Traps and Snares

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)

What I am about to show you is probably one of the most simple yet crucial teachings that you probably have never heard preached. It is about just how Satan sets his traps and snares to enslave men. There are two basic ways that we trap game and Satan uses these in the exact same way to trap men.

The Baited Trap

For the city dweller the most common example of this is the simple mouse trap. Enticing bait is set in the trap and when it's taken they are caught like a fish on a hook.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Genesis 3:4-5 (KJV)

We can see in the above passage a great example of how Satan baits us. First he puts Eve at ease telling her that there is no danger to her, second he offers the bait; knowledge. If you want to catch a bear you don't bait a hook with a worm. Satan knows what bait to offer what type of man. Knowledge is one of the most powerful baits that Satan uses to entrap otherwise intelligent men. It is especially effective on those who are full of pride, which was the chief sin of Satan (Isaiah 14:11-15 KJV).

Once we understand that bait is used we can easily see the various types in Satan's lure box; things like lust, greed and the other 'deadly sins'. But there is another way to trap men, through the hidden snare.

The Hidden Snare

For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
Jeremiah 5:26 (KJV)

Unlike with the baited trap when a hunter sets a snare there often is no bait; instead he relies on his powers of observation of the paths that certain prey take. Now if you were Satan trying to trap Christians where would you set your snares? In the churches!

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Matthew 16:6 (KJV)

Now in the forest a snare or pitfall is usually camouflaged by utilizing local flora and fauna, like leaves. What represents that in a church situation? The doctrine. At the casual glance false doctrines usually appear just as sound as the truth; it is only when carefully examined that the danger is revealed. That is why we are commanded to beware of the leaven and be as the Bereans; we are supposed to try their fruits.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
Hosea 4:6 (KJV)

Sear this concept into your mind: The snare catches prey not with bait but through carelessness. People who are otherwise good Christians and would never dream of taking baits of Satan like adultery or pornography become just as entrapped by false doctrine! Be warned; God will not automatically protect us from the snares of the evil one, we must be diligent to be as the Bereans and check everything against scripture.

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
Isaiah 56:10-11 (KJV)

Even in this late hour many Christians are walking straight into trap after trap of Satan and wondering why. They are walking through spiritual minefields with their eyes closed. Friends, we need to be on a constant lookout for these traps and snares of Satan and also warn others when we see them headed towards the same ones we have. We must completely reject the utter heresy that warning others is judging them.

That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Isaiah 30:9-10 (KJV)

Yes, there are many who do not want the truth. All they want is a nice superficial message on Sunday morning; nothing that will cause them to think or, God forbid, convict them of their sins. But there are others who really want the truth but are just not getting it from their churches. Which group are you in?