Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? (Job 1:10)
When Satan came to God asking permission to tempt His servant Job, Satan speaks about a hedge God has put around him. Satan knew God had a special hedge of protection around His servant Job, and in order to be able to do anything to Job, God would have to allow him access inside of His “HOLY HEDGE.” Make no mistake, we serve a God of hedges.
God is in the business of protecting His children. He installs hedges of protection – spiritual walls, fences, or partitions – around us to protect us. But we must learn a biblical truth from the story of Job. Sometimes, God allows Satan to gain access inside of the hedge He has put around us in order to grow and mature us in our faith. In His infinite wisdom, God allows Satan to tempt us, and just like in the story of Job, we often do not know the exact reason why. But what we do know is this – God is using all things for our ultimate good and His glory. When God allowed Satan inside the hedge around Job, Satan was allowed to take everything from Job except his life. And in the end, Job never lost his integrity and commitment to God.
You see, as children of God, we are eternally protected. Satan can do nothing to keep us out of heaven. But God does allow him to tempt and test us. What we need to remember is we have a “HOLY HEDGE” in Jesus. He is our refuge and our fortress and has promised to keep us from eternal harm. Whatever storm wind God allows to blow in our lives is to strengthen us in our faith and conform us more into the image of Jesus.
Remember, when you face trials of any kind, if God does not remove you from the trial, He is refining you in the trial. Look to Jesus and trust Him no matter what it is you are facing, knowing you are never facing it alone. You not only have a hedge of protection, Jesus is that “HOLY HEDGE” for you.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 