Why You Should Not Ridicule An Authority Figure (2)

Today, we will continue the second sequel to our meditation on some of the reasons we should not be found making a ridicule of whoever is in a position of authority.

Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses, He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?” – Numbers 12:6-8

Another people in positions of authority that we should not be guilty of ridiculing or making mockery of are political figures. It is good to clarify at this point the difference between criticism and mockery. Criticism is good as feedback for those in positions of authority, so long as it is offered in good faith, so as to help them to be better, rule better and perform better. It is important to hold those in authority accountable to their promises, in the case of elected or appointed positions. However, making a public mockery or ridicule of one in such positions may not be too pleasing to God.

Lert us consider the example of Aaron and Miriam against Moses. Now Moses did something wrong. He married an Ethiopian woman which was obviously against God’s instruction to the people of Israel. His lieutenants, who were also his older siblings, Miriam and Aaron, therefore publicly criticized him for this. They might have done this to a great extent thus undermining Moses in the eyes of the people that God took an umbrage at their behaviors and publicly punished the two for daring to treat Moses so.

Interestingly, Moses was wrong, but God sided with him and punished his critics instead, chastising one scathingly and afflicting the other with leprosy. in the process Moses had to beg God on behalf of the two of them before He healed Miriam. Moses was a political authority.

Another example, David did nothing wrong, but at a point, the King, the political authority in his time, wanted to kill him at all costs. David became a fugitive, running from wilderness to wilderness and living in caves. As fate would have it, at two different occasions, David got the king who wanted his life in a vulnerable situation and could have killed him at a strike. But he did not. His lieutenants urged him, this is a lifetime opportunity to do away with the person who wanted to take his life. But David said he dared not touch an anointed of God.

Mind you, Saul was neither a good nor popular leader. But David knew something most people still struggle to understand; that you do not just get trigger-happy or run your mouth when it comes to dealing with a leader or constituted authority. Little wonder God called him a man after his own heart.

ALSO READ:

• Why You Should Not Ridicule an Authority Figure (1)
• Six Words That Changed a Life
• Experiencing Hell at the Point of Death