I often marvel at the Wisdom of the Lord in terms of Scripture. As I have gone through life I see more and more of God’s truth being validated in his word. For example, the Bible speaks of people being diluted in their thinking. 2 Thessalonians 2:11–12

[11] Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, [12] in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (ESV)

In my younger years, I could never conceive that this would be true much less anything that would happen. My though being that no one could or would be like this. However, with the passage of time, I see more and more that this is very much a case. Which brings me to the principle of lay traps for others. The Bible warns continuously about the evil that laying traps are for people but a good example of this is found in Proverbs 26:27.

[27] Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. (ESV)

There are many reason that we set traps for people. Perhaps it is because they have wronged us or in our own selfish desires lay a trap to snare someone so that we we can benefit. A rival at work for example. We can do it to manipulate someone into doing something we want them to do; either for evil purposes or even with good intention. But the reality is that to set traps is to fail to understand our place in creation and a failure to understand that God is sovereign over all things.

As we are reminded in Isaiah 45:7

[7] I form light and create darkness;
I make well-being and create calamity;
I am the LORD, who does all these things. (ESV)

We think that we are in control but this is the hubris of human nature that we think that we are in control. The reality is that we are not, merely adapting to that which is presented to us much as we stand before the hurricane or the tornado. We know that it is coming, but there is little that we can do to change it, only stand prepared as best as we can.

I am fond of saying that everything is in Circles. If you stay in one place long enough, you will see things that start come back to where they begin and often times, those who have laid traps for others to fall into them. Oh in the short term, they may have been successful in their trap against the intended target, but often times later, they blindly fall into the same trap they set for others. Like land mines laid in war the trap resurfaces years after the war has ended to strike the one who placed it and forgot.

Friends, there is no point except evil in laying traps for others. No matter if the purpose is intended for their good or yours. In the end, the will of God for creation will unfold according to the purpose and plan of God and as we walk this world, we should be careful to not just avoid traps set by others by remaining in the righteousness of Christ and following his commands. But we should most especially avoid setting traps for others and leaving these things to the Lord to sort out. As we are reminded by Job, God will prevail in all things no matter what they may look like to us.

Job 42:2

[2] “I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (ESV)