I once heard a story of a great tribal chief known for his fairness and wisdom.
One day it was reported that someone in the tribe was stealing. The leader proclaimed that the thief, when captured, would receive 10 lashes. But the thievery continued, even as the leader ultimately raised the level of punishment to 40 lashes; knowing that only a strong man like himself could survive such a severe whipping.
(An interesting illusion of the sacrificial death of the God-man, Jesus, who stepped down from His heavenly throne, took on flesh and dwelt among us, and accepted punishment for the sins of fallen man on the cross)
One day it was reported that someone in the tribe was stealing. The leader proclaimed that the thief, when captured, would receive 10 lashes. But the thievery continued, even as the leader ultimately raised the level of punishment to 40 lashes; knowing that only a strong man like himself could survive such a severe whipping.
The thief was finally apprehended, and to everyone's surprise she
turned out to be the leader's own aged mother. The people speculated
what the leader would do. One of the laws he'd set in place required
children to love and honor their parents, Yet another demanded the
public whipping of thieves. Would he satisfy the law of love and save
his mother, or would he satisfy the law of justice and watch his mother
die under the whip?
The tribe gathered around a large post at the center of the compound. The leader entered and sat on his throne. His mother was then led into the compound and tied to the post. Finally the warrior appointed to inflict the punishment, a powerful man with bulging muscles, entered holding a long leather whip.
And with that, several warriors ripped off the woman's garment; exposing her frail back. Just then the tribal chief stepped down from his throne, pulled off his shirt, stood behind the thief, and wrapped his arms around her.
And to everyone's amazement, he then commanded,
"Proceed with the punishment!"
The tribe gathered around a large post at the center of the compound. The leader entered and sat on his throne. His mother was then led into the compound and tied to the post. Finally the warrior appointed to inflict the punishment, a powerful man with bulging muscles, entered holding a long leather whip.
And with that, several warriors ripped off the woman's garment; exposing her frail back. Just then the tribal chief stepped down from his throne, pulled off his shirt, stood behind the thief, and wrapped his arms around her.
And to everyone's amazement, he then commanded,
"Proceed with the punishment!"
(An interesting illusion of the sacrificial death of the God-man, Jesus, who stepped down from His heavenly throne, took on flesh and dwelt among us, and accepted punishment for the sins of fallen man on the cross)
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