ANATOMY OF A TEST

What Tests Are Made Of


Accusation by Satan 

• Satan accuses Job before God’s throne in heaven (Job 1:6–11; 2:1– 5) 

Test and Temptation Proposed by Satan 

• Satan challenged God to test Job by letting him tempt Job (Job 1:11; 2:5) 

• Satan apparently got permission from God to tempt Jesus three 
times in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–10) 

Permission Granted by God 

• twice God gave Satan permission to test Job (Job 1:12; 2:6) 

• Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by 
Satan (Matthew 4:1) 

• the antidote is asking God to deny Satan permission: “And do not 
lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil [the evil one]” 
(Matthew 6:13). 

Limits Set by God 

• God set limits on Job’s two tests—Satan could go so far but no 
further (Job 1:12; 2:6) 

• these limits guarantee a test will not be more than you can handle 
(cf. 1 Cor 10:13) 

Attack by Satan 

• Satan attacked Job’s possessions, family, and health (Job 1–2) 

• Satan offered food, fame (rescued by God in front of all), and a 
Kingdom to Jesus (Matthew 4:1–10) 

Faith in God 

• for three months Amram and Jochebed had faith that God would 
protect their family while hiding the baby Moses (Hebrews 11:23) 
Waiting for Deliverance 

• the period of waiting varies: 10 days for the church at Smyrna (Rev 
2:10), and 

• three months for Amram and Jochebed to be delivered (Hebrews 11:23)

• our faith and attitude are tested during this time: will we curse God,
get bitter, angry, accuse and blame God, be depressed, wish to die (as
Job in chapters 3–42), or rejoice and be thankful in all things


• this is the time to apply 1 Corinthians 10:13 and the Hard Times 
Chart 

Deliverance 

• deliverance is often accomplished by divine intervention—by a 
miracle 

• the baby Moses was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:5–9) 
and God delivered Jesus by sending angels to feed him (Matthew 4:11)