Why did Satan think he could defeat God?

Answer

It is difficult to imagine a being like Lucifer (Satan) believing he could engage in battle with God, let alone defeat Him. Even the most corrupt mind should recognize that a creature cannot contend with the Creator. Yet Satan tried to overthrow God and continues to defy God’s authority, obstruct His plans, and torment His people.

Perhaps part of the explanation is that pride has blinded Satan to reality. Two Old Testament passages (Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19) discuss Satan’s original position and the reasons for his fall from that position. They describe an exalted angelic being, one of God’s creations, who became arrogant. He aspired to seize God’s throne for himself. However, God deposed him from his position.

Satan’s influence in worldly matters is clearly revealed in «Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. », (John 12:31). Satan is highly intelligent. Through his cunning, he deceived Adam and Eve and usurped their dominion over the world (Genesis 1:26;Genesis 3:1-7;2 Corinthians 11:3). His cleverness allows him to carry out his deceitful work almost at will, although his power is limited by God’s constraints (Job 1:12;Luke 4:6;2 Thessalonians 2:7-8). He does achieve certain victories—albeit within the limits set by God—and perhaps these triumphs perpetuate the delusion that he can triumph over God Himself.

The control of God over Satan’s activities is exemplified by Satan’s

Asking God for permission to afflict Job is found in (Job 1:7-12). Satan is allowed to afflict God’s people according to (Luke 13:16;1 Thessalonians 2:18;Hebrews 2:14), but he is never allowed to achieve a final victory over them as stated in (John 14:30-31;16:33). Part of Satan’s ongoing ambition to replace God is his strong desire to be worshipped by others, as seen in (Matthew 4:8-9;Revelation 13:4,12). Satan is referred to as “the wicked one” in «When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. » (Matthew 13:19,38), «the field is the world; the good seed represents the children of the kingdom, but the weeds are the children of the evil one; » (Matthew 13:19,38), while God is known as “the Holy One” in «Ah, sinful nation, a people weighed down with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him. » (Isaiah 1:4).

Satan’s nature is malicious. His relentless efforts against God, His people, and His truth are evident in (Job 1:7;Job 2:2;Matthew 13:28). He is consistently working against the best interests of humanity, as seen in (1 Chronicles 21:1;Zechariah 3:1-2).

Chronicles 21:1; Zechariah 3:1-2). Through his role in introducing sin into the human family (Genesis 3), Satan has gained the power of death—a power which Christ has broken through His crucifixion and resurrection (Hebrews 2:14-15). Satan tempted Christ directly, trying to lead Him into compromise by promising Him worldly authority and power (Luke 4:5-8).

Despite Satan’s self-delusion that he can defeat God, Satan is destined to fail. His final defeat is predicted in John 12:31, Revelation 12:9, and 20:10. The death of Christ on the cross is the basis for Satan’s final defeat (Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 Peter 3:18,22). That event was the grand climax to a sinless life during which Jesus triumphed over the enemy repeatedly (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). Satan probably rejoiced in the death of Christ, believing it to be a victory for him, but like all his victories, that one, too, was short-lived. When Jesus rose from the grave, Satan was once again defeated. The final victory will come when Jesus returns and Satan is cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1-15).

The death and resurrection of Christ provide the believer strength for victory over sin. We have assurance that “the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet” «And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. », (Romans 16:20). But such personal victory depends on God’s grace and power in our lives and our will to offer resistance to Satan’s temptations (Ephesians 4:25-27; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9). To assist Christians in overcoming the battle against Satan, God has provided the power of Christ’s blood: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11), the ongoing prayer of Christ in heaven for believers: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25), the guidance of the Holy Spirit: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16), and various weapons for spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18).