"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." (Rom 16:20, NLT) To be frank, I always found this verse to be somewhat contradictory. It seemed so out of place that the God of peace will involve in such violent action such as crushing. I thought that being a God of peace would entail him sitting calmly and docile while the enemy raged and raged. But, no; the God of peace would rise up and not slap, or beat but crush satan. The word "crush" always sends vivid pictures of what happens to unlucky cockroaches when they run under our foot. Their semi-thick skin bursting with a "poof" sound and their whitish liquid internal sputtering all over the floor around them. The instant cessation of their life and that solemn moment as their limbs stretch in one final moment of defiance - then they die! Is this what happens to satan when God crushes him? Why does the God of peace engage in such violent action of blood sheds and killing? .
Someone once said if you want peace prepare for war. And Jesus on one occasion said I have not come to bring peace but to turn nations, brothers, families against each other (Matt 10:34); and on a different occasion said He is giving us peace (John 14:27). Doesn't that sound contradictory? But it is not. The meaning of that statement lies in realising the people Jesus was addressing in both occasions. In the first instance, He was referring to the world. He said , "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the world"; and on the second occasion He said, :My peace I give unto you(His disciples)". Two different recipients.
The peace of God is for His children. But against all unrighteousness and ungodliness, God has declared war and total condemnation. When God calls Himself "God of peace", He is referring to His relationship with His children. God has no peace business with the devil and his cohorts. God's eternal covenant of peace is for us, His children. But He rises to crush anything that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We enjoy peace because God gives us peace. The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace (Exo 14:14). That means God fights, and we enjoy the peace