But, although he is powerful, yet his power is limited.  This you see in the case of Job.  No doubt, his malice would have destroyed that holy man at once.  But he could do nothing against him till he was permitted; and then he could go no farther than the length of his chain.  God reserved the life of his servant.  And the apostle Jude speaks of the devils as being “reserved in chains, under darkness.”  But the objection arises, “As God is almighty, why is Satan permitted to exercise any power at all?” To this objection the Bible furnishes satisfactory answers. (1.) It is to try the faith of his children.  This was the case with Job.  The devil had slandered that holy man, by accusing him of serving God from selfish motives.  By suffering Satan to take away all he had, the Lord proved this accusation to be false; and Job came out of the furnace, greatly purified.  The apostle James says, “My brethren, count it all joy, when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”  If the children of God were never tempted, they would never have an opportunity to prove the sincerity of their faith.  But they have the blessed assurance, that God will not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able to bear, but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that they may be able to bear it. (2.) Again; the devil is permitted to exercise his power, for the discovery of hypocrites and for the punishment of sinners.  “These have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”  “But, if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not.”

2. He has much knowledge. He knew the command of God to our first parents, and therefore tempted them to break it.  When those that were possessed with devils were brought to Christ, they cried out, “We know thee, who thou art, the holy one of God.”  He has also a knowledge of the Bible; for he quoted Scripture, in his temptation of our Saviour.  And as he has great experience in the world, he must have a great knowledge of human nature, so to be able to suit his temptations to the peculiar constitutions of individuals.

3. He is wicked. “The devil sinneth from the beginning.”  He is called the wicked one; or, by way of eminence, “The Wicked.” He is altogether wicked.  There is not one good quality in his character.

4. He is crafty, and full of deceit and treachery. He lays snares for the unwary.  That he may the more readily deceive the people of God, he appears to them in the garb of religion.  “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”  In consequence of his cunning and craft, he is called the serpent.[C] He is also represented as deceiving the nations.[D] Hence we are cautioned against the wiles of the devil.[E]

  [Footnote C:  Gen. 3; Isa. 27:1; Rev. 12:9]