Job 2:4

"Satan answered the Lord and said": Satan does not apologize, he does not repent, and neither does he admit any fault whatever! "Skin for skin! Yes, all that. man has he will give for his life": Here is the terrible accusation that Job had been willing to part with his possessions and even the lives of his children in order to spare his own life. "Self-centeredness dominates all of Satan's thinking. He cannot believe that the loss of possessions and family really matters if the person himself is untouched. Satan's tactic is to probe and probe until he finds the fatal flaw in. person's character that leads to sin" (McKenna p. 43). Compare with Ephesians 4:27.

Thus the accusation is that Job's ultimate concern is not for possessions or family, but he is simply acting as. good man to save his own life. The expression "skin for skin" may have been. proverbial expression for bartering with the skins of animals. "Satan insinuated that Job had willingly traded the skins (lives) of his own children because in return God had given him his own skin (life). This again implied that Job was selfish" (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 721). Satan's accusation should really make us think about ourselves. What is our level of conviction and dedication to God? Or, ultimately will we sacrifice everything and everyone in order to please ourselves? (Matthew 16:24ff).