The Sovereignty of God Over Satan and Suffering
Part I: Satan’s Ranging: Prowling Under God’s Control
The passage in Job ( Job 1:6-7 ) confirms that Satan is an active, created being who moves in God’s creation. The New Testament confirms that this activity did not end after Job’s time. This truth must be understood with a firm grip on God’s sovereignty—Satan is a defeated enemy whose activity is strictly limited by God.Roaming and Permission
- Satan is Roaming: The Apostle Peter warns us directly that our enemy, the Devil, “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” ( 1 Peter 5:8 ). This roaming is a malicious search for Christians to tempt and attack.
- Satan Needs Permission: The Book of Job makes this rule absolute: Satan cannot touch God’s people or property without God first saying, “You may go this far, but no further” ( Job 1:12; 2:6 ). God sets the boundaries for the testing; there must be testing.
- Satan is Finite: Satan is not God. He is a created angel, which means he is not all-powerful (omnipotent) or everywhere at once (omnipresent). He must use a vast host of fallen angels and worldly systems to carry out his influence.
Part II: God’s Questions: Revealing Truth, Not Seeking Information
The common thought is: Doesn’t God already know everything? Why does the all-knowing (Omniscient) God need to ask the devil about his travels? ( And Yahweh said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Job 1:7). The problem is thinking God asks a question like a human does—to learn something. God’s questions are for our benefit and for revealing truth and not His-God already knows all things including what we think.- Example 1: Adam in Eden.
- God asked, “Where are you?” ( Genesis 3:9 ).
- Goal: Not to locate Adam, but to make Adam confess his specific sin (disobedience) and specific location (hiding; fearful of God).
- Example 2: Satan in Job .
- God asked, “From where have you come?” ( Job 1:7 ).
- Goal: Not to learn Satan’s travel plans, but to force the accuser to state his specific, evil motives publicly before the heavenly court; being in God’s presence.
Key Points to Take Away
- God is Omniscient: God already knows everything that has, is, and will happen. His questions are never born out of ignorance.
- Confession Must Be Specific: Just as God asked Adam and Cain to name their specific actions, we must confess our specific sins. General confession keeps the sin hidden; specific confession brings it into the light for forgiveness.
- God is Sovereign: Every action Satan takes is done only with the express permission set by the sovereign God. Satan is God’s chained dog, and God uses his attacks to accomplish His plan.
- Tests Come From God’s Hand: While the temptation comes through Satan, the trial itself is ordained by God to serve His purpose of making us more like Christ.
What Scripture Says:
God uses Satan’s attacks to refine our faith, because in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose ( Romans 8:28).
May the Lord of Grace bless your day/night with peace and joy. From Jason in Japan.
Notes from study I hope it helps. If anyone finds this type of blog useful please comment and let me know and I will continue to help.
