I recently had a conversation with a friend regarding whether God gives permission for the devil to cause destruction or not. As a Calvinist, my friend obviously believed so. He brought up the situation of Job to support his argument. Intrigued by this, I decided to delve into the story of Job and uncover the truth about Jesus Christ within it.
First, let’s gain a basic understanding of the Book of Job. It is the oldest book in the Bible and does not fall under any specific covenant. In other words, Job was not an Israelite, nor can we say he was a descendant of anyone who had a covenant with God. Timeline-wise, Job is believed to have lived between Noah and Abraham.
So, how does the situation in Job begin? The book introduces us to a man named Job, who lived in the land of Uz. He was described as blameless, upright, and someone who feared God and avoided evil (Job 1:1 NKJV). It is worth noting that while Job was not perfect like Jesus, he was considered blameless and upright according to the time. Job lived in a time of consciousness being your righteous compass.
The scripture continues to tell us that after a period of feasting, Job would sanctify and offer burnt offerings on behalf of his sons. He did this regularly, thinking that his sons might have sinned or cursed God in their hearts (Job 1:5 NKJV). This verse reveals that Job had confidence in himself but not in his children. In the ancient world, children owned everything their parents possessed, and Job held this mindset.
On a particular day, the “sons of God” came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also joined them. The LORD asked Satan where he had come from, and Satan replied that he had been roaming the earth (Job 1:6-7 NKJV). This verse explains Satan’s entrance into God’s presence.
Then the LORD brought up Job to Satan, describing him as a blameless, upright man who fears God and avoids evil (Job 1:8 NKJV). Some people may interpret this as God bragging about Job, but that is not the case. God was not boasting about Job to Satan; rather, He was asking Satan if he had considered Job. God had observed Satan’s interest in Job and directly asked if he intended to target him.
Satan responded by questioning Job’s motives for fearing God. He accused Job of serving God only for personal gain, claiming that God had blessed Job and protected him, but if everything were taken away, Job would curse God (Job 1:9-11 NKJV). It’s important to note that Satan’s understanding was flawed—he falsely attributed actions to God that God had not taken.
The LORD then granted Satan permission to test Job but instructed him not to harm Job’s person (Job 1:12 NKJV). God essentially clarified that Job was already in Satan’s power because Satan ruled the world after Adam handed it over to him. Furthermore, Job’s fear for his family, as explained in Job 1:5, had given Satan an opportunity. Thus, Satan went forth to do as he pleased.
examining the conversation
In conclusion, examining this conversation reveals that God did not give anyone permission to do anything. Satan had permission from Adam and permission from Job, but not from God. It’s important to understand that Satan and God are not allies or equals. Satan is far inferior. As Christians, this story holds no significance for us because Jesus came and stripped the Devil and his minions of their power. They can no longer stand in His presence as they could before when they represented the earth. Therefore, Christians cannot claim the story of Job
, for if Satan can accuse Jesus, he cannot accuse us. This conversation should not even be taking place.
However, one might wonder why Christians still fall victim to similar trials as Job. The reason is their lack of knowledge of this truth. That’s why the Scripture encourages us to renew our minds—to start thinking differently. The devil has no power over you, and it is essential to grasp this truth. When you do, you will be blameless and upright. No, God does not give permission.
