"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will
exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount
of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the
heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Isaiah 14:13-14
When Satan said I will, Satan came into the universe. It is not surprising, therefore, that each time self is exalted, sin follows. We will attempt to examine the five I wills of Satan and see what we can learn from them.
1. I will ascend into heaven. For Lucifer to say, I will ascend into heaven, is to imply that he was on the earth at this point in time. Wanting to ascend into heaven showed that he was not content with the place that God placed him in. Lack of contentment will always place us against God.
2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. He was given a throne, but that was not enough for him; his desire was to be over all the stars of God. These are all angelic beings in heaven. In other words, his position as an angel was not enough for him, he wanted to be God to them, and be in a place where he was not answerable to anyone. Pride was root of his discontentment.
3. I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. Sitting upon the mount of the congregation was a privilege reserved for God alone, yet, this was what Satan longed for. He was not content with where God placed him; lack of contentment will naturally set us up against God as it did for Satan. Psalm 48:1-2
4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. According to the Bible dictionary, the word, cloud, is used as a symbol of the Divine presence, as indicating the splendour of that glory which it conceals. If cloud is symbolic of the presence of God, and Satan wanted to ascend above the heights of the cloud, what he really wanted was to oust God from being God, and take His place. But remember where all of these began from: Lack of contentment with where God placed him. Godliness with contentment, the Bible says, is great gain. In other words, the lack of it is great loss, and Satan found this to be true.
5. I will be like the most High. This phrase will remind us of the Garden of Eden. What Satan tempted Eve with was what he wanted to be, but failed. He knew that such an ambition would be a snare to her. The best we can possibly be is that which God made us. In seeking to be like God, Adam and his wife lost everything.
The next time you find yourself dwelling on "I will, I will..." remember that Satan began his sinful career with I will.
When Satan said I will, Satan came into the universe. It is not surprising, therefore, that each time self is exalted, sin follows. We will attempt to examine the five I wills of Satan and see what we can learn from them.
1. I will ascend into heaven. For Lucifer to say, I will ascend into heaven, is to imply that he was on the earth at this point in time. Wanting to ascend into heaven showed that he was not content with the place that God placed him in. Lack of contentment will always place us against God.
2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. He was given a throne, but that was not enough for him; his desire was to be over all the stars of God. These are all angelic beings in heaven. In other words, his position as an angel was not enough for him, he wanted to be God to them, and be in a place where he was not answerable to anyone. Pride was root of his discontentment.
3. I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. Sitting upon the mount of the congregation was a privilege reserved for God alone, yet, this was what Satan longed for. He was not content with where God placed him; lack of contentment will naturally set us up against God as it did for Satan. Psalm 48:1-2
4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. According to the Bible dictionary, the word, cloud, is used as a symbol of the Divine presence, as indicating the splendour of that glory which it conceals. If cloud is symbolic of the presence of God, and Satan wanted to ascend above the heights of the cloud, what he really wanted was to oust God from being God, and take His place. But remember where all of these began from: Lack of contentment with where God placed him. Godliness with contentment, the Bible says, is great gain. In other words, the lack of it is great loss, and Satan found this to be true.
5. I will be like the most High. This phrase will remind us of the Garden of Eden. What Satan tempted Eve with was what he wanted to be, but failed. He knew that such an ambition would be a snare to her. The best we can possibly be is that which God made us. In seeking to be like God, Adam and his wife lost everything.
The next time you find yourself dwelling on "I will, I will..." remember that Satan began his sinful career with I will.
Toni
