Q:
Can misfortune be brought upon people by the satan?
A:
Can the satan bring misfortune? Now let’s understand what the satan is. It is a major error and this error is committed by the New Testament; it’s the error of thinking that the satan has independent actions. The satan is nothing but a messenger, an agent of Hashem; it is the same malach as any other angel and he cannot do a thing without Hashem wanting him to do. And get that out of your head if you think otherwise.
Hakodosh Boruch Hu sends a force to test people – you can call it a satan or the yetzer hora – but Hakodosh Boruch Hu is sending that force because He is testing people; that is the purpose why they came into this world, to be tested.
And therefore the satan has to be appreciated; he is going to be rewarded for his services or he won’t be rewarded, just like all the other malachim; there is no difference at all. He cannot do a thing that Hakodosh Boruch Hu doesn’t want him to do. Actually, Hashem is doing it and not the satan.
TAPE # 405 (May 1982)
