By Theodore Epp

      Job 1: 12-22

      According to Job 1:12 the Lord gave Satan permission to afflict Job up to a certain point.

      God told Satan that he could do what he wanted with all Job had, but he was not to touch Job himself So Satan set out to prove that Job was not what God claimed him to be, but God's purpose was to show that Job was a man of God.

      When the great calamities fell upon Job, it was not Satan's lightning nor Satan's whirlwind that brought destruction. The lightning and the wind belong to God. Satan merely had permission from God to use them. Even Job saw this, for he said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (v. 21).

      The character of a person is generally revealed at a time of sudden crisis. When there is no time for reflection, our true nature is revealed. This is especially true when someone is under as much pressure as Job was.

      Satan was defeated by Job's turning to the Lord. The Evil One failed in everything he tried to do against Job. Instead of driving Job away from God, Satan had driven him closer to God. Here was a man who could be faced with all that Satan could cast at him and still stand firm in his faith.

      Is this how we react when Satan brings trials and testings into our lives? Or do we cringe and ask why? Do we shake and tremble under the terrible trial?

      "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9).