Who the Devil?
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
(Genesis 3:1-5)
9 The great dragon was hurled down [from heaven] – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say … 12 “Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
9 The great dragon was hurled down [from heaven] – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say … 12 “Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
(Revelation 12:9-12)
11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”
(Ephesians 6:11-13)
Genesis 3 is one of the most important chapters in the Bible. It gives us an account of the Fall – that is, the moment when Adam and Eve chose to sin for the first time. It describes how God’s good earth became the world as we know it today. Wars, lies, coronaviruses and every other kind of evil can be traced back to here.
The Devil is not referred to by name in this chapter, but the rest of the Bible tells us the snake’s sordid backstory. He was one of the beautiful angels in heaven, who became proud of his own beauty and launched a bid to sit on the throne instead of God. He was defeated and thrown down to earth, where the Lord has given him permission to work his mischief until Jesus returns. The Devil knows that Jesus has defeated him through his death and resurrection. Revelation tells us that “he knows that his time is short.” Nevertheless, he does all he can to harm the humans who were created to reflect the image of God. The Lord has allowed him to continue operating for a short season because he knows how to turn the Devil’s evil round for good. He calls us to partner with him in spiritual warfare against the Devil as a training assignment for ruling the earth together with God for all eternity.
We live in a culture which tends to laugh at the idea that there is a Devil. This makes the Devil happy, because it makes his scheming all the easier. His biggest fear is that Christians will spot that the Bible speaks repeatedly about him. It is impossible to believe that the Scriptures are the Word of God, while denying that the Devil is real. Ephesians 6 urges us to wake up to the fact that we are in a spiritual war – a war that our great Saviour has won!
The Devil is not referred to by name in this chapter, but the rest of the Bible tells us the snake’s sordid backstory. He was one of the beautiful angels in heaven, who became proud of his own beauty and launched a bid to sit on the throne instead of God. He was defeated and thrown down to earth, where the Lord has given him permission to work his mischief until Jesus returns. The Devil knows that Jesus has defeated him through his death and resurrection. Revelation tells us that “he knows that his time is short.” Nevertheless, he does all he can to harm the humans who were created to reflect the image of God. The Lord has allowed him to continue operating for a short season because he knows how to turn the Devil’s evil round for good. He calls us to partner with him in spiritual warfare against the Devil as a training assignment for ruling the earth together with God for all eternity.
We live in a culture which tends to laugh at the idea that there is a Devil. This makes the Devil happy, because it makes his scheming all the easier. His biggest fear is that Christians will spot that the Bible speaks repeatedly about him. It is impossible to believe that the Scriptures are the Word of God, while denying that the Devil is real. Ephesians 6 urges us to wake up to the fact that we are in a spiritual war – a war that our great Saviour has won!
1) What are the dangers of focusing too much on the Devil? What are the dangers of focusing on him too little? Which of these two dangers do you think most Christians in our culture are more likely to fall into?
2) Take a moment to reflect on the world around you. What evidences can you see of the Devil’s work in the world? In what ways has he turned something that the Lord declared was “very good” into something bad?
3) Looking back at Genesis 3:1-5, what are the Devil’s tactics in his fight against us? How can you resist the Devil’s attacks on your own life today?
2) Take a moment to reflect on the world around you. What evidences can you see of the Devil’s work in the world? In what ways has he turned something that the Lord declared was “very good” into something bad?
3) Looking back at Genesis 3:1-5, what are the Devil’s tactics in his fight against us? How can you resist the Devil’s attacks on your own life today?
Father God, I thank you that you have warned me that the Devil is real. Thank you that your Son Jesus has defeated him. Even the Devil knows that his time is short! Thank you for giving me the armour of God with which I can resist him. Please help me to put on your armour and to engage in spiritual warfare for the glory of your name. Amen.
If you have time, consider carrying on your conversation with God using one of our helpful Prayer Pathways.
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.