We spent $8,362 on health care for every man, woman, and child in America in 2010.* Yet their average income was only $27,915.^ Basically, we are spending 30% of every available dollar on our debilities, diseases, and deformities. With all our medical and technological advances, why are sickness, pain, and suffering still so pervasive? Why are we so fraught with weakness?
Sometimes it’s Satan.
Not always, but sometimes.
The Apostle Paul wrote that his infirmity — his thorn in the flesh — was “a messenger of Satan. “Peter warned us of our adversary the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. It was Satan who wreaked havoc on righteous Job, killing his children, robbing him of his possessions, and destroying his health. Once, a crippled woman came to Jesus. She was bent over double and could not straighten up. Jesus healed her and noted that it was Satan who had kept her in this weakened condition for eighteen long years. Sometimes it’s Satan.
If I understand the Scriptures correctly, Satan has two main objectives with us:
1. Incite us to disloyalty to God. Satan hates God and humanity, and most especially redeemed humanity. Weakness is one of his favorite methods to inspire revolt and rebellion against God. Exhibit One is Job. Having now also lost his health, he sits on a pile of ashes scraping his sores with a piece of broken pottery. You can hear Satan inciting him through his wife: “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). If permitted, Satan will send you migraines, melanoma, or mental illness. He’s betting you’ll shake your fist at God, accuse Him of injustice, and walk away.
2. Indict us for our acts or omissions. Satan is that legal prosecutor, that adversary at law who accuses us before our God day and night (Revelation 12:10). He is nothing short of brilliant when it comes to prosecuting us according to God’s requirements of right and wrong. Night and day he demands God exact justice on us for what we have done or failed to do.
Do you remember how Satan demanded to sift Peter like wheat? (Luke 22:31) Or how he stood next to Joshua the high priest to accuse him before the angel of the Lord? (Zechariah 3:1) He is similarly poised to pounce on your moral failings and demand an indictment against you on the basis of God’s holy standards. What’s more, he knows you’ll fail much more readily if you’re weak physically, emotionally, or mentally. So you can bet your paycheck he’ll weaken you if he’s permitted.
Sometimes, weakness is from Satan.
Fortunately, though, he can’t lay a finger on us without God’s permission. But why would God ever allow him to touch us at all? Good question! We’ll have to look into that one next time.
Till then, don’t be ignorant of the devil’s schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11) but stand firm against them (Ephesians 6:11). Resist him, even in the weakness he may have sent your way. He will flee from you (James 4:7).
Blessings,
