02/03/2022 - THE RECOMPENSE THEY DESERVED

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And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Judges 2.14

The Israelites’ audacity to sin reached a point where it´s hard to understand how the demons deceived them. These people, besides giving up the divine commandments, began to worship Baal and Ashtaroth. In these cults, there was so much libertinism that a collective party took place, of total and irresponsible licentiousness (bacchanal, which comes from Bacchus, from Greek mythology, the god of excesses).

Result: the wrath of the Almighty was kindled against Israel, handing them over to the robbers, evil spirits. From then on, there were only losses. The demons, sent by Satan, were so eager to snatch the honor from those people, that they left them with nothing. But when they cried out to God in their distress, the Lord answered them and blessed them (Psalm 107:6). There is only one way to escape from spiritual thieves: to convert to Christ!

The devil, besides being a thief, kills and destroys: You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it (John 8:44). To exchange the Most High for the tempter was a very unfortunate decision of the Israelites, which is why they paid such a high price.

Thieves don’t play games or add nothing to you, but act to take over what you possess, especially your honor. You must be faithful to God in everything; that way, you will never be plundered by the evil one. The first thing he tries to take away is your faith; after all, with it, you can defeat him whenever you want (1 John 5:4). Without the person realizing it, the kingdom of darkness begins to bring certain matters to them, and in a short time their faith disappears.

Besides suffering the attacks of the thieves, the individual disapproved in the faith, for having listened to the evil spirits, stops loving the Lord and criticizes even what happens in the congregation, saying that it was not what he imagined. Now, the one who edifies the Church is Jesus, and He guides it as the Father shows Him. Poor is the soul that acts wrongly, giving reason to God, who is good, to deliver them into the hands of the adversary (1 Timothy 1:20). Watch out not to falter!

When given permission, Satan acts quickly on those given to him and with awesome destructive power. There were times when Israel had nothing to eat. In the diabolical operations, even drought arises in the rainy season, everything in the house spoils easily, and the mood is damaged. In the onslaughts of the enemy, there is no mercy, favor or love; only hatred, death and pain!

No one can stand before the enemy, if the enemy has free access to destroy a life. We need to understand that God does not steal from us, but the devil does not lose a single opportunity to cause us irrecoverable damage. Be vigilant!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares