It sounds like modern...
Illustration
Object:
It sounds like modern politics! If you want something there is always a way to get it -- and make it look legal. Is that cynical? It is also human. Lawyers find work in trying to find ways around the law. Even the biblical lawyers wrote volumes to show the Pharisees how to get around the law. On the Sabbath you were only supposed to walk a "Sabbath's day journey" or the distance you traveled after a meal. The answer to that was simple: Take a lunch with you and after the first leg of your trip, sit and eat your sandwich and then you can get up and walk again the same distance until your next meal. There are always ways around God's law, even today. It is even easier to get around man's laws, as you can see in the paper every day.
There are a few other things to be learned from this scripture. "Don't listen to your wife." (NO, that was cruel! Your wife may be more moral than you are!) I'm not sure scripture would approve of us sitting around brooding and sulking if we don't get our way. God's law warns about "coveting" our neighbor's property. Even thinking bad thoughts is not acceptable with God. As we say in the confession, we ask God to forgive our sins of thoughts as well as words or deeds. We are also warned against bearing false witness even if it may help us get our way. Again, the daily papers are full of the crimes of people -- some even in high office -- who twist the facts if not tell out and out lies to get their way. Ethics and morals are at least one area where the laws of evolution don't apply! The more I read both Old and New Testament, the more I am convinced that we haven't changed our hearts in thousands of years.
There is always the question of Naboth's stand on preserving tradition. His problem was a family thing. It would hurt the family honor -- even to make a buck! Today this is still the tradition in Nepal and India. For whatever the reason, he had a right to refuse Ahab's offer. It was his property to do with as he wanted -- even to deny the king! Today we don't want to violate the constitution -- except today we might do it for the right price.
The message here is that someday you will be found out if you violate the law. It may not be until we pass through that last gate, but then it would be too late to change and repent. We should be thankful if an Elijah came along today and saved us from an eternity of punishment.
There are a few other things to be learned from this scripture. "Don't listen to your wife." (NO, that was cruel! Your wife may be more moral than you are!) I'm not sure scripture would approve of us sitting around brooding and sulking if we don't get our way. God's law warns about "coveting" our neighbor's property. Even thinking bad thoughts is not acceptable with God. As we say in the confession, we ask God to forgive our sins of thoughts as well as words or deeds. We are also warned against bearing false witness even if it may help us get our way. Again, the daily papers are full of the crimes of people -- some even in high office -- who twist the facts if not tell out and out lies to get their way. Ethics and morals are at least one area where the laws of evolution don't apply! The more I read both Old and New Testament, the more I am convinced that we haven't changed our hearts in thousands of years.
There is always the question of Naboth's stand on preserving tradition. His problem was a family thing. It would hurt the family honor -- even to make a buck! Today this is still the tradition in Nepal and India. For whatever the reason, he had a right to refuse Ahab's offer. It was his property to do with as he wanted -- even to deny the king! Today we don't want to violate the constitution -- except today we might do it for the right price.
The message here is that someday you will be found out if you violate the law. It may not be until we pass through that last gate, but then it would be too late to change and repent. We should be thankful if an Elijah came along today and saved us from an eternity of punishment.
