[November 16, 2025] We have a moral obligation to study evil and learn how to avoid common mistakes that lead us down the wrong path in life. Watch the Devil. Know his malevolence so that if you are on the wrong path, you can stop, recognize it, turn around, figure out why you took the wrong road, make amends, and choose the right path.
Recognizing evil is the first step toward learning how to live with it, and that is why we must be strong, living with firm convictions and rejecting the enticements of cultural hedonism and undeserved gain. Then, the question must be asked: if we watch the Devil and see his evil, then who are we? One thing we will realize quite quickly is that we are not who we think we are.
This is the story from the Bible of the Israelites’ escape from the tyranny of the Egyptian Pharaoh and their subsequent wandering in the desert. They saw the Devil in their slavery to the tyrant and escaped. But their exodus did not immediately ensure a better life. They did not go from tyranny to the promised land, but from tyranny to the desert.
The story tells us that, because of their exodus, the Israelites brought additional suffering upon themselves, and many regretted their decision to escape slavery. At least in slavery, there was some stability and predictability. They correctly questioned whether the desert was a better place than tyranny; the answer for many, especially since they had been wandering for forty years, the answer was that tyranny was preferable.
They lost their faith, and that is understandable. There is a lesson here: we must not lose faith. There is an interesting idea that humans possess something within us that seeks freedom from tyranny, whether that tyranny could be a governmental state or even the tyranny we impose on ourselves.
When we lose faith, things can get a whole lot worse. In the Exodus story, the Israelites lost their faith, started to worship idols, and broke their Hebrew values. So, what did God do? He did something completely unexpected. He sent snakes in to bite them. Now, their wandering in the desert got worse.
If we are in a bad situation, and if we lose faith – and perhaps justifiably so – then that loss is not going to make things better. No matter how dire our situation is, we can take actions that significantly worsen our lives. The warning is that we have to learn to deal with our trials and tribulations, just as the Israelites had to learn to deal with the snakes. There’s simply no way of getting rid of the snakes. We have to learn to cope with them.
The solution to the biting snakes in the story is surprising. God tells Moses to cast a bronze snake and lift it up on a wooden staff. The staff here certainly symbolizes the “centeredness” of things. The staff gives us orientation in our lives. God tells Moses to have His people look at the snake on the staff, and the snakes won’t poison them anymore. It is faith that prompts them to go look at the bronze snake.
What we are learning here is that the way to overcome fear is to face what frightens us voluntarily. Doing so is curative. If something is terrifying us or avoiding it, then pay more attention to it. Paying attention to what frightens us does not mean we become less afraid; not at all, but we will become braver. Being brave means we now realize there is much more to us than we might have initially thought.
Curiously, humans embody the spirit of longing for freedom. The idea that we should be free from tyranny is remarkable, and all the more so in light of our long history of tyranny. “Curious” because we often don’t give up our tyrannical ideas, and we frequently celebrate them. This is the essence of the story of the Exodus. When Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt, he leads them into the desert.
Choosing the right path at a crossroads means you are obligated to watch the Devil.
NOTE: Special thanks to Dr. Jordan Peterson for his discussion on this topic. The full video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xRtZybpyig
————
Please read my books:
Sir, thank you for the continuation of your 55 rules. I do say that I have several copies of your book, “55 Rules for a Good Life” and I do hope to give them all away to those young men who I believe are going places in the world. Yes, I do have a bias and Gen. Satterfield once wrote about that bias too (although I cannot find the article). We give preference to those who show promise. These young men get the early information and mentoring that others will not get. Most of those who don’t get that help will be left behind to fend for themselves more, and part of the reason is they develop an attitude problem with leadership and authority. The lesson for young people is that they should do their best to have a positive outlook on life and do their darndest to achieve good, and as often as they can. This puts them into the visible light of people who have the assests and desires to give them more information and early. Keep up this series, Gen. Satterfield. We love it. ❤️
kicking butt again sir
old warrior, you sure made my day. When ever I hear from you, it’s almost always about “kicking butt” and someone deserving it or being motivated by it.
Sir, well done with these 56 thru 59 “rules” to add to the original “55 Rules for a Good Life.” I won’t repeat the link to Amazon, but I do recommend folks go there and get at least one of your two books, oh, and buy extra copies to give away to your friends. Especially give copies to younger folks who you think are going somewhere in life. I am looking forward to the next 55!
