Most of us know him by the more familiar names or titles that are attributed to him; Satan, the devil, Lucifer, the tempter, a liar, the father of lies, the ruler of this world, etc. Perhaps you know him best as the one described by the apostle Peter as the one who "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour". I have recently come to refer to him as the trapper and would suggest that you know him in this manner also.
Although the Old Testament contains many references to matters that were a snare to the people, the New Testament contains just a few references to this word. We find the apostle Paul making three such references to Timothy; twice in his first letter to Timothy and once in his second letter. In 1 Timothy 3:6-7, in regards to the selection of elders, Paul wrote, "and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil". In 1 Timothy 6:8-11 Paul was inspired to write, "If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs". And lastly, in 2 Timothy 2:25-26 the apostle wrote, "with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will".
I suspect there are many believers who are currently caught up in one or more of the trapper's snares. Perhaps you find yourself in one of his snares . Although his snares may not all look the same, they share a common purpose. The trapper desires that you "be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" spoken of by Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:3 and that you not have the "undistracted devotion to the Lord" Paul wrote of in 1 Corinthians 7:35. I believe I have seen some of the trapper's snares along the way. Some I have seen up close. The snares of pride, anger, immorality, love of money, error, false teaching, selfishness, bitterness, malice, love for the world and the things of the world, etc. There seem to be less obvious snares as well, yet ones that many have walked into and find themselves caught up in. Such snares might include being too busy to walk in His good works, consumed with your job, your career or pursuing hobbies, recreation and other personal interests. And perhaps the one that has entangled far too many, the snare of religion. All to often we have turned our privileged personal relationship that we have as children of God in Christ into mere religious practice.
I would suggest that although the trapper has laid many snares for us to be caught up in, we must walk into them in order for them to ensnare us. He cannot force his snares upon us. His snares don't appear to be laid in the pathway where we have been called to walk. This is the pathway or walk that is "worthy of the Lord" or "worthy of the calling with which you have been called". Perhaps the One who set boundaries for the seas has trespassed the trapper from setting snares along the path where the Spirit leads us, the path of truth. But the pathway of the flesh, where "mere men" long to walk, seems laden with the trapper's snares. The believer is no longer bound to walk according to the flesh but he may choose to do so. In His strength may we "walk by faith", "walk by the Spirit", "walk as children of light" and "walk in newness of life" as we "walk in Him".
In 1 John 4:4, the beloved apostle of our Lord proclaimed one of the great truths of our faith when he wrote, "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world". So it is when it comes to the trapper and his snares. In Psalm 124:6-8 the psalmist wrote, "Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." And in Psalm 91:2-4 we read, "I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the Deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark".
Praise God that He is the One who "delivers you from the snare of the trapper"! Through the truth of His word, prayer and repentance, we can earnestly seek the Lord and His release from the trapper's snare. You may be in a situation where the Lord has opened your eyes to the snare that you are heading towards or perhaps you have one foot in already. James was inspired to write in James 4:7, "submit therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you". And in 1 Peter 5:9 the apostle Peter wrote, "resist him firm in your faith". Do not think that you can carefully maneuver through the snare or escape it according to your own strength and your own ways. Avoid it. Get away from it. It has no power over you lest you walk in it. Through His Son, submit yourself to God, to the truth of His word and the power of the Helper. May His word and our always present Helper keep us from walking in the snare of the trapper.
Father, we thank you that you have provided a way for your children to walk in truth. You are greater than the trapper and able to break his snares and deliver us. Help us to know you better, love your ways and desire the abundant life you give in Christ. Help us to be more discerning and sober-minded as we ought to be. I pray for those of your Church who are caught up in the trapper's snares. For the glory of your Son and the health of His Church, I ask that you draw each one to yourself and that according to your bountiful grace and mercy, each might look to you for deliverance from the trapper's snare. Help us to "walk by the Spirit" as "children of light" that the name of our Lord Jesus might be glorified in us.
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