The encounter

In Genesis 32, Jacob learned that his older brother, Esau, was coming his way with four hundred men. Jacob did not look forward to the encounter. The brothers had been estranged due to Jacob’s trickery that led to Esau giving away his birthright and losing his father’s blessing. Esau had been furious with Jacob and intent on ending Jacob’s life. Now, two decades later, Jacob had no idea if that’s what Esau was coming to do. Jacob sent a series of gifts to Esau to appease him.

What if you were tempted in a way that you could not resist? What if the temptation was so strong that it pulled you into its grasp? What if you tried your hardest to resist Satan’s attacks, the pull of the world, and the desires of your flesh, but the combination of all three was too much for you to handle? Will God charge you with a sin that overpowered you? Paul answered that question for us in today’s passage.

Where does temptation come from? Does it come from our own desires that wage war within us? Does it come from the world, a culture that opposes God? Or does all temptation come from Satan? Do we blame our sin on ourselves, the anti-God culture, or Satan?

Our issue is not with people. Sure, life is lived in the realm of humanity. In that realm, words are shared, and events are experienced. People will inflict pain, and most of the struggles usually have a person’s name attached. But…our real battles, the deep issues of our spiritual skirmishes, are not “against flesh and blood.” Here’s how Paul says it.

Scripture is clear that our spiritual battle belongs to the Lord. We are not strong enough to fight and win it on our own. We saw yesterday that God is the Mighty Warrior who dresses for war with the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation, along with all the needed battle gear. When God is with us, we will win every time. So, why do I often lose the battle? Why do I give in to temptation and embrace sin? If the battle truly belongs to the Lord, why am I ever defeated?

The spiritual battle hits us from all sides. Satan desires to keep unbelievers blind to the gospel. He is at work to discredit and destroy us. The culture around us is opposed to God. Our fleshly desires rise within our souls. The battle rages within and without. And…we must never forget—the battle belongs to the Lord!

Michael is not just any angel—he is of the highest rank of angels, an archangel who has engaged in spiritual battles. Michael the archangel is a heavyweight! He is described in three books as fighting against evil spirits and forces of darkness. When Michael was sent to help Daniel, at the angel’s touch, Daniel fell down, trembling on his hands and knees (Daniel 10:10-14). In Revelation 12, we read of Michael leading the charge against “the dragon and his angels” (Revelation 12:7). Yet, with his high standing and spiritual strength, he dared not go after Satan on his own. In a showdown with Satan described in Jude 1:9, he depended on the Lord to fight for him. So must we.

We are in a battle, but not with other people. Our struggles with people and circumstances are real-life events and cause real-life problems. However, hiding behind every circumstance, there is a conspirator. Hiding behind every deception, there is a deceiver. Hiding behind every hurt, there is a hunter. Hiding behind every lie, there is the father of lies. Our clash is not with “flesh and blood.” We are in a spiritual battle.