Victimization – Part 2 – Victimized By Whom?

Victimization

Part 2

VICTIMIZED BY WHOM?

I recently had a disturbing conversation with one of my children. I was trying to explain to her that we are constantly being set up for victimization. Our life is a test. We are in boot camp training. She thought I was nuts, would I want my granddaughters to be constantly raped? NO! Of course not. But as we’ve seen in my last post, a father or grandfather cannot really protect his children or grandchildren. Not really, though he does his best. She didn’t let me finish the conversation, so let’s continue that conversation here. Who better to use for an illustration than Job?

Job 1:1-22, “There was a man in the land of Uz, his name was Job. And this man was perfect and upright, and fearing the Divine Ones, and turning away from evil. 2And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3And his possessions were seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-donkeys, and a very great household, so that this man was greater than all the sons of the east. 4And his sons feasted in the house of each one on his birthday. And they sent and called their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5And it happened, when the day of feasting had gone around, Job would send and sanctify them. And he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt sacrifices according to all their number. For Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed the Divine Ones in their hearts. This, Job always did. 6And a day came when the sons of The Divine Ones came to present themselves before Yahovah. And Satan also came among them. 7And Yahovah said to Satan, From where have you come? And Satan answered Yahovah and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8And Yahovah said to Satan, Have you set your heart on My servant Job because there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, fearing the Divine Ones and turning away from evil? 9And Satan answered Yahovah and said, Does Job fear the Divine Ones for nothing? 10Have You not made a hedge for him, and for his house, and for all that is his all around? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land. 11But put out Your hand now, and touch against all that is his, and see if he will not then curse You to Your face. 12And Yahovah said to Satan, Behold, all that is his is in your hand! Only, do not lay your hand on him. And Satan went out from the face of Yahovah. 13And a day came when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their brother’s house, the first-born. 14And a messenger came to Job and said, The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys were feeding beside them. 15And the Sabeans fell on them and took them away. And they killed the young men with the mouth of the sword; and I, I alone have escaped to tell you. 16While this one was still speaking, this other also came and said, The fire of the Divine Ones has fallen from the heavens and has burned up the sheep and the young men. And it has consumed them; and I, I alone have escaped to tell you. 17While this one was still speaking, this other also came and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands and swooped down on the camels. And they have taken them away. And they have killed the young men with the mouth of the sword; and I, I alone have escaped to tell you. 18While this one was still speaking, this other came and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the first-born. 19And, behold! A great wind came from the wilderness and touched the four corners of the house. And it fell on the young men and they died; and I, I alone have escaped to tell you. 20And Job rose up and tore his robe, and shaved his head. And he fell down on the ground and worshiped. 21And he said, I came naked out of my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. Yahovah gave, and Yahovah has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahovah. 22In all this Job did not sin, nor charge wrong to the Divine Ones [the Trinity].”

Remember, dear readers, Job chapter 1 is the BEGINNING of Job’s troubles! Job was blessed with being the greatest man in the East. Large family and household. Great wealth. Good health. We see in verse 10 that Satan understands that Yahovah blesses and protects His children. We see in verses 20-22, that Job also understands that Yahovah is the Blesser and Protector of His children. Friends, that is the first lesson we need to learn today. Yahovah is THE Protector and Blesser of all mankind! Your hands did not make you rich, wealthy, healthy, or wise. Yahovah has done that for you. Humble yourself and thank and worship Him for that. You can try to bless and protect your family and friends, but Yahovah is the Ultimate Blesser and Protector of humankind in general and on a personal individual level.

Job was concerned for his children’s welfare. He was very much concerned that his children might sin, therefore he sacrificed and prayed for them, especially when they were partying! So, why did Job’s children die? Did they die because they sinnned? Did Yahovah kill them? Did Satan kill them? Did “mother nature” kill them? Look at the audacity of Satan in verse 11, tempting Yahovah to harm Job! Did Yahovah cave in or did He see an opportunity to test Job and reveal Job’s heart to Satan and to all in the Kingdom of Heaven? Yahovah already knew Job’s heart was upright, as revealed in verse 1. If all your children were wiped out today in a “natural” disaster, and you were wiped out financially, would you bow and worship Yahovah your Creator? Or would you whine and curse Yahovah and die? I would hope that we all would bow and worship and not charge sin against Yahovah.

Study verse 11. Satan knew Yahovah was on Job’s side. Yahovah would have to fight against Job to harm him! So, did Yahovah crush Job, or did Satan crush Job, or did nature and circumstances crush Job? Does it matter? We’ve talked about that before. It really doesn’t matter where our trouble comes from, we overcome through Yeshua and the power of the Holy Spirit within us. Was this just random acts of circumstance against Job, or was Yahovah testing Job? Read the whole book of Job. Job’s heart is revealed to Job! That is one of the greatest results of our testing. We see our own heart. Can and will we be crushed and still bless Yahovah? The harder you crush the olive, the more pure the oil you produce! Yahovah is out to refine and purify our character, to make us like Yeshua. That is what life is all about. It’s not about getting rich and having piles of stuff, or using people to get what you want. It’s all about learning to worship Yahovah from a pure holy humble heart, no matter your circumstances.

You see in Job that Yahovah does not have to poke you in the eye personally, he USES Satan to accomplish His testing of you. YAHOVAH SETS YOU UP TO BE TESTED THROUGH AND BY SATAN. This is why your tests and trials seem so evil, Satan is evil. He’s out to destroy you, but he cannot do more to you than Yahovah allows. These tests and trials are Yahovah’s permissive will, they are His PLAN for refining and redeeming you. None of your tests or trials take Yahovah by suprise, He knows everything that is going on in your life. Many of our tests and trials are a result of our own sinning. James summed it up well in James 1:12-15, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation, because having been approved he will receive the crown of life which Yahovah promised to the ones loving Him. 13Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from Yahovah. For Yahovah is not tempted by evil, and He tempts no one. 14But each one is tempted by his own lusts, he covets and is seduced by them. 15Then having conceived lust brings forth sin. And sin being fully formed brings forth death.” Job understood this truth, we need to get a hold of it. We victimize ourselves and Satan victimizes us. We are constantly set up for testing/victimization. We need to stay tuned in to the Holy Spirit to hear if He wants to teach us something through each test and trial.

But in all of this Yahovah is blameless. His hands are pure and clean. But Satan’s hands are not, because he loves to sin, he loves to trash Yahovah’s children. Satan will be destroyed for his sin, because he is non-redeemable. He is a liar, thief, and murderer from the beginning. The Lake of Fire is being prepared for him and his demons, not for you. Humans must repent of their sins and turn back to Yahovah through the blood of Yeshua, or they will also be destroyed in the Lake of Fire.

So look at all examples in the Bible. Was Adam able to protect his son Able from his murderous brother Cain? No. Was Jacob able to protect his daughter Dinah from being raped? No. Was David able to protect his daughter Tamar from being raped? No. Was David able to protect his son Amnon from being murdered by Absalom? No. Was the early Spirit-filled church protected from Saul? No. Can the police or military protect you from a terrorist attack? No. Without Yahovah’s protection and mercy, we are all doomed to destruction. But in Yeshua, we are all victors and overcomers, no matter what happens TO us. Your circumstances do not determine who you are. Let Yeshua mature your character today. Join me in blessing Yahovah for all eternity, no matter what!!