MINI-DESPATCH.September 8, 2000
From W. B. Howard ...Editor of Despatch Magazine
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DESPERATE TIMES AND DESPERATE MEANS!

For instance, when Corrie ten Boom’s family had to hide Jews from the Nazis in Holland, they would probably have had to tell lies in order to keep the Jews safely hidden. A soldier comes and demands, “have you any Jews hidden in your house?” What would one say, “yes we have, I cannot lie!” No, this would be heartless cruelty, would it not? The answer would have to be,”no.”

What about killing others in order to protect the innocent -
little children for instance. Is killing in this situation wrong?
Doesn’t Scripture tell us always to obey the government over us, they are in power because God put them there? How then could we ever go against the laws of our country? (Romans 13:2; 1 Peter 2:13, 14).
But what if globalism comes in strongly, and we are driven by conscience to disobey the laws?
Here we are not discussing “situational ethics” or ethics that change when the situation demands it. We are talking about a choosing of that which is an obvious wrong in ordinary life, but which becomes a necessity in desperate times. Making that choice does not make the action so used less wrong in itself.

Is it Biblical to choose an obvious wrong in a given situation?
Is there any indication that God can ever be pleased with us doing so?
In Exodus 1:15-20 the Hebrew midwives deliberately disobeyed the king of Egypt.
They lied to him as well, if they had not done so then a huge number of boy babies would have been murdered!  Was God angry with the midwives?
Let us look at Scripture to see His reaction:
“Therefore God dealt well with the midwives” (Exodus 1:20).
Obviously the Lord was not displeased with deception and  civil disobedience in this instance.
The desperate times demanded desperate measures.

God blessed another outright lie in Joshua 2:3-6; 6:25.
He preserved Rahab and her family because of her deception, when she hid two Israelite spies and lied when she told the king of Jericho that they were not there. The strange situation which Rahab found herself in was that in order to do God’s will and to see Him glorified two of His commandments had to be broken!
This is not an easy thing to contemplate, yet it is true.

Isaac wanted to disobey the Lord God and give his blessing, and inheritance, to Esau not Jacob.
Yet the Lord had commanded him to make Jacob, the second son, Isaac’s heir. (See Genesis 25:23; Malachi 1:2,3; Romans 9:10-13). In order to stop Isaac giving the blessing to Esau, which would have meant disaster to Isaac and Esau as well, Jacob deceived his father and lied to him! Rebekah, in order to obey the Lord and protect her husband and first son from God’s punishment, deceived Isaac as well! Was the Lord angry against them, and did He punishment Jacob and Rebekah? No, in fact there is not one instance in the Bible of the Lord even rebuking either of them for their actions.  God’s rebuke was given only to Esau, and Isaac had to repent not Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15). Isaac’s blessing of Jacob, although received because of a lie (Genesis 27:19), was confirmed by the Lord as being legitimate and of His will.

There are wars in Scripture where killing occurs in order to save God’s people.
There are instances of  individuals killing others and being blessed by God for their actions (consider David’s killing of Goliath as an example). In our day, it would surely be wrong to stand by and let evil men kill children when one had the means of defending them. Just as a policeman would be perfectly right if he shot dead a murdering rapist who had a knife to a child’s throat. We hope and pray that things in our lifetimes do not ever lead us to make difficult choices involving other people’s lives, but should we have to face such decisions we can be sure the Lord will give us wisdom in the trial we face. The edges do get a bit muddled in extraordinary and perilous times. Scripture, however, never shows any instance where actions which break God’s commands in one area to obey in another can be done in order to gain greedy or selfish advantage. We are not in severe danger right now, so do not misunderstand.
There are no “grey” areas where sin can be “allowed”
so that we can do what we want to do willfully!

FEAR NOT!
The Lord God Almighty has commanded His people to “Fear Not!” To doubt or to be anxious at this time in history is paramount to saying, “God cannot help me in this evil world! There are too many forces against Christians today. I would not be human if I wasn’t worried!” You may be human and weak, but God is not human nor is He weak. He has given us elaborate and stunning promises of protection throughout His Word. Then let us never allow again any hint of doubt or worry to disgrace us before Him.

We can make a pledge to Him about never doubting Him. Just as we might make a pledge to never again smoke or drink alcohol. Worry is doubt you know. We can pledge right now to never allow doubts and fears to enter into our innermost beings. We cannot stop them knocking at the door, so to speak, but we can stop them coming in and staying the night, or week, or year! As soon as they come, refuse to admit them. Then trust the Lord’s promises with all your heart. Do it, don’t just say it. Would you deliberately steal, get drunk, or be immoral? No, I don’t believe you would. Then do not commit the sin of doubting the Lord and letting fears and anxieties show your distrust of Him. We can say, “NO!” to the sin of doubt just as we can the other more gross sins. Maybe doubt and distrust are more “gross” than any sins? It sure shows we are don’t believe God and call Him, in our hearts, unreliable. Here to remind us all are some of the superbly comforting promises of our Heavenly Father, which can take you and me into any state of affairs that the months and years ahead may bring:

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” ( Luke 12:6,7).

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
(Luke 12:32).

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” ( Romans 8:14,15).

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” ( 11Timothy 1:7).

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” ( Hebrews 13:6).

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
( Deuteronomy 31:6).

“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” ( Psalm 37:13,14).

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” ( Psalm 46:1-3).

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” ( Psalm 56:4).

“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”
(Proverbs 3:24-26).
 

Editor of `Despatch' Magazine & "Beauty for Ashes" Booklet
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