The Devil Keeps Attacking

The devil is very eager to tempt believers. He does not give them a break but wants to fire his temptations at them without interruption. So, there is no "truce". No “repite”. He keeps attacking.

We find this illustrated by two men in the Old Testament whose reactions could not be more
different: Joseph and Samson.

We read in the case of Joseph: "So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed
her, to lie with her or to be with her.… But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside."
(Gen 39:10, 12).

In the case of Samson, it is said: "And it came to pass when she pestered him daily with her words
and pressed him so that his soul was vexed to death, that he told her all his heart" (Jdg 16:16, 17).

The same tactic is used in both cases: constant bombardment to bring down the believer (here:
fornication or betrayal of God). Joseph appears resolute and determined and rebuffs temptation on a
daily basis. In Samson, we also find a certain steadfastness at the beginning, but he becomes
noticeably weaker as he plays with the temptation. Bit by bit, he becomes more and more involved
with Delila, each day drawing closer and closer to his secret of power. Then, his soul becomes deathly
dull; the devil wears him down. Samson falls.

The words of Solomon come true here: "With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her
flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a
fool to the correction of the stocks, till an arrow struck his liver" (Prov 7:21-23).

On the other hand, James also shows us that we can drive the devil out victoriously: "But resist the
devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7; cf. also Luke 4:13).

And yet the principle still applies: the devil does not allow believers to take a breather with his
temptations. This means remaining steadfast. The Lord can help us with this.