April 14- Dealing with the Devil

April 14, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Joshua 9:3-10:43; Luke 16:19-17:10;
Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 13:4

Joshua 9:3-10:43

Have you ever been deceived by someone?  Has anyone ever seemed like they were one way to you, but in the end, they were tricking you?  There is nothing so humiliating than being deceived.  Today the Israelites are deceived by a bunch of liars who are afraid of getting defeated by God's army.

In our prior readings the Israelites defeated Jericho (representing the world) and Ai (representing the flesh).  Today we see them get tricked by the people of the town of Gibeon (representing the Devil).  In the story, the Gibeonites decide to send a delegation to Israel's camp to secure a peace treaty. By wearing old sandals and clothes and carrying old, moldy bread, they act like they have traveled a great distance.  Although the men of Israel are suspicious, they do not consult the Lord in prayer (Joshua 9:14).  The Gibeonites successfully trick the Israelites into signing a peace agreement.  When their deception is discovered, Joshua dictates that they must be true to their word and not kill the community, but make the Gibeonites their servants. The Gibeonites become the wood choppers and water carriers for Israel. 

Why have we been told this story?  There is great application for the believer in God.  With Gibeon representing the Devil in our lives, we must understand that Satan is real.  He is a force in the universe and part of God's larger story.  His role is to deceive anyone that he can.  Part of our struggle on earth will be with Satan. The story of the Israelites teaches us that prayer is a key part of not being seduced and tricked by the Devil.  If the Israelites had prayed, God would have warned them against the treaty.  Notice that the Gibeonites will be hanging around in the community.  This pictures the reality that the Devil is hanging around our lives.  Notice that Satan is a servant, not a master.

The Bible says in James 4:7, "Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  You can submit to God by reading His Word, meditating on what it says, praying, and and acting upon it in obedience.  Are you prepared to resist today? Do you realize that Satan can deceive you by telling you that you are worthless?  Perhaps his influence in your life is to lead you to abuse substances, rather than feel pain in your life.  He often deceives people into believing that the principles of behavior taught in Scripture are old fashioned and don't apply anymore.  How is the Devil trying to deceive you this week?  Be prepared to submit to God in order to fight him. Realize that Satan is a servant in your life, not a master.

As we read the next portion of the story, Joshua and the Israelites have learned their lesson about consulting God in prayer.  The king of Jerusalem creates a coalition of five Amorite kings to go attack Gibeon because of their alliance with Israel.  The Gibeonites ask Israel to defend them.  This time, Joshua consults God.  He is told by the Lord that Israel will defeat these kings. God uses two natural events to defeat these kings.  One is a hailstorm and the other is the sun standing still so that there was a long amount of daylight for the battle.  Verse 14 of chapter 10 says, "The Lord fought for Israel that day."  Joshua ends up conquering the whole region and hanging the five kings as a symbol of their defeat.  With God's help, the Israelites secured the region.

Do you realize that as you submit to God, He will fight your battles?  How have you lived in this truth?

Luke 16:19-17:10

Do you wonder what happens to us when we die?  Jesus doesn't wonder.  He seems to be able to seamlessly speak of this life and the next life with authority. Today Jesus tells the parable about the rich man and Lazarus.  In the story, the rich man lives a luxurious life on earth, while Lazarus is a poor beggar.  Both men die, they end up going to two different places.  One is a miserable holding place for eventual eternal punishment, the other is a holding place where Abraham is dwelling.  Jesus describes the rich man asking father Abraham to warn his loved ones about this place. He asks father Abraham to send someone to tell his five brothers the truth about eternity.  Abraham's response is that God has sent Moses and the prophets, but people still do not believe.  He says that even if a man dies and is resurrected from the dead, certain people will not even believe.  What is Jesus teaching here?

• When you die, you keep existing in another form.
• You either go to the holding area with Christ (note: since Jesus' resurrection, you are now in His presence and not just in the presence of Abraham) or you are in a holding area waiting for the lake of fire. These holding areas were called Hades (the place of death) in the ancient world.
• People in these areas are aware of the each other, but are separated by a chasm.
• Death means separation.  Those who do not believe in Christ are separated at death.  Those who do believe in Christ have defeated death through Him and they are not separated from Christ at death.
• The lake of fire was created to punish Satan and his fallen angels and they will be the first to be thrown in.  See the book of Revelation. 
• Belief in the truth of Scripture and Jesus as Savior determines to which holding area you go.
• At the end of time unbelievers go to eternal punishment in the lake of fire and believers in Christ live forever in a new heaven and new earth.  (Rev. 20)
• Christ indicates that the Scriptures are a sufficient means of warning about this future truth. The Bible provides understanding of what is to come. 
• Jesus' death and resurrection is further proof of this truth.
• Not everyone will believe this.

What do you make of all of this?  Do you believe Jesus' parable?  To which holding area will you go?

Psalm 83:1-18

This psalm is a call for God to defeat Israel's enemies.  Do you call out to God to defeat the enemies in your life?  Perhaps your enemies are your own negative thoughts and behaviors.

Proverbs 13:4

Hard work helps one to prosper.  Lazy people feel entitled.  So true!

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton