Day 10 – Sidonians

“These are the nations: the Philistines (those living under the five Philistine rulers), all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and Hivites living in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.” Judges 3:3 NLT

Sidon and Tyre were Phoenician sister cities known for their opulence and wickedness. Sidonian means trapper; catching of fish; hunter. In other words: catching with the intention to kill.

The enemy strategy is to entrap you in sin. But not just trap you, to keep you captive allowing you to believe there is no escape. Infamous Queen Jezebel was a Sidonian who ensnared a whole nation in idol worship and sexual immorality. The precise placement of this very fine snare can entrap those who know the Word too. A Sidonian woman came to Jesus, begging Him for mercy and healing for her daughter. He said to her he was sent only to help God’s lost sheep – the people of Israel and tested her by responding: “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs” (Note here that Jezebel’s demise was that her body was eaten by dogs) But she insisted: “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” To Jesus, this displayed great faith from a notoriously known sinful nation. See, we can know the Word, but our faith is what makes it come alive in our lives. (Read her story in Matthew 15:21-28)

God’s strategy is that anyone who comes to Jesus will be released from the captivity of sin. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come.” Luke 4:18-19 (NLT). It does not matter what you are entrapped in, what situation you think you cannot get out of – Jesus Christ will set the captive free.

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus to break the chains of the strategy of entrapment and setting us free. Thank You for teaching us that it’s so easy to step into the traps of the enemy, but it is easier to turn to You for Your Mercy and Grace enveloped in Your Love. Amen.

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