Judging by what the Bible says about them, it seems God and Satan do a lot of the same things.
God owns and controls the whole world. And so does Satan.
The devil doesn’t want people to do what’s right. And God doesn’t want people to even know what’s right.
The devil is a liar, and the father of lies. So is God, who deceives people all the time. God told the first lie, and he even uses his mind control powers to help Satan lie more effectively.
God made a tree with fruit that could bring death, as well as one with fruit that could bring immortality. And he punished humanity with death when they ate the fruit from the first of those trees. It’s not really clear whether or not he had made humans immortal to begin with, but either way, it is clear that God holds the power of death. And according to the Bible, so does the devil. (The devil doesn’t seem to do much with that power, though, unlike God, who is the reason people die.)
It’s the devil’s fault that there are evil people in the world. It’s also God’s fault that there are evil people in the world. How could it not be, if God is the ultimate cause of all things in existence? According to God, humans are just evil, and God really never should have made humans in the first place.
When people do evil, it’s often because they are being influenced by the devil. And far more often, it’s because they are being influenced by God. How could it not be, if everything that happens is part of God’s plan?
God ruined Job, a blameless and upright God-fearing man, destroying nearly everything Job had, for no reason. (The devil made him do it!) Then Satan inflicted physical torments on Job. (With God’s permission.) Actually, Satan helped a little when God was wrecking Job’s life. And God helped a lot when Satan was wrecking Job’s body. (Helped Satan, I mean, not helped Job.) Teamwork!
God teaches people not to blaspheme, and so does Satan. Apparently Satan is pretty helpful to Christians that way.
God saves people from hell, and so does Satan. Though the devil also gets in the way of people believing and being saved, and so does God. And Jesus.
Satan induces people to commit adultery, and so does God. Maybe that’s why Jesus thinks you need to ask God not to lead you into temptation.
According to 1 Chronicles, Satan incited David to take a census. And according to the version of that same story in 2 Samuel, God incited David to take a census. Both Satan and God are described as taking action against Israel when they do this. It’s like they’re allies or something.
Some people, particularly prophets, can only do and say what the Lord tells them to. He has taken them captive to do his will. Just like the devil, except with no hope of escape.
Continue reading God and Satan: Not so different