Satan: Enemy of God, Servant of God
In the September 2007 issue of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Sydney Page, professor of New Testament at Taylor Seminary in Edmonton, AB, presents an array of biblical evidence demonstrating that Satan, although an enemy of God, is in fact a servant of God:
While many texts emphasize the hostility between God and Satan, there is also abundant evidence that the biblical authors believed that Satan was subject to God’s control and was used by God to accomplish his purposes. They represent Satan, not only as God’s adversary, but also as God’s servant. The subordination of Satan to God is most explicit in the prologue of the book of Job, but the Joban conception of Satan exercised significant influence on the rest of the biblical canon (JETS, Vol. 50, No. 3, p. 449).
Page explores several biblical passages in developing his argument:
– Zechariah 3:1-2;
– 1 Chronicles 21:1;
– The gospel accounts of the temptation of Jesus;
– Luke 22:31-32 (Satan’s sifting of Peter);
– Luke 22:3-4, John 13:2 and 27, John 14:30, Luke 22:53 (passages which portray in various ways Satan’s role in bringing about the crucifixion);
– 1 Corinthians 5:5 and 1 Timothy 1:20 (Satan’s role in church discipline);
– 2 Corinthians 12:7 (Paul’s thorn in the flesh as “a messenger of Satan”).
Page’s thesis comes as no surprise to those of us with Reformed theological convictions: Chapter V of the Westminster Confession of Faith declares:
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in His providence, that it extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men; and that not by bare permission, but such as hath joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding, and otherwise ordering, and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to His own holy ends. . . .
Although the thesis is familiar, I found Page’s careful catalog of scriptural evidence to be wonderfully encouraging and helpful, demonstrating with specific biblical reference that God works his sovereign and gracious purposes even through agents whose direct intentions are evil.
This is certainly true of human agents: think of Saul, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Herod, Pilate. Joseph points his brothers to this truth in declaring to them that what they meant as evil against him God meant for good for many people (Genesis 50:20).
And it is just as certainly true of Satan and his minions. While Satan’s intentions are rebellious against God and malicious toward God’s creatures, the Bible consistently reminds us that God and Satan are not equals, that Satan does not act apart from God’s sovereign purposes and control, and that in fact Satan’s worst finds its place in God’s divine plan for his creation, yet in such a way that God is neither author nor approver of sin (WCF V).
In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter tells his readers to “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Joined by James (4:7), Peter exhorts his readers to “resist him, firm in your faith” (5:9). As we seek to obey this command, instructed by the Word and enabled by the Holy Spirit, we can be encouraged in no stronger way than by the Scripture’s teaching that Satan is God’s servant, working his wickedness only by God’s permission and according to God’s purposes—the same God who has vowed to complete the redeeming work he has begun in us. Whether it is a matter of temptation to sin, or the threat of persecution and suffering for our faith, or the discouragement of physical pain and the grief over dying, or adverse circumstances which bring uncertainty and doubt about God’s plan, or the constant news of horrible evils against innocent victims—we have the Scripture’s assurance that the evil one can do only what God has purposed, and that God’s purposes are ultimately good and lead always to a good end.
So let us give Satan his due, but absolutely no more than his due. Let us not overstate his might, as if he and God are equals or that he operates independently of God’s sovereign rule. Rather, let us run the race before us with the firm hope of God’s presence and provision and purpose through Christ in all things, knowing that as we resist the devil he will flee from us, and as we draw near to God he will draw near to us.
Published on 12 Nov 2007 at 8:08 am. 1 Comment.
C.S. Lewis has choice words about this issue in Screwtape. The idea for the demons advantage is to get people either to deny their existence, or to become completely hypnotized by their power. Luther said, “Satan may be a devil, but he is God’s devil.” Satan wants nothing more than the bumper sticker “wisdom,” which says “Satan votes against you, God votes for you, and you cast the deciding vote.” Or, at least, he wants everyone to think that he is the equal of God in power. He just might be the equal of Michael the archangel in power.
Lane Keister on 12 Nov 2007 at 11:36 am.