The Chastening of the Lord

Job 1:9-11

9. Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

God’s assessment of Job was that he was a perfect and upright man and also that God allowed Satan to buffet him. We can also see that the popular belief that God does not want His people to suffer is an erroneous one. We can have joy in knowing that in God’s timing, He will withhold the hand of the enemy and Satan has to obey.

Let’s look at this on a natural scale. As a parent, there are many times when I have to chastise my children because all of what happens to them is under my authority. My hand cannot chastise my children unless I command it to do so. God is a greater parent to us than we can ever be to our children and He will permit the devil to be loosed to bring chastening in our lives. It should bring us joy; knowing that anything that arises in our lives has been ordained by God. His heart towards us is one of love so we can trust that whatever He allows is for the purpose of making us better. Just as we do not discipline our children simply for the joy of chastising them, God has a purpose for allowing chastisement in our lives.

God brings chastening for three reasons:

• To give consequence for sin that we will learn to not disobey.
• To prove that we are righteous.
• To mature us as sons so that we know how to stand strong.

Hebrews 1:6

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.