Job 1:12 - Exposition

And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power ; literally, in thy hand, as in the margin. God withdraws his protection from Job's possessions; he does not himself take them away, as Satan had suggested (verse 11); but he allows Satan, who can do nothing without his allowance, to deal with them as he pleases. As God dispenses blessings through the angelic host ( Psalms 91:11 , Psalms 91:12 ; Hebrews 1:14 ), so he, sometimes at any rate, allows spirits of evil to be the ministers of his chastisements. Only upon himself put not forth thine hand . The person of Job was not to be touched as yet. He was to be injured only in his belongings. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord . Having obtained a permission which he thought would serve his purpose, Satan did not delay, but promptly departed, to take advantage of the permission given him. To be in the presence of God must be an intense pain to the evil one.