April 28, 2010 Faith in a Helpless Place Kathleen Maples

Part 1

I've been thinking about Job a lot lately. Job was a man of God who lived in a place called
Uz. Nobody seems to be able to determine exactly when the time of Job was. Some suggest
it was during the period of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Some suggest due to
language featured in the book of Job that it was written later, during the time of Solomon,
and leading up to the Babylonian invasion. The name Job means the persecuted and hated
one. I was struck by something when I began to research Uz. The name means fruitful
counselor, and it comes from the root word which means to impress or immerse oneself. I
immediately thought of the Holy Spirit-He is the Counselor, and we definitely need to be
immersed or pressed into Him, full of His life, not our own. If we are filled with the life of
the Holy Spirit we will be fruitful-the fruit or evidence of the Holy Spirit is listed in Gal 5.
We can see these demonstrated in the life and testimony of Job. I think it is very important
when reading the book of Job to consider what the name of the land Job lived in means.

The Bible testifies of him that he was a completely righteous man who reverenced God and
shunned even the appearance of evil. He turned away from it, withdrew from anything
that was bad or displeasing to the Lord. The Bible says it's by the fear of the Lord that men
depart from evil, and a true fear of God will be evident in a person's life. Our habits and
behavior demonstrate if we truly fear God or not. Everything I read about Job tells me he
was very close to God, and walked with God. He had a wife, 7 sons, and 3 daughters. He
was a wealthy man, with 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 oxen, many servants, to work in
his large home. Despite all the children, despite the wealth, God was still the most
important thing in His life. He was a man who wielded authority justly. He was kind and
generous to his fellow man, always willing to help. He was greatly burdened for his
children, Verse 4 of chapter 1 tells us that his sons were feasting, translated 'drinking' at a
banquet, in their homes. They invited their sisters to eat and drink with them. When you
study these words they imply an over indulgence of intoxicating drink, and suggests some
gluttony.

Job 1:5 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.

These sons took turns holding these parties in their homes, and this behavior tells me they
weren't serious about the things of God, they were intent on pleasing their own selves. It's
uncertain if this was a seasonal event, such as at harvest time, or if it was an habitual
event. Scripture indicates they had a circuitous way of doing this-each son would take a
turn holding a party at their home and the other siblings would all show up and eat and
drink, over indulging themselves. Job was very concerned, enough so he "sent and
sanctified them". So you have an entire week here of this kind of behavior. Job worried
that they might have thought or said or did something that would alienate them from God,
and he made sacrifice and intercession for them.

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.

This word for sons in the Hebrew H1121, ben, is a very loose term for son-it means one who
is a builder of the family name, but also includes grandsons, subjects, nations, servants,
soldiers,; it's used in the widest sense of the word, whereas in Psa_2:12 the word for Son
means heir to the throne. Most of the commentaries agree this verse in Job refers to angels
coming to the throne of God, and Satan coming among them. Consider the timing of this
verse, though. In verse 5, Job is getting up dearly, offering burnt offerings for all his
children, and praying for them. This was something he did regularly. So in verse 5 you
have a saint of God making intercession for his children, and in verse 6 you have the
adversary coming before the Lord to accuse, and seek permission to test this servant's
faith and loyalty to God. Perhaps there is a dual application here, for we know angels, as
messengers and servants, are dispatched from God to earth to minister to those who would
be heirs of salvation. (Heb_1:14) But consider this:

Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I
begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

He never called any of the angels of the Son, only Christ-and those in Christ. So for that
reason, I tend to wonder about the common interpretation of this verse. Regardless, the
Lord focuses on Satan, whose name means adversary, opponent, accuser, and that is
exactly what he is there before God to do.

Job 1:7 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.

Where did you come from? God asks him, knowing full well what he'd been up to. The word
for 'answer' in verse 7 means to speak, respond, to give account.

Job 1:8 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?
Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

In the Hebrew, the word "Considered" used in this verse has three different words in the
Hebrew that together express the English translation 'considered'. When you put them all
three together, it means Job was the center of Satan's attention and he was determined to
move against him. Job was a marked man as far as Satan was concerned, he intended to
take him down. Satan reveals God had made an hedge about Job. What does that mean?

