“but Satan prevented us” (vs 18)
It seems that 21st century America is just too sophisticated to believe in Satan. But there’s a very real problem for 21st century sophisticates. It is the problem is that when you really think it through we just don’t have a better explanation for the existence of evil. Darwinists have, of necessity, no room for the categories of good and evil. There’s only what works for survival. Value judgments don’t fit.
The biblical word, Satan, means “adversary”. The biblical world view, and therefore mine, is that there exists in the universe a quasi personal force, not at all on paar with God, yet allowed by God in a limited way to do evil, including specific evil against people. Satan, however, never has the final word. Astonishingly, God even uses the evil wrought by Satan as a strand of material which God weaves together with other raw material of life on earth and He brings good out of it. Good, not evil is always the final word.
Paul was prevented by Satan from revisiting Thessalonika. Satan’s work may have manifested itself in illness, or circumstances or a blocked means of access, or other people, or . . . . you name it, Satan has used it. But, of course, now we have this beautiful letter from Paul to the Thessalonians. And we get in on Paul’s heart and what he would have said to them in person.
How God brings good out of evil is a very beautiful thing.
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