Our world is full of disasters. We can glance at news headlines anytime to find wars, earthquakes, mass murders, famine, and every conceivable kind of heartache. In our own lives, there is usually enough tragedy to occupy us. Life contains difficulty, pain, and evil. So the question presents itself to us: Is Satan the one to blame for all of the pain and evil in the world? Does every bad thing that happens come from the hand of Satan?
We cannot answer the question with the kind of certainty that we would like. Satan’s actions are not easily identified openly in the world. We lack the kind of proof needed to pin all evil and tragedy on Satan. The Bible gives us a look behind the scenes, however, to inform us of Satan’s role when evil strikes.
The first two chapters of the book of Job are a good case study.
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Job 1:8–12
Satan claims that Job blesses God because God protects Job from evil. But Satan has an experiment he wishes to run. With God’s permission, Satan strikes Job’s family and possessions. Note how it happens:
One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Job 1:13–19
Satan strikes Job in several ways. He incites Job’s enemies, the Sabeans and the Chaldeans, to kill Job’s servants and to steal his animals. Satan uses “the fire of God from heaven”1 to kill Job’s servants and sheep. He also stirs up a “mighty wind” to collapse a building, killing Job’s sons and daughters.
From the story, we can assume that, with God’s permission, Satan is able to cause all sorts of evil for us as well. He can manipulate natural forces—fire from the sky and wind. Satan also can influence human conflicts and wars. He has the ability to inflict disease, judging from the terrible sickness he gives Job in the next scene: “So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7).
It appears that Satan might indeed be the one causing all pain and suffering in the world. But there are a few cautions for us to consider. First, remember that Job’s experience is just one among billions of people who have lived on earth. We must be careful not to draw general conclusions from one story. Job’s experience does not prove that all the evil things in the world are demonic.
In addition, there are very few incidents in the Bible where demons are clearly responsible for some bad thing that happens. Plenty of evil things are recorded in the Bible, but rarely is the evil explicitly tied to Satan. Most evil in the Bible is connected to sinful humans causing it all.
Don’t forget, as well, that Satan is not able to do any of his evil mischief to Job without God’s permission. God is sovereign over demonic wickedness. He gives Satan permission to attack Job, but with clear limits.
Does God, then, bring evil into our lives by allowing Satan to do these terrible things? It is a big question, one that is outside of this study. But the question is legitimate: How does God accomplish His will on earth? It appears that He is willing to use Satan and evil in the world to fulfill His purposes.
It is important that we see that God remains in control of His creation. Satan cannot act against God’s will. Those of us who are followers of Christ can trust Him with our lives, even when we experience evil and suffering. Here again, Job is a great example for us. He refused to blame God for his pain. He did not understand what he was experiencing, and he surely did not like it. But Job accepted his situation and continued to bless God through it. Job’s words to his wife are good advice for all of us who are suffering:
[Job’s] wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 2:9–10
Satan is powerful. He is able to wreak havoc on the earth. But we who follow Jesus Christ can trust God to see us through any pain and suffering, regardless if it is from Satan or not. We live in a world decimated by sin and evil. To understand the causes is helpful, but that still cannot relieve much of the pain and suffering. God can be trusted with everything in our lives. He promises us that He will be with us all the way through any trials we endure. Our reward is to be with God forever!
The apostle Paul suffered more than most of us to deliver the gospel message to the world. Listen to the hope he offers us all in the midst of suffering:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:16–17