God is greater than Satan (Job 1:6-12)

Job 1:6-12

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

 

Job’s First Test

⁶ One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. ⁷ “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”
⁸ Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
⁹ Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. ¹⁰ You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! ¹¹ But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”
¹² “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.




From this conversation, we learn a great deal about Satan. 1.) He is accountable to God. All angelic beings, good and evil, are compelled to present themselves before God (1:6), God knew that Satan was intent on attacking Job. 2.) Satan can be at only one place at a time (1:6-7). His demons aid him in his work; but as a created being, he is limited. 3.) Satan cannot see into our minds or foretell the future (1:9-11). If he could, he would have known that Job would not break under pressure. 4.) Because Satan could do nothing without God's permission (1:12), God's people can overcome his attacks through God's power. 5.) God puts limitations on what Satan can do (1:12). Satan's response to the Lord's question (1:7) tells us that Satan is real and active on earth. Knowing this about Satan should cause us to remain close to the One who is greater than Satan - God Himself.



 
Joe