After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years, God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted. [Judges 9.22-23]
It is no real surprise that the "family connection" fell apart here. They say "blood is thicker than water," but really, when sin is unchecked, even "blood" relationships are jeopardized.
In the context above, it says God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble. We must understand that this is the same thing that happened to Job when God sent Satan to afflict Job. As Job's story eventually revealed, and as we already know of Abimelech, sin was the root cause of the trouble. Ironically, both Job's problems and Abimelech's problems were traceable to the sin of pride.
As I read through my list of pertinent scriptures today (how I typically begin my daily devotion time), it stood out to me that Satan strategically delivers a lot of trouble.
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. [Ephesians 6.11]
I want to point out something however that makes a distinct differentiation at Christ's resurrection. In the story of Abimelech (and others) in the Old Testament, God justly sent a spirit that caused trouble (think "judgment"). Compare this to who God would send later:
God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. [John 3.17]
It is obvious, there was a major shift in all things at the coming of Christ.
This makes me consider Satan's fall... Satan's fall occurred when he decided he wanted to be like God (Isaiah 14.14). Stay with me... Adam and Eve were told if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die. Who do you suppose would have been the one to execute them? I'll give you a minute... It would have been Satan! I believe this is when Satan, given over to pride, took opportunity and strategized (see Ephesians 6.11 again) to lie to Adam and Eve (saying they would not die if they ate the fruit) knowing he would still eventually kill them (because he could not escape God's design). In the meantime, while Adam and Eve lived on in their deception, by virtue of their disobedience to God they inadvertently made a god of Satan which was his strategy all along ("I will be like God..." ). Satan's lordship however, was one of a thief, destroyer and murderer turned liar. He knew his ongoing power was tied directly to the reproduction of sinful humans over whom he had the power to destroy. He would still kill them, but only after they had reproduced so he would have an outlet for his "reign" of death, theft and destruction into perpetuity. The "life" then they lived in the interim was one of hardship and curses as Satan, the thief, murderer and destroyer, was their rightful lord.
The only thing Satan's strategy did not consider was this:
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. [John 3.16-18]
"There - is - no - judgment - against - anyone - who - believes - in - him," are strong words! These words mean Satan's strategic lordship of the "believer" is over! That is precisely why Paul advised believers to clothe themselves in the armor of God to stand firm against all strategies of the devil!
Satan would have "believers" to believe God still sends trouble (and therefore proudly justify its existence in their lives) instead of believing God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him!
But there is a catch. Believers must actually "believe." This is why Jesus so regularly scolded His followers for their lack of healing, providing and protecting faith. Faith, which is directly tied to God's True Word (Jesus), is the only obedience to God that breaks the lordship of Satan over the lives of those who exercise it. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Without faith, one is hopelessly victim to the strategies of Satan, the stealing, killing and destroying father of lies. The ONLY way of knowing faith in Christ exists (that one is truly a "believer") is by its fruit of mirroring Christ!
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]
Believers WILL DO the same works as Jesus. Out of 63 English translations of John 14.12, 49 of them use the word WILL, 12 of them use the word SHALL, 1 uses both WILL and SHALL, and 1 uses the words CAN and WILL. Every one of us must reckon with Jesus' words in John 14.12!
In conclusion, God sent Satan to destroy man because of sin. Satan strategized a way to be like God in prolonging his assignment. God sent Jesus to save man from his sin. Faith is the only way man can benefit from the work of Jesus. The works of Jesus then identify those who truly believe.
Yay! Wait! What?
Father, thank You for the though processes You brought me through today. More than ever, I am indicted by the Jesus-less works of my life (regardless of the Jesus words of my life). Forgive me for faithlessness. Forgive me for complacency in the Jesus-less works of my life. May the course of my life be changed! So be it!
No comments:
Post a Comment