“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither
are your ways my ways,”
declares
the Lord.
“As
the heavens are higher than the earth,
so
are my ways higher than your ways
and
my thoughts than your thoughts.”
(Isaiah
55:8-9 NIV)
In
“Off the Chain” (link) I said that by
placing one’s eyes upon Jesus and getting ultimate validation from
that source, the pain of human rejection is outflanked and acrimony
is truncated. This bias towards amelioration of contention’s
poison becomes a signal characteristic of believers as leaders.
However, what is needed at this point is an example of what
conversation a believer has in some form or other when confronted by
active ill-will—for surely the hurtful intent of others cannot be
realistically ignored.
The
answer to this question is provided for us in Scripture—since the
Trinity realizes the tendency of human nature towards sinfulness is
great. At this point we turn to Genesis 45. Joseph realistically
must take cognizance of the stark intent of his brothers to harm him
when they sold him into Egypt. Joseph illustrates what understanding
in some form or other the believer has on such occasions. Joseph
says to his brothers; “And now, do not be distressed and do not be
angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save
lives God sent me ahead of you…. So then, it was not you who sent
me here, but God” (Genesis 45: 5, 8). In short the believer
when confronted with malevolence prays something like the following:
“God I dislike how I’ve been treated (am being treated) and from
a human perspective wish it were otherwise. But it is not my place
to resent my opponents who are acting to fulfill your will. My
understanding of all this is not clear, yet I place my trust in you,
oh Holy Trinity--omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent. Grant me the
peace that passeth human understanding. Amen.”
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