The Enemy Will Get In Any Way He Can
“And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter.”
2 Chronicles 23:19
I worked as a manager at a dog boarding facility.
It was such a fun job but one day I made a mistake and it was almost disastrous. We had this one dog that didn’t get along with any of the other dogs. While it was free-play this particular dog had to stay in a separate enclosure. The part of the pen he was in had a gate that opened directly to the free-play yard but could also be accessed through the house. Instead of taking the long walk through the house, I decided to bring Echo his food through the shortcut. I opened the gate and as soon as Echo’s archenemy saw the opening he pushed past me and into Echo’s enclosure. I had to break up a fight that left a few bite marks on Echo’s invader. I was not a diligent gatekeeper and the dog paid the price.
Gatekeepers
Gatekeepers are mentioned often in the Bible and I think it’s important to note that while fathers are the protectors and most of the time the breadwinners, mothers are the gatekeepers to the home.
Let’s look at the job of some of the gatekeepers in the Bible. Ancient cities had large fortified walls for protection. Look at Jericho for example. Houses were literally built into the wall. The gatekeepers though had an important job. They were on watch for any imminent threat. They needed to recognize who was approaching and if they were welcome into the city. If they were a threat in any way, the gates were closed and locked!
There were also gatekeepers for the Temple. 1 Chronicles 9:22-25 tells of the gatekeepers appointed by David and Samuel to guard the temple…212 of them to be exact!
22 All these, who were chosen as gatekeepers at the thresholds, were 212. They were enrolled by genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel the seer established them in their office of trust.
23 So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, that is, the house of the tent, as guards.
24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south.
25 And their kinsmen who were in their villages were obligated to come in every seven days, in turn, to be with these,
26 for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted to be over the chambers and the treasures of the house of God.
27 And they lodged around the house of God, for on them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning.
They were to make sure nothing unclean entered the temple. They were “entrusted over the treasures of the house of God.” They surrounded the temple…watching, caring for, and guarding it and the precious items contained.
Oh, mom, your home is filled with precious items! No, not the gold jewelry in your drawer. Nope, not the large TV mounted in your living room. Yes, the ones whose value is immeasurable. Your family is the treasure God entrusted to you and you are your home’s gatekeeper!
We moms are in charge of what or who enters our home. There are so many ways the enemy attempts to breach the gate. He sneaks in through that movie, through the video games, through the unchecked phone or social media accounts. He creeps in through the conversations and negativity, through the friends that enter, and through the books that are read.
I don’t care how old your kids are, if they are living inside your home YOU are the gatekeeper and you control what has a place in your home. Your family’s hearts are to be protected and guarded. And you have a huge role in that!
Remember Jericho?
Do you remember two spies who entered Jericho’s walls? The gatekeepers must have been sleeping OR the spies disguised themselves so well that they strolled in unnoticed. But someone noticed…
Joshua 2:1-3
1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
As soon as the king was made aware there was a breach in his security he was on a quest to protect his city and the spies fled… unfortunately they had already searched out the land and had the information needed to report back to the leader of Israel.
But How Can I Be The GateKeeper To My Home?
Be Watchful
It’s no longer enough to watch for the threat. We have to know the enemy’s tactics. He isn’t just showing up and knocking on our door announcing his plan to ruin our family. He is like the Trojan Horse. He is disguising and hiding within innocent avenues. As our home’s gatekeeper we must be mindful of any area Satan may be able to use to get to our kids.
I’ll never forget when there was a huge uproar from a popular kid’s Youtube channel because a mom happened to be sitting down watching the channel her child had watched a million times over when the creator snuck in ideas of suicide. A Youtube channel that seemed innocent and had probably been clicked on by some very busy moms just needing a few minutes to finish the dishes had an evil behind it.
Now listen, I am not saying STOP YOUTUBE! I love the few minutes of peace it sometimes gives me. But, because of the few things I have even caught in the channels my teens like to watch we have narrowed their selection down to a few channels that are allowed. All other channels have to be approved before they watch them. That is just one way I unknowingly let the enemy in. Like the king, when I was aware I did everything I could to refortify. I prayed for a spiritual wall of protection around my children in the areas where I have failed in being the gatekeeper I should have been and prayed for wisdom to know any areas where the enemy is trying to breach the border again.
Being the gatekeeper to your home is a tough job. You can’t let your guard down for a moment. But, it only takes a moment for the enemy to establish a stronghold. It seems a little overwhelming, doesn’t it? Let me share some verses to help ease the anxiety of all that responsibility:
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Hebrews 12:1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Isaiah 40:29: He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength
Pray
There is no more important tool for a mother than prayer. A tool that is often underutilized. God will equip us with all we need to fulfill the purpose He called us to. But staying in fellowship with the One who knows our enemy best would seem like a pretty wise thing to do as a gatekeeper. We can rest assured when we ask for wisdom, He will give it…and give it liberally! If you are unsure if your child’s new friend is a good influence…ask God. If you aren’t quite positive if a social media account will be a wise choice for your child…ask God. He’ll let you know! How do you fortify the city you call home…pray, pray, and pray some more!
Maybe you are like me and have failed in the past with being a proper gatekeeper. Guess what? God can restore and make new. God is our secret weapon. We can confess areas we are weak and God can come and show His strength. So let’s start inviting Him into our home! The more the enemy can sense the presence of the One Whom he cannot defeat the less and less room He has to attempt an attack. What are some ways you can invite Him into your home?
Dear God,
Every day I am reminded of just how much I need You. Please pour into me Your wisdom as the gatekeeper of my home. I admit I have failed at this in the past. Please don’t allow Satan to have any stronghold in my family’s lives. Help me to know what should enter our home and what should not. My children’s hearts are so precious and I want to do my part in guarding them against the enemy. I know when I seek You first You add all these things. Thank You that you have given me this important job and that You walk right beside me, instructing me in every area!
