"Christmas Backdrop I: Conquering Conflict"

Dec.5/04 Isaiah 2:1-5

Needling Each Other

1With the onset of winter and the coming of the snow, we look around for ways to keep ourselves warm. The story is told of two porcupines in Algonquin Park who came upon the same cave when it was about time to hibernate. They decided to huddle together to get warm. But as soon as they got nice and close, their quills pricked each other and they jumped apart. Before long, though, they were shivering again; they sidled up to each other again, with the same result: they were both jabbed again. Same story, same ending. They needed each other, but they just kept needling each other.

        Some people are like that. It may be a friend or co-worker or even a spouse: as soon as you enter a degree of intimacy, the barbs come out. It can even happen on a tribal or international level, resulting in large-scale hostility. How can we develop closeness without conflict?

        The prophet Isaiah about 740 BC predicts the coming of a Messiah, whom we recognize in retrospect is Jesus. The Messiah we celebrate at Christmas holds the key to resolving conflict. When we follow His teaching, He shows us how to get along.

Conflict - Then and Now

As we proceed through Advent over the next few weeks, we'll be spending some time in the book of Isaiah to try to understand how Jesus' birth ties in to the expectations Jewish people had for a Messiah. As we consider their circumstances, we can spot parallels to our own 21st-century Western culture. So hopes of the Messiah are relevant also today - Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, able to help any who trust in Him, no matter what their problem or epoch.

        One parallel that's noticeable right away is the degree of change and instability in Palestine, back then and now. When Isaiah received his call to be a prophet, King Uzziah, who had reigned for 52 years, had just died (Is.6:1). Last month, Yasser Arafat died, offering both an opportunity for progress in Middle East peace, or turmoil for the Palestinians if there's a vacuum in leadership. In Isaiah's time, the people were understandably nervous about a smooth transfer of power in leadership: in the northern kingdom of Israel, after King Jeroboam II died, there were 6 kings that came to power in the space of 25 years; 3 of these were assassinated.

        Internationally, pressure was mounting. The Assyrian Empire was becoming land-hungry and would soon sweep through Canaan. Wars, disputes, and political unrest were everywhere. When the Assyrians invaded, rulers either had to pay heavy taxes, or people were deported. You may recall the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered and removed in 722 BC, just 18 years into Isaiah's ministry. Power politics was rampant. One commentary notes Isaiah clashed "with the national policy of Ahaz...when Syria and Israel formed a coalition and attempted to coerce Judah into armed rebellion against Assyria." Also, King Hezekiah "was severely pressured by both Egyptians and Philistines to join in revolt against Sargon of Assyria."

        This week President Bush visited Canadian Prime Minister Martin. You can be sure it was more than just a social call. Whether it be Canadian beef or softwood, or American defence systems, our elected leaders are expected to champion their own nation's interests.

        That wars are still prevalent is obvious to anyone who listens to the news, whether it be Afghanistan, Iraq, or the Ivory Coast. In 28 centuries we haven't stopped fighting!

        There was corruption amongst the rulers of Isaiah's day. Isaiah calls them "rebels" in 1:23: they love bribes, and don't defend the fatherless or widows. These are the high-profile people who are supposed to be setting a good example! Similarly today, parliamentarians are disciplined for thoughtless remarks; and the major faith groups become impatient with our legislators' refusal to address the definition of marriage, choosing instead to leave it to the courts.

        On the religious scene, things were going downhill. There was religious apostasy, backing away from the faith delivered to Moses, Elijah, and God's other righteous spokespeople in the past. Isaiah in 2:6 criticizes those involved in "superstitions from the East" and divination - for example, trying to figure out the future by studying a sacrificed animal's innards, something forbidden by Yahweh. We don't hear much today about sacrifices, but Eastern "superstitions" are very popular. 2:8 moans, "Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands..." We price highly what we manufacture today; the next acquisition can become an idol.

        It was a period of the greatest material prosperity since the 'golden age' of David and Solomon. 2:7 says, "Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures." Today we value nice cars; back then, wealth consisted in horses and chariots. There was technological advancement: 2:15-16 speaks of lofty towers, fortified walls, trading ships, and stately vessels.

        And of course, when we think we're pretty hot stuff for our nifty inventions and manufacturing, pride develops. Twice in this chapter (2:11,17) Isaiah warns, "The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low;" then he tacks on a warning, "The Lord alone will be exalted in that day."

        So no wonder you get conflict developing in these circumstances: nations are vying for power and control; there are extremes between the very rich and the very poor; prosperity breeds coveting and greed, that insatiable chase for more; and people are proud and arrogant, thinking only of "me, me, I want to be in control." Unfortunately, a lot of parallels to today's Western culture. And Isaiah saw a storm cloud brewing on the horizon unless some drastic changes were made.

Hope for a Messiah to bring Peace

In the middle of all this clamour and chaos, God showed Isaiah a vision that would come true "in the last days" (2:2). He saw the mountain of Jerusalem, with the Lord's Temple, symbolically raised above the hills. It would be the chief mountain, and all nations - not just Jews, but Gentiles as well - would stream to it.

        When are these "last days"? They began with Jesus' first coming, but will be completely fulfilled at His Second Coming. There are verses that refer to apostolic times as "the last days", e.g.Ac 2:17: “"‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” Peter applies this to the birth of the church. And Heb.1:2 says, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..."

        But obviously there's still more to come: we're not at peace yet. Rev.11(15) tells of the time when “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."” We still anticipate that, praying as Jesus taught us, "Thy Kingdom come..."

