Monday’s section of this week’s lesson asks how we can keep from being deceived by Satan? Satan is a narcissist. Narcissists gaslight their victims by creating illusions that appear to defy what is true. Satan tempts us by creating illusions that appear to defy what is true. He has to make us doubt Bible truth before he can deceive. There is no need to fear or be deceived if we believe the Bible even when Satan’s illusions contradict it. Let’s look at how the serpent decieved Eve. 

And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:2-5 NKJV

The sperpent  so sublty and casually called God a liar when he said, “You will not surely die.” In order to decieve Eve Satan had to make her doubt God’s Word. If we believe God’s Word we will not be tricked into sin. We barely left Pslams but if we can go back again for another quick visit we will see,

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 NKJV

The Bible, which is God’s Word protects us from deception. It concerns me when people will say that Science or archeology has proven the Bible to be true. Why does this concern me? Because when we make the Bible appear to rely on science or archeology for validation then we are giving science and archeology authority over and above the Bible. If I am in traffice court, and the police officer is assuring the judge that my testimony is true then that must mean the police officer has more authority and merit than I do, because I am relying on his or her validation. The Word of God does not seek to be validated by man. Mankind, human phillosphy, science and archeology hold no authority over the Bible and are not qualified to declare God’s Word valid or invalid. The Bible stands on its own merit and gives but does not receive validation. 

A few years ago I was grading some 7th grade math papers, when a 7th grade math whiz came up to me to ask me if I had graded his paper yet. He wanted to know if he had missed any answers. This 7th grade math whiz was so good, I told him, “Are you kidding me? I use your paper to see if the answer book is right or not!” Of course I was using a little humor in telling this student how great he was at math. If I am letting the student decide if the answer book is right or not it must mean I think more of the student than the answer book. If I let an archeologist or scientist tell me if the BIble is right or not it must mean I think more of the archeologist or scientist than  I do the Bible. However, I do not let Scientists and archeologists tell me if the Bible is right. I let the Bible tell me if the scientists and archelogists are right or not. 

Some people think they are smart to question God’s Word. However the Plsamist says,

Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord From this time forth and forever. Psalm 131:1-3 NKJV

When the Bible presents ideas too great for us to understand, Satan suggests the ideas are actually foolish, when in reality they are just beyond our human comprehension. Human pride loves to cast aside as foolish the things it can’t explain or comprehend. Instead of becoming skeptics of God’s Word when we find something we don’t understand, it is wiser to be like David and trust God’s Word like a small child trusts its mother. After all, we will never be able to explain everything about God. If we could understand and explain everything about God He would cease to be God and would be just like us. When I was a child my parents did a lot of things I could not understand until I became older and grew up to be like them. While I can grow up like my parents did, I can never grow up to undersand and explain everyting about God and His Word. If I could be like God He would not be much of a God. The fact that scientists and archeologists cannot explain everything or even validare everything in God’s word is what makes it so divine. If scientists and archeolgists could valdiate the Bible then the Bible wouldn’t be any more inspired than the scientists and archeolgists validating it. As Paul exclaims regarding the greatness of God,

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! Romans 11:33 NKJV 

Peter tells us some people think they are being smart when trying to bring the Bible down to their own level when in reality they are twisting it to their own destruction. 

…….which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 2 Peter 3:16 NKJV

While we cannot explain everything about God, He gives us plenty of evidence to believe in His Word. First of all, going back to the Garden of Eden, as you well know Adam and Eve did die because of thier disobedience. God’s Word in time proved to be true. Daniel 2 contains a prophecy spanning well over a thousand years and so far every detail of that prophecy has proven true. Even the part that says, 

As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. Daniel 2:43 NKJV

In thi s prophecy the Bible says Europe will never be united into another one world empire. During World War II many thought Hitler would form another one world empire, but they were wrong and God’s Word proved true. As I have illustrated in a previous article, Every Word of God Proves True. If what we see, hear or feel contradicts what God’s Word says, we can be sure what we see, hear or feel is wrong. This is why we cannot afford to give more merit to skeptics, philosophers, scientists or archeologists than we do the Word of God. Instead we must,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

In order for me to make you believe 1+1=3 I must make you doubt the math answer book. If  I can make you doubt your math textbook I may be able to deceive you. Narcissists all know in order to make you believe their lies, they have to first gaslight you, causing you to doubt what is actually true. Narcissists gaslight their victims by creating illusions that appear to defy what is true. Satan tempts us by creating illusions that appear to defy what is true. He has to make us doubt Bible truth before he can deceive. There is no need to fear or be deceived if we believe the Bible even when Satan’s illusions contradict it. 

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.