To kill or to be killed? That is the question.
Others have faced the same question too: To kill or to be killed? How will you respond?
Take this example for instance:
Johanan and all the officers of the troops that had been hiding in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They said to him, “Are you at all aware that King Baalis of Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.
Jeremiah 40:13-14
Believe it or not, it was true. Was Gedaliah in denial? It’s hard to say. Maybe he just thought, “It could never happen to me.” Was he somehow exempt from the plots and plans of the enemy, as so many assume they are?
The concept of having an enemy that wants to destroy us isn’t something new, but whether we actually believe it or not is what we must come to grips with. Truth is; no one is exempt.
Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah there at Mizpah, “Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah before anyone knows about it. Otherwise he will kill you…”
Jeremiah 40:15
Johanan tried to warn the seemingly blind Gedaliah once again, just as God does for each of His children because He loves us. For example: God warns the individual of looming danger by His Spirit and through His Word. Moreover the Lord often sends other voices into our lives to wake us up before it’s too late. But will we head the warning?
Gedaliah did not, and it cost him.
But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do that because what you are saying about Ishmael is not true.”
Jeremiah 40:16
It was true; a lesson Gedaliah ended up learning the hard way. The opportunity to kill what sought to kill him arose, but he refused. In the end he was killed. A tragic end that should have been avoided.
The lesson? Put to death that which seeks to destroy your life. Don’t wait, don’t hesitate and don’t pretend like everything is okay when it’s not. If you don’t kill it (whatever it is) it may very well kill you.
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