Job has some really interesting insights on the devil that really struck me this morning.
I was just reading the first two chapters of job, and something really struck me about how clearly it shows the devil as being well.. really really evil!
He comes before God.. St. Gregory notes that he was barred from heaven and blinded from seeing God. Yet he is still an angel. He whispers our sins and accuses us to God constantly, day and night, every second, without rest. (Job 1:6-5, Rev. 12). But God still looks on us with mercy and steadfast love.
The devil slinks back before God, blinded. And God commends his servant Job to him. The devil responds, "skinnnn for skinnn".. (2:4) (Okay it doesn't officially make a snake sound in the text, but come on, pretty creepy.).
The devil possesses Job's wife (noted by St. Hesychius) who is calmly cleaning himself of his wounds.. still faithful. And she shrieks at him, "just blaspheme God and die!"
Ugh.. It gives me shivers. Truly God is good.