Sir, Gen. Satterfield, once again, you’ve done it. We now have No. 59 of your long series on basic rules of living a “good life” and have given us advice that most of us know, but perhaps were unable to articulate it. Once we see it, it becomes obvious. Just a special note here to say thanks for your book, “55 Rules for a Good Life.” I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I now keep it on my coffee table and pick it up randomly to read a rule or two. I like the easy-reading style and how you handle the importance of these rules. Also, the stories you tell are compelling and ofttimes funny. Well done! I hope you add these new “rules” from recently published here and update your book into a second edition. Now, that would be appreciated.
Adolf, yes!!!!! A second edition of “55 rules for a good life” would be good for everyone.
“Watch the Devil” and that is hard, very hard.
Watch the Devil …. can’t be more clear.
Gen. Satterfield, once again, you delivered. We get some of these social-personal “rules” that can be used, mostly I think, to teach young adults how to behave. And, if they so chose voluntarily to do so, then they will most likely be very successful in their lives, and live a life that is directed by higher goals, and not in hedonistic pleasure (that is fleeting and ultimately destructive). I look forward to Rule #60.
Gen. Satterfield, you never surprise me that you will throw a curve ball at us. With your Rule 59: Watch the Devil, you’ve done it again. And thank you sir, for your warning here. Yes, evil and good runs down the middle of us all. This is why you have said that we must harness this dark side of us and put it to good use. Okay, easier said than done. A lofty goal, but a goal in which to aim high anyway.
Exactly. Aim high. Strive for the very best. If you fail, pick up where you left off, and begin again. Do not let failure or evil derail your goals.
Now we’re getting somewhere with “Watch the Devil.” I am a tad unsure exactly the meaning but reading the article it seems to mean that we had best beware of us giving up to bad and hedonistic behavior. Or that lying, stealing, or cheating just might be on the edge of evil. Thus, the devil is there – in our hearts – waiting to get out and misdirect us down the path of pain and destruction. Gen. Satterfield, good luck with that. I do offer a suggestion to tighten up your wording and delve deeper into an improved explanation. Overall, I still love it. Remember …. Watch the Devil.
Pow. Nailed it.
A great quote from Gen. Satterfield
“Choosing the right path at a crossroads means you are obligated to watch the Devil.”
…. and I was beginning to think that Gen. Satterfield was slowing down on these ‘rules for a good life.’ NOT.
Hi Joey, I haven’t heard from you in a long while. Welcome back. You and me are regular readers of these “rules” from Gen. S. that make for living better. And reading most of these articles, they all seem to point in the same direction, even when the theme of his writing differs. The direction is to improve our life and position by looking upward to the highest goals.
I was hoping for another update on Gen. Satterfield’s “rules for a good life” and now we have #59 !!!!!!!! Please, sir, keep on writing these. The main problem I see is that there are so many of them that it’s hard to track them all in a normal daily life. But, as we build them within oursleves, then we can start to learn more and be stronger intellectually, physically, and spiritually. Never give up on it. For those new here, get his original book. It’s great.
“ 55 Rules for a Good Life,” on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/
This is where you can both increase your chances to have a better life, and contribute to Gen. Satterfield so he continues to write these articles. He has the very best leadership and personal website, period. 🫡
WOW & SWEET
Yikes! Watch the Devil. Now that is quite interesting and this “rule” comes with fear. Fear, i know, is something we must face and I can see this symbology in fear as it relates to the “devil”. Well done! I see you write this “rule” in the format of writing of all your other rules. My question today is, “When are you coming out with a new book” on rules? I hope it is soon.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
American Girl, you’re all over what I was about to write. “Watch the Devil” now that is one huge topic, that is both psychological and spiritual. You bad that our “modern” friends reject the Bible and faith in God. There is much to learn. And, as Gen. Satterfield says often, the Bible is a brilliant book on the human condition, and on his spiritual self. Let us never overlook that fact, and it is a fact, regardless of what the heathens say.
Good comments American Girl and Wesley. Thank you!
Hi Wesley, good comment on American Girl. Watch the Devil, a truly hard rule from General Satterfield, and one that we should ignore only if we are willing to give our souls to the Devil. So, BEWARE.
“Curiously, humans embody the spirit of longing for freedom. The idea that we should be free from tyranny is remarkable, and all the more so in light of our long history of tyranny. “Curious” because we often don’t give up our tyrannical ideas, and we frequently celebrate them. This is the essence of the story of the Exodus. When Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt, he leads them into the desert. Choosing the right path at a crossroads means you are obligated to watch the Devil.” – Gen. Doug Satterfield. This is exactly why I come to this site and gain some sage advice on how to live a better life. American Girl, you nailed it.