SEARCHLIGHT
What do you do to fight off the temptations and attacks of the devil?
SCRIPTURE
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. Job 1:9,10 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
The story of when John Pollock and his wife went as missionaries to the New Hebrides Islands in the South Pacific is jaw-dropping. They were the first Europeans the natives had ever seen. Immediately the tribal magician feared them and so convinced the tribe that these white people had come to kill their children. On the very first night of the Pollocks arrival, the natives surrounded the home of the missionaries with the intent to kill them. All night long the Pollocks prayed for divine protection. Morning came and the warriors returned to their huts having never attacked.
Over time the Pollocks learned the tribe’s language and won the trust of the people. Many confessed Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Even the chief of the tribe became a Christian. This opened the door for John to ask a very important question, “We have always been curious about the first night we were here. Your tribe surrounded us with your spears, but you didn’t attack. Why not?” The chief responded, “Because of all your guards. Where did you get all those men?” John said, “It was only my wife and me.” The chief countered, “Oh, no. All that evening we saw large men with swords in their hands surrounding your hut. We were afraid so we never attacked.” God had surrounded His servants with heaven-sent angels to provide a hedge of protection.
In Job 1:6-12, Satan has a conversation with God about Job who is a faithful worshipper and follower of the Lord God. Satan contends that Job is so very committed because God has put a hedge of protection around Job, his family, and everything he owns. Surprisingly, the devil acknowledges the hedge of protection as being real and effective. God had built a fence around Job, the committed believer.
In Bible times, a hedge of protection was a low-lying thorn bush which grew around an area that warranted protection. It was used as a fence to keep wild animals out and livestock from straying. Stone walls were not sufficient. Predators could climb over them. Thorn bushes were dense making it very difficult to crawl through.
God places a heavenly hedge of protection around anyone who is a believer. It is like angels encamped around them. [Psalm 34:7; 31:5] David testified that God had “hemmed” him in. [Psalm 139:5] God described His protective activity as also being like a wall of fire. [Zechariah 2:5]
There is SOMETHING THE DEVIL DOES NOT WANT YOU TO DO. Satan does not want you to praise God for His hedge of protection around you and your family. He does not want you to know about it or acknowledge it. Secondly, Satan does not want you to pray a hedge of protection around yourself, your family and all that you own. He does not want you to ever pray, yet alone declare what the Bible says about a divine hedge of protection. Satan does not want you to thank God for or ask God for a hedge of angels to surround you. He comes to steal, kill and destroy. [John 10:10] Peter warned Christians, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” [1Peter 5:8,9] As a believer, you are to praise God for the hedge of heavenly protection and pray for it to continue while you also put on the armor of God. [Ephesians 6:13-17]
You need a divine hedge of protection. Just like Job, God blesses you with it as you honor Him. Sometimes you may not be aware of how God protects you, but you can be assured that He has created a barrier between you and your #1 enemy. This defensive wall annoys Satan but keeps you safe. Do what the devil does not want you to do. Praise God often for this hedge of protection and, at other times, pray the hedge will surround you and your family.
SOMETHING TO DO
- Read Psalm 95 to be encouraged as to how God protects you.
- Read Hosea 2:6 and pray that God would put a blocking hedge around loved ones who do not yet follow Jesus Christ. You are praying that these precious people would experience God’s merciful misery so they would turn to Him rather than remain in sorrowful sin.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for placing a hedge of protection around me and those I love. You keep me from spiritual harm and danger. I pray that You will watch over me with Your angels or whatever You may choose to keep me safe. AMEN!