“An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore, a cruel messenger will be sent against him” (Proverbs 17:11).
A frequent lie told by Satan in temptation is “No one will ever find out.” Who would ever find out if the Son of God sinfully misappropriated His miraculous power by turning stones into bread in the lonely wilderness (Mat. 4:3)? Who would ever discover the evil motives behind king David’s secret orders to set Bathsheba’s husband in the forefront of the hottest battle and then retreat from him so that he would be struck down and die (2 Sam. 11:15)? It has been a lie repeatedly told and believed in human history. Yet it is ALWAYS untrue.
The firm foundation of knowledge and wisdom is the fear of the Lord (Prov. 1:7, 9:10). Essential to a vibrant and proper fear of the Lord is the facts of His omniscience and righteousness—He sees and knows everything, and He is a rewarder of all human thoughts, words, and deeds. The wicked “utter speech and speak insolent things…boast in themselves… slay the widow and the stranger and murder the fatherless” (Ps. 94:4-6), because they believe “The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob understand” (Ps. 94:7). Because “there is not fear of God before his eyes”, the wicked “flatters himself in his own eyes, when he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. He devises wickedness on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil” (Ps. 36:1-4).
Be not deceived, God is not mocked: an evil man who seeks only rebellion against God will be sent cruel messengers against him because of God’s inescapable justice.
