March 21: Sins of Omission
Numbers 24–25; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34; Psalm 21:1–13
There’s that moment when you’re asked to do something you know is wrong, but you feel like you should respond. It’s almost as fleeting as the decision to not stand up for what is right, even when no one asks for your opinion. Many wrongdoings occur in these moments—these chances for sins of omission. Being silent is as bad as committing the wrong action, which is why the American court system prosecutes all the people committing an armed robbery for murder when only one gunman pulls the trigger.
Balaam, the prophet from Moab, had such an opportunity. After he was asked by Yahweh to bless the people of Israel—in opposition to his own king’s request (Num. 22:1–6)—he could have done nothing at all. Or he could have made Yahweh like the gods of Moab—succumbing them to his will instead of their own—but he instead follows the orders of Yahweh and blesses the people of Israel (Num. 24:3–9).
Paul addresses a similar dilemma in 1 Cor. 11:17–34: the people at Corinth were exploiting the idea of feast meals by making them like meals they previously had in their culture. The meals also involved remembering Jesus’ covenant with bread and wine, which made the situation even worse. The exploitation involved eating before the poorer members of the community had arrived. In return, the poor members were unable to eat. The Corinthians were both omitting the poor and choosing to deny God’s request. Paul confronts this, telling them that God is judging them, and that’s why many of them are getting sick and dying.
The situation also echoes one of the ideas the psalmist addresses: “Though they have plotted evil against you [Yahweh], though they have planned a scheme, they will not prevail. For you will turn them to flight, you will aim arrows on your bowstrings at their faces” (Psa. 21:11–12). The only difference is that the people in 1 Corinthians were not plotting per se; they were ignorantly ostracizing and hurting the poor. In the process, they were hurting God’s work among them and abusing the point of remembering Christ’s death and resurrection through a meal. The outcome, whether planned or unplanned, is the same: God’s work is hindered, and we’re punished for it.
God offers all of us grace through Jesus, but this should never be used as an excuse to do what He says is wrong.
What sins of omission are currently in your life?
JOHN D. BARRY
John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A Daily Devotional (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2012).
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