Flank Attack
For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 NASB
Hindered – Paul’s statement is rather startling. Isn’t God in charge of the universe? Isn’t God the only true Sovereign? Doesn’t the Accuser have to answer to Him? As a rabbi, Paul certainly believed in the total sovereignty of God. Then why does he suggest that Satan hindered Silvanus and Timothy and him from visiting the believers in Thessalonica? Shouldn’t he rather have said, “But we were prevented by the Lord through the agency of Satan from visiting you”? He says much the same thing when he accounts for the continued presence of his “thorn in the flesh” as a messenger of Satan given by God.
So what’s it to be? Is it Satan who runs the show or God? Is Satan running around free to interfere with divine purposes or is he on a short leash held by the King?
If you reflect on the view of most church-goers, you will be mightily impressed by the power and credit given to Satan. From some perspectives, he seems to be the only real power in the world today. We are often led to believe that this “prince of the power of the air” is so fearsome, so cunning, so dominant that we mere mortals would be instantly incinerated if he ever really showed himself in his full magnificence. Portrayed as the giant in red, the reader of minds, the wielder of total earthly influence, he is routinely given credit for everything we consider bad, discomforting or evil. He is in control of the governments, our health, our finances, our jobs and (in some circles) even our religions. Dante gave him a tail. We have given him our trepidation. Did Paul start all this anti-hero veneration with his comment about Satan’s power to thwart God (as the 1963 NASB translates the Greek)?
The verb is enkopto. It means, “to block the way, to create an obstacle.” But taken in the whole context of Paul’s rabbinic thought, the comment in TDNT is crucial. “Since Paul elsewhere finds other reasons for changes of plan (cf. 2 Cor. 1:15ff.; Rom. 1:13; Acts 16:6–7), and since he does not view Satan as the lord of nature, what he probably has in mind in 1 Th. 2:18 is the devil’s opposition through human action (cf. perhaps vv. 14ff.). Satan may also be the one who hinders in Gal. 5:7. This time, as the opposite of the one ‘who called you,’ he works through the Judaizers.”[1] This helps us realize that Paul is thinking like a Hebrew, not a Greek. Hebrew is a phenomenological language. It expresses the way things appear, not the ways things actually are. That’s why Hebrew often uses overtly human expressions to characterize the actions of God (e.g., a strong right arm). Hebrew is a WYSIWYG vocabulary. Paul expresses the obstacles he faces as if they were descriptions of Satan’s power, but since Paul firmly asserts the complete and utter sovereignty of God (see Romans 8), we know that this is Hebraic metaphor, not theological fact. Yes, it’s true that Satan operates to upset God’s purposes, but there is not one hint that he does so independently of God’s will. He is not the divine anti-god. He is merely one of the heavenly beings whose role and scope of activity is determined by YHWH.
So give the devil his due—which, by the way, isn’t much! And then think of God’s invisible hand working through even this antagonist no matter what it appears to be.
Topical Index: Satan, hinder, enkopto, 1 Thessalonians 2:18
[1] Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (458). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
OK!, I plead ignorance what does WYSIWYG mean?
What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)
I have spent a lot of time reflecting on blessings and curses, especially as laid out in Deut. 28. I will have to say it took me a while to be able to get myself past the thought that curses are the will and power of the evil one. but there they are, clearly spoken by God, and clearly put forth as His purposes. And we are clearly told that it is WE that choose which ones! To me, that means, functionally, that the power that evil has in my life is something that is, in one sense, at least, power that comes from me, which is to say, evil has power OVER me to the extent that I GIVE, or grant, it. Further, I have noticed that to the extent that I do make choices that activate a curse, or “lessening of a blessing” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary) is also the extent that I am losing the freedom and power that the good represents in my life.
I think I have seen that when I make a choice to grant evil power over me, that power cord gets plugged into my own tail! I LOSE to the extent I CHOOSE wrong! I wonder that if it is true that we have been given “all power over the enemy” (Luke 10:19) that it is THAT power that is used against us, or taken from us, because we choose to grant it so.
To me, evil is a pure artificial construct, a true parasite, and the only power it has ever had is power that good grants it. And if we are doing the choosing, then it makes sense that the power OF those choices also comes from us. If the evil one is wielding power in my life, then it makes sense that the funds are being taken out of my bank account. The good that evil must have to feed upon does not originate with that evil, that is clear to me. What power could evil possibly have if power, even existence itself, is a GOOD, and therefore must be coming from “the Father of all lights” (James 1:17)? (Thank you, C.S. Lewis, for pointing that out.)
