I Samuel 11
Nahash the Ammonite gives Jabesh-gilead seven daysverses 1-3
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up – and encamped against Jabesh-gilead
and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash
Make a covenant with us – and we will serve you
And Nahash the Ammonite answered them
On this condition will I make a covenant with you
that I may thrust out all your right eyes
and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel
And the elders of Jabesh said to him
Give us seven days’ respite
that we may send messengers to all the coast of Israel
and then – if there be no man to save us
we will come out to you
Message sent to Saulverses 4-5
Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul
and told the tidings in the ears of the people
and all the people lifted up their voices – and wept
And BEHOLD – Saul came after the herd out of the field
and Saul said
What ails the people that they weep?
And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh
Spirit of the LORD comes upon Saul to rescue Jabeshverses 6-8
And the Spirit of God came on Saul when he heard those tidings
and his anger was kindled greatly – and he took a yoke of oxen
and hewed them in pieces
And sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by
the hands of messengers
saying
Whosoever comes not forth after Saul and after Samuel
so shall it be done to his oxen
And the fear of the LORD fell on the people
and they came out with ONE CONSENT
And when he numbered them in Bezek
the children of Israel were three hundred thousand
and the men of Judah thirty thousand
Saul tells Jabesh they are comingverse 9
And they said to the messengers that came
Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead
Tomorrow by that time the sun be hot
you shall have help
And the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh
and they were glad
Saul surprises Ammonitesverses 10-11
Therefore the men of Jabesh
said
Tomorrow we will come out to you
and you shall do with us all that seems good to you
And it was so on the morrow
that Saul put the people in three companies
And they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch
and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day
and it came to pass
that they which remained were scattered
so that two of them were not left together
Army wants to kill those who rejected Saul as kingverses 12-13
And the people said to Samuel
Who is he that said
Shall Saul reign over us?
bring the men
that we may put them to death
And Saul said
There shall not a man be put to death this day
for today the LORD has wrought salvation in Israel
Samuel wants to renew the kingdomverses 14-15
Then said Samuel to the people
Come and let us go to Gilgal
and renew the kingdom there
And all the people went to Gilgal
and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal
and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings
before the LORD
And there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. (2781 “reproach” [cherpah] means shame, disgrace, scorn, taunt, abuse, or defame)
DEVOTION: This is the first test of Saul’s kingship for battle. The Ammonites are descendants of Lot who was Abraham’s nephew. The LORD didn’t want the Israelites to take the land of the Ammonites but they didn’t have any problem trying to take the land of the Israelites.
So they came to Jabesh-gilead and challenged them to a battle. They were a small town that needed help to fight against these enemies. At first they just wanted to make a covenant with them to pay them money to leave them alone. That was not accepted. The Ammonites wanted more. They wanted their right eyes.
Why would they want their right eyes? It was to humiliate them and also cause them to not to see well in a battle. They were not a nice group of people but most enemies are not.
So the town asked for seven days to think about it. They said they would let them seek help. The town sent to Saul for help. If they didn’t come, they would surrender to them.
Our enemies want to humiliate us any time they can. The way to deal with them is to call on the LORD for help and HE will send help. We have the King of Kings on our side and HE promised us strength to face any enemy.
The battles in life are real and we have to depend on the LORD daily for our strength because HIS mercies are new every morning. It is great to know that we have a Savior who cares about our every struggle.
CHALLENGE: We are always going to have enemies, even sometimes fellow believers but the LORD can give us strength to face them all.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever comes not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. (6343 “fear” [pachad] means to be startled, stand in awe, make to shake, alarm, dread or terror)
DEVOTION: What does it take to get our attention? What would make you move into action for the LORD? What did it take to cause Saul to go into action?
Once he heard the news regarding Jabesh-gilead, the Holy Spirit came upon him. He went into actions.
What did he do first? He challenged the rest of Israel to follow him. Part of the challenge was that anyone who didn’t follow would meet the same fate as his oxen.
This caused the people to shake. It startled the people into action. There were 330,000 soldiers that came to follow Saul and Samuel. He had an army. He sent a message to Jabesh-gilead that they were coming to fight the Ammonites.
