可怕的后果
约伯记一章13至22节
13有一天，约伯的儿女正在他们长兄的家里吃饭喝酒，
14有报信的来见约伯说：“牛正耕地，驴在旁边吃草，
15示巴人忽然闯来，把牲畜掳去，并用刀杀了仆人；惟有我一人逃脱，来报信给你。”
16他还说话的时候，又有人来说：“神从天上降下火来，将群羊和仆人都烧灭了；惟有我一人逃脱，来报信给你。”
17他还说话的时候，又有人来说：“迦勒底人分作三队，忽然闯来，把骆驼掳去，并用刀杀了仆人；惟有我一人逃脱，来报信给你。”
18他还说话的时候，又有人来说：“你的儿女正在他们长兄的家里吃饭喝酒，
19不料有狂风从旷野刮来，击打房屋的四角，房屋倒塌在少年人身上，他们就都死了；惟有我一人逃脱，来报信给你。”
20约伯便起来，撕裂外袍，剃了头，伏在地上下拜，
21说：“我赤身出于母胎，也必赤身归回。赏赐的是耶和华，收取的也是耶和华。耶和华的名是应当称颂的。”
22在这一切的事上，约伯并不犯罪，也不以神为愚妄（注：或作“也不妄评神”）。
信息分享
但最坏的还不止如此。约伯的儿女在长兄家中吃饭，有可能是一次生日聚会，但一阵龙卷风却把房子吹倒，房子塌下，约伯的十个儿女无一生还！这样重大的灾难，一定能成为今天报章的头条新闻！
撒但滥用神的允许，极尽残忍之能事；可是却未能动摇约伯对神的信心。请看约伯在21至22节的回应。他的话经常在今天的安息礼拜中听见：「赏赐的是耶和华，收取的也是耶和华，耶和华的名是应当称颂的。」他对神的信心和顺服始终没有动摇。他虽然哭泣，却仍然敬拜神；这是我们每个人的绝佳典范。
撒但若能任意而行，所有信徒都会陷入约伯的同一光景。当然，并非所有灾难都是来自撒但，有些确是我们咎由自取；但撒但总会抓紧每个微小的机会，来尽力攻击我们。
然而，神必看顾我们。如果我们善用神赐予的恩典和力量，祂必不容许我们遭受试探，是过于我们所能受的。请翻到哥林多前书十章13节，紧记这节充满鼓励的经文，当你遇到试炼的时候，就紧握着神赐给你的这个应许。
我们怎能提防撒但的诡计呢？每当有任何问题突然产生，是找不到任何人为的理由时，我们就当反问自己：是否撒但在背后煽风点火，让问题严重化？他擅长此道。
与此同时，我们呼求神的保守，常常祷告和读经，亲近神。不要让撒但打垮我们。那在我们里面的，比那在世界上的更大。
THE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES
Job 1: 13-22
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house;
14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
19 and suddenly a great wind came from across[d] the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
21 And he said:
“ Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
Message
But the worst news was yet to come. A tornado wrecked the house where Job’s sons and daughters were eating together, possibly at a birthday party. The house collapsed, killing all ten. What a headline that would make in today’s newspapers!
Satan took cruel advantage of God’s permission, but failed in his purpose to wreck Job’s faith. Look at Job’s response in verses 21-22. He gave us those words often repeated today at Christian funerals,
“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised.” His faith and submission to God stood firm. He was weeping, but worshipping, a strong example for us all.
If Satan had his own way, every believer would be in similar circumstances to Job. Not all suffering comes from Satan of course. Some of them we bring on ourselves. But Satan will do his best to bring us down, given the slightest opportunity.
But God’s protection is over us. He will not allow us to be tempted above what we can stand, if we appropriate his grace and strength. Turn to 1 Corinthians 10:13 and mark that encouraging verse in your Bible now. Take that verse as God’s promise to you in any time of testing.
How can we be aware of Satan’s tactics? Whenever a situation suddenly arises for which there seems to be no human reason, ask yourself the question: Is Satan behind this, fanning it into a serious problem? He could well be.
At the same time ask for the Lord’s protection. Stay close to Him in prayer and Bible reading. Don’t let Satan win the day. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.