Attempt to Kill by Design

Ephesians 6:12 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 realm. (NIV)

          After the fall of man, God immediately went into action with a plan that would guarantee the redemption of mankind. The human race would have been eternally lost if God hadn’t devised a plan for our salvation. We would have been bound to go to a devil’s hell, but God was not about to allow the enemy to gain total victory. He loved His creation so much that He was willing to sacrifice His only Son to ensure that we would never be eternally separated from Him. God promised the Israelites that He would send a Savior to redeem them. The Savior would come as a baby born to a virgin named Mary, and would save mankind from their sins. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (NIV)

            God fulfilled His promise of a Savior, and Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph through an act of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. (NIV) However, the devil was not happy about the defeat that he would receive once Jesus went to the cross. Therefore, he set his eyes on destroying Jesus prior to Him ever having a chance to grow up. The devil entered into Herod, who was king of Israel, in an attempt to kill Jesus. Herod felt threatened by Jesus’ birth and wanted to eliminate who he felt was his competition. However, God warned the Wise Men, after seeing the child, to go a different way to avoid Herod. God also sent an angel to warn Joseph to flee with Mary and Jesus until Herod was dead.

Matthew 2:13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." (NIV)

            The Apostle Paul reminds us that the enemy uses whatever and whomever he can to kill our blessing by design. He plots and plans our demise in an attempt to throw us off course. 1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (NIV) If we are so focused on the obstacle, then we will not see the Deliverer of the obstacle. In his desperate attempt to kill us spiritually, he will use various methods such as people, illness, loss of job, death, and temptation—just to name a few. But as a warrior for Christ, we must never lose focus, and always keep our armor ready to be on the offensive against the enemy’s weapons. In so doing, we will be ready to give him the black eye that he deserves.