Nothing to gain from gainsaying

Dear friend

The ancient peoples that made up the children or house of Israel were given many promises. One of their opportunities was to be the means of blessing all the other people of the world as messengers or witnesses of God. Sadly Israel often spurned their chances to be chosen, electing instead to indulge in the practices of heathens. Perhaps recognising that in his day things had not changed much for Israel, the Apostle Paul spoke of them in the New Testament, Romans 10:21.

21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

"Disobedient" is a word with which we are sadly all too familiar, but "gainsaying" is one of those King James Version words long since dropped from modern parlance. It is defined as denying the truth, opposing, disputing, contradicting what is right. Gainsaying is a choice people make to rebel against an authority by refusing to accept what is true. A further, more descriptive treatment of gainsaying Israel is found in the Book of Mormon, Jacob 6:4-6.

4 And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long; and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.
6 Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die?

Some truths are "inconvenient" or so it would appear, particularly if they tell us something we don't want to hear. In justifying their disobedience to some requirement people often try to suggest that the underlying principle of truth is somehow not correct. They block their need to comply by refusing to accept what they know deep down is right.

So let us learn the lesson of Israel's inconsistency and not harden our hearts by becoming gainsayers. Rather let us cleave to God with full purpose of heart. I pray that we will be true to truth and the only thing we deny is ungodliness.

Samuel.