Good morning. Today is Wednesday, June 17th!

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— Job 1:12

Have you ever wondered why God would allow Satan to move between earth and heaven in the book of Job?

Because in Job, Satan says he has been:

“going to and fro on the earth, and walking back and forth on it.”

But then right after that, he appears before God in heaven.

So the real question is:
Why would God even allow Satan to have that kind of access at all?

The Bible seems to show that Satan was only able to do this because God temporarily allowed limited access for His own purposes.

And one of the biggest proofs of that is that Satan repeatedly has to ask permission and stay within boundaries God sets.

In Job 1:12, God tells Satan:

“Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”

Then later in Job 2:6:

“Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”

That is huge.

Because Satan cannot even touch Job without permission first.

And he cannot go beyond the limits God gives him.

So Job is actually showing the opposite of Satan being freely powerful.

It is showing that even Satan himself is still under God’s authority.

Another important detail is that Satan appears almost like an accuser in a courtroom.

That’s actually what the name “Satan” means:
“adversary” or “accuser.”

And Revelation 12:10 says:

“the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night.”

That matches Job perfectly.

So the biblical picture is that Satan was temporarily allowed limited access before God as an accuser while also roaming the earth.

But even then, God still controlled:
• the access
• the boundaries
• the outcome
• and the entire situation itself

And something fascinating is that many scholars believe Job may actually be the oldest book written in the Bible chronologically.

If that’s true, then it’s possible God even allowed this story to happen partly so one of the very first books of Scripture would establish something humanity needed to understand from the beginning:

Even Satan himself is still under God’s authority and control.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: God, thank You that You are fully in control.

Confession: Forgive us for the times we fear instead of trust You.

Thanksgiving: Thank You that nothing happens outside of Your authority.

Supplication: Help us trust You even when we do not understand.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

“Jesus Paid It All” by Forrest Frank

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God