Dry Places
Jesus once healed a man that had been mute and demon-possessed. The multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel” (Matt. 9:33). The Pharisees, however, were not so thoroughly convinced. They claimed that Jesus had cast out demons by Beelzebub, ruler of the demons (Luke 11:15). In Luke’s account, Jesus answered their challenge by appealing to the nature of any kingdom – “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls (Luke 11:17, NKJV).
Jesus went on to explain that it would make no sense for Beelzebub to cast out his own (Luke 11:18-19). He testified that His casting out demons by the power of God was a sign of the establishment of His kingdom (Luke 11:20). He proved by both word and work He was mightier than any devil, even as a strong man may be overcome by one who is stronger (Luke 11:21-23).
Speaking about the nature of unclean spirits, Jesus continued, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest and finding none, he says, I will return to my house from which I came. And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order” (Luke 11:24-25).
There is something in that phrase – “he goes through dry places, seeking rest and finding none” – that speaks to the common calamity of man in his search for spiritual peace. Men often seek for rest in places that do nothing but leave them with empty, worthless lives, with nothing eternal on which to lean.
Consider the pursuits of wealth and fame, and all physical, temporary pleasures. Think of the variety of dry places to which humanity goes looking for fulfillment. None of these hold the key to happiness and rest. Paul said to Timothy that these are but a “temptation and a snare…foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Tim. 6:9). If we are honest with ourselves we will admit that sometimes we go looking for comfort in dry places.
Jesus said that the evil spirit is wise enough to eventually realize that the only solution is to “return to the house from which I came” (Luke 11:25). The prodigal figured this out as well (Luke 15:17-18). Hopefully, we too will be wise enough to see that our own safe resting place is in the Father’s house (John 14:2).
Jesus ended His teaching here with a warning. Although the evil spirit had been removed from the man, He said that spirit’s ultimate goal was to return with “seven other spirits more wicked than himself…enter and dwell there,” and then,“the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:26). Satan’s temptations will not end. The harder we try to fight him, the more concentrated He will become. The only solution is to make sure that we clean the house and lock the door.
Jesus Christ is the stronger man. He can overpower Satan and reign in us if we let Him. He will not lead us to dry places, but into green pastures and beside still waters (Psalm 23:2). As Jesus finished speaking, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed you!” (Luke 11:27).Jesus responded with the formula for avoiding dry places. He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28).
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