In Job Chapter 1, we’re going to understand the nature of Satan as described in the different books in the Bible. In the New Testament Satan has been referred to as:
1. Satan is a devouring lion that’s on the lookout
Satan is waiting for every opportunity to enslave and afflict us
“Be vigilant, and be cautious; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:”
– 1 Peter 5:8, LBP
Job’s story
First assault
“6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present them selves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7 And the LORD said to Satan, Whence have you come? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking on it.
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, an innocent and upright man, one who reveres God, and turns away from evil?”
– Job 1:6-8, LBP
Second assault
“1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
2 And the LORD said to Satan, Whence have you come? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking on it.”
– Job 2:1-2, LBP
2. Satan is an accuser
“9 Thus the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world: he was cast out on the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, Now the deliverance and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ, has been accomplished: for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before God day and night, is cast down.”
– Revelation 12:9-10, LBP
Job’s background:
a. Job was innocent, upright, revered God, and turned away from evil.
“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was innocent and upright, and one who revered God and turned away from evil.”
– Job 1:1, LBP
b. Job was also obedient and conscientious.
“And it was so, when the days of their feasting were over, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.”
– Job 1:5, LBP
First assault
“Then the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, an innocent and upright man, one who reveres God, and turns away from evil?”
– Job 1:8, LBP
Upon hearing that God was pleased with Job, Satan tried to malign Job. (Job 1:9-11)
Satan instigates doubt by influencing us with intentionally malicious assumptions and brainwashes us with wrong impressions.
“9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, Does Job revere God for nought?
10 Thou hast rested thy hand of protection upon him and upon his house and upon his children and upon everything that he has everywhere; thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thy hand now, and destroy all that he has, and he will curse thee to thy face.”
– Job 1:9-11, LBP
Second assault
“4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man has will he give for his life, to save it.
5 But put forth thy hand now, and touch his flesh or his bone, and he will curse thee to thy face.”
– Job 2:4-5, LBP
3. Satan provokes to cause division and be able to do his plans
“And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, an innocent and upright man, one who reveres God, and turns away from evil? He still holds fast to his integrity, although you provoked me against him, to destroy him without cause.“
– Job 2:3 LBP
“And Jesus said to Simon, Simon, behold Satan wants to sift all of you as wheat;”
– Luke 22:31, LBP
4. Satan kills, destroys, steals
“A thief does not come, except to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly.”
– John 10:10, LBP
“And Jesus said to Simon, Simon, behold Satan wants to sift all of you as wheat;”
– Luke 22:31, LBP
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”
– Luke 22:31, KJV
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.”
– Luke 22:31, NLT
Job’s story
3 And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, an innocent and upright man, one who reveres God, and turns away from evil? He still holds fast to his integrity, although you provoked me against him, to destroy him without cause.
– Job 2:3, LBP
Job is blessed
Job had ten children, had herds, a great household, and was a respectable man in his region. (Job 1:2-4)
“2 And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance was seven thousand sheep and three thousand camels and five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred she-asses and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East.
4 And his sons went and feasted in the house of each other on his appointed day; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.”
– Job 1:2-4, LBP
First assault
God knows the heart of Job and He’s confident about Job’s faithfulness and loyalty to Him, so God allowed Job to be tested. (Job 1:12)
In the first assault, Job’s house was damaged by a strong wind, his slaves were killed by the Chaldeans, his camels, oxen, and asses were robbed, and his sheep and shepherds were consumed by fire (Job 1:13-19)
12 And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself you shall not put forth your hand. So Satan went out from
13 And there was a day when Job’s sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house;
14 And there came a messenger to Job, and said to him, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding be side them;
15 And robbers raided them, and carried them away, and they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I only have escaped to inform you.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said to him, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and has burned up the sheep and the shepherds, and consumed them; and I only have escaped to inform you.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said to him, The Chaldeans divided themselves into three bands, and raided the camels, and carried them away, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only have escaped to inform you.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said to him, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house;
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only have escaped to inform you.
– Job 1:12-19 LBP
Second assault
In the second assault of Satan, Job had a disease and boils. Prashitta Lamsa stated cancer while King James and other Bible translations only described it as boils. (Job 2:7-8). The severity of Job’s disease can be visualized on the succeeding verses as it is mentioned that his friends did not recognize Job when they saw him. (Job 2:11-13)
“7 So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with cancer from the sole of his foot to his brain.
8 And he took a potsherd to scrape himself with it; and he sat down upon ashes.”
– Job 2:7-8, LBP
“So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.”
– Job 2:7, KJV
“So Satan left the LORD’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.”
– Job 2:7, NLT
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this misfortune that had come upon him, they set a time of meeting, and came to him every one from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; for they had made an appointment together to console and comfort him.
12 And when they lifted up their eyes from afar, they did not recognize him, and they lifted up their voices, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and threw dust upon their heads toward the heaven.
13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to him; for they saw that his affliction was very great.”
– Job 2:11-13 LBP
5. Satan cannot do what God has not allowed him to do.
First assault
In the first assault God, did not allow Satan to hurt Job physically. In the second assault God allowed Satan to make him physically suffer by having a disease. But God did not allow him to kill Job.
“And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself you shall not put forth your hand. So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.”
– Job 1:12, LBP
“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.”
– Job 1:12, NLT
Second assault
“And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, he is delivered into your hands; only spare his life.”
– Job 2:6, LBP
Job’s response
1. Despite the unfortunate events that happened to Job after Satan’s first assault, Job responded with faith by continuing to worship and trust God.
First assault
“20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And he said, Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.“
22 In all these disasters, Job did not sin, nor did he blaspheme against the LORD.”
– Job 1:20-22, LBP
Second assault
9 Then his wife said to him, Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God, and die.
10 But he said to her, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. We have indeed received God’s blessings, now shall we not also receive his afflictions? In all these misfortunes Job did not sin, nor did he blaspheme against God with his lips.
– Job 2:1-13, LBP
God’s view about Job’s response and His description of Job
First assault
“Then the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, an innocent and upright man, one who reveres God, and turns away from evil?”
– Job 1:8, LBP
Second assault
“And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, an innocent and upright man, one who reveres God, and turns away from evil? He still holds fast to his integrity, although you provoked me against him, to destroy him without cause.”
– Job 2:3, LBP
Everlasting 