had evaded our understanding for many years.
God pulled back the curtain to show humans what’s taking place behind the scenes, and if the historical account of Job had been studied, and believed as God had intended, there would not have been such great misunderstanding, as it pertains to disasters and calamities that are increasing in frequency and severity, even as we speak.
The experience of Job is therefore accurate, and it is the will of God that we study and understand it with a humble and teachable spirit. Even though there a lot of promises of God’s protection given in the holy Bible to His people we’re not entirely immune from suffering and adversity. We are living in an evil world and there are agencies of evil arrayed against every individual including the righteous, in so much that persons may suffer from sickness or poverty, and still others may experience difficulties in their marriages.
There’ll be some who like Job might lose almost everything this material world has to offer. And there are others who may suffer persecution for the truth’s sake. Whatever the adversity may be, we are given the assurance in the Bible, that at the end of the day, after the dust has settled, all things will have worked out for the greater good of those who love and obey God and as such, we should take comfort while studying the chronicles of Job.
Whatever the situation may be, and whatsoever we may do, it is important for folks to avoid at all costs what is termed as unnecessary temptations, where we may put ourselves needlessly in harm’s way, and suffer the natural consequences as a direct result. It is a fact of life for us that temptations will come, but we must avoid “entering into” these temptations. As far as the record goes, Job was doing everything right, to the best of his knowledge, and as we could clearly see, he did not go looking for trouble.
From his flocks to his servants and on to his children, Job did not take anything for granted, but he tried his best to cooperate with God in leading a righteous and prudent life. There is a promise which says: “I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children”. This is a blessed promise made to those who serve and obey God, but Job did not claim this promise without his fervent prayers being lifted up for his children each and every day. Let’s read:
Job 1: 4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, everyone his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 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 did not leave anything up to chance, neither did he presume upon God’s goodness as so many in our day often do. Around his encampments there were stationed guards, human, as well as secret-service, for his righteousness, his faith and trust in God did not lead him to believe that he wasn’t to make any effort in the preservation of life and property.
In other words, if Job was alive today, we would see him wearing a mask, and doing social distancing all the while his faith is centered not in his own feeble efforts, but in the mighty power of God. The faith in the Bible does not lead the righteous to take those unnecessary risks that folks presume to take today. While we must not allow fear to govern our actions, yet, as Christians, we must do all we can to mitigate real risks, trusting God to take up the slack.
This is a vital point that should be understood by all who live in the last days, because the track of faith lies very close to the track of presumption. When the plague of hail was about to come upon Egypt, God sent warning in advance, so that anyone in Egypt could take refuge if they so desired. They were not required to be baptized, all they had to do was to believe, and act upon their belief by obeying what God said.
For individuals to scornfully disregard any sensible instructions, as it pertains to the current pandemic, is an act of presumption, and as such, they should not expect God’s miraculous power to protect them if they had chosen the correct course of action. Like those wise Egyptians in Pharaoh’s day, they would heed the instructions and avoid unnecessary risk as much as is humanly possible. Let’s read:
Exodus 9:18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. 19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses. 21 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.
Thus, when we read in the book of Job, that He was a righteous man, and that he feared God, we should understand by those declarations that he mitigated all risks to himself, his family, his servants and all his flocks, as best he could, trusting in God to do what it was impossible for him to do. With this understanding we may proceed to study the chronicles of Job, for his experiences in the first two chapters contain important revelations about things in the natural and invisible worlds.
There Job was, minding his own business, working hard like everyone else, and doing good in his community, when suddenly, without warning tragedy struck. No explanation is given to him by God in advance for his change of fortunes, nor for the tremendous blessings he was to receive thereafter, because, if God were to do this then Job’s response might be explained away as a part of the show.
To go through trials faithfully because of the blessings and rewards promised can cause some to become Christians for the wrong reason. God must be given due consideration by intelligent minds. His ways, His laws, and the principles of His kingdom must be studied carefully, understood and accepted by a free choice, based upon His inherent goodness, not because of blessings and favors, for if it were otherwise, the motivation for service would be loaves and fishes, not God’s goodness.
Yet, as Job reflects on his own doings, he cannot see anything that he could have done to trigger such an onset of adversities, but he chooses to keep trusting in God, and that against all odds. It was necessary to reveal to the inhabitants of this world certain truths about life, and this is why God chose a specific person whom He knew in advance, could handle such an ordeal.
God does not lay upon us more than we can bear, so there is no need for any believer to lose sleep by counting sheep and wondering if his or her turn will be next. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof, and the promise is given to us: “As thy days, so shall thy strength be”. A serious charge had been made by the devil in the presence of created intelligences, that The Lord was bribing Job to serve him, by blessing him with those material comforts of life.
