Lord's Day Devotion - Bruised and Crushed

 "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you" (Romans 16 :20 ESV).

There are two opposing forces at work here.  But the one who is Almighty God is the one who has the final say and action.  He is the One who crushes Satan.  He is the One of grace.  He is the One who is with you - Jesus Christ our Lord.

If we hearken back to the epic world catastrophe, when Adam and Eve sinned and God caught them in the aftermath, then we know He pronounced judgement.  This is what He told the serpent...

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15 ESV).

And it has been thus ever since.  There have been incidents of this along the way, since the Bible's first prediction of a Savior -

 "the offspring will bruise Satan's head" (Genesis 3:15).

Even though it appears Satan gets the upper hand, and bruises the offspring of the woman's heel, the offspring will crush the serpent's head.  This plays out in the story of Jael, Deborah, Barak and Sisera (see Judges 4 & 5).

Israel had been cruelly oppressed by the Caananite king for about 20 years.  King Jabin and Commander Sisera were a fearsome twosome of leaders, ones who sound like they showed little to no mercy.

Israel, led by Deborah and Barak, fought mightily that day, routing all the 900 iron chariots and all King Jabin's army.  But Sisera escaped alone and fled on foot for something like 10-12 kms.

He was a totally exhausted man but eventually found Jael and her tent.  She, despite her Kenite clan branch being at peace with her huband Heber's house and the King of Hazor, Jael took up her everyday tools - a tent peg and a mallot, and did a very courageous thing.

Having lured and lulled Sisera to sleep, she 'crushed' the head of Sisera as he slept.  Israel, God's chosen people, were liberated that day by a distant relative of Moses.  This, to me, is a parallel to Satan's head being crushed under the bruised heel of the offspring.

Some similar incidents happen even today.  Children come to Sunday School and learn of Jesus and even accept Him as Savior of their lives.  Their lives change, as young as they may be, for the better.  It is noticed at home.  A home that is a non-Christian home.  The children speak too much about Jesus.  This disrupts and upsets the parents who follow other gods.  God and Satan are at enmity again.

These are prototypes of the real thing.  That is, not only Jesus' death where His heel was bruised, but also His resurrectin, where He bruised Satan's head.  This is where Jesus' being alive showed He'd conquered sin, death and Hell.  The serpent, the form Satan took, or its body Satan used, definitely was defeated.

And in a day to come, the final sentence upon Satan will be executed.  Read this ...

" ... and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10 ESV).

Satan's final everlasting crushing doom is comng.  Followers of Jesus Christ will triumphantly enter Heaven to be with Him forever and ever.  This day is coming by and by.  This is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This grace is with us now to carry us through our earthly days, as we fight the inevitable spiritual warfare, until Jesus comes.  Perhaps, today.

We praise You Father God, for all You have done for us through Your Son Jesus Christ.  You are so Almighty and All Knowing.  Even from the beginning of time You had it all mapped out.  The bruising and crushing and the salvation plan.  We cannot thank You enough.

And as we reach for the broken bread and drink of the cup of wine, symbols of that epic day, God's love brought us salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection, we remember all You've done for us in crushing Satan and bringing us redemption through Jesus.

In Jesus' most precious name we give You our praise and heartfelt thanks.  Amen.

                                                   ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Based on Romans 16:20; Genesis 3:15;  and  Revelation 20:10 ESV.

Sing, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.