Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election

Dealing With Tyrants - 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 1997-01-12

Synopsis: John Weaver teaches that avoidance is a biblical, lawful tactic for dealing with tyrants, alongside deception. Using examples from Isaac, Jacob, Elijah, David, Paul, and Jesus, he argues that avoiding conflict with wicked rulers is not cowardice but wisdom, especially when resources are insufficient to overthrow tyranny. Avoidance protects life, family, and property non-violently and is commended by God.

[John Weaver] He verse fifteen. Chapter one, verse fifteen, I'll not be preaching on this text particularly, but I will be discussing the subject generally. I think that you will understand in just a few moments. I'm reading this text, the book of Proverbs, chapter one. And God is here talking about the wicked and giving advice to the godly. And he says, my son, walk not thou in the way with them.

[John Weaver] Refrain by foot from their path. In other words, don't walk with them. Stay out of their way.

[John Weaver] Now, I've been dealing with the biblical doctrine of war. What is it right to fight? We've covered a lot of subjects. And last week I began this section on dealing with tyrants or how to deal with tyranny. And if you remember, I dealt last week particularly on the most fundamental and basic way of dealing with tyrants found in the Bible, and that is deception, how the godly people in the Old Testament and in the New Testament use deception. And remember, I told you it was part of the Lex Talionis, that is, the law of retribution, because the first sin was brought in by deception.

[John Weaver] And so God deceives the deceivers. And I showed you interesting places, I hope, where often God uses deception himself. In fact, God told Samuel to use deception. And there in 2 Thessalonians, how God deceives those who will not receive the truth.

[John Weaver] Now today, I'm going to be dealing with another aspect of how to deal with tyrants. Deception is not the only means of dealing with tyrants. However, it is, as I pointed out, one of the most basic and one of the most fundamental means. It's absolutely necessary for each of us to learn to think in biblical and scriptural terms. One of our problems is we have been so absolutely brainwashed and so taken up with human tradition that when we hear the truth of God, it only sounds strange to our ears, but it almost is impossible to conceive of it in our minds or implement it in our lives. And so what we have to do is cast off all preconceived ideas, all humanistic ideas, and just simply submit our minds to the Word of God on every subject in it. The very first method then of dealing with tyrants was deception. The second method of dealing with tyrants is what I'm going to call avoidance. Now you're going to see that avoidance And deception many times go hand in hand.

[John Weaver] In fact, sometimes in the Bible, you'll find that those two things happen at the same time, or at least they happen together. But sometimes they also happen separately as well. So let's begin dealing then with the subject of avoidance. Now, let me begin by telling you that avoidance is a tactic for dealing with tyranny. Simply put, let me explain it like this. Simply put, avoidance is staying out of the way.

[John Weaver] If you want to use this expression, it's keeping a low profile. Or you could say it means literally making sure that your paths do not cross. Let me ask you a question. Why in the world would anyone want to associate with tyrants anyhow? You know, unless you yourself are part and partial to that type of lifestyle. Let me tell you what St. Augustine said. St. Augustine was one of the early church fathers.

[John Weaver] He lived from 354 to 430 A.D. and here's what he said, quote, Godless civil rulers are no more than bands of robbers, end quote.

[John Weaver] Now, that's certainly an accurate statement, not back in 400 A.D., but it's certainly an accurate statement in the 19th and the 20th and the 21st century as well. So why would anyone want to associate with a band of robbers? I want you to turn very quickly in your Bibles to Psalm 50 and look, if you would please, at what the Word of God says. Once again, in this passage, God is talking about the ungodly. And notice, if you would, what God says, Psalm 50, beginning there with verse 16. He says, But to the wicked, God said. Now, look what God says specifically to the wicked.

[John Weaver] He asked, What is thou to do to declare my statutes or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth, seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee, when thou sawest a thief and thou consented with him and has been partaker with adulterers? Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother, and slanderst thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence. Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such in one as thyself, but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

[John Weaver] Now consider this, you that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver." So God doesn't think too highly of the wicked, especially when the wicked cast His words behind their back. And God asks, what have the wicked to do with His statutes and His judgments and His covenants, seeing they hate Him and will not obey Him? So very obviously, anyone who is godly and holy would want to avoid such people.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Genesis 26, and let's begin discussing from Scripture the subject of avoidance. Now, I'm not through with this subject that I'm dealing with, but this is just one part of it. Look in Genesis chapter 26. We read the first part last week in dealing with deception. In Genesis chapter 6, this is where Isaac deceived the king by saying that Rebecca was his sister. You remember how the king looked out the window and saw Isaac sporting with his wife and he said, Now, this is not the man's sister. This is the man's wife.

[John Weaver] And, of course, he calls him and he said, what in the world have you done? And, of course, we look down to verse 12. Let's skip down. Then Isaac sowed in the land and received in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him. So the Lord was blessing Isaac even when Isaac was using deception to deal with this wicked, ungodly ruler. Now, let's begin reading with verse 13.

[John Weaver] And let me show you the tactic of avoidance. Now, please remember that Isaac had a small company and a small family. The Bible says that the man waxed great and went forward and grew until he became very great. For he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great store of servants. Watch, and the Philistines envied him. Now, he may have had a lot of servants, but he was still not a man of war, nor did he have men of war, per se. Watch verse 15,"...for all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them and filled them with earth." And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us, for thou art much mightier than we." Now, not militarily speaking. Watch verse 17.

[John Weaver] And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. And he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. And Isaac's servants digged in the valley and found there a well of springing water." Now watch,"...and the herdmen of Gerar," that is the Philistines,"...did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours. And he called the name of the well Esek," which literally means there, a contention,"...because they strove with them." Well, what did Isaac do? He said, all right, you want the well, you have it, I'll leave it. Watch verse 21. And they did another well and strove for that also when he called the name of it, sitting off, which is hatred. Watch verse 22. He removed from this and did another well. In other words, he said, I'll just get out of your way.

[John Weaver] And for that, they strove not. And he called the name of it Rehoboth. which means room, and he said, For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. And he went up from this to Beersheba, and the Lord appeared unto him the same night and said, I am the God of Abraham my father. Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. And he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent there, and there Isaac's servants digged a well. Now what was Isaac doing?

[John Weaver] He was doing But you and I would simply call avoiding the enemy or avoiding the tyrant and just simply getting out of the way. He said, I've dug the well. Yes, I've got money involved in it. Yes, I've got labor and time involved in it, but I'm not going to fight over it. I'm not in the position to fight at this time. You can have it. I'll just get out of the way. I'll simply avoid you. And here's the result.

[John Weaver] Skip down to verse 26. I want you to know. that Isaac did not do something feverish or foolish. In verse 26, then Abimelech went to him from Gerah, and Ahazel, one of his friends, and Phicol, the chief captain of the army. And Isaac said of them, Wherefore come you to me, seeing you hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee. And we said, let there now be an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee, that thou will do us no hurt as we have not touched thee. And as we have done unto thee nothing but good and have sent thee away in peace, thou art now the blessed of the Lord.

[John Weaver] And he made them a feast and they did eat and drink. Then they rose up three times in the morning and swear one to another. And Isaac sent them away and they departed in peace. It came to pass the same day that Isaac's servants came and told him concerning the well which they had digged. They said, we found water and he called it Sheba. Therefore, the name of the city is Beer Sheba under this day.

[John Weaver] So what was the result? God blessed Isaac in such a way that the enemy recognized that God was with him and it would be absolutely foolish for them to try to harm him. Moreover, now they were concerned that he might harm them. And so they came to him and said, we're going to make a covenant.

[John Weaver] Now, here's the point I want you to understand. did what he could do. He did not do what he could not do. The natural tendency of every man is this. If you wrong me, if you steal from me, if you take from me, I'm going to get you back. I'm going to defend what's mine. Now, I'm going to be dealing with that probably next week, that aspect of it. But I want you to understand it's not always wise to defend what you have.

[John Weaver] There are some things that are not worth dying for. Someone asked me. Well, Brother Weaver, would you let somebody, would you let the enemy take your weapons? Sure. I'm not going to die for two or three rifles. That doesn't mean they're going to take all of mine. You understand what I'm saying? But I've got one or two they may have. Got some they may not have. But the point I'm trying to make is this, if I'm surrounded in my house by tanks or by 50 men and I can't get out and nobody can get in and all they want are two little rifles worth more than, not worth more than a hundred bucks each, they may have them.

[John Weaver] Now, this was Isaac's understanding. Isaac said, I'm going to do what I can do, but I can't fight off all of the Philistines. And so I'll just let them have it. I'll just get out of the way. So he was literally avoiding the trouble.

[John Weaver] Now, let's go to Genesis chapter 27. By the way, I'll give you more of a definition later, but let me tell you the etymology of the root word for tyrant. It literally means one who rules without God. So basically, we have a tyrannical government in our country because our government is ruling without God. Our forefathers, by the way, understood this. That's why when our country was first founded, everyone who was in office had to take an oath that they not only believed the Bible to be the Word of God, they believed Jesus Christ was the Son of God. And if you did not confess Jesus Christ, and if you did not confess the Bible was the Word of God, you could not be a civil ruler in this country. Look in Genesis chapter 27. Now, in Genesis 27, I don't want to take time to read all of this. I'll tell you briefly the story.

[John Weaver] In this passage, deceit is used upon Isaac. Now, deceit is used upon him by his wife, Rebecca, and by his son, Jacob. You see, Isaac is getting old. In fact, let's read just one or two verses. Look in Genesis 27. And it came to pass when Isaac was old that his eyes were dim so that he could not see. He called Esau, his eldest son, and said unto him, My son, he said unto him, Behold, here am I. He said, Behold, now I am old, and I know not the day of my death.

[John Weaver] Therefore, take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver, and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison, and make me savoury meat such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat. Watch carefully, that my soul may bless thee before I die." Now, here's the problem. Isaac is saying, Esau, you go get me the venison, and when you come back, I am going to bless you.

[John Weaver] What was wrong with that? Two things. Number one, Jacob had the birthright because God had given it to Jacob. Moreover, Esau had sold that birthright for a mess of pottage. Let me make it even clearer. Isaac already knew the will of God in this matter. Look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 25 and look at verse 23. Genesis 25, verse 23. Here's what God told Rebecca. Very obviously, Isaac knew of this truth as well. And the Lord said unto her, two nations are in thy womb. And two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels, and the one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger." Now, God has said the elder shall serve the younger. What does that mean? That means the younger is going to have the birthright. The younger is going to have the blessing. And what is Isaac going to do? Isaac is going to take the blessing and give it to Esau. full well-knowing that God said the blessing went to Jacob.

[John Weaver] Now, since Isaac was acting like a tyrant, since he was disregarding the plain word of God and the plain truth of God, then Rebekah and Jacob dealt with him as with a tyrant. Look back in your Bible to Genesis chapter 25 very quickly, beginning there with verse 27. And the boys grew, and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field, and Jacob was a plain man dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did even as venison."

[John Weaver] That's a good reason to love your son, isn't it? It provides for you. It brings me steak every now and then. But Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sawed pottage, and Esau came from the field, and he was faint. And Esau said to Jacob,"'Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage, for I am faint, Therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I'm at the point to die. And what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day. And he swore to him and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils, and he did eat and drink and rose up and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note a couple of things. First of all, Esau was not starving. He saw it had just been out on the field and he was hungry. It wasn't as if he was on his last leg and could not have made it home. And by the way, when he said, feed me with that same red in the Hebrew, it's literally feed me with that same red, that same red. It doesn't say pottage. Esau may have thought that it was blood pudding because it was red, but it was lentils. I don't know. But Jacob said, what I want your birthright and I'll trade you this pottage for your birthright. And Esau despised the birthright. Now, if you don't know what the birthright is, let me tell you. First of all, it included being the patriarch of the clan or the family, the head of the family.

[John Weaver] Secondly, it included a receiving of double portion of the inheritance. Which meant that you would also take care of mom and dad in their old age. That's why the eldest son got a double portion, OK? Because he had the responsibility of taking care of mom and dad. And thirdly, it included the lineage of Christ. And so Esau said, none of these things mean anything to me, and so I'm going to sell them to you.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look down in chapter 27 at verse 41. You know the story how Jacob and Rebekah have dressed Jacob and made him hairy like Esau, put goat skin on him, put on Esau's clothing, and she took a goat and made savory venison as Isaac did love, and she must have been a great cook to make goat taste like venison, but she did it. And you know how Jacob went in and said that he was Esau, and he got the blessing. Let me show you how angry Esau was. Look in Genesis 27, verse 41. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, the days of mourning for my father at hand, then will I slay my brother Jacob.

[John Weaver] In other words, I'm going to murder him. I'm going to get him.

[John Weaver] Now, what did Jacob do? Did Jacob look at Esau and say, you dirty, ungodly, reprobate, although he was? You think you're going to kill me? You sold me that birthright. It was perfectly lawful and legal for me to have it. God gave it to me. The blessing went with the birthright. You think you're going to kill me? No, no. I'm going to kill you instead. Did he do that? No. What did Jacob do? He fled.

[John Weaver] He tried to avoid trouble. Now, he fled to Lathan. Look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 29, beginning there with verse 10. I like to read this. This is one of my favorite stories. He finally gets to Rachel, who is Laban's daughter, who becomes his wife later on. And it came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, that Jacob went near and rolled a stone from the whale's mouth and watered the flock of Laban, his mother's brother. Watch now. And Jacob kissed Rachel and lift up his voice and wept. Sometimes I do that. No, I'm teasing. He kissed his girlfriend and raised up his voice and wept.

[John Weaver] Well, very obviously, he was weeping for joy because he was finding his family, his mother's family there. And you know the story how he fell in love with with Rachel and he wanted her. And he said, look, I'm going to serve you seven years for Rachel. And when he served the time, He got married, and when he got on his honeymoon, he found out he didn't marry Rachel. He married Leah.

[John Weaver] He said, what have you done to me? Daddy said, we've got a custom in our country. It's not right to let the younger marry before the older. But you've served me seven more years now, and you can have this one too. Now guess what? He'd only served 14 years for his two wives. He served another six years. Let me point this out. Six years is the term in the Bible for the service of a slave. And I want you to know that Laban treated Jacob as a slave.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 31 and verse 41. Genesis 31 and verse 41. Look what Jacob says to Laban. Thus have I been with thee twenty years in thy house. I serve thee fourteen years for thy two daughters and six years for thy cattle. Now watch this. And thou hast changed my wages ten times.

[John Weaver] Now, the six year period is the period of slave service. And what Laban was doing was treating his son-in-law now as a slave. And when Jacob did leave, Laban was not even going to allow him to take his wives and children with him. You see, that's according to biblical law.

[John Weaver] Now, the Bible says if a man comes to you and he becomes your servant or your slave and you give him a wife and their children born, when he leaves, the wife and the children are still yours. But you see, Jacob did not come as a slave, but Laban was treating him as a slave, and he wasn't even going to let him take his wife and children with him. Well, look, if you would please, once again, in verse 42, look what Jacob says to Laban.

[John Weaver] Genesis 31, verse 42, Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac had been with me, surely thou hast sent me away now empty. God hath seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight. So Jacob understood that had not God intervened, he not only would not have his wives and children, he wouldn't have any of his flocks or anything. God saw the suffering of Jacob. Now, what was God's counsel to Jacob? Look in chapter 31, beginning with verse 11. Genesis 31, verse 11. And the angel of God spake of me in a dream, saying, Jacob, and I said, hear my, He said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see all the rams, which leap upon the cattle, are ringed straight, speckled, and grizzled. For I have seen all that laven doth unto thee. I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointest the pillar, and where thou vouchsafest unto me.

[John Weaver] Now rise, and get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred." And Rachel and Leah answered and said of him, Is there yet any portion inheritance for us in our father's house?

[John Weaver] Now watch what the girls say. Are we not counted of him as strangers? For he has sold us and quite devoured also our money. For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours and our children's, now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do." What did God tell Jacob to do? He said, Get out of the land. Move away. Avoid Laban.

[John Weaver] Now, look, if you would, at verse 20. And Laban and Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. So Jacob obeyed God and just simply left the country. What's he saying? Laban is acting like a tyrant. He's acting like an ungodly man. And I'm just going to avoid him. I will get out of the way. And that's exactly what he did. Now, the interesting thing is when Jacob came back into the land, He was told, Behold, your brother Esau comes with four hundred armed men. And Jacob was distressed. Look in Genesis chapter 32, beginning there with verse six, Genesis 32, verse six. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee with four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed, and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels into two bands." Now note the fact that Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.

[John Weaver] Skip down to verse 11. Look what he prays. He asked God, deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me and the mother with the children. Now, you know the story how God did deliver once again Jacob from Esau. Now, look if you would to Genesis chapter 33, and let me show you deception and avoidance once again at play in Jacob's life. Look in Genesis chapter 33, beginning there with verse 12. You know, God made Esau reconcilable to Jacob. So here we have the statement in verse 12, and he said, Let us take our journey, let us go, and I will be go before thee. So Esau now wants Jacob to bring all of his family and come home with him. Watch verse 13, and he, that is Jacob, said unto him, My Lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and the herds with young are with me, and if the men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.

[John Weaver] Now watch what he says, Let my Lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant, that is, you go on ahead, and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me, and the children be able to endure, until I come to my Lord in Mount Seir. Now, Esau, you go on back home, and I'll just come gradually and slowly to where you are. And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me.

[John Weaver] And he said, What need of it? Let me find grace in thy sight of my Lord. I don't need any of your help, Esau. So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. Watch. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built him a house and made booths for his cattle. Therefore, the name of the place is called Succoth. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan Aram and pitched his tent before the city. And he bought a parcel of a field, which he spread his tent at the hand of of hammer, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of money. Whoa, wait a minute. Didn't Jacob just get out of his mouth?

[John Weaver] He saw you going back home. I'm coming to see you and I'll move in with you. But what did he do? He lied. He deceived him and he went somewhere else. Why? He only used his Esau, because Esau was an ungodly, tyrannical reprobate. He despised the things of God. And so Esau went back home, and Jacob said, I'm just not going to have anything to do with you. And he avoided it.

[John Weaver] Now, I could show you a multitude of passages, but I want to quickly take you through the Bible. I'm going to show you the Old Testament and the New Testament, where this tactic is used over and over. Turning your Bibles, if you would please, to First Kings chapter 17. Now. As you turn there, let me make a statement. So many people think that just because you avoid trouble. Or just because you use this tactic.

[John Weaver] That it makes you a coward. That it makes you afraid to fight. That is not so, and we'll prove that to you from the Word of God. You see, we have the old saying, discretion is the better part of valor. You pick your fights. It's not that you're afraid to fight. You just want to fight on your terms when the situation is winnable for you. In first Kings, Chapter 17, beginning with verse 1.

[John Weaver] And Elisha the Tishbi, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, now remember Ahab is the wicked, tyrannical king. Elisha is the prophet of God. Here's what Elisha tells Ahab. As the Lord God of Israel liveth before whom I stand, there shall not be dune or rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is, before Jordan. It shall be that thou shalt drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord, for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is, before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land." God tells Elijah, you go hide yourself by the brook Cherith.

[John Weaver] Now, is Elijah afraid of Ahab? No. Is God afraid of Ahab? No. Could not God protect Elijah in the palace? Yes. Could not God overthrow Ahab at any moment? Yes. But God said, that's not what I'm going to do right now. What I want you to do, Elijah, is to avoid him. Get out of his way. Don't even let him know where you are. Watch this. Skip on down to verse eight. And the word of the Lord came in him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belonged to the Nazide, and dwell there.

[John Weaver] That is out of the land now. He sends him out of the land. Behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he had come to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering sticks. And he called unto her and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water and a vessel that I may drink now." So God says, now Elijah, I want you to go over to Zarephath.

[John Weaver] Now, you see, the truth of the matter is this. Ahab was looking for Elijah. He wanted to take his life. Look in your Bibles to chapter 18 in verse 10 and what Obadiah tells Elijah. After Elijah comes back and says, I'm going to show myself to Ahab, watch what he says in chapter 18 in verse 1 it is. Let's read there first. It came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.

[John Weaver] Now, skip down if you would, please. Here's what Obadiah tells him. As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whether my Lord hath not sent to seek thee. And when they said he is not here, he took an oath of the kingdom of nation, and that they found thee not. What was Ahab wanting Elijah for? So he could kill him. He was upset because Elijah was the one that God used to pronounce the drought on the land. And what did God told Elijah to do? He told him to avoid Ahab, get out of the way. And for that three years and six months, Ahab could not find Elijah, for God told Elijah to avoid him, to get out of the way.

[John Weaver] That's exactly what he did. And so Elijah then used the tactic of avoidance. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 23. Let me show you another illustration of avoidance. In fact, If I were to take the time this morning, I could spend most of the day showing you how David avoided Saul, but this one illustration will be sufficient. First Samuel chapter 23, beginning with verse 19. Then came up the Zephyrites, the Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hekelah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? Now, the Zephyrites are saying, Look, David is hiding from you. What's David doing hiding? Is David a coward? Is David afraid? David, you're a man of war. Why are you avoiding Saul?

[John Weaver] Now, therefore, will the king come down according to all the desire of my soul to come down, and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand. And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the Lord, for you have compassion on me. Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see where his place and where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there, for it is told me that he dealeth very subtly." See, therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with a certainty, and I will go with you. And it shall come to pass, that he be in the land, that I will search him throughout all the thousands of Judah. And they arose and went to Zip before Saul.

[John Weaver] But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain of the south of Jeshaimon. Saul also and his men went to seek him, and they told David. Wherefore, he came down into a rock and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. Now watch this. And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain. And David made haste to get away for fear of Saul. For Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste ye to come, for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore, Saul returned from pursuing David and went against the Philistines.

[John Weaver] Therefore they call that place Selah Hamalakah. And David went up from thence and dwelt in the strongholds of En-Gedi.

[John Weaver] Now, would anyone in here suggest for a moment that David was a coward? I hope you would not. I want you to look back in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 18 and look at verses 6 and 7. If you think David was a coward, watch this. And it came to pass, as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, that the women came out of the cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music. And the women answered one another as they played and said, Saul had slain his thousands and David his ten thousands."

[John Weaver] Now, I don't know about you. But I wouldn't want to look David in the face and say, you yellow-bellied coward, what are you going to do? I mean, David killed more men than I could probably ever dream of killing. I've never killed anybody. David was not afraid, quote-unquote, to fight. Why did he run from Saul? Why did he avoid Saul? Let me tell you why. Are you listening? for the simple reason he did not want to be the one to kill Saul. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 26. 1 Samuel 26 beginning there with verse 7. 1 Samuel 26 verse 7. So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster, but Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David, Abishai was one of David's captains.

[John Weaver] God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day. Now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear, even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

[John Weaver] Now won't you look what Abishai said. He said, David, you don't have to kill him. I will. And David, if you will let me just take one swipe at him, I'll guarantee you I'll do a good job. I won't have to stab him the second time. One will be sufficient. Watch verse 9. David said to Abishai, destroy him not. But who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? And David said, furthermore, as the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into the battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the Lord's anointed. But I pray thee, take now the spear that is at his bolster and the crews of water and let us go.

[John Weaver] You see, the problem was this. David just didn't want to kill Saul. David avoided it. David was trying to avoid the fight.

[John Weaver] Now, it is lawful to avoid a tyrant, and many times, expediency demands it. Let me go a little bit further. Oftentimes, as I shall show you next week, certain circumstances demand that tyrants be avoided. If you've got ten men and a tyrant is coming against you with ten thousand, is it not wisdom to turn and leave the area? That's not being a coward. You're willing to fight, but you're just not willing to fight on the enemy's terms. So God is saying avoidance is a lawful means of dealing with a tyrant.

[John Weaver] Look back in your Bibles, the first Kings chapter 18. Everybody is familiar with this story. First Kings chapter 18. Once again, this is where God told Elijah to show himself to Ahab, but let's go a little bit further. First Kings chapter 18, and let's read the first four verses. And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go show thyself unto Ahab and I will send rain upon the earth. Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria, and Ahab called Obadiah, who was the governor of his house. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, for so it was when Jezebel caught the prophets of the Lord that Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water."

[John Weaver] Let me ask you a question. What were these hundred preachers doing? They were hiding. Why were they hiding? They were avoiding Ahab and Jezebel. What are 100 men against a whole army? Nothing. Were these preachers cowards? No. They were just simply following this tactic of avoidance. They were staying out of the tyrant's way. They didn't want to be killed. They didn't want to lose their homes. They didn't want to lose their families. And so they just simply stayed out of the way. So they were avoiding Ahab.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 9. Let me begin to show you in the New Testament now how this same tactic is employed. In Acts chapter 9. Watch Acts chapter 9 and verse 22. If you would, go ahead and turn in your Bibles also to 2 Corinthians chapter 11, because we're going to turn there immediately because this passage will throw a little more light upon Acts chapter 9. Look in Acts chapter 9, if you would, and let's begin reading there with verse 22.

[John Weaver] But Saul, this is Saul of Tarsus now, he's been converted. But Saul increased the mourn script and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that, many days were fulfilled. The Jews took counsel to kill him, but their laying awake was known of Saul, and they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down by the wall in a basket. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, so Saul then escaped. How did he escape? He was let down over the wall in a basket at night. You say, well, Brother Weaver, he was just running from the Jews. Oh, no, no, no. Because the Jews had allies.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to Second Corinthians chapter 11. And let's begin there with verse 32. Look what the Apostle Paul writes about this incident. He writes in Damascus. The governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison desirous to apprehend me, and through a window and a basket was I let down by the wall and escaped his hands." Ah, so Paul wasn't just avoiding the Jews, he was avoiding the civil authorities. Now, lest you think that the Apostle Paul was a coward, Look in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 11, and let's begin with verse 22. Look at his argument.

