February 19, 2019—Job 1:12

And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only on himself put not forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
– Job 1:12

Thought on Today’s Verse:

In Job’s story, the exchanges between God and Satan are quite impressive. The substance of Satan is evil and cruel. It loathes all positive things. This is brought to light thoroughly in the means by which it abused Job. However, when facing God’s requirements, it does not dare, at all, to cross. Although it hurt Job’s flesh, it dared not take his life.

From this we can see that Satan is also in God’s hands. I once read such a passage in a spiritual book: “Regardless of how ‘powerful’ Satan is, regardless of how audacious and ambitious it is, regardless of how great is its ability to inflict damage, regardless of how wide-ranging are the techniques with which it corrupts and lures man, regardless of how clever are the tricks and schemes with which it intimidates man, regardless of how changeable is the form in which it exists, it has never been able to create a single living thing, has never been able to set down laws or rules for the existence of all things, and has never been able to rule and control any object, whether animate or inanimate. Throughout the vast expanse of the universe, there is not a single person or object that was born from it, or exists because of it; there is not a single person or object that is ruled by it, or controlled by it. On the contrary, it not only has to live under the dominion of God, but, moreover, must obey all of God’s orders and commands. Without God’s permission, it is difficult for Satan to touch even a drop of water or grain of sand upon the land; without God’s permission, Satan is not even free to move the ants about upon the land—let alone mankind, who was created by God.

It can be seen that God’s authority is supreme. Without God’s permission, Satan is utterly incapable of harming us. So, no matter what happens, it is undoubtedly right to rely on God.