So what should we say in response to the question, why did god allow satan to harm job. The book of job in the hebrew bible was crafted to address human suffering and why bad things happen to good people. The devil talks to the lord and the lord answers him. He appears in the first two chapters and is not heard from again. Satan tried to place doubt in the mind of jesus with the words if you are the son of god. Who is satan what does the bible say about the devil. While these two passages are referring specifically to the kings of babylon and tyre, they also reference the spiritual power behind those kings, namely, s. Job 1 nlv satan tests job there was a man in bible. Pride, pure and simple, is at the heart of the devils fall. They stop reading at verse six and conclude that god robbed job and made him sick.
The book of job challenges the simple equation of suffering with punishment, by telling the story of one righteous mans confrontation with overwhelming misfortune. Satan, the grand accuser, is doing what he does best. How could satan access heaven in the books of job and the. Satan was or still is allowed into heaven through the authority of god our father under the guard of the archangels which were under the protection of the holy spirit. How can i tell if its god testing me or satan tempting me. This book shows the confusion surrounding the role of satan in the first centuries. The meaning of the book of job is found in gods and satans conversation in heaven. Satan answered the lord and said, from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it. Does satan have to get gods permission before he can. For you deceived people today who dont believe anyone is perfect, god said that job was perfect and upright, one that feared god, and hated evil job 1. Why did god allow satan to harm job and his family. God will let satan tempt job and afflict him by taking away his beings bc satan suggested that job is only faithful bc of his wealth 2. The book of job describes job as a pious, godfearing man who had many sons and daughters and was quite wealthy.
How job overcame temptation erik and elena brewers weblog. As evident in the book of job, satan works for god and serves his purpose of providing us an adversary for the purpose of perfecting us, and as an executioner of gods judgement against sin. Years later, in the book of the revelation, the apostle john wrote about a future day when satan will be kicked out. God granted satan permission to do whatever he wanted, so long as he didnt take jobs life. Oct 08, 2014 so what should we say in response to the question, why did god allow satan to harm job. We also understand that satan cannot tempt us unless god allows him. Satan tempted jesus because he still thought he was better than god, says valerie, 8. Moreover, god literally made this deal with the devil.
Though fallen, satan is still an angel, so he is intellectually far superior to us. How could that god let that evil hatefilled entity, virtually destroy jobs life. Even though satan is the god of this world 2 cor 4. The adversary satan insinuates himself among the angels of god s court and argues that job s virtue is not genuine. Analysis this is a key passage for setting the stage for all that follows.
Apr 10, 20 how could god create a character that becomes satan. Of course, job remains faithful and god rewards him with a new family and prosperous life in the end. In the book of job, he believed that jobs faithfulness to god was the result of gods blessing. Aug 02, 2010 in the book of job, satan is sent by god to torment job. Back to ii corinthians, god is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. Why satan is so skillful at tempting us to sin tim challies.
He opposes all those who are created in the image of god and is bent on their complete and utter destruction. It means that god did not give job completely to satan then. The accuser satan hopes to set just such a trap for job. Oct 19, 2015 yet, god puts limits on satans power in the world. If job was blameless, why did god allow satan to afflict. The story of job basically amounts to a bet made by satan that gods most faithful and favored follower would turn against him if his favor was taken away. Satan questions not god s loyalty but god s way of ruling and his right to rule. Since god validates elihus points 3841, the adversarial tone in gods answer to job makes even more sense. He acted like a prosecutor acting on gods behalf bring judgement on humanity.
When scripture says that satan stood before god in job chapters 1 and 2, this is not the third heaven as commonly assumed. In his little book fighting satan, joel beeke offers 6 reasons. Having satan do the dirty work is a very greekmythology thing to doyou know, let a demigod do the dirty work, then assert your dominance anyway. When the bible says that job was blameless, it does not mean that he. What does this tell us about the place of evil in the world. May 18, 20 as evident in the book of job, satan works for god and serves his purpose of providing us an adversary for the purpose of perfecting us, and as an executioner of god s judgement against sin. If god cannot allow evil into heaven then how did satan. Debateachristian submitted 5 years ago by basilides ignostic. In the book of job, as best as i can see, god ruined jobs life over a bet job 1. Was it unfair for god to allow job to suffer over what was. Such a view is found, however, in the prologue to the book of job, where satan appears, together with other celestial beings or sons of god, before the deity, replying to the inquiry of god as to whence he had come, with the words. The objective of the book of job is not to teach a comprehensive view of the workings of satan.
