11 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.” 2 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.” – 1 Samuel 11:1-2
Decision Time
Life is full of decisions; some more difficult than others. Those with no discernible consequences we give little thought to. Those with long-lasting or severe consequences we give not only much thought but hopefully much prayer to. If we are wise we will seek out the counsel of other godly people before we make these “life-changing” decisions. In today’s text, we see the Israelites confronted with a difficult decision. Perhaps better classified as an ultimatum.
The Israelites often found themselves in difficult circumstances as a result of their sins. Instead of peace, they often found themselves at war. Now we find them harassed by their enemy the Ammonites. Led by Nahash, their King, the Ammonites have surrounded the Israelite city Jabesh-gilead. With limited military options and little apparent hope for success, instead of turning to God, the Israelites ask for a treaty.
No Idle Threat
According to the Dead Sea Scrolls, about one month prior to the siege of Jabesh-gilead, Nahash had conquered the tribal lands of Gad and Reuben. He was not only striking fear and dread in the hearts of the people, he was also gouging out their right eyes. Per this account, roughly seven thousand Israelites escaped and fled to Jabesh-gilead; only to encounter Nahash and the Ammonites once again. How they must have trembled when they heard the response of Nahash to their request for a treaty. I will make a treaty if you concede to having your right eye gouged out. All of you!
By gouging out the right eyes of his enemies, Nahash was disabling them. Since most soldiers were right handed, they would hold their shields in their left hands covering much of their body including their left eye. As they fought, they would peer over their shields with their right eye as they wielded their swords. Hence, an enemy without a right eye was a lot less of a threat.
Disgraceful
But Nahash not only wanted to disable the Israelites, he also wanted to disgrace them as we see from his own words. Nahash wanted to humble the Isralaelites and bring reproach on them. He wanted to make them look weak and tarnish their reputation. In doing so, no doubt, he would also tarnish the reputation of their God. The Great I Am whom they seem to be forgetting.
But what kind of person would make such an ultimatum? How evil and cruel would you have to be?
In this case a terrible enemy. One who wanted to exalt himself by humbling others. Specifically, Nahash, whose name means serpent.
Who would ever entertain the thought of allowing someone to gouge out your right eye? How desperate would you have to be?
If your options are your life or your right eye, I’m guessing most of us would surrender our eye. But are we always wise enough to understand the relative value of our right eye?
Decision Time II
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. – Matthew 5:29
Life’s is indeed full of difficult decisions. Many with eternal consequences. While Nahash put before the people an ultimatum, Jesus puts before His hearers a warning. Both require a decision from their audience, but their motives could not have been more different.
Graceful
Nahash brought his army to Jabesh as an enemy looking to destroy the Israelites thus making a name for himself. Jesus in humility left His Heavenly throne to come to earth and free men from their spiritual bondage. He humbled himself to “exalt” others.
The evil Nahash threatened the Israelites with cruelty. Cruelty that he had already manifested and was intent on repeating. The perfectly holy Jesus warned His audience in sacrificial love. A love He was about to display on the cross. While Nahash was breathing out threats, Jesus was extending grace.
Priorities & Sacrifice
Whereas Nahash means serpent or snake, Jesus means the Lord will save, or savior. The one common denominator is that both the serpent and the Savior put before their audiences a decision regarding their right eyes. Specifically, do you value your right eye more than life? Sometimes the loss of an eye represents disgrace and sometimes disgrace comes from preserving it.
While Nahash holds physical and temporal life in the balance, Christ is obviously referring to the spiritual and eternal. Which do we value more? What are we willing to sacrifice to purge the sin from our hearts?
Instead of giving Nahash an answer, the Israelites asked for more time. Time during which Saul, their first King came to their rescue and defeated Nahash, thus removing the ultimatum and the need to make a difficult decision. Because of his arrogance, Nahash was defeated and Saul was exalted. Nahash’s ultimatum was no more. But Jesus’ warning is as real today as when He first delivered it.
Like the threat of Nahash, the words of Jesus are shocking. Using hyperbole Jesus draws attention to the seriousness of sin and it’s consequences. We know that sin originates in our hearts and maiming ourselves won’t necessarily purge the sin from our lives. But if our right eye or right hand caused us to stumble would we be willing to sacrifice either to avoid hell? What value would either have in hell’s fires?
How serious do we take sin and our battle against it? Are we willing to deny our flesh to avoid giving into temptation and sinning against God? God wants us to live lives of holiness. Lives above reproach. Lives that bring glory to God rather than “tarnish” His reputation as Satan desires.
Are you willing to “sacrifice” one part of your body to overcome sin?
Jesus took sin so seriously He sacrificed His body. All of it.
All of it for us! All of it for the glory of the Father!
In Christ the ultimate victory over sin is already won. But until we are in our Heavenly Homes we must daily fight the sin that besieges our hearts like Nahash and the Ammonites besieged Jabesh-gilead. It may require difficult decisions with long-lasting consequences, but we have a Savior we can always turn to.
Resolve
When the fate of the free world hung in the balance, Winston Churchill rallied England for battle. I think the gravity of his speech reflects the fervor we should have in our spiritual battle.
“We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, What is our aim? I answer in one word: Victory-victory at all costs, victory in spite of terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.” -Winston Churchill
No sacrifice is too great in our battle against sin. No one knows that better than Jesus. Heed His warning. Accept His grace.