Victimization
Part 3
Victimized Over and Over?
Let’s continue with the life of Job, for there is much to learn from this great man of Yahovah.
Job 2:1-13, “And it happened that a day came when the sons of The Divine Ones came to present themselves before Yahovah. And Satan also came among them to present himself before Yahovah. 2and Yahovah said to Satan, From where have you come? And Satan answered Yahovah and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it. 3And Yahovah said to Satan, Have you set your heart on My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, fearing the Divine Ones, and turning away from evil? And he is still holding to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to swallow him for nothing. 4And Satan answered Yahovah and said, Skin for skin. Yea, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5But indeed put out Your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse You to Your face. 6And Yahovah said to Satan, Behold, he is in your hand; but preserve his life. 7And Satan went out from before the face of Yahovah. And he [Satan] struck Job with bad burning ulcers from the sole of his foot to the top of his head. 8And he took a broken piece of pottery with which to scrape himself. And he sat down among the ashes. 9And his wife said to him, Are you still holding fast to your integrity? Curse the Divine Ones and die! 10But he said to her, You speak like the foolish ones speak. Also, shall we receive good at the hand of The Divine Ones, and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips. 11And three friends of Job heard of all this evil that had come on him. And they each one came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite; Bildad the Shuhite; and Zophar the Naamathite. And they had met together to come to lament with him, and to comfort him. 12And when they lifted up their eyes from a distance and did not recognize him, they lifted up their voice and wept then. And each one tore his robe. And they sprinkled dust on their heads toward the heavens. 13And they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights. And no one was speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.”
Dear readers, please do not miss this point. Go back and re-read Job 1:6-8. Job 2:1-3 is AT LEAST THE SECOND TIME that a heavenly council was held concerning Job’s life. But also notice that Yahovah is in ultimate sovereign control over Job’s life. Yahovah keeps Satan on a tight leash, verse 6. Satan cannot do anything to you unless Yahovah gives him permission/authority to do so. Satan personally struck Job with a terrible disease, but Satan WAS NOT allowed to kill Job, though he desperately wanted to.
This is at least the second major testing period in Job’s life. He was set up again by Yahovah to be attacked directly by Satan. But verse 10 reveals that Job is still walking in his integrity. Let’s skip ahead in the story and notice that Job understands this repeated testing is Yahovah’s way. Job 9:16-18, “And if he deigned to answer my citation, I cannot believe he would listen to what I said, 17he who crushes me for one hair, who, for no reason, wounds and wounds again, 18not even letting me regain my breath, with so much bitterness he fills me!” Job 10:16-17, “Proud as a lion, you hunt me down, multiplying your exploits at my expense, 17attacking me again and again, your fury against me ever increasing, your troops assailing me, wave after wave.”
Job knew that it was Yahovah’s hand that was directing these assaults against him, yet he never cursed Yahovah or charged Yahovah with sin. Job realized that he was being tested repeatedly; he was victimized over and over. I believe he was bracing for a lifetime of repeated victimization. Would you or I be able to take this many severe trials and testings and still worship Yahovah? Still walk in our integrity? I surely hope so, because the Great Tribulation has not even started yet, so get ready for some real testing and trials up ahead.
Job’s life shows us that we are repeatedly repetitiously victimized continuously throughout our lives. Do not get too comfortable in this flesh life. Yahovah is much more interested in your spiritual character being conformed to the image of Messiah Yeshua. You are Yahovah’s pot of clay and He will mold and make you and fire you until the light and life of Yeshua shines through you in pure holiness and righteousness!! You will act more righteous as you learn to react properly to Yahovah’s tests. Yahovah doesn’t want a kingdom full of whiny fleshy baby believers, he wants strong, mature believers who have worshiped Him through all the trials of life. Yahovah will pay back Satan his due wages for his sin in trying to destroy you. But Yahovah is not out to destroy you, He’s trying to grow you into a fruitful vine. When Yahovah lets Satan cut you down to the ground, let your roots grow ever deeper into the heart of Yahovah and His Kingdom.
Learn to release other people’s sins from your life by forgiving them. Don’t let other people’s sins stick to you. Forgive others sin debts and set yourself free. John 8:36, “Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.”
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