Key Texts: Matthew 2; John 15: 18-25; Exodus 1: 8-22; Exodus 2: 1-8; 1 Samuel 18: 5-30; 1 Peter 1: 1-7
Additional Texts: Luke 2: 52; Matthew 27: 32-56; Exodus 3 – 14; 2 Samuel 5: 1-4; Revelation 20
There are many references for this post; it would be great if you could read them to enhance your understanding, but it will still be digestible if you struggle to find the time to do so immediately.
In the previous post I wrote about the reality of us sometimes feeling fearful to transition, even when we know it will ultimately bring glory to God. This is not the type of fear that this entry is about. On the contrary, there are many instances in Scripture when the fear and insecurity of those with evil hearts, caused them to seek means to hurt God’s people. Instead of the apprehension explored in the previous post, this fear is of other’s success and loss of ‘power’ or status.
In all instances in the key texts, there were leaders who perceived the greatness within youth, and instead of celebrating that others would either succeed them or eventually accomplish great things, they perceived them as threats, and were desirous of going as far as killing them to prevent their progress. Herod heard that the Messiah was born and proceeded to order the murder of all boys under the age of two to try to stop Him. The sovereign nature of the Messiah and the implications for his earthly reign threw him into a frenzy. Likewise, not only did David face the rejection of his immediate family, but Saul, on realising that God’s favour was on him and that he would eventually rise to kingship, attempted on several occasions to kill him. In a similar way, in Exodus 1, the Pharaoh feared that the growth in numbers of the Israelites was a threat to him – he feared they might join his opponents if a war developed. He made their working conditions harder, ordered the midwives to kill the boys, then subsequently gave directives for the promising newborn boys to be thrown into the Nile. Wickedness.
We may not face threats of the same nature today, but these instances in Scripture are symbolic of the threats we face as God’s people. Some of you have already made a decision to follow Jesus, and others are unaware that they will do the same eventually or how God will use them; either way, the enemy of our souls who longs to devour us, is always seeking to bring harm to us and will stop at no means to eradicate any threats to it. Why are we such profound threats to the enemy? Why is the enemy so determined to use whoever is not in submission to God to TRY to disrupt His plans for us? Why will it resort to the use of all manner of evil from all walks of life (including those who parade as angels of light) to try to stop God’s people (2 Corinthians 11: 14 – 15)? There is no demilitarised zone – the Word does state that anyone who is not for God’s people is against them (Mark 9: 40; Luke 9: 50; Matthew 12: 30; Luke 11: 23). To be more explicit, if God has called you, He is unmistakably supportive of you, and anyone who wants to oppose you is ultimately opposing God’s work (as if they can win!). As I detailed in Day 20 of the devotional in Blots, Flaws and Revelations, the great expulsion (in which God evicted the enemy in a flash after he foolishly tried to usurp Him), resulted in its relentless pursuit of all God’s people to try to prevent us from inheriting what it will never have – eternal life, peace with God or God’s power. As seen in Revelation 20, the enemy (call it Satan, devil, evil one or whatever you choose – all who believe in Jesus know it exists), has a certain end of doom, when it will be bound forever by one angel with one chain, thrown into one bottomless pit of torment and locked away with one key. That’s a Word spoken by God and His Word does not change. THE ENEMY IS DEFEATED. HANDS DOWN! After all the opposition I have endured and still face, I take great satisfaction in writing about this text in every opportunity that arises! Regardless of how unpopular it may be to be a Christian nowadays, or how the enemy may seem to win, we must remain confident in the Word – when I am faced with surmounting troubles, that Scripture always renews hope.
We are not unaware of its schemes; the enemy is on a relentless and hateful pursuit of our souls, and when it knows it cannot get our souls, it tries to interrupt, derail or prevent us from achieving our God-given purpose. Though there is much evil in the world, God still works through people who He raises to be His mouthpieces, ministers to the weak and lost and encouragers to His people. Such people seem to face more attacks than others for the mere reason that their lives will be more influential and ultimately, (when in submission to God), they will promote God’s kingdom and finally, take their last breath in the Lord. We are all loved by God but it seems that those with unique callings create tension in the kingdom of darkness, so much that the enemy’s response is to do all it can conjure to TRY to stop it. It may seem frightening, but if you fall in any of these general categories for the sake of this entry, fellow pilgrim – you are a threat.