Job 1 shows that satan was not able to afflict job without gods permission. Job chapters 1 and 2, part of the bibles oldest book, say that satan has access to heaven. Satan says to god that if he removes the blessings he has so richly bestowed on job, he will curse you to your face job 1. God granted satan permission to do whatever he wanted, so long as he didnt. How could satan reenter heaven to talk to god about job in. Thomas explores the difficulty of jobs suffering, satans involvement, and gods sovereignty. Most jews do not believe in a devil, and many do not literally believe in hasatan of the book of job either.
This is an obvious reference to the angels, and we know that satan is an angel even though a fallen one. God allowed satan to tempt job, but imposed a restriction on satan. Therefore, god allows satan to take job s family and wealth. He was right and good, he feared god, and turned away from sin.
The sacred author could have said, god allowed satan to tempt job to the limits of his endurance, but the passage becomes more interesting and compelling when cast as a debate between god. How many times did god allow satan to tempt job in the bible. The passage is more likely to be a story created by the sacred author based upon the theological truth that god allows the devil to tempt human beings. By revelation 12, he will not be able to do it any longer. Jan 02, 2020 since god validates elihus points 3841, the adversarial tone in gods answer to job makes even more sense.
Job chapter 2 satan now claims that job only serves god because he has his health, therefore, god permits satan to harm his health. The book of job is one of the longest books in the bible, at 42 chapters. The book of luke tells us that satan tried to tempt jesus throughout his forty days in the wilderness luke 4. In the book of job satan accuses god of putting a hedge job 1. The short answer is no, god does not ever tempt us. How could that god let that evil hatefilled entity, virtually destroy job s life. It isnt certain when satan rebelled against god, but a passage from the book of job job 38. Feb 09, 2016 satans fall from heaven is symbolically described in isaiah 14.
Why did satan tempt eve to eat the forbidden fruit instead of. His pride led him to attempt to overthrow god and he was thrown down from heaven isaiah 14. Some theologians claim god gives no answers within this book. Satan knew that jesus had gone without food for forty days. Satan more literally, the adversary in job is a minor character. The outward temptation only shows the inward reality. Feb 14, 2016 the book of job is one of the longest books in the bible, at 42 chapters. In the book of job, satan and the christian god conspire. In essence, this book shows god as one who brings both blessing and curse on whom he chooses job 2. God permitted the devil to do things to his children in order to manifest the faith of his children for his glory. So it can also be assumed that satan and the christian god conspired together in the book of genesis. We know that satan needs permission at least sometimes. In the book of job, how was it possible for god and satan. There is no indication at all that job s children and servants were good followers of god.
As per a place called or named hell, this is a man made or generated name. This was the condition that god made after he permitted satan to tempt job and placed job into the hands of satan, and was the limit he set for satan. Job reveals that satan still has access, but he no longer lives there. God permits satan to tempt job so that jobs faith will be. Singapore moses messenger of god, ceo in it industry, astronaut, scientist adam tried to cover his sin by blaming the woman job 31. Satan, whom the bible refers to as the accuser, tells god that job is only faithful because god has prospered him and put up a hedge around him. If job had failed, the one responsible would have been job himself. Aug 09, 2015 satan could enter the heart of judas iscariot and tempt the disciple to betray christ john. Satan answered, from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it. Book of job study guide study guide book of job 1 what. There is no biblical proof that satan always needs gods specific permission in order to act against christians every time he wishes to attack them. The book of job begins with a prologue job 12, which describes a wager between satan and god, in which satan the adversary bets god that joba particularly pious man.
In the absence of answers, job has been held up as a model of quiet faithfulness. Satan was there and a conversation ensued about jobs goodness. Finally, god appears to job to heal him and take him to heaven in a divine chariot. Having served in the presence of god before his fall, satan was familiar with god and his divine nature and certainly knew what was right and wrong. The truth about the devil a new beginning with greg laurie. Nov 24, 2009 from the context we realize that satan knew about job from experience. Book of job study guide study guide book of job 1 what deal. He implied blame on god also, because if god hadnt given him eve he wouldnt have sinned. People and livestock who werent even involved died job 1.
