KNOW YOUR ENEMY: SUBTLE SERPENT

REFERENCE:

GENESIS 3:1-13

Yesterday, we studied the need to know our adversary by being sober and vigilant, so as to walk in victory. From today, we will begin to look at three main strategies the devil deploys against mankind. The bible first introduced and revealed the devil‘s strategies and his first assault on man in today’s text. He came to Eve in the form of a serpent (a very crafty and subtle animal).

One strategy the devil uses is ‘subtlety;’ he is a SUBTLE SERPENT. To be subtle suggests making use of clever and indirect means to achieve something; it is the ability to disguise one’s purpose and to operate in a discreetly harmful way. Anything that is subtle is difficult to understand or perceive; so, do you blame Eve?

When the devil came to Eve, he did not come as the devil; He came as a created animal and did not directly accuse God when addressing her, neither did he go against anything God said. He only suggested that Eve did not really understand God, “Has God indeed said…?” “You will not surely die.” God cannot just kill those He just created (the object of His love). Then, the devil hinted that God did not fully disclose everything to them; so, he said, “God knows that when you eat, your eyes will be open, you will be like God with the ability to discern good and evil.” Who wouldn’t want that? To know what is good from what is bad? Subtlety at work!

Psalm 91:3 refers to the enemy as a ‘fowler’ who captures birds. A fowler is always quiet and secretive, never wanting to reveal his presence. The devil rarely comes directly at us, telling us to disobey God or do something outrageous. He comes in a way that does not suggest it is him. He may come as a friend, a lover, as the brightest student in class whom you want to be like, even a spiritual leader…all questioning God’s authority in your life. As with Eve, he comes twisting the truth, misrepresenting facts and misleading people. This still happens today; people are misquoting, misrepresenting and misusing the bible. There is a lot of, “Well, God did not really mean that!” “It’s Old Testament it does not apply now.”. “God cannot just punish wrong doing. Grace makes up for all our misdeeds;” etc. Behind all these is the subtle serpent working his trade covertly. He subtly gets you to feel comfortable with what you ought not, to question what you have always believed, to do what you know you shouldn’t (with satan saying, “See, nothing happened!”), and to ultimately make you lose your ‘paradise.’ He occupies your mind by deception, perverts your judgment and turns you away from what is right. This has led to an increase in suggestive and indecent content on TV, social media, internet, etc.

The effectiveness of this strategy is that it is almost undetectable; Eve was not aware she was dealing with the devil. Just like a video may seem harmless, an intelligent opinion may have no biblical foundation; a voice saying, ‘Well, God created your sexual urge, He will not want you to ignore it.” Or a friend introducing you to a married man or to a ‘spiritualist’ that can solve all your problems. In whatever way satan comes, be alert; open your heart and eyes, call scripture to mind and expose the temptation to a trusted spiritual friend. This way, you are guaranteed to overcome and defeat the SUBTLE SERPENT.

SCRIPTURE QUOTE

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

I Chronicles 21:1-8 & II Corinthians 11:1-4

PRAYER

+ Lord, open the eyes of my spirit to see the subtle ways, and the words the devil uses to make me stray from You, from Your word and from Your will concerning me.

+ Grant me the spirit of discernment; make me watchful and sober, that I might understand the times and guard my heart with all diligence, in Jesus’ name, Amen.