In the Old Testament there are a couple powerful examples of this. In the book of 2 Kings 6
there is a powerful example of this hedge. Elisha was the prophet of God who took over
after God took Elijah. Elisha lived in the city of Dothan. This was where Joseph was
thrown into a pit by his angry, resentful brothers. The king of Syria was angry with
Elisha, for he had been trying to capture and kill the king of Israel and Elisha, warned of
God, warned the king of Israel. When the king of Syria learned that Elisha was in Dothan,
he sent horses, chariots and a great army to capture this one man. Surely such a big
display for one man reveals a deep fear on the part of the king of Syria. It's early, and
Gehazi, Elisha's servant had arisen, gone outside, and he sees this great host of soldiers
surrounding the city. There are horses, chariots, armed men, come to capture Elisha. He
runs back inside to Elisha, alarmed, and desperate. But Elisha calmly responds to his
servant "Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." Elisha
prayed and asked the Lord to open the servant's eyes so he could see and God did. And the
servant, Gehazi saw that the mountain around them was full of horses and chariots of fire
around Elisha. And when these soldiers, with their flesh and blood horses and their man
made chariots move in, thinking to capture this prophet, Elisha doesn't panic, he turns his
attention heavenward. He doesn't look down, he looks up. He prays and asked the Lord to
blind the soldiers. So the Lord did.
Imagine the chaos that erupted. Suddenly, all this great army are blind. Individual panic
turns to group panic when they realize they are all blind. Surely, they had heard of this
great God and this prophet who knew the secret things the king of Syria spoke in his own
tent. They had heard of the God of Israel. They hadn't come charging into this situation
without making what they thought was adequate preparation. Yet here they are,
completely vulnerable, their horses and chariots no good.

Psa 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth
them.

The angel of the Lord, means one dispatched, as a deputy, a messenger, an angel, prophet,
priest or teacher, an ambassador of the Lord. He encamps, or pitches a tent to camp
around, to circle, on every side, those who reverence and fear the Lord, and listen to this-
to deliver, equip for the fight, to strengthen, arm or prepare them. He rescues and sets
them free. This is heavenly reinforcement for the children of the Lord who fear Him. Have
you ever been in a situation when you felt you couldn't go on, and the man of God get up at
church and preach a message that fires straight into your heart, and encourages and
strengthens you? Have you been in a situation when you were almost hurt, perhaps in a
car accident, or something and they missed you and you don't see how they did? Have you
been walking and had an angry dog growl at you, and then suddenly whimper and slink
away when you spoke the name of Jesus? Then you have experienced this hedge, as well.
Have you suffered a severe temptation, or trial, and felt too weak to endure it, and
suddenly you felt as if iron had come into your soul and you were able to stand and resist?
That is this hedge. The word hedge means literally to shut in, for formation, protection or
restraint.

In Exodus, when the children of Israel were backed up against the Red Sea, and the enemy
chasing after them, intent on their destruction, The Lord was in that cloud that moved to
guard them. These people were trapped, a mountain range on each side, the sea at their
back, and Pharaoh's army coming at them, mad with grief and hate, and Israel had no
weapons, but One-He was the only weapon they needed.

Josephus writes about Moses praying to the Lord during this time, and I want to share it
with you.

But when Moses was come to the sea-shore, he took his rod, and made supplication to God, and called
upon him to be their helper and assistant; and said "Thou art not ignorant, O Lord, that it is beyond human
strength and human contrivance to avoid the difficulties we are now under; but it must be thy work
altogether to procure deliverance to this army, which has left Egypt at thy appointment. We despair of any
other assistance or contrivance, and have recourse only to that hope we have in thee; and if there be any
method that can promise us an escape by thy providence, we look up to thee for it. And let it come quickly,
and manifest thy power to us; and do thou raise up this people unto good courage and hope of deliverance,
who are deeply sunk into a disconsolate state of mind. We are in a helpless place, but still it is a place
that thou possessest; still the sea is thine, the mountains also that enclose us are thine; so that
these mountains will open themselves if thou commandest them, and the sea also, if thou
commandest it, will become dry land. Nay, we might escape by a flight through the air, if thou shouldst
determine we should have that way of salvation." Antiquities of the Jews, book 2, ch. 16. Emphasis is mine.

We are in a helpless place but still it's a place You possess. Everything in it is Yours, the
mountains, the sea, the air. Wow. Have you ever considered that?

