Why the Enemy Flees

The Bible is full of encouragement for those who trust in God, and sometimes it is found in unexpected places.  This morning I was blessed by a pattern I considered that sprang from reading Genesis 36:6:  "Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob."  After decades of living in Haran, Jacob returned to the land of Canaan a wealthy man with a huge family.  Esau was a wealthy and powerful man in his own right, having 400 men who followed him when he greeted Jacob upon his return.  Yet there was no power play between them for the land of Canaan:  when their flocks and herds became too many for the land to support, Esau voluntarily chose to leave.

I found this very encouraging.  From the beginning, God is established as Creator and sovereign over all things.  When Adam sinned, God drove him out from the Garden of Eden.  After Cain killed Abel his brother, Cain went out from the presence of the LORD.  God directed Abraham to leave his family and go to the land God would show him, and when Abraham and his nephew Lot's beasts were too many, Abraham gave Lot the choice of where to settle.  It was Lot who departed from Abraham, and God affirmed all the land Abraham could see or his foot would tread He had given to Abraham and his descendants.  God is, and those He establishes by faith in Him are also strengthened to remain steadfast where God would have them be.

A similar pattern occurred when Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil.  Luke 4:13 says, "Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time."  Jesus did not avoid the wilderness to escape from the devil or his temptation, but resisted Satan and it was the devil who departed.  This aligns with what the Scripture says is true for the believer in James 4:6-7:  "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." ⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  Spiritually speaking, by faith in Jesus our lives are established like houses built upon the rock, and thus we are enabled to stand resolute in obedience to God's Word:  "Be strong in the LORD and the power of His might; put on the whole armour of God and stand therefore!" (Eph. 6:10-20)

I love how Esau chose to depart from Jacob without violence:  though he had 400 men to support and aid him, Jacob, his wives and little children were protected, provided for and prospered by Jacob's great God.  Jacob was established in the land of Canaan, and God had a place set aside for Esau too.  It was not for Jacob to run for the hills to hide from his brother, but to remain in the place God called him to be by faith.  Spiritually speaking for Christians this is also true.  We do not need to concern ourselves with violent forays into enemy territory or lay siege to the wisdom of the world spouted in our culture:  our LORD and Saviour Jesus is the KING OF KINGS Who will subdue all to Himself.  We are called to submit ourselves to God in faith joyfully with obedience and stand.  This is how we battle the enemy, and this is how the fight is won because Jesus has overcome.  Resist the temptations of the enemy to give up or give in, hold the ground God has given you, and the enemy will flee.