twice in the opening scenes of the book of Job, the Sons of God are presenting themselves before Him, "and Satan also" among them
God asks him, "from where do you come?"
taking two things for granted, axiomatically:
- this is not an idle question
- God isn't asking because He doesn't know
there's a natural question -- why does God say this to him?
does the real reason for & import of this question comment on the book as an whole?
It is not said directly why Jehovah asked Satan this. But we have some evidence to consider.
From Isaiah Chapter 14 and Ezekiel Chapter 28 we have an indication of how the "principalities and powers" work. They are earthly, but steered by a heavenly being. And Satan receives two tiles - one from our Lord Jesus and one from Paul. In the gospel of John, our Lord Jesus thrice calls Satan
"the Prince of this world", and Paul, in Ephesians 2, calls him,
"the Prince of the power of the air". This gives Satan a position ON EARTH whereby he may exercise power over the men who rule the earth. In 1st Peter 5:8 he is a
"roaring lion walking about" where men may be devoured - the earth. And in the temptation of our Lord Jesus in Luke, Satan claims to be able to give the kingdoms of this earth to who he wants without our Lord contradicting him (Lk.4:5-6).
But we also know that in heaven Satan holds no such power. In His prayer to the Father to send His heavenly Kingdom to earth, our Lord Jesus says in Matthew 6:10,
"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." That is, whatever power Satan has, it is subject to God whilst he is in heaven.
Now why is this remarkable? It is because if Job
"eschewed evil", then there was a sphere in his domain ON EARTH where he was not "prince" any more. And to rub salt in the wound, God rewarded this lifestyle of Job's with a fence around Job where Satan could not go in. Satan's domain was breached. His claim as "prince of this world" was shredded. And so it was with Israel. When Israel sought the Lord with all their heart, and kept God's Laws, the nation of Israel was invincible. This kingdom of men too shredded Satan's title and reputation. And why was this important? It was a terrible slight to Satan to be obviously not master of earth, when he aspired to be master of heaven (Isa.14:13-14).
Of course, his quest failed in the matter of Job for we hear not a word of Satan again after Chapter 2. And then some 2,000 years later came One greater in righteousness than Job. Satan had his
"hour of darkness" with this Man (Lk.22:53) too, but this time we hear of Satan again, for he is
"judged" and "
cast out". What a defeat for Satan! The Heir to the EARTH - Jesus,
"Who was made lower than the angels", and Who was made
of the EARTH, is elevated to the
"right hand of the Majesty on high" with
"all authority in heaven and on earth" given Him. And because of Jesus, we learn of a new kingdom on earth - the Church (Rev.1:9). Again Satan's domain is divided. Then, when the Overcoming Disciples of Jesus - men, are caught to heaven, no place for Satan is found there (Rev.12). Revelation 11 says that the Kingdoms of this world
"have become" the Kingdoms of our Lord Jesus. Finally, when Christ returns to EARTH, no place is found ON EARTH for Satan. The once "high-flyer" and heavenly Cherub, is banished to a prison
below the earth (Rev.20)
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