[John Weaver] He says, Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they the ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool. Watch, I am more, and labor's more abundant, and strife's more above measure, and prison's more frequent, and death's off. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes, save ones. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwrecked, a night and day I have been in the deep, in journeyings often, in perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils of mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the

[John Weaver] wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, besides those things which are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak? I am not weak. I don't know about you, but I'd hate to have to prove my courage by going through everything that Paul went through. And of course, I trust that you know, finally, he was decapitated in prison for the sake of Christ and his kingdom.

[John Weaver] That is, his head was chopped off. The apostle Paul was not a coward. But yet the few believers that were there could not stand and fight and deliver him or themselves in any other way. And so they avoided the tyrant. They got out of his way. And thus Paul, the apostle, escaped.

[John Weaver] Now, if anyone tends to think that avoidance is to be associated with cowardice and fear, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 7. John chapter 7. You're going to find that our Lord himself used this same tactic. Please remember that Jesus Christ is the omniscient, omnipotent God of the universe. He has all knowledge. He has all power. In John 7 and verse 1, after these things, Jesus walked in Galilee, for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. When they tried to kill him, what did he do?

[John Weaver] He just stayed out of their way. He avoided them.

[John Weaver] Now, if you think Christ was afraid to die, look in John chapter 12 and verse 27. John chapter 12, verse 27. He's praying to the Father, and look what he says.

[John Weaver] Now it's my soul's trouble. What shall I say, Father? Save me from this hour? But for this hour came I into the world. Jesus Christ was not afraid to die. He came to die. He knew he was going to die. But he still used the tactic of avoidance because avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent violence by wicked men.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 2, and once again let me show you a New Testament illustration of avoidance. And you will be amazed at who ordered this avoidance. Look in Matthew chapter 2. Let's begin reading there with verse 13. Jesus Christ is a young child. And when they were departed, Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt." Now, who ordered this tactic of avoidance? God Himself did. God said, Joseph, you take Mary. And Jesus, get out of the country, stay out of the land. Now, was God afraid of Herod? Well, of course not. Was God capable of dealing with Herod? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. A hundred times, yes. But God said, you flee, you avoid, you get out of his way.

[John Weaver] And that's exactly what Mary and Joseph did. Avoidance is a lawful tactic in dealing with tyranny. Herod was a tyrant. That's why he went and killed all the male children from two years and under, trying to make sure. That he got the young child, Jesus.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn to one last passage, that's Hebrews 11. I want to show you how a multitude of Christians used this tactic of avoidance.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note the context in which I'm reading. I'm going to start reading early in verse 32. Remember, please, Hebrews 11 lists the heroes of faith. These are not fearful men we're reading about. These are not cowards. These are heroes of faith. Watch Hebrews 11 verse 32, and what shall I more say for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Sapson and of Jephthah, David also, and Samuel and of the prophets. Now look what some of these men did. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

[John Weaver] Quench the violence of fire, escape the edge of the sword. Out of weakness were made strong, waxed valued in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mocking, scourging, jaymoor over bonds and imprisonments. Watch, they were stoned They were sown asunder, they were tempted, were slain with a sword.

[John Weaver] They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise." Let me ask you a question. What were these Christians doing, wandering about in dens and in caves, clothed only in sheepskins and goatskins? What were they doing?

[John Weaver] They were avoiding the tyrant. They were avoiding persecution. They were getting out of the way. And God put them in the heroes of faith, and God said the world was not even worthy of these people. These all died in the faith, he said. You see, a man is to use wisdom. God has given us not only the method of deception, he's also given us the method of avoidance.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make just a couple of applications. First of all, please understand, underline it in your heart, it is not an act of cowardice, to avoid a conflict with tyranny. Why? Because avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent violence by wicked men. We may lawfully practice deception and avoidance where morally necessary in order to protect our capital, our homes, our lives and our families. Let me tell you, if I know, if I know for sure, if I know absolutely that around the next block are two armed robbers, I'm not going there. If I know, I'm not going there. I'm going to avoid them if I can. If I know some tyrant is going to try to steal everything I've got, I'm going to stay out of his way. I'm not going to give him the opportunity to steal from me. You see what I'm saying? Avoidance is a lawful tactic to protect what you have as well as your life. Avoidance is absolutely necessary when there is neither strength nor the resources to overthrow the tyranny.

[John Weaver] You say, what in the world can I do until the tyrant is overthrown? You can deceive him and you can avoid him. until God gives the strength and the resources to overthrow him. So avoidance is a tactic that has been used all down through history to deal with tyrants who are already entrenched in power. You say, Brother Weaver, what about fighting him? Well, I'll tell you about that next week, too. But you've got to understand, these other tactics are lawful as well.

[John Weaver] And not everybody can fight. And not everybody can fight all the time. And therefore, God says, here are two other methods of dealing with tyrants. Shall we pray? Father, I pray that you will teach us your word. Teach us, Lord, that we may lawfully Deceive the deceiver and avoid the tyrant to protect our homes, our properties, our money.

[John Weaver] Who are obedient unto thee and whom thou hast placed over us and who are exercising proper power and authority under thee. But, Lord, tyranny is never a divinely appointed form of government, and so, therefore, tyrants may be deceived and may be avoided lawfully and obedient to thee. We give thee thanks for your word for teaching us. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen. This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N, Street, Sweden, 705-PMB-175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-833-7000.

[John Weaver] You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com

Dealing With Tyrants - 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	112811122229
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election
Genre	Sermon
Date	1997-01-12
Dictation Name
Book	Book 048: Dealing With Tyrants — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	89

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the previous sermon on deception as a fundamental method for dealing with tyrants, rooted in the law of retribution. He introduces avoidance as the second method.

He verse fifteen. Chapter one, verse fifteen, I'll not be preaching on this text particularly, but I will be discussing the subject generally. I think that you will understand in just a few moments. I'm reading this text, the book of Proverbs, chapter one. And God is here talking about the wicked and giving advice to the godly. And he says, "My son, walk not thou in the way with them." "Refrain thy foot from their path." In other words, don't walk with them. Stay out of their way.

Now, I've been dealing with the biblical doctrine of war. Is it right to fight? We've covered a lot of subjects. And last week I began this section on dealing with tyrants or how to deal with tyranny. And if you remember, I dealt last week particularly on the most fundamental and basic way of dealing with tyrants found in the Bible, and that is deception, how the godly people in the Old Testament and in the New Testament use deception. And remember, I told you it was part of the Lex Talionis, that is, the law of retribution, because the first sin was brought in by deception. And so God deceives the deceivers. And I showed you interesting places, I hope, where often God uses deception himself. In fact, God told Samuel to use deception. And there in 2 Thessalonians, how God deceives those who will not receive the truth.

Now today, I'm going to be dealing with another aspect of how to deal with tyrants. Deception is not the only means of dealing with tyrants. However, it is, as I pointed out, one of the most basic and one of the most fundamental means. It's absolutely necessary for each of us to learn to think in biblical and scriptural terms. One of our problems is we have been so absolutely brainwashed and so taken up with human tradition that when we hear the truth of God, it only sounds strange to our ears, but it almost is impossible to conceive of it in our minds or implement it in our lives. And so what we have to do is cast off all preconceived ideas, all humanistic ideas, and just simply submit our minds to the Word of God on every subject in it. The very first method then of dealing with tyrants was deception. The second method of dealing with tyrants is what I'm going to call avoidance. Now you're going to see that avoidance and deception many times go hand in hand.

Defining Avoidance

Avoidance is defined as staying out of the way, keeping a low profile, and ensuring paths do not cross with tyrants. It is a tactic for dealing with tyranny.

In fact, sometimes in the Bible, you'll find that those two things happen at the same time, or at least they happen together. But sometimes they also happen separately as well. So let's begin dealing then with the subject of avoidance. Now, let me begin by telling you that avoidance is a tactic for dealing with tyranny. Simply put, let me explain it like this. Simply put, avoidance is staying out of the way. If you want to use this expression, it's keeping a low profile. Or you could say it means literally making sure that your paths do not cross. Let me ask you a question. Why in the world would anyone want to associate with tyrants anyhow? You know, unless you yourself are part and partial to that type of lifestyle. Let me tell you what St. Augustine said. St. Augustine was one of the early church fathers.

Why Avoid Tyrants?

Citing Augustine and Psalm 50, Weaver argues that godly people should not associate with the wicked, who hate God's instruction and consent with thieves.

He lived from 354 to 430 A.D. and here's what he said, quote, "Godless civil rulers are no more than bands of robbers," end quote. Now, that's certainly an accurate statement, not back in 400 A.D., but it's certainly an accurate statement in the 19th and the 20th and the 21st century as well. So why would anyone want to associate with a band of robbers? I want you to turn very quickly in your Bibles to Psalm 50 and look, if you would please, at what the Word of God says. Once again, in this passage, God is talking about the ungodly. And notice, if you would, what God says, Psalm 50, beginning there with verse 16. He says, "But unto the wicked God saith." Now, look what God says specifically to the wicked.

He asked, "What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth, seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee? When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes." "Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver." So God doesn't think too highly of the wicked, especially when the wicked cast His words behind their back. And God asks, what have the wicked to do with His statutes and His judgments and His covenants, seeing they hate Him and will not obey Him? So very obviously, anyone who is godly and holy would want to avoid such people.

Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Genesis 26, and let's begin discussing from Scripture the subject of avoidance. Now, I'm not through with this subject that I'm dealing with, but this is just one part of it. Look in Genesis chapter 26. We read the first part last week in dealing with deception. In Genesis chapter 26, this is where Isaac deceived the king by saying that Rebekah was his sister. You remember how the king looked out the window and saw Isaac sporting with his wife and he said, "Now, this is not the man's sister. This is the man's wife."

Isaac's Example of Avoidance

Isaac avoided conflict with the Philistines by repeatedly moving away when they contested his wells, rather than fighting. God blessed him, and the enemy later sought peace.

And, of course, he calls him and he said, "What in the world have you done?" And, of course, we look down to verse 12. Let's skip down. "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him." So the Lord was blessing Isaac even when Isaac was using deception to deal with this wicked, ungodly ruler. Now, let's begin reading with verse 13. And let me show you the tactic of avoidance. Now, please remember that Isaac had a small company and a small family. The Bible says, "And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants:" Watch, "and the Philistines envied him." Now, he may have had a lot of servants, but he was still not a man of war, nor did he have men of war, per se. Watch verse 15, "For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we." Now, not militarily speaking. Watch verse 17.

"And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water." Now watch, "And the herdmen of Gerar," that is the Philistines, "did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek," which literally means there, contention, "because they strove with him." Well, what did Isaac do? He said, "All right, you want the well, you have it, I'll leave it." Watch verse 21. "And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah," which is hatred. Watch verse 22. "And he removed from thence, and digged another well;" In other words, he said, "I'll just get out of your way."

"And for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth;" which means room, "and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well." Now what was Isaac doing? He was doing what you and I would simply call avoiding the enemy or avoiding the tyrant and just simply getting out of the way. He said, "I've dug the well. Yes, I've got money involved in it. Yes, I've got labor and time involved in it, but I'm not going to fight over it. I'm not in the position to fight at this time. You can have it. I'll just get out of the way. I'll simply avoid you." And here's the result.

Skip down to verse 26. I want you to know that Isaac did not do something feverish or foolish. In verse 26, "Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army. And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD."

"And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water. And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day."

So what was the result? God blessed Isaac in such a way that the enemy recognized that God was with him and it would be absolutely foolish for them to try to harm him. Moreover, now they were concerned that he might harm them. And so they came to him and said, "We're going to make a covenant."

Now, here's the point I want you to understand. Isaac did what he could do. He did not do what he could not do. The natural tendency of every man is this: If you wrong me, if you steal from me, if you take from me, I'm going to get you back. I'm going to defend what's mine. Now, I'm going to be dealing with that probably next week, that aspect of it. But I want you to understand it's not always wise to defend what you have.

Jacob's Use of Avoidance

Jacob fled from Esau's murderous intent and later avoided Laban's tyranny by leaving secretly. He also deceived Esau to avoid living with him, combining deception and avoidance.

In this passage, deceit is used upon Isaac. Now, deceit is used upon him by his wife, Rebekah, and by his son, Jacob. You see, Isaac is getting old. In fact, let's read just one or two verses. Look in Genesis 27.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 27:1-4, 41

"And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death." "Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat;"

Watch carefully,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 27:1-4, 41

"that my soul may bless thee before I die."

Now, here's the problem. Isaac is saying, "Esau, you go get me the venison, and when you come back, I am going to bless you." What was wrong with that? Two things. Number one, Jacob had the birthright because God had given it to Jacob. Moreover, Esau had sold that birthright for a mess of pottage. Let me make it even clearer. Isaac already knew the will of God in this matter. Look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 25 and look at verse 23. Genesis 25, verse 23. Here's what God told Rebekah. Very obviously, Isaac knew of this truth as well. "And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger." Now, God has said the elder shall serve the younger. What does that mean? That means the younger is going to have the birthright. The younger is going to have the blessing. And what is Isaac going to do? Isaac is going to take the blessing and give it to Esau, full well-knowing that God said the blessing went to Jacob. Now, since Isaac was acting like a tyrant, since he was disregarding the plain word of God and the plain truth of God, then Rebekah and Jacob dealt with him as with a tyrant. Look back in your Bible to Genesis chapter 25 very quickly, beginning there with verse 27. "And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison." That's a good reason to love your son, isn't it? He provides for you. He brings me steak every now and then. "But Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint:" Therefore was his name called Edom. "And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright."