Threat Level 1: You are a born again believer who has accepted Jesus as your Saviour, and His Father, God, as your Lord. The enemy sees you as a threat because your life may lead others to Christ and above, you are on the path to the eternal life God promises to us. You are also a threat if you are unaware that you will eventually give your life to the Lord and minister to others to honour Him.
Threat Level 2: You are serving God and His favour is increasingly evident in your life; you have faced many trials but held to your faith with God’s help, and you intend to continue. You have begun to understand what Jesus meant when He said the world hates us because it first hated him, and we are not greater than He is. The enemy sees you as a threat because your faith is deep. You have many testimonies in your arsenal to encourage yourself and others, thereby giving you a greater sphere of influence for God’s Kingdom.
Threat Level 3: Something about you gives the enemy stress pangs! Your birth was an instant threat and it seems you cannot have a break from trials. Indeed, some of the things you’ve endured would have killed others, but by God’s grace, you’re still here. You’re like a target. Again, the God we see in the Bible loves us all and wants no one to perish (2 Peter 3: 9), but it seems the level of threat intensifies when God has destined to uniquely use you to reach those beyond the usual sphere – in your family and community large, around the world, through various means and even after you have been laid to rest! You may be the first in your family, gender, culture or ethnic group to do what God has destined for you, a living testimony of what He is able to do. A threat. You may be the one who speaks against injustice and divisive, demonic threats to unity in the body of Christ. A threat. You may be the one who others thought would never get saved, and now your life points others to Christ. A threat. Mocked like Jesus. A threat. Seasons of harassment and unprecedented trouble in rapid succession. A threat. Minding your business yet being stalked by no less than evil hearts. A threat. The list is endless. You often wonder when you will get a break from trials as you have extreme seasons of pain or happiness as I mentioned in Blots, Flaws and Revelations. Ohhhh, the schemes against you are multitudinous, because as the sneaky, slimy, defeated enemy thinks – if it can stop you, maybe it can stop God’s plan. Ha! Ludicrous! I imagine God laughing hysterically when the enemy dares to think His sovereignty is up for grabs (Isaiah 46: 9-10)!
God is sovereign and will do what He plans, even when it seems contrary, impossible, or confusing to us. If the enemy perceives us as threats, it’s because of its awareness of God’s promises and intentions for us, but rest assured – this knowledge does not negate God’s plans for us or His promise to never leave or forsake us.
The key texts only focus on three great men from the Bible (including our greatest – God Himself in the form of Jesus!), but there are many other examples in the Word of God’s protection of His purpose in others. Regardless, the key takeaway from this post is the superior unrelenting nature of God to fulfil His promises despite any opposing forces along the way. It is disturbing to see how far these ironically ‘great’ men would go to eradicate those whose destiny made them feel threatened. Herod, threatened by Jesus, TRIED to kill Him, but He grew in stature and favour with God and man, went to the cross, and rose again to save those who accept Him. Similarly, Pharaoh, threatened by the Hebrew boys, TRIED to cut their lives short, but from them, God chose a deliverer, who was also a beneficiary of Pharaoh’s resources in the first 40 years of his life. His compassionate daughter paid Moses’ mother to raise him and later took him as her own child! Pharaoh felt threatened by the possibility of the Hebrew boys joining an army against him; he would have undoubtedly felt even more threatened if he knew God would use one of them to deliver His people. Nonetheless, Moses fulfilled his purpose after God prepared him to do so, leading millions away from oppression. Likewise, David, pursued by Saul for 13 years, was spared of death and ascended to the throne – as God intended.