This charge is a very grave one indeed for if one person in a relationship has to bribe the other for service, then that relationship is seriously flawed. God is to be served and obeyed, not because of fear or because of His many gifts, but because folks love Him for who He is. The Lord is not a sugar-daddy, as so many in our day have misunderstood Him to be, for He is good at His core and requires an intelligent obedience motivated by love.
In our day the preaching of the health wealth gospel has produced millions of “Shine eye” Christians who live by the motif, “When praises go up, the blessings come down”. Not so with Job, for he served God in the good times as well as the bad, and he refused to resort to blaming God for his misfortunes, as is all too common in our day. There are those who may weather the storm if they had an explanation of their situation but it’s entirely different when no explanation is given.
Trusting the goodness of God’s character takes tremendous faith and courage, especially when He may do things that we may not necessarily agree with, or when He may not have given us a heads-up of what was coming our way. Thus, the saga of Job’s adversity sheds light on the sources of troubles which afflict the human family.
After the diabolical insinuation was made by the adversary of souls, God permitted him to try Job’s faith to the extreme, and in the process, very great revelations about occurrences which are now taking place, were exposed. Therefore, the charge of bribery must of necessity be settled once and for all, and God is going to pull back, and not intervene in any way to deliver Job, so that angels, as well as men may see, that it was, and is still possible to serve God in sincerity, not merely because of His gifts.
We are also going to focus on the five methods that are usually employed by devils and their agencies to do the unthinkable among the multitudes of people and in our next segment, we will study the promises and methods God has given us to help in mitigating adversities, if and when they arise. Let’s read:
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. 13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house. 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them.
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house.
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Job 2:7 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.
The following therefore are the five adversities that were brought upon Job by satanic agencies, and we will trace the afflictions to their rightful source so that from here on out, we may have an intelligent understanding of what is currently taking place in our world. [1] The Sabeans. [2] The fire of God. [3] The Chaldeans. [4] A great wind. [5] Sore boils.
These five agencies are currently being used in an increasingly sustained and frequent manner against the human family. And as we get closer to the time when Christ will return, even greater adversities are predicted to take place across the globe, but very few persons are the wiser. Let us begin with the Sabeans and the Chaldeans, who they represent and what aspects of life are affected by them.
The Bible states that these two human agencies, motivated by devils made an attack on Job’s servants who were taking care of his oxen, asses and camels. The oxen were beasts of burden, which were used primarily for the tilling of the soil, but also on some occasions for sacrifices, when a grave sin had been committed.
Therefore, in one stroke, the adversary of man affected the means whereby Job made his living, his ability to make sacrifice for sins, and the lives of Job’s servants were taken in the process. The Sabeans, and the Chaldeans are still at work in our day, because currently, where we have become dependent on computers for everything, the ability to work is often compromised by hackers, who are always looking for ways to disrupt banking systems, companies, the electrical grid, and so forth.
But they have expanded their operations to include elections, and the problem is so pervasive that one former F.B.I agent described everyone who uses the internet as belonging to one of two groups: Those who know that they have been hacked, and those who don’t know they are hacked. The Sabeans and Chaldeans also came through on 9/11 when out of the blue sky, death and carnage rained down on America.
The beheadings, and the cruelties enacted by many groups across the world are the result of devils working though the human agent to bring us misery and destruction. And just as how the enemy sought to affect Job’s sacrifices and worship we have discovered in recent years that churches are not off limits to the Sabeans and Chaldeans, because several attacks have been launched in churches while folks were worshipping. It used to be that churches were one of the safest places to be, but in our day, nothing is off the table.
The next assault from the adversary of souls came in the form of what Job’s servant described as being the fire of God. In fact, it was lightening that struck without warning, burning up the sheep, which were a source of food for Job’s household. The devil is able to deliver bolts of lightning, thus sparking fires that have ravaged communities, and destroyed lives, and disrupted the food chain, from Job’s time until the present. But, do not take our word for it, let the record speak for itself. Let’s read:
(CNN) While people in the West are suffering through record-breaking heat, wildfires are ravaging many areas, especially in California, and red-flag warnings have been issued from the Northwest into the Rockies. There were at least 77 large complexes of wildfires burning in 15 states across the country as of Tuesday evening -- almost a third of them in California, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
The fires have burned at least 649,054 acres in the 14 states where fires are still spreading, according to the NIFC. Some 45 million people remain under some sort of heat warning or advisories, and no reprieve from the record heat in the West is expected until the weekend. Alaska: Acres burned: More than 26,000 acres. Cause: Lightning strikes have caused most of the 331 fires reported this year to date, according to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center.
