Knowing the promise of his loss and power and his destruction stated in Genesis 3:15, Satan has targeted those who pose the greatest threat to his power. God foreknew Satan would especially attack Jesus and sincere Christians. God spoke to the serpent (representing the power of Satan) after Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. God stated the prophecy of Satan’s destruction and persecuting power in Genesis 3:15: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he (the promised seed of Jesus) shall bruise you on the head (resulting in Satan’s loss of power and destruction), and you (Satan) shall bruise him on the heel (resulting in the persecution and attack on the seed of the woman which includes both Jesus and his faithful followers.) The seed of the woman is thus defined in Genesis 22:18 as the seed of Abraham, including Jesus and the faithful Christians who would bless all the families of the earth. Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
So we see that Genesis 3:15 shows there would be enmity and conflict between the evil forces of Satan and the righteousness of Jesus and his followers. Satan’s exercise of power would “bruise” Jesus and faithful Christians on the heel. His power would especially be used against them to “bruise” and persecute, but these attacks would actually be a means of testing and development. But in heavenly glory, Jesus and the faithful Christians will bruise Satan on the head, again symbolizing his loss of power and destruction, a fulfillment of Genesis 3:15. Romans 16:20: And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet…
Knowing this promise of his loss and power and his destruction, Satan has targeted those who pose the greatest threat to his power. We see how he targeted Jesus after his baptism when he went to the wilderness, and especially when he was very hungry and vulnerable. Luke 4:1-2: Then Jesus, filled with the holy spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the spirit into the wilderness, where he was being tempted by the devil for forty days. During that time he ate nothing at all, and when they were over he became hungry. The specific temptations and Jesus faithful responses are described in Luke 4:3-12.
Satan’s attacks and temptations (often exercised through the corrupt spiritual leadership of the time) continued throughout Jesus ministry, even to the death of the cross. Matthew 27:40: If you are the son of God come down from the cross.
True followers of Christ are also a main target of Satan’s evil and unholy influences. We are warned in 1 Peter 5:8-10: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
We know however, that Satan’s attacks on Jesus and faithful believers are only temporary. No matter how hard to tries to fight to keep his power, it will be fully restrained and eventually destroyed. Revelation 20:1-2: Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key to the bottomless pit, with a large chain in his hand. He captured the dragon, that ancient serpent, also known as the devil and Satan, and tied him up for a thousand years. Satan must first be bound and restrained before the blessings of righteousness and healing can be dispensed in the earthly part of the kingdom to all the families of the earth as a result of Christ and faithful Christians reigning from heaven. His final destruction is symbolically prophesied in Revelation 20:10.
While Satan is still on the attack, we have great need to follow the counsel of Ephesians 6:10-13: Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be ale to stand firm against the schemes of the devil…Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.