Tag Archives: Israel

Can We Deal With the Devil?

Posted on by under Article, Christian Living

Our current news feed is loaded with what has been going on in Israel in the war with Hamas.  Many are wanting for a cease fire that will bring peace to the region, but the question that must be answered is how you negotiate with someone who only wants your death or demise.  How can you appease them if all they want is for you to not exist?  Can we make a deal with the Devil? 

It’s difficult to see how that would bring about the desired result, and yet people seem to think that they can make a deal with the Devil and that it will somehow all work out.  Satan is referred to in the Bible many times and in many ways.  He is the tempter in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3.  He is the accuser of mankind in Job 1.  He is the leader of the fallen angels who have made war against the people of God in Eph. 2:2 and Revelation 12.  All he wants is for the demise and destruction of mankind.  How can you negotiate with him?

Moses certainly understood the importance of not giving in to the adversary.  In dealing with Pharaoh, Moses remained steadfast and sure and did not negotiate with the foe of God.  In Exodus 8:25 Pharaoh told Moses to hold a sacrifice in the land of Egypt, but that was not what God had demanded.  Later, in Exodus 8:28, Pharoah said to go, but only do not go too far away.  Satan would like for us to not go too far away from him. He wants for us to keep one foot in his synagogue (Rev. 2:9) and one foot in the church. 

In the plague of the locusts in Exodus 10, Pharaoh again tried to control the situation in allowing the men to go and sacrifice, but he wanted the children to be left behind.  Satan is delighted when we don’t bring our children with us into the church or into a right relationship with the Lord.  Satan loves to tell us that it is wrong for us to “force” our religion on our children, and instead would have us allowing our children to make their own choices when they are still young and naïve.

Pharaoh tried one last time to negotiate with Moses and his God in allowing the people to leave, but not taking their possessions with them.  “Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, ‘Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back’” (Exodus 10:24).  Moses answered Pharaoh that they would not leave a hoof behind when they exited Egypt (Exodus 10:26).  Moses understood that he could not give ground to the adversary.

Satan loves it when we give in and negotiate with him.  Go serve God, he might say, but don’t go very far away.  Go do what the Lord wants, but leave your children behind with me.  Go ahead and be a Christian, but don’t let that get in the way of your pursuit of material things.  We cannot give ground to the adversary.  We cannot deal with the Devil.  We cannot negotiate with Satan.  We need to stand, and to stand firm against the wiles of the Devil. 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Eph 6:10–13).

Who Are You Listening To?

Posted on by under Christian Living

          After reigning over Israel for forty years, King Solomon died and rested with his fathers (1 Kings 11:42-43). The next in line to the throne was his son Rehoboam, but he had a test presented to him by the nation of Israel. How would he handle this challenge? Would he be able to win the hearts of the people? In order to face this great challenge, Rehoboam consulted with two groups of advisors before making his decision, which would shape the history of Israel for years to come.

            After calling the nation of Israel to Shechem, Rehoboam2191408271_3408b3e46c_o was presented with their challenge. They asked to have their burden reduced from what had been required by Solomon. Rehoboam asked for three days to consider their proposal. During that time he first consulted with the wise elders, who had advised his father. These men gave Rehoboam sound advice. They told him to lighten the burden on the people and they would serve him forever, but this was not what Rehoboam wanted to hear (1 Kings 12:1-8a).

            After hearing the advice of the wise elders, Rehoboam turned to the young men that made up his peer group. Their advice was to make the burden on the people heavier than what they had endured under Solomon. This was what Rehoboam wanted to hear, and perhaps this stroked his ego in that he could show that he was greater than his father. When the nation came back together to hear Rehoboam’s response, he told them that he would make his little finger thicker than his father’s loins (1 Kings 12:8b-11). This rude response did not set well with the Israelites.

            After hearing Rehoboam’s response, ten of the tribes of Israel went north with Jeroboam and formed the kingdom of Israel. Rehoboam lost out on the majority of the nation and the kingdom was divided, fulfilling the prophecy of the Lord as punishment for Solomon’s sins (1 Kings 12:15). Because Rehoboam heeded bad advice, his legacy was tarnished. He lost out on ruling over all the tribes of Israel except for Judah. The history of the Israelites was forever changed by Rehoboam’s decision to heed bad advice.

            After considering this lesson from the life of Rehoboam, what application can we make in our lives? When we have a major decision to make in our lives, to whom do we turn? Do we only want to have our ears scratched and hear what we want, or are we willing to hear the truth from wise men? We have the opportunity each day to heed the good words of God and to follow His statutes and His commandments. Or we can choose to listen to those around us, whose advice may sound good at the time, but the end of their path leads to ruin and misery. Whose advice will you heed this day?

Shoot the Messenger

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Lewis_Hine,_A_typical_bike_messenger,_Birmingham,_Alabama,_1914     How do we react when we are given bad news?  Do we want to take it out on the one who is bringing us the report?  Many times, those who bring bad news are ostracized because of the message they carry.  We see that this was the case with Israel and the prophets.

     One such case occurs in 1 Kings 18 when Elijah comes looking for Ahab, the king of Israel, after hiding from him at God’s direction.  Ahab had been looking high and low for Elijah because of the drought in the land (Elijah had told Ahab that it would not rain again for several years 1 Kings 17:1).  When Ahab’s servant Obadiah comes into contact with Elijah, he is afraid to go back and tell Ahab that Elijah is here, for fear that Elijah will be called away and Ahab will kill him (1 Kings 18:9, 12, 14).  Obadiah fears that Ahab will shoot the messenger.

     Once Ahab finally sees Elijah, he greets him by saying “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17 NKJV).  Ahab is not happy to see Elijah.  Later Ahab will complain to Jehoshaphat with regards to Macaiah saying, “I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil” (2 Chron. 18:7).  Ahab was not thrilled with any of the prophets, because they did not hesitate to tell him that what he was doing was wrong.  Ahab had a tendency to shoot the messenger when it came to these men of God bringing him the word of the Lord.

     How is it today?  Are people willing to hear the word of God with an open heart, or are they only concerned with shooting the messenger because they don’t like the message?  We as Christians have a duty to spread the Good News about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and the hope of eternal life that comes from that blessed event (Mat. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).  There is a need for us to tell the truth of God’s word just as there was in the time of Ahab.  We should be like Elijah and Macaiah and speak for God, even if others wish to shoot the messenger.