The passage that we study today begins with the words: “Now there was a day”. This phrase only occurs in the Bible once and it seems a little strange it connects ‘now’ with the ‘past’. As we shall see, it is not the only seemingly strange thing in this verse. I would like to show you, how it gives us a glimpse into the eternity. We see a day, when there is no time. The sons of God come to present themselves before the LORD. This verse is happening right before the eternal throne of God.
But who are these sons of God? Does God have many sons? We know the most famous verse of the Bible, John 3:16 which says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” So we know there is only one begotten Son acknowledged by the Bible and it is true. God has only one begotten Son. A Son who would not be a created being like we are, but begotten. God from God, begotten in the eternity, having no beginning or end.
There is another verse in the book of John which can help us find the answer to this dilemma of who are the sons of God in the book of Job. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” John 1:12.
So you see, while we are here on earth, closed in the four dimensions of our space and time, it is strange to read that what we read in the Bible about the future has actually already happened in the eternity. Even more bizarre and incomprehensible would be that this verse speaks about all them who received that power to become the children of God, by believing on his name. It speaks about them who received Christ and turned their ways in repentance. We were pursuing the idols of this world and all its vanity, but now we are on our way to God. We will come into His presence one day as His children and it is about this day that we read in verse 6.
Now, as we come to present ourselves before the LORD, we have to be robed properly. You come in the presence of God who created all the universe. You need to be perfect. You need the righteousness of Christ. Therefore we follow Him and we seek Him for He showed us the way. Those who believe in the name of Jesus, they are in Christ. They strive to be found righteous, not by their deeds but by faith.
That is why our personal testimony is very important. What will we say to God when we get there? Remember we can already say all these things right now, in prayer. So what would be your testimony? God is asking this question: “Whence comest thou?” Be prepared to answer.
Now, we read that Satan is among the sons of God. Let us take a look at his answer, that is his testimony: “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it”. Is it not incredibly familiar to what many people will say in the last days? God may ask them, where they came from. But the richness of this question requires us to contemplate not only on the origin of our pilgrimage. It is almost pushing us to declare our testimony. How did we live? What did we do with the life and gifts that we received from God? Did we glorify God with our actions and words? “Whence comest thou?”
I suppose many people on that day will answer: I just lived and tried to be the best person I could be! But I hope you are not like that. This is not a Christian answer. For if you believe in Him, you are the sons of God. You received the Lord in repentance and with a broken heart cried out to Him for forgiveness of your sins.
“Whence comest thou?” the Lord God is asking today. What will you answer? I just lived my life? I just went on with it? No, no, no. If you are in Christ, you will bow humbly in the presence of the Almighty God and say: Lord be merciful on me. I came from the dust of the earth and I am nothing but dust. I have sinned against thee and I pray thee please forgive me. I brought you nothing but my broken heart. Cleanse me, Oh LORD with the blood of your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. It is in Him that I receive thy grace and blessings and in Him you make me perfect and upright that I may stand before this throne of thy mercy. And even though I am trembling in fear in the presence of my God, my only hope is you would declare me righteous, for I come in the name of Jesus.
In verse 8 we receive God’s testimony about Job. “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?” There is none like him in the earth! Satan just confessed, he walked in all the earth. Now the question is “Hast thou considered my servant Job?” What do you think of him?
We can see how all the spiritual blessings from verse 1 are reiterated by God himself. It is God, the eternal righteous judge who declared Job to be a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil.
This amazing testimony is applied to all them who are found in Christ. He took our sins upon Himself on the cross of Calvary. His blood was shed for you. So if you have confessed your sins before God and if you believe in the gospel, you are perfect and upright before God. You have peace with Him. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Rom. 8:14
So who will accuse the elect of God? Who will condemn? “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Rom. 8:33-34
We can see that Satan tries to uproot the testimony that God gives about Job. He is tempting God. In verse 9 Satan is questioning God’s word. Does it sound familiar? Nothing changed with this regard since the garden of Eden. We remember the words of the cunning serpent with which he tried to cast doubt on God’s word: “Yea, hath God said?” (Gen. 3:1)
Now he also cunningly questions the spiritual blessings that Job received. He puts into doubt the authenticity of the fear of God that Job has. “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.” Now of course we know that God did made a hedge about him and about his house. We read in the earlier verses that God has blessed Job abundantly in every work of his hands. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Ps. 127:1
Therefore, Satan rightly contributes God’s blessings to Job’s possessions and prosperity. His mistake though is to cast doubt on the man who was just declared righteous by the Almighty God. The one thing you are never to question, is the power of the gospel. It is Jesus’ blood that was shed! The only begotten Son of God! God just said that Job was perfect and upright and God-fearing and abstaining from evil. But Satan only sees the prosperity blessings. He is blind to these spiritual blessings that were just confirmed by God.
“But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” Satan is effectively asking here for permission. Take it all away and let us see what Job does. He is accusing Job before the throne of God. What this verse tells us, that everything is in the power of God. There is no conflict between the good and evil. God is above all and always in control. He does not have to fight back Satan. Satan is a created being. God is all-mighty and eternal. It is God who rules every single thing that happens in our universe. “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” Is. 45:7
We can see that Satan has to ask God’s permission to act. Consider the following passage “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:” Lk. 22:31 We can imagine Peter asking Lord Jesus: “But you said no, right?” But Jesus could have answered: “I said yes, Peter”. Trials and tribulations, persecutions and everything that happens to us in this world is to teach us to rely on God’s grace with everything. It is to purify our faith and submit ourselves to His mercy. All that is required from us is to believe in Him. And we will stay in our faith if we are truly born by the Spirit. If you believe that your salvation is only possible through Christ, you belong to God’s family.
“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Lk. 22:32 Lord Jesus prayed for us and this is the best assurance we can have, that we will reach our ultimate destiny to be in His glorious presence one day. I will be in heaven because Lord Jesus prayed for me that my faith fail not. I do not have confidence in myself, I do not have the strength of my own to stay on this way in which I follow him, but Jesus prayed for me. The Son of God prayed for ME!
Therefore all material and vain things of this world can be taken away from us. If only we can remain in Christ, we do not need anything else. This is what we see in verse 12 in the book of Job: “Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.”
So all these powers are given to Satan and he does like to boast in them, doesn’t he? Even when he is tempting our Lord in the wilderness, he does not hesitate to call upon these powers: “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.” Lk. 3:5-7 But just as these powers were given to Satan by God, in the very same manner, they will be one day taken away and Satan and all who served him will be casted into the lake of fire, where they will suffer all eternity. This is the truth that is revealed to us by the Word of God.
What is our lesson from what we read today? Seek God’s forgiveness and peace with Him. Ask Him to be born again that you may be found perfect and upright. God’s declaration of righteousness is eternal. He gave us this power to become His children. So believe in the gospel. Christ did all this for us. He died that we may live. That we may one day present ourselves before the LORD. Let us exalt Him and praise Him that we may know how to answer God on the day of judgement. It is in the name of Jesus that we can come to Him! “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;” Hbr. 2:3-4
