Some Truth from Satan

2/2 Reading Portions: Genesis 34; Mark 5; Job 1; Romans 5

Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?” Job 1:9

Since deceiving Eve in the garden, to his tempting the Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness, to his accusations and onslaught against Christ’s church, Satan’s tactics haven’t changed at all. He is an angel, a fallen one, but an angel, nonetheless. He’s quite familiar with the Word of God. Nevertheless, as with his interaction with Eve, he only presents partial truths. The serpent said to Eve,

“You will not surely die.” Genesis 3:4

It was partly correct. Adam and Eve did not suffer physical deaths as soon as they ate the forbidden fruit. This would happen by and by. Nevertheless, they did die spiritually as they suffered immediate broken fellowship with God.

Likewise, when tempting Jesus in the wilderness, Satan said,

“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.’” Matthew 4:6

It was partly true. Satan quoted Psalm 91:11-12, yet he omitted an essential portion of verse 11,

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” [emphasis added]

The whole purpose for the incarnation of Christ was to go to the cross (John 18:37), to humbly relinquish His authority as God (Phil 2:6-7), to become a servant to God as the perfect Man in order to be the sufficient sacrifice (Phil 2:8) for God’s greatest glory (Phil 2:9-11).

When Satan asked God the question about Job, there was some truth in what he said. How so? The sovereign LORD placed into Job reverence for Him. Godly fear does not come because of God’s temporal prosperity and protection. Godly fear comes by God’s grace, imparted by God’s Spirit, unto the manifestation and magnification of God’s great glory. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Wisdom begins with Godly fear,
Man’s reverence for the LORD;
It doesn’t come ‘cept God draws near
And puts in us His Word.

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  Job 1:16

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