Dealing With The Devil

Can You Make a Deal with the Devil?

What if Satan offered you a temping deal? What if he even promised to give you anything your heart desires, wealth, power, beauty, fame, great skill, etc.—in this life. In exchange, you would have to sell your soul to Satan for all eternity.

The whole idea of making a deal with the devil was made popular by the classic legend of Johan Faust, an alchemy cult magician, who made a bargain with a demon named Mephistopheles.

In any case, the idea of bargaining of one's own soul in a deal with the devil is much more cultural and literary than it is biblical. In fact, the Bible never records an account of a human being bargaining with Satan or demons.

However, The Bible does depict the devil as a trickster kind of deal-maker. In the Bible; Satan is shown attempting to make deals even with God Himself as opposed to mere mortals. In the book of Job, for instance, Satan proposes a kind of deal challenging God; relative to Job's faith. 

Concerning Job, whom Satan obviously had a previous history of antagonizing, Satan approached God to arrange permission to allow Satan to cause great suffering for Job, Satan argues, Job would surely curse God to His face. God, for his own providential reasons agrees to allow that to play, and out with surprising results.

Job 1:6-11 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 7. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9. Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Much later in human history, (probably 2000 years or so) the devil attempts to make a deal with Jesus, at the end of His forty days of fasting in the wilderness. After showing Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;” Satan offers a deal to Jesus; all the kingdoms of the whole world to if he will bow down and worship him. Jesus sends Satan away with a swift rebuke from God’s Word.

Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Throughout history, some people have attempted to make such a bargain unilaterally, pledging themselves to Satan in hopes of receiving some special favors back from him. That’s the nature of idolatry and witchcraft as described in the OT. When a pagan worshiper dedicated a sacrifice to his gods, he hoped for something in return, fruitful crops, victory in battle, power or success. 

King Ahaz is one such example.

II Chronicles 28:22-23 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz. 23. For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. 

It has always been a favorite tactic of Satan to use sorcery, the occult, witchcraft or a whole host of human emotions, such as depression, greed, insecurity, lust, glory seeking or love of money to fake supposed deals with unsuspecting victims.

Satan does offer many enticing "empty deals" to people. He may even arrange for you to gain a status in this world that would greatly please you, at least for awhile, but at the end of the deal, there will be hell to pay.

From the Bible’s perspective, making a deal with the devil would not make any sense for several reasons:

First, the Bible reveals Satan to be a liar. His greatest weapon is deception. The Devil is “the father of lies,” and the devil is always shown taking what is true and twisting it to corrupt and destroy human beings. Anyone who would attempt a deal with such a being is simply being played for a fool.

Second, while Satan may have some power as the “prince of the power of the air” and as the "god of this present world," the Bible never shows that his power is an absolute power. His power, though great, is limited, thanks to God.

Finally, Satan cannot own human souls. Neither can he make binding deals with anyone regarding their Soul. All souls belong to the God who created them in the first place. In fact, no person owns their soul. We all became a "living soul" by the creative mind and breathe of God. The Soul that is contained within each and every living human body, is in reality the actual being, and not his body.

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; 

Another point to ponder: What would Satan want with anyone's Soul? Why would he make deals for people's souls? What's his motivation in making deals?

Well, the fact of the matter is simply this: Satan only desires to destroy what God has created! And the Souls of humanity is what God Loves most of all, for we alone, were created by him, in his own image! Since Satan cannot harm God, he seeks to harm what God loves! Souls!

Hell is not Satan’s kingdom. In spite of a million jokes and theories to the contrary, Satan does not and will not ever reign as the master of hell, exerting his power over human souls! Satan is not even in Hell at this moment! He is right here in this world, working his maniacal madness, even faking all sorts of provocative philosophies, ideas and deals. 

Most importantly, according to God’s Word, every human soul is already bound for hell. So, in truth, the devil doesn't have to go about seeking to strike "deals for souls" to ensure that fate for people. Because of our sin, and our associated rebellion with Satan against God, we are already in league with Satan and “by nature deserving of God's wrath. We stand “condemned already.” (John 3:17-18 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already.)

Without God's offer of grace, all our souls would end up in hell; without our ever having to make a deal with Satan. Satan's greatest "deal of deception" is blinding people to the Truth of a "Deal that God is offering to every Soul in the world." His Deal will set you free from Satan and Hell. His glorious deal is obtained through his Son, Jesus Christ!