“…he will surely curse You…” Job 2:5c

Like a kid saying, “No fair!”, satan’s retort to God went like this: “Skin for skin! A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.” (vv. 4-5) Like a child, satan always wants to be in control… and he never actually gets to be in charge.

Being exiled from Heaven didn’t teach the accuser anything, did it? Satan believes a person is unable to be separated from self-preservation, no matter how full of faith one appears to be – that when bad things happen to good people, those good people will abandon their faith in God. Satan’s assumption points to the cross. The very test of God’s Son was to willingly be executed for the sins of mankind. Yes, Jesus prayed to let the cup of self-sacrifice pass from Him. Yet, He completed the mission He was sent to do – performing the one act that could restore mankind to God… His death on a cross.

Yes, Job’s life – as a type of Christ – pointed to the real Messiah, Who was put to the same test. Jesus endured the cruelty of a severe beating, the mockery of a fixed trial, the rejection by His own race, and death on a cross. Jesus, like Job, remained true to God’s purpose. Jesus was fully man, tempted in all ways such as is common to man. Jesus was also fully God, He had been in on the discussion of redemption from the very beginning. Jesus even knew the outcome before it happened, predicting His own death and resurrection (read Matthew 16:21, 17:22; Mark 8:31; Luke 13:33).

There is an abiding joy every Christ follower experiences, just as Christ knew the joy set before Him – the joy of a king’s coronation. The Christian’s joy is knowing the welcome s/he will receive upon entering the court of Heaven’s King. Every soul who places faith in Christ will be tested just as Job. Will you keep the joy set before you or will you curse God to His face?

Trust Him and have a blessed day…