        V4 is a powerful verse, predicting how the Lord will settle our conflicts once and for all: “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” Here we see Jesus taking a very active role: Rev. 19(15,21) says, “Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.'He will rule them with an iron scepter.'” And, "The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse..." Maybe like a laser or taser or Star Wars-type light sword. But that's just the clean-up operation at the end of earth-time; between now and then, Jesus has given us another sword to use, that of His Spirit.

God's Truth Vital for Peace

We skipped over v2, which has a vital ingredient for resolving conflict here and now, without waiting for the end of time. The last part of v3 says, “He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” God's instruction is a much better way to resolve conflict that coming to blows or having to wait for an external arbitrator to step in.

        "He will teach us His ways" - the verb means to direct, teach, or instruct. "The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." The Hebrew word translated "law" picks up a narrower and more legalistic sense in English. "Torah" means not only law, but "direction, instruction; the way of life revealed by God to His people. It's the path He's blazed to help us get to His Kingdom through the briar patches and snares of life.

        Recently one of our family took a weekend to renew her certification for CPR. I doubt if she had the attitude as she was learning it, "I've really got to master the details so I can get a passing grade." She'd be glad to learn the information because it might help her save someone's life. That's 'torah' - helpful instruction, stuff you need to know.

        A thoughtless pilot got into an ill-equipped single-engine plane and took off. He didn't know much about how to handle the instruments - he just flew. The plane had no lights but he was flying up to a little country airstrip where he would land, he thought, before sunset. Unfortunately, he had strong winds against him and he didn't make it in time. The sun had already set and a haze was over the landing strip. Nearing the airstrip, he came down lower but he couldn't make out the boundaries of the runway. Panic seized him as he sensed he didn't have much fuel left. The runway was not equipped with lights, and he had no way of getting in touch with anyone. He began to circle. He realized one of those circling moments would be his last. He was in danger of crashing to his death.

        Down on the ground, a man was sitting on his porch and his sensitive ears were bothered by the drone of the engine as he kept hearing the plane going around and around and around. Suddenly he though, "That guy's in trouble." Quickly he sped over to the runway and began to drive up and down the runway with his lights on bright, up and down, showing that young, inexperienced, foolish pilot how to find his way. The pilot turned. With a great breath of relief he began to land the plane. At the end of the runway the driver turned around and switched his lights on high beam and sat there, as if to say, "This is the end of the runway and there are the lights. That pilot came right in and landed safely. A near tragedy was averted by a little light in the right place.

        The Lord's Word or Torah is like those high-beams lighting the path of the runway. Without God to give us direction through the Bible, we'd crash. So His "law" isn't meant primarily to be punitive or curb our fun, but help us.

        Wednesday was World AIDS Day; the radio mentioned a place in Toronto with a huge map of the world, with countries outlined by 9000 lights - 9000 being the number of people who die each day from the deadly epidemic. It is possible to contract AIDS without doing anything immoral. But how many deaths could have been spared by simply honouring God's directions about physical relations?

        Psalm 25(8-9) says, “Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” Because God is good, He doesn't keep us in the dark. James (1:25) remarked, "“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this...— he will be blessed in what he does.” God's law or torah gives freedom and blessing, not bondage and restriction.

        During His time on earth, Jesus resisted people's attempts to make Him king or assume some kind of authority role. In this phase, He restricted His impact to teaching principles and truth that bring resolution when heeded. For example, in Luke 12(13-15): “Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Then he said to them [here comes the teaching element], "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."”

Resolving an Evil-for-Evil Relationship

Christian counsellor John Regier describes relationships in which people attack each other back-and-forth as "evil-for-evil" relationships. In these, conflict escalates out of control until people either destroy each other or abandon each other - physically or emotionally. If you have a tendency to retaliate with evil, look out: Peter writes that "the face of the Lord is against those who do evil" (1Pet.3:12) - you're setting yourself up for a serious an painful confrontation with the Almighty. There are some people who are so bent or twisted inside that they are nasty even when you're kind to them. Prov.17(13) warns, “If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house.”

        Those who bear the name of Jesus, however, are called to respond with goodness and kindness even when they're treated badly. The apostle Peter, who suffered more than we probably ever will, commanded: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1Pet.3:9) That's not easy - it requires supernatural assistance. But this one simple rule would probably mess up most of the conflict in the world, if we applied it. It's grace and forgiveness in-the-flesh - absorbing the cost of the wrong done to you rather than seeking to "get even". That defuses the bomb of bitterness and neutralizes the acid of anger. Counsellor Archibald Hart defines forgiveness as "surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me."

        Regier offers a checklist for the end of each week, based on 1Pet.3:8-16. We can ask ourselves, about our behaviour toward the other person: "Was I in harmony with them? Was I sympathetic? Was I compassionate? Did I demonstrate humility? Did I guard my tongue from returning evil? [so much tension could be avoided by being just a little more careful in what we say!] Did I turn from responding with evil? Did I seek and pursue peace? Did I respond in a gentle way? Did I show respect?"

        Chuck Colson spent time in prison in connection with his role as an advisor to Richard Nixon through Watergate. He now heads up Prison Fellowship. He writes: "Nothing is more Christian than forgiveness...demonstrating trust in one who has fallen."

Unreasonable Racket

The church is to be a microcosm of Christ's Kingdom, a living reminder of the peace and love and harmony that will one day be experienced globally when Jesus returns bodily, and nations will not "train for war anymore". With God's help, we can model for outsiders how to get along, empathizing, understanding, and forgiving each other.

        A father was in his study reading when he heard a commotion outside the window. It was his daughter, playing with her friends. It got louder and louder and more heated and more argumentative, until finally the dad could restrain himself no longer. He pushed the window open and called, "Stop it.Honey, what's wrong?" She responded quickly, "But, Daddy, we were just playing church."

        Let's not let that be us! "Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord." (2:5) Let's pray.