Here we come to a part that demands our individual attention.

“Providence over Satan’s Temptations to Sin. Satan is called in the Bible “the tempter” (Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5). This was the origin on earth of all the misery that we know. Satan tempted Eve to sin, and sin brought with it the curse of God on the natural order (Gen. 3:14–19; Rom. 5:12–14; Rom. 8:20–22). Ever since that time, Satan has been tempting all human beings to do what will dishonour God, hurt themselves, and damage others. But the most famous temptations in the Bible do not portray Satan as sovereign in his tempting work. Take Satan’s temptation of Judas to betray Jesus. Luke 22:3–4 says that “Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot… He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.” But Luke tells us that the betrayal of Jesus by Judas was the fulfilment of Scripture: “The Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas” (Acts 1:16). Therefore, Peter said that Jesus was “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). Satan had his role to play on this deadly and wonderful stage of history, but he was not in charge. He was not the director or the author of this soul-saving drama.

Even more famous than the temptation of Judas is the temptation of Peter. We usually think of Peter’s three disavowals as denials, not as temptations. But Jesus says something to Peter in Luke 22:31–32 that makes plain the tempter is at work here: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again [not if you turn, but when], strengthen your brothers.”

Both Judas’s and Peter’s temptations by the devil are examples of Satan’s deadly reality, but also of his limitations. God uses him to accomplish the purposes of his judgment toward Judas, and his preparation for ministry toward Peter. The providence of God governs even the primary bent of Satan—as a tempter to sin”—John Piper

Both Judas and Peter had the right to refuse. Here’s where the saying is true, that every temptation is a choice, and even that which is according to prophecy is subject to choice as we saw the Lord exercise in the Garden of Gethsemane! Beloved, this is the time to say no when the tempter comes. May you have the sobriety and discernment needed in these times. Shalom.


Pastor Afolabi Oladele