CHANGING COURSE
To drastically change course is difficult. When a person is set on a course, he usually continues forward with it. When a group of people are inclined to do one thing, to get them to change is even more difficult. An interesting story emerges from the Old Testament about Israel defeating Judah in battle and taking them prisoners.
The men of Israel took captive from their fellow Israelites who were from Judah two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters. They also took a great deal of plunder, which they carried back to Samaria.
But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army when it returned to Samaria. He said to them, “Because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand. …….. But aren’t you also guilty of sins against the Lord your God? Now listen to me! Send back your fellow Israelites you have taken as prisoners, for the Lord’s fierce anger rests on you.”
Then some of the leaders in Ephraim……..confronted those who were arriving from the war. “You must not bring those prisoners here,” they said, “or we will be guilty before the Lord. ……… So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and plunder in the presence of the officials and all the assembly……. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow Israelites at Jericho, the City of Palms, and returned to Samaria. (2Chronicles 28:8-14)
This is as drastic a change as one could see. From taking home prisoners, being paraded naked and in chains, the men of Israel clothe them, provide them with food, drink and transport to send them back home. They also give up the plunder and so in changing course here also incur an expense. How did this happen?
It begins with recognizing the word and the will of God. Obed the prophet receives the word and confronts the army. The image of one man standing before an army come home in high spirits, elated after a victory is quite dramatic. What one man can initiate is amazing! What many men fail to do in standing for God against the prevalent trends because of their hesitation and fear is lamentable.
The leaders of Ephraim take to heart what was told by Obed. While the prophet should be applauded for his courage, the leaders need to be appreciated for their God-centeredness. When a community takes decisions based on the basic premise of honoring God, drastic change becomes possible. We live increasingly in a liberal society where honoring God is met with disdain. When God is buried, what takes God’s place is the anarchy and emptiness brought on by godlessness.
The soldiers made an about turn as they wisely listened to their leaders. How tempting it would have been to at least take some of the plunder after the effort of war! Yet when a person is willing to incur loss for the sake of God, it opens up a pathway for God’s blessing to rest upon him.
Changing course is difficult, but at times, it is the only reasonable option.
