In Job, chapter two, verse six, God allowed Satan to inflict further pain upon his servant because neither Job’s complete commitment to God could be proven nor God’s endeavor to redeem him from sin demonstrated effectively without undeserved suffering. The testing of the faith of a righteous person through such suffering has enormous significance because God’s honor is at stake in the highest spiritual struggle of all times. For example, the conflict between God and Satan. The apostle Peter, in the New Testament perspective, states: “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it, be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
The Lord said, Behold, he is in thy hand, means he permits you to try him even in this way: do thy worst at him; afflict him to the uttermost of thy power. Save his life means do not attempt to take that away. I will not suffer thee to do. God had mercy in store for Job after this trial, and therefore, must survive it; and how much soever he may be afflicted, his life given him for a prey.
If God did not chain up the roaring lion, how soon would he devour us? As far as he permits the wrath of Satan and wicked men to proceed against his people, he will turn it around to his praise and theirs, and the remainder thereof he will restrain. Job, being hurtful and afflicted by Satan, was a type of Christ, whose heel that infernal serpent was permitted to bruise, to touch even his bone and his flesh, yea, and his life also; because, by dying, he was to do what Job could not do, to destroy him that had the power of death.
How well is it for us that neither men nor devils be our judges! But all our judgment comes from the Lord, who never errs. Job holds fast to his integrity still as his weapon. God speaks with pleasure of the power of his grace. Self-love and self-preservation are in the hearts of men. But Satan accuses Job, representing him as wholly selfish and minding nothing but his ease and safety. Thus are the ways and people of God often falsely blamed by the devil and his agents. Permission is granted to Satan to make trial but with a limit. If God did not chain up the roaring lion, how soon would he devour us? Job, thus slandered by Satan, was a type of Christ, the first prophecy of whom was that Satan should bruise his heel and foil.