Sometimes Satan, Satan in spite of Himself, serves to do the will of the Lord. Please explain?

Answer 1

He can't do anything else.

In ancient Jewish tradition Satan is simply an angel doing the work that God assigned to Satan to do.

The word Satan means challenger. With the idea of Satan challenging us, or tempting if you will. This description sees Satan as the angel who is the embodiment of man's challenges. This idea of Satan works closely with God as an integral part of Gods plan for us. His job is to make choosing good over evil enough of a challenge so that it becomes clear to us that there can be only one meaningful or logical choice.

Contrast this to Christianity, which sees Satan as God's opponent. In Jewish thought, the idea that there exists anything capable of setting itself up as God's opponent would be considered polytheistic or setting up the devil to be an equally powerful polarity to god or a demigod.

Oddly, proof for The Christian satan/devil mythology is supposedly found in the ancient Jewish texts that were borrowed to create the bible. One can’t help but wonder how Christians came up with such a fantastically different interpretation of Gods assistant Satan in their theology.

Other hints about Satan’s role in human relations can be seen if you look at the name Lucifer. It’s meaning in the original tongue translates as Light bearer or light bringer. Essentially the bringer of enlightenment. The temptations of the Satan idea bring all of us eventually into Gods light. Hardly the Evil entity of Christian mythology.

Love and blessings
don

Answer 2

If not for the existence of evil, there could be no good, because there would be nothing in contrast -- by definition the very concept of good necessarily imputes the concept of evil. Therefore good needs evil, therefore evil is good.

While the above may seem trite (particularly the conclusion it portends to draw) it actually goes a long way toward answering this [almost exclusively rhetorical] question. But the reality is that morality cannot be accurately defined and/or portrayed as two diametrically opposed forces, it is seldom, if ever, quite so black and white.

If you think about the contents of the Bible objectively, I doubt anyone would argue that the relationship between God and Satan, and the details of their falling-out are a massive over-simplification at absolute best. It's unfortunate that the Bible is not written more objectively, it reads more like a story book than a reference. In it, Satan is protrayed invariably as the antithesis of 'good.' Yet everything in the world around us serves to prove that it couldn't possibly be so cut and dried.

Both God and Satan are described as manipulators of time, space and matter, how could one be all bad, and the other all good? The truth of the matter (if there is one) was surely lost upon the authors of the Bible, it's bias is extreme, and undeniable.

I don't want to go into a lengthy session of chapter and verse, but there's one incident that I find interesting to say the very least: the bible calls it 'immaculate conception'... as opposed to demon rape in what ways? I don't recall any indication of Mary's consent prior to the act. What happened to Mary's free will?

Point being that Satan is always portrayed as being the malefactor, but what accounts are there of Satan doing anything destructive, in a corporeal sense? (There are numerous accounts of the wrath of God, but nobody ever seems to second-guess all of the mayhem He reportedly caused.)

It's a shame that the Bible is written with such bias and emotion, it only serves to render it nearly useless as a historical account.

Answer 3

In principle, Satan was created by God, and is therefore subject to God's will. Although he is the cause of a great deal of pain, we can assume that an all powerful God is still in control of Satan's actions and the effects of them. The best explanation of this Scriptural concept can be found in Job 1:7-12 in which Satan mocks God by saying that Job is only faithful b/c his circumstances are cushy. God allows Satan to test Satan, which ultimately demonstrates God's use of trials brought on by Satan to serve His will (Job 42). Another example of this occurs in Luke 22:31 in which Satan has asked to sift Simon like wheat. We can imply that this played some role in Peter's life, and Peter became "the rock" upon which the church was built.

Answer 4

Satan is a man-made term. There is only one creator who created all things. Everything has a purpose. When you have an experience that appears as though Satan created it, and if you learn something from that experience that is beneficial to you, then Satan (so to speak) has served the will of the Lord.

Answer 5

Satan has to ask permission from the Lord in some instances; like in the case of saint Peter: S.Luke 22:31,32. The Lord allowed
it;for the benefit of Peter's faith. A soldier
does not become a victorious veteran if he
does not have an enemy to fight and win.

Answer 6

This is, to my knowledge, not a verse in the Bible. It is a theological concept.
This is a principle applied to the fact that Satan worked to bring about the crucifixion of Christ, but that played right into God's plans for the salvation of mankind. In other words, "Satan meant it for evil, but God for good." It means basically that Satan is not all knowing as God is. He often does not realize his efforts hurt his cause of rebellion against God. The cross hurt him bigtime.

Good question.

Answer 7

How can Satan whose only purpose is to kill,steal and destroy
do the will of G-d whose only purpose is for life?Satan can not perpetuate life there is no life in him.

Answer 8

A good deed is a good deed, regardless of who did it.

Evil persons have revelled in this reality since time began. Hitler built roads, Capone ran soup kitchens, Bonnie & Clyde handed out cash to the poor.

Answer 9

Obviously the Lord is smarter.

Answer 10

i cant think for ya
youll havta decide
whether judas iscariot
had god on his side

if your god is all knowing and
all powerful
then hes responsible
for everything
period

dont say he created man with free will
cause that doesnt let him off the hook