Deception on God's Behalf

The Lord said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in carrying out what I consider right, and in accordance with all that was in my heart have dealt with the house of Ahab, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel." II Kings 10:30 NRSV

From the moment of his anointing, Jehu uses deception as God's instrument of justice:

The killing of the King of Israel on Naboth's former vineyard.

Encouraging the eunichs to throw Jezebel to the ground where the dogs licked up her blood.

Tricking the advisers to kill all 70 of the previous king's sons, then killing all the advisers.

The complete slaughter of the Baal worshippers with the destruction of their temple, after commanding all of them to attend a sacrifice.

How has God asked you to be deceptive on God's behalf in order to bring about justice?

God, although you don't ask me to kill on behalf of justice, you may sometimes ask me to be deceptive. Please guide me, Lord, so that whatever I do is your will not mine. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Being Clever

So Michal let David down through a window; he fled away and escaped. Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed; she put a net of goats hair on its head, and covered it with the clothes. I Samuel 19: 12 NRSV

Jacob and Issac.

Rebeccah And Laban.

Joseph and his brothers.

Rahab and the people of Jericho.

Joshua and the Gibeonites.

Deception, trickery, cleverness: no matter what you call it, you can find it in the Old Testament.

Yet, these acts of deception end up being for the good.

Jacob gets the blessing. Rebeccah gets wealth for her family. Joseph helps his brothers repent. Rahab helps the spies. Joshua...well, I can't think why that one time was a good deception! But lives were spared.

Now Micah, David's wife, saves his life.

How can you use your own cleverness in solving your daily problems? And if you do, would God approve?

God, do you really want us to use deception? It is hard to follow your commandments when so many of the people in the bible seem to do what we don't see as right. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

Avoiding Vulgar Talk and Deceptive People

But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be associated with them. Ephesians 5: 3-7 NRSV

Wow! I am beginning to get a really good picture of what this church at Ephesus must have been like! They must have been standing around discussing (possibly bragging) of all the unchristian behavior they had been a part of during the week. Dirty jokes and sexist comments must have been the order of the day. Folks were putting each other down, saying hurtful things, participating in clicks and trying to get something (money, food, advice, business) for nothing.

Anyone out there seeing a familiar scene?

Paul comes down hard on them, too.

He says those kinds of people who participated in all that kind of vulgar talk were in the wrong place. In fact, the ones who were doing evil things and the ones who were talking about them were all facing the wrath of God.

Paul tells folks to be giving thanksgiving instead. And to not be deceived by empty words. In fact, they should not even associate with any of those vulgar people.

God, we give you thanks for this day and the opportunity we have to worship you. May we not be deceived but live lives worthy of you. In Jesus' Holy name, Amen.

Question of the day: Who will you have to avoid during church today in order to follow Paul's instructions?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims