The concept of being "outwitted" involves being defeated or outmaneuvered through cleverness or cunning. In the biblical context, this theme appears in various narratives where individuals or groups are outsmarted, often highlighting the wisdom or cunning of one party over another. The Bible provides several instances where outwitting plays a significant role in the unfolding of God's plans or in the moral lessons conveyed through the accounts.

Jacob and Esau

One of the most prominent examples of outwitting in the Bible is the account of Jacob and Esau. Jacob, the younger twin, outwits his brother Esau to obtain the birthright and blessing that were traditionally reserved for the firstborn. In Genesis 25:29-34, Jacob takes advantage of Esau's hunger and persuades him to sell his birthright for a bowl of stew. Later, in Genesis 27, Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, deceives his father Isaac into giving him the blessing meant for Esau. This act of outwitting, though fraught with moral complexity, is part of God's sovereign plan to establish the nation of Israel through Jacob.

The Gibeonites and Joshua

Another instance of outwitting occurs in the book of Joshua, where the Gibeonites deceive the Israelites. In Joshua 9, the Gibeonites, fearing the advancing Israelites, resort to a ruse to secure a peace treaty. They disguise themselves as travelers from a distant land and present themselves to Joshua and the leaders of Israel. Without seeking the Lord's counsel, the Israelites make a covenant with them. When the deception is uncovered, the Israelites honor the treaty, demonstrating the importance of seeking divine guidance and the consequences of being outwitted.

Samson and Delilah

The account of Samson and Delilah in Judges 16 is another example where outwitting plays a crucial role. Delilah, bribed by the Philistine rulers, seeks to discover the secret of Samson's strength. Through persistent questioning and manipulation, she eventually outwits Samson, who reveals that his strength lies in his uncut hair. Delilah's cunning leads to Samson's capture, highlighting the dangers of misplaced trust and the vulnerability of even the strongest individuals to deceit.

David and Saul

David's interactions with King Saul also illustrate the theme of outwitting. Despite Saul's repeated attempts to kill him, David consistently outmaneuvers Saul, demonstrating both his tactical wisdom and his reliance on God's protection. In 1 Samuel 24 and 26, David spares Saul's life on two occasions, outwitting him by demonstrating mercy and righteousness. These episodes underscore the biblical principle that true wisdom and victory come from aligning with God's will rather than relying solely on human cunning.

Paul and the Corinthians

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul speaks of being outwitted by Satan in the context of forgiveness and reconciliation. In 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 , Paul writes, "If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." Here, Paul emphasizes the importance of forgiveness as a means to prevent being outwitted by the adversary, highlighting the spiritual dimension of outwitting in the Christian life.

Throughout the Bible, the theme of outwitting serves as a reminder of the complexities of human interactions and the need for divine wisdom. Whether through the cunning of individuals or the overarching plans of God, these narratives reveal the multifaceted nature of wisdom, deception, and the ultimate triumph of God's purposes.

The Image of Self.
... admiring their good qualities, or their success in life; they will talk to you of
what they have done, how they made this lucky hit, how they outwitted so-and ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lx the image of self.htm

Now, when I had Settled the Affairs of Tiberias...
... with John but his own citizens, and about fifteen hundred strangers that came from
the metropolis of Tyre; and when John saw that he had been outwitted by my ...
/.../josephus/the life of flavius josephus/section 66 now when i.htm

The Presbyter
... But when the sweet gratification of personal revenge had taken him to Antioch, his
rival, the supple eunuch Eutropius, outwitted and undermined him. ...
/.../chapter xii the presbyter.htm

Admitting that all These Things which do the Immortal Gods ...
... Since, however, your craft has outwitted me, have the mode which you wished; and
always undertake the expiation of thunder-portents with those things which you ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/1 admitting that all these.htm

The Downfall, 1616-1621.
... a hurry, and that only a few attended. The truth is, they were completely
outwitted. At this point the Protestant nobles of Bohemia ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xiv the downfall 1616-1621.htm

Godly Fear and Its Goodly Consequence
... You need not be a fool because you are a Christian. There is no necessity to be
outwitted in business. There is no necessity to be less shrewd, less sharp. ...
/.../spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/godly fear and its goodly.htm

The Princesses of the Comneni
... Great was the confusion of the credulous patriarch when he realized that he had
been outwitted by the clever woman, who, when her plans were fully matured ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/xiv the princesses of the.htm

Acts XXIII
... If the Pharisees who had befriended him in the Sanhedrim had not become indifferent
to his fate, they had been outwitted, so that the Sadducees were about to ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxiii.htm

The Bishop at Work
... Outwitted, William went off in distress to the bishop, who sent for Sir Thomas,
in private, charged him, and tried to make him confess. ...
/.../marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter v the bishop at.htm

Acts iv. 1
... Finding themselves overborne, they felt like persons who have been outwitted: as
is the case with people who have been forestalled and made a sport of in some ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily x acts iv 1.htm

Outwitted (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Outwitted (2 Occurrences). Genesis 31:20 And Jacob stole
away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. ...
/o/outwitted.htm - 6k

Oven (22 Occurrences)

/o/oven.htm - 15k

Outwit (3 Occurrences)

/o/outwit.htm - 7k

Michal (18 Occurrences)
... When Saul in his jealousy sent for David, she was quick to discern her husband's
danger, connived at his escape, and not only outwitted and delayed the ...
/m/michal.htm - 16k

Carrying (88 Occurrences)
... Genesis 31:26 And Laban said to Jacob: 'What hast thou done, that thou hast outwitted
me, and carried away my daughters as though captives of the sword? ...
/c/carrying.htm - 32k

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