Thank God For Your Enemies

Why should we thank God for our enemies?  If you've been attacked or are under attack right now, then it's probably because God allowed the devil to do it. In Job the first chapter, God called out to the devil and asked him if he had watching His servant Job. Then God carried on a little bit about how good Job was.

The devil made a correct statement when he whined that God had put a hedge around Job. Now pay attention to this. At first, the devil suggested that God put His hand against Job and everything he had. The devil assured God that Job would curse Him to His face.

Before we examine what happened next, let's take a look at this piece of information from the Apostle Paul. 1 Corinthians 10:13--KJV--There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

God looked at satan's request, looked at His servant Job's character and told the devil to have at it. God's faith was in Job. He knew Job inside and out. He knows you inside and out. He knows your strong points and your weak points. He knows what makes you happy and what gets your goat. So when junk starts coming your way, you should rejoice and not feel like everyone's picking on you. God is actually bragging on you. 

Look at another scripture. In Egypt, after Jacob died, Joseph's eleven brothers were absolutely positive that Joseph was going to take out some kind of revenge on them after the despicable way they had treated him years and years ago. However, take a look at Joseph's response in Genesis 50:20--KJV--But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 

Here's the Authorized Henry Version (AHV). You thought you were going to be really smart and do something against me because Daddy showed me more attention than he did you. I couldn't help what Daddy did. I couldn't tell him NOT to love me. I couldn't tell him NOT to give me that coat of many colors. But, one thing I learned from Daddy by being around him so much was how to trust God no matter what. Why did Great-Grandpa Abraham have to wait so long to have a child? I don't know. God had a plan. Why did Grandpa Isaac have to stay put in the middle of a famine? I don't know. God had a plan. Why did Daddy have to run away from home? I don't know. But God had a plan. Why did y'all have to sell me as a slave? I don't know. But I remember Daddy saying that God told Great-Grandpa Abraham that we would be in Egypt for 400 years for our own well-being and I just figured this was the way God had of doing it. You meant to hurt me and get rid of me, but God meant to keep the family together and protect us.

All of us have been through some extremely hurtful times. Some of us carry wounds and scars that seem like they will never heal and maybe they never will. However, we have a choice to make. Is this going to crush us and hinder us? Or, are we going to allow God to use this hurtful experience to make us into what He envisions us to be? 

Here's what the writer of Hebrews teaches us in chapter 12, verse 2--KJV--Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus went through a whole boat load of crapola, too. However, He did not let it get Him down. He kept His eyes on the joy of the resurrection and chose NOT to focus on the things He went through. He chose not to think about how people treated Him and hated Him. Rather, He chose to keep His thought pattern set on what God's Word promised Him.

Whenever His brothers ridiculed Him in front of everybody, He thought, "Yeah, but one day I'll open a blood-gate that all who want to can come into fellowship with My Father." When the townspeople wanted to kill Him, He thought the same thing. When the chief priests and scribes argued with Him, He walked away with joy in His heart and a smile on His lips because His Father would ultimately prove Him right. He WAS the Son of God. He WOULD rise again. So, let them say and do whatever they want. The Truth, God's Word was what was going to come to pass and not what anyone else thought to the contrary.

So, when you come under attack by your spouse, would-be friends or co-workers you need to lift up a praise of thanksgiving to God.  God, via the devil and these aforementioned cohorts of his, have provided you with an absolute assurance that God definitely has something good planned for you. Your attackers and detractors are positive proof that God is working on your behalf. Remember, just like Job, God's done some bragging on you to the devil. And, just like Job, Joseph and Jesus Christ, you will be blessed greater than you can imagine as you stand firm on the Word of God.