Satan’s Role

 
The Bible answers this question very clearly. First, it shows that the spirits of our ancestors cannot affect the living. When people die, “they are conscious of nothing at all.” They do not have spirits that survive death. They are asleep in the grave, where “there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) In no way can the dead make the living sick!
 
However, the Bible reveals that wicked spirits do exist. The first rebel in the whole universe was the spirit creature now known as Satan. Others joined him and came to be called demons. Can Satan and the demons cause sickness? It has happened. Some of Jesus’ healing miracles involved the expelling of demons. (Luke 9:37-43; 13:10-16) However, most of the cures that Jesus performed were of sicknesses not directly caused by the demons. (Matthew 12:15; 14:14; 19:2) Similarly today, as a rule, sickness results from natural, not supernatural, causes.
 
What about witchcraft? Proverbs 18:10 assures us: “The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. Into it the righteous runs and is given protection.” James 4:7 says: “Oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you.” Yes, God can protect his faithful ones from witchcraft and any other uncanny power. That is one implication of Jesus’ words: “The truth will set you free.”—John 8:32.
 
‘What about Job?’ some may ask. ‘Was it not a wicked spirit that made him ill?’ Yes, the Bible says that Job’s illness was caused by Satan. But Job’s case was exceptional. Job had long had divine protection from direct demonic attack. Then Satan challenged Jehovah to strike Job, and because great issues were involved, Jehovah partially withdrew his protection from his worshiper in this one case.
 
However, God set limits. When he permitted Satan to afflict Job, Satan could make Job sick for a time, but he could not kill him. (Job 2:5, 6) Eventually, Job’s suffering ended, and Jehovah rewarded him richly for his integrity. (Job 42:10-17) The principles proved by Job’s integrity have long since been recorded in the Bible and are evident to all. There is no need for another such test case.