When people first read the book of Job in depth, the first thing that often surprises them is the relationship between God and Satan. Their conversation seems so casual and, and … normal:
There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it. (Job 1:6-7)
This doesn’t sound the way a galactic ruler is supposed to talk to his arch-enemy. God and Satan are supposed to be mortal foes. We have the idea that they live on opposite sides of the universe, and are clutched in a constant tug-of-war over the fate of the world. We assume they would kill each other if they ever got close enough.
But the open secret in the Bible is that Satan works for God. John Calvin said that “God turns the unclean spirits hither and thither at his pleasure, and he employs them in warring against believers, assailing them with wiles, urging them with solicitations, pressing close upon them, disturbing, alarming, and occasionally wounding, but never conquering or oppressing them.” William Henry Green says Satan is “like the sons of God who assemble in the presence of the Infinite Majesty to receive the commissions of the King of kings, prompt to do his bidding and to execute his will.”
Need proof? Look at the scene painted in 1 Kings 22:
I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’
Who is a lying spirit? Satan! When God calls a team meeting in heaven, Satan is always there. He’s like the minority party in Congress. He’s always trying to tear down the ruling party, however he can, but he always has to go along with what the ruling party – God – decides. He hates God, but he has to report to God for everything he does.
Need more proof? Here are some more biblical references to Satan being present in God’s heavenly council or being employed to do the work of God:
- (Zech. 3) 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan1 standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.
- (Rev. 12) And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers 1has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
- (2 Sam 24) 1 The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” (compare to 2 Chron 21:1… Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.)
- (2 Corinth 12) 7 A thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
- (1 Cor 5) 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. … 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
Satan hates being one of God’s employees, but he knows that’s where he fits in the universe. He’s always trying to undermine his boss, but just like Wile E Coyote and Roadrunner, his schemes against God always backfire. In fact, his plans always play right into God’s own plans. He tries to discourage us, but God uses that to make us depend on him, and receive greater encouragement. He tries to destroy us, but God uses him to destroy our sin and purify us.
We know that for those who love God all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28). Even the evil schemes of a rotten employee of God named Satan.