An interesting history follows. The Old Testament history is the
history of conflict between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the
woman. Satan continually worked to oppose God, attempting to prevent
the coming of that promised seed of the woman. He knew if he succeeded
in this he would not again be dispossessed from this planet and his own
doom would never come. Besides trying to prevent the coming of the
promised One, his aim is to control the nations, have dominion over
them, and to deny the truth of God made known to man by revelation. He
corrupted the human race before the deluge so that the earth was
corrupt before God and filled with violence (Gen. vi:11). This great
being knew well that God is holy and cannot tolerate evil. He plunged
the race into great wickedness in the hope that God would destroy the
whole race and leave him possessor of the earth. But Noah found grace
in the sight of the Lord.
When Satan received the knowledge that the seed to conquer him and seal
his doom would come through Abraham, he then opposed the seed of
Abraham to frustrate God's purpose. The land which was promised by
Jehovah to Abraham and his descendants was settled by the nations which
were Satan-controlled and were his willing instruments. Satan's power
in wickedness and vileness was manifested in the Canaanites. That is
why the Lord commanded their utter extermination. So that in the land
itself there was a steady conflict between the seed of the serpent, the
Canaanites, and the seed of the woman, godly Israelites.
When Pharaoh gave the command to kill all the male children born to
Israel in Egypt, it was another attempt of Satan to make the coming of
the promised seed impossible (Ex. i:16). But God took care and used
the Hebrew midwives, the weaker vessels, to bring to naught the wicked
plan. Pharaoh brought up in his own palace one of the Hebrew boys,
whom Satan would have killed; and that boy became the great leader and
deliverer of Israel. All the persecutions of the people Israel in
Egypt were Satan's work. When at last they had left the house of
bondage, Satan in impotent rage stirred up Pharaoh to attempt their
destruction; but Pharaoh and his army found their graves in the Red Sea.
Afterward Jehovah announced that the promised seed should be of the
house of David. Then Satan watched David and his descendants. Through
Saul he persecuted God's anointed, but failed to touch his life.
Immediately after the Lord had made the covenant with David (2 Sam.
vii) promising him a son whose Kingdom shall be established (the
seed--Christ), Satan led David to commit his awful sin. Jehoram, the
son of Jehoshaphat, belonged to the seed of the serpent. This wicked
son of David slew all his brethren. It was Satan's attempt to
exterminate the descendant of David (2 Chronicles xxi:4). Then the
Arabians came and slew all his sons except Ahaziah. Still greater was
Satan's attempt to end forever the house of David through wicked queen
Attaliah. She was the mother of Ahaziah. When her son had been slain
"she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah" (2
Chronicles xxii:10). Satan had made the awful suggestion to her and
when the seed royal was destroyed he thought he had triumphed at last.
"But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the King, took Joash the son of
Ahaziah, and stole him from the King's sons that were slain, and put
him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of
King Jehoram, the wife of Jehorada the priest, hid him from Attaliah so
that she slew him not. And he was with them hid in the house of God
six years" (2 Chron. xxvii:11-12). Satan was defeated.
Through Haman he made still another attempt to have all the Jews, men,
women, and children, killed. God watched over His people again and
Satan's plan was frustrated. And how much else might be added!
Throughout Old Testament history he had his chosen instruments, like
Nimrod, the kings of Babylon, the Pharaohs, the Assyrian, the Persian
Kings, Alexander and others through whom he attempted world dominion.
He instigated the cruel and terrible wars. Israel, the people of God,
were led by him into idolatry and apostasy. In all this and much
besides his aim was the defiance of God and to keep God from carrying
out his plan of redemption though the promised seed.