Sunday, March 30, 2014

El Elyon - God Most High

I have been struggling with having faith lately so I started studying God's names through a book called "LORD, I Want To Know You" by Kay Arthur. It's a Bible study on God's names. I wish I knew about this book before because it's really changing my perspective of who God really is, and I see how I've been putting Him in a box, limiting Him.

This part of the study really spoke to me and challenged me.


JOB 1:6-12
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about 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. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

Who instigated the conversation about Job?
What did Satan think Job's reasons were for fearing God?
How did Satan know there was a hedge about Job?
Apparently what did that hedge do?
What did Satan suggest God do to Job and why?
What was God's response?
Who was in control, Satan or God? How do you know?
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Consider the next passage.
JOB 2:1-10
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before theLord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.” Satan answered theLord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.” So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

What did God point out to Satan about Job?
What reason does Satan give for Job's response to his trials of chapter 1?
What did Satan propose for Job? Why?
What was God's response?
Who was in control?
______________________________________________________

Now one last verse.
LUKE 22:31
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.

How does Luke 22:31 show Satan's relationship to God?

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God is completely in control over everything. He initiated the conversation about Job, and even suggested to Satan that He tries His faithful servant Job. Why? Because He knew Job's heart, God knew Job will not turn His back on Him. This was such a big test for Job but God was in control over him and his life the whole time.

I struggle with believing God is on the highest throne sometimes. But… He is! He is in complete and total control of our lives, and He knows exactly why something happens and why something doesn't. Can you see that God is in complete Sovereignty, that He is in complete control over everything and everyone? Can you not only see it but also believe it?

Some other verses that really show God's sovereignty and control…
Daniel 4:34-35
Isaiah 14:24-27
Isaiah 46:9-11
Daniel 2:20-23


This truth brings faith, hope and peace in my heart. We belong and are serving an amazing, big and loving God, who is in control over everything and everyone, including Satan; we belong to God who is sitting on the highest throne and there is no one above Him.

Rest in this truth and have faith; God is in control.


1 comment:

  1. Such a good place to rest and wonder! I love that you are thinking about this (and that Step and I are reading Job together these days).

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