Wise To Satan's Devices

Yesterday I read an article about a couple of male orcas named "Port" and "Starboard" that live off the cost of South Africa and are serial shark killers.  Over a short period of time, locals discovered large female sharks washed up on the shore with their livers and sometimes the heart expertly removed.  It is believed these killer whales single out their target shark, ram it suddenly from underneath, and this causes tonic immobility.  While the shark remains in this defenseless, catatonic state, the orcas are able to easily access and eat the parts of the shark they prize without much effort before seeking their next victim.

Similar to orcas which are the apex predator in the ocean, lions hold this title on land in Africa.  Lions are opportunistic hunters that stalk their prey, targeting the young or sickly.  They are not as picky as the infamous orcas Port and Starboard tend to be and will also feed on carrion or steal a kill from hyenas or dogs.  While lions do not have any natural predators, they are cautious about the animals they will try to engage.  The epic "Battle at Kruger" video shot during a safari shows a fierce conflict between a pride of lions, a herd of buffalo and crocodiles shows lions can try to bite off more than they can chew.  The strength of a few lions are no match for the strength of the herd.

The Bible compares Satan to a "roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."  It is important to point out Satan, unlike orcas and lions, is not an apex predator.  As the Creator of all things, God has power and authority over everything and everyone He has made--including Satan.  Like orcas, lions and hyenas have tactics they use in hunting, Satan does as well.  He prowls around seeking isolated, sickly and easy targets.  Satan looks for people who are in sin and are too proud to confess it and repent.  When we walk according to the flesh, pride and the wisdom of the world we are most vulnerable.  An unguarded heart is  like leaving the front door of a house wide open for a squatter to settle down in.  It is no surprise Satan waited to tempt Jesus until He was alone and hungry in the wilderness after a long fast.  After being rebuffed three times by Jesus Who spoke the word of God, Satan departed without success.

Paul's exhortation to the church is most relevant today in 2 Corinthians 2:8-11:  "Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. ⁹ For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. ¹⁰ Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices."  Previously Paul wrote to the church and told them to excommunicate a man in the church who was in open and unrepentant sin.  Having done so, now they were to receive the man who repented and reaffirm their love to him with total forgiveness.  Paul urged them not to hold a grudge or have animosity towards anyone--even for his sake.  Then Paul revealed their lack of love and refusal to forgive would allow Satan to take advantage of them.  Like orcas and lions, Satan uses tactics to devour prey Christian believers ought to be aware of.

Those who are born again by faith in Jesus can resist the devil and he will flee.  Yet if we justify disobedience to God and refuse to love or forgive others, we give Satan opportunities to attack and devour us.  The devil does not deserve the credit for many of our troubles, for many are self-inflicted wounds by unbelief and countless other sins.  It would be foolish for a sheep who chose to wander from the shepherd and the flock at night to blame being caught and cut in a fence on the existence of wolves.  When the sheep stay close to a vigilant shepherd the wolves will have little opportunity.  Having knowledge of Satan's tactics to divide, confuse and capitalise on our unloving and unforgiving hearts, we are equipped with God's wisdom and strength to avoid these common pitfalls.