Now, I want you to note a couple of things. First of all, Esau was not starving. He had just been out on the field and he was hungry. It wasn't as if he was on his last leg and could not have made it home. And by the way, when he said, "Feed me with that same red," in the Hebrew, it's literally "feed me with that same red, that same red." It doesn't say pottage. Esau may have thought that it was blood pudding because it was red, but it was lentils. I don't know. But Jacob said, "I want your birthright and I'll trade you this pottage for your birthright." And Esau despised the birthright. Now, if you don't know what the birthright is, let me tell you. First of all, it included being the patriarch of the clan or the family, the head of the family.

Secondly, it included a receiving of double portion of the inheritance. Which meant that you would also take care of mom and dad in their old age. That's why the eldest son got a double portion, OK? Because he had the responsibility of taking care of mom and dad. And thirdly, it included the lineage of Christ. And so Esau said, "None of these things mean anything to me, and so I'm going to sell them to you."

Scripture Reading — Genesis 27:1-4, 41

Now, I want you to look down in chapter 27 at verse 41. You know the story how Jacob and Rebekah have dressed Jacob and made him hairy like Esau, put goat skin on him, put on Esau's clothing, and she took a goat and made savory venison as Isaac did love, and she must have been a great cook to make goat taste like venison, but she did it. And you know how Jacob went in and said that he was Esau, and he got the blessing. Let me show you how angry Esau was. Look in Genesis 27, verse 41. "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob." In other words, "I'm going to murder him. I'm going to get him."

Now, what did Jacob do? Did Jacob look at Esau and say, "You dirty, ungodly, reprobate," although he was? "You think you're going to kill me? You sold me that birthright. It was perfectly lawful and legal for me to have it. God gave it to me. The blessing went with the birthright. You think you're going to kill me? No, no. I'm going to kill you instead." Did he do that? No. What did Jacob do? He fled.

He tried to avoid trouble. Now, he fled to Laban. Look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 29, beginning there with verse 10. I like to read this. This is one of my favorite stories. He finally gets to Rachel, who is Laban's daughter, who becomes his wife later on. "And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother." Watch now. "And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept." Sometimes I do that. No, I'm teasing. He kissed his girlfriend and raised up his voice and wept.

Well, very obviously, he was weeping for joy because he was finding his family, his mother's family there. And you know the story how he fell in love with Rachel and he wanted her. And he said, "Look, I'm going to serve you seven years for Rachel." And when he served the time, he got married, and when he got on his honeymoon, he found out he didn't marry Rachel. He married Leah. He said, "What have you done to me?" Daddy said, "We've got a custom in our country. It's not right to let the younger marry before the older. But you've served me seven more years now, and you can have this one too." Now guess what? He'd only served 14 years for his two wives. He served another six years. Let me point this out. Six years is the term in the Bible for the service of a slave. And I want you to know that Laban treated Jacob as a slave.

Look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 31 and verse 41. Genesis 31 and verse 41. Look what Jacob says to Laban.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 31:41-42

"Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle:"

Now watch this.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 31:41-42

"and thou hast changed my wages ten times."

Now, the six year period is the period of slave service. And what Laban was doing was treating his son-in-law now as a slave. And when Jacob did leave, Laban was not even going to allow him to take his wives and children with him. You see, that's according to biblical law.

Now, the Bible says if a man comes to you and he becomes your servant or your slave and you give him a wife and their children born, when he leaves, the wife and the children are still yours. But you see, Jacob did not come as a slave, but Laban was treating him as a slave, and he wasn't even going to let him take his wife and children with him. Well, look, if you would please, once again, in verse 42, look what Jacob says to Laban. Genesis 31, verse 42,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 31:41-42

"Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight."

So Jacob understood that had not God intervened, he not only would not have his wives and children, he wouldn't have any of his flocks or anything. God saw the suffering of Jacob. Now, what was God's counsel to Jacob? Look in chapter 31, beginning with verse 11. Genesis 31, verse 11. "And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me."

"Now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred." And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, "Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?" Now watch what the girls say. "Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do." What did God tell Jacob to do? He said, "Get out of the land. Move away. Avoid Laban."

Scripture Reading — Genesis 31:11-13, 20

Now, look, if you would, at verse 20. "And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled." So Jacob obeyed God and just simply left the country. What's he saying? Laban is acting like a tyrant. He's acting like an ungodly man. And I'm just going to avoid him. I will get out of the way. And that's exactly what he did. Now, the interesting thing is when Jacob came back into the land, he was told, "Behold, your brother Esau comes with four hundred armed men." And Jacob was distressed. Look in Genesis chapter 32, beginning there with verse 6, Genesis 32, verse 6. "And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands." Now note the fact that Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.

Skip down to verse 11. Look what he prays. He asked God, "Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children." Now, you know the story how God did deliver once again Jacob from Esau. Now, look if you would to Genesis chapter 33, and let me show you deception and avoidance once again at play in Jacob's life. Look in Genesis chapter 33, beginning there with verse 12. You know, God made Esau reconcilable to Jacob. So here we have the statement in verse 12, "And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee." So Esau now wants Jacob to bring all of his family and come home with him. Watch verse 13, "And he," that is Jacob,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 32:6-7, 11

"said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die."

Now watch what he says, "Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant:" that is, you go on ahead, "and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir." Now, Esau, you go on back home, and I'll just come gradually and slowly to where you are. "And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me." "And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord." I don't need any of your help, Esau. "So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city. And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money." Whoa, wait a minute. Didn't Jacob just get out of his mouth?

"Esau, you're going back home. I'm coming to see you and I'll move in with you." But what did he do? He lied. He deceived him and he went somewhere else. Why? He only used it on Esau, because Esau was an ungodly, tyrannical reprobate. He despised the things of God. And so Esau went back home, and Jacob said, "I'm just not going to have anything to do with you." And he avoided it.

Now, I could show you a multitude of passages, but I want to quickly take you through the Bible. I'm going to show you the Old Testament and the New Testament, where this tactic is used over and over. Turning your Bibles, if you would please, to First Kings chapter 17. Now, as you turn there, let me make a statement. So many people think that just because you avoid trouble, or just because you use this tactic,

Elijah and the Prophets Avoid Ahab

God commanded Elijah to hide from Ahab, and Obadiah hid 100 prophets in caves to avoid Jezebel. These acts of avoidance were not cowardice but obedience.

that it makes you a coward. That it makes you afraid to fight. That is not so, and we'll prove that to you from the Word of God. You see, we have the old saying, discretion is the better part of valor. You pick your fights. It's not that you're afraid to fight. You just want to fight on your terms when the situation is winnable for you. In First Kings, chapter 17, beginning with verse 1.

"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab," now remember Ahab is the wicked, tyrannical king. Elijah is the prophet of God. Here's what Elijah tells Ahab. "As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land." God tells Elijah, "You go hide yourself by the brook Cherith."

Now, is Elijah afraid of Ahab? No. Is God afraid of Ahab? No. Could not God protect Elijah in the palace? Yes. Could not God overthrow Ahab at any moment? Yes. But God said, "That's not what I'm going to do right now. What I want you to do, Elijah, is to avoid him. Get out of his way. Don't even let him know where you are." Watch this. Skip on down to verse 8. "And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there."

That is out of the land now. He sends him out of the land. "Behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink." So God says, "Now Elijah, I want you to go over to Zarephath."

Now, you see, the truth of the matter is this. Ahab was looking for Elijah. He wanted to take his life. Look in your Bibles to chapter 18 in verse 10 and what Obadiah tells Elijah. After Elijah comes back and says, "I'm going to show myself to Ahab," watch what he says in chapter 18 in verse 1 it is. Let's read there first. "And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth."

Now, skip down if you would, please. Here's what Obadiah tells him. "As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not." What was Ahab wanting Elijah for? So he could kill him. He was upset because Elijah was the one that God used to pronounce the drought on the land. And what did God tell Elijah to do? He told him to avoid Ahab, get out of the way. And for that three years and six months, Ahab could not find Elijah, for God told Elijah to avoid him, to get out of the way.

That's exactly what he did. And so Elijah then used the tactic of avoidance. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 23. Let me show you another illustration of avoidance. In fact, if I were to take the time this morning, I could spend most of the day showing you how David avoided Saul, but this one illustration will be sufficient. First Samuel chapter 23, beginning with verse 19. "Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?" Now, the Ziphites are saying, "Look, David is hiding from you." What's David doing hiding? Is David a coward? Is David afraid? David, you're a man of war. Why are you avoiding Saul?

"Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand. And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me. Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly. See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah. And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul."

"But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon." Now watch this. "And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines."

"Therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi." Now, would anyone in here suggest for a moment that David was a coward? I hope you would not. I want you to look back in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 18 and look at verses 6 and 7. If you think David was a coward, watch this. "And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:6-7

Now, I don't know about you. But I wouldn't want to look David in the face and say, "You yellow-bellied coward, what are you going to do?" I mean, David killed more men than I could probably ever dream of killing. I've never killed anybody. David was not afraid, quote-unquote, to fight. Why did he run from Saul? Why did he avoid Saul? Let me tell you why. Are you listening? For the simple reason he did not want to be the one to kill Saul. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 26. 1 Samuel 26 beginning there with verse 7. 1 Samuel 26 verse 7. "So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David," Abishai was one of David's captains.

"God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time." Now won't you look what Abishai said. He said, "David, you don't have to kill him. I will. And David, if you will let me just take one swipe at him, I'll guarantee you I'll do a good job. I won't have to stab him the second time. One will be sufficient." Watch verse 9. "And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go."

You see, the problem was this. David just didn't want to kill Saul. David avoided it. David was trying to avoid the fight.

Now, it is lawful to avoid a tyrant, and many times, expediency demands it. Let me go a little bit further. Oftentimes, as I shall show you next week, certain circumstances demand that tyrants be avoided. If you've got ten men and a tyrant is coming against you with ten thousand, is it not wisdom to turn and leave the area? That's not being a coward. You're willing to fight, but you're just not willing to fight on the enemy's terms. So God is saying avoidance is a lawful means of dealing with a tyrant.

Look back in your Bibles, the first Kings chapter 18. Everybody is familiar with this story. First Kings chapter 18. Once again, this is where God told Elijah to show himself to Ahab, but let's go a little bit further. First Kings chapter 18, and let's read the first four verses. "And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)"

Let me ask you a question. What were these hundred preachers doing? They were hiding. Why were they hiding? They were avoiding Ahab and Jezebel. What are 100 men against a whole army? Nothing. Were these preachers cowards? No. They were just simply following this tactic of avoidance. They were staying out of the tyrant's way. They didn't want to be killed. They didn't want to lose their homes. They didn't want to lose their families. And so they just simply stayed out of the way. So they were avoiding Ahab.

Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 9. Let me begin to show you in the New Testament now how this same tactic is employed. In Acts chapter 9. Watch Acts chapter 9 and verse 22. If you would, go ahead and turn in your Bibles also to 2 Corinthians chapter 11, because we're going to turn there immediately because this passage will throw a little more light upon Acts chapter 9. Look in Acts chapter 9, if you would, and let's begin reading there with verse 22. "But Saul," this is Saul of Tarsus now, he's been converted. "But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem,

Scripture Reading — Acts 9:22-25

" so Saul then escaped. How did he escape? He was let down over the wall in a basket at night. You say, "

Well, Brother Weaver, he was just running from the Jews." Oh, no, no, no. Because the Jews had allies.

David Avoids Saul

David repeatedly avoided Saul, not out of fear but because he refused to kill the Lord's anointed. His avoidance was strategic and honored by God.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:6-7

Now, I don't know about you. But I wouldn't want to look David in the face and say, "You yellow-bellied coward, what are you going to do?" I mean, David killed more men than I could probably ever dream of killing. I've never killed anybody. David was not afraid, quote-unquote, to fight. Why did he run from Saul? Why did he avoid Saul? Let me tell you why. Are you listening? For the simple reason he did not want to be the one to kill Saul. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 26. 1 Samuel 26 beginning there with verse 7. 1 Samuel 26 verse 7. "So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David," Abishai was one of David's captains.

You see, the problem was this. David just didn't want to kill Saul. David avoided it. David was trying to avoid the fight.

New Testament Examples: Paul and Jesus

Paul escaped Damascus in a basket to avoid civil authorities. Jesus avoided Judea when Jews sought to kill him. Both demonstrate avoidance as a non-violent, lawful tactic.