Exo 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went
behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a
cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near
the other all the night.

The same cloud that was a light to Israel on one side was darkness to their enemies. What
a phenomenal scene. The people were ready to revolt, they were scared, blaming Moses for
their situation. But Moses had heard from God. God had already told Moses this would
happen. The panic of the people inflamed something in Moses, causing him to cry out to
the Lord. The Lord said, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people of Israel to go
forward! Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand across the sea and divide it. The
people will go through it on dry ground. Moses told the people to stand still and see the
salvation of the Lord. Don't be afraid, for the Lord will fight for you and you will hold your
peace."

Scripture says the Lord looked at the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of the
cloud and troubled-to put in commotion, to disturb or drive to destruction, the Egyptians.
(Exo_14:24) The Lord let Israel get out of reach of the Egyptians as they crossed through the
sea before He moved the cloud, allowing the Egyptians to rush into the midst of the sea
after them. He allowed them to get far into the midst of the dry path He had made in the
middle of the waters that they were all in there. None escaped when He let the Red Sea go
back to her own place. They had time to realize the Lord was fighting against them, for
Israel. They had time to look up and see the water rushing down on them and it was over.
Josephus also relates how after the sea fell in on the Egyptian army, that the next day,
Moses and the Hebrews spent gathering the weapons of the Egyptians, carried to their
camp against the wind by the current of the sea.

Job 1:10 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.

Satan knew there was a hedge around Job, because he'd been there, seeking a way around
it, over it, under or through it. He had no access, no point of entry. He misjudged Job's
love and loyalty to God, because his own love and loyalty to God had bowed to love for self
and you can read about that in Ezek 28. Satan said God had blessed the work of Job's
hands. We take that to mean 'give an increase, prosper'. But here, it means to praise or
salute. His substance, everything he had was spreading, increasing as well. So he was a
man approved of God. A man Satan wanted to test.

He couldn't stand it in the garden when Adam walked with God, and having failed to
dethrone God in heaven, he determined to dethrone that image of God in that man. Now,
here's Job. Job had a reputation in the community as a good, God-fearing man. He
watched Job's devotion to the Lord and he hated it. He saw Job's faith in God and he
wanted to devour it. He saw the blessing of the Lord on Job's life and he wanted to stop it.
He wanted to separate Job from God.

The Lord, for His own reason allowed Satan access to Job. He dropped the hedge. All he
has is in your hand, but touch not Job himself. Satan wasted no time in going about
wreaking as much havoc and destruction as he could. Oh, would to God His people would
have the same fervency and urgency to be about His business, myself included. In one day,
four messengers show up at Job's house, one right after the other. They all had terribly
bad news. Job's servants were plowing the fields, the cows were plowing, the donkeys
were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans showed up, and overwhelmed the servants, killing
them and stealing the animals. Then another messenger came. The Chaldeans formed
three companies, seized the camels, killed the servants there, and only one escaped. Then
another messenger. Fire fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants there,
consuming all. Again, only one escaped. Then the last messenger with the most horrible
news of all: all Job's children were dead, killed when a tornado hit the house they were
feasting in. When I read that the fire fell from heaven and burned up the sheep, and the
servants watching the sheep that caught my attention. Satan had the other animals stolen.
But the servants, the sheep and Job's children were all killed. They called it the fire of God.
I think that is worth stopping and considering. It came from the sky, it was a real, burning
fire, it was a supernatural fire, in that it was not started by man. This servant of God, Job,
is getting bad news hitting him from all sides, and one of the messengers attributes blame
for this destruction on God, the very same God Job diligently serves. True, God allowed
Satan to do this. Can Satan make fire fall from heaven and consume people? Where is the
Biblical precedent for this, other than in Job?

Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the
earth in the sight of men,

This is the second beast that arises in the last days, comes in with the strength of a lamb,
but the voice of a dragon. He has all the same power of the first beast whose deadly wound
was healed. So, there are healings, signs and wonders, and fire coming down from heaven
in the sight of men.

Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he
had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they
should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and
wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

By the miracles, they deceive the people of the earth. How we need discernment! Don't
forget in Egypt, the magicians of Pharaoh did have some power to duplicate some of these
plagues. In a moment of time, everything Job had, except his home and his wife, was gone.
He was stunned by this news-everyone was. His wife must have been devastated, as well.
All their children gone. Everything. Surely, she must have began to weep. Job got up, he
didn't sit there with his head in his hands, weeping. He got up, ripped his outer garment,
and went and shaved his head. This was a sign of mourning. But then, Job fell down on the
ground and worshiped. He prostrates himself before God in reverence, and the Bible says
he worships. As I've been studying on Job, the Lord brought it to my attention to contrast
what happened to Job with what has happened to the church. The church was born at
Pentecost with all the spiritual riches and gifts we read about in Acts. We see how the
church went about doing good, helping people, glorifying God, interceding in prayer for
others, working the works of God, being upright and avoiding evil, just as Job had. There
were mighty miracles done, and the church prospered, spiritually for a time.

The enemy attacked this viciously, killing all but one of the disciples, and he tried to kill
John. Have you ever considered what an attack it must have been on John's faith to
continually get word, ever so often, another one of the disciples has been murdered? 11
times he got this message. You would have to truly love the Lord and be very close to Him
to withstand such an assault on your faith, and you would have to be full of the Spirit of
God.

Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

The man lost his children, his servants, his wealth, and he responds by demonstrating his
grief, then bowing before God, acknowledging what he had he had been given by God: the
Lord gives and He takes away. I came into this world with nothing and I will leave with
nothing. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Again, Satan goes with the sons of God to present themselves before the Lord. It's hard to
fathom..how can someone as unclean as Satan, as evil as Satan get access to the presence
of God? Scripture says no flesh is acceptable in the presence of God. It can't rejoice in the
presence of God. He won't even tolerate it. He told Moses when building the Tabernacle in
the wilderness, to make a ramp going up to the altar, not steps, so no flesh is even seen,
and to wear linen breeches under their ephod to hide their flesh. But here, the Lord is
giving him access, and holding a conversation.

"Where did you come from?" God asks.

"From walking up and down, going to and fro in the earth," Satan replies.
"Have you considered my servant Job? There is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an
upright man, one that fears Me and avoids evil? Still he holds his integrity, though you
tried to persuade me to move against him, to destroy him when he is innocent of what you
accused him."

Satan basically accused Job of serving God for selfish reasons-for the blessing of the Lord,
for material gain, and protection. Still, Satan is not satisfied. "A man will do anything to
save to his own life." he said. "You touch his body, and he will curse You to Your face." So
the Lord, for whatever reason, gave Job's body into Satan's power, but refused to allow
him to kill Job. He knew Job would prove Satan wrong. He left the Lord's Presence and
struck Job with boils from the top of his head to the sole of his feet. In the Hebrew, the
word means to burn, inflammation, like an ulcer. This was a terrible condition that come
over Job's body.

Job 2:8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

He takes a broken piece of pottery and sits down in the ashes to scrap himself. In my mind,
I can almost see his wife working busily around the house, maybe putting flowers in a
vase, or preparing food. Upon hearing of the death of her children, did she drop some
earthen vessel, breaking it? Were the ashes from the fires in the stoves used for cooking
and heating water? When I was a kid, we had a wood stove. The ashes had to be taken
outside every day, and dumped, and we always took them to the same spot. Was there a
similar spot outside Job's house? Was this where the broken pots and dishes got placed as
well? This is such an emotionally and spiritually tense scene.

I get so tired of hearing preachers throw off on Mrs. Job because she made one foolish
statement. Not many of them seem to consider she was the one who carried these children
in her womb. She was the one who nursed them, and cared for them as the grew. Surely,
her heart was broken at their loss. She barely has time to assimilate the loss of the
servants, the loss of the animals, and then the loss of the children, until her husband is
stricken with some awful disease that begins to disfigure him and cause his flesh to smell
so rotten and corrupt it was nauseating to get near him.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says this of Job's illness: "Job's body was
covered with itchy, burning sores which made him unrecognizable. They caused a
continual burning pain and became infested with maggots. Even his breath smelled of
such corruption it was nauseating to be near him. He couldn't sleep, his nervous system
became enfeebled, and he required help to move."

