Ransom?

Matthew 20:28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Timothy 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

Hebrews 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

I read a booklet yesterday by Charles R Swindoll called The Rising Hope. It is a short little book but it has a lot in it that was noteworthy enough for me to highlight, dog ear pages and/or write it in my scripture journal with my comments. One such item is on page 48. "Redemption is God's act of paying the ransom price to release us from out bondage of sin. Held hostage by Satan...."  The phrase "held hostage by Satan" is what caused me to pause. I don't think I ever thought about what actually held us in bondage, or what Jesus was redeeming us from. 

 Who was holding the keys to our chains? Who/what required payment for our release? I just never thought it through until I read, "held hostage by Satan". And you say, "Of course, where is the revelation in that?"  

To which I answer, "No revelation - just more questions."  I have questions like: How did Satan get the keys?  What was the "transaction" that allowed us to be held hostage in the first place - I mean after our fall?  What prompted Satan to know that by tricking Eve into doing what God forbade, he would have us as hostages, that we would need to be redeemed, paid for? 

There is so much that goes on outside the Bible. After all, there are two thousand years history that took place AFTER Jesus that isn't in the Bible.  We can't begin to imagine all that took place outside the confines of the time period and locations recorded in the Bible. So, do you think there was a transaction/discussion between God and Satan similar to the discussion in the first couple of chapters of Job?  

Satan says, "Hey, God. Nice creation you made there. But I'll bet those 'people' you made down there would easily turn on you!" 
God replies, "They've got it pretty good. You might be able to trick them but they'd soon regret it."
"Let me try! It won't take much to get them to turn on you!" says Satan.
"Sure, go ahead and try. But you can't keep them. If they fail your trickery, I'll buy them back from  you."
Satan says with glee, "Sure thing, but the price will be steep - say, your ONLY son? - I bet I can even get Him to turn on you! Just watch." 

This is where I'm stumped. What does God gain in this? He seems to be the only one to lose here (except for the whole human race). There is only one thing I can think of....and it is really off the wall, in left field, and out there. Perhaps God is trying to bring Satan back from his fall, bring this one fallen being back into God's fold. See, I told it was an out-there thought. And as my pastor says - that's not in the Bible.

I obviously don't know why Satan was allowed to hold us hostage but I am glad that Jesus paid the ransom and brought us back to a place where we can be in a relationship with Him and God. I appreciate the Holy Spirit that helps me to understand the things that I NEED to understand and be satisfied with the things i don't need to understand.

Thank You God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for ransoming me and those I love.  Amen.