THE MOUSE THAT ROARED

The Mouse That Roared

The one who is in [us] is greater than the one who is in the world.

1 John 4:4

READ MATTHEW 4:1–11

Several years ago my sons and I spent a few days camping in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Northern Idaho. It’s grizzly bear habitat, but we carried bear spray, kept our campsites clean, and anticipated no major grizzly encounters.

One evening, in the middle of the night, I heard Randy scramble around trying to get out of his sleeping bag. I grabbed my flashlight and turned it on, expecting to see him in the clutches of an enraged grizzly.

There, sitting upright on its haunches and waving its paws in the air was a field mouse about 4 inches tall. It had Randy’s cap firmly clenched in its teeth. The little creature had tugged and tugged until he pulled Randy’s cap from his head. As I laughed, the mouse dropped the cap and scampered away. We crawled back into our sleeping bags. I, however, fully adrenalized, couldn’t get back to sleep and thought about another predator—the devil.

Consider Satan’s temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). He countered his enticements with the Scriptures. With each answer, Jesus reminded Himself that God had spoken on this issue and therefore He wouldn’t disobey. This caused the devil to flee.

Although Satan wants to devour us, it’s good to remember that he’s a created being like the little rodent. John said, “the one who is in [us] is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

By David H. Roper

REFLECT & PRAY

Dear God, I’m grateful that You’re greater than any temptation that comes at me. Please provide the way out.

What are your greatest temptations? What does God say about these issues and how might you use that when you’re tempted?

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Some scholars believe Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19 tell of how Lucifer became Satan (meaning “adversary”) and was cast out of heaven because of his rebellion against and desire to be God. Alluding to this, Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18). Three times he’s called “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). In the third temptation of Jesus, Satan—claiming to rule over the world—offers Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world” if He would worship him (Matthew 4:8-10). Though powerful, Satan is a defeated foe (Genesis 3:15; John 12:31; 16:11; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 20:7-10), and has no power other than that allowed by God (Job 1:12; 2:6; Luke 22:31-32). K. T. Sim