At the “Fall of Man” in Genesis chapter three, the Lord gave the prophecy which we now know is about the Messiah, Jesus.

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” – Genesis 3:15

The result was Satan’s broad attack against all mankind in Genesis chapter six. Then “the sons of God” (B’nai Elohim – spiritual beings who were present at creation – Job 38:7) “saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” (Genesis 6:2) The progeny of these unions (it was not a marriage) were hybrids, born of two different species. Satan was attempting to pollute the gene pool of mankind. That is why the Bible tells us that “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations,” or genealogy. (Genesis 6:9)

The Lord had to destroy the hybrid beings that were apparently pervasive throughout mankind. Only Noah’s genes were unpolluted. This was the reason for the Flood. Satan’s plan was stopped.

Abraham was chosen by the Lord to be the father of a great nation, the representatives of the Lord and His name. “ . . . and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) The focus of Satan was then on the descendants of Abraham, specifically the Children of Israel.

The effort of Pharaoh to stop the Hebrews by killing all male children was the plan of Satan. The effort to contain the Children of Israel by slavery in Egypt was the plan of Satan. The plan was stopped by the supernatural action of the Lord.

The coming Messiah was prophesied to be of the lineage of Judah. (Genesis 49:9-12) Satan’s focus narrowed from all mankind to the descendants of Abraham to the lineage of Judah. The Babylonian Captivity resulted in all of the Tribe of Judah (Jews) ultimately to be under the control of the Persian king Ahasuerus, or Xerxes. The evil Haman, in the court of Xerxes, planned to have all the Jews of Persia killed. The story is found in the Book of Esther. But Satan’s plan was stopped.

Then, a little over four hundred years later, a young Jewish girl was expecting a child, the promised Messiah. When Herod discovered that this “King of Jews” was to be born in Bethlehem, he had all male children in the village two years of age and younger killed. The focus of Satan had narrowed from the Tribe of Judah to the child of Mary and Joseph. But the Lord foiled the plan of Satan, again.

When the Lord Jesus went to the Cross (which He did willingly) and was crucified, Satan thought that he had finally won. But Satan still did not know the Lord’s plan. “ . . . for had they (the princes of this world) known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (First Corinthians 2:7-8)

Satan’s intent was to stop the promised “seed of the woman” that would crush his head. This explains many of the events of the Bible. His focus began broadly on all mankind, but narrowed as Satan discovered more information, finally narrowing down to the Lord Jesus. The focus of Satan can be pictured as an inverted triangle, broad at the top with the apex pointing down.

But the victory belongs to the Lord! May His name be praised forever!