12/10/2023
Satan’s interaction with God in the book of Job
I was reading in the book of Job about the interaction between Satan and God in Chapter 1. I noted that Satan is limited by what God will allow him to do to you. God can remove his blessing and protection, and permit Satan to hurt you as a test from God. If you pass, God will reward you with his blessings. The key passage is… Job 1:9-11 “Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.”
Key points…
1. Satan really wanted to hurt Job but can’t because God would not allow it.
2. Satan had to go to God to ask him for permission to hurt him.
3. Satan really thought that if God would remove from Job His protection, possessions and blessings that Job would blame God and curse him to his face. (Many Christian people actually do that: When much trouble comes into their lives, they get mad at God and curse him to his face. “How dare you God? I’m living righteous and you do this to me? I hate you now and you won’t get any more of my life.” These people end up living their lives as bitter, miserable, critical and hateful people.)
4. In the first 2 chapters of Job… God granted Satan the permission he wanted. After Job lost his wealth, family, and his wife; Job still thanked God for everything and did NOT curse him.
5. Job’s friends were of no help to him. They implied that this calamity happened to him because he was hiding sin and iniquity from God and God was paying him back.
6. At the time, Job had no clue as to what was going on in heaven between God and Satan.
7. In the end (Job 42,) Job passed the test and God rewarded him with more than twice what he had and he lived happily ever after.
In conclusion:
If you are a “born again” child of God…
God allows trials and troubles in your life to: Test you, teach you things that you would not learn otherwise, and to strengthen your faith in God. (Oftentimes, we do more to harm ourselves than the devil does.) Satan is limited by what God will allow him to do to you. God can remove his protection and permit Satan to hurt you as a test from God. If you pass, God will reward you with his blessings.
In the meantime, search your heart and see whether or not it is due to sin in your life. If it is, confess it and get your relationship right with God. (David had to do that in Psalm 51.)
When bad happens… Don’t get bitter and angry with God nor charge Him foolishly. Ask God to help you learn from this and help you to be a better Christian. Remember that God is always good and right.