I often hear people ask me, as someone else asked them; can this or that happen? They see a situation, right here and right now. They see what they think is lacking, or wrong, or unfair. People see a situation, and they make a judgement call on that situation. But they do not see any background of why the decision is made. So, to them, it is unfair. They get upset. Why can’t this person do this or do that? Why? What people do not know, is the conversations held beforehand at other times. Maybe issues years ago, affect the present. Maybe the person asking was not even born, when the issues, affecting the decision, transpired. And they want to know something about something, when they were not even born, or maybe a toddler. School does not teach things like; it’s none of your business. Or something happened before you were here. Or the reasoning does not concern you whatsoever. People want to know everything about everything, but they need only know, something relevant to them, Not what transpired before their time. As we say- MYOB. Here is a Biblical example of what I am talking about. Judges 7: 2ff LORD has a talk with Gideon. Only the two of them know what is going on. No one, no one else knows what is going on. There is a whole lot of time, 32,000 men down to 300. So Gideon makes a plan Judges 7: 16. Now, the fight is over. Issue is over. Some men escaped, verse 24 Gideon call’s Ephraim’s men. Come fight. They did. They captured and beheaded two leaders. Chapter 8: 1 why didn’t you call us out in 6:14 or 7: 1, why only in 7: 24? I mean, some people want to know about things, that do not concern them. It does not involve them. They were not privy to Gideon and God’s plan. They want to know about things, before their time, but coming into the present situation. Gideon is skilful. He appealed to their pride. That always shuts the issue down- Judges 8: 2- but you are so good. So strong. So brave. You do more than I do. Verse 3, their resentment subsided. And Gideon never even answered their question in Judges 8: 1- why didn’t you call us? Like saying, tell us the whole background of every situation, which caused you to arrive at the point of not using us at the start. Not necessary. Not needed. None of your business. You see, you may want to know why someone makes their decisions. You want to know facts and issues, of years before that do not concern you. If you are Ephraim, accept the current situation. The why of it is not your concern, before your time. You may be in Gideon’s situation, just deflect the question, skilfully, and appeal to the pride of the “asker” and issue shut. It is all skill in human communication. Read and absorb what you read. You will learn how to answer people today. Deflection, is better than rehashing rubbish of 20 years ago.
MCC Admin
1 Nisan 5781