07/25/2019
How do you confront sin? Do you look it in the eye and try to overpower it? Do you ignore it and go about your business, or perhaps you do what any animal does when it doesn’t want to fight... it runs. Getting as far away from evil as quickly as we can is a good strategy when it comes to temptation and sin. Confronting Satan isn’t something to be taken lightly.
“she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.”
Genesis 39:12 ESV
Joseph did the right thing when his master’s wife tried to seduce him... he fled. Sometimes however, sin pursues us, and this is exactly what happened to Joseph. The master’s wife became bitter towards him and concocted a story about his coming to have his way with her, but running away when she screamed. She meant to destroy Joseph.
“As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.”
Genesis 39:19-20 ESV
Fighting against sin leaves a mark. When I was a boy I would avoid a fight whenever I could, but there were always those times when I realized that there was no way out other than to engage in fisticuffs. When those times came I knew what to do... I had seen fights, and knew instinctively that I could either fight, or I would be beaten severely. The funny thing about fighting is this... even the victor comes away with cuts, bruises, and wounds... no one leaves a fight unscathed, not even when we wrestle with our faith. Jacob learned this when he wrestled with God...
“When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.”
Genesis 32:25 ESV
And Jacob (now calmed Israel) carried that wound with him after the fight...
“The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.”
Genesis 32:31-32 ESV
So even fearsome creatures like lions and bears will make mock charges, hoping to win, to run off their adversary, without a fight. The largest of animals like the elephant, will flare its ears, make loud noises, and charge towards a threat... only to stop short. Wounds harm us, and are to be avoided. This is true of spiritual wounds as well.
Animals have a “flight or fight” instinct about them. A strong animal like a water buffalo, or a lion, might choose to stand its ground and fight, but an antelope or a deer will instinctively run. When it comes to Sin and temptation we are prey animals... weaker, and with no defenses stronger than our speed, or to slip deep into our burrow. So when facing evil, and not being able to run, we call on God. Jesus spoke of testing God when Satan was tempting Him... He didn’t take the bait and enter into the fight... listen to this portion of the story...
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"”
Matthew 4:5-7 ESV
We should not test God either. When we take Satan on in a fight, or take up one of his challenges, there is no way we can match him without calling on God. Jesus was not going to suddenly sprout wings and fly to safety; If He threw Himself from the pinnacle God was going to have to intervene, and send angels. To protect Himself Jesus leaned on scripture (His spear), then at last he called on the Word of God yet again and told Satan to be gone...
“Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"”
Matthew 4:10 ESV
Although it is best to avoid sin and temptation God prepares us for those times when we must face them. He gives us armor and weapons for those occasions when we are cornered and can’t avoid a fight against the dark one.
“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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”
Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV
So although we should prepare ourselves as if we must fight, the correct strategy is to avoid the conflict... to avoid the certainty of an injury, and perhaps a severe injury as Job found out when he lost everything... including his children.
So how do you approach sin and temptation? Are you spoiling for a fight, prepared to fight but prefer to avoid it, or do you try to ignore the inevitable? Take on the armor, shield, and weapons of God, but avoid the conflict when at all possible. If Jesus didn’t confront Satan, shat makes us think that we should?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the armor, shield, and weapons that you provide me against sin and temptation, but thank you most for the good sense needed to avoid Satan in the first place. Thank you for the ways that you provide for my escape, but when I am cornered, thank you for fighting for me. Thank you for your protection, salvation, and forgiveness. Help me Holy Father when I am wounded in my conflicts against sin, and heal my wounds. Even when I limp away from the struggle, have mercy on me and provide me a crutch. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who is not to be tested needlessly, or challenged when there is any other way. Great are you in battle against my enemies, and I praise you for your might and the strength of your right arm. Yours is the glory of my wars won, and when Satan is put behind me. I will hold up your banner, sing songs of your valor, and worship you forevermore!
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:11 ESV
Rich Forbes