About those curses. If I can expect that my heavenly Father is not going to abandon me just because I choose to separate myself from His overt protection and guidance, then HOW is He going to persuade me to return before I go so far that I end up getting myself wiped out? The curses, to me, anyway, function as drags, or brakes, that slow me down and give me a reason to re-think my direction and choices. They cause me to pause and doubt and reflect. Frustration is a good thing if I am heading the wrong way!
Pain always says one thing, and it always says the truth. “STOP!!!!!!” Fear is supposed to do the same thing, and it also says “STOP!!!! Re-check data!!!!!”, but I have noticed that we have invented even more ways to ignore and medicate fear than we have even with pain. I know I sure was hard of hearing!
Wow, Laurita,
You have expressed very well what I have believed for a long time. FREE WILL and CHOICE are ours to use for good or not. The blessings and curses are not subject to our intention, but are simply part of the structure that helps to get us “in The Way” if we are willing. I do not see curses as damnation, but as warnings that we could/should heed. Forgiveness and restoration are always a possibility if we will only resist the inclination to harden our hearts.
So now I need to get used to the new site all over again. HMMMMMMMMMMMM
There’s a post for you below this Laurita.
Great insight! I would only add that this works in community. The evil that comes into one person’s life can result from another’s actions. For example, when the choice is made not to discipline a child – many others will suffer ‘a curse’ from that child’s poor behavior in the future. This is also why our heavenly father disciplines us – not simply for our own sakes. We experiences blessings and curses also as a community.
Well said. Thank you.
You aren’t the only one Bruce. :/
Excellent Laurita!
It’s a simple concept really.
YHVH says “If you walk contrary to me then I will walk contrary to you.
If God is walking east and we choose to turn to the west we are walking contrary to each other.
His power, protection, and provision goes with Him. DAH!!!
Skip this is one of the things that made/makes us so unpopular in the crazimatic congregations.
If Job was clean in the eyes of God and he went through what he did with God’s permission, how much more Paul?
I have come to wonder if our misreading of Ro. 8:38 doesn’t have something to do with our unrealistic expectations. ALL things (both good and bad) work together for the good of THOSE (not just MEMEMEMEME) Doesn’t Paul say he endures much hardship for the sake of the the body? And Peter exhorts us to count it all joy when we fall into various trials. Yeshua came to bring a sword.
I know more than a few Torah pursuant believers who think they will be in perfect health if they keep themselves clean. As for myself I wouldn’t trade the wisdom He’s imparted to me through the trials He has put me through for anything. As Job so eloquently put it; I have heard (in the past) but now I see……..
Amazing grace
So what your sayin’ is all that stuff I was blamin’ on Satan, I might need to take responsibility for myself?
You could start there and see what happens. 🙂
This is a comment by my dear friend Luzette who arranges all my teaching in South Africa. She was not able to post this so she sent it to me. Here’s what she said:
Life is much more simple ( not easier) after I came to realize the Sovereignty of God over everyone and everything – Satan included. – not that it takes away any of my own responsibility towards obeying God.
I dont recall anyone ever blaming Satan for anything in the Tanach?
Havvah blamed the serpent;
Adam the Havvah
Josef’s brothers blame God (What has God done to us Gen42:28)
the exodus Israelites grumbles against Moshe and God
the prophets blame the rebellious Israelites.
It is the decree of the Most High/ Words came down from heaven…. and N’vukhadnetzar ate grass like an ox.( Daniel 4)
God said:” I put to death and I make alive;
I wound and I heal;
no one saves anyone from my hand!’ Deut 32:39
” In contrast to the religion of its neighbors, Israelite religion has divested impurity of its demonic nature. In monotheistic Israel, demons are nonexistent.” – Numbers 5 /JPS p33
Then why are some leading Torah groups in my country involved in Deliverance Ministries, casting out evil water spirits/praying against all principalities, free Mason buildings etc. And if you dont do or understand these things, you are obviously not on their high level of being Spirit-filled – listening to their prayers, you hear more the names of different witches and idols than the name of God. Why is it that we prefer to have Satan involved in our everyday lives – and we choose to leave out God? Running away from my responsibilities perhaps?
