COMMENTS
A couple of days ago I asked the question, “Why is it so much
easier to believe Satan than it is to believe God?” Let’s investigate.
NOTES
We all know the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden and the
devastating choice they made that condemned us all. What made that choice possible? God.
When He created us, He gave us free will, the ability to choose for
ourselves. I’m no philosopher, but it
seems to me that one aspect of free will must always be the desire and
inclination to please myself. And
without God’s influence in my life, that will be the MOST powerful pull. Satan, then, tells me what my sinful nature already believes.
Satan is not God and doesn’t have His power or authority, but
don’t underestimate him! He is evil,
and he is powerful. That power provides
him insight and discernment.
Even though he cannot read my thoughts, he can listen to my words and
watch my behavior, then use what he learns to determine my weaknesses. That’s all he needs. Now he knows where and how to attack me and
lie to me to either keep me from God or to make me a less effective
Christian.
The Bible tells numerous stories of Satan’s vile
escapades. Let’s look at the Old
Testament book of Judges. In Judges 13,
the angel of the Lord appeared to a barren woman and told her that she was
going to bear a son, Samson, who was to be “set apart to God from birth, and he
will begin the deliverance of Israel” (Judges 13:5). In Judges 13:24-25, we see that Samson “grew
and the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him”. God was working. However, even though Samson was born for a purpose,
he, like us, was “sinful at birth, sinful from the time [his] mother conceived
[him]” (Psalm 51:5). He had weaknesses
and character flaws. His God-given
purpose didn’t negate his sinful nature.
He liked women. We are shown two
different cases where Satan convinced them to use their “womanly wiles” (their
character flaw!) to cajole him into sharing sensitive information. The most famous example is Delilah, who used
that information to cause Samson to lose his sight and his strength and live in
bondage. Combining Samson’s weakness for women with
his pride in his strength, Satan was able to deceive Samson into making bad
choices. In this case, God showed
extreme mercy, and Samson’s strength was restored. He fulfilled his purpose; but he paid a heavy
price for succumbing to Satan’s temptations.
We don’t, however, have to listen to Satan’s lies. The Book of Judges also tells us of another
man, Gideon. Satan told Gideon that he
was the weakest member of his clan, which was the weakest clan of Manasseh,
which wasn’t even a whole tribe; it was a half tribe. Once again, the angel of the Lord
appeared. He told Gideon to “Go in the strength you have and save Israel
out of Midian’s hand” (Judges 6:14).
Gideon didn’t feel strong; he felt weak, insecure, inadequate, and
afraid; and Satan reminded him of that. Gideon's response was unacceptable to God.
When Gideon reminded the angel of the Lord that he was the weakest of
the weakest of the weakest, God’s response was, “I will be with you, and you
will strike down all the Midianites together” (Judges 6:16). Long story short, Gideon ignored the lies, obeyed
God, and led the Israelites to a great victory.
Every time God tells you to do or feel or think something,
Satan, the father of lies, is right there reminding you of your weaknesses and
telling you it can’t be done. Like Adam
and Eve, you were given the freedom to choose.
Will you be like Samson and listen to the lies? Or will you be like Gideon and believe God?
Don’t use your freedom
to choose bondage.
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