‹ Back

Revelation 12:13 "And when the dragon saw he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had borne the male child."

 

The devil knows how to pick his targets. When he found himself thrown down to the earth, the home of the very creatures he so enviously hates, he immediately identified the most high value asset - Mary - and began his pursuit.

 

This is a good reminder of how the devil works. He did not need a period of time to get acclimated when God banished him, nor did he spend time game-planning. He is a fallen angel, he has perfect knowledge and understanding, he immediately adjusts and acts in every situation. Evil is like a heat seeking missile, it pursues us relentlessly and pivots on a dime to stay on target. (Remember when COVID recommendations would change almost daily - "Masks won't help" went to "Everyone has to wear a mask" in record time and without any explanation? That was one good sign that we were not dealing with truth, but with evil.)

 

The only escape from evil's pursuit is God's protection. He has all the power and will gladly shelter us, only allowing the temptations and struggles we need to undergo in order to gain salvation. The woman finds safety in God's protection. She is given eagle's wings and escapes to the wilderness, where she is nourished and protected from the serpent's further attacks (Revelation 12:14-16). The devil, realizing he can't get to this target, goes off "to make war on the rest of her offspring".

 

We are in an endless war as long as we are on this earth. The way to safety is to follow Mary's lead and rely on God's protection and nourishment during our time here. Doing so will not lead to a life free of suffering (did it for Mary?), but it will lead to life, and it really is the only way we can withstand the onslaught.