What if we recognize that the wicked are also children of the Creator and also that YHVH can be a dangerous God( like Skip said). May be Hollywood did get to us more than we realize. – or Abba: the winner takes it all…no battle, no winner, no god, no faith. Since when did our God first have to fight, and win to get to the top?
1 Cor 8: 4-7 ” An Idol has no real existence in the world and there is only one God”
Satan (hasatan) was thoroughly, ignominiously, gloriously defeated “at Calvary.” The lion still roars, but has no teeth. Our original birthright has been restored-and we are now more than conquerors through Him that loved us..
Skip,
I think you and Luzette gave us the answer to the question of HaSatan’s ability to hinder any of God’s children. The answer lies in God’s rightful and legal claim of sovereignty over His Creation. HE created it all including those in the spirit realm. HE clearly retains total control over everything! With God there are no accidents or screw ups. Could God have prevented the angels who rebelled from doing so? Of course HE could! Could God have prevented Adam and Eve from taking the Serpent’s bait? Of course HE could!
In Job chapter 1 we clearly see YHVH putting a restriction on HaSatan’s attack on Job:
“Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your hand.” (Job 1:12)
HaSatan is simply a tool in God’s hand to achieve God’s purposes. Indeed, we find that very well illustrated in Job’s life. In the last chapter of the book we find Job beautifully confessing to his God:
“Then Job answered the Lord: “I know that thou canst do all things,
and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you declare to me.’
5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees thee;
6 therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:2-6)
HaSatan simply “helped” God take Job through many trials to get Job to the place God wanted him – to a state of confession of his own ignorance and to a state of deep repentance. It is hard to acknowledge but Scripture indicates we all are destined one way or another to go through our fair share of trials too. From Adam on through history that is the way it has been – a life of test and trial! Don’t ask me why some seem to get an unfair share of these tests and trials. Perhaps, we can ask our Potter some day! All I know is our Messiah went through the ringer too!
Shalom
On the lighter side of things I suggest everyone check out British comedian Rowan Atkinson 3 minute skit on YouTube as he plays Satan running life in hell. Its really hilarious!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91DSNL1BEeY
Shalom John, That is soooo hilarious! Thank you, it was very enlightening :- )
“Yes, it’s true that Satan operates to upset God’s purposes, but there is not one hint that he does so independently of God’s will. He is not the divine anti-god. He is merely one of the heavenly beings whose role and scope of activity is determined by YHWH.”
This concept is one that I struggle with. I try so hard not to put God in a box, or water down his other characteristics by over-emphasizing His “goodness and grace”. But my brain has a hard time combining the knowledge that He IS good, and yet even evil is a tool in His hands. It’s an oil and water concept for me. I can’t seem to fully get my head around it, and I admit it challenges me and makes me uncomfortable. How do I trust God to be good, knowing He may point me out to the Accuser and allow unspeakable evil to happen to me? I struggle with it, and it makes me fearful sometimes. It’s so hard to really understand.
Start with the Hebrew idea that WHATEVER GOD DOES defines what it means to be good. That means we set aside our idea of what is good and what is evil. God doesn’t play by our rules. He determines what is good according to His purposes and His methods. Our ideas DO NOT MATTER. The biggest struggle is not with God. It is with the Greek notion that “Good” is something INDEPENDENT of all sentient beings and stands as some universal test of all behavior. That isn’t a Hebraic idea. For Hebrews, “good” is the action that God takes. How it appears to us is irrelevant.
This is challenging, but helpful. Thank you for phrasing it that way, Skip. It makes me realize that measuring God to determine if he meets my standard of good is backwards and dangerous. And Greek! 😉 Getting into that Hebraic worldview continues to reveal places where my faith and understanding needs refining. It’s a humbling blessing to learn to see God through that lens.
Alicia, for what it’s worth, I spent years mad at God because I was sure that He wasn’t ‘living up to’ what I thought was ‘good’. After I repented, I did go back and ask how I was SUPPOSED to think, and ended up with the happy thought that maybe I didn’t define the problem correctly, which basically meant that I needed a different question. Then, because I am me, I asked what was wrong with asking the last question, and found myself back in the Garden with the snake again (where these things usually get to at some point!).
