The Near Absence of Satan in the Old Testament

There is a near absence of the mention of Satan in the Old Testament. Why is this? The one exception is in the Book of Job where Satan is spoken of in some length. Still, one wonders why Satan is not spoken of in other books of the Old Testament. For example, did the Lord of Israel ever warn his people concerning Satan's presence upon this earth? No, not that I am aware of and I have read most of the Old Testament. Perhaps there are instances where Satan is spoken of by the Lord of Israel with him warning his people to be on the watch for the roaring lion waiting to devour them. However, I am not aware of any myself.

How can this be since we know from the New Testament our Lord Christ Jesus often spoke of Satan and warned those of his disciples to be very careful since Satan is wandering the earth. "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." (1st Peter 5:8. NLT.)

Still, it behooves us to consider why Satan is mentioned so sparingly in the Old Testament. Could it be the Israelite's were not very much concerned with Satan since their own Lord of Israel was a terror in his own right. Even Moses was frightened to death by the Lord of Israeli's voice on Mount Sinai. "Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, 'I am terrified and trembling.'" (Hebrews 12:2-21. NLT.) Why was Moses terrified and trembling at the sight of the Lord of Israel? Are we not told that our Lord God is a loving and benevolent Lord God by our Lord Christ Jesus? Did our Lord Christ Jesus ever tell his disciples our Father in Heaven is a terrifying sight? No, not that I am aware. Still, why would there hardly be any mention of Satan in the Old Testament beyond the Book of Job? Could it be that Satan was not very important in the scheme of the lives of the Israelite's? Or, could it be that Satan was already very much a part of their lives and they just did not realize it? After all, Satan is known as the great deceiver. And, who else was as ruthless and as evil in dealing with the Israelite's and their neighbors than the Lord of Israel. Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can't you understand what I am saying? It's because you can't even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does." (John 8:42-44. NLT.)

Perhaps we should look more at this puzzle and try to figure out why Satan is mentioned very little in the Old Testament as compared to the New Testament. Even our Lord Christ Jesus told the Pharisees their father was Satan and this is why the Pharisees did not recognize him for who he was. This shocked the Pharisees very much and they took great offense at the comparison. Still, why were the Israeli's not so concerned with Satan? Perhaps it is because they were more terrified of the Lord of Israel so much so that Satan seemed a small threat.

Our Lord Christ Jesus once told his disciples that Satan was the ruler of this world. He was not exaggerating and the Apostle Paul said something similar when he stated that "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who do not believe." (2nd Corinthians 4:4. NLT.) We all know that Satan's favorite act is to burn people for all eternity. How is it the Lord of Israel also seemed to enjoy burning people alive sometimes for some minor reason. There is one instance where the Lord of Israel set fire to a crowd of people on the outskirts of their camp and Moses had to pray very fervently to the Lord of Israel until he finally stopped burning people alive. (Numbers 11:1-3. NLT.) In yet another instance, the Lord of Israel set fire to Aaron's two sons while he and Moses and probably others looked on in horror due to their having mixed the wrong ingredients in the incense bowl. (Leviticus 10:1-3. NLT.) How must Aaron have felt to see his sons burning alive before his eyes and being helpless to stop it. Would his sons have seen their father Aaron standing there while they screamed for mercy?

There are also other instances where the Lord of Israel burned other people alive as well. One horrific instance is when Moses was challenged. The Lord of Israel decided to set an example of the men who dared to challenge Moses' authority and all 250 were burned alive right there in front of all the onlookers, children included. How must that crowd have felt about their Lord of Israel after seeing such a horrifying event? I am glad I was not present. The screams of the men must have been frightening to say the least. (Numbers 16:1-35. NLT.)

Let me point out another characteristic of the Old Testament not found in the New Testament. The Lord of Israel never speaks of eternal life or heaven for his chosen ones. Would you not believe the Lord of Israel would speak of what lay in store for his chosen children? It does seem rather odd the Lord of Israel does not provide comfort to his chosen children by letting them know what lay in store for them after their deaths on earth.

Now, let me include yet another interesting characteristic of the Old Testament Lord of Israel. The Lord of Israel never spoke of hell either. It seems the Israelite people did not know there was a hell to concern themselves with and they did not know there was a heaven as well. The lives of the Israelite people were basically, doing all they could to win the favor of the Lord of Israel in hopes that he might extend their lives and show mercy on them. Which he did not do with Aaron's sons or the family and friends who were swallowed up when the earth opened up and all those who challenged Moses' authority over them, fell, tents and all into a deep abyss.

Yet again in Jeremiah 8:3. NLT "And the people of this evil world who survive will wish to die rather than live where I will send them." Why is the Lord of Israel so vengeful against his own people? Does he not love them and want the best for them? It seems every time the Israelite's turn away from the Lord of Israel they suffer greatly until, one day in the distant future, the Lord of Israel will once again approach his people and forgive them of their sins. Sometimes this period of time may last for many hundreds of years and at other times it is much less. Yet, he still tries to make them his own and continues to fail over and over again. Do the Israelite's not learn from their past mistakes? Or, is it because the Israelite's know instinctively the Lord of Israel is not a very nice god and they are frightened to death of obeying his commands? They would rather continue to worship idols than worship the Lord of Israel.

What are we to gather from this Lord of Israel who cannot ever win the approval of his chosen people? Could it be the Lord of Israel is non-other than Satan himself since he never warns his chosen people the risk of going to hell should they continue their evil ways. Nor, does the Lord of Israel uplift his chosen children by telling the Israelite's they will one day join him in heaven and live an eternal life of bliss if they remain loyal to him. As long as the Israelite's obeyed the Lord of Israel which was very difficult to do due to all the laws, they must follow all the days of their lives and they were always being watched and judged every day of their lives, and when they eventually turned their backs on the Lord of Israel, he would punish them severely until they would return to him and again live a life of rules and laws of how to act and what they must do to destroy all those nations who did not worship him. There was never peace in their lives and they were judged daily. The Lord of Israel also used collective punishment on his chosen people. If even one of them should violate a given law the entire tribe would be held accountable and suffer the consequences along with the violator of said law.

That is all I have to say at this moment. Adios for now my friends.

Inspired by The Holy Spirit.

Typed by Wayne Hill.