Topics: Bible; Satan; Spiritual Warfare; Temptation
References: 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:10–18; 1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Peter 5:8–9
The battle of Antietam in 1862 was the bloodiest day of the Civil War. In twelve hours, there were ten thousand Confederate casualties and even more on the Union side. “At last the sun went down and the battle ended, smoke heavy in the air, the twilight quivering with the anguished cries of thousands of wounded men,” wrote one historian.
Though the battle appeared a draw, Union General George McClellan was able to end Robert E. Lee’s thrust into Maryland, forcing him to retreat across the Potomac. This was possible because two Union soldiers found a copy of Lee’s battle plans and delivered them to McClellan before the battle.
In some respects, we are no match for our adversary, Satan. But as with General McClellan, our enemy’s plans have fallen into our hands. We know his strategies to entice us with lies, lust, greed, and the like. With such knowledge, given us by God’s Word, and God’s Spirit within, we too can resist the enemy’s advances.
—Thomas Bailey and David Kennedy, eds., The American Pageant, 9th ed. (D. C. Heath, 1991)