Allow me to share with you a selection from one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, I Corinthians 1.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?…
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence.. (verses 18-29)
God looked down on this world, the tyrants and their mighty armies, the cruelty, the slavery, the sin that lurks within the heart of every human being–and He sent a baby in a manger to deal with it.
Who knows less, and is more foolish, than a newborn baby? Who is weaker than a baby? Who less likely to overcome the Roman Empire? Who less likely to fulfill thousands of years’ worth of prophecies?
Satan bet everything he had: empires, armies, cruel tyrants, the wise men of the world, the cleverest lawyers, the infinite amount of money, false beliefs, delusions, lies, and the whole bright show of power. Bet it all. And God said, “I’ll see all that, and raise you a baby in a manger.” And Satan laughed at first, laughed himself crazy.
But he isn’t laughing now.
And Satan is busted, broke, defeated, done for. He just hasn’t admitted it yet.