Tuesday, November 28, 2023

They Were All Mocked in One Form or Another

Here is why I believe Noah was mocked even though the Bible does not specifically mention it in Genesis.
Mocking comes in many forms, such as contemptuous words, actions to physically abuse or kill, destroying one's reputation, insulting, and making light of another person for their beliefs and actions. Dismissiveness is another form of mocking, it sends the message that someone is too insignificant to pay attention to.
Mocking is to treat with contempt, ridicule or dismissiveness against someone the mocker wishes to diminish.
In our culture, we think of mocking as open joking in mean ways, but there is far more to mocking than the limited idea we have as a culture. Mocking can come in the form of sideways looks or grunting sounds to leave a feeling of being seen as foolish or stupid.
2 Chronicles 36:16
"16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy."
Job was mocked
David was Mocked
Jeremiah was mocked
Isaiah was mocked: Isaiah 28
Michah was mocked:
John the Baptizer was mocked
All the apostles were mocked
All the prophets in the Bible were mocked in one form or another.
Why would we assume Noah who was warning the world of their destruction if they didn't repent, would escape what all the other prophets encountered and what we encounter today?
It is safe to assume that people have not changed from the beginning of the world to now. It is safe to assume that anyone who is bold about the truth, warning and preaching to help save people from the fate of hell, would be mocked.
There is nowhere in the bible where God says I personally would be mocked by name. But I have been mocked and I read in God's Word that all those who follow Christ openly with boldness will be mocked.
The word "hathal" in the Hebrew means to "play upon", "mock" and "deride."
1 Kings 18:27 for "mocked" is a variation of the Hebrew word hathal, which doesn't just mean mocked. It also means "deceived."
Elijah did this with the prophets of Baal, it was a good thing, it was mocking something God hated. But often we are mocked because of our love for Christ.
When believers are mocked because of their love for Christ we know they are directing their hatred toward God not necessarily us.
Insults come in many forms, they come through deliberately ignoring someone, making grunting disapproving noises without saying a word, pretending not to hear someone, disagreement merely to win without being honest about the discussion, twisting words, refusing to understand, and many more repugnant forms of communication.
We will see all of these tactics used against us because of our love for the truth. In most Christian circles we are just ignored until we see that no one is listening so we move on to someone else who loves and enjoys the truth of God's Word.
Let us not allow those who hate God to take us to an emotional state that debilitates us. This is where the devil wants us to be, completely insecure and intimidated into silence.
The question is; "do we love God more than we want to be loved by people?" This is an important question to ask because as we navigate through this life we will be continually battered and disregarded by those who say they are Christians but hate the truth that exposes them.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Pray for the pretenders, pray for others who are unsaved and do not allow any of them to deter you from what God has given you to do in these last days of apostasy.

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