Many Christians are masters at conflict-avoidance. Perhaps we confuse “blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9) with “blessed are those who avoid unpleasant situations.” But conflict and confrontation weave their way throughout the fabric of the Bible.
As the children of Israel prepared to cross the Jordan River for the first time, they faced literal warfare. But first they had to fight a figurative battle that threatened the nation in a different way. The tribes of Gad and Reuben owned “vast numbers of livestock” and wanted to stay in the pastures on the east side of the Jordan (Numbers 32:1).
Moses immediately questioned their motives. “Do you intend to stay here while your brothers go across and do all the fighting?” he asked. “Why do you want to discourage the rest of the people?” (Numbers 32:6-7).
The leaders of Gad and Reuben could have wilted in the face of a powerful man’s anger. Or they could have reacted spitefully. Instead, they replied, “We simply want to build pens for our livestock and fortified towns for our wives and children. Then we will arm ourselves and lead our fellow Israelites into battle” (Numbers 32:16-17).
Moses then laid out the specifics for how the tribes would move forward. They responded, “We, your servants, will follow your instructions exactly” (Numbers 32:25). And they did.
When confronted with disagreements, we tend to vacillate between dishonest niceness and sinful anger. Both extremes are wrong. Jesus never shrank from confrontation. He did, however, pray for our unity even as His crucifixion loomed.
Conflict is inevitable. When it comes, may it point us to the selfless honesty of Jesus and His path that leads to lasting peace.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 18:1-15
More:
What does Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-26 reveal about the depth of unity He sought?
Next:
Why do you sometimes avoid conflict? How can you honor God and live a healthier life in Christ by the way you face it?
Gary Shultz on January 10, 2014 at 7:34 am
Well stated.
tom felten on January 10, 2014 at 8:40 am
Good thoughts, Tim. Confrontation can often seem like something too large and that will take too much time or something too painful or fearful to wade into. May God give us the courage to confront when it’s appropriate at the loving thing to do.
tgustafs on January 10, 2014 at 9:52 am
So often I find that I want to confront out of anger, or I just want to retreat and complete avoid the situation. God is showing me how to stay in situations that I may find unpleasant, giving up my “right” to be right. Jesus often suffered false accusations, but He never retaliated out of any sense of a wounded ego.
GChoo on January 11, 2014 at 10:34 am
What a timely reminder. It is never easy especially confronting our own young adult children when we know they are truly wrong. However, truly we have to leave them to God to put them right in our prayer. It hurts but … I suppose this is part of the growing up process for our children, and now being in the shoe of our parents when we were growing up.