Satan powers over us has been restricted by God

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 have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”   And 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, who fears God and turns away from evil?”  Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?  Have you not put a hedge around 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 stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” ¹² And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So, Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.”

 

It is of important to look back at the introduction this writer did on the book of Job.   We explored in the first five verses insight into the integrity of Job, but one must read the conversation in heaven between God and Satan.  These are the words of God about Job, ^“And 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, who fears God and turns away from evil?”

 

As we explore this book we will do our best to grasp Satan’s come back and how God has restricted his powers over us.  First we must understand who the author is referring to as the sons of God, they are created beings at a high level or order than humans, they are angels.  How do we know they are of a higher order, the answer is found in Hebrews 2:9, “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”

 

Satan is referred to in Scripture as the accuser of the brethren and never forget it was God who brought up Job’s name, and allowed Satan to have access to Job, with restriction.  The other thing that one should not miss is Satan is all about killing, stealing and destroying.   He did not know the outcome of the battle but God who is all knowing new that someday you and I would be learning more of the ways of God from the account of Job.

 

This writer has no understanding of if Satan was invited to this gathering, but never forget God is omniscience so He is never surprised.  We see that the first thing Satan does is challenge Job’s motives for fearing God and tries to put the blame on God’s blessing and protection.  The Holman Study Bible state, “The limitation God imposed on Satan’s testing demonstrated the LORD’s desire that Job be a trophy of God’s grace even in his suffering.”

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice