Proverbs 1:18 “but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives”
As a young boy I was stubborn at times I think. When growing up in Children’s Homes around the country we were often left to do our own things. One home was a very old building with 4 floors. When exploring one day I found a trapdoor that led to the eve’s of the building and there was enough room to crawl in there and sit.
So on the following school day, that’s what I did. I sat in the dark, in a confined space for probably 6 hours, rather than go to school. At around 4 pm I came out of the space and sneaked downstairs, I had to somehow get past the kitchen door where the warden would often sit. I managed that, and so I went to the front door, opened it quietly and then slammed it shut to be sure everyone would know I had just come home from school.
The warden called me into the big communal kitchen and asked me how my day at school was, and I told him it was a good day. He suggested I go to the bathroom next door ad look in the mirror – which I did. And well, my face was covered in dark dusty marks, my hair had cobwebs in it and my throat was also covered in marks.
He had known I was there all day, as the school had called when I was a no-show. My actions, which seemed clever to me, were in danger of ambushing my own future…….
KNOWLEDGE
Here is the outcome, the end result of the actions of people whose wisdom runs contrary to Godly wisdom, who also try to lure others into their path and have no care for those who get badly hurt by their actions. The very thing they are trying to achieve by focusing only on themselves and their progress stops their progress dead in its tracks.
The actions they think will lead to their prosperity and others’ downfall will lead to their downfall and others’ prosperity. They, in attempting to undo others are undone themselves – there is no alternative short or long term outcome for them. Because they despise moral purity and their actions are self-centred, they sabotage their own hearts and lives.
UNDERSTANDING: Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live? The word for “ambush” in the Hebrew language is pronounced, “sapan” and is found 32 times in the Old Testament. The English words used to translate it are, hide; closed; treasure [Job 20:26]; kept; stealthily; store; lurk; ambush; restrain; and, concealed. In verse eighteen we have the idea of stealthily lurking in wait for ourselves.
WISDOM: what evidence in my life points to where my focus is? How do I use my time, my money, my words, my emotions, my creative skills, my learning, my strength and my passion?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Consistency is a beautiful Executing Strength – this proverb could look like a very raw form of consistency. When our focus is centred on process over people we set ourselves up by our own actions to fail at the very thing we are aiming for success in. An obsession with the method over materialisation, or insisting that your rules-based view is the only reality, brings a poor harvest. You have set a trap for yourself, then stepped onto it and tripped it! Consistency has a beautiful mature side – the same passion and focus used well creates a culture where others recognise natural justice, feel safe and grow. Others know what is expected of them especially through periods of change, where the focus is on what is not changing, such as the cultural values, and this brings hope and stability when it is most needed. Your recognition of others accomplishments during these times helps the team see the value they bring.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version: [staying still and hidden, they are setting up a trap for themselves, that ends in their own demise]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please help me to recognise and avoid the enemies traps, and help others do the same. Thank you!
This is such a great question: How do I use my time, my money, my words, my emotions, my creative skills, my learning, my strength and my passion?
How many in our world today are doing exactly this! They protest evil with evil rather than allowing room for God. He is the great judge and redeemer in one and what man meant for evil, God uses for good.
Great Thought Allan. Great verse to be reminded to not be fooled by our own desires and to not think of ourselves highly above others but to humble ourselves to the teaching of this proverb.
I was thinking about when I let my son do the very thing that he knows he’s going to get right but then fails but all along I’ve told him it’s not the right thing to do….often my response is “See, I told you so” but my response should rather be “What can I do to help you”? Or “What do you learn from that mistake?
Coming alongside people to Help them reach their full potential is the greatest Honour I’ll ever get to be a part of.
A very thought provoking scripture helping me to take an inventory of my life & make sure i’m more people focused than task focused. God’s Word says ‘what you sow you will reap…’ & though people with evil intent think they’ll get away with it it will always come back to bite them & bring deep regret. When we heed God’s ways with a sincere heart we realize they are the only ways worth pursuing. & no I’ll gotten success or wealth or fame can compare with His goodness & grace in our lives
Today’s word of knowledge speaks about when our actions don’t align with God’s wisdom.
They don’t only destroy ones self ,but the outcome has a massive impact on others too.
Taking a riisk of losing everything that you valued for selfish and temporary gain .
This flows so well from yesterday’s devotional of being wise to who we let influence and speak into our lives to ourselves. Good question, made me stop and look at the evidence in my life and reflect
Thank you Allan.
Our 30 year journey together
on God’s path for our lives becomes even more meaningful through our study of Proverbs.
Thanks Finlay – you are a blessing! Praying over you and Lorna each morning!
Reading your intro reminds me of something I would have done as a kid, I used to think it was bad luck getting caught, my dad said it was good luck. Thanks Ps Allan really helping me understand what the verse is trying to teach us. And the business breakthrough is always great in getting me thinking outside the square.
Many times we fell in our old ways cause we look at the God that is convento us not the God of truth we want something and we don’t want to put the work or We do t want to endure anything we want the prize now without the repentance without the transformation we believe we done enough or we simple believe we deserve it
We are fools unless we see the gift Jesus has given us His Love His Mercy and ultimately His Power to know, to learn to grow
Jesus don’t let us fall
Jesus walk with us
Jesus protect us
Jesus light the way
Amen
“When our focus is centred onto process over people we set ourselves up by our own actions to fail at the very thing we are aiming for success in.“ I’ve witnessed this to be more than true! Praying I’ll be a wise godly leader who releases people to dream big and aim high, and who is full of humility to stand with them when they try and don’t succeed. Thank you Pastor Allan
The worldly people are self harming themselves living this way, and bring people around them down aswell without even knowing.
Thats my intake of this verse.
This is so good. Great post, thought provoking and worthy to be pondered on more and reflect. Great question.
When you giving to worldly ways and strayed way from righteousness you don’t relished how much damage you have caused to self and others around you. How far you have gone until you find your way back!!
I remember as a kid all the clever things I did so I can please my mum was what made her most upset. Disobedience makes logical sense when my focus is on me and what I understand. I pray my focus will be on Him and that I wouldn’t need to understand everything He says or does in order to follow him.
Path to life is narrow and hard to stay on track, it needs wisdom, training, self control, discipline and self awareness. Through the word of God and His grace He is willing to help us to stay the course.
In military saying “harder the training is easier the battle”.
Many times in my life I ignored the discipline because the indiscipline way is easier to follow and the consequences were either embarrassment or punishment or both.
Learn from my own mistakes and getting back on the track of life by listening to that small voice and the guidance from the people of God will helped me to stay the path.
By explaining the verses through your own life experiences and connecting them to the core meaning of the verse is brilliant.
Thank you for your ministry Allan.
God bless you.
Thanks Venthan – you are a good man!
Shortcuts may seem clever in the moment, but they often lead to pitfalls we don’t foresee. Life has a way of bringing things full circle—a boomerang effect that reminds us there’s no escaping the consequences of our actions. True success is built on integrity, hard work, and wisdom, not on cutting corners. When we pursue the right path, even if it’s longer or harder, we lay a foundation that endures, avoiding the traps we might otherwise set for ourselves. A powerful reminder to choose wisely today for a better tomorrow!