Bible Study March 18, 2025
“What Has Happened to Integrity?”
Genesis 31:17 – 21
17 “So Jacob put his wives and children on camels, 18 and he drove all his livestock in front of him. He packed all the belongings he had acquired in Paddan-aram and set out for the land of Canaan, where his father, Isaac, lived. 19 At the time they left, Laban was some distance away, shearing his sheep. Rachel stole her father’s household idols and took them with her. 20 Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean, for they set out secretly and never told Laban they were leaving. 21 So Jacob took all his possessions with him and crossed the Euphrates River, heading for the hill country of Gilead.”
In our Bible study last evening we looked at these verses from Genesis along with other verses from chapters thirty-one and thirty-two. I have commented before concerning Abraham lying about his wife as his sister, Isaac his son doing the same thing, then Jacob Isaac’s son following in their footsteps being less than completely honest. You can find the rest of the story in Genesis. The scriptures give us wonderful information on how to live but also on things to avoid.
I asked the question are we not seeing the same thing in our society today. We see it all around us. People caught in an adulterous relationship either lie about it, try to cover it up, or pay someone off to hide their sin.
It happens in business where companies may cut a few corners in a project to improve their bottom line. We see political PAC’s donating money for support of their own agenda although it not benefit the majority of people. We recently saw some of this concerning pharmaceutical companies with elected officials.
As look at these few examples it would seem it would be much better to be honest and forthright than go to the trouble to lie then you build lie upon lie to keep going to continue the deceit. Many times I am certain people forget the last lie because it has been so easy.
Here is an ancient understanding of this commandment. “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. “ — Exodus 23:1-3
Let us all commit to practicing honesty in our lives.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 