Where I grew up fishing, northern pike and walleye pike were the kings of the fish to catch.  The lake our family fished most was home to small mouth bass, sunfish, crappies, perch, bullheads, and of course northern pike. Northerns are known as voracious feeders.  They have been known to feed on frogs, mice, young ducks, and pretty much whatever else is in the water or close to the water’s edge.  They will decimate a lake of all other fish!  They definitely are only concerned about one thing, and that is the next meat they can consume.  Northerns are not my favorite fish to eat, but I have consumed a lot of them in my lifetime. 
 
Several years back I was invited to go pike fishing with my good friend Mark in the Lake Clark area.  It was about 10pm and we still had plenty of good daylight.  We went to a river that flowed into Lake Clark.  He put a spoon lure on his line that we had a good deal of success with back in my childhood.  I guess the old ways still work on pike.  The spoon was red and white striped and we all called it a Daredevil.  One brand even had a little devil symbol on the spoon.  They are pretty simple but effective. 
 
Mark was ready to fish before I was.  He cast his Daredevil in the river and began reeling.  Within 30 seconds he got a huge hit on the pole!  It was a good-sized fish.  He fought it for a few seconds while I asked if he had any more Daredevils in his box?  He said yes, I have one more in the bottom.  I began tying that on as the fish Mark had snapped his line!  It was gone.  In hindsight, I could have offered Mark the Daredevil that was close to being secured on my line, but I did not.  I just finished the knot.  Mark reeled up and was setting up for a new lure while I casted that remaining Daredevil out in the same general direction. 
 
It was not even a minute later when I got an equally strong hit on my line.  I had a pike too and both Mark and I were excited for a good night of fishing.   I was able to get my fish up to the boat and Mark netted it for me.  To both of our shocked faces we saw something that we had never dreamed would happen.  On the opposite side of this northern pike’s mouth was an identical red and white Daredevil.  I had caught the same fish Mark had on, and he still had the Daredevil in his mouth!!  What a crazy event that was.  I took the other Daredevil off and gave it to Mark so he could cast again.  We only kept one pike that night, but we had a very fun night of fishing.  The Daredevil was working overtime!
 
Both Mark and I said that there was a life lesson that was illustrating itself right in front of us.  That lesson is that Satan, the devil, is at work to catch us in his trap and destroy us.  I Peter 5:6-8 tells us the difference between God and how He cares for us and how the devil treats us.  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.  Be sober-minded: be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  It is clear that the devil is hard at work looking for those to destroy.  When the devil is about his deeds, he does not waste his time by using traps or temptations that will not be effective on us.  He knows us very well and uses those things that will work for his wayward plans.  This is why we have a continual battle against the sin in our life that so easily entangles us.  We are susceptible to these wily schemes. 
 
As I take this a bit further, this pike was so susceptible to the Daredevil scheme that he fell for it twice in such a short time that even his brain could have remembered!  Okay, I really don’t know much about a pike’s brain.  But there are some Scripture passages that speak to this type of behavior.  One verse that comes to mind is from Proverbs 26:11-12, “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.  Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.”  The reason we keep falling for the same schemes is because we convince ourselves that this next time will be different.  We can conquer sin in our life by ourselves.  The real deceit going on here is that the devil tempts us to sin, he then beats us up with guilt regarding our sin making it seem like we are not good enough for God’s grace.  And then he tries to convince us that we can handle sin on our own and we don’t need God or anyone else to help us.  And just like that pike we chomp on that red and white spoon each time. 
 
But we forget what Peter tells us in I Peter 5:6-8.  We are to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand.  And we are to cast all of our anxieties on Him!  How often are you guilty of telling God, “I got this one.  You can take this one off and I will tell you when I need you.”  We don’t really admit this, but that is essentially what we are saying.  It is pride in our hearts that keeps us from humbly submitting to the Lord.  I would even say it is our foolish pride that is at work in our hearts and minds.  Is this not the same sin that the devil pursued when he thought himself equal with God?  The pride of humankind is pervasive and effective in keeping us from the grace and forgiveness that God gives. 
 
We would do well to memorize and obey James 4:6-8.  “But He gives more grace.  Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’  Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”  If we will humble ourselves and submit to God’s leading in our life, He will grant us His grace and will lift us up with His mighty right hand. 
 
Take a lesson from a pike!  Don’t be stubborn and proud.  Learn the lesson that God is trying to teach you early, and humbly submit to His leading in your life. 
 
Blessings,
Randy