Jeremiah 50:24 English Standard Version (ESV) I set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon, and you did not know it; you were found and caught, because you opposed the Lord.

Chess has so many different opportunities to take advantage of an opponent that they have names. Gambit, swindle, trap, forks, pins, and the least favorite for beginners, the sacrifice.

While looking for a scripture to relate to these chess moves I found this passage in Jeremiah. A snare is a trap and traps in chess are only good if you know ones opponent well enough to offer one. They can go terribly bad if they do not work.

Here is the problem with playing chess with the Lord, He already knows the outcome. He not only knows how it will end but He knows what tactic to use in every situation.

The best chess players have studied all the openings, all the variations, analyzed their opponent and know how best to place them in a position where they are left with nothing but bad choices.

Now the Lord gave us free will and we may or may not discover we have made a series of bad choices and life has taught us how it feels to be on the losing side.

This is an opportunity to get on the winning side and listen to the One who knows how things will end and lead you through life and avoid the traps of life.

Free will is a tricky thing. We are free in Christ and we no long have to listen to the schemes of the devil but knowing that does not remove the mine field of life. Making the right move now does not mean our next footfall isn’t going to blow up on us.

The enemy knows who is complacent in their freedom. He has seen it before, he has studied human nature.