How is it that Satan thought he could defeat God?

from the old testament

• Pride can cause a person to view situations in an unrealistic manner, as was the case with Satan: "You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High'" (Isaiah 14:13–14).
• Ezekiel 28:15–16 speaks about Satan's fall as well: "You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned." These verses note Satan's fall included unrighteousness, violence, and sin. In his pride, Satan chose evil, sought to overthrow God from His throne, and sinned in the process.
• Another reason Satan may have thought he could defeat God was because of his own greatness. Ezekiel 28:12–14 offers the following description of Satan prior to his fall: "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked."

from the new testament

• The New Testament also clearly notes Satan’s power. John 12:31 calls Satan the "ruler of this world" (see also 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Ephesians 2:2).
• The archangel Michael demonstrates respect for God’s sovereign rule and right to judge, as well as understanding of spiritual power when “contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you'" (Jude 1:9).
• The ultimate reason for Satan's rebellion is evil. He holds the power of death (Hebrews 2:14–15) and harms God's people (2 Corinthians 12:7). His end, however, is one of doom. The Bible clearly predicts Satan's final defeat (John 12:31; 1 Corinthians 15:24–26; Colossians 2:15), with his reign ending in the lake of fire with eternal torment apart from God (Revelation 20:10).
• James 4:6 tells us that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:7 builds on this by urging us to submit to God and resist the devil, promising that if we do so, the devil will flee from us. In light of the previous verse, it reveals that humility, a key aspect of submitting to God, is crucial for standing firm against spiritual opposition. Considering that Satan fell because of his pride, this is important to note. When we humble ourselves before God, we gain the strength to resist pride and the temptations of the enemy.

implications for today

Humility is the recognition of one's limitations and the willingness to submit to God's authority, valuing others above oneself. Pride is an inflated sense of self-importance that disregards God's sovereignty and elevates one's own desires above others and divine truth. Pride can distort our perception of reality, leading us to make reckless decisions, as seen in Satan’s misguided ambition to rival God. His fall from grace, marked by unrighteousness and violence, highlights how pride can blind us to our limits and lead us astray. From this, we learn the importance of humility and recognizing our place before God. Just as Satan’s pride led to his downfall, our own pride can undermine our relationship with God and our ability to discern truth. Embracing humility not only helps us navigate life's challenges with wisdom but also fosters a deeper, more authentic relationship with God, allowing us to discern truth and act in ways that honor Him.

Philippians 2:5-8 teaches us that Jesus, despite being in the form of God, humbled Himself by taking on human form and submitting to death on the cross. His ultimate act of humility shows us the path to salvation—through His sacrificial love and obedience, we are offered forgiveness and reconciliation with God. By humbling ourselves before God, acknowledging our sin, and accepting Jesus as our Savior, we are restored to a right relationship with Him, receiving His grace and eternal life.