by Pastor Steve Ellison
God had some penetrating questions for Satan in the first chapter of the book of Job. Job 1:6-12, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. “But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord. (NASU)
Satan and other angels presented themselves to God. As created beings, they reported to the Creator, who asked, “Where have you come from?” Satan, whose name specifies him as “The Adversary”, responded, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” Certainly, the omniscient Lord knew where Satan had been and what he had been up to. The ensuing conversation bears that out. God asked Satan if he had considered His servant, Job. Evidently, Satan had been doing as the New Testament says, prowling about like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. The New Testament also says that Satan stands before God accusing us day and night. Hebrews 1:14 makes a significant point, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” (NASU) Angels (fallen included) minister by rendering service to God’s people.
Job was better off because Satan exists. You and I are better off because Satan exists. Satan was roaming around on the earth rendering service to God’s people. Oh, he might cause a lot of misery but at some point, we will realize that all along God has been using Satan as a pawn to accomplish His purposes. Satan’s efforts were nothing more than an opportunity for Job to exercise faith and glorify God. Job 1:22 states, “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” (NASU)
Furthermore, Satan’s efforts helped Job come to a much better understanding of God than He previously had. Job 42:1-6 states the results of Job’s interactions with the Adversary, “Then Job answered the Lord and said, “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
“Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.” (NASU) Job now saw God rather than simply hearing about Him. Satan hoped to prove that Job honored God only for what God gave him. Glory hallelujah, God showed Job that He was worthy of honor even if all the gifts were taken away.
