When we read Genesis 11:1-9 and 12:1-3 in light of Deuteronomy 32:8-9, we learn that God turned over the governing of the nations to members of His divine council. (I’m using the ESV for Bible verses in this post.)
The first passage describes the Tower of Babel incident, which resulted in God creating various languages to cause people to spread away from each other.
The second passage recounts God’s call of Abraham. The Lord intended to raise up a people for Himself through which He would bless the dispersed nations.
The third passage provides theological insight behind these events. God would distance Himself from the disobedient peoples by assigning them to the oversight of spiritual authorities.
With one exception.
The Lord would rule Israel Himself.
But things turned sour when the sons of God began to exploit their command. Psalm 82 reveals the Lord’s judgment of these powers. Their abuse and rebellion demanded a reckoning.
These principalities didn’t start out recalcitrant, but that’s how they ended up. What tempted them to disobey the Lord?
Not a what; a who.
The Bible gives him four names:
“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world–he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” – Revelation 12:9
When the angels over the nations directed people away from God and toward themselves, they were fulfilling the plans of the devil, the original traitor. And as a result, these spiritual rebels came under his authority. Several times, the Bible refers to the devil as the ruler over this world.
“And the devil took Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6and said to Him, ‘To You I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7If You, then, will worship me, it will all be Yours.’ 8And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.”’” – Luke 4:5-8
Let’s follow the history here. God gave the nations to the sons of God–members of the divine council. They succumbed to temptation and aligned themselves with the devil, thereby granting him jurisdiction over the nations. Now the enemy was offering Jesus these kingdoms. In effect, he was willing to divest the sons of God of their realms to bring the Son of God under his control. A clever ploy! But Jesus didn’t yield. He doesn’t deny the devil’s dominion, but He doesn’t capitulate, either.
“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” – John 12:31
“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on Me” – John 14:30
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. 8And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no longer; 11concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” – John 16:7-11
Three times in John’s gospel, Jesus identifies the devil as “the ruler of this world.” This might come across as a defeatist religious attitude. The world is hopeless, so don’t bother trying to help it. Seek God and abandon society!
But in all three instances, the Lord highlights the troubles the devil is facing. Even though Satan rules this world, his reign is shaky. He’s going down to defeat and there’s nothing he can do to stop it. The evil one can’t manipulate Jesus. He controls the whole world, but he can’t subdue Jesus. And that’s going to cost him everything!
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God. 5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” – 2 Corinthians 4:3-5
As the one in charge of the world’s systems, Satan wants to keep those under his thumb from discovering the true King, the Lord Jesus Christ. The enemy uses whatever means he can to confuse, distract, and darken people so they reject the gospel.
But the ministry of the church prevails! Like the apostle Paul, we announce the good news of Jesus as light in the midst of darkness.
“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” – 1 John 5:19
Why does the devil hate Christians so much? It’s because he can’t coerce us anymore. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, he’s been losing men and women to the kingdom of God. Satan controls the world, but he can’t stop a person who responds to the gospel. That’s a soul he’s lost.
As Paul says,
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14
A common expression in the church is that Christians are in the world but not of the world. We who believe in Jesus are citizens of His kingdom, even while we live here in a fallen world. This drives the devil crazy so he does all he can to subjugate us. But he can’t; we’re no longer under his jurisdiction. We belong to King Jesus!
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” – 1 John 3:8b
It’s clear there’s a battle for control over the world. Next week, we’ll delve into God’s plan for victory!
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