Job didn’t realize that it was the adversary who struck him, and unknowingly Job blamed God. Still today, a significant number blame God for the calamities made manifest through their own speak – words uttered out of their own mouths as well as self-enacted behavior. Job had an inkling in terms of identifying what precipitated his condition when he stated: “As through a wide breach they came in . . . .” Job 30:14 (AMPC). For the manifestation of Job’s calamity was initiated and acted upon through fear proclaimed at the onset in reference to the burnt offerings on behalf of his children because he feared they might’ve sinned during their birthday celebrations (Job 1:4-5). That is, Job’s fear made a breach in the hedge of protection surrounding him which allowed the adversary’s entrance. For fear is the opposite of faith.

God is Love (1 John 4:8,16), and has no sickness to give. It is impossible for God to keep a pocketful of sin for distribution because no aspect of sin or sickness survives in His presence. Rather, all aspects of malevolence and every form of malady is from the adversary – “the thief that only comes to steal and kill and destroy” John 10:10a. Though Job had The Blessing of Abraham (i.e., material), the fullness thereof by the redemptive work of Christ Jesus (i.e., material, spiritual) had yet to be bestowed. Nevertheless, though Job may not have had the authority to bind and cast down with authority in the Name above all names, he could put a watch over his own mouth as he eventually stated: “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred” Job 6:24 (KJV).

Faith trusts in God. My coins and banknotes state: “in God we trust”, and so do I. Those rendered Sons and Daughters of God by the redemptive work of Christ Jesus have been given the God-kind of faith and the God-kind of love by which faith works (Romans 12:3b; Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:6). Faith expresses itself in love, which is the New Commandment. Those redeemed and re-created or reborn and reconciled unto the Family of God through the finished work of Christ Jesus are the New Creation who are partakers of the New Covenant, ratified by the blood of Jesus, between the Sovereign Lord God Almighty and humankind. As a man-of-God succinctly stated: “Faith is the permit; it has no need to seek permission”.

Peace . . . Harriet