6. (a) What happened during another gathering in heaven? (b) Whom did Satan have in mind when he challenged Job’s integrity to Jehovah?

⁶ Later, there was another gathering in heaven. Again Satan leveled charges against Job, saying: “Skin in behalf of skin, and everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul. For a change, thrust out your hand, please, and touch as far as his bone and his flesh and see whether he will not curse you to your very face.” Notice that Satan expanded his accusations. By saying, “Everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul,” the Devil challenged the integrity not only of Job but of any “man” who worships Jehovah. Thereafter, God permitted Satan to strike Job with a painful disease. (Job 2:1-8)

How Deeply Do We Love Jehovah?

10. Why did Jehovah not ignore or destroy Satan?

¹⁰ Jehovah is the Creator of the universe, Sovereign of all creation. Why did he not ignore the Devil’s challenge? God knew that neither ignoring Satan nor destroying him would resolve the issue that had been raised. The Devil had claimed that Job, an outstanding servant of Jehovah, would not remain loyal if he lost his favored economic situation. Job’s loyalty withstood the test. Then Satan claimed that any human would turn away from God if he suffered physically. Job suffered, but his integrity was not broken. Hence, Satan was proved to be a liar in the case of that faithful though imperfect man. What of other worshippers of God?

11. How did Jesus give a complete answer to Satan’s challenge?

¹¹ In effect, each servant of God who keeps his integrity despite whatever Satan brings against him demonstrates that in his own personal case, the accusations of that remorseless enemy are false. Jesus came to earth and gave a complete answer to Satan’s challenge. Jesus was a perfect man, like our first father, Adam. Jesus’ faithfulness to the death conclusively demonstrated that Satan is a liar and that his accusations are false.​—Rev. 12:10.

12. Each servant of Jehovah has what opportunity and responsibility?

¹² Nevertheless, Satan keeps testing Jehovah’s worshippers. Each of us has the opportunity and the responsibility to demonstrate by our personal integrity that we serve Jehovah because we love him​—not for selfish reasons. How do we view that responsibility? We see it as a privilege to be loyal to Jehovah. It also comforts us to know that Jehovah gives us the strength to endure and, as in the case of Job, that He sets limits to the trials we face.​—1 Cor. 10:13.

Satan​—A Defiant Adversary and Apostate

13. What details does the book of Job reveal about Satan?

¹³ The Hebrew Scriptures provide details about Satan’s shameful role in challenging Jehovah and leading mankind astray. In the Christian Greek Scriptures, we find more information about Satan’s opposition to Jehovah, and in the book of Revelation, we learn of the vindication of Jehovah’s sovereignty and Satan’s final destruction. The book of Job adds to our knowledge of Satan’s rebellious course. When Satan was present at the gatherings in heaven, he did not attend with the intention of praising Jehovah. The Devil had a malicious attitude and a sinister objective. After he accused Job and received permission to test him, “Satan went out away from the person of Jehovah.”​—Job 1:12; 2:7.

14. Satan showed what attitude toward Job?

¹⁴ Hence, the book of Job identifies Satan as mankind’s merciless enemy. Between the gathering in heaven mentioned at Job 1:6 and the one described at Job 2:1, an unspecified period of time passed, during which Job was cruelly put to the test. Job’s faithfulness enabled Jehovah to say to Satan: “Even yet [Job] is holding fast his integrity, although you incite me against him to swallow him up without cause.” But Satan did not admit that his claims had been proved wrong. On the contrary, he demanded that Job be put to another severe test. Thus, the Devil tested Job both when he was prosperous and when he was destitute. Clearly, Satan has no compassion for the needy or for victims of calamity. He hates people of integrity. (Job 2:3-5) Nevertheless, Job’s faithfulness showed that Satan is a liar.

Your Integrity Makes Jehovah’s Heart Rejoice

“Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me.”​—PROV. 27:11.

1, 2. (a) The book of Job describes what challenge made by Satan? (b) What indicates that Satan continued taunting Jehovah after the days of Job?

JEHOVAH permitted Satan to test the integrity of God’s loyal servant Job. As a result, Job lost his livestock, his children, and his health. But when Satan challenged Job’s integrity, he had more in mind than just the man Job. “Skin in behalf of skin, and everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul,” claimed Satan. This challenge raised an issue that went far beyond Job as an individual and that has continued long after his death.​—Job 2:4.

² About 600 years after Job’s trials, Solomon was inspired to write: “Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me.” (Prov. 27:11) Clearly, at that time Satan was still challenging Jehovah. Moreover, in a vision given to the apostle John, Satan was seen accusing God’s servants following his eviction from heaven some time after the establishment of God’s Kingdom in 1914. Yes, even today, so deep into the last days of this wicked system, Satan is still challenging the integrity of God’s servants!​—Rev. 12:10.