“They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.” (Isaiah 59:5)
This verse in Isaiah is vile. That is how evil and oppression is seen by the Lord. The word “cockatrice” means viper or adder. The words of the oppressor are seeds of evil which when birthed are dangerous and kill. They hold the creature that has the poison to kill and destroy.
The lies of the deceiver come from within, his own self. “And He said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:20-23) They are man-made by his imagination and influenced by the evil one. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:13-15)
He spins a web of lies to trap the innocent, the naïve and the careless. They get caught up in the snare of lies and cannot escape. But to the wise, the web is flimsy. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17) The wise can see that the web is flimsy and can easily be swept away. He is not enticed by its intricate net.
Those who devour the lies die. What lies which are widely accepted today trap the fool, the carnal and the immature? There are so many accepted by those who have left the faith of their parents. They have turned a deaf ear to the teachings of righteousness to follow their lusts (James 1:14,15) and to follow the lies of the viper. The clues begin in benign acts which don’t alarm anyone. They skip church, here and there, then altogether are not there anymore. This is a sign that prayer and fellowship with the Lord is missing. Then there is the assent and acceptance of the world culture. They use work as an excuse to neglect the fellowship of believers in worship. They follow the ignorant in accepting lifestyles which are contrary to God’s Will, becoming adulterous in thought, thinking only of satisfying their flesh and adulterous in their spirit, placing their lust above the Lord and glorying in it. But the wise listen to and obey instruction. They learn from it avoiding death. “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.” (Proverbs 4:13-17)
Isaiah 59:5 has a warning. We are told to hate evil. (Romans 12:9) And we are to disapprove of it. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5:11) And we are to stand against the lies of the devil armed with the armor of God. (Ephesians 6:11) But know that there is danger in taking a stand against evil. It comes in the form of persecution. “...that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.” We can stand against evil when we know who we are in Christ, having our armor of the Gospel and the Word firmly planted in us, protecting us and yielding it as a weapon against the enemy. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Getting wisdom is godly. It is loving oneself and loving life. “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.” (Proverbs 19:8) God is a rewarder of those who choose life. It begins by believing God and rejecting the lies of the enemy. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)
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