If we have a proper relationship with the LORD, HE wants us to stand in awe of HIM. HE wants us to worship HIM. Those who don’t understand who God is and what HE has done for us have a dread or terror when they think about meeting God. Those outside of Christ would normally have this type of relationship with HIM. Those who are followers of Christ should have the proper understanding of HIS lovingkindness or “hesed’ toward us.
The children of Israel were not in a proper relationship with the LORD. This is the first time the phrase “fear of the LORD” is used. When we stand in awe of God, we need to realize that God is sinless but willing to look at us because of the sacrifice of HIS son on the cross for us. Isn’t it amazing that God takes time to be with us. The people came because they thought Saul would cut their oxen in pieces. They were driven by alarm. What is driving us today? What would cause all Biblical Christians to work together with ONE CONSENT?
The book of Proverbs gives us instruction regarding what it means to stand in awe of the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Use a concordance to trace this phrase, fear of the LORD, throughout the book of Proverbs. If you don’t have a concordance, let me know and I will send you the list.
: 9 And they said to the messengers that came, Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-Gilead. Tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot, you shall have help. And the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh: and they were glad. (8668 “help” [tashuw’ah] means deliverance, salvation, victory, a means of preserving form harm or unpleasantness, safety, or rescue.)
DEVOTION: Does our expression change when we read the Bible and realize that we have a Savior that cares about everything that is going on in our life? The people in the town of Jabesh-Gilead were facing a real enemy that threatened them with physical harm. They asked for help really not expecting any but when word came that they were going to get help they rejoiced.
The Bible promises us help with every book that tell about how the LORD delivered HIS people when they called upon HIM. HE had set up a new king in Israel and they send a messenger to see if help would come and he came back with word that help was on the way.
Celebration is one of the characteristics of the Christian life. We should be celebrating rather than complaining. We should be celebrating our blessings on a daily basis. When a crisis comes we should believe that the LORD will send help and realize HE wants us to enjoy HIS deliverances in our life.
When was the last time that the LORD helped you through a problem that you thought was impossible to have a solution? Do you remember the times of deliverances or do you wait to see what HE will do the next time you have a problem you can’t solve?
Is there a normal attitude of praise in your life? Or is Oscar the grouch your favorite character? The LORD wants us to have a regular attitude of praise every day. HE has promised to NEVER leave you or forsake you.
CHALLENGE: Our faces should express an attitude of joy in a world that has no joy!!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 12 And the people said to Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men, that we may put them to death. (4427 “reign” [malak] means king, rule, to rule as a king or supreme ruler over a nation, or have a coronation)
DEVOTION: Remember the last chapter where there were a group of men who were called the children of Belial or children of the devil who didn’t want Saul as their king. In fact, they didn’t bring him any presents after he was anointed him. They just showed their displeasure with him.
Now a great battle had been fought and the Israelites had come out with a great victory. What happened next? There was a group that supported Saul right away and they wanted to do something to these men who had despised Saul. They wanted to kill them.
Saul said no! There would be no killing of fellow Israelites this day. It was a day of celebration. He didn’t think he needed to get even with these men. He knew that they had observed the victory and might have even been part of the ones rejoicing with everyone.
We know that people are fickle. One day they are your friends and the next day they can be one of your enemies. This doesn’t just happen in the secular world it even happens in the Christian world.
Anyone who has ever been in leadership knows that if we make a decision or do something someone doesn’t like, they can turn into an enemy quick. On the other side, we can do something that helps them a few days or months later and then they are our friends again.
God doesn’t like the actions of these types of people but HE knows that that is part of what HE has to deal with too. There are people who state that they are believers while things are going well but when hard times come, they turn their backs on the LORD because HE didn’t do what they expected HIM to do.
We all have to remember that HE only does what is best for us all the time if we are one of HIS genuine children.
CHALLENGE: We need to not be fair weather believers. We also need not be one of those who want to get even with those who give us a hard time. We need to leave it in the hands of the LORD. Saul did that.
: 15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and here they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. (8055 “rejoiced” [samach] means glad, joy, merry, to feel happiness, exult at, take pleasure in, be elated, or a feeling or attitude of happiness)
DEVOTION: Israel had been a long time without anything to be happy about. They had disobeyed the LORD and HE sent the Philistines to judge them for their disobedience to HIM.
