by Kathleen Petersen

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13 NET


When I was young, my parents were involved with Freemasonry organizations. Both encouraged me to join Job’s Daughters, the Freemason branch for young women. I later learned, although this covert organization had biblical trappings, it was entry level occultism which I later renounced. However, the book of Job, the oldest book in Scripture, still intrigued me and his sufferings remain a mystery. Job’s story begins in Job 1:1-5 with describing him as a man who had been experiencing the Prosperity Gospel of his time.

Job was unaware he was about to encounter unprecedented torment because of the following conversation in the Unseen Realm.

One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”

“From roaming through the earth,” Satan answered him, “and walking around on it.”

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.”

Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven’t you placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

“Very well,” the LORD told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the LORD’s presence. Job 1:6-12 CSB


After this dialogue, Job’s circumstances morphed into a series of horrible nightmares. He had no scripture from which to draw strength. But he did have rich experiences of the goodness of God. In later chapters of the book, the words of advice from his wife and limited understanding of his best friends served only to increase his agony. In Job 19:22-24, Job expresses his longing for all their counsel along with his own words to be recorded for future generations. Guess what? He got his wish.

After his petition to record his experience for succeeding generations, Job’s next words express a sentiment that rings true through the rest of scripture.

But I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the end he will stand on the dust.

Even after my skin has been destroyed,
yet I will see God in my flesh.

I will see him myself;
my eyes will look at him, and not as a stranger.

My heart longs within me. Job 19:25-27 CSB


Let that sink in! Job, who had no centuries of theological resources, placed his faith in the Unseen One who had always been good to him. He did not let his memory of God’s generosity vanish in the midst of humanly unbearable satanic persecution. In return, God did not permit Job’s faith to fail. Read this portion of Jesus’ prayer again:

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.


God has been faithful to those who serve him throughout every phase of human history. It’s revealed in Hebrews 7:25 that Jesus, our Redeemer and High Priest, intercedes for us during every unanticipated test or temptation generated by the evil one. A reminder: 

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way. Matthew 5:11-12 NET 


Are you or someone close to you suffering torment for no apparent cause? Pray this week’s portion of the Lord’s prayer and listen for scriptural insight. Don’t be in a rush for the response — leave room for a clear word from the Holy Spirit. God provides the same supernatural strength to us that he granted to Job.


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