Scripture Reading — Acts 9:22-25

" so Saul then escaped. How did he escape? He was let down over the wall in a basket at night. You say, "

Well, Brother Weaver, he was just running from the Jews." Oh, no, no, no. Because the Jews had allies.

Look in your Bibles to Second Corinthians chapter 11. And let's begin there with verse 32. Look what the Apostle Paul writes about this incident. He writes,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 11:32-33

"In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands."

Ah, so Paul wasn't just avoiding the Jews, he was avoiding the civil authorities. Now, lest you think that the Apostle Paul was a coward, look in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 11, and let's begin with verse 22. Look at his argument. He says, "Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the

wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak?" I don't know about you, but I'd hate to have to prove my courage by going through everything that Paul went through. And of course, I trust that you know, finally, he was decapitated in prison for the sake of Christ and his kingdom. That is, his head was chopped off. The apostle Paul was not a coward. But yet the few believers that were there could not stand and fight and deliver him or themselves in any other way. And so they avoided the tyrant. They got out of his way. And thus Paul, the apostle, escaped.

Now, if anyone tends to think that avoidance is to be associated with cowardice and fear, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 7. John chapter 7. You're going to find that our Lord himself used this same tactic. Please remember that Jesus Christ is the omniscient, omnipotent God of the universe. He has all knowledge. He has all power. In John 7 and verse 1,

Scripture Reading — John 7:1

"After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him."

When they tried to kill him, what did he do?

He just stayed out of their way. He avoided them. Now, if you think Christ was afraid to die, look in John chapter 12 and verse 27. John chapter 12, verse 27. He's praying to the Father, and look what he says. "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour." Jesus Christ was not afraid to die. He came to die. He knew he was going to die. But he still used the tactic of avoidance because avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent violence by wicked men.

God Commands Avoidance: Joseph and Mary

God himself ordered Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to avoid Herod, showing that avoidance is divinely sanctioned.

Now I want you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 2, and once again let me show you a New Testament illustration of avoidance. And you will be amazed at who ordered this avoidance. Look in Matthew chapter 2. Let's begin reading there with verse 13. Jesus Christ is a young child.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:13-14

"And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt."

Now, who ordered this tactic of avoidance? God Himself did. God said, "Joseph, you take Mary and Jesus, get out of the country, stay out of the land." Now, was God afraid of Herod? Well, of course not. Was God capable of dealing with Herod? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. A hundred times, yes. But God said, "You flee, you avoid, you get out of his way."

And that's exactly what Mary and Joseph did. Avoidance is a lawful tactic in dealing with tyranny. Herod was a tyrant. That's why he went and killed all the male children from two years and under, trying to make sure that he got the young child, Jesus.

Heroes of Faith Practiced Avoidance

Hebrews 11 describes faithful saints who wandered in deserts and caves, avoiding persecution. They are commended as heroes, not cowards.

Now, I want you to note the context in which I'm reading. I'm going to start reading early in verse 32. Remember, please, Hebrews 11 lists the heroes of faith. These are not fearful men we're reading about. These are not cowards. These are heroes of faith. Watch Hebrews 11 verse 32, "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:" Now look what some of these men did. "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:" Watch, "They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword." "They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise." Let me ask you a question. What were these Christians doing, wandering about in dens and in caves, clothed only in sheepskins and goatskins? What were they doing?

They were avoiding the tyrant. They were avoiding persecution. They were getting out of the way. And God put them in the heroes of faith, and God said the world was not even worthy of these people. These all died in the faith, he said. You see, a man is to use wisdom. God has given us not only the method of deception, he's also given us the method of avoidance.

Practical Applications

Avoidance is not cowardice; it is a non-violent way to prevent violence. It is lawful to protect life, family, and property, and is necessary when strength to overthrow tyranny is lacking.

Now, let me make just a couple of applications. First of all, please understand, underline it in your heart, it is not an act of cowardice to avoid a conflict with tyranny. Why? Because avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent violence by wicked men. We may lawfully practice deception and avoidance where morally necessary in order to protect our capital, our homes, our lives and our families. Let me tell you, if I know, if I know for sure, if I know absolutely that around the next block are two armed robbers, I'm not going there. If I know, I'm not going there. I'm going to avoid them if I can. If I know some tyrant is going to try to steal everything I've got, I'm going to stay out of his way. I'm not going to give him the opportunity to steal from me. You see what I'm saying? Avoidance is a lawful tactic to protect what you have as well as your life. Avoidance is absolutely necessary when there is neither strength nor the resources to overthrow the tyranny.

You say, "What in the world can I do until the tyrant is overthrown?" You can deceive him and you can avoid him, until God gives the strength and the resources to overthrow him. So avoidance is a tactic that has been used all down through history to deal with tyrants who are already entrenched in power. You say, "Brother Weaver, what about fighting him?" Well, I'll tell you about that next week, too. But you've got to understand, these other tactics are lawful as well. And not everybody can fight. And not everybody can fight all the time. And therefore, God says, here are two other methods of dealing with tyrants. Shall we pray? Father, I pray that you will teach us your word. Teach us, Lord, that we may lawfully deceive the deceiver and avoid the tyrant to protect our homes, our properties, our money.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Avoidance as a Biblical Tactic

Summary: Avoidance is a lawful, God-given method for dealing with tyrants, demonstrated throughout Scripture by figures like Isaac, Jacob, Elijah, David, Paul, and Jesus.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Avoidance is a tactic for dealing with tyranny... staying out of the way' and provides multiple biblical examples.

Avoidance is Not Cowardice

Summary: Using avoidance does not make one a coward; it is wisdom and discretion, choosing when and how to engage conflict.

Evidence: Weaver argues, 'It is not an act of cowardice to avoid a conflict with tyranny... avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent violence by wicked men.'

Divine Sanction of Avoidance

Summary: God himself commands and approves of avoidance, as seen when he told Joseph to flee to Egypt and Elijah to hide.

Evidence: Weaver notes, 'God said, Joseph, you take Mary and Jesus, get out of the country... God himself ordered this tactic of avoidance.'

Protection of Life and Property

Summary: Avoidance is a legitimate means to protect one's capital, home, life, and family from tyrannical threats.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We may lawfully practice deception and avoidance where morally necessary in order to protect our capital, our homes, our lives and our families.'

Separation from the Wicked

Summary: Godly people should not associate with tyrants, who are like bands of robbers, as Psalm 50 and Augustine indicate.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Augustine: 'Godless civil rulers are no more than bands of robbers' and cites Psalm 50:16-22.

Strategic Timing in Conflict

Summary: Avoidance allows one to choose the terms of engagement, fighting only when the situation is winnable.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'You pick your fights. It's not that you're afraid to fight. You just want to fight on your terms when the situation is winnable for you.'

Key Arguments

Avoidance is a fundamental biblical method for dealing with tyrants

Summary: Weaver argues that avoidance, like deception, is a primary tactic taught in Scripture for responding to tyranny.

Evidence: He says, 'The second method of dealing with tyrants is what I'm going to call avoidance.'

Avoidance is not cowardice but wisdom

Summary: Weaver counters the notion that avoiding conflict is fearful, using David and Paul as examples of courageous men who practiced avoidance.

Evidence: He asks, 'Would anyone in here suggest for a moment that David was a coward?' and lists Paul's sufferings.

God commands avoidance in certain circumstances

Summary: Weaver shows that God directly ordered avoidance for Elijah, Joseph, and others, proving its legitimacy.

Evidence: He cites 1 Kings 17:2-3: 'Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith.'

Avoidance protects the innocent and preserves resources

Summary: Weaver argues that avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent harm and conserve strength for future action.

Evidence: He states, 'Avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent violence by wicked men.'

Avoidance is necessary when strength is insufficient

Summary: Weaver teaches that when one lacks the power to overthrow tyranny, avoidance is a lawful and wise response.

Evidence: He says, 'Avoidance is absolutely necessary when there is neither strength nor the resources to overthrow the tyranny.'

Jesus Christ practiced avoidance

Summary: Weaver points to Jesus avoiding Judea when the Jews sought to kill him, demonstrating that even the Son of God used this tactic.

Evidence: He reads John 7:1: 'After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.'

Scripture References

Proverbs 1:15

Context: Weaver introduces the sermon with this verse, advising the godly not to walk in the way of the wicked.

Psalm 50:16-22

Context: God rebukes the wicked for hating instruction and consenting with thieves, showing why the godly should avoid them.

Genesis 26:12-33

Context: Isaac avoids conflict with the Philistines over wells, moving away repeatedly, and God blesses him.

Genesis 27:1-4, 41

Context: Isaac plans to bless Esau contrary to God's word; Esau plans to kill Jacob, prompting Jacob's flight.

Genesis 25:23, 27-34

Context: God declares the elder shall serve the younger; Esau sells his birthright to Jacob.

Genesis 31:41-42

Context: Jacob recounts Laban's mistreatment and God's intervention, leading to his departure.

Genesis 31:11-13, 20

Context: God tells Jacob to leave Laban; Jacob steals away unawares.

Genesis 32:6-7, 11

Context: Jacob fears Esau's approach with 400 men and prays for deliverance.

Genesis 33:12-19

Context: Jacob deceives Esau about following him to Seir and instead goes to Succoth, avoiding him.

1 Kings 17:1-9

Context: God tells Elijah to hide by the brook Cherith and later to go to Zarephath, avoiding Ahab.

1 Kings 18:1, 10

Context: After three years, God tells Elijah to show himself to Ahab; Obadiah reveals Ahab sought Elijah to kill him.

1 Samuel 23:19-29

Context: David avoids Saul in the wilderness, moving from place to place to escape capture.

1 Samuel 18:6-7

Context: The women sing of David's military prowess, showing he was not a coward.

1 Samuel 26:7-11

Context: David refuses to kill Saul, the Lord's anointed, and instead takes his spear and water jug.

1 Kings 18:3-4

Context: Obadiah hides 100 prophets in caves to avoid Jezebel's persecution.

Acts 9:22-25

Context: Saul (Paul) escapes Damascus by being lowered in a basket through the wall to avoid Jews seeking to kill him.

2 Corinthians 11:32-33

Context: Paul clarifies he was avoiding the governor under Aretas the king, not just the Jews.

2 Corinthians 11:22-29

Context: Paul lists his sufferings to prove his courage and dedication, countering any charge of cowardice.

John 7:1

Context: Jesus avoided Judea because the Jews sought to kill him.

Matthew 2:13-14

Context: An angel tells Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to avoid Herod's murderous intent.

Historical References

St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.)

Context: Weaver quotes Augustine: 'Godless civil rulers are no more than bands of robbers.'

Early American civil oaths

Context: Weaver notes that America's forefathers required civil rulers to confess Jesus Christ and the Bible as God's Word.

Important Quotes

Godless civil rulers are no more than bands of robbers

Significance: Weaver uses Augustine's statement to support the idea that tyrants are inherently wicked and should be avoided.

It is not an act of cowardice to avoid a conflict with tyranny. Why? Because avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent violence by wicked men.

Significance: Weaver directly addresses the misconception that avoidance equals cowardice, emphasizing its moral legitimacy.

You pick your fights. It's not that you're afraid to fight. You just want to fight on your terms when the situation is winnable for you.

Significance: This explains the strategic wisdom behind avoidance, distinguishing it from fear.

Avoidance is absolutely necessary when there is neither strength nor the resources to overthrow the tyranny.

Significance: Weaver gives a practical condition under which avoidance is not just lawful but essential.

We may lawfully practice deception and avoidance where morally necessary in order to protect our capital, our homes, our lives and our families.

Significance: This summarizes the practical application of the sermon, linking avoidance to protection of life and property.

Discussion Questions

How does the biblical concept of avoidance challenge modern views of standing up to injustice?

Context: Weaver argues that avoidance is a lawful, non-violent tactic, not cowardice.

In what situations might avoidance be more honoring to God than direct confrontation?

Context: David avoided Saul to prevent killing the Lord's anointed; Elijah hid at God's command.

How can we discern when to use avoidance versus other tactics like deception or fighting?

Context: Weaver mentions that avoidance and deception often go hand in hand, and fighting will be addressed later.

What does Jesus' use of avoidance teach us about the nature of courage and wisdom?

Context: Jesus avoided Judea when his life was threatened, though he was not afraid to die.

How does the example of Isaac giving up his wells inform our attitude toward material possessions in the face of tyranny?

Context: Isaac repeatedly moved rather than fight over wells, and God blessed him.

What are the limits of avoidance? When might it become sinful passivity?

Context: Weaver implies avoidance is lawful when strength is insufficient, but does not address when it might be wrong.

Applications

Practice avoidance to protect your family and property

Summary: Weaver teaches that believers may lawfully avoid tyrants to safeguard their homes, capital, and lives.

Evidence: He states, 'We may lawfully practice deception and avoidance where morally necessary in order to protect our capital, our homes, our lives and our families.'

Do not equate avoidance with cowardice

Summary: Believers should reject the cultural stigma that avoiding conflict is fearful, recognizing it as biblical wisdom.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'It is not an act of cowardice to avoid a conflict with tyranny.'