Now the LORD had given them victory over their enemy and they had something to praise the LORD for because of their obedience to the LORD. HE blessed them with victory because they had turned to HIM for help.
Too often we think we can handle everything on our own. This was the problem of the children of Israel. They had lived many years under the influence of the Philistines and were unhappy but they didn’t want to change their ways.
Now Samuel came and gave them a leader who defeated their enemy and so they celebrated their victory with anointing Saul as their king. They thought that a human leader could give them victory. It happened but they had to realize that it was the LORD behind the human leader that produced the victory.
We have to remember this fact in our daily lives. We can have victory through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our life with the help of a spiritual leader that is obedient to the LORD helping us.
We need to make sure that we give praise to the LORD our sacrifices and gifts to HIM to show that we realize that all victory comes from HIM. HE will use human leaders but the praise should go to the LORD at all times.
We should never worship a human leader because they will let us down but we can celebrate victory with a human leader, as long as, we realize that it is the LORD behind the leader giving him victory.
As we see in this time period there are always people who want to put down a human leader who has been given victory through obedience to the LORD?
We need to let the LORD judge those who forget to praise HIM for all the victories we have in our lives and in the life of the church.
CHALLENGE: Do we always go to the LORD for every victory we have in our lives or do we think we did it on our own?
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Rejoiced greatly in Gilgalverse 15
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Gather at Gilgal to renew the kingdomverse 14
Sacrifice sacrificesverse 15
Peace offeringsverse 15
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator)verse 6
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 7, 13, 15
Fear of the LORDverse 7
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit of God came upon Saulverse 6
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Nahash the Ammoniteverses 1, 2
Thrust out right eyes
Ammonite’s defeatedverse 11
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Covenant with enemyverse 1
Reproach on Israelverse 2
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Deliverance (Salvation)verses 3, 9, 13
Fear of the LORDverse 7
One consentverse 7
Helpverse 9
Rejoiceverse 15
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Jabesh-gileadverses 1, 9, 10
covenant with Ammonite
told they would have help
they were glad
Israelverses 2, 3, 13
Elders of Jabeshverses 3, 5
Wanted seven days
Coasts of Israel
Find someone to save us
Word sent to Gibeah of Saulverse 4
Reaction to word sent: weeping
Saulverses 5-15
Anger kindled greatly
Sent pieces of oxen throughout Israel
Fear of LORD caused people to come to him
Put men in three companies against Ammonites
Samuelverses 7, 12
Bezekverse 8
Children of Israel = 300,000verse 8
Children of Judah = 30,000verse 8
Wanted to kill those in Israel who didn’t want
Saul as kingverse 12
Gilgal verses 14, 15
Renew the kingdomverse 14
Men of Israel rejoiced greatlyverse 15
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Deathverses 12, 13
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QUOTES regarding passage
10 Confident of victory, the Jabeshites—tongue in cheek—promised the Ammonites that they would surrender to them the following day and that the Ammonites would then be free to do “whatever seems good to you” (lit., “whatever seems good in your eyes,” the narrator’s ironic pun on Nahash’s earlier threat to gouge out the right eye of any rebellious Jabeshite; cf. the same idiom in 14:36). (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 639). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Vs 6–11 reveal how Saul responded. Like the ‘judges’ before him, he was given power by the Spirit of God, and acted with vigour and authority, demanding a full muster of Israelite men from towns and villages, farms and fields. V 7 implies that it was fear of Yahweh rather than respect for Saul or Samuel which led so many men to come to fight the necessary battle. The numbers of soldiers given in v 8 seem much too big, here as elsewhere in the OT historical books. It is often suggested that the Hebrew word translated thousand in the niv (and most English versions) should instead be translated ‘[military] unit’, a fairly small group of soldiers. It is interesting to find Judah listed separately from the rest of Israel. This distinction may reflect the later division of the kingdom after Solomon’s death.
