GOD HEARS A DESPERATE CRY

                                                                                                                                                                 By W. G. Guy

          The Bible tells us that Jesus arose early each day to pray and commune with His Heavenly Father.  Thus He received God’s guidance for that day as to where to go, what to do, and who to see.  In Luke 8:22-39, we read that the Father directed Jesus to go from Capernaum eastward across the Sea of Galilee to the area known as the home of the Gadarenes.  Jesus’ mission was to meet with just one man to whom he was to minister.  Why just one man?

          It is likely that this man, being tormented by evil spirits (demons), had called out to God in desperation, asking for help.  God responded to this call, as He is always willing to do to those who call upon Him – because He cares. 

1 Peter 5:7 – casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

          God then told Jesus where to go, who to see, and what to do.  It appears that this area of Gadara was a very favorable place for demons to inhabit, because the people there did not worship God, but idols.  The bible tells us that the worshiping of idols is actually worshipping evil spirits (demons).

Revelation 9:20 – that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

          These people also raised swine: (pigs) which were forbidden of the Israelites.  This tells us that this vicinity was a stronghold of the devil.  Then Satan, also called the Prince of the Power of the Air, knowing Jesus was on his way to this area, tried to hinder him from getting there by creating a storm on the lake to swamp the boat that Jesus and His disciples were in.

Luke 8:22-26 – Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.  But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.  And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.  And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.  And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

          Satan’s efforts to stop Jesus failed; (as he fails every time); so Jesus arrives at the shore, and the man that Jesus was sent to did meet Him there.

Luke 8:27 – And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

          This poor man’s condition was extreme, and he was driven by a multitude of evil spirits.  These demons knew who Jesus was because they are spirit beings: they also have knowledge of events in future time that we are not aware of.  They may even have driven the man to meet Jesus in order to ask Him to leave them alone.

Luke 8:28 – When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

          These demons had so much control over this man that they even spoke to Jesus on his behalf, as it they represented him.  They tried to put up a resistance, but they can’t resist the Son of God, or His Word, or His commands.

Luke 8:29-30 – For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.

          The narration continues about the sort of behavior these demons caused in this poor man.

Luke 8:30 – For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness. 

          Jesus takes authority over them and commands the leader of these evil spirits to identify himself.

Luke 8:31 –  And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

          Knowing that they were defeated in their effort to stop Jesus, they sought permission from Jesus to inhabit a herd of swine that was in the vicinity.  It appears that the Gadarenes held the pigs in high regard, maybe even worshipping them.  This is why the demons thought that they would be safe inhabiting the pigs.

Luke 8:31-32 – And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.  And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

          This did not work out well for the pigs because the brain of a pig is not like the brain of a man.  The pigs could not cope with these evil spirits taking control of them, and they went crazy; running away wild, and into the lake where they drowned.

Luke 8:33 – Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. 

          Those who tended the herd of swine were so startled that they ran into town and reported what had happened.  Then the town’s people came out in fury at losing their swine and came to confront Jesus.

Luke 8:35-36 – Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.  They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

          Obviously they were startled at seeing the demon possessed man totally healed and in his right mind.  This miracle so shocked them that they feared Jesus and did not want anything to do with Him.  He threatened their idol worship and allegiance to Satan.  Word of this event spread pretty quick as the whole area was up in arms.

Luke 8:37 – Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again. 

            The newly delivered man was so pleased that he desired to remain with Jesus and follow Him.  However, Jesus wanted the man, who now had a really great testimony and a witness, to go and tell people of how God heard his plea and sent His only begotten Son to redeem him – which he did.

Luke 8:38-39 – Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,  Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

          So in this story we see that God hears the cry of a desperate person and He is willing to send help, even when it is resisted.  How long this man was in this condition is not told, but it shows that in time, divine help came. 

          Are you in a desperate condition?  Have you called on the LORD for help?  Be assured He has heard your cry, and help is on the way.  It may not come when you expect it, because that help may be hindered by Satan’s forces, as happened here, (and as happened to the prophet Daniel – Daniel 10:13).  God will send the forces needed to come to you, but you need to hold on in faith until you receive.

Romans 8:31-32 –  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all thy heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.