Friday, April 29, 2022

OUR LORD WHO GUIDES OUR STEPS IN TIMES OF CONFLICT

Genesis chapter 13 verse 5, relating a story of Abram and his nephew Lot,  reads this way;

Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.

This verse describes the catalyst that prompted the separation of Abram's family and Lot's family.

Because these two parties were traveling together, the flocks and herds and tents that they both had, came into conflict with each other because they were putting pressure on the same resources.

As friction grew, Abram, with faith and wisdom of the Lord, proposed that he and his nephew go separate ways and Abram gave Lot the first pick saying to him in verse 9, "If you go  to the left, I will go to the right and if you go to the right, I will go to the left".

This conflict resolution technique is mirrored by Gamaliel, a teacher of Israel during the time of the early  apostles. As the word of the gospel of Jesus went around the land, it came into conflict with the Judaism practiced by Israel and Christian leaders were arrested and questioned for their beliefs. 

Gamaliel, speaking to the council that was examining the followers of Jesus, said this in Acts chapter 5 verses 38 - 39;

Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Here, Gamaliel's position was like Abram's because  he advised the council to take a deferential stance. Instead of swinging into action to dominate the situation, he counseled his peers to part ways with the followers of Jesus and leave the matter in the hands of God. Doing so, would rightly place the decision of who would prosper within the Lord's purview in the same way that Abram did.

Another parting of ways due to conflict is found in Acts chapter 15 verses 37 - 40 where Paul and Barnabas were preparing to travel to the churches among the gentiles. The passage reads this way;

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

Here,  the differences between Paul and Barnabas, who had been travelling companions for a while, brought their partnership to an end and Barnabas went one way and Paul, another.

The same mechanisms of conflict resolution were at play in this passage.  Instead of staying together while conflict continued to grow between them, a separation of ways was adopted so that the conflict would cease and the results that came from the paths chosen, would ultimately show where wisdom lay.

Bless our Lord who guides our steps by His wisdom.

Amen.

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