We have come to the last of the teachings on the schemes of Satan. Now since he is the master deceiver and father of lies, no one should take him for granted. He is constantly changing and challenging. This study will be on his diverting worship from God to himself. We can see this very clearly in his temptation of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 4:8-11 Again, the Devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." Then the Devil left him. And behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Not only was he so bold as to think he could tempt Jesus to worship him, but he diverted the nation of Israel less than 60 days from their deliverance from Egypt.
Exodus 32:1-6 And the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, and the people gathered themselves to Aaron. And they said to him, Up! Make us gods who shall go before us. For this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. And Aaron said to them, Break off the olden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me. And all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he took them from their hand, and fashioned it with an engraving tool. And he made it a molten calf. And they said, These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made proclamation and said, Tomorrow is a feast to Jehovah. And they rose up early on the next day and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
Satan even got Moses brother Aaron to participate in this pseudo worship of Jehovah. Satan can divert many by having them become totally ignorant of the Law of God. By diverting attention to himself, most people will quickly forget God.
2 Kings22:8-11 And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the Book of the Law in the house of Jehovah. And Hilkiah gave the Book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought the king word again, and said, Your servants have gathered the silver that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workers, who have the oversight of the house of Jehovah. And Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a Book. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it happened when the king had heard the Words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.
This is an incredible story of unbelievable ignorance. The Book of the Law, God’s commandments and statutes, had not only been lost for decades, but hadn’t even been missed. Most probably didn’t even know it existed. But, where was it? In the Temple! Josiah was only 18 years old when it was discovered.
Numbers 25:1-5 And Israel lived in Shittim, and the people began to fornicate with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor. And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel. And Jehovah said to Moses, Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before Jehovah against the sun, so that the fierce anger of Jehovah may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal-peor.
Once worship is diverted, people fall back into detestable idolatry. God has warned everyone for thousands of years not to worship other gods or idols. Yet, they continue to do it, as if there was no consequences from such gross disobedience. The final example of this diversion is when people all around the world will worship the Antichrist.
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time. And just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have risen up, from which we know that it is the last hour.
While there are many who oppose Christ, there is one final antichrist. This is Satan’s most celebrated diversion and deception.
Many think this type of diversion would never deceive them, but most of them are wrong. Eternally wrong and eternally condemned.
Our next study series will focus on the holiness of God and the holy worship of God.