The book of Job presents a clear example of the source of human suffering and sickness. Job 2:7 explicitly states that Satan afflicted Job with boils, not God. Yet Job, unaware of this truth, credited his suffering to God, saying, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.” This misattribution reflects Job’s lack of knowledge about Satan’s role. Similarly, many Christians today still blame God for sickness despite the Bible’s clarity on the matter. Scripture consistently identifies sickness as a work of the devil.
For example, Psalm 41:8 refers to disease as an “evil thing,” and the Young’s Literal Translation ties it to Belial, a term for Satan. Such descriptions affirm that sickness is not from God, who is wholly good and incapable of evil. Some argue that sickness may serve a divine purpose, but this contradicts the Bible’s teaching. Ephesians 5:17 urges believers to understand God’s will, which is revealed through Scripture and the Holy Spirit. God’s will is for His people to resist evil, including sickness, and embrace what is good.
Misunderstandings about sickness can lead to confusion. Some suggest that disease might be a hidden good, but this notion undermines the biblical distinction between good and evil. Acts 10:38 provides another witness, showing Jesus healing those oppressed by the devil. The verse emphasizes that sickness is satanic oppression and not a tool used by God to teach or discipline. God’s nature is love and healing, not affliction.
Biblical Witnesses to Healing
The Bible offers multiple witnesses affirming that sickness is not from God. The first witness is Job 2:7, which attributes Job’s affliction to Satan. The second witness, Psalm 41:8, describes disease as an evil thing linked to Belial, a name for the devil. A third witness is found in Luke 13:16, where Jesus heals a woman who had been bent over for 18 years. Jesus clearly states that her condition was satanic bondage.
Jesus’ response to the synagogue leader who criticized the healing reveals God’s heart for deliverance. He contrasts the leader’s willingness to help an animal on the Sabbath with the necessity of freeing a person from satanic oppression. This account underscores the principle that sickness is a work of the devil and not a divine teaching tool.
Acts 10:38 provides a fourth witness, describing Jesus as anointed by God to heal and do good. It explicitly states that those He healed were oppressed by the devil, not God. This verse solidifies the biblical narrative: sickness is satanic oppression, while healing is an expression of God’s goodness.
These four witnesses establish that sickness is evil and not part of God’s will. When Jesus healed, He never told anyone that their suffering was part of God’s plan. Instead, He healed all who came to Him, demonstrating that healing is always in alignment with God’s will.
God’s Will and Our Response
Understanding that sickness is a work of the devil empowers believers to resist it. God’s hatred of disease is evident in His original creation. When He made humanity, it was perfect and unblemished. Disease distorts this perfection, twisting and deforming God’s masterpiece. Such destruction cannot be pleasing to God.
Believers must recognize that God’s will is for health and healing. This clarity equips them to stand against sickness and refuse to accept it as God’s purpose. As Ephesians 5:17 instructs, Christians should seek to understand God’s will, which is plainly revealed in Scripture.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, healing was central. He healed multitudes, never turning anyone away or suggesting their sickness was God’s will. Matthew 12:15 and 19:2 recount instances where all who came to Jesus were healed. These examples confirm that healing is for everyone and that sickness is never God’s plan.
The biblical evidence is overwhelming: sickness is satanic oppression, and God’s will is healing. Believers have every right to resist disease and claim the health that God intends for them. By aligning with Scripture, Christians can confidently declare, “Sickness is of the devil, and it is not God’s will for me.” This understanding transforms confusion into faith and empowers believers to walk in the freedom and health that God desires.