A Little Too Close For Comfort

In the battles and stories related to Israel’s conquest of Canaan, we can see a picture of our lives as children of God as we fight to obtain the victory in our lives. As we look at the Bible’s record of these events, it is not too hard to see the parallels between the battles Israel fought in the flesh and how we fight in the spirit. The cities that they faced teach us some spiritual lessons.
Q- What does “type” mean in the study of the scriptures and give examples?
1. Jericho, a type of the world, was defeated. We have the promise of victory over the world in our walk with the Lord Jesus, 1 John 5:4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
2. Ai – A type of the flesh – It, too, was defeated, and we have the promise of victory in the flesh as we battle for the Lord Jesus, Romans 7:24-25, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So then with the mind, I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
3. Gibeon – A type of the devil – This is a battle that still must be fought. However, we have the promised victory in this area as well. To obtain it, we must trust the Lord Jesus Christ and walk in His will daily. He can be defeated – James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Eventually, the devil will get what he deserves! Rev. 20:1-10.
Today, however, we must still contend with Satan and his attacks. Thankfully, the Lord has not left us without a word in this matter. In this passage, we can see a portrait of Satan and the way he works. As we will see, there is a danger in letting our spiritual guard down. Let’s take some time today to study this passage and learn more about how the enemy operates. There are some lessons in this passage we need to take to heart when the enemy get A Little Too Close For Comfort.
Q- What role does the scriptures play in ensuring a victorious Christian life?
V. 1-13 OUR ENEMY IS DECEPTIVE
Note verses 1-2. When all the Canaan kings heard what had happened to Ai and Jericho, they joined forces to seek to defeat Israel. Isn’t it amazing how the devil’s crowd will join up to fight God’s people? Just look at the way His enemies treated Jesus. The Pharisees and the Herodians hated one another, but they came together in the joint effort of seeing Jesus put to death. Another friendship formed over the end of our Lord was formed between Herod Antipas and Pontius Pilate. We still see these same kinds of alliances formed in our day!
A. V. 4 He Uses Deceptive Wiles – When the Gibeonites heard that the Israelites were headed in their direction, they devised a scheme to trick Israel into making a peace treaty with them. They dressed in old clothes, carried old bread and wine, and pretended that they were far away. They did everything in their power to trick Israel.
What a picture of our enemy, the devil! The Bible tells us in Eph. 6:11 that we fight an enemy that uses “wiles” to get his way in our lives. The word “wiles” refers to “deceit, trickery, cunning arts.” You see, friends, Satan would like nothing better than to trip you up and cause you to fall into one of his traps. Just before Jesus died, He told Simon Peter that Satan desired to have him that he might sift him as wheat, Luke 22:31-32. Satan wants to do the same for you and me. He wants us to fall. He wants us to fail, and he will stop at nothing to bring that to pass. 1 Tim. 3:7 tells us that Satan uses “snares” to catch his prey. This word refers to “a trap set by a hunter to capture his prey.” So, Satan uses deceptive wiles, just like the people of Gibeon did.
B. V. 4-5 He Uses Deceptive Wares – The Gibeonites had taken every step possible to deceive Israel into believing that they were from a faraway country. They carried old sacks on their donkeys, broken and bound up wineskins, patched shoes, shabby clothing, and even some moldy bread. Their entire aim was to trick Israel.
When the devil comes to your life to cause you trouble, he will appear as an angel of light. 2 Cor. 11:14, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” He will make his plan appear to be the perfect thing for your life. So, beware of every impulse that comes into your mind. Check out everything by the Word of God and by the will of God, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, John 16:13, and the Lord will always lead you in the right way!
C. V. 6-13 He Uses Deceptive Words – Notice that in these verses, these men from Gibeon lied, v. 6, 9, 11-12; they used claimed to be something they were not, v. 8-9; and were careful in what they said and in what they referred to, v. 10. They did not mention any of the events that had taken place since Israel had crossed the Jordan River. It gave the impression that they had been traveling for some time and did not know about Israel’s victories at Jericho and Ai.
Q- What scriptural strategies can we use to overcome the devil?
This is a perfect picture of how our enemy, the devil, operates. He will use slick and enticing speech to get you to yield to his plans for your life. He practiced this kind of trickery in the Garden of Eden when he talked to Eve, Gen. 3:1-6.
He taught Eve that she should question God’s Word, v. 1
He taught Eve that God did not mean what He has said, v. 3
He taught Eve that God kept His best blessing for Himself, that He was holding out on her, v. 5.
In other words, the devil will give you every reason in the world to justify the things he wants you to do. Then when you have followed him and are out of God’s will and in trouble, he will discard you like a piece of trash and leave you to rot in your sins!
I wonder:
1. What did the devil tell Cain to get him to kill Abel?
2. What did the devil tell David to get him to sleep with Bathsheba?
3. What did the devil tell Judas to get him to betray the Lord Jesus?
4. What has the devil told you in the past, and what is he telling you now?
2 Cor. 2:11 says, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” This verse teaches us that Satan desires to gain an “advantage” over us, and to do this, he will use every trick in the book to get us to follow him into failure. Be careful!
1 Peter 5:8 tells us what the devil is up to today. He wants you. He wants your family. He wants your marriage. He wants your children. He wants your testimony. He wants your church. If you have it, and you got it from the Lord, he wants it; and to get it, he will do anything!