Generational rivalry is nothing new. Shakespeare wrote of it in his masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet. The biblical narratives also reference some, like the Jews and Samaritans. Theirs was waged for generations. It is not strange for us to generalise that a generational feud has existed since the beginning of time. And for those involved, it may feel that way. There is a feud that almost is as old as time , however. It existed between humanity and the devil. It continues until today. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Genesis 3:15 CEVDCI
[15] You and this woman will hate each other; your descendants and hers will always be enemies. One of hers will strike you on the head, and you will strike him on the heel.”
Blow for Blow 2
In many spaces, the recounting of this battle that affected free will is called The Fall. So named because humanity’s yielding to temptation, it created a rift between us and God (we ‘fell’ out of God’s grace). It also precipitate the subsequent expulsion from the Garden. Further, as our Nougat indicates, it formalised the enmity between humanity and the devil.
Some might argue, and rightly so, that it was the serpent that was cursed.. The serpent remains one of humanity’s deadliest enemies. While there are some who keep serpents (i.e., snakes) as pets; they are hunted for their skin, and for the protection of other species. Some serpents have forked tongues, which aid in injecting venom into the prey’s blood, often killing the prey in short order. To counter its effect, specie-specific antivenom must be applied to the infected prey. And, with the venom being located just below the tongue, it is the serpent’s head that is cut or crushed to prevent it from infecting others.
Self-Check
How do we respond to serpents or snakes? Do we believe that the rift was between the serpent and humans?
Digging Deeper
It isn’t difficult to see that between snakeskin trading and venomous bites, there is scope for ongoing strikes and counterstrikes. On the spiritual plain, there has been a fair share of thrust and parry throughout the generations. One could say that each human who dies in Christ is proof that it is possible to overcome. The opposite also exists, each time a human fails to yield to Christ’s will, we could say s/he yields to the devil.
When we look more intently beyond that curse and reproach, we may realize that the battle has indeed existed before time, or shortly after time began. It also becomes evident that in a sense, this battle is NOT ours. It is between the Creator of the universe, YHWH, and the devil. While it was sparked by pride (see Ezekiel 28:16-17; Isaiah 14:18), one could be safe in saying that when waged at the level of humanity, it is also about power and worship.
We can look at this from other perspectives, and they may be correct. However, I propose that the devil pridefully assumed the capacity to control Heaven and Heaven’s business. Having a key leadership role in Heaven before being cast out, the devil (aka Lucifer, Satan, Son of the Morning) had no compunction about attempting to be positioned as ruler of earth. In so doing, the inhabitants of earth, humans were to be coerced into worshipping Satan. This would strengthen the devil’s power, and ‘prove’ the devil’s power as equal to or greater than God’s.
This is not conjecture. Luke 4 tells of the devil’s brazen attempt to tempt Y’shua. If the devil would try to tempt God’s only begotten Son, you and I – in fact, all of humanity – are in the devil’s crosshairs. Blow for blow, one individual at a time, the devil seeks to keep us from our rightful inheritance in Christ. The aim is power over us through direct or indirect submission – that’s worship. That’s the striking of the heel mentioned in our Nougat.
We also recall that as a crawling animal, the serpent’s reach would begin at the ankle unless it coiled to strike. Bruising humanity’s heel makes venomous injection easier. It doesn’t require much energy, and it can be stealthy. I also assume it might not be as quickly detected on the body. And when it is, the venom already has begun to affect the body.
Y’shua is our perfect specie-specific antivenom. His blood counteracts the effect of the devil’s venomous sting, purifies our blood from sin, and cancels the devil’s power. We can see why Paul told the Athenians that in Christ we live, move, and exist (see Acts17:28). He is that promised descendant Who will deliver the final death blow to the serpent. Praise God! Y’shua accepted to pay the price for our redemption!
Point to Ponder
Knowing the extent to which Y’shua went to secure our deliverance,
becoming human,
overcoming temptations,
facing false witnesses,
being executed,
providing antivenomous blood
conquering death,
returning to Heaven
intercession on our behalf;
how do we respond? By yielding to the enemy of our souls, or opting to worship Y’shua, our God?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
