Satan’s Sly Strategy
Kevin Probst
10/10/2025
When you sit back and try to figure out what is wrong with the world, why is it so upside down? Why all the turmoil, the wars, the destruction, and suffering? The answer is found in Genesis Chapter 3
The Devil substitutes his words for God’s words in Chapter 3
Satan employs the same methods today as he did back then because they still work. There is nothing new under the sun.
V. 6 “The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”
1 John 2:16 “For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions — is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
All the world has to offer is:
The lust of the flesh
The lust of the eyes
The pride of life
This is what was offered to Eve; it is also how we are tempted. Throughout the whole of man’s history, this is all Satan has ever offered. There is nothing else in the world that he can or will ever offer you.
Eve saw that the tree was good for food: Lust of the flesh. Food for the body.
Eve saw that the tree was delightful to look at: Lust of the eyes
Eve saw that the tree was desirable for obtaining wisdom: Pride of life.
The Bible is full of examples of this Satanic strategy of temptation.
Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes to express regret for how he had succumbed to the temptations of the evil one. He summarized the experience of a man known for his wisdom who had lived his life so foolishly: “All is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
God told Joshua, “There is sin in the camp,” after the defeat at Ai:
The sin was traced to Achan, who had taken forbidden items from Jericho:
He saw that the threads were fine: lust of the flesh
The treasures were beautiful to look upon: lust of the eyes
He took these treasures; he would live in wealth: pride of life
King David was on his rooftop when he should have been off to war with his men. He was where he shouldn’t have been. We are vulnerable to temptation when we find ourselves in places we should not be.
He looks down from his balcony and sees Bathsheba: lust of the flesh
She is pleasant to look upon: lust of the eyes.
He invites her into his palace; he wants her. “She will please me: pride of life.
Jesus is tempted in the wilderness: (Matthew 4)
Jesus had not eaten in forty days, and Satan tempted him to turn stones into bread: Lust of the flesh. (I am so very hungry, the bread would satisfy my need for food)
Satan showed him all the kingdoms that could be his: Lust of the eyes. (Just look at what might be)
Satan tempts him to jump off the summit and cast himself down. Surely the angels will rescue you: Pride of life (I am very important, and I will be rescued)
This is all the world has to offer; it was so in Genesis 3, and it remains the same today. This is the method, the pattern Satan always uses, and it is the pattern he is and will use on you.
It is wise to know our enemy. It is comforting to know that: “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” - (1 Corinthians 10:13)
