It is extremely important that we have a hedge around us, just like Job had prior to God allowing satan for testing him. In this post, we will explore who will have this hedge, how to maintain this hedge and how this hedge gets broken down.

Who will have a hedge around them?

Job 1:8-10 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 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.

In the book of Job, we can read four requirements mentioned by God that allowed Him to have a hedge all around Job.

• Blameless
• Upright
• Fears God
• Shuns evil

Who will lose the hedge around them?

Ps 80:12 Why have You broken down her hedges, So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit? … (18)  … we will not turn back from You …

As Psalmist writes, God will take away the hedges around a person when s/he turns back from God.

Isa 5:3-5 “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.

When God had done everything He can to bless a person and expects good grapes, if it bears wild or bad grapes, He will take his or her hedge away to destroy him. This is exactly what Jesus Christ also said.

Matt 7:19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

The fruits or good grapes which God is referring to is what He expects that are pleasing to Him. This is by obeying His commandments which is by being righteous and holy.

Num 22:12 And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”  …. (23:23) “For there is no sorcery against Jacob, Nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob And of Israel, ‘Oh, what God has done!’

Num 31:16 “Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Even if God had blessed a person, even if God had put a hedge around where there is no sorcery or divination against a person, yet, if s/he sins against God, immediately the hedge is removed. It is very important to understand that God cannot and will not dwell on anyone who is unclean, with thoughts and deeds not pleasing to Him. God also will not and cannot protect by putting a hedge around a person who has unclean thoughts and deeds that provoke Him to anger. Hence, the only way to maintain the hedge around us is by obeying Him, by being holy and righteous in our thoughts and deeds, bearing good fruits that are pleasing to God.

Conclusion

Only those who are blameless, holy and righteous before God, who fear God, who does good and departs from evil will have a hedge around them. God can neither dwell nor protect anyone who is unclean, with thoughts and deeds not pleasing to Him and provokes Him to anger. The only way to maintain the hedge around us is by obeying Him, by being holy and righteous in our thoughts and deeds, bearing good fruits that are pleasing to God. Do you have a hedge around you?