Use avoidance when you lack strength to overcome tyranny

Summary: When resources are insufficient to overthrow a tyrant, avoidance is a necessary and lawful response.

Evidence: He states, 'Avoidance is absolutely necessary when there is neither strength nor the resources to overthrow the tyranny.'

Follow God's leading in avoidance

Summary: As God commanded Joseph and Elijah to flee, believers should seek and obey divine guidance in avoiding danger.

Evidence: Weaver notes, 'God said, Joseph, you take Mary and Jesus, get out of the country... God himself ordered this tactic of avoidance.'

Separate from wicked rulers and their ways

Summary: Believers should not associate with tyrants, who are like bands of robbers, as Psalm 50 and Augustine indicate.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'Why in the world would anyone want to associate with tyrants anyhow?'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T23:35:14Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:29:13Z

Clean Transcript

Dealing With Tyrants - 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

He verse fifteen. Chapter one, verse fifteen, I'll not be preaching on this text particularly, but I will be discussing the subject generally. I think that you will understand in just a few moments. I'm reading this text, the book of Proverbs, chapter one. And God is here talking about the wicked and giving advice to the godly. And he says, "My son, walk not thou in the way with them."
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"Refrain thy foot from their path." In other words, don't walk with them. Stay out of their way.
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Now, I've been dealing with the biblical doctrine of war. Is it right to fight? We've covered a lot of subjects. And last week I began this section on dealing with tyrants or how to deal with tyranny. And if you remember, I dealt last week particularly on the most fundamental and basic way of dealing with tyrants found in the Bible, and that is deception, how the godly people in the Old Testament and in the New Testament use deception. And remember, I told you it was part of the Lex Talionis, that is, the law of retribution, because the first sin was brought in by deception.
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And so God deceives the deceivers. And I showed you interesting places, I hope, where often God uses deception himself. In fact, God told Samuel to use deception. And there in 2 Thessalonians, how God deceives those who will not receive the truth.
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Now today, I'm going to be dealing with another aspect of how to deal with tyrants. Deception is not the only means of dealing with tyrants. However, it is, as I pointed out, one of the most basic and one of the most fundamental means. It's absolutely necessary for each of us to learn to think in biblical and scriptural terms. One of our problems is we have been so absolutely brainwashed and so taken up with human tradition that when we hear the truth of God, it only sounds strange to our ears, but it almost is impossible to conceive of it in our minds or implement it in our lives. And so what we have to do is cast off all preconceived ideas, all humanistic ideas, and just simply submit our minds to the Word of God on every subject in it. The very first method then of dealing with tyrants was deception. The second method of dealing with tyrants is what I'm going to call avoidance. Now you're going to see that avoidance and deception many times go hand in hand.
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In fact, sometimes in the Bible, you'll find that those two things happen at the same time, or at least they happen together. But sometimes they also happen separately as well. So let's begin dealing then with the subject of avoidance. Now, let me begin by telling you that avoidance is a tactic for dealing with tyranny. Simply put, let me explain it like this. Simply put, avoidance is staying out of the way.
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If you want to use this expression, it's keeping a low profile. Or you could say it means literally making sure that your paths do not cross. Let me ask you a question. Why in the world would anyone want to associate with tyrants anyhow? You know, unless you yourself are part and partial to that type of lifestyle. Let me tell you what St. Augustine said. St. Augustine was one of the early church fathers.
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He lived from 354 to 430 A.D. and here's what he said, quote, "Godless civil rulers are no more than bands of robbers," end quote.
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Now, that's certainly an accurate statement, not back in 400 A.D., but it's certainly an accurate statement in the 19th and the 20th and the 21st century as well. So why would anyone want to associate with a band of robbers? I want you to turn very quickly in your Bibles to Psalm 50 and look, if you would please, at what the Word of God says. Once again, in this passage, God is talking about the ungodly. And notice, if you would, what God says, Psalm 50, beginning there with verse 16. He says, "But unto the wicked God saith." Now, look what God says specifically to the wicked.
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He asked, "What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth, seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee? When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes."
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"Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver." So God doesn't think too highly of the wicked, especially when the wicked cast His words behind their back. And God asks, what have the wicked to do with His statutes and His judgments and His covenants, seeing they hate Him and will not obey Him? So very obviously, anyone who is godly and holy would want to avoid such people.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Genesis 26, and let's begin discussing from Scripture the subject of avoidance. Now, I'm not through with this subject that I'm dealing with, but this is just one part of it. Look in Genesis chapter 26. We read the first part last week in dealing with deception. In Genesis chapter 26, this is where Isaac deceived the king by saying that Rebekah was his sister. You remember how the king looked out the window and saw Isaac sporting with his wife and he said, "Now, this is not the man's sister. This is the man's wife."
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And, of course, he calls him and he said, "What in the world have you done?" And, of course, we look down to verse 12. Let's skip down. "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him." So the Lord was blessing Isaac even when Isaac was using deception to deal with this wicked, ungodly ruler. Now, let's begin reading with verse 13.
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And let me show you the tactic of avoidance. Now, please remember that Isaac had a small company and a small family. The Bible says, "And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants:" Watch, "and the Philistines envied him." Now, he may have had a lot of servants, but he was still not a man of war, nor did he have men of war, per se. Watch verse 15, "For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we." Now, not militarily speaking. Watch verse 17.
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"And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water." Now watch, "And the herdmen of Gerar," that is the Philistines, "did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek," which literally means there, contention, "because they strove with him." Well, what did Isaac do? He said, "All right, you want the well, you have it, I'll leave it." Watch verse 21. "And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah," which is hatred. Watch verse 22. "And he removed from thence, and digged another well;" In other words, he said, "I'll just get out of your way."
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"And for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth;" which means room, "and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well." Now what was Isaac doing?
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He was doing what you and I would simply call avoiding the enemy or avoiding the tyrant and just simply getting out of the way. He said, "I've dug the well. Yes, I've got money involved in it. Yes, I've got labor and time involved in it, but I'm not going to fight over it. I'm not in the position to fight at this time. You can have it. I'll just get out of the way. I'll simply avoid you." And here's the result.
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Skip down to verse 26. I want you to know that Isaac did not do something feverish or foolish. In verse 26, "Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army. And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD."
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"And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water. And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day."
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So what was the result? God blessed Isaac in such a way that the enemy recognized that God was with him and it would be absolutely foolish for them to try to harm him. Moreover, now they were concerned that he might harm them. And so they came to him and said, "We're going to make a covenant."
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Now, here's the point I want you to understand. Isaac did what he could do. He did not do what he could not do. The natural tendency of every man is this: If you wrong me, if you steal from me, if you take from me, I'm going to get you back. I'm going to defend what's mine. Now, I'm going to be dealing with that probably next week, that aspect of it. But I want you to understand it's not always wise to defend what you have.
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There are some things that are not worth dying for. Someone asked me, "Well, Brother Weaver, would you let somebody, would you let the enemy take your weapons?" Sure. I'm not going to die for two or three rifles. That doesn't mean they're going to take all of mine. You understand what I'm saying? But I've got one or two they may have. Got some they may not have. But the point I'm trying to make is this: if I'm surrounded in my house by tanks or by 50 men and I can't get out and nobody can get in and all they want are two little rifles worth not more than a hundred bucks each, they may have them.
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Now, this was Isaac's understanding. Isaac said, "I'm going to do what I can do, but I can't fight off all of the Philistines. And so I'll just let them have it. I'll just get out of the way." So he was literally avoiding the trouble.
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Now, let's go to Genesis chapter 27. By the way, I'll give you more of a definition later, but let me tell you the etymology of the root word for tyrant. It literally means one who rules without God. So basically, we have a tyrannical government in our country because our government is ruling without God. Our forefathers, by the way, understood this. That's why when our country was first founded, everyone who was in office had to take an oath that they not only believed the Bible to be the Word of God, they believed Jesus Christ was the Son of God. And if you did not confess Jesus Christ, and if you did not confess the Bible was the Word of God, you could not be a civil ruler in this country. Look in Genesis chapter 27. Now, in Genesis 27, I don't want to take time to read all of this. I'll tell you briefly the story.
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In this passage, deceit is used upon Isaac. Now, deceit is used upon him by his wife, Rebekah, and by his son, Jacob. You see, Isaac is getting old. In fact, let's read just one or two verses. Look in Genesis 27. "And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death."
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"Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat;" Watch carefully, "that my soul may bless thee before I die." Now, here's the problem. Isaac is saying, "Esau, you go get me the venison, and when you come back, I am going to bless you."
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What was wrong with that? Two things. Number one, Jacob had the birthright because God had given it to Jacob. Moreover, Esau had sold that birthright for a mess of pottage. Let me make it even clearer. Isaac already knew the will of God in this matter. Look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 25 and look at verse 23. Genesis 25, verse 23. Here's what God told Rebekah. Very obviously, Isaac knew of this truth as well. "And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger." Now, God has said the elder shall serve the younger. What does that mean? That means the younger is going to have the birthright. The younger is going to have the blessing. And what is Isaac going to do? Isaac is going to take the blessing and give it to Esau, full well-knowing that God said the blessing went to Jacob.
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Now, since Isaac was acting like a tyrant, since he was disregarding the plain word of God and the plain truth of God, then Rebekah and Jacob dealt with him as with a tyrant. Look back in your Bible to Genesis chapter 25 very quickly, beginning there with verse 27. "And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison."
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That's a good reason to love your son, isn't it? He provides for you. He brings me steak every now and then. "But Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint:" Therefore was his name called Edom. "And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright."
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Now, I want you to note a couple of things. First of all, Esau was not starving. He had just been out on the field and he was hungry. It wasn't as if he was on his last leg and could not have made it home. And by the way, when he said, "Feed me with that same red," in the Hebrew, it's literally "feed me with that same red, that same red." It doesn't say pottage. Esau may have thought that it was blood pudding because it was red, but it was lentils. I don't know. But Jacob said, "I want your birthright and I'll trade you this pottage for your birthright." And Esau despised the birthright. Now, if you don't know what the birthright is, let me tell you. First of all, it included being the patriarch of the clan or the family, the head of the family.
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Secondly, it included a receiving of double portion of the inheritance. Which meant that you would also take care of mom and dad in their old age. That's why the eldest son got a double portion, OK? Because he had the responsibility of taking care of mom and dad. And thirdly, it included the lineage of Christ. And so Esau said, "None of these things mean anything to me, and so I'm going to sell them to you."
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Now, I want you to look down in chapter 27 at verse 41. You know the story how Jacob and Rebekah have dressed Jacob and made him hairy like Esau, put goat skin on him, put on Esau's clothing, and she took a goat and made savory venison as Isaac did love, and she must have been a great cook to make goat taste like venison, but she did it. And you know how Jacob went in and said that he was Esau, and he got the blessing. Let me show you how angry Esau was. Look in Genesis 27, verse 41. "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob."
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In other words, "I'm going to murder him. I'm going to get him."
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Now, what did Jacob do? Did Jacob look at Esau and say, "You dirty, ungodly, reprobate," although he was? "You think you're going to kill me? You sold me that birthright. It was perfectly lawful and legal for me to have it. God gave it to me. The blessing went with the birthright. You think you're going to kill me? No, no. I'm going to kill you instead." Did he do that? No. What did Jacob do? He fled.
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He tried to avoid trouble. Now, he fled to Laban. Look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 29, beginning there with verse 10. I like to read this. This is one of my favorite stories. He finally gets to Rachel, who is Laban's daughter, who becomes his wife later on. "And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother." Watch now. "And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept." Sometimes I do that. No, I'm teasing. He kissed his girlfriend and raised up his voice and wept.
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Well, very obviously, he was weeping for joy because he was finding his family, his mother's family there. And you know the story how he fell in love with Rachel and he wanted her. And he said, "Look, I'm going to serve you seven years for Rachel." And when he served the time, he got married, and when he got on his honeymoon, he found out he didn't marry Rachel. He married Leah.
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He said, "What have you done to me?" Daddy said, "We've got a custom in our country. It's not right to let the younger marry before the older. But you've served me seven more years now, and you can have this one too." Now guess what? He'd only served 14 years for his two wives. He served another six years. Let me point this out. Six years is the term in the Bible for the service of a slave. And I want you to know that Laban treated Jacob as a slave.
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Look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 31 and verse 41. Genesis 31 and verse 41. Look what Jacob says to Laban. "Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle:" Now watch this. "and thou hast changed my wages ten times."
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Now, the six year period is the period of slave service. And what Laban was doing was treating his son-in-law now as a slave. And when Jacob did leave, Laban was not even going to allow him to take his wives and children with him. You see, that's according to biblical law.
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Now, the Bible says if a man comes to you and he becomes your servant or your slave and you give him a wife and their children born, when he leaves, the wife and the children are still yours. But you see, Jacob did not come as a slave, but Laban was treating him as a slave, and he wasn't even going to let him take his wife and children with him. Well, look, if you would please, once again, in verse 42, look what Jacob says to Laban.
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Genesis 31, verse 42, "Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight." So Jacob understood that had not God intervened, he not only would not have his wives and children, he wouldn't have any of his flocks or anything. God saw the suffering of Jacob. Now, what was God's counsel to Jacob? Look in chapter 31, beginning with verse 11. Genesis 31, verse 11. "And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me."
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"Now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred." And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, "Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?"
