THE STORY OF JESUS: Numbers 21-25
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Today’s reading is from the book of Numbers, but the text is from 1 Peter 5.
What struck me was the subtle ways the Enemy uses to derail God’s plan.
When Israel is attacked from the outside (by combat or curses), God protects them.
But when Israel is tempted to complain or by sexual sin (Baal worship), they buckle.
Even Balaam seems to waver on his way to Balak (22:32) and God has to warn him.
We are no different than Israel in this regard, we are under attack by Satan.
If he can’t pressure us to give up, he will tempt us to give in.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul warns Christians that to learn from Israel’s experience.
“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:11-13)
Where am I being attacked, where am I being tempted to compromise – food or sex or money?
Sadly many Christians crash because they think they’re OK, at no risk in today’s world.
The Enemy can’t keep me from receiving God’s blessing, but he can tempt me to walk away from it.
God protects me from the enemy’s curses, but He calls (and helps) me to say NO to the devil’s lies.
I have a choice today, will resist the devil, or will I listen to his subtle, sinister lies?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I am under attack every day. It is not the obvious attacks that I am most susceptible to, but the subtle ones. Help me to look for the way out so that I can stand firm against the lion’s lunges.