Even if you’re a baby Christian you should be aware of this fact. You cannot hide from God. How can we hide from the One who’s omniscient and omnipotent? Even more profound than that, how do you hide from the One who lives inside of you? It’s impossible! Yet so many have tried it. There’s a passage in Ezekiel where Israel did just that. They had convinced themselves that God couldn’t see them behind the wall🤦♀️ Ezekiel 8. They were doing the most detestable things stirring up the Lord’s anger, they had no idea what standing in God’s way would produce for the entire nation of Israel. But that’s just a side note. God’s Word is incredibly simple and profound, but so very relevant and relatable. We are interwoven within its pages, our lives that is. We are given examples after examples to help us live better lives, but instead of taking them and learning from them, we repeat the mistakes of the past.
Disguises take on many forms, it doesn’t always require a costume. We all have our own ways of wearing it. People who deceive by pretending to be someone they’re not are wearing a disguise. People who say one thing and do another are wearing a disguise. People who preach/teach God’s Word and live contrary lives are wearing a disguise. It’s the highest form of deception. But those who practice that lifestyle will soon be cut off. Never use a disguise to stand in God’s way. I have a few examples that I’d like to share from God’s Word. They’re unfortunate in that the desired results were not achieved. Deception is its own peril. Disguises may work in play acting, but it will never fit in with God’s plan.
“After Josiah had finished restoring the Temple, King Neco of Egypt led his army up from Egypt to do battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates River, and Josiah and his army marched out to fight him. But King Neco sent messengers to Josiah with this message: “What do you want with me, king of Judah? I have no quarrel with you today! I am on my way to fight another nation, and God has told me to hurry! Do not interfere with God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.” But Josiah refused to listen to Neco, to whom God had indeed spoken, and he would not turn back. Instead, he disguised himself and led his army into battle on the plain of Megiddo. But the enemy archers hit King Josiah with their arrows and wounded him. He cried out to his men, “Take me from the battle, for I am badly wounded!”
2 Chronicles 35:20-23 NLT
The sad part about this story is that it was avoidable. The warning was clear, this wasn’t about Josiah and Neco, this was God’s urgent business and a good man disguises himself and tries to stand in God’s way. It ended badly for him but it didn’t stop the order that God had given King Neco. Our best efforts will never withstand the directives of God. The Bible isn’t clear as to why Josiah didn’t listen, but even if he thought Neco was an enemy he had ways of finding out without resorting to a disguise, by seeking the word of the Lord through His prophet as he did before, he would’ve saved himself. Whenever we believe we know more than God, push through to make our own way, it will never end well.
One of the greatest perpetrators of this conduct was King Saul. He was a disaster waiting to happen. It’s one thing to play the fool with your own life. It’s quite another thing to play the fool with the life of others. He lied so much that he believed he was telling the truth. On two occasions David could’ve killed him but restrained himself, on both occasions Saul promised to do better and didn’t. If you don’t know the MO of a deceiver you’ll fall prey to the disguise. Thank God David didn’t believe him! See 1 Samuel 26. God had removed His anointing and protection from Saul. He was king in title only, living on borrowed time. Whenever we choose obstinacy and rebellion over repentance and obedience, we walk alone. The hand of God will be against us. Our heart wears the disguise that our mouths espouse, saying the right words but living the opposite. That was the life of King Saul.
Because of his refusal to accept that the Lord had rejected him, he had to resort to the very thing he himself had outlawed in Israel. I’ve learned something about God over the years. He says what He means and moves on. He stands behind every word. There truly is no shadow of turning with Him. He’s constantly the same. Years ago when He placed me on time out for disobeying Him, no one, no matter how well meaning, could get me to budge. I waited for Him to restore me. I don’t do well with disguises. I don’t ever Want to feign the anointing! He anoints and He rescinds. He gives gifts, He calls and appoints. If He says it’s over, it’s a wrap. The way up is the way down. On our faces before Almighty God in true honest repentance, no disguises! He reads hearts, minds and thoughts. Saul never learned how to take responsibility for his actions. He lived a lie till the day he died.
“About that time the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.” “Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.” Then Achish told David, “I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.” Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had banned from the land of Israel all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets. Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.” So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went to the woman’s home at night, accompanied by two of his men. “I have to talk to a man who has died,” he said. “Will you call up his spirit for me?” “Are you trying to get me killed?” the woman demanded. “You know that Saul has outlawed all the mediums and all who consult the spirits of the dead. Why are you setting a trap for me?” But Saul took an oath in the name of the Lord and promised, “As surely as the Lord lives, nothing bad will happen to you for doing this.” Finally, the woman said, “Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?” “Call up Samuel,” Saul replied. When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, “You’ve deceived me! You are Saul!” “Don’t be afraid!” the king told her. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” she said. “What does he look like?” Saul asked. “He is an old man wrapped in a robe,” she replied. Saul realized it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him. “Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?” Samuel asked Saul. “Because I am in deep trouble,” Saul replied. “The Philistines are at war with me, and God has left me and won’t reply by prophets or dreams. So I have called for you to tell me what to do.” But Samuel replied, “Why ask me, since the Lord has left you and has become your enemy? The Lord has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. The Lord has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites. What’s more, the Lord will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The Lord will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.” Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.”
1 Samuel 28:1-20 NLT
If God is silent, don’t go seeking answers from the dead. You may not hear what you wanted to hear. Saul may have disguised himself and fooled a medium, but he couldn’t fool God. Even the dead reiterated the judgment of God. I said God stands behind His Word whether for blessings or cursings.
“The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken— who can change His plans? When His hand is raised, who can stop Him? Isaiah 14:27 NLT
So what disguises are you wearing to try and circumvent the Word of God? To disobey His warnings? What of His messages are you despising or brushing aside? Ezekiel through the Spirit was told these words.
“When righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds.”Ezekiel 18:26 NLT
Today is the day to replace your disguises with the robe of righteousness. It’s now time to repent and walk in true holiness. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Psalm 19:9 He’s not unjust in what He requires. Turn from your disguises and live. The Lord is pleading with you as He did with Israel. Will you heed His warning today?
“Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!”
Ezekiel 18:31-32 NLT
Let’s come clean in the age of disguises, religious people by far wear the greatest disguise, for they have a form of godliness that stunts the power of God. Matthew 23:28🙏
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
September 24, 2021