Satan is bound from the heavens, but has free roam here on earth and in its atmosphere. You must understand who god is and who satan is, what they know, and what their motivation is. In it, satan is a member of gods divine court who walks the earth looking for sin and reports back to god. As the story goes, the sons of god, angels, presented themselves before god. Job would, if he knew the plot hatched in heaven against him, consider satan the worst sort of enemy. If job was blameless, why did god allow satan to afflict him. In the book of job, as best as i can see, god ruined job s life over a bet job 1. We are carried off into sin by our own temptations and that is because we dont resist them like jesus did in the wilderness when he was tempted by satan. Instead, it unflinchingly confronts the tension of evil and suffering in a world governed by god. How could satan reenter heaven to talk to god about job. Satan, in response, pointed out the hedge of protection god had placed. In the book of job, satan is sent by god to torment job. Why did satan tempt eve to eat the forbidden fruit instead. If you believe the traditional view of satan you will never understand that passage properly, neither any other verse that uses the terms devil or satan.
The book is often understood as an exploration of the question of theodicy that is, how god can be declared just in the light of innocent suffering. Sometimes god tests us by allowing satan to tempt us. There is no indication at all that jobs children and servants were good followers of god. The book of job god did not give satan power biblebro. What makes satan so skillful at tempting us to sin. Satan was permitted to take all of jobs property, but it could not lay a finger on him. Does satan have to get gods permission before he can attack us. Because god recognized that job was perfect and upright, and he had faith that jobs perfection and uprightness before him were beyond doubt, and could. Does satan have to get gods permission before he can attack. God sometimes answers his prayers requests, as in the case of job.
Where does the communication between god and satan take place. Satans fall from heaven is symbolically described in isaiah 14. Satan could tempt job by whatever means it wanted, but it could not hurt job himself, not even one hair on his head, because everything of man is controlled. Aug 23, 2011 job would, if he knew the plot hatched in heaven against him, consider satan the worst sort of enemy. The book of job begins by introducing us to its three most significant characters. Shane october 5, 2017 0 comments this quarter i am teaching a class on one of the most difficult books of the bible, the book of job. Satan, the thief, has come to kill, steal, and destroy john 10. The entire saga of job and his family and friends was planned beforehand by god, and he just used satan as an active participant and the chief antagonist. All of this is to say that the satan in the book of job cannot be entirely identified with the devil or satan in the new testament. There are biblical examples of satan tempting god book of. If satan can get job to believe he is being punished by god, job may be caught in either of two snares. From the context we realize that satan knew about job from experience. Satan tempts job satan smiting job with boils william blake. In describing the creation of the earth to job and his friends, god said that all the.
He knew that there was a hedge around job and his family. In the book of job, how was it possible for god and satan to. Consequently, god threw him and the angels that followed him out of heaven rev. God allowed it to happen when and how it did for the purpose of testing job, but the why is upon themselves. Then the lord essentially began bragging on job, who was a blameless and upright man v. Satan says that if god will touch all that job has, he will curse god to his face. He loses his wealth, his kids, and he loses his health 3.
One day, satan asks god for permission to tempt job to see just how loyal to god job was. Remember, god doesnt inflict anything nasty on job with his own divine power. Nov 10, 2009 the story of job basically amounts to a bet made by satan that god s most faithful and favored follower would turn against him if his favor was taken away. It would be hard to believe god dedicated so much of the. Blow after blow falls on job, depriving him of his possessions and of his children. Oct 05, 2017 whereas the satan had conjectured that jobs fear of god was not without cause, i. Because god knows that he will get glory out of it by making wrong things right, and satan will fail, god allows us to be tempted.
This is kiddylevel theology, yet many grownups dont get it. That all people are deserving of death is a topic in the book. Satan questions not gods loyalty but gods way of ruling and his right to rule. Satan challenges god by stating that job will denounce god if afflicted. How could god create a character that becomes satan. The rest of the book of job shows job reasoning with his friends, who think that surely job must have sinned. In the book of job, satan and the christian god conspire together to tempt job into cursing the christian god. God takes the bet and allows satan to basically destroy the life job had made for himself, including killing his family.
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