The Spider and Satan

There he was.......motionless except for the wind blowing on the web that was highlighted by the sun.

When I was a little girl, I hated anything that creepy crawled on four legs or more; slithered, hopped or buzzed. I loved catching lightening bugs but as soon as I had them in my hand and they began to move, I couldn’t get them in the jar fast enough! If a mosquito swarmed around my head at night after the lights were out, I pulled the covers over my head even if the weather was hot and there was no breeze. Seeing a tick climb up my leg threw me into a running fit, swiping at it until it landed away from me somewhere; anywhere.

Then there were the spiders. I didn’t care if they were just garden spiders that were supposed to eat all the bad bugs; a spider was a spider and unless it was the jumping kind, I would stomp on it, crushing it into a little greasy spot. I’m not any better as an old person. I still avoid creepy crawly things as much possible.

As I continued to watch from my kitchen window, an unsuspecting bug flew into the web and stuck. Mr. Spider didn’t move. I figured he would jump on his catch and begin to devour it immediately but he didn’t. Mr. Spider seemed to enjoy watching the struggle of that helpless little bug. When the writhing of the bug stopped, Mr. Spider slowly moved in for the kill.

I began to think how Mr. Spider and Satan are very much alike. Satan can spin a beautiful web of temptation in unsuspecting places. Then he crawls to one corner and watches as his prey is caught in the trap of sin. Just like the bug that was caught in Mr. Spider’s web, people are caught because they didn’t see the trap for what it was or they thought they could dabble in sin a bit and then break free. Satan doesn’t seem to be in any hurry. I think he enjoys watching that person, who is trapped, no matter how they struggle to free themselves. Yes, they are caught in Satan’s web of deceit and destruction and Satan has conquered mankind once more. The only hope of freedom from the power of Satan’s web of sin is through the blood of Jesus Christ.

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:11-12