One mean-spirited person

 1 Samuel 11:1-3

What an interesting proposition, the men of Jabesh-gilead, offered by Nahash the Ammonite.  Now a little geography to put these people in the proper place, Jabesh-gilead it is about 20 miles south of the Sea of Galilee and just east of the Jordan River.  Most of us, at some time in our life, will find ourselves in a mess, and it became clear the best way out was to pay tribute, it may be a compliment or honor of some sort, but it sure was not from the heart.  It may have been compensation so you could move on with your trip.  I have heard of people who knew the ticket they received was not warranted but to fight it would cost more, disturb a trip, so they paid a fine they knew was not correct.

Nahash the Ammonite had come into Israel and had laid siege to the area, and the people of Jabesh-gilead found themselves in a mess, this Ammonite was going to be a bother, and so they made a deal, we will be willing to pay tribute if you will leave us alone.  I’m not sure they understood that like throwing gas on a fire, he knows you are not willing to fight.  That’s what Neville Chamberlain the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom did to Hitler.  Or moving up to 2012, and Obama's 'red line' failure assured a crisis in Syria and cost 14,000 lives.  Weakness always allows the bullies to have no fear of the outcome and in all three cases stated, we had weak men bring others into peril.

Now I’m not sure they understood that Nahash was one mean-spirited person, and I would put him in the same camp as Kim Jong Un of North Korea and the Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI of Iran.  Evil has been with us since Cain killed Abel; that’s not correct it began in heaven long before that when Lucifer set his heart on being like God.  And now we do not refer to him as Lucifer, but Satan and the devil, and Jesus tells us Satan’s goal is to kill, steal and destroy, and he has entered into the men listed above to carry out his plan.

This was Nahash’ offer; we need to begin in verse 1 and 2, “Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition, I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.”

Now I’m not sure about you, but this question entered my mind; if no one comes to help us would these men give themselves up to your plan?  Did I miss something, they are more interested in bringing shame than on compensation, and if no one comes to save us, we will submit to you putting out our eyes.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice