20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
I like to think of Satan as nothing more than a screwdriver in God’s toolbox. Without the permission of God, he can accomplish nothing. Just as our energy is supplied by God’s sustaining power, so too Satan is not an independent being, able to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, however he wants. He is a limited, temporal being. He had a beginning and he has an end. He does not span space and time as God does. He is stuck in, as are all the other angels, in one place and time, the present. Here Paul speaks of two individuals who have rejected the truth and “shipwrecked” their faith. Paul recognizes that there is a work that needs to be done in their lives, and that Satan is the perfect tool to do that work. The work that needs to be accomplished is not Satan’s normal work in a believer’s life. Normally Satan would want us to blaspheme. But here Paul recognizes that Satan can accomplish a godly purpose in people’s lives. God can use Satan to work His will. These individuals need to learn a lesson and God uses Satan to do it. This sure puts Satan in his place, doesn’t it! Satan is not independent being running around accomplishing his will. He is an instrument, a messenger, and he does what God tells him to do. His job is always carefully circumscribed by the God who loves us and gave Himself for us. So what does this mean for our lives? If you are a follower of Jesus, Satan is not running wild in your life, freely causing you trouble and heartache. The difficulties in your life are allowed by God. God wants to use them to give us opportunity to practice trusting in Him. Satan wants to use those same circumstances to trip us up and cause us to fall. Which is it going to be today, trust or failure? The choice is yours. God has sufficient strength to bring you through your trial. Do you have enough trust to walk with Him through the trial rather than short circuit the process of cleaning you up?
The Arnold Journey 