Thursday, February 18th, ‘10

Thursday, February 18^th, ‘10

GOOD AGGRESSION

“…you smote the river…you shall smite the rock…” (Exodus 17:6,7)

Mad isn’t all bad if directed toward a good cause. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers are definitely MADD but it’s a good sort of aggression, aimed at a purpose, not some particular person. Parents on occasion have to use the board of correction but it must be administered in love. “The rod of his anger shall fail” (Prov 22:8). The rod that smacks in anger eventually smacks back. Aggressive behavior must be tempered and curtailed, you’ve heard of anger management, but at the same time God doesn’t want His people to go soft. Moses had used the rod on the Red Sea, “you smote the river”, now he was to avenue similar aggressiveness toward the rock, “you shall smite the rock”. Neither were fits of anger but were acts of authority. Good aggression kicks over the moneychangers’ tables and cleans house but no one gets a black eye from the heated exchange. It’s a matter of, “I love you too much to let you go on this way”.

In another chapter Moses smote the rock and it was to his dishonor and detriment. The Lord told him simply to “speak” to the rock and it would gush forth water. Instead, because he was angered by the people’s constant bickering, he “lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice…” (Num 20:11) One disobedience might have been overlooked but Moses smacked the rock twice, a little over-aggressive wouldn’t you say? That, of course is a symbolism showing us that Jesus will never be smitten the second time. One beating on Calvary was enough. Moses’ tantrum cost him entrance into the Promise Land.

We need to control our anger. “Be ye angry, and sin not” (Eph 4:26). If anger leads to rage then we’re way out of line. If it remains a controlled “slow burn” that leads to sound actions and resolutions then it proves to be good aggression. Don’t assume all aggressive behavior is wrong. The world would never have been populated without it. The bad guys would rule the world if democratic peoples failed to act aggressively in their own defense. Just make sure your anger is a matter of response not reaction. When Moses smote the rock he didn’t break the rock, he opened it…world of difference. Positive aggressiveness should be a force that opens hearts rather than breaks them.