How does Satan attack? (Numbers 22-25, Luke 1)

If you were Satan, where would you attack you? It’s a good question to ask, because it helps you to pray for the Lord’s protection in that area and to watch and pray so that you don’t fall.

In Numbers 22-25, Satan tries two different ways to destroy God’s people. First, he tries to get a man called Balaam to curse them. The Moabites were quaking in their boots because they had heard about how God had defeated the mighty Egyptians and had caused his people to become a great nation. At this point, the Moabites seem to have a better faith than the spies who went into the promised land and see how good it is, but are disheartened when they see the size of the people and the walls around the city (Numbers 13). God’s people seem to have forgotten about God’s power in destroying the Egyptians and bringing them safely through the Red Sea. When God is on your side, you’re ok! And the Moabites know they are on the wrong side of God. So, their first tactic is to get a prophet to curse God’s people.

Well, it’s hard not to laugh as you read about Balaam beating and then talking to his donkey! But we know what he doesn’t, he doesn’t realise that the donkey can see a mighty angel who will destroy Balaam for going to Balak. But why is God angry with Balaam for going? Because God had clearly told him not to go (v12). That should have been the end of it, but Balaam was tempted when the king asked him to go again and promised him reward. He should have stuck with his original answer, No means no, but like us so often, he gave into temptation and went, and if it wasn’t for his donkey, he would have been destroyed.

So he goes, but he cannot curse what God has blessed. You can almost see the steam coming out Balak’s ears as he keeps telling Balaam to curse God’s people, but he keeps blessing them! And among other things, he prophesies the coming of the Messiah, the only one who would always so “No” to Satan and He shall destroy all God’s enemies (see Num 24:17-19).

Well, it looks like Satan has lost. Persecution is never his best weapon, as Jesus promised “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28). The worst Satan can do is kill your body, but God will look after you eternally!

But that doesn’t stop Satan using other tactics.

The other approach is far more subtle, he uses the lure, the attraction of the world. He tempts God’s people to sexual immorality. He promises that the woman who is not your wife will bring you satisfaction you need. He says, things like, as long as you love each other that’s the main thing, you deserve to be happy, happiness will be found with him/her.

In Numbers 25, we see the Israelites being sexually immoral with the moabite women. Now there’s no mention of Satan or Balaam here, but in Revelation 2:14 we discover Balaam (and ultimately Satan) was behind this temptation. After failing to curse God’s people, Balaam said to Balak, there is another way to destroy them, seduce them. And it worked, to some extent. It worked until one man, full of zeal for God, sought to purge the evil from among them and the plague was stopped.

But what of all the times we have given into temptation? Phinehas acted for God’s glory and brought punishment on the wrongdoers. But Jesus acted for God’s glory and brought punishment on himself so that we can be forgiven and changed for God’s glory.

No wonder Mary rejoiced in God her Saviour as she was told about the baby she was to have who would bring rescue for God’s people (Luke 1:46-55). Will you join her in rejoicing in your Saviour and resisting the attacks of the devil, whether it’s through persecution or seduction?