“Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” Job 1:10

In the land of UZ was a man whose life attracted the attention of heaven. He was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. God’s favor and protection were upon him and clearly showed on his wealth, health and offspring. Satan, the accuser had a dilemma!

During one of his excursions to heaven, he depicted a spiritual reality that was impeding him from tearing Job to pieces. God has put a three-hedge protection over the major areas of Job’s life: health, family and wealth. And as long as these protections remain, Satan has no possibility to steal, kill and destroy Job’s resources. Job was aligned with God’s plans for his life and kept a consistent sacrifice on the altar in a manner that pleased God. Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service”.

With the new covenant, believers present their bodies as a living sacrifice. The main difference between the old and the new covenant sacrifices is that the sacrifice under the new covenant is alive. The believer has the will and the latitude to align through obedience or walk away from the altar. By drawing near to the altar, Job could keep some distractions away from his life.

Let’s explore the three protections.

a. Protection over his life: this physical body is our passport to staying in this world, the devil would want to afflict it so much that it becomes impossible for our human spirit to remain in it, thus the person departing from earth. God in his mercy has provided for a hedge that can protect the believer from the fiery dart of the enemy.

b. Protection over his household: family is God’s institution and one that is under constant attack. If the devil cannot stop a man, he will turn to his family.

c. Protection over his wealth: the believer’s materiel possessions serve primarily to advance God’s kingdom. The devil will strive to keep the believers therefore in abject poverty or in a near-lack situation in order to corner them to explore other options away from God.

A believer should consider praying over these three protections regularly.