The word “Satan” in the Bible carries a specific connotation, associated with particular deeds and desires that are inherently evil, immoral, and intended to lead to sin committed by a distinct individual. These actions are contrary to the individual’s best interests and are adversarial. The Hebrew word for adversary is “satan.”
It refers to a sinful heart with self-centered intent of that individual within the context of where it is written.. “Satan” is a name or title used in context wherever it appears to denote such.
God is never simply labeled “the Enemy of Israel” as a fixed title or an inherent part of His nature. While His actions may be hostile, they are a form of disciplinary correction meant to bring about repentance and restoration, similar to a Father disciplining His children. God was never the enemy, but he was/is a righteous divine Judge.
God’s love for Israel is best understood within the context of the Mosaic Covenant, the agreement between God and Israel at Mount Sinai.
The covenant (found in books like Leviticus and Deuteronomy) laid out blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Key passages like Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 explicitly state that if Israel is persistently unfaithful, God will bring upon them the curses of the covenant, including military defeat, famine, and exile, often by using foreign nations as His instrument.
God is not a capricious enemy; God is the righteous judge enforcing the terms of the covenant that Israel themselves agreed to. His actions, while hostile, are a form of disciplinary correction intended to bring about repentance and restoration.
I firmly believe that Satan does not make anyone believe or do anything.
However, God can employ Satan to fulfill His desire for punishment or testing of nations and individuals.
Satan, the fallen angel in the Garden of Eden, disguised as an angel of light, called the Serpent by Eve and the tree of knowledge of good and evil by the Lord, did not MAKE Eve or Adam to do anything.
Satan’s sole act was to present Eve with an alternative way of life, a different perspective, and a different interpretation of the law given to them by the Lord. This alternative outcome was crafted through the words given as fruit to eat and be absorbed into their minds.
Eve, misguided and believing, shared her knowledge of good and evil with her husband, Adam. Upon hearing her words, Adam disregarded the source of this knowledge, Satan or the tree of good and evil, and willingly accepted it. He sinned to please Eve instead of God. In response to the fruit he accepted, he made her a dress.
Mankind learned from God and Satan. Mankind learns from mankind. God was the first influencer and Satan copied God as an influencer and has never stopped influencing.
Satan, the first influencer of his kind, has the power of words and emotion to influence humans to do their own bidding and make self-centered decisions.
His influence is behind every false teaching and every disturbance against God’s will. The sinner rejects the will of our heavenly Father and accepts the will of another sinful Father, Satan, doing whatever they please.
God has never influenced or tempted any saint or potential saint to do wrong. God is our Judge, not our adversary nor enemy.