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Now watch what the girls say. "Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do." What did God tell Jacob to do? He said, "Get out of the land. Move away. Avoid Laban."
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Now, look, if you would, at verse 20. "And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled." So Jacob obeyed God and just simply left the country. What's he saying? Laban is acting like a tyrant. He's acting like an ungodly man. And I'm just going to avoid him. I will get out of the way. And that's exactly what he did. Now, the interesting thing is when Jacob came back into the land, he was told, "Behold, your brother Esau comes with four hundred armed men." And Jacob was distressed. Look in Genesis chapter 32, beginning there with verse 6, Genesis 32, verse 6. "And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands." Now note the fact that Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.
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Skip down to verse 11. Look what he prays. He asked God, "Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children." Now, you know the story how God did deliver once again Jacob from Esau. Now, look if you would to Genesis chapter 33, and let me show you deception and avoidance once again at play in Jacob's life. Look in Genesis chapter 33, beginning there with verse 12. You know, God made Esau reconcilable to Jacob. So here we have the statement in verse 12, "And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee." So Esau now wants Jacob to bring all of his family and come home with him. Watch verse 13, "And he," that is Jacob, "said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die."
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Now watch what he says, "Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant:" that is, you go on ahead, "and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir." Now, Esau, you go on back home, and I'll just come gradually and slowly to where you are. "And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me."
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"And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord." I don't need any of your help, Esau. "So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city. And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money." Whoa, wait a minute. Didn't Jacob just get out of his mouth?
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"Esau, you're going back home. I'm coming to see you and I'll move in with you." But what did he do? He lied. He deceived him and he went somewhere else. Why? He only used it on Esau, because Esau was an ungodly, tyrannical reprobate. He despised the things of God. And so Esau went back home, and Jacob said, "I'm just not going to have anything to do with you." And he avoided it.
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Now, I could show you a multitude of passages, but I want to quickly take you through the Bible. I'm going to show you the Old Testament and the New Testament, where this tactic is used over and over. Turning your Bibles, if you would please, to First Kings chapter 17. Now, as you turn there, let me make a statement. So many people think that just because you avoid trouble, or just because you use this tactic,
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that it makes you a coward. That it makes you afraid to fight. That is not so, and we'll prove that to you from the Word of God. You see, we have the old saying, discretion is the better part of valor. You pick your fights. It's not that you're afraid to fight. You just want to fight on your terms when the situation is winnable for you. In First Kings, chapter 17, beginning with verse 1.
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"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab," now remember Ahab is the wicked, tyrannical king. Elijah is the prophet of God. Here's what Elijah tells Ahab. "As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land." God tells Elijah, "You go hide yourself by the brook Cherith."
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Now, is Elijah afraid of Ahab? No. Is God afraid of Ahab? No. Could not God protect Elijah in the palace? Yes. Could not God overthrow Ahab at any moment? Yes. But God said, "That's not what I'm going to do right now. What I want you to do, Elijah, is to avoid him. Get out of his way. Don't even let him know where you are." Watch this. Skip on down to verse 8. "And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there."
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That is out of the land now. He sends him out of the land. "Behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink." So God says, "Now Elijah, I want you to go over to Zarephath."
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Now, you see, the truth of the matter is this. Ahab was looking for Elijah. He wanted to take his life. Look in your Bibles to chapter 18 in verse 10 and what Obadiah tells Elijah. After Elijah comes back and says, "I'm going to show myself to Ahab," watch what he says in chapter 18 in verse 1 it is. Let's read there first. "And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth."
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Now, skip down if you would, please. Here's what Obadiah tells him. "As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not." What was Ahab wanting Elijah for? So he could kill him. He was upset because Elijah was the one that God used to pronounce the drought on the land. And what did God tell Elijah to do? He told him to avoid Ahab, get out of the way. And for that three years and six months, Ahab could not find Elijah, for God told Elijah to avoid him, to get out of the way.
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That's exactly what he did. And so Elijah then used the tactic of avoidance. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 23. Let me show you another illustration of avoidance. In fact, if I were to take the time this morning, I could spend most of the day showing you how David avoided Saul, but this one illustration will be sufficient. First Samuel chapter 23, beginning with verse 19. "Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?" Now, the Ziphites are saying, "Look, David is hiding from you." What's David doing hiding? Is David a coward? Is David afraid? David, you're a man of war. Why are you avoiding Saul?
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"Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand. And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me. Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly. See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah. And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul."
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"But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon." Now watch this. "And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines."
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"Therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi."
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Now, would anyone in here suggest for a moment that David was a coward? I hope you would not. I want you to look back in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 18 and look at verses 6 and 7. If you think David was a coward, watch this. "And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands."
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Now, I don't know about you. But I wouldn't want to look David in the face and say, "You yellow-bellied coward, what are you going to do?" I mean, David killed more men than I could probably ever dream of killing. I've never killed anybody. David was not afraid, quote-unquote, to fight. Why did he run from Saul? Why did he avoid Saul? Let me tell you why. Are you listening? For the simple reason he did not want to be the one to kill Saul. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 26. 1 Samuel 26 beginning there with verse 7. 1 Samuel 26 verse 7. "So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David," Abishai was one of David's captains.
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"God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time."
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Now won't you look what Abishai said. He said, "David, you don't have to kill him. I will. And David, if you will let me just take one swipe at him, I'll guarantee you I'll do a good job. I won't have to stab him the second time. One will be sufficient." Watch verse 9. "And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go."
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You see, the problem was this. David just didn't want to kill Saul. David avoided it. David was trying to avoid the fight.
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Now, it is lawful to avoid a tyrant, and many times, expediency demands it. Let me go a little bit further. Oftentimes, as I shall show you next week, certain circumstances demand that tyrants be avoided. If you've got ten men and a tyrant is coming against you with ten thousand, is it not wisdom to turn and leave the area? That's not being a coward. You're willing to fight, but you're just not willing to fight on the enemy's terms. So God is saying avoidance is a lawful means of dealing with a tyrant.
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Look back in your Bibles, the first Kings chapter 18. Everybody is familiar with this story. First Kings chapter 18. Once again, this is where God told Elijah to show himself to Ahab, but let's go a little bit further. First Kings chapter 18, and let's read the first four verses. "And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)"
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Let me ask you a question. What were these hundred preachers doing? They were hiding. Why were they hiding? They were avoiding Ahab and Jezebel. What are 100 men against a whole army? Nothing. Were these preachers cowards? No. They were just simply following this tactic of avoidance. They were staying out of the tyrant's way. They didn't want to be killed. They didn't want to lose their homes. They didn't want to lose their families. And so they just simply stayed out of the way. So they were avoiding Ahab.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 9. Let me begin to show you in the New Testament now how this same tactic is employed. In Acts chapter 9. Watch Acts chapter 9 and verse 22. If you would, go ahead and turn in your Bibles also to 2 Corinthians chapter 11, because we're going to turn there immediately because this passage will throw a little more light upon Acts chapter 9. Look in Acts chapter 9, if you would, and let's begin reading there with verse 22.
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"But Saul," this is Saul of Tarsus now, he's been converted. "But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem," so Saul then escaped. How did he escape? He was let down over the wall in a basket at night. You say, "Well, Brother Weaver, he was just running from the Jews." Oh, no, no, no. Because the Jews had allies.
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Look in your Bibles to Second Corinthians chapter 11. And let's begin there with verse 32. Look what the Apostle Paul writes about this incident. He writes, "In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands." Ah, so Paul wasn't just avoiding the Jews, he was avoiding the civil authorities. Now, lest you think that the Apostle Paul was a coward, look in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 11, and let's begin with verse 22. Look at his argument.
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He says, "Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the
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wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak?" I don't know about you, but I'd hate to have to prove my courage by going through everything that Paul went through. And of course, I trust that you know, finally, he was decapitated in prison for the sake of Christ and his kingdom.
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That is, his head was chopped off. The apostle Paul was not a coward. But yet the few believers that were there could not stand and fight and deliver him or themselves in any other way. And so they avoided the tyrant. They got out of his way. And thus Paul, the apostle, escaped.
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Now, if anyone tends to think that avoidance is to be associated with cowardice and fear, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 7. John chapter 7. You're going to find that our Lord himself used this same tactic. Please remember that Jesus Christ is the omniscient, omnipotent God of the universe. He has all knowledge. He has all power. In John 7 and verse 1, "After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him." When they tried to kill him, what did he do?
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He just stayed out of their way. He avoided them.
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Now, if you think Christ was afraid to die, look in John chapter 12 and verse 27. John chapter 12, verse 27. He's praying to the Father, and look what he says.
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"Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour." Jesus Christ was not afraid to die. He came to die. He knew he was going to die. But he still used the tactic of avoidance because avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent violence by wicked men.
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Now I want you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 2, and once again let me show you a New Testament illustration of avoidance. And you will be amazed at who ordered this avoidance. Look in Matthew chapter 2. Let's begin reading there with verse 13. Jesus Christ is a young child. "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt." Now, who ordered this tactic of avoidance? God Himself did. God said, "Joseph, you take Mary and Jesus, get out of the country, stay out of the land." Now, was God afraid of Herod? Well, of course not. Was God capable of dealing with Herod? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. A hundred times, yes. But God said, "You flee, you avoid, you get out of his way."
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And that's exactly what Mary and Joseph did. Avoidance is a lawful tactic in dealing with tyranny. Herod was a tyrant. That's why he went and killed all the male children from two years and under, trying to make sure that he got the young child, Jesus.
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Now, I want you to turn to one last passage, that's Hebrews 11. I want to show you how a multitude of Christians used this tactic of avoidance.
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Now, I want you to note the context in which I'm reading. I'm going to start reading early in verse 32. Remember, please, Hebrews 11 lists the heroes of faith. These are not fearful men we're reading about. These are not cowards. These are heroes of faith. Watch Hebrews 11 verse 32, "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:" Now look what some of these men did. "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
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Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:" Watch, "They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword."
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"They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise." Let me ask you a question. What were these Christians doing, wandering about in dens and in caves, clothed only in sheepskins and goatskins? What were they doing?
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They were avoiding the tyrant. They were avoiding persecution. They were getting out of the way. And God put them in the heroes of faith, and God said the world was not even worthy of these people. These all died in the faith, he said. You see, a man is to use wisdom. God has given us not only the method of deception, he's also given us the method of avoidance.
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Now, let me make just a couple of applications. First of all, please understand, underline it in your heart, it is not an act of cowardice to avoid a conflict with tyranny. Why? Because avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent violence by wicked men. We may lawfully practice deception and avoidance where morally necessary in order to protect our capital, our homes, our lives and our families. Let me tell you, if I know, if I know for sure, if I know absolutely that around the next block are two armed robbers, I'm not going there. If I know, I'm not going there. I'm going to avoid them if I can. If I know some tyrant is going to try to steal everything I've got, I'm going to stay out of his way. I'm not going to give him the opportunity to steal from me. You see what I'm saying? Avoidance is a lawful tactic to protect what you have as well as your life. Avoidance is absolutely necessary when there is neither strength nor the resources to overthrow the tyranny.
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You say, "What in the world can I do until the tyrant is overthrown?" You can deceive him and you can avoid him, until God gives the strength and the resources to overthrow him. So avoidance is a tactic that has been used all down through history to deal with tyrants who are already entrenched in power. You say, "Brother Weaver, what about fighting him?" Well, I'll tell you about that next week, too. But you've got to understand, these other tactics are lawful as well.
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And not everybody can fight. And not everybody can fight all the time. And therefore, God says, here are two other methods of dealing with tyrants. Shall we pray? Father, I pray that you will teach us your word. Teach us, Lord, that we may lawfully deceive the deceiver and avoid the tyrant to protect our homes, our properties, our money.
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Who are obedient unto thee and whom thou hast placed over us and who are exercising proper power and authority under thee. But, Lord, tyranny is never a divinely appointed form of government, and so, therefore, tyrants may be deceived and may be avoided lawfully and obedient to thee. We give thee thanks for your word for teaching us. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen. This program was produced by Freedom Ministries. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Freedom Ministries by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N, Street, Suite 705-PMB-175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-833-7000.
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You can also visit our website at www.freedomministry.com
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T23:35:14Z

Dealing With Tyrants - 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver teaches that avoidance is a biblical, lawful tactic for dealing with tyrants, alongside deception. Using examples from Isaac, Jacob, Elijah, David, Paul, and Jesus, he argues that avoiding conflict with wicked rulers is not cowardice but wisdom, especially when resources are insufficient to overthrow tyranny. Avoidance protects life, family, and property non-violently and is commended by God.

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the previous sermon on deception as a fundamental method for dealing with tyrants, rooted in the law of retribution. He introduces avoidance as the second method.

