Recently I was asked by a former Atheist if I thought Yahweh would have used deception to bring said individual to salvation in Yeshua, boldly stating that this would never have happened to them! In fact, this person was greatly incensed that they could be deceived in any way, shape, or manner.
Getting the Job Done (Without Salvation)
1 Kings 22:22, 2 Chronicles 18:21 – “I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.”
In 1st Kings and 2nd Chronicles we get a glimpse into the divine council. Yahweh wanted King Ahab to go up to his death at Ramoth-Gilead, and asked those present, “Who will entice him to do so?” Several answers as to how to do this were given, and finally a spirit stood up and said “I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.” Hmmm. Ahab refuses to listen to a true prophet, Micaiah, but would rather believe the deceptions of his own prophets, and goes to his death. No salvation here!
Numbers 22:12 – “Yahweh said to Balaam, ‘You must not go with them nor curse the people, for they are blessed’.”
Balak, King of the Moabites, was thoroughly deceived into believing that money would convince Balaam to come and curse the Israelites, despite Yahweh’s objections. And guess what – Balaam was finally bribed with enough money to go, with, he thought, Yahweh’s blessing. But this angered Yahweh and so he stood in front of Balaam’s donkey. Balaam thought (again falsely) that the donkey was playing games with him. Not so. Balaam is eventually released to go to Moab, but three times Balak is deceived into believing that sacrifices would change Yahweh’s blessings to curses. The deceived simply will not listen. Not much salvation here, either.
Getting the Job Done (With Salvation)
2 Samuel 12:1 – “Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, ‘There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor’.”
The prophet Nathan is sent to King David with a message about a two men – a rich man and a poor man. His message: the rich man takes the poor man’s lamb and feeds it to a traveler, rather than feeding the traveler one of his own. David is enraged and declares that the rich man deserved to die! Nathan then reveals the deception – telling David that he is that rich man. David repents and his sins are forgiven. Those who belong to Yahweh listen, repent, and are saved.
Conclusions
Deuteronomy 13:3 – “You are not to listen to what [a deceiving] prophet or dreamer says. For Yahweh your God is testing you, in order to find out whether you really do love Yahweh your God with all your heart and being.”
Yahweh has, can, and does use deception to accomplish his goals. There are many living among us that cannot hear the truth no matter how plain the truth may be stated. But they will and do listen to deceptions and lies. Those deceptions rarely result in repentance and salvation, but Yahweh can indeed use such methods to bring someone to a closer relationship with himself, Yeshua, and the Ruach Ha’Kodesh. The former Atheist is just one example. I am another.
Ahab refused to listen and Yahweh’s plan to send him to his death was accomplished. Balak also refused to listen and Yahweh’s plan to bless the Children of Israel was realized. David, however, did listen, did repent, and was forgiven. Scripture fully attests that he has salvation. Which person will you be?
Final Thought
The great day of Yahweh is getting really near, even at the door. It hastens forth and will not delay. We do NOT set dates, but clearly Yahweh is getting ready to change the course of human history once again. The signs are clear for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
Rapture Party 