Arizona: Number of fires: 11. Size: More than 31,000 acres Cause: A lightning strike caused the largest, the Cassadora Springs Fire. California: Number of fires: 25. Total size: More than 345,000 acres Cause: The August complex, made up of 20 individual fires, was caused by lightning strikes in the Mendocino National Forest.
Colorado: Number of fires: Five. Size: More than 135,000 acres. Smoke is covering much of Colorado, and the Denver metro area is under an air quality alert. Cause: The Pine Gulch Fire, the largest burning now, was caused by lightning.
Many of the fires currently burning across the U.S have been started by lightening, but the old devil remains hidden in the background, while science chalks it all up to global warming or dry storms. This is one of the reasons why God had to pull back the curtain via the chronicles of Job, to reveal what many are too reluctant to acknowledge in our day, that lightning strikes cannot only be attributed to the weather. Evil angels can and have often brought lightening to cause destruction, just as in the days of Job. Let’s read:
Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
In the time of Moses, when the Hebrews were in bondage, because of pharaoh’s stubbornness, God let go the leash just a bit, and His restraining power, which has always protected the human family, was lifted from off the Egyptians for a single day. What followed was a tremendous plague of hail and lightening, of which the explanation of what really took place is given in the Psalms.
There are forces now, ready and waiting to cause major disasters on the earth, but permission must be granted first, and in our next segment we will study why permission is at times granted. Let’s read:
Exodus 9:19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die. 23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
(What actually took place?) Psalms 78:48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. 49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
The next calamity that was brought upon Job by the devil was as the Bible describes it A Great Wind. Like lightening, devils can also produce tornadoes and hurricanes to bring disaster and carnage across the world, as they have done recently, increasing in frequency and severity, as the records also show. If a drinking glass is pushed from off of a table to the ground it will break. It matters not whether a child does it or a dog does it the result will be the same.
Similarly, hurricanes can be caused by many tropical disturbances, and they can also be caused by devils. This is explicitly stated in the chronicles of Job, to the intent that we would not chalk up everything to merely scientific causes. The wind that smote the house on its four corners was a deadly tornado that was spawned directly by the devil. Let’s read:
Job 1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Ephesians 2:1 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.
This brings us to the last and final affliction that was the direct result of satanic intervention, and which we are now grappling with across the globe, just in a different form. Boils. Boils represent any form of sickness, disease, physical or mental malady or pandemic that occurs as the result of the work of evil angels.
Whilst it is true that not every affliction may arise directly from their covert activities, yet the Bible clearly states that they have the ability to bring on such things, and as such, there are certain instances where a change in treatments, might be necessary. Drugs are often used to treat spiritual maladies in our day, but now, The Lord is going to expose the real cause, in many instances. Let’s read:
Luke 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day. 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
Mark 9:15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. 16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? 17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he tears him: and he foams, and gnashes with his teeth, and pines away: and I spoke to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. 20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him?
And he said, Of a child. 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up; and he arose.
WHAT IS TOURETTE SYNDROME?
Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder defined by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations, called tics. The condition is named for Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette who first described it in 1885. Because the incidence of this condition has skyrocketed over the last few decades, especially in western countries, and since the media has been giving it more attention, it’s now much more recognized. Once considered rare and unusual, Tourette syndrome is now considered “common.”
The National Institute of Health estimates (2015) that in the USA 1 in 100 have a mild case of tics and 200,000 have a severe form of Tourette’s. However, some research suggests these may be significant underestimates. A study of schoolchildren in and around Rochester, New York in 2001 revealed that nearly 20% of students in elementary through high school had some level of tics.
Although many millions of dollars have been spent in research over the past 40 years, the underlying causes of Tourette syndrome have not been clearly identified. Conventional medical efforts have focused on genetics, yet, attempts to isolate the genes involved have failed to yield suitable treatments.
For centuries, the protective shield of God has been covering the human family from dangers, seen and unseen, but as we approach the climax of earth’s history, the Bible tells us that adverse occurrences, and incidents of a supernatural nature will multiply across the globe. And as such, we will need to study all the remedial actions given in the scriptures so as to avert danger, if and wherever possible.
It is very important that the human family understand the sources of their problems, for if we conclude that God is doing these things to us, then we would not view Him as our Friend, and that will lead to an ultimate rejection of His offers of salvation. In our next segment, we will address the mitigations and remedies given in the Bible, but until then, let us bear in mind that Jesus is the friend of man, not our enemy, and His gracious overtures to save us is not only from sin, but its consequences.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture that should help us to lift our heads heavenward, from whence comes our help, for as the world digs itself deeper into the hole, we will discover that it is only God who can save us from ourselves. Let’s read:
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
God Bless!