The enemy recognizes the presence of the Lord Jesus in each of us.  Contemplating Jeremiah today I saw that the enemy sees those who serve the Lord God and treats them accordingly.  That is not to say that the enemy did not loathe Jeremiah for his service, but he also offered him relief, release and succor when he saw Jeremiah’s sacrifice.  As with anything that the enemy offers we are forced to turn it down immediately, knowing fully that there are always strings attached to the offering.  Perhaps, it is then at our weakest when we have surrendered to the Lord’s will for our lives, that we are capable of making the choice to remain on the path, even as we are tempted to be led astray by promised contraband.  Let’s take a look at Jeremiah 40 to see such an episode and be encouraged by Jeremiah’s reaction to the enemy’s offer;

The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah.  He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon.  When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah he said to him, “The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place.  And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would.  All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey Him.  But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists.  Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come.  Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.”  However, before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.”  Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and let him go.  So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land. 

We are immediately presented with the fact that the Lord uses even the enemy soldiers to deliver His word to His beloved.  Look at the first line of this chapter.  The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah. Jeremiah has such discernment that he could see the Lord’s will wrapped up in the speech of an enemy combatant.  It is with this understanding that we are able to overcome all that confronts us as all things serve the Lord, even the enemy, The Lord Jesus rebuke him.

Then as always the enemy tried to lure Jeremiah in with flattery and deception stating his understanding that the Lord had predicted and carried out His judgment upon the nation of Israel, but it is the commander who had set Jeremiah free.  What an idle boast.  If the Lord God had predicted and executed His judgment then He had also provided for Jeremiah’s deliverance.  Then the commander showed his true intent, “Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you”.  We see the clever repetition of the enemy’s attempt to catch us while we’re weak, then offer us something that was ours to begin with in exchange for service to his requirements.  Then to seal the deal he offered provisions, a place to stay with the local magistrate and gifts.

If the enemy cannot defeat a Christian through fear and force he will promise abundance to distract us away from God’s will for our lives.  But take heart, just as Jeremiah perceived this to be the Word of the Lord, so too, will those of us with the discernment to know the Lord’s voice.  We will not be led astray because the Lord’s voice is recognizable against all others.  The small quiet voice which leads and calls us to sanctification will never leave us or forsake us in the time of greatest need.  Trust in the Lord, call upon His name and have your feet set securely upon a path from which you will never depart.  Praise Jesus in His infinite Glory.  Amen.