ST. CATHARINES CONCORDIA - Brock University

24 TLJTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW
the prophet Elisha to dig trenches in the desert, which He filled with water from a flash
flood. When the rising sun's rays shone on the water making it look like blood, the
Moabites were tricked into believing that the confederates had killed each other and
they only had to sally forth to plunder the spoils. Instead, they lurched into defeat (2
Krl. 3:4-25). After all, "one is not obligated lo divulge military inlenlions." 52
Admittcdly dcbatable was thc deception by Rebekah and Jacob in order to obtain
Isaac's blessing for Jacob. For Isaac planned to give it to Esau, in clear violation ol'
the 1,ORD'S directive that it should belong to Jacob (Gen. 2S:23-26; 27:s-27).
Rebekah and Jacob were driven to take desperate action bp Isaac's stubborn resolve
to disobey the LOKD. Later, both the repentant lsaac and the LOKD Hi~riself
confirmed the blessing on Jacob (28: 1-4, 12-22). Indeed, Isaac is remembered as a
hero of the faith for properly blessing Jacob and Esau (Heb. 11:21).
The LOKD HirnselS is no1 above resorting to deception: He lured the Egyplians'
crack chariotry into thc Red Sea whcrc Hc could drown thcm all but savc Israel (Ex.
14:23-3 1). Once, when the Arameans were invading Israel, the LORD kept their amy
From recognizing where they really were; enabling Elisha to lead them right into
Israel's capital city Samaria (2 Kn. 6:18-20). Again. the LORD deceived another
invading Aramean army by making them hear at dawn what sounded like a great
approaching army of Assyrians, so that they fled in panic (7:5-7).
Inspired by the LORD, an unnamed prophet disguised himself as a wounded
soldier and told an imaginary story lo deceive King Ahab as a sel-up to condemn him
(1 Kn. 20:37-42). Likcwisc, thc LORD inspircd thc prophct Nathan with a fictional
story to trick David into condemning himself (2 Sam. 12:l-7). When Samuel was
afraid to go to anoint a new king because Saul wnuld kill him for it, the LORD directed
him to lie about his intentions (1 Sam. 16: 1-2). The LORD also inspircd the hcathen
prophet Balaam to deceive King Balak of Moab thee times by blessing Israel instead
of cursing them, as he had heen hired to do (Nurn. 225, 17, 20,35, 38: 235, 11-12,
16,25-24:2,10). The LORD even commanded Moses to deceive Pharaoh no less than
eight times into believing that Israel only wanted to go into the desert for three clays
to worship the LORD, instcad of leaving Egypt for good (Ex. 3:17-18; 5:1, 3; 7:16;
8:1, 20, 26-27; 9:1, 13; 10:3, 9, 25-26). Pharaoh rightly suspected their mischief
(1O:lO-1 l).
Perhaps most questionable of all was the event when thc LORD comrnissioncd
one of His ministering spirits to inspire the prophets of King Ahab with lies so that he
would he enticed to altack [he Arameans at Ramoth Gilead, where the LORD could
dircct an archcr's arrow to strikc Ahab with a mortal wound (1 Kn. 22: 19-23,34-38).
Thus a false king was deceived by his false prophets.53
Should we absolutize truth-telling as a Platonic idea or universal above God? God
alone is absolute and truth-telling must be in relation to Him. 54
52 Alexande~ 401.
53 Rushduuny 548.
54 Rushdoony 548.