Unbiblical Practices Justified by Biblical Figures' Struggles
The Bible records the struggles and failures of many figures, but these accounts are not presented as justifications for unbiblical practices. Instead, they often serve as warnings or illustrations of the consequences of sin and disobedience.
For instance, the Old Testament frequently condemns idolatry, which is defined as bowing down to, worshipping, or sacrificing to images or other gods [2]. Despite this clear prohibition, figures like the Israelites at Mount Sinai engaged in worshipping the true God through an image (the golden calf) [2]. The prophets consistently denounced such practices, with Ezekiel describing how priests ministered before idols and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity [7]. Josephus also notes the great concern under the Mosaic law to preserve Israelites from idolatry [5]. The New Testament similarly uses "adultery" as an image for serving other gods [6].
Another example is the practice of strife. While Christ is presented as an example of avoiding strife [3], the Bible records instances of it, even within the early church [3]. Strife is identified as a work of the flesh and an evidence of a carnal spirit [3]. It can be excited by hatred, pride, wrath, and a contentious disposition [3]. The difficulty of stopping strife is given as a reason to avoid it [3].
Despair is also depicted in the Bible, particularly among the wicked when faced with divine judgments [4]. It can lead to continuing in sin and blasphemy [4]. While saints may sometimes be tempted to despair, they are also shown to overcome it through trust in God [4]. Cain, Ahithophel, and Judas are all presented as examples of individuals who succumbed to despair [4].
Even the performance of miracles is not always a sign of divine approval. The Bible warns that miracles can be performed through evil agents and the power of the devil, often in support of false religions or by false prophets and christs [1]. These "lying wonders" are a mark of apostasy and are intended to deceive the ungodly [1]. Examples include the magicians of Egypt and the witch of Endor [1].
The struggles of biblical figures, therefore, highlight the human propensity to stray from God's commands, but they do not legitimize those deviations. Instead, they underscore the importance of adhering to God's law and seeking righteousness.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Miracles Through Evil Agents — Performed through the power of the devil -- 2Th 2:9; Re 16:14. Wrought In support of false religions. -- De 13:1-2. By false christs. -- Mt 24:24. By false prophets. -- Mt 24:24; Re 19:20. A mark of the Apostasy -- 2Th 2:3,9; Re 13:13. Not to be regarded -- De 13:3. Deceive the ungodly -- 2Th 2:10-12; Re 13:14; 19:20. Exemplified Magicians of Egypt. -- Ex 7:11,22; 8:7. Witch of Endor. -- 1Sa 28:7-14. Simon Magus. -- Ac 8:9-11.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Despair — Produced in the wicked by divine judgments -- De 28:34,67; Re 9:6; 16:10. Leads to Continuing in sin. -- Jer 2:25; 18:12. Blasphemy. -- Isa 8:21; Re 16:10,11. Shall seize upon the wicked at the appearing of Christ -- Re 6:16. Saints sometimes tempted to -- Job 7:6; La 3:18. Saints enabled to overcome -- 2Co 4:8,9. Trust in God, a preservative against -- Ps 42:5,11. Exemplified Cain. -- Ge 4:13,14. Ahithophel. -- 2Sa 17:23. Judas. -- Mt 27:5.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 8, section 30: these Midianite women, who came to entice the Israelites to lewdness and idolatry, viz. that their worship of the God of Israel, in opposition to their idol gods, implied their living according to the holy laws which the true God had given them by Moses, in opposition to those impure laws which were observed under their false gods, well deserves our consideration; and gives us a substantial reason for the great concern that was ever shown under the law of Moses to preserve the Israelites from idolatry, and in the worship of the ”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 17:2: 17:2 Adultery with her is a biblical image for serving other gods (see, e.g., Exod 34:12-16; Judg 2:17; Hos 2). • drunk by . . . her immorality: Drunkenness in Scripture often depicts nations that indulge in wanton and immoral behavior (see Rev 18:3, 9; Jer 25:27; 51:7; Lam 4:21; Ezek 23:33).”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 44:12: Because they ministered unto them before their idols,.... Had officiated for them in the priest's office, their idols being in the courts of the Lord at the same time; or preached unto them false doctrines, such as are not agreeable to the word of God; and led them into superstition and will worship, and confirmed them therein: and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; or, "were for a stumbling block of iniquity" (h); unto them the means of their stumbling and falling; by their ministrations, teaching them unsound doctrine; and by their practices and e”