This passage (and many others in the OT) reveals a God who helped his people in warfare, a concept which creates a moral problem for many Christians. The historical realities of the situation were such that there could be no peaceful solution. This Israelite war, moreover, was not due to territorial greed, nor a desire to dominate other peoples, but to prevent injustice and oppression. The OT consistently shows God’s opposition to injustice.
Saul’s first decisive action, then, resulted in an important victory. The citizens of Jabesh never forgot their debt to him (see 31:11–13). (Payne, D. F. (1994). 1 and 2 Samuel. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 308). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
Ver. 10. Therefore, the men of Jabesh said, &c.] To Nahash the Ammonite: to-morrow we will come out unto you; meaning if they had no help, which they were well assured they should have; but this condition they expressed not, which they were not obliged to, but left him to conclude they had no hope of any, the messengers being returned, and the next being the last of the seven-days’ respite; and by this artifice the Ammonites were secure, and not at all upon their guard against an approaching enemy: and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you; make shews of them, pluck out their eyes, or put them to death, or do what they would with them. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 466). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
11:10 Give ourselves up to you can also mean “march out to you.” The speech of the men is deliberately ambiguous. (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 509). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
The most faithful and effective pastors are those who are driven by deep and energizing convictions. Their preaching and teaching are fueled by their passionate beliefs and sense of calling. With eternity hanging in the balance, they know what to do. They see every neighborhood as a mission field and every individual as someone who needs to hear the gospel. They cannot wait until Sunday comes and they can enter the pulpit again, ready to set those convictions loose. (p. 54, The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler)
Nahash agreed to their terms with one important addendum: that he gouge out everyone’s right eye (v. 2). This mass facial disfigurement would have brought “disgrace on all Israel,” to say nothing of deep humiliation and handicap for each mutilated individual. (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 135). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
Saul’s outrage at their words was magnified by the energizing power of God’s Spirit, who “came upon him in power” (v. 6). The writer’s statement that God’s Spirit was powerfully over Saul prepares the reader to expect a successful outcome for Saul’s undertaking; nowhere in biblical Hebrew narrative does the divine Spirit come over a person without an act or word resulting that helps God’s people. At the same time, however, the narrator artfully casts a shadow over Saul’s moment of glory by referring to the divine presence as “the Spirit of God,” not “the Spirit of Yahweh/the Lord.” Though both phrases refer to the same being, this subtle change in language deprives Saul of direct association with Israel’s covenant God. Five Israelites are mentioned as having “the Spirit of the Lord” come over them, but in Genesis to 2 Kings the only other person said to have “the Spirit of God” come over him is Balaam, a non-Israelite (cf. Num 24:2) who ultimately brought harm to Israel (Num 31:16). (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 136). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers)
Deuteronomy 1
Moses reminds the new generation of their parents’ disobedience.
INSIGHT
Those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it. Moses reviews the history of the wanderings of Israel to the new generation poised on the plains of Moab-ready to enter the Promised Land.
Moses tells them that their fathers did not believe the promises of God. Therefore, they were not obedient to Him. Their fathers condemned themselves to a life of untold hardship. Their fathers made their own destiny; they sealed their own fate.
Learn from their history. Do not repeat it. (Quiet Walk)
During an outing, we met a woman who had known my husband’s family since he was a child. She looked from Alan to our son, Xavier. “He’s the spitting image of his daddy,” she said. “Those eyes. That smile. Yep. Looks just like him.” As the woman delighted in acknowledging such a strong resemblance between father and son, she even noted similarities in their personalities. Still, though they are alike in many ways, my son doesn’t reflect his father perfectly.
There’s only one Son—Jesus—who reflects His Father completely. Christ is the “image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). In Him and through Him and for Him all things were created (v. 16). “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (v. 17).
We can spend time in prayer and Bible study, discovering the Father’s character by looking at Jesus—God in the flesh. He invites us to witness His love in action by examining how He interacts with others in Scripture and in our day-to-day living. After surrendering our lives to Christ and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can grow in knowing and trusting our loving Father. He transforms us to reflect His character, so we can live for Him.
What a joy it would be if others could say we look just like Jesus!
