Spreading Light
Speak, Don’t Strike
Israel and the United States should stop striking their enemies and start speaking to their enemies. God kept Moses from living in the Promised Land because he had “anger management issues”. Moses got so angry at the Israelites that he struck a rock to get them water, disobeying the LORD’s command to speak to the rock instead of striking the rock.
As I wrote my blog “Driving Lessons: Slow To Anger”, I was struck by how God kept Moses from living in the Promised Land because he had “anger management issues”.
Moses got so angry at an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew that Moses killed the Egyptian. (Exodus 2:11-12).
Moses got so angry at the Israelites for disobeying the Ten Commandments, that he smashed the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 32:15-20).
Moses got so angry at the Israelites that he struck a rock to get them water, disobeying the LORD’s command to speak to the rock instead of striking it. (Numbers 20:1-12).
Short-term, Israel may defend itself from violent acts (such as the barbaric Hamas sneak attack on October 7, 2023). But in the long-term, if Israel lives by the sword, it will die by the sword. (Jesus speaking at Matthew 26:52).
The Way to end cycles of violence and killing?
The Way of Jesus!
Stop striking. Start speaking.
Do unto your enemies as you would like them to do unto you! (Matthew 7:12).
Heal their wounds. (Luke 10:25-37).
Forgive them. (Matthew 5:38-42).
Pray for them. (Matthew 5:44).
And bless their children! (Mark 10:13-16)
In the short-run, the United States may defend itself from Iran, North Korea, Russia, and China. But in the long-run, if the United States lives by the sword, it will die by the sword. (Jesus speaking at Matthew 26:52).
The Way to end cycles of violence and killing?
The Way of Jesus!
Stop striking. Start speaking.
Do unto your enemies as you would like them to do unto you! (Matthew 7:12).
Heal their wounds. (Luke 10:25-37).
Forgive them. (Matthew 5:38-42).
Pray for them. (Matthew 5:44).
And bless their children! (Mark 10:13-16)
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
Do you believe that those who live by the sword will die by the sword? How? How not? Why? Why not?
Do you believe that Israel and the United States should stop striking their enemies and start speaking to their enemies? How? How not? Why? Why not?
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For related thoughts, please read my blogs “Get Mutual Assured Shalom, Not Mutual Assured Destruction” and “Too Much ‘TNT’”.