Deception, Promises, Problems, and Choices... Pt. 3

Problems

It never fails when we decide to clean up our lives and start living in line with God, Satan attacks.  He is not going to sit idly by while we move closer to God and lead others with us.  This drives him mad.  We have been on the spiritual mountain with God, the times when we feel as close to him as we ever have.  And these are the times that Satan makes his move.  When believers are close to God, it’s contagious and rubs off on the people around them.  This is dangerous for Satan.  Satan’s response… Problems…

​Joshua 10.  Gibeon, for selfish reason, aligned with Israel, and their former friends hate it.  This a great picture for us to see and apply to ourselves.  Gibeon was part of the world that denies God and is separated from Him.  The Israelites are the followers of God.  Gibeon sees that if they don’t join with Israel they are doomed.  Much the same way if we don’t accept Jesus we are doomed.  In order to escape certain death Gibeon allies with Israel.  Now back to the story, the problems arise when Gibeon’s former friends learn of their new allegiance with Israel.  Their response… Attack Gibeon.  Five Amorite kings gathered their forces and prepared to launch the attack against Gibeon.  The idea of Gibeon joining with this new group was terrifying to the Amorite kings; it reminded them they were losing power, much the same way Satan feels when we grow close to Jesus.  

This also causes a problem for Israel.  Because of their fresh alliance and promise to defend Gibeon, Israel is now put to the test to see whether they were all talk or if they will honor their promise, even though circumstances are difficult.  When people begin acting on what God says, Satan attacks.  He would never sit by while Gibeon moved closer to God and Israel takes them under their wing.  The same way he is not going to sit and watch as a new Christian begins growing closer to Christ and Christ followers.  Satan will put both under attack.  And what better way to turn new believers away than to have mature believers let them down.  Although Gibeon is the one under attack, there is far more at stake than just losing a city.  Israel could lose their influence and reputation, turning Gibeon back to their old ways, which in the end affects the lost world’s view on God.
 
We can expect the same.  When we leave our old lifestyles and begin moving toward Jesus, things change.  The people we were around before we found Christ are not always excited to lose a friend even if it is to some, Savior.  Not to mention the anger and rage Satan feels.  With every person who grows closer to Jesus, Satan is reminded that he is in a losing battle.  You can be assured that trouble will be headed you’re way when you are doing God’s will.  The question is, “how will you respond to the problems thrown at you?”  When it’s all said and done you have very serious choices to make…

Up Next: The Choices…