His wife is watching this awful thing that has struck her husband. She's wondering, am I
next? Human nature would wonder that. Will what he has afflict me, too? I wonder if she
walks through her house, looking out the window at her husband, and then walks some
more, pacing and fretting and grieving over what has happened. All of her children were
gone. There was no one there to comfort her, she couldn't get too close to Job. Part of her,
as his wife, desperately needed comforting only a husband can give but she was denied
even that. I wonder if as she walked through the house, her gaze might have landed on a
small trinket or gift one of her children had made or brought her. Mothers always keep
things like that. How the grief must have pierced her heart. And all the time these things
are happening, you know the accuser is right there, whispering to her mind, accusing Job.
This is his fault. He must have done something to make God very angry. How can he not
curse God after God let all this happen? Is this what you get for serving God? Where was
God when the children were slain? Where was God when the Sabeans attacked? Why
would God let this happen to Job when Job loves him so much? Look at him, you can't even
recognize your own husband anymore. You can't bear the sight or smell of him either.
What had he done to anger God and bring this judgment down on them? You know you
haven't done anything...so it must have been Job. Maybe he's not as lily white as you think
he is. But God knows, and he's judging him for it.

Something in her, being human, was deeply offended by this sudden turn of events. How
could God let this happen after all the good Job has done? Job was his faithful servant,
going above and beyond the call, good to everyone. He prayed, he sacrificed, he did what
was right all the time. That is the Job she'd always known. An anger and resentment,
stoked by the lies of hell, began to burn in her grief stricken mind. Suddenly, she can't take
it anymore and she marches outside, looking at her husband with suspicion and
resentment.

Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

How can you still be so strong and courageous, declaring you are innocent before God
after all what has happened? she asks. The word for 'curse' here is H1288 Barak, and it
means to bless or blaspheme. Job must have loved his wife. As much as he loved God, he
had to love her. He also had to know her and unlike a lot of preachers I've heard refer to
her, Job understood she spoke rashly out of pain and tremendous grief.
Job just looked up at her, knowing she was in pain, grieving as well as he was, and
responded with kindness and wisdom. "You speak like one of the foolish women speak.
Shall we take the good from God and not the bad?" That word for foolish in Job_2:10 means
stupid. How many of us have said something stupid in times of great stress or pain?
Amen?

News spread fast of the calamities that had struck the Job family. I believe as we continue
on in these Scriptures we will come to a better understanding of the relationship that Job's
three friends or associates had with him. They came to see Job, with a mutual agreement
to come and mourn with him and try to comfort him. When they got there, they couldn't
believe their eyes. They looked intently at him, searching for some familiar feature, but
found none. They cried out, in shock and dismay, ripped their garments, and sprinkled
dust on their heads. The sat down, remaining with Job for seven days and nights, not
saying a word to him for they saw his grief was very great. They stayed for a week in
silence. That is very telling, folks. It must have been very bad. Job_2:12 reveals even his
friends could not recognize him because the disease he was attacked with disfigured his
appearance over his whole body. The depth of the corruption, the stench must have been
terrible. Satan went all out to destroy this man, to make him an object of suspicion and
ridicule.

Now, as I consider all these things, the church comes to mind. The Body of Christ. She has
been smitten, persecuted, maimed, tortured, and come under assault many times since she
was born at Pentecost. Many saints have been martyred around the world. Many have lost
their children, spouses, and their own lives for the Gospel. Just like Job's body came under
attack with infection and boils, the church has been filled with tares and a false gospel. As
a result, many have been led astray, many have fallen by the wayside, and perished in
their sin. Untold perversions, and resulting misery in the name of religion has been
rampant for centuries. But just like at the end of Job's story, God shows up, sets things
right, and renews Job and his wife in their youth, and gives them back what was taken
from them, ten new children, these better than the first ten, and restores double to them
the wealth that was taken from them. They receive a double portion from the Lord and He
restored everything that was lost.

Joe 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the
caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Joe 2:26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God,
that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
Isa 57:18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto
him and to his mourners.
Jer 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD;
because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

In the mind of the world, the true church is an outcast. When you stand up against sin and
unrighteousness, you will be mocked, vilified, and persecuted, often by the religious more
than the world. But God has a plan. He sees it all and just as He watched Job's suffering-
getting no pleasure in that-He sees the suffering of His people. And He will make it right in
His time and way.

Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach
good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty
to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to
comfort all that mourn;
Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of
joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called
trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isa 61:4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they
shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.