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Last Updated on : November 23, 2014

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The Satan of Job Chapters 1 and 2

By J.B. Scaramastro

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The Satan of the book of Job could not have been the "fallen angel" of orthodox christianity for the following reasons:

1. According to orthodox christianity, Satan had been cast out of the heavens before the creation of Genesis chapter one, but here in Job many centuries after the fall, we find Satan coming into the presence of God.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. (Job. 1:6-12).

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. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 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 2:1-7).

 

2. Notice also that Satan converses with the LORD (see above passages). How can this be if God has consigned him to eternal punishment?

3. Satan charges God with lack of knowledge for, says he, that Job really isn't good like God thinks; Job only appears to be good because of His protective care. (See above passages.) After having been cast out of heaven, how could he come into God's presence and charge God with lack of knowledge -- essentially charging him to be finite and not infinite? Wouldn't this be presumptuous to say the least and down right stupid after having been consigned to eternal torment for the very same reason? Hadn't God already demonstrated himself to be the most powerful being anywhere by defeating and punishing him? (See above passages.)

4. Satan (according to the theory of Satan as a fallen angel, the following result is obtained) then arranges for God to punish Job to prove the he (satan) is right! How absurd! The thought that God would give in to the reasonings of an angel He had consigned to eternal torment reduces the Deity of the Scriptures to that type of being found amongst the quarreling gods of paganism! To punish a righteous Job for a wicked and vindicative fallen angel! How absurd!

5. Why would the Deity cooperate with a being whom He knows is given over to the destruction of His creation if orthodox christianity's interpretation of what went on in Genesis chapter three on down to the present is right?

6. Notice that Job and those who participate in the recorded conversations all acknowledge God as the inflicter of Job and no mention of a supernatural being is made by them. Consider the following passages which demonstrated this to be true:

But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. (Job 1:11).

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. (Job 2:3).

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. (Job 2:5).

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (Job 2:10).

By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. (Job 4:9).

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. (Job 5:17-18).

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. (Job 6:4).

Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One. (Job 6:9-10).

I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity. What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be. (Job 7:16-21).

Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? (Job 8:3).

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: (Job 8:13).

Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: (Job 8:20).

For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. (Job 9:17-18).

Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. (Job 9:31).

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: (Job 9:34).

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? (Job 10:2-3).

That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin? Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand. Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? (Job 10:6-10).

For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me. Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me. (Job 10:16-17).

Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, (Job 10:20).

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. (Job 11:6).

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. (Job 13:15).

Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid. (Job 13:21).

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. (Job 13:24-27).

And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? (Job 14:3).

For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. (Job 14:16-17).But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company. (Job 16:7).

He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. (Job 16:9).

God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark. His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground. He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant. (Job 16:11-14).

Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. (Job 19:6).

He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree. He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle. He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. (Job 19:8-13).

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? (Job 19:21-22).

He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. (Job 20:15).

When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. (Job 20:23).

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God. (Job 20:29).

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. (Job 21:17).

God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. (Job 21:19-20).

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment? Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee; Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee. Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven. Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn. Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. (Job 22:1-23).

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10).

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him. For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: (Job 23:14-16).

As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul; (Job 27:2).

Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me. (Job 30:11).

He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes. I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not. Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance. For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. (Job 30:19-24).

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. (Job 31:35).

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. (Job 32:2-3).

Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man. (Job 32:13).

Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. (Job 33:13).

For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. (Job 34:5).

Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: (Job 34:31).

But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: (Job 35:15).

Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. (Job 42:11).

Thus it is quite clear that whoever the Satan (adversary) of Job chapters one and two was, he certainly can not be the supernatural being of orthodox christianity.

 

 

 

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