Page 43 - Reading Job to Know God

people.

WHEN DOES SATAN WORK
The next question. When does Satan work? There are two answers to this
question. Satan cannot work anytime he wants to. Satan is limited; he is
confined; he is restricted. Look at chapter 1:1 “That man was blameless,
upright, fearing God (now notice this next phrase) and turning away
from evil.” In chapter 1, verse 8, the Lord says the same thing “He was
turning away from evil.”
Satan has no compulsory power over man. What I mean by that is Satan
can suggest, stimulate and provide the occasion. Satan can work in the
children of disobedience to accomplish their own ruin. But Satan cannot
force you to sin. He cannot force your will. He cannot compel anybody to
transgress. Man is not a helpless machine. Satan can blind, deceive, hold
captive, only those who want to be blinded, deceived and held captive.
God has given man a will, and it takes that act of volition to constitute
actual sin. Eve tried to pass the buck. Eve tried to say “The serpent made
me do it”. She would have been guiltless if the serpent grabbed her by the
throat and jammed the fruit down her throat. But the serpent didn’t
because he can’t. The Devil can’t make you do it.
So in answer to the question: When does he work? The first answer is
when you let him. And Job did not let him. Job turned from evil. Satan
can only put the evil there. He can only suggest. He can only tempt. That
is why James 4:7 is so powerful. “Resist the devil and he will flee from
you.” Satan dreads man’s resistance. That is what that verse teaches.
Man can take a stand. That is why Satan is so cunning, and that is why he
is so silent, and that is why he “masquerades as an angel of light”.
Because man can say “no“ to his temptation. So the first answer to the
question “When does Satan work?” When we let him!

For the second part of the answer. Look at chapter 1, verse 12,
“ Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your
power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” Chapter 2, verse 6
“So the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your power, only
spare his life.” When does he work? When you let him. When does he
work? When the Lord lets him. Satan has to get God’s permission before
he can touch a single hair on Job’s head.
If you compare chapter 1, verse 12, with chapter 2, verse 6, it looks like
God is giving progressive permission. Now I don’t know if it thrills your
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