tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006673250886122803.post4047757399023863061..comments2023-04-24T10:58:04.691-04:00Comments on The Monk who Stole the Cow: God writes straight on crooked linesJack Keoghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17382043901379998330noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006673250886122803.post-15656857017756143282011-02-02T05:20:16.363-05:002011-02-02T05:20:16.363-05:00Eric, That was an awesome commentary. I just want ...Eric, That was an awesome commentary. I just want to add that earlier in the story Joseph tells his brothers "So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt" Gen.45:8 God does not call evil good but does bring great good out of evil. For those who love God all things work together unto good. Rom.8:28Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006673250886122803.post-78956193469731501632010-08-25T11:45:55.322-04:002010-08-25T11:45:55.322-04:00Monk, I suggest that perhaps the closest biblical ...Monk, I suggest that perhaps the closest biblical parallel to "God writes straight with crooked lines" is Genesis 50:20. <br /><br />In this passage, Joseph is finally confronting his brothers, who of course sold him into slavery:<br /><br />14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. 15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil which we did to him." 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this command before he died, 17 'Say to Joseph, Forgive, I pray you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.' And now, we pray you, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him, and said, "Behold, we are your servants." 19 But Joseph said to them, "Fear not, for am I in the place of God? 20 <b>As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good,</b> to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he reassured them and comforted them.<br /><br />Joseph in no way diminishes or excuses the evil of his brothers' deeds. But he acknowledges that God brought great good out of this evil - namely, saving God's chosen people from a severe famine (Gen. 47).<br /><br />A family of envious brothers plotted to destroy their brother, and through it God saved His people.<br /><br />Years later, the religious authorities plotted to kill Jesus of Nazareth, and Judas Iscariot sold out his Lord for 30 coins, and through it God saved the world.<br /><br />The credit goes all to God. The thrust of the verse, it seems to me, is not to excuse evil, but rather to mock it. How small is man, how petty, that even his most selfish, destructive acts cannot thwart God's plans.Ignatiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13921892838075071699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006673250886122803.post-8297100295094178602010-08-24T14:42:33.599-04:002010-08-24T14:42:33.599-04:00Sorry for my slightly belated comment here. I read...Sorry for my slightly belated comment here. I readily accept the first Anonymous comment. Thank you.<br /><br />The second Anonymous comment I also found very helpful - thank you. I am glad you made it.The Monkhttp://www>Drivingstraight.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006673250886122803.post-9080703904342118062010-08-24T14:16:27.830-04:002010-08-24T14:16:27.830-04:00I hope we can all try to see the positive intent i...I hope we can all try to see the positive intent in other posters' comments. In this case, I think it's helpful for Monk to know the reason for the emotion attached to that phrase, so he knows folks aren't reacting to him personally.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006673250886122803.post-75975192146042699592010-08-24T13:23:20.975-04:002010-08-24T13:23:20.975-04:00Can a broken instrument still make music? Depends...Can a broken instrument still make music? Depends on the circumstances, and the instrument, and how you define broken. Can water still be carried in a cracked vessel? Depends where the crack is. In this latter case, I would surmise that SOME water CAN be carried, maybe in the part that does not have the crack, and maybe quickly if full, before all the water has run out of it.<br /><br />Metaphors are just comparisons, not the real thing. And when people get hung up on the metaphor instead of what is being communicated, there is the pity. And when stones are thrown because of metaphors, well that is just plain and simple abuse.<br /><br />If there was a miscommunication, the civil thing to do is to accept the clarification as given in good faith, and move on.<br /><br />Castigation simply provokes more stagnation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006673250886122803.post-25356631193009566352010-08-23T22:56:55.174-04:002010-08-23T22:56:55.174-04:00Monk, since you're not around the movement any...Monk, since you're not around the movement anymore, you probably had no idea how badly abused the phrase "God writes straight with crooked lines" became as of February 2009, as a means to reassure the scandalized RC/LC faithful about MM's unfortunate slip into sin. <br /><br />You would take as much heat if your book was named "a broken instrument can still make beautiful music" or "water can still be carried in a cracked vessel". <br /><br />All these platitudes were an insult to our intelligence, and were designed to keep people feeling serene, and to discourage any of the natural emotions of people who have been hurt or betrayed. <br /><br />Negative memories are permanently tied to the expression "God writes straight with crooked lines", unfortunately eroding it's original intended meaning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com