By Jill Briscoe
"Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'" ~ Genesis 3:1
Satan is called the “serpent” both in Genesis and in Revelation (Rev. 12:9). In one frightening chapter of Genesis, we catch a glimpse of his powers. He is seen to be cunning, articulate, a liar, a deceiver and destroyer, and an enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eve’s mistake was to take him on! She was no match for the serpent; neither are you and I. The second Adam, Jesus Christ, met Satan and withstood his temptations (Matt. 4:1-11). Jesus overcame and destroyed Satan at the Cross. Because of Christ’s victory, true Christians have the same power to overcome.
We are promised discernment to match Satan’s cunning, truth to counter his lies, and weapons to fight the unseen battles of the spirit (Eph. 6:12-18). If we take on the old serpent in our own strength as Eve did, there is no contest. But that is more easily said than done! I like the story of the little boy who told his Sunday school teacher that when Satan knocked on the door of his heart, he sent Jesus to answer it! Very wise! The serpent is stronger than all our best intentions, but God is stronger than all the serpent’s worst designs!
Do you not believe in Satan? Then you really have been deceived! The Bible plots his diabolical footsteps from Genesis 3 to Revelation 20. Jesus believed in him and showed us how to counter his subtlety with triumphant truth - to be victorious in spiritual warfare.
Lord, so often I take for granted what You accomplished on the cross. You destroyed my enemy – the evil one who is always trying to destroy me. But through You I have the power to overcome. Help me daily to search for Your discernment, Your truth, and the weapons You have provided for the spiritual warfare I am facing. Amen.