* Satan does not have a free hand toward God's people. He must operate within certain limits set by God.
* Satan's will toward God's people is far more malevolent than most of us realize.
* We experience as little of Satan's malevolence as we do because of God's active protection of us, those around us, and all that we have.
Understanding these truths will help us better understand some of the things we are confronted with in life.
Job 1:6.
1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
We are first introduced to Satan in this book when the angels come to present themselves before God. With them comes Satan. None of the angels accosts him, or reproves him for being there. It is suggested in this passage, and made clear in others, that the angels are careful about how they talk to him.
2 Peter 2:10-12.
2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
Jude 1:8-10.
1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
These verses suggest that the angels know something about Satan that we don't. Jude says that Michael the archangel dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but limited himself to saying, "The Lord rebuke you." Those men who are so bold as to mouth off against the devil and his angels are referred to in both passages as "brute beasts," and in Jude we are told that they have corrupted themselves. Those in the church today who so boldly advocate uttering curses at the devil and his angels might do well to take warning from these verses.
It is pretty clear from this passage that Satan has not yet been cast out of heaven. The events described in Revelation 12 are yet future.
Revelation 12:3-10.
12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Once Satan gets kicked out of heaven, he won't be able to go back. But to this day, Satan has access to the presence of God, and uses this access to accuse our brethren before God. Fortunately, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God.
Job 1:7
1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
It is God, not the angels, who talks with Satan. He begins by asking him where he's been. God, of course, already knows the answer, as well as Satan's reason for coming. Satan is brazen in his response. He has been "going to and fro" in the earth.
1 Peter 5:8
5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Satan has been on the hunt. He has been seeking someone to devour; and God already knows that he has fixed his eyes on God's man, Job.
Jesus Christ was not seated at God's right hand in Job's day to act as his advocate. But look at how God Himself speaks out in Job's defense. Before Satan can open his mouth to accuse Job before God, God begins to praise Job.
Job 1:8
1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
It's hard to slander a man after an introduction like that. By praising Job's character and behavior so highly, God closed the door on any accusations in this area.
But that didn't stop the devil from accusing him. Since he couldn't slander his conduct or character, he slandered his motives. He accused Job of obeying God for the wrong reasons. Job was only loyal to God, he charged, because God was paying him off with protection and benefits.
Job 1:9-11.
1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
1:10 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.
1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
It is here that we learn a powerful truth. God has surrounded Job, his household, and everything he has with a hedge. God is actively protecting Job, and nothing within this hedge of protection is vulnerable to Satan's attacks.
One of the most common questions asked about Job is why God allowed all the things he did to happen to him. The question we forget to ask is, why did none of this happen earlier? Job had walked with God for years. His righteousness, his godly character, his loving family, his great prosperity, his bountiful giving must have galled Satan day in and day out, and made him a special target of Satan's wrath. Yet, as far as we know, no major disaster had befallen him before this. Job lived in the shadow of Satan's wrath in perfect safety. God had hedged him in with protection, and nothing could touch him there.
Psalms 127:1
127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
This verse takes on new meaning in light of what we have seen here. So long as God hedges us in, so long as God protects us, we are safe.
But that's not all God had done for Job. He had actively blessed the work of Job's hands. Job's hard work was not the reason for Job's great riches, though he was a hard worker. Rather, God blessed the work of his hands, and this is what caused him to prosper so.
Job grew rich and prospered in the face of Satan's hatred of him.
There is a note of frustration in Satan's accusation of Job. This righteous man was beyond his reach, and so long as the hedge was in place, he could do nothing about it. His only chance of getting to Job was to go to God and try to get the hedge readjusted, so that something pertaining to Job would be within his reach.
In keeping with his character, Satan tries to incite God to act against Job without a reason. God cannot be tempted with evil, but that doesn't stop Satan from trying! God never moves against Job. But he does remove the hedge of protection from around everything and everyone Job has. Only Job himself is still protected.
Job 1:12
1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
In one moment everything had changed. God's protection has been stripped not only from Job's posessions, but from his servants and his family. Only Job himself was protected. The door was wide open for Satan to do whatever he wanted to do against them, so long as he did not touch Job.