ANATOMY ANATOMY OF A OF A TESTTEST

Accusation by SatanAccusation by Satan

• • Satan accuses Job Satan accuses Job before God’s throne before God’s throne in heaven in heaven (Job 1:6–11; 2:1–5)(Job 1:6–11; 2:1–5)

Test and Temptation Test and Temptation Proposed by SatanProposed by Satan

• • Satan challenged Satan challenged God to test Job by God to test Job by

letting him tempt Job letting him tempt Job (Job 1:11; 2:5)(Job 1:11; 2:5)

• • in the wilderness in the wilderness Satan tempted Jesus Satan tempted Jesus

three times three times (Matthew 4:1–10)(Matthew 4:1–10)

Permission Permission Granted by GodGranted by God

• • twice God gave Satan permission twice God gave Satan permission to test Job (Job 1:12; 2:6)to test Job (Job 1:12; 2:6)

• • Jesus was led into the wilderness Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the Holy Spirit to be tempted

by Satan (Matthew 4:1)by Satan (Matthew 4:1)

• • the antidote is asking the antidote is asking God to deny Satan God to deny Satan

permission:permission:

And do not lead us into And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us temptation, but deliver us

from evil [the evil one] from evil [the evil one] (Matthew 6:13).(Matthew 6:13).

Limits Set by GodLimits Set by God

• • God set limits on Job’s two God set limits on Job’s two tests—Satan could go so far tests—Satan could go so far but no further (Job 1:12; 2:6)but no further (Job 1:12; 2:6)

• • these limits guarantee a these limits guarantee a test will not be more than you test will not be more than you can handle (cf. 1 Corinthians can handle (cf. 1 Corinthians

10:13)10:13)

Attack by SatanAttack by Satan

• • Satan attacked Job’s Satan attacked Job’s possessions, family, and health possessions, family, and health

(Job 1–2)(Job 1–2)

• • Satan offered food, fame (to Satan offered food, fame (to be rescued by God in front of be rescued by God in front of everyone), and a Kingdom to everyone), and a Kingdom to

Jesus (Matthew 4:1–10)Jesus (Matthew 4:1–10)

Faith in GodFaith in God

• • for three months for three months Amram and Jochebed had Amram and Jochebed had

faith that God would faith that God would protect their family while protect their family while

hiding the baby Moses hiding the baby Moses (Hebrews 11:23)(Hebrews 11:23)

Waiting for DeliveranceWaiting for Deliverance

• • the period of waiting varies:the period of waiting varies:

10 days for the church at Smyrna 10 days for the church at Smyrna (Revelation 2:10), and(Revelation 2:10), and

three months for Amram and three months for Amram and Jochebed to be delivered Jochebed to be delivered

(Hebrews 11:23)(Hebrews 11:23)

• • our faith and attitude are our faith and attitude are tested during this time:tested during this time:

will we curse God, get bitter, will we curse God, get bitter, angry, accuse and blame God, angry, accuse and blame God, be depressed, wish to die (as be depressed, wish to die (as

Job in chapters 3–42), or rejoice Job in chapters 3–42), or rejoice and be thankful in all thingsand be thankful in all things

• • this is the time to apply this is the time to apply 1 Corinthians 10:13: 1 Corinthians 10:13:

No temptation has No temptation has overtaken you but such as overtaken you but such as

is common to man; and God is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not is faithful, who will not

allow you to be tempted allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, beyond what you are able,

but with the temptation will but with the temptation will provide the way of escape provide the way of escape also, that you may be able also, that you may be able

to endure it.to endure it.

DeliveranceDeliverance• • deliverance is often deliverance is often

accomplished by divine accomplished by divine intervention—by a miracleintervention—by a miracle

• • the baby Moses was rescued the baby Moses was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:5–9) and God delivered Jesus 2:5–9) and God delivered Jesus by sending angels to feed him by sending angels to feed him

(Matthew 4:11)(Matthew 4:11)