Defeating the Enemy

"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Job 1:21-22

Perhaps one of the greatest marks of true faith in God is the ability to say these words of Job 1:21-22. Not just that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, but that in both events the name of the Lord is to be praised. Satan expected Job to curse God when calamity struck, but Job's faith held strong. His acceptance of God's sovereignty and his worship in a time of great personal loss defeated the enemy and glorified God. 

"Remember the story of a man who was going to give a pound to some charitable institution. The devil said, ‘No, you cannot afford it.’ ‘Then,’ said the man, ‘I will give two pounds; I will not be dictated to in this way.’ Satan exclaimed, ‘You are a fanatic.’ The man replied, ‘I will give four pounds.’ ‘Ah!’ said Satan, ‘what will your wife say when you go home, and tell her that you have given away four pounds?’ ‘Well,’ said the man, ‘I will give eight pounds now; and if you do not mind what you are at, you will tempt me to give sixteen.’ So the devil was obliged to stop, because the more he tempted him, the more he went the other way. So let it be with us. If the devil would drive us to curse God, let us bless Him all the more, and Satan will be wise enough to leave off tempting when he finds that, the more he attempts to drive us, the more we go in the opposite direction.” (Spurgeon)