Angry Boys - Part II

In my many years of reading devotional books, my favorites type is when the writer(s) use biblical characters' traits and decisions to illustrate a spiritual principle. It can be a positive thing or negative. We can learn from both. And the Bible does portray its characters flaws and all. Which seems to run counter to the hypothesis that the Scriptures are heavily edited by the powerful to control the minds of the masses. It would seem very odd to show the weaknesses, failings, and awful consequences of bad decisions by its heroes. Too many stones laying around to shatter the image of honor. 

Why not just write inspiring hagiography and leave out the less than stellar material? Of course, the Bible also shows the positive end of the spectrum. In other words, the Bible has the ring of authenticity.   

When considering anger since a couple of nights ago, I recalled the verses in Numbers where Moses is told by God to speak to the Rock to have it bring forth water in the desert for the Israelites, who were murmuring and complaining, as is usual in the narrative. Moses, along with Aaron, is essentially pissed. He is tired of all of the bickering. Leadership is not a lot of fun. Instead of speaking to the Rock as commanded, Moses strikes the Rock twice. Water gushes forth but so does judgment. Moses. by this act, is denied entrance into the Promise Land by God.

That seems pretty harsh of God, an over-reaction. Petty. Or is it? Small things on the outside (or what appear to be minor) often reveal an inner state that is in rebellion. Moses was told what to do and how to do it. And he didn't. The very trait he despised in the Israelites was exactly the same trait he was exhibiting.

I was trying to think of an modern day example. Let us say a man and women are getting married. The male is from high society, the girl from a working class and poor background. The Groom's mother attends the wedding under duty. She is not happy about who her son is marrying, considering the girl below her darling boy. Throughout the wedding the mom is taciturn yet polite. At the celebration afterwards, the Bride offers her a piece of the wedding cake. She demurs that she is not feeling well and passes on it. Her real intent is to make a statement of disapproval.  And the Bride knows what the message is underneath the icing of propriety.

There could be consequences for a very long time based on that message of disapproval. This is just the first post-wedding official shot and it could set the stage for a series of slights for a long time. Minor in appearance but major in implication and meaning. Anger is often small in expression to start. Yet, human nature rarely ever responds to negativity without some type of reaction. The fire looking for more wood. And in a spiritual sense, the wood is always ready to burn. That wood are the grievances that people have cut down, stacked into piles, and keep on hand.  So, someone flies off the handle and people around wonder what is really driving the rage, which is way out of proportion to the offense. Or maybe there is no offense at all. Innocent people on the receiving end of abuse and even violence. 

Moses in striking the Rock should have stopped before swinging. Take a step back and consider the consequences. Used his will to restrain the striking and let God deal with the people as He had done before on His own.