A Subtle Foe
Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say…” – Matthew 4:5-6a, NLT
“As Son of God, he could surely claim with absolute confidence the physical protection which God promises in Psalm 91:11-12 (and throughout that Psalm) to those who trust him. So why not try it by forcing God’s hand (and thus silence any lingering doubts about his relationship with God)? But this would tempt God, as Israel did in the wilderness at Massah, when they ‘put the LORD to the proof by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?’”(Ex 17:2-7). The Son of God can live only in a relationship of trust which needs no test.” – R.T. France
“Now error and sin both have this property, that the deeper they are the less their victim suspects their existence; they are masked evil.” - CS Lewis
Subtle (adjective)
1a: pleasing to the senses in a mild or nuanced way
b: difficult to understand or perceive
c: clever and indirect : disguised in purpose[i]
One of the ways that we can get caught in sin is that sin is insidious (causing harm in a way that is gradual or not easily noticed, per Merriam-Webster.com[ii]). Moreover, the temptation to sin is often subtle. We think that sin will be obvious and the temptation to sin will also be easily seen. But, that simply proves that we’ve missed the pattern by which our Enemy works. He is crafty and cunning. His temptations are his masterwork and reflect his likeness. His temptations to Jesus prove this point. They seem to be about bread or protection. In the end, they are about trust. “When you lack, will you Jesus, the Son of God, provide for yourself- obviously God doesn’t want you to suffer deprivation, right?” “When you are in harms way, God will surely save you from physical harm, after all He protects those he loves, right?” There is a buried grain of truth in both of these temptations. Further, there is in them a ‘time bomb’ effect. Jesus must surrender fully to the Father’s will. And, in that surrender He will suffer greatly and endure not just great physical harm but death itself. It is no wonder that Luke seems to point to the Garden of Gethsemane as the next point of the Tempter’s work. No doubt there, the Enemy kept whispering of how painful and difficult it would be for Jesus to endure the coming ordeal. How it would be easier and better and more in line with God to take the cup from Jesus than to have Him endure it’s horrific effects. The Enemy is clever but, He is unoriginal. His methods can be observed and therefore subverted. He probably isn’t going to hit you with blatant sin. He doesn’t need you to murder if hate will do. He doesn’t need you to enter an affair if your lustful thoughts will derail you. He is not probably asking you to be openly rebellious to your parents or your government. But, he might bring up a thought about how you can get away with breaking a rule in your house or how you can and should break the speed limit. It doesn’t matter how he gets you, he just wants you to be compromised. Then, he can lead you further down the road of sin. And, he gets to throw lies your way about who you are and how God will handle what you’ve done. Shame, guilt, condemnation, these are his wheel house. Here again, we find that the answer is not ourselves or to simply try harder. The way to avoid temptation and to deal with sin when it happens is wrapped in the Gospel. There and there alone can we withstand the enemy. Our lives must be informed by Jesus’ example AND empowered by His Spirit who dwells in us. Without His power at work in us, we are easy prey for an Enemy who is crafty and cunning, calculating and patient. He plays a long game but, in the long run, Jesus defeats him every time. So don’t lose hope. You’ve been outfitted for this fight. Jesus defeated every temptation and then the Tempter. We live in His victory. Let us walk in to more fully each day!
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints… - Ephesians 6:12-18, ESV
[i] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtle
[ii] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insidious