Your Adversary

Scripture Reading: Job 1-2

Out of the 42 chapters in the book of Job, he appears in only two – chapters one and two; but what he initiates in those two chapters continues to be felt throughout the book. He stands on the edge of the forest, its ground littered with dry twigs and fallen timber, and strikes a match, holding its tiny flame to a small pile of pine needles; then blowing his sulfury breath across the kindled embers, he lights the inferno. He disappears from the scene but leaves behind the smoldering embers of Job’s life. Job, Job’s wife, Job’s friends – they are all left to grapple with what just happened and, more importantly, why it happened.

As to who this spiritual arsonist is who wreaked so much havoc in Job’s life, the Old Testament only drops hints here and there. “Satan” isn’t a proper name as much as it is a descriptive title. It is properly rendered “the Satan.” The Hebrew means “the accuser” or “the adversary.” The New Testament writers, thus, rightly called him by these very terms. He is “the adversary,” and “the accuser of the brethren.” He is also called the “the devil” and “the serpent,” indicating this is the same personage that tempted Eve in the Garden.

The question as to what his proper name might be is up for some debate. “Lucifer” is the theory that has the best support, but even that is not certain. We know the names of two other angels – Michael and Gabriel. You will notice that both names end with “el,” which is the suffix that means “God.” You might recognize it from the Hebrew “Elohim.” Generally speaking, when you see a name ending in “el” the name has some meaning connected to the name of God. “Lucifer” doesn’t end with “el.” If that is a proper name, we can say with some surety that it wasn’t the name given him upon his creation. Possibly his given name was stripped from him when he rebelled against God’s rule.

C.S. Lewis wisely noted that we can make one of two errors regarding the devil. We can dismiss the whole idea as some sort of primitive religious superstition, or we can become obsessed with the reality of the devil and find him lurking in every corner of life. Neither is a spiritually healthy path to follow. The Scriptures encourage awareness without an obsession.

1 Peter was written to Christians suffering from persecution, but Peter doesn’t bring Satan’s role in that persecution into focus until the last few lines of the letter. There he writes, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Take it seriously. Keep your eyes open. Be firm in your faith. Remember you aren’t alone, and God is on His throne.