Deception is an insidious enemy. It never makes a frontal attack. Often its operating procedure is to lure its victim by identification or capitalization on some point of empathy.
In the city of Gibeon (Josh 9) lived a people the Israelites were to dispossess. Its inhabitants heard of Israel’s great God and what He had accomplished. Knowing they had no hope of winning in battle, they concocted a scheme that made them appear to be from a city not within the scope of Israel’s acquisition. Joshua, without seeking the Lord, agreed to an unnecessary treaty.
The enemy is shrewd. He will use any method to gain access that his influence might increase. If he can’t win head-on, he will woo the compassionate with inordinate need, the wise with intellectual prowess and the inquiring with intrigue. Once a foothold is gained he moves in to stay. He knows the power of God in you and is reluctant to engage it. Don’t let him deceptively come in the back door. Live right and live well…
