Job: Where Did Satan Come From?

Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14

Jim makes robots. He creates amazing machines that perform critical work all over the world. Many of his robots are used in medical facilities throughout our area. When I visit patients in these hospitals, I often see robots in the hallways delivering medications. They move independently from floor to floor using public elevators. Recently, Jim told me he had some business at a local hospital, and while there, he noticed that one of the robots was stuck. A frustrated technician was trying to figure out what to do. Jim told this person whom to call to fix the problem. The technician asked, “How do you know that?” Jim merely replied, “I know a little something about these machines.”

Jim makes robots. God does not. He created humanity in his image, giving us communicable attributes and free will to choose our paths and make decisions. This flows from the well of God’s love. He loves us so much and desires our love so strongly that he gives us the free will to make personal choices. As we saw last time, God could make evil nonexistent or free humanity to choose. God does not force his love on us; instead, he grants us the freedom to choose. Theologian Peter Kreeft says,

To prevent all evil, you must remove all freedom and reduce people to puppets, which means they would then lack the ability to freely choose love.^[1]

We understand that the study of evil must be approached with humility and surrender before God. He did not create evil. Instead, evil is the absence of good. Last time, we noted that Eve’s free will allowed her to choose to sin against God. The entire sequence was driven by Satan, who tempted her with the forbidden fruit from the tree of which they were prohibited from eating. This raises a necessary point: Before sin entered humanity, Satan, who is filled with evil, was already present.

Where did Satan come from?

It is essential to understand that God’s creation began before Genesis 1. At some point in eternity past, God created angels, the heavenly beings. This is confirmed in God’s response to Job.

Job 38:4-7
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. ⁵Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? ⁶On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, ⁷when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Did you catch that? God said that as he laid the earth's foundation, determined its measurements, and set the cornerstone, the angels sang and shouted for joy. Well…most of them did.

God did not create humans as robots, nor did he make the angels to be robots. God’s perfect love allows for choice. Love cannot be forced, manipulated, or coerced. God created angels that could choose to follow or reject him. Some angels made the same decision before the creation of the earth that Adam and Eve made after creation. Before Genesis 1, there was an angelic rebellion. Let me summarize Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, the two passages that recount this event. Let’s look at Ezekiel 28.

Ezekiel 28:1-2 starts by describing the “prince of Tyre” and his evil intentions and actions. Then in Ezekiel 28:11, the prophet moves to the “king of Tyre,” the one behind all evil. Here’s a description of Satan.

Ezekiel 28:12-13
You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. ¹³You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared.

Ezekiel 28:14-19 explains that Satan held a special position as an “anointed guardian cherub” responsible for protecting the holy mountain of God. He was blameless “till unrighteousness” was found in him. Satan’s heart became proud due to his beauty and splendor. Pride shifted Satan’s desire from serving God to aspiring to be like God. Instead of thanking God for his beauty and power, he took pride in himself and rebelled against God. Satan and the angels who followed him were defeated and cast out from God’s presence.

Isaiah 14:12-15
How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

Jesus said about this incident, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18).

Here’s a review. So far, this is what we have considered:

• The study of evil must be done with humility and surrender before God.
• God did not create evil. Evil is the absence of goodness.
• God did not create robots. Angels and humans have been given free will.
• Satan rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven.
• Satan led humanity to rebel against God.

Next time, we will learn more about the one cast from heaven.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. What do you learn about our adversary in these passages?

Talking to God
Ask God to give you the strength to resist Satan’s schemes.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God's Word. Submit your question below, and we'll reply soon. And if you don’t know where you stand with Jesus, we would love to have that conversation with you.