Satan's Accusation of Job and His Role in Job's Sickness

As we consider Satan’s current activity in the world, let us look at an example from the Old Testament of how Satan works in the life of a believer. In Job 1:1,1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. (Job 1:1) we learn that a man named Job was righteous and feared God. He was greatly blessed by God in his life and had much land, cattle and possessions. In verses 6-8, we are told that the sons of God (angels) came on a certain day to present themselves before Jehovah God, and Satan also came there among them. Satan accused Job before God and said that Job would curse God to His face if all of Job’s possessions were taken away. As a test, God allowed Satan to destroy almost everything Job had. But Satan was wrong, and Job did not sin or curse God (Job 1:2222In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (Job 1:22)). So, wicked Satan again came into God’s presence to accuse Job and said that if Job became very sick that he would curse God. Again, God allowed Satan to put his hand on Job and his whole body became covered with sore boils. But Job still did not curse God.
Now, before we proceed any further, why did God allow Satan to put his hand on Job in this way? Didn’t God love Job? Yes, he did. Wasn’t Job righteous and God-fearing? Yes, he was. Then, how could God allow such a thing? It was because there was a hidden problem with Job — a problem so difficult that God could not deal with it in any other way. You see, there was a small seed growing deep down in Job’s heart that no one else could see, and Job himself was barely aware of it. Do you remember how that same seed grew in Satan’s heart? God loved Job and did not want it to grow into a tree of rebellion, so he allowed this great trial to come into Job’s life. By the end of the book of Job, he completely repented of this sin (Job 42:66Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:6)) and God blessed him with far more than he had before (Job 42:10-1610And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. 12So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch. 15And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. 16After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. (Job 42:10‑16)).
There is another very important point that we should consider about Job. Who put his hand on Job — God or Satan? Although God allowed it, Satan was the one who caused all of Job’s trouble and sickness. So, if it was Satan putting his hand on Job, should not Job respond to Satan and appease him in order to make peace? Absolutely not! You will never find Job or any other believer dealing with Satan in this way. In fact, Job never communicated with Satan at all. God had allowed the trial, and it was God that Job had to deal with. No one can harm a believer in any way unless our loving God allows it. Just like Job, we must never deal with Satan or demons when trouble comes. Our relationship is with God, and it is with Him that we have to do (Heb. 4:1313Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)).
Tim Ruga