We Are Within His Reach

Job 1:6 … "Now there was a day when the sons of God (fallen angels) came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them."

From this scripture we can conclude there was a certain day when Satan presented himself before God, to give an account of his activities on the earth. It is doubtful that Satan and his fallen angels just showed up for a visit. I would assume that God summoned them for this meeting.

 Albert Barnes, the old theologian from the mid 1800's made this comment ... "It is to be observed, that Satan, no less than the other fallen spirits, is subject to the government of God, and uses the ministry of this demon to execute punishment, or when from any other cause it seemed good to Him to send evil upon men. But he, although incensed against the race of mortals, and desirous of injuring, is yet described as bound with a chain, and never dares to touch the pious unless God relaxes the reins. Satan, in walking round the earth, could certainly attentively consider Job, but to injure him he could not, unless permission had been given him."  

And it was. Job's afflictions began with the Lord's permission. God asked Satan if he had considered Job. The word "considered" literally means ... to place thy heart on. The question is really, "Hast thou placed thy heart on my servant Job?"

This phrase means more than merely to observe or to look at since it is clear from the following verses (8-10) that Satan had attentively considered Job but found that God had placed a protective hedge around him.  

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job ... Then Satan answered the LORD, and said ... Hast not thou made an hedge about him?"

God was the one who first brought up Job to Satan. But Satan already knew about Job. From this ... could I conclude that Satan knows about each one of us and watches us as well?

Many people teach that Satan was wrong when he said that God had placed a spiritual and physical hedge of protection around all that Job had. They say that because of God's statement to Satan ... "All that he has is in your power." I believe that God did have a hedge around Job which is why nothing touched his family and property until God removed it. Otherwise God should have said ... "All that he has is already in your power."

This is the charge Satan made against Job to God ... that the only reason Job served God was because he and his family was under God's protection. So he tells God to remove it and Job won't serve you any longer.

Satan tells God in Job 1:11 ... "But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face."

God answers him back in Job 1:12 ... "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power ..." Which means, "No I won't, you do it."

 This is where the old saying came from that says ... "God afflicts not willingly, but if it must be done, let Satan do it." And that is exactly what happened ... God did not want to put His hand on Job, but instead said ... "Satan you do it."

The devil is real, and he is continually seeking to accuse, to lead astray, and, if possible, to destroy those who love God. How far his influence may extend in the world, we cannot say; but while we are on this earth, we are within his reach.

What we do know is this ... Satan did have access to God before Jesus defeated him on the cross through His death and resurrection, but it is unclear if he is still allowed access to heaven. But according to this scripture in ...

Revelation 12:7-10 … "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, the ancient serpent, he who is called Devil and Satan, he who deceives the whole habitable world, he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a great voice in the heaven saying, Now is come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren has been cast out, who accused them before our God day and night."

I am of the opinion, and you know what that is worth ... not much ... but my thinking on this scripture in Revelation is that this war happens during the Tribulation because Revelation Chapter 12 gives us a brief symbolical overview of events during the Tribulation ... as well as Israel, the sun clothed woman giving birth during the rule of the Roman empire, while the dragon, (Satan) waited to devour her man child, Jesus ... which he could not do, so he is in the process of persecuting Israel and will continue to do so until the end of the Tribulation.

I share these scriptures in Revelation to help put into context the question of whether or not Satan still has access to God as he used to have ... as the accuser of the brethren. Notice though, that it says that Satan no longer has a place in heaven any more.

So, I really don't know if Satan still accuses the brethren before God or not ... but if he does it won't do him any good. Why do I say that? Romans 8:1 ... "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus ..." Period.

And if that isn't enough, Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus ... "ever liveth to make intercession for" ... the saints.

What good would it do for Satan now to go before God, even if he could and try to accuse us when Jesus would intercede for us before God the Father on our behalf. I wonder if the only accusing Satan does today is to us, not before God.

So now ... I don't believe He will, but ... are you ready if God would bring up your name to Satan. The devil is real and we are within his reach.

Truer words have never been spoken than when Oswald Chambers, the Scottish Protestant teacher and W.W. I chaplain said this ...  

"We look upon the enemy of our souls as a conquered foe; so he is, but only to God, not to us."

That is why ... The battle is real.


Comments welcome