“THE LORD SAID TO ME” --Isa 36:10

Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master’s servants, when you trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The LORD said to me, “Go up against this land and destroy it.”’” vs8-10

Satan comes to us with evil words as the master deceiver! He does not want us trusting Christ. He wants us fighting sin in our own strength or blind to its realities. He wants to shake our confidence in God, like he deceived Eve with lies.

We are wise to fight against him by the gospel. When we are weak, then we are strong, because Christ intervenes for the helpless. Believe the covenant promises! Believe when you are tempted and wicked. Believe, when your back’s against the wall.

The blood of the Lord has prevailed and conquered! The grave could not hold Him. “Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it [Acts 2:24].” He was raised up because He by Himself satisfied justice so mercy can flow freely upon the unworthy and the corrupted! As our miseries are made known, He gives more grace. As unbelief, wretchedness, and areas of long held sin are exposed, He pities and gives power.

We are not alone or trusting in Egypt. The Lord has not told Satan to defeat us! We have the promise that sin won’t have dominion. He told the woman guilty of adultery that she was not condemned and to sin no more. Therefore, every guilty and hell-deserving sinner who repents, who says, “Lord, I have been wrong,” will be received like the Prodigal.

David did wickedly, but the Lord forgave him. He gave David consequences, but He helped him through. Paul confessed himself a Pharisee after years of preaching, fearing for his life, but Christ stood by him, even in prison. “But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome [Acts 23:11].’”

Consequences make us RUN FROM SIN: our lives are not maximally useful, nor do we enjoy the fullness of peace and nearness to the Lord… but when we realize our sin, then we can be sure to obtain mercy, because He will hear us and help us.