Good morning. It’s Sunday, January 25th, aka Opposite Day!

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— Job 1:11

So why did the devil want Job to suffer?

Well, that question may be a little misleading.

Because the devil didn’t just want Job to suffer. He wanted him to sin in his suffering.

But don’t just take my word for it. You can hear the devil say it here:

Job 1:9–11 says: 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”

So most people, when they read Job, think God gives the devil exactly what he wants. Which is Jobs suffering.

But He didn’t. Because the devil wanted to see sin, and only Job could give that to him.

So…

Did Job give the devil what he wanted?

The answer is no, no he didn’t.

Job 1:22 says, “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”

And after his suffering deepened, Job 2:10 adds, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

Now not only did Job not react with sin, he reacted with praise.

Job 1:20–21 says: 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

But it wasn’t all praise all the time.

Job 3:1–3 says: After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said: “Let the day perish on which I was born…”

Job 7:11 also says: “I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”

And lastly Job 10:3 says: “Does it please you to oppress me, to despise the work of your hands…?”

Job’s story shows us that responding sinlessly doesn’t mean responding perfectly. He worshiped but he also grieved. He trusted God, but still asked hard questions.

He was human.

So when you’re going through your own Job moments, you’ll likely respond in a human way. But know this: the devil wants you to respond in a sinful way.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: God, You are faithful even in suffering.

Confession: I confess that pain tempts me to sin.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for Job’s example of faith.

Supplication: Help me respond to suffering without sin.

In Jesus name, Amen.

“Get Behind Me” by Emerson Day

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See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God