Luke 22 - Satan's Conversation with God!

Luke 22 - NIV

Luke 22 - Enduring Word Commentary

Verses for Today

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Commentary 

"Sift as wheat" is a metaphor that could also be expressed as “shake someone apart” or “break a person down.” Amos 9:9 gives us a similar image of God shaking Israel: “For I will give the command and will shake Israel along with the other nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, yet not one true kernel will be lost” (NLT).

It was not just Peter who was in danger, though. The word for “you” in Luke 22:31 is plural. Jesus was speaking to Peter, informing him that Satan had his sights set on all the disciples. Some translations, such as the Berean Standard Bible, specify the whole group: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.” - Got Questions.org

Job had a similar situation. In his case Satan argued with God that Job only served God because God gave him everything he needed. Here are the verses from Job 1:9-12 

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

So apparently Satan has conversations with God about God's children. In this case God allowed Satan to take Job's possessions, his children, and even his health. That is pretty severe. Yet, even though Job questions God intensely, he remains faithful, and God restores to him everything Satan had taken twofold It also shows that God permitted Satan to do some things and prohibited other things. 

God restored Job's life in the end. After Job's suffering, God restored his fortunes twofold, gave him ten more children, healed his health, and blessed him with a long life, showing a profound, lavish restoration. Bible Gateway

So what can we learn from these challenges passages?

1. Satan, also called the devil, is real. His mission is to destroy the faith of believers. Note Peter writes about this after Jesus' resurrection and after Jesus restored him as his chief apostle. 

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

2. God allows Satan to tempt us or try to "shake us" in order to test our faith and help us to be completely reliant on Him. We also learn these trials like fire, purify our faith. 

3. Even when we fall to temptation, in His grace God restores our relationship with Him. 

As Paul talked about his "thorn in the flesh" in 2 Corinthians 12. he calls it, "A messenger of Satan." He begged three times for the Lord to take it from him but He did not. The Lord said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  

Application

1. Where is your "weak spot" or "blind spot" that Satan might use to try and destroy your faith and relationship with the Lord? 

2. If God were to allow some things to be taken from you, how would you respond? In the short term we may feel loss and even resentment toward God, but like Job God restores us in his own way and timing! 

Prayer

Jesus, protect us from the evil one. Help us to stand up strong against his schemes. When were are tempted and tried help us to rely on your power not our own. Help us to rely on Your Word and the Holy Spirit which Satan cannot win against! Amen. 


 

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