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“Turning Points: A Bloody Knife & Growing Hair” Paul Harvey tells an incredible story describing how Eskimo’s kill a wolf simply by coating several layers of frozen blood on a sharp knife sticking out of the frozen tundra. Apparently the wolf picks up the scent and after circling the knife warily begins licking the frozen blood. He begins to lick faster and faster as the desire for blood literally drives the wolf wild. So great becomes his craving that the wolf never notices the sting of the sharp blade on his tongue as the blood being consumed gradually becomes his own. Morning finds the wolf lying dead in the snow. Temptation lures each of us just as the bloody knife attracts the unsuspecting wolf. We may warily respond at first but we soon become consumed by the desire of the moment never noticing the deadly sting of the sharp blade of “sin” as the blood consumed eventually becomes our own. I discovered at least four general areas of temptation that at first seem innocent but if pursued to excess turn deadly. In each area God gives advice and a warning:
Samson occasionally described as the Hercules of the Old Testament, likely dabbled in all four temptations but he excelled in pleasure. One commentary described Samson as a “He-Man with a She-Weakness.” He was born of godly parents and set apart at birth to be a Nazarite: a deeply religious Jewish order. As a Nazarite, Samson ate a special diet with no alcohol and could not cut his hair, ever. Yet this godly man’s first words were, “I saw a woman…” (Judges 14:2) Samson was tempted by the bloody knife blade of lust and in the end was consumed by his mistakes. “Delilah lulled
Samson to sleep with his head in her lap and she called in a man to shave off
his hair, making his capture certain. And his strength left him… So the
Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where
he was bound with bronze chains and made to grind corn in the prison. But before
long his hair began to grow back.” (Judges
19-22) The frozen blood of the
knife tempts all. Proverbs 5:22-23 gives warning, “The wicked person is doomed
for his or her sins; they are ropes that catch and hold you. You shall die
because you will not listen to the truth; you have let yourself be led away into
incredible folly.” But there is always hope with God, as Samson would
discover. “But before long his hair began to grow back.” Turning points are those “buts” when we recognize our mistakes before God and plead for help. Samson’s dark days in prison are times of change. The hair growth is symbolic of his restored faith. Occasionally we are all caught red-handed in our sins and punished accordingly. It hurts! It hurts a lot! But… in the midst of the pain, God offers grace and our hair begins to grow. With his newfound faith, Samson calls out to God in prayer, “…remember me again.” For one last time, Samson’s strength is restored and he brings the temple down upon the enemy and his people are saved. The New Testament puts it another way: “For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.” (Romans 6:7) Such is the power of God’s awesome grace. Maybe somewhere along the line the bloody knife has tempted you. Maybe you battled alone and succumbed. Like Samson, you find yourself facing the prison of sin’s consequences. Maybe you think God has abandoned you. Never! You can pray right now, “God, please remember me!” Before long you notice a change only God can effect… “and your hair will begin to grow back.” More Turning Points: David & Getting Even Jacob & Reconciliation Moses & Failure |