SSSSS – serpent, satan, sift!

When I was younger, I use to go for rides with my grandmother. As she grew older that experience became more dangerous. Her eyesight was going and she could not see well even in the daylight, but she insisted on continuing to drive. I tried to persuade her to stop driving but to no avail. Finally one day I was in her car with her older sister – my great aunt Mary. We all three got into the car, I offered to drive, but grandma with have none of it. She started the car, sat for a while, started beeping her horn and then said, when is this guy in front of me going to move?!!! Then my great aunt said “Sister, you are behind a parked car!!” That rude awakening worked and she stopped driving, which was better for everyone including her. 

Sometimes is takes a rude awakening to get our attention.

Judges 9:39-45 So Gaal led the leading citizens of Shechem into battle against Abimelech. But Abimelech chased him, and many of Shechem’s men were wounded and fell along the road as they retreated to the city gate. Abimelech returned to Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields to battle. When Abimelech heard about it, he divided his men into three groups and set an ambush in the fields. When Abimelech saw the people coming out of the city, he and his men jumped up from their hiding places and attacked them. Abimelech and his group stormed the city gate to keep the men of Shechem from getting back in, while Abimelech’s other two groups cut them down in the fields. The battle went on all day before Abimelech finally captured the city. He killed the people, leveled the city, and scattered salt all over the ground.

As we continue to witness this historical record of a terrible time in Israel there are many lessons we can gain from this. First, let’s just see what the text states. Remember that Gaal had talked pretty big against Abimelech, and now was paying the price. Abimelech shows us his patience and ability to think strategically. Remember even evil men can have many good qualities! Abimelech chased the men of Shechem, killing many, back to their city. Zebul now drives Gaal out of Shechem. Perhaps he thought that would end things, but Abimelech is not content with that, for the leaders of Shechem had turned on him. So he waits and then ambushes them. So fierce was his anger that not only did he kill all the people and level the city, but also scattered salt over all the ground, making it unusable for anyone in the near future!

A very important lesson we can learn is that the enemy will not be content with a shallow victory, he, like Abimelech will desire complete destruction. We must heed what the Scriptures state about this battle.

Ephesians 6:10–13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Jesus had to wake Peter up about how much the enemy desired to destroy him.

Luke 22:31  “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;

The word “sift” is interesting.

Sift - σινιάζω siniázō;{sin-ee-ad'-zo} to sift, to shake as grain in a sieve. By inward agitation to try one’s faith to the verge of overthrow

Jesus knew Peter needed the heads up so when he fell into the trap – he would remember what was REALLY going on. We can see from Peter’s reaction, unlike Judas’s, that he came to his senses. That is why instead of feeling sorry for himself, he wept, confessed, repented and returned to being a leader of the men.

When dealing with this reality – we need to keep three things at the front of our mind.

First – we must believe that our enemy is serious about this. If we don’t…he has already won.

Then we need to make sure God is illuminating us to the warfare going on, because what we don not see can hurt us!

Reminds me of a newspaper story I read - about a burglar who stalked the neighborhood watching for homes left unguarded by people leaving for vacation. He watched as a family loaded their suitcases into their car and departed. He waited until dark and approached the front door and rang the bell. There was no answer. The burglar neatly picked the lock and let himself in. He called into the darkness, `Is anybody home?'  He was stunned when he heard a voice in reply, `I see you, and Jesus sees you.'  Terrified, the burglar called out, `Who's there?'  Again the voice came back, `I see you and Jesus sees you.' The burglar switched on his flashlight and aimed it in the direction of the voice.  He was instantly relieved when his light revealed a caged parrot reciting the refrain, `I see you, and Jesus see you.'  The burglar laughed out loud and switched on the lights.  Then he saw it.  Beneath the parrot's cage was a huge Doberman pinscher.  Then the parrot said, `Attack, Jesus, attack?'"

We need to have God turn the light on so we can see who our real foe is. The next two steps keep the enemy on the run from God’s power!

·      Humble ourselves

James 4:7–10 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

·      Stand on what you know

1 Peter 5:8–9 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

When we humbly remember that only God can fight this battle and we live our life on what the Word of God declares, not what we feel, the enemy will find it hard to succeed in his plans for us!

Meditation Questions: Do you believe you have a “personal” enemy? When you have problems, do you only see them, or do you see behind the scenes? Do you proactively ask God to make you aware of this war? When you under attack, what do you do? Why? Are we to fear the enemy? Explain. How should we view the enemy?