An Advocate

One of the questions arises reading Job chapter one is why Satan came in the presents of God with the son of Gods? Why was he there in the first place?  If we look at the discussion that God and Satan had, it was God who initiated the conversation, not Satan.  So the question is: why was Satan standing in the presents of God in Job chapter one?

Well, one of the ways to look at this question is to see why Satan comes in the presents of God at all? 

When we look at the definition of Satan, it means adversely.  Another words, opponent, or enemy of God and his saints.  1 Peter 5:8 uses this word: “Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  But this does not tell us why Satan visited God, but just his opposition to God.  However, we do have verses that tell us why he is there. Like, 

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:1–2). 

^“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God” (Revelation 12:10). 

The reason why Satan stands in the presents of God is to accuse others. But when we look at Job, we can see that Satan did not wanted talk about Job, but probably someone else. 

Now, as we made this observation above that God is the one who initiated the conversation specifically bringing Job into discussion saying,  “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (Job 1:8).  God is not talking about Jobs wealth, or that he has a big family, God underlines his fear before Himself.  If Satan wanted to accuse people of their sin, Job would not be his choice, but it was God's choice.  

The question we might ask today: did Satan stopped accusing people today?  No.  But what changed today?  Today, Satan still accuses people,  but we have an advocate Jesus Christ.  

First John 2:1 says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 

Romans 8:34 (ESV)

³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Hebrews 9:24 (ESV)

²⁴ For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

Today, Satan still continues to be an accuser, but right next to God the Father, there is Jesus who stands on our behalf intercedes for us.  What a joy to know this truth!  

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,  but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”  (Luke 22:31-32)