22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.
At lunch the other day my friend was telling me about a conversation he had with his son about girls and just doing stupid stuff as a teenager and how he wanted his son to be honest with him and know that he would always find out what he had been up too, so make smart choices. he illustrated for him how he learned something about one of his son's friends through a guy in another town and he wasn't even trying it just came up in conversation--it surprised his son that Dave would know this detail about his friend that he probably thought only other kids knew.
this littler verse tucked in there reminded me of that, Israel learns about his son and the concubine probably through the grapevine even though he is miles away and his cell phone was probably dead.
why would I ever do anything displeasing to God, he doesn't even have to wait to hear it through the grapevine he just watches it happen. how stupid am i?
knut
p.s. heading out to India today back next Saturday. don't know if I will be posting or not while I'm out.
Seems absurd, doesn't it. I've been thinking about accountability a lot lately. How can I teach my kids how to be accountable in a world that doesn't value it very much. There are so many places where people act a fool, because they have nobody to hold them to a standard. I'm thinking about online, or in your car, or, or , or.........its a difficult thing. I remember my dad asking me a question when i was about 16. He said, "would you act any differently if you could do anything you wanted, and nobody would ever know." That, to me, is the definition of character. If God is the only one who you are held accountable to.........how are you going to act. If Reuben knew he could sleep with the concubine, and never be caught....would he do it. That's the way it feels when we stand at the cross roads of the decision. But, 95% of the time, we do get caught.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one, Knut. You pulled something out of this chapter that I glossed right over.
have a safe trip.
I will continue to post next week....but, maybe I'll slow down a little bit, so you don't fall too far behind.
peace