(By Xochitl Dixon, Our Daily Bread)
THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK IN US
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13
Our Lord said in John 15 that we are bound to Him as are the branches to the vine; His life is in us, and it is a part of this blessed work of the Spirit. Then He goes on to work in us, sanctifying and perfecting us. “Work out your own salvation,” says Paul in Philippians 2:12-13, “with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Heaven helps us in our prayers: “We know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself market intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). He then goes on to produce the fruit of the Spirit in us: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23).
The work of the Spirit is to make the Lord Jesus Christ real to us. So do not waste your time trying to picture the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not go and look at portraits of Him that are wholly imaginary. There is a sense, I believe, in which nobody should ever try to paint Him—it is wrong. I do not like these paintings of Christ; they are the efforts of the natural mind. If you want a photograph of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will give it to you in the inner man. Christ said Himself, in John 14:21, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself tohim.” That is the work of the Spirit—to make Christ living, to make us certain He is there, so that when we speak to Him, and He to us,the Spirit makes Him real, and He is formed in us.
A Thought to Ponder: The work of the Spirit is to make the Lord Jesus Christ real to us.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 92-93, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Righteous in Authority
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” (Proverbs 29:2)
Many can remember when the nation observed holidays on both the birthday of President Lincoln (February 12) and that of President Washington (February 22). These two men were widely revered as our nation’s greatest presidents, and their birthdays were patriotic holidays. But modern intellectuals have been actively tarnishing their reputations, while our people have become more and more enamored of recreation, so this situation has now “devolved” into a three-day holiday theoretically honoring all presidents.
We are thankful, of course, that most of our presidents have indeed been God-fearing men. None were atheists and almost all have professed belief in Christ and the Bible. God surely led our founders when they formed our constitutional republic, and our presidents and most other leaders have diligently supported it. Christianity has thrived in our country as a result, and we have become acknowledged everywhere as the world’s greatest nation.
But signs of deterioration are abounding, and Christians need to pray. If Paul were here today, he would surely repeat (and slightly rephrase) his first-century admonition to young pastor Timothy: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For [presidents], and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). We can also heed Peter’s advice: “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the [president]” (1 Peter 2:17). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
At the risk of showing my age, I admit I miss the “good old days.” I was a farm girl who grew up working side by side and day by day with my tight knit family. Our greatest joy was time together and the satisfaction of work well done at the end of each day. Back in those days, safety was not the be all and end all of parental decisions. One spring day when I was a teenager, I rode on the fender of an 806 International tractor all the way from Holland to Franklinville and back. My Dad drove the tractor pulling a hay wagon down Route 16. I still remember the sunny day and the cold wind. I can see the lines on my Dad’s determined weather worn face and his gnarled hard-working hands. I didn’t feel unsafe riding on the fender. I had been taught to hold on and to be aware. I remember the day my Dad took me to Tri-County Supply to buy my own chainsaw. I was about 12 years old and had a pocketful of allowance money saved up. I wanted to buy that chainsaw so that I could cut wood side by side with the Dad I admired so. That Dad let me buy and use that chainsaw.
A not-yet teenage girl operating a chainsaw and riding unprotected on the fender of a tractor down a busy highway is now-a-days frowned upon. I was injured by neither because I had been taught to respect the power of situations to cause injury and my own power to avoid it. I knew I could fall off that fender. I knew that chainsaw could kick back and cut me if I was not careful. I knew I had to be aware, awake, and responsible. I was taught this, and because I was, I was able to experience some pretty wonderful things. And as I did, I grew confident and capable.
Was there risk? Yes. My Dad did not instill risk-avoidance in me. Instead, he taught me that life involves risk, that we must prepare for it, and that I was the best person to both manage my own risk and be responsible for my own safety. How unsafe we make our children and fellowman when we give them the idea that their safety is someone else’s responsibility. It results in passivity. Passivity is never good.
As I consider these days in which we live, it seems that grit and resilience are at an all time low and dependence at an all time high. We expect others to keep us safe. We depend on the government to give us rules and grant us permissions to live our lives and run our businesses and open our schools. We are forgetting how to think and live free. We prefer to be taken care of rather than face the vulnerability of exceptionalism. Exceptional lives require the willingness to take risk. Mediocre ones do not. Freedom – not fear – will always be the answer to the problems that we face.
Credit: Brenda Hanson
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