DOES THE DEVIL Make us Sick?

Conclusion of How Does Satan Work?

Satan tried persuasion with Job too.  Robbing him of his family, his wealth and he health was not enough.  Job was also given very bad counsel by his wife when she said:  "Curse God and die!"  (Job 2:9) Then he was visited by three  "friends"  who made a concerted effort to convince him that he was to blame for his sickness.  (Job 19:1-3) In this way Satan took advantage of Job's weakened state to try to discourage him and shake his confidence in Jehovah's righteousness.  Yet, Job continued to lean on Jehovah as his only hope. -Compare Psalm 55:22.

When we are sick, we too may become depressed.  In such a situation, Satan is quick to try to make us act in some way that will compromises our faith.  Hence, when illness strikes it is important to keep in mind that the basic cause of our suffering is likely inherited imperfection rather than some uncanny influence.  Remember, faithful Isaac became blind a number of years before his death.  (Genesis 27:1) The cause was not wicked spirits but old age.  Rachel died while giving birth, not because of Satan, but because of human frailty.  (Genesis 35:17-19)  Eventually, all the faithful ones of old died-not because  of spells or curses  but because of inherited imperfection.

Imagining that unseen spirits have a direct influence on every sickness that befalls  is a snare.  It may inspire a morbid fear of the spirits.  Then, when we become sick, we might be tempted to try to appease the demons instead of keeping far away from them.   If Satan can scare  us into resorting to spiritistic practices that would be a betrayal of the true God, Jehovah.  (2 Corinthians 6:15)  We should be guided by a respectful fear of God, not by a superstitious fear of  of his Adversary. -Revelation 14:7.

Little Owmadji already has the best possible  protection against wicked spirits.  According to the apostle Paul, God considers  her "holy" because she has a believing mother, and her mother can pray for God to be with her daughter by means of holy spirit.  (1 Corinthians 7:14)  Blessed with such accurate knowledge, Hawa was able to seek effective treatment for owmandji instead of relying on amulets.

Next time: Various Causes of Sickness

Watchtower, 1999