Relentless Hope by Andy Merrick

Author:Andy Merrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780768457278
Publisher: Destiny Image, Inc.

2.8 The Enemy’s Prime Target Revealed

In two key passages of scripture, our enemy’s tactics are clearly revealed. Both Adam and Jesus represented humanity, Jesus as the last Adam. In Genesis and the Gospels, we see the devil tempting both Adam and Eve and Jesus.

Much has been made of his attempts to undermine God’s word to Adam and Eve, and the test of obedience posed in the garden of Eden, and this is all valid. But what was his angle of attack? What was his target? Below we will see he was and is relentless in his attempts to subvert identity, seeking to create beliefs in his targets that cause them to accept they are less than they already are. And he is still pursuing the same strategy in every believer.

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:15

Adam and Eve were tempted to act in order to change their identity, to improve, to be Godlike. To do this they had to first forget their true identity.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

It couldn’t be clearer that they already were like God. In responding to the temptation to gain an identity already theirs, they actually lost out!

When Jesus had been fasting for forty days and He was hungry, Satan came to tempt Him.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

‘“He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”’ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:5-11

The first two temptations are direct attacks on who He believed He was; “if you are the son of God.” Jesus didn’t need to do anything to prove to Himself or the devil who He was, He wasn’t about to make Adam and Eve’s mistake.

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