I’ve come to realize that I’m dealing with a snake. Maybe you’ve dealt with his type before. He’s shady. Crafty. His strike is not a venomous dart, so fast that you never see it coming. No, he’s more the insidious type like the serpent in the Garden of Eden. He tells lies. He takes things and twists them around, misrepresenting facts. I used to give him the benefit of the doubt, but no more. Finally I am learning to accept him for what he is.
But what do I do about it? How does one respond to a snake? I’m good with frontal attacks, but this is not the best way to handle the Serpent (unless you’re a true charmer, which I’m not). He’s been attacking me and he’s attacking my boss. He’s maneuvering to take over my organization – in which case he will become my boss. This does not bode well for me. He does not look out for my best interest or even the best interest of the team. He looks out for himself.
I used to think he wasn’t my problem but as I’m crossing his trail and uncovering his untruths I’m also finding that he’s potentially doing harm to me and my team’s well-being, which is not okay.
Yes {sigh}, he has “something on me” (I’ll save the details for a future post). He caught me in a moment of imperfection and he brings it up at ever turn. He complains to others about it. He’s also on a campaign against my boss. It twists me up inside. I’m trying to focus on praying for him as I would an enemy. But at the same time, I’m recalling that God promises us the authority to trample on snakes and that nothing will harm us. (Luke 10:19)
There is a fable about a farmer who finds a snake nearly frozen in the winter snow. The farmer kindly places the snake inside the warmth of his coat. The snake soon revives and bites the farmer. The dying farmer asks, “Why?” and the snake says, “You knew I was a snake when you picked me up.” The moral? Kindness is not always the wisest course.
Psalm 141:
4 Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.
5 Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it,
for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.
LORD, I pray for Your protection. Bless and keep me and my team. Save us from the temptations presented by the evil one. Spare us his delicacies. Help us stay on Your path and not be led astray. Let us not nourish the viper at our bosom. Amen
