In he walked, a sauntering stride, smirk on his face, attitude of disdain for those around him and with utter disregard for the protocols of the realm, until he stood looking in the face of the great King. "What have you been doing?" asks the Ruler. "Oh, just walking around," was the flippant response and then under his breath "getting people to follow me and not just you." Then with confidence of faith and knowing all along what the usurper was attempting to do, the Master of His World offered, "Have you considered My servant Job?"

It's an old, old story noted in the first chapter of the Old Testament book of Job. Some scholars think it is actually that, a story, a morality play, while others claim it happened just as described. The take-aways, lessons to be gleaned from the story of Job fill books and commentaries. Yet there is one aspect that is astounding and not always discussed.

Why did God even suggest to the devil that he might try to dominate Job? Why would God purposely tell Satan to try his best to turn Job away from God and turn him into a follower of evil? Many claim this was a test of Job's faith, which God wanted to see if Job was truly a faithful follower of the Almighty.

Yet couldn't it be a test of God's faith in Job? From the verses in that first chapter it appears that God is confident that Job is a "blameless and upright man, who fears God and shuns evil" (verse 8). Even after Satan is allowed to inflict economical, physical and emotional horrors, God remains undeterred in His unwavering confidence in Job.

That faith in His followers is not unique to Job. The writer of Hebrews lists some of those whose faith in God reflected His faith in them: Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Samuel, and others (Hebrews 13).

So ultimately the question that must be asked is: Does God have faith in me as He did in Job? And in spite of my incalculable shortcomings and failures, the answer must be yes! That answer is found in the writings of the apostle John in his first letter:

Does the Great God Almighty have faith in you?
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son does not have life. These things I have written that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (I John 5:11-13).

Now the question is, does the Great God Almighty have faith in you? Would he suggest to Satan: "Have you considered my servant _________?"

Let's talk about it, join the discussion on my blog at www.hopeforlife.org.

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