To reiterate, in none of these circumstances did the enemy’s fight against God Himself (in the form of Jesus) or any of His chosen leaders prevail and it will not prevail against you. Despite this assurance, it can be disheartening to know that you have done no wrong, but find opposition from every side. We more readily accept challenges when they are a result of our actions or thoughts, but it is more painful to endure trials when they are unprovoked. Why do others perceive you as a threat? I obviously am unable to give you specific answers to the questions you ask, but, in summary, the enemy at work in their lives makes them see you as a hindrance to their future. Like Jesus, Moses and David who were all considered threats in the very incubation stages of the fulfilment of prophecies over their lives, God has called you to something the enemy wants to stop or delay, in the hope that it will not materialise. It thinks that if it kills promise in the initial stages, a threat will be removed. Stop trying to make complete sense of it – you will wear yourself out and not have the energy needed for the battles you are called to win. Trust God to handle each enemy (external and internal), and be assured that if He chose you, He will open every door needed to usher you into your destiny and close the ones which would be a hindrance.
In the interim, draw close to God so He can prompt you to discern who to trust (Matthew 7: 15-20), when to withdraw from enemies who ultimately see you as a threat like Jesus did on several occasions (Matthew 12: 15-21) and when to respond with a rebuke like He did sometimes (Matthew 12: 9-14; Matthew 22: 15-22). Donne your godly armour as well to help you to stand (Ephesians 6: 10-18). When it seems like the enemy is winning, remember that when God has called and destined you to accomplish His will, no divisive, tormented, defeated, corrupt spirit can stop you. No threat from Pharaoh. NONE. No entourage, collaboration, or manipulative, demonic spirit (we shun the word nowadays but the Word says we do wrestle against unseen evil forces at work, even in the lives of professed believers), is able to hinder God from fulfilling His Word spoken over your life. NONE.
There is no threat so great that it can prevent God’s purpose for your life. Trust Him. Sometimes, like Moses, we are satisfied with our lives and the status quo, then God invites us to do more for Him. Regardless of the level of threat that the enemy sees in you, you may read this entry and think it’s funny, far-fetched or alternatively, exactly what you have been enduring. Regardless, I pray that if you are ever faced with increased attacks because of your faith or response to God’s calling, He will give you the grace to remain faithful to Him (which in itself is victory over the defeated enemy!).
If you are overwhelmed by circumstances which have arisen because of the threat you are to the kingdom of darkness, ironically, even praying may seem like a challenge when God allows the unprovoked attacks for His glory. You may not even know the Lord yet or care about praying, but you sense that He is calling you. You may even be unaware of how your life might influence others or sarcastically question why God would want to use you as you are still on the sanctification journey. You may even sense God calling you to greater, experience the attacks and inwardly ask Him to reconsider: ‘Ah…if it would please You Almighty God…I’m good without all this hassle if You ever want to change Your mind!’ As stated in Blots, Flaws and Revelations, I have been on every point of that scale and I’m still standing through God’s deliverance, and still confident that God will continue to do what He purposes for my life. I fully understand your concerns about the effects of being a threat to the enemy. I’m praying for your growth, and that if it is even for a few moments, five minutes or longer, you will be able to articulate to God today (or soon), how you feel about being targeted because of the threat you pose to the enemy. He will help you to pray again, calm your anxiety and discern His will.
No one who wants a peaceful life desires to be a threat, but instead of feeling like a victim, perceive this season of discovering you are a threat to the enemy as a privilege and sheer compliment for those who will do exploits for God’s kingdom (Daniel 11: 32). The enemy is threatened by you and therefore wants to pose as many threats to you as it may conjure in the hope that it will deter you, but no threat to you is more powerful than Jesus!
Heartfelt Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for having a relationship with me. I am acutely aware of my need for You. I don’t understand why I am bombarded with threats to my life/health/safety, ……….. and ………., and it is worrying that I have asked You to bring an end to it to no avail. Please grant me grace to trust my life to You even when I lack clarity. If Your Son, Jesus, in whose name you invite us to pray, fulfilled His earthly purpose despite the opposition, it can happen for me too. Help me to navigate this season successfully. I ask these mercies in Jesus’ name. Amen.
