Section 8
"great wind from the wilderness" destroyed the house where Job's sons and daughters were feast ing, and they all were killed (vv. 18-19). Here we see that Satan is able to use people, fire, and wind to bring in great destruction. When I first read Job 1, I did not understand why God allowed Satan to do such things. First Satan sends the calamities. Then he comes to cause anxiety.
God had a purpose in permitting Satan to afflict Job. God's purpose was to break Job, who was a perfect and self-righteous person. God used Satan to do what no human being was able to do. Since Job's friends could not deal with him, God used Satan for this task. Often the Devil accomplishes certain difficult assignments for God. Sometimes if God cannot get through by using other people, He will permit Satan to deal with you. Concerning Job, God's purpose was to break him. Concerning Paul, God's purpose in allowing Satan to send a messenger to afflict his body was to keep him from being proud be cause of the visions and revelations he received. No doubt, Satan's purpose is always to attack God's people. This purpose is negative. But in permitting a satanic attack to take place, God has another purpose, a very positive one. All the