HIDDEN SNAKE

Pride brings people down, but humble people receive praise (Proverbs 29:23)

 

When I was a child, our family lived in a farming area. One spring, we managed to kill thirteen rattlesnakes in no time. 

Killing a viper is easy if you know where it is and how far it can attack. Because of that, my brothers and I were never worried about the snakes we could see. However, we would be very worried about stepping on a venomous snake whose presence was invisible to us. 

King Hezekiah was "bitten" by a hidden temptation, not seduced by a big and obvious Devil. This was because he allowed his pride and self-reliance to destroy his career. He should trust God who will give him protection from enemies. However, instead he sought protection through an alliance with a nation that worshiped idols (2 Chronicles 32:25,31). 

It's a shame that the good king tarnished his reign with this sin. We must be careful not to allow pride to reign in our hearts so that we, like Hezekiah, succumb to the wiles of the enemy. While we may be prepared to resist the obvious temptations of sin to tarnish our name, we may not be ready to face the temptations of the "smart" life. 

Beware of the "hidden rattlesnake". Such snakes are the most dangerous! --HVL

IF YOU WANT TO CONQUER TEMPTATION
ALLOW CHRIST TO CONQUER YOU FIRST

*) Take from Daily Reflections