Defining Avoidance

Avoidance is defined as staying out of the way, keeping a low profile, and ensuring paths do not cross with tyrants. It is a tactic for dealing with tyranny.

Why Avoid Tyrants?

Citing Augustine and Psalm 50, Weaver argues that godly people should not associate with the wicked, who hate God's instruction and consent with thieves.

Isaac's Example of Avoidance

Isaac avoided conflict with the Philistines by repeatedly moving away when they contested his wells, rather than fighting. God blessed him, and the enemy later sought peace.

Jacob's Use of Avoidance

Jacob fled from Esau's murderous intent and later avoided Laban's tyranny by leaving secretly. He also deceived Esau to avoid living with him, combining deception and avoidance.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 27:1-4, 41

"And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death." "Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat;"

Watch carefully,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 27:1-4, 41

"that my soul may bless thee before I die."

Scripture Reading — Genesis 27:1-4, 41

Now, I want you to look down in chapter 27 at verse 41. You know the story how Jacob and Rebekah have dressed Jacob and made him hairy like Esau, put goat skin on him, put on Esau's clothing, and she took a goat and made savory venison as Isaac did love, and she must have been a great cook to make goat taste like venison, but she did it. And you know how Jacob went in and said that he was Esau, and he got the blessing. Let me show you how angry Esau was. Look in Genesis 27, verse 41. "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob." In other words, "I'm going to murder him. I'm going to get him."

Look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 31 and verse 41. Genesis 31 and verse 41. Look what Jacob says to Laban.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 31:41-42

"Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle:"

Now watch this.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 31:41-42

"and thou hast changed my wages ten times."

Scripture Reading — Genesis 31:41-42

"Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight."

Scripture Reading — Genesis 31:11-13, 20

Now, look, if you would, at verse 20. "And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled." So Jacob obeyed God and just simply left the country. What's he saying? Laban is acting like a tyrant. He's acting like an ungodly man. And I'm just going to avoid him. I will get out of the way. And that's exactly what he did. Now, the interesting thing is when Jacob came back into the land, he was told, "Behold, your brother Esau comes with four hundred armed men." And Jacob was distressed. Look in Genesis chapter 32, beginning there with verse 6, Genesis 32, verse 6. "And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands." Now note the fact that Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 32:6-7, 11

"said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die."

Elijah and the Prophets Avoid Ahab

God commanded Elijah to hide from Ahab, and Obadiah hid 100 prophets in caves to avoid Jezebel. These acts of avoidance were not cowardice but obedience.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:6-7

Now, I don't know about you. But I wouldn't want to look David in the face and say, "You yellow-bellied coward, what are you going to do?" I mean, David killed more men than I could probably ever dream of killing. I've never killed anybody. David was not afraid, quote-unquote, to fight. Why did he run from Saul? Why did he avoid Saul? Let me tell you why. Are you listening? For the simple reason he did not want to be the one to kill Saul. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 26. 1 Samuel 26 beginning there with verse 7. 1 Samuel 26 verse 7. "So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David," Abishai was one of David's captains.

You see, the problem was this. David just didn't want to kill Saul. David avoided it. David was trying to avoid the fight.

Scripture Reading — Acts 9:22-25

" so Saul then escaped. How did he escape? He was let down over the wall in a basket at night. You say, "

Well, Brother Weaver, he was just running from the Jews." Oh, no, no, no. Because the Jews had allies.

David Avoids Saul

David repeatedly avoided Saul, not out of fear but because he refused to kill the Lord's anointed. His avoidance was strategic and honored by God.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 18:6-7

Now, I don't know about you. But I wouldn't want to look David in the face and say, "You yellow-bellied coward, what are you going to do?" I mean, David killed more men than I could probably ever dream of killing. I've never killed anybody. David was not afraid, quote-unquote, to fight. Why did he run from Saul? Why did he avoid Saul? Let me tell you why. Are you listening? For the simple reason he did not want to be the one to kill Saul. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 26. 1 Samuel 26 beginning there with verse 7. 1 Samuel 26 verse 7. "So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David," Abishai was one of David's captains.

You see, the problem was this. David just didn't want to kill Saul. David avoided it. David was trying to avoid the fight.

New Testament Examples: Paul and Jesus

Paul escaped Damascus in a basket to avoid civil authorities. Jesus avoided Judea when Jews sought to kill him. Both demonstrate avoidance as a non-violent, lawful tactic.

Scripture Reading — Acts 9:22-25

" so Saul then escaped. How did he escape? He was let down over the wall in a basket at night. You say, "

Well, Brother Weaver, he was just running from the Jews." Oh, no, no, no. Because the Jews had allies.

Look in your Bibles to Second Corinthians chapter 11. And let's begin there with verse 32. Look what the Apostle Paul writes about this incident. He writes,

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 11:32-33

"In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands."

Scripture Reading — John 7:1

"After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him."

When they tried to kill him, what did he do?

God Commands Avoidance: Joseph and Mary

God himself ordered Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to avoid Herod, showing that avoidance is divinely sanctioned.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:13-14

"And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt."

Heroes of Faith Practiced Avoidance

Hebrews 11 describes faithful saints who wandered in deserts and caves, avoiding persecution. They are commended as heroes, not cowards.

Practical Applications

Avoidance is not cowardice; it is a non-violent way to prevent violence. It is lawful to protect life, family, and property, and is necessary when strength to overthrow tyranny is lacking.

Dealing With Tyrants - 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	112811122229
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs: The Fear of the Lord and Wisdom: The Doctrine of Election
Genre	Sermon
Date	1997-01-12
Dictation Name
Book	Book 048: Dealing With Tyrants — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	89

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the previous sermon on deception as a fundamental method for dealing with tyrants, rooted in the law of retribution. He introduces avoidance as the second method.
Defining Avoidance: Avoidance is defined as staying out of the way, keeping a low profile, and ensuring paths do not cross with tyrants. It is a tactic for dealing with tyranny.
Why Avoid Tyrants?: Citing Augustine and Psalm 50, Weaver argues that godly people should not associate with the wicked, who hate God's instruction and consent with thieves.
Isaac's Example of Avoidance: Isaac avoided conflict with the Philistines by repeatedly moving away when they contested his wells, rather than fighting. God blessed him, and the enemy later sought peace.
Jacob's Use of Avoidance: Jacob fled from Esau's murderous intent and later avoided Laban's tyranny by leaving secretly. He also deceived Esau to avoid living with him, combining deception and avoidance.
Elijah and the Prophets Avoid Ahab: God commanded Elijah to hide from Ahab, and Obadiah hid 100 prophets in caves to avoid Jezebel. These acts of avoidance were not cowardice but obedience.
David Avoids Saul: David repeatedly avoided Saul, not out of fear but because he refused to kill the Lord's anointed. His avoidance was strategic and honored by God.
New Testament Examples: Paul and Jesus: Paul escaped Damascus in a basket to avoid civil authorities. Jesus avoided Judea when Jews sought to kill him. Both demonstrate avoidance as a non-violent, lawful tactic.
God Commands Avoidance: Joseph and Mary: God himself ordered Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to avoid Herod, showing that avoidance is divinely sanctioned.
Heroes of Faith Practiced Avoidance: Hebrews 11 describes faithful saints who wandered in deserts and caves, avoiding persecution. They are commended as heroes, not cowards.
Practical Applications: Avoidance is not cowardice; it is a non-violent way to prevent violence. It is lawful to protect life, family, and property, and is necessary when strength to overthrow tyranny is lacking.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Avoidance is a fundamental biblical method for dealing with tyrants

Weaver argues that avoidance, like deception, is a primary tactic taught in Scripture for responding to tyranny.

He says, 'The second method of dealing with tyrants is what I'm going to call avoidance.'

Avoidance is not cowardice but wisdom

Weaver counters the notion that avoiding conflict is fearful, using David and Paul as examples of courageous men who practiced avoidance.

He asks, 'Would anyone in here suggest for a moment that David was a coward?' and lists Paul's sufferings.

God commands avoidance in certain circumstances

Weaver shows that God directly ordered avoidance for Elijah, Joseph, and others, proving its legitimacy.

He cites 1 Kings 17:2-3: 'Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith.'

Avoidance protects the innocent and preserves resources

Weaver argues that avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent harm and conserve strength for future action.

He states, 'Avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent violence by wicked men.'

Avoidance is necessary when strength is insufficient

Weaver teaches that when one lacks the power to overthrow tyranny, avoidance is a lawful and wise response.

He says, 'Avoidance is absolutely necessary when there is neither strength nor the resources to overthrow the tyranny.'

Jesus Christ practiced avoidance

Weaver points to Jesus avoiding Judea when the Jews sought to kill him, demonstrating that even the Son of God used this tactic.

He reads John 7:1: 'After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.'

Scripture References

Proverbs 1:15: Weaver introduces the sermon with this verse, advising the godly not to walk in the way of the wicked.
Psalm 50:16-22: God rebukes the wicked for hating instruction and consenting with thieves, showing why the godly should avoid them.
Genesis 26:12-33: Isaac avoids conflict with the Philistines over wells, moving away repeatedly, and God blesses him.
Genesis 27:1-4, 41: Isaac plans to bless Esau contrary to God's word; Esau plans to kill Jacob, prompting Jacob's flight.
Genesis 25:23, 27-34: God declares the elder shall serve the younger; Esau sells his birthright to Jacob.
Genesis 31:41-42: Jacob recounts Laban's mistreatment and God's intervention, leading to his departure.
Genesis 31:11-13, 20: God tells Jacob to leave Laban; Jacob steals away unawares.
Genesis 32:6-7, 11: Jacob fears Esau's approach with 400 men and prays for deliverance.
Genesis 33:12-19: Jacob deceives Esau about following him to Seir and instead goes to Succoth, avoiding him.
1 Kings 17:1-9: God tells Elijah to hide by the brook Cherith and later to go to Zarephath, avoiding Ahab.
1 Kings 18:1, 10: After three years, God tells Elijah to show himself to Ahab; Obadiah reveals Ahab sought Elijah to kill him.
1 Samuel 23:19-29: David avoids Saul in the wilderness, moving from place to place to escape capture.
1 Samuel 18:6-7: The women sing of David's military prowess, showing he was not a coward.
1 Samuel 26:7-11: David refuses to kill Saul, the Lord's anointed, and instead takes his spear and water jug.
1 Kings 18:3-4: Obadiah hides 100 prophets in caves to avoid Jezebel's persecution.
Acts 9:22-25: Saul (Paul) escapes Damascus by being lowered in a basket through the wall to avoid Jews seeking to kill him.
2 Corinthians 11:32-33: Paul clarifies he was avoiding the governor under Aretas the king, not just the Jews.
2 Corinthians 11:22-29: Paul lists his sufferings to prove his courage and dedication, countering any charge of cowardice.
John 7:1: Jesus avoided Judea because the Jews sought to kill him.
Matthew 2:13-14: An angel tells Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to avoid Herod's murderous intent.

Historical References

St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.): Weaver quotes Augustine: 'Godless civil rulers are no more than bands of robbers.'
Early American civil oaths: Weaver notes that America's forefathers required civil rulers to confess Jesus Christ and the Bible as God's Word.

Important Quotes

Godless civil rulers are no more than bands of robbers

Weaver uses Augustine's statement to support the idea that tyrants are inherently wicked and should be avoided.

It is not an act of cowardice to avoid a conflict with tyranny. Why? Because avoidance is a non-violent way to prevent violence by wicked men.

Weaver directly addresses the misconception that avoidance equals cowardice, emphasizing its moral legitimacy.

You pick your fights. It's not that you're afraid to fight. You just want to fight on your terms when the situation is winnable for you.

This explains the strategic wisdom behind avoidance, distinguishing it from fear.

Avoidance is absolutely necessary when there is neither strength nor the resources to overthrow the tyranny.

Weaver gives a practical condition under which avoidance is not just lawful but essential.

We may lawfully practice deception and avoidance where morally necessary in order to protect our capital, our homes, our lives and our families.

This summarizes the practical application of the sermon, linking avoidance to protection of life and property.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the biblical concept of avoidance challenge modern views of standing up to injustice?

[Context]

Weaver argues that avoidance is a lawful, non-violent tactic, not cowardice.

[Question]

In what situations might avoidance be more honoring to God than direct confrontation?

[Context]

David avoided Saul to prevent killing the Lord's anointed; Elijah hid at God's command.

[Question]

How can we discern when to use avoidance versus other tactics like deception or fighting?

[Context]

Weaver mentions that avoidance and deception often go hand in hand, and fighting will be addressed later.

[Question]

What does Jesus' use of avoidance teach us about the nature of courage and wisdom?

[Context]

Jesus avoided Judea when his life was threatened, though he was not afraid to die.

[Question]

How does the example of Isaac giving up his wells inform our attitude toward material possessions in the face of tyranny?

[Context]

Isaac repeatedly moved rather than fight over wells, and God blessed him.

[Question]

What are the limits of avoidance? When might it become sinful passivity?

[Context]

Weaver implies avoidance is lawful when strength is insufficient, but does not address when it might be wrong.

Applications

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