May 10 - Exodus 23:8

You shall take no bribe,

for a bribe blinds the officials,

and subverts the cause

of those who are in the right.

Exodus 23:8

In the insurance industry, the damage caused by storms is often labeled an “Act of God.”

And people often ask, where is God in the midst of the tragedies.

For example, what if a building collapses in a storm? Whose fault is it?

• Is it God’s fault? He set up the conditions to water the earth and provide for the growth of food! Therefore, it’s not the Lord’s fault (though I can understand why some non-believers blame the God they supposedly don’t believe in). 

• So whose fault is it? Too often it’s the fault of bribes. Corrupt builders (trying to save an extra dollar) bribe a corrupt building inspector (trying to earn an extra buck), and a substandard building topples. Is that God’s fault? Or sin’s fault?

I’ve counseled people who’ve lost jobs throughout this recession. “What caused the loss of your job?” After they mulled this for a moment, I’d say, “It was greed … Greed drove the housing bubble. And when it popped, innocent people suffered collateral damage.”

For self-esteem purposes, most people prefer viewing themselves as “victims,” rather than “bad employees who deserved to get fired.”

BUT … we’re very rarely victims. We’re co-conspirators. We excuse little sins all day – in ourselves and in others. Then we’re indignant when the corruption catches up with us.

The command in Exodus is, “you shall take no bribe.” Legalistically, I’m clear on this one. I don’t take bribes! But if I’m honest, I’m still part of the corruption in little ways.

My goal is freedom from my own corruption. And that’s the way to begin to turn the world a little more aright … one person living right … and influencing one more person beyond that.

In Christ’s Love,

a co-conspirator

who wants to

escape the mob