Will God deliver believers over to Satan?

That’s a very provocative question. The shocking answer to the question is yes! You may be saying, “now wait a minute! Why in the world would God do something like that? We belong to the Lord! God and Satan are eternal enemies right?”

That indeed is true. I know it’s a disturbing question, but one we need to explore. As always we must search the scriptures to see what God has to say regarding this controversial matter.

Let’s examine the beginnings of Job chapters one and two:

6 Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them. 7 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil. 9 Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face. 12 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.

13 And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, 14 that there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them; 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away: yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house; 19 and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

20 Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped; 21 and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly (Emphasis added).

Job 1:6-22 (ASV)

In Job chapter two we read:

Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah. 2 And Jehovah said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face. 6 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life.  Again, God delivered Job over to the power of Satan to afflict him.

7 So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself therewith; and he sat among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? renounce God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips (Emphasis added).

Job 2:1-10 (ASV)

In both of these accounts we read how after God and Satan had a discussion regarding Job, the Lord granted permission to the devil to afflict Job; first with the loss of his children and business in chapter one, then with disease on his own body in chapter two. So we’re back to the original question, why would God give Job over to Satan to torment him? Doesn’t God love Job? After all, He said that he’s a righteous man, and there is none like him in all the earth. He fears God and shuns evil (Job 1:8;2:3).

Job wasn’t given over to Satan because he was in sin, it was because he feared and served  God.  God permitted Satan to tempt Job say that he may curse God to his face when calamity fell on him. The devil always will tempt us to sin. God was on the other hand perfecting or proving Job’s faith which was solid for the word says, 20 Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped; 21 and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly, and “In all this Job did not sin with this lips (Job 1:20-22;2:10).

A comparative passage regarding Job’s dilemma is in James 1:2-3, “Count it all joy when you fall into manifold temptations. Knowing that the proving of your faith works patience.” In the same chapter verse thirteen it says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man.”

What we learn from these accounts is that God allows the devil to tempt us, but notice that God gave him the rules of engagement. In the first account Satan couldn’t harm Job physically (Job 1:12). In the second account, Satan was allowed to afflict him with boils, but wasn’t allowed to kill him (Job 2:6).

Satan can only do what God allows him to do regarding his children. The trial is sifted through the heart of God almighty.

Job through unbearable pain and suffering consciously worshipped and glorified God which is a clear mark of genuine faith and true relationship. He did not charge  God with wrongdoing like most people would; even some so called Christians.

            

               What about sinning members in the church? Are they to be turned over to Satan?

There’s a serious problem going on in the church at Corinth. In chapter five of I Corinthians we read about a man fornicating with his father’s wife which was the sinning member’s step mother. Apparently this was an ongoing sin in the church and other members had not done nothing about it but rather applauded the sin which upset Paul. Paul said the incestuous act was not even named among the heathen yet it’s happening in the body of Christ (I Corinthians 5:1-2).

Paul had this to say regarding the matter, “For I verily, as absent in body, but present in the spirit, have judged already, as though I were present concerning him that has done this deed. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and with my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (I Corinthians 5:3-5).

Here Paul commanded with the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to deliver the sinning member over to the devil for the destruction or ruin of his flesh; for it’s with his body he’s committing this heinous act of sin against God and his church, In verse thirteen it also says to excommunicate the wicked member out of the fellowship of believers before his wicked ways corrupt other members of the church. The sinning member is in the worst state possible; he’s now the devil’s pawn, and he’s cut off from the fellowship of believers. This is most serious and places that member in state of extreme weakness and vulnerability due to his sin which has isolated him. This is NOT how a Christian should live so repentance to God is definitely of the essence to get Satan off  his back.  Why does this discipline have to take place? Let’s view scripture.

15 And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. 17 And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican (i.e. turn that wicked over to Satan).

Matt 18:15-17 (ASV)

Hebrew 12:5-11 has this to say, “5 and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him; 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. 11 All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.”

II Thessalonians 3:14-15 say this, “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that  man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish as a brother.”

The goal in this severe Godly discipline is to rebuke the sinning member publicly that others may fear (I Timothy 5:20), but ultimately the rebellious person repents, bears the fruit of righteousness and be restored back to fellowship. The rebuke has to be harsh so that sin can be resisted and holiness is the pursuit of the church. In the interim, saints of God should be praying that he acknowledges his sins and confesses them so that he can be healed (James 5:16).

His removal from the fellowship will definitely bring about shame and humiliation in the member’s life, and hopefully his exile will produce Godly sorrow because of his excommunication from the assembly. If he’s truly a child of God, he’ll genuinely repent of his sin, and be received back into the fellowship of believers where he belongs. Contrite members must be restored immediately (Galatians 6:1). We do not want them to have undeserved sorrow over the deserved Godly sorrow they have already exhibited  once they repent and renounce their sin (II Corinthians 2:6-8). 

So in this scenario, the turning one over to Satan is negative initially because of wickedness, but in the case of Job it was positive because of righteousness. As oddly as it may sound, the devil is also God’s servant, fulfilling God’s will although he’s the epitome of evil and is opposed to Him. Also keep in mind that just because God’s uses Satan, doesn’t mean the devil is absolved of his wickedness. God sovereignly can and does use all of his creatures (including Satan) to fulfill his plans whether the creature is good or evil. This is a clear expression of God’s omnipotence.

In the final analysis, God can use Satan to afflict us because of righteousness; that it may strengthen and mature our faith and relationship  in God. Or God will allow Satan to break us down due to our obstinacy of heart toward God so that we repent of our sins and restore our relationship with Him and have return to us the joy of our salvation.