Bible Studies
One of the methods of operation that thieves will use, is to keep the residents busy and distracted at the front door, while their partners in crime, enter the dwelling via the back door and steal.
In conventional warfare, to avoid the cost of a frontal confrontation, attackers will provide “cover” fire, keeping the defenders busy, while a select few, attempt to stealthily make their way around the end of the line of defense, and attack it from another direction.
The devil, and those who do his bidding, will use these same tactics in the realm of spiritual warfare.
The indirect, back door, method of operation is called Plan B.
In Plan B, the intended target is not as easily identified. In the case of Adam, the devil set the stage for Adam’s downfall, through deceptive interaction with the woman (Eve).
Just as Eve was convinced she could improve things by eating the forbidden fruit (1), Peter thought he was doing well when he spoke against Jesus’ announcement that He was going to Jerusalem where He was to be crucified.
Peter was undoubtedly stunned by the, “Get behind me, Satan (Mark 8: 33 NASB2020)” rebuke that he received.
Plan B almost always makes use of someone who is close to the intended target.
Plan B differs from Plan A in it’s method of operation, but both plans have the same objective.
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour, (1Pet. 5: 8 NASB2020).”
In Plan A, the intended target is directly hit with a major challenge, or with a series of adversarial events over a short period of time.
In Plan A, the identity of the intended target is clear from the onset. Major challenges associated with Plan A can be like a tidal wave, delivering a single, but powerful blow. A series of adversarial events can be like the coastal pounding of oceanic waves at high tide during a hurricane, hitting the intended target with one wave after another, allowing no time for recovery, before being hit with another.
The classic example of Plan A in operation took place in the life of Job. In a very short period of time, Job lost ten adult children, property, servants, livestock, social standing, and his physical health. It was just one thing after another, taking place in a relatively short period of time.
In the aftermath, Job’s visiting “friends” did nothing (positive) for him. The only “advice” he got from his wife was for him to curse God and die (2).
The devil contended that Job was loyal to the Lord because of all the blessings he experienced, but that if enough pressure were to be put on Job, a man that Scripture describes as, “blameless, upright, fearing God. . . (Job 1: 1 NASB2020),” that Job would never-the-less curse God to His face (3).
The devil was proven wrong in the case of Job, but sad to say, has made his point, evidenced by the negative responses made by many of God’s children, when they are subjected to enough adversity.
With much less adversity than what Job experienced, many professing Christians will respond no differently than their worldly counterparts.
It’s easy to speak well of God, and our faith in Him, when things are going our way. It’s when we find ourselves in the midst of the adversity of Plan A or plan B that the quality of our professed faith and devotion is revealed.
Peter (and the other disciples) truly believed they would have given up their lives before he (or they) would abandon the Lord (4).
But there was a coming time when they would all desert Him (5), and Peter would publicly deny that he ever knew Jesus (6).
While Plan A, that may even call for martyrdom, can still be the experience of an advancing disciple, it is Plan B that can be the most deceptive and effective weapon, in the devil’s arsenal.
End of Part 1 of 3
(1) Gen. 3: 6 (2) Job 2: 9 (3) Job 1: 11 (4) Matt. 26: 35 (5) Matt.26: 56 (6) Matt. 26: 72
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