We are frequently warned in the Bible to guard against being deceived.
- Jesus answered, "See to it that no one deceives you" (Matt.24:4)
- Let no one deceives you with empty words (Eph.5:6)
- Let no one deceive you in any way (2Thes.2:3)
Based on these frequent warnings there must be a real danger of us being deceived and led astray. The word 'deceive' means: "To deliberately cause (someone) to believe something that is not true, especially for personal gain". Here are some of the 61 synonyms of 'deceive': cheat, trick, hoodwink, take in, mislead, fool, misguide, ensnare, seduce, con, rip off.
We know that our enemy is a liar and a deceiver and that there is no truth in him. We are warned that satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2Cor.11:14). These warnings are not without foundation. When we look at scriptures we see a number of examples of people being deceived.
- Eve was deceived by satan (Gen.3:1-7)
- The man of God, a prophet whom God used to reprimand Jeroboam, king of Israel, and through whom God demonstrated His power, was not immune to being deceived. The man of God disobeyed God's instructions and listened to the lie from an old prophet. Believing the lie eventually cost him his life. (1Kings13:1-24).
- These are Paul's words in the New Testament: "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified"(Gal.3:1).
- Jesus's letter to the Church of Pergamon stated: "I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans" (Rev.2:14-15).
My Prayer
Father Yahuah, thank you for warning to us to be on guard against the deceit and lies of the enemy. Father, please deliver us from evil and grant us wisdom and discernment that will enable to see and avoid the traps the enemy has set for us. Please teach us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. We pray in Jesus' name. Aman.