Does Satan have to get God’s permission before he can attack us?

Response

There is no biblical evidence that Satan always requires God’s explicit permission to act against Christians whenever he desires to harm them. It is known that Satan needs permission at least on some occasions. The story of Job in Job 1 illustrates that Satan could not afflict Job without God’s consent. However, consider Satan’s argument before God: “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land” «Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. », (Job 1:10). Satan clearly knows who Job is and is aware of Job’s special protection and blessing from God. How could Satan have been aware of Job’s protection unless he and/or his demonic followers had already attempted to harm Job? Essentially, what Satan is requesting is for God to remove Job’s protection; in essence, by asking for the protection to be lifted, Satan is essentially seeking permission to attack Job. Does Satan need to request such permission every time he attacks us? The Bible does not provide a clear answer.

Another relevant passage is Luke 22:31–32. Jesus states, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Clearly, in this instance, Satan had sought God’s permission to test Peter and the other disciples. Jesus informs Peter that He has specifically prayed for him so that Peter’s faith would not falter and so that Peter could support the other disciples once the trial was over. The implication is that Peter and the others would be tested in the manner Satan intended. Therefore, God permitted the testing of His disciples.Disciples, within limits, but He had a higher purpose in mind—the strengthening of them all.

In Job 38:11, God says that He limits the waves of the sea: “This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt.” In the same way, it seems that there are boundaries and rules that Satan must abide by. He can go so far but no farther. As the devil “prowls around like a roaring lion” «Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: », (1 Peter 5:8), must he stop and ask God’s permission for every step? Or does he only need to ask special permission when he runs into an obstacle to his hatred? There is no real biblical proof either way. Job and Peter were hedged about by the Lord—Satan couldn’t get to them without the Lord’s first removing a measure of His protection. We know that God cares for all of His children, so it is reasonable to assume that God has a measure of protection surrounding each of us. And we know that, ultimately, God controls everything in the universe, including Satan. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” «And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. », (Romans 8:28).