Expert: Padraig Caughey - 3/23/2009

Question
Does the Bible teach why God put satan on earth and not away from mankind?

Answer
Hi Sue,

I think the best insight into this we can get is from the Book of Job. The word 'Satan' from Hebrew could mean a kind of Public Prosecutor. You see this role too in Revelations:

'Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.'

In Job Satan accuses Job of only being good because he gets good things, so God permits him to tempt and try Job.

So Satan serves Gods purpose despite himself, by trying us like in a furnace.