Job's Journey

There are most likely millions of writings and commentaries about Job that have been written for centuries. After studying many of them for years, it just seemed like something was missingI submit that Job is a shadow and a reflection of mankind, yes of you and me.I believe that what God was after in Job and in all of us is the important issue on which to focus. That bottom line truth I submit is, God wants to replace "you" with "Him in you." One of my favorite authors, Watchman Nee, said in one of his books, "We cannot please God, but Christ has to replace us." Christ in us the hope of glory!When that happens, we see overcoming in our lives; we see the defeat of Satan's influence, as Job did. Best of all, we are freed from "religion" and are able to see God's glory, face to face.Job 1:12 says,12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.This verse, 1:12, in my opinion, is where so many people get mixed up about the entire Book of Job.It appears to me that God was saying, "Behold, look, all that Job has is already in your power." I do not see anything about God acknowledging that there was a hedge, or that God had removed it. I see God informing Satan that all of Job's stuff is already in Satan's dominion. God did not have to do anything but to inform Satan of the existing facts. I surmise this not only by the text in verse 1:12, but also in the totality of Scripture. I do not see anywhere in Scripture that God has put a hedge around someone's "stuff" especially someone who is "walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit." As sons of Adam, everything we have is under the dominion of Satan to begin with. As we encounter God for ourselves, as we really see our weakness and undone-ness, then we experience the New Birth, we go through death and resurrection and little by little our lives change from the blessings we can put upon ourselves to the resurrected blessings that God can bestow upon us. Satan cannot then touch those resurrected blessings.Job had worked out his blessings of "stuff" for himself, under his own power, the power of his natural soul life. Possibly some of the blessings were there because he utilized the principles of God. Today, even secular corporations, which exercise servant leadership, giving, kindness and goodness towards their customers and employees, plug into the principles of God's economy. But they have not plugged into God, as He would want every one to do, even someone such as Job who God treasured.