NO ONE CAN OUTWIT GOD

“BUT his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel,” Judges 14:4. Reader, these days it is not easy to follow the daily news.

It is difficult to understand what exactly is happening around us. When one tries to understand and analyse the news, one tends to get somewhat confused. I mean is it dawn or dusk? Must a good citizen be drunk or sober? Can a man be resurrected before he dies? Are we rich or poor? Are we man or animals? And finally, if there is indeed some confusion, who is the mastermind behind it?

In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Apostle Paul makes a refreshing statement about God. He talks about the need for order in worship, adding that; “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace,” 1 Corin.14:33. Paul then urges the church of God to ‘Let all things be done decently and in order’ (v.40). In God there is order, not confusion.

But it is not so with satan, the devil. He is the mastermind of sin and confusion. He thrives on it and uses it to his advantage in opposing the purposes of God. He confused Eve in the Garden of Eden about what God had in fact said, and caused her to sin. And in teaching about forgiveness in the church, Apostle Paul says we should forgive. “Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices,” 2 Corin.2:11. Satan uses confusion as a device to try and thwart the purposes of God. And we know reader, that our good God is an all wise God. He cannot be outwitted by the devil.

Samson’s father and mother were confused. Samson had been born of a barren mother, and his birth had been announced by an angel of God. He had been especially set apart by God to deal with the Philistines, the enemies of Israel, His children. But when Samson grew up and was ready to be married, he chose a daughter of a Philistine to marry, and asked his parents to go and get her for him. His father and mother wondered how he could think of getting married to a daughter of an uncircumcised Philistine when there were girls he could chose from his own people, Israel. This appeared as if the plan of God was about to crumble; as if God had miscalculated in raising this young man to judge and his people.

But the author of the Book of Judges explains the problem of Samson’s parents in these powerful words: “But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel,” Judges 14:4. What appeared to them to be a blunder of young Samson, had been turned into God’s ploy to deal with the enemies of His children.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose,” Rom.8:28. God was about to use the very waywardness of Samson to destroy the Philistines. And He did. God would not be outwitted by evil.

The scene on the cross at Calvary was confusing; the Son of God was hanging on a cross, crucified and people were mocking Him and spitting in His face. But God could not be outwitted by the devil. God was about to deal the greatest blow to the greatest enemy of man. And He did just that. For the blood that flowed down that rugged cross opened  the door to the salvation of mankind.

Reader, don’t ever give up on God. When you look around and you see confusion and evil having dominion, ‘have faith in God’: He is too good to be outdone. For ‘where sin abounded, grace did much more abound’. Let not your heart be troubled. Just believe in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and have a blessed weekend. I am Reverend David Mathse of The Family of God Church International, Matsapha.
 

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