# 372- Today's Living Word comes from Mr 5:13. ”And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.”
Two thousand pigs belly up in the sea. Just moments ago they had been peacefully foraging on a hillside. Just moments ago six thousand demons had occupied one man. The man, now completely at peace, the pigs now completely dead. It all happened so fast!
One thing we can learn from this episode, the devil is into violence. (The word violently, here in the Greek, speaks of a desire to cause injury.) First of all, we had the demoniac, who often injured himself by cutting himself with stones and now the pigs with their irresistible plunge to death.
Jesus had the devil pegged right when He says that the devil was a “murderer from the beginning.” (Jn 8:44) If the devil had his way, he would kill or harm every single God created creature. Let that truth sink in for a while as you contemplate the degree of God's merciful protection. None of us deserve it, but He provides it on a daily moment by moment basis.
So why does God allow any violence and mayhem at all?
I don't know. I just know that everything eventually works out for His glory. (Rom 8:28) I'd rather think of it this way: What if the devil didn't need permission to cause injury? How bad would our world be then? Think about the ramifications for such a world. Then be thankful, that there is a God who is able to restrain and seek to worship Him.
I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word
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