We often overlook the strategies used by satan to tempt us and ask permission from God to test us. As in Job 2:3, Satan wants to incite God against us, to destroy us without cause. It is true that God allowed satan to test Job but He allowed it for a reason and let’s explore this in context of what Christ taught.

Job 1:3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. …. (9) So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

Matt 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Job was in prosperity, with all wealth and blessings from God. Did you notice that satan wants to test if Job will still fear God if he had to lose that prosperity? Did you also notice that Jesus taught us not to have treasures in this world?

Job 2:4 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. …. (29:18) “Then I said, ‘I shall die in my nest, And multiply my days as the sand.

Matt 16:23-26 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

When Job was explaining his past prosperity, he said to himself that he wants to die in the same prosperity he has after along life. Did you notice that satan wants to test if Job is fearing God even if he had to die in pain, exactly opposite of what Job desired?

Satan does not want to test us in ways which we have not spoken or things we don’t desire. Look at how satan tempted Christ (Matt 4:1-11).

• Jesus was hungry, so satan wants convert stones to bread.
• Jesus always wants to do His Father’s will, so satan wants to tempt His Father by doing his will (Matt 26:42)
• Jesus being the King (Luke 23:3) came to receive a kingdom (Luke 22:29)  and authority over all, so the devil is tempting Him to worshiping him in exchange for kingdoms of this world and their glory.

Matt 16:21-22 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

Luke 22:31-34 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren. But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death. Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

Peter wants to save the life of Jesus. So, satan wants to test if Peter will do anything, even deny Jesus to save his own life. It is extremely important to understand this strategy of satan to test us. Hence, satan will not test us in ways which we have not spoken or things which we don’t desire.