Perhaps it should not be for us to ask what good and evil are: perhaps we should have just left that Tree alone altogether, and let God tell us about those things from His perspective, if we needed to know. The thought has crossed my mind that perhaps that is a God question; useful for His character and purposes, but maybe we should have another question for us. I think I find that when I go to ask that, then what I see is that it is good to let God be concerned about the knowledge of good, and evil, because that defines HIM and His purposes, but it is good for me to be concerned about what His purposes are toward ME; and, vice versa, what my purpose should be about HIM.
Now, all of a sudden, the path gets clearer for me, because there are just oodles of verses about that purposes stuff! If I can look at what I am told in the good Word and see that all His purposes are GOOD purposes, then I can also see that that may be the best ‘proof’ I could ask for to determine whether or not He is a good God!
Now all that is left is to get to what should be my purposes toward Him. Hmm (Please would you excuse me while I go back to my corner and work on this!!!! Somehow it seems this one is still a wee bit fuzzy! LOL)
Laurita, you sound like me. Well, maybe not as bad as me! I am ashamed to say that I have challenged God, questioned Him, raged at Him, attempted to control Him, told Him to “butt out”, whined at Him for hurting my feelings, attempted to stand toe to toe and nose to nose with Him and called Him names… maybe all the “evidence” that I need that He is good is that I have done all this and He has let me live to tell about it and recognize the error of my ways.
I am forever asking the wrong questions and getting the wrong answers, but I keep trying. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed and wonder if we’ll ever truly and fully know God as He really is, without the brokenness and fear and distrust and preconceived ideas that punctuate our relationship with Him now. But I guess all of this is part of the process of refinement that brings us there.
But there are no “wrong” questions. There are only mistaken answers that get revised as we get clear about the questions.
“So what’s it to be? Is it Satan who runs the show or God? Is Satan running around free to interfere with divine purposes or is he on a short leash held by the King?”
“We are often led to believe that this “prince of the power of the air” is so fearsome, so cunning, so dominant that we mere mortals would be instantly incinerated if he ever really showed himself in his full magnificence.”
In the past I have been involved in many meetings and prayer walks around cities led by sincere people who by their actions would give such credence to ha satan, pulling down strongholds trying to break his hold over communities big and small. I applauded these actions but did not witness any spectacular results other than the feel-good feeling of all involved. It felt good and we thought we doing something to advance The Kingdom of God in the communities where these events took place.
I now think we probably would have done more good for God’s Kingdom if we had gone out to seek out the poor and downtrodden and given them some help to make their lives better.
Skip you have certainly clarified a lot of things for me. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into TW.
“what he (Paul) probably has in mind in 1 Th. 2:18 is the devil’s opposition through human action”
Just as we are vessels/instruments of YHWH’s purposes, be they to honour or to dishonour, ha-satan is an instrument permitted to refine/trim us of our ignorance, or foolishness in not walking in His ways, and that oftentimes it is through undiscerning human interference that creates the confusion and chaos in our lives too. But that reveals the immaturity of the interfering party/ies, just as in Job’s ‘friends’, whose offerings have to be through Job to be accepted by YHWH!
“Yes, it’s true that Satan operates to upset God’s purposes, but there is not one hint that he does so independently of God’s will”
I believe there is a purpose in all we go through, and also, to allow YHWH’s will be done, so long as we do our part according to His ways!
I don’t know how much free reign hasatan has, but I suspect he gets far more credit from us than is his due. If “the devil made me do it” I don’t have to take responsibility for my behavior. If I can seek deliverance when I am nasty to someone, I don’t have to deal with my bad attitude. Sounds like just another version of modern psychology to me — we can always find some circumstance to blame for the way we act.
I’m quite certain that there is a purpose for our free will; but I’m not at all sure that our free will is always in line with His purposes. If God knows every decision we’re going to make before we make it, is it really free will? And if He does have pre-knowledge of all our choices, then doesn’t He have to make sure that they happen? Clearly, whatever God does is good, but people can and do make choices that are outside of His will. Blaming those choices on hasatan is just a little too easy.
Now you sound like the questions I raise in my book, God, Time and the Limits of Omniscience. Foreknowledge and free will. The big paradox. But not so much a paradox if we start looking at the temporal assumptions we inherit from Greek philosophy.