By Olubunmi Adebayo
*We shall conclude our discussion on the above topic today as we:*
*look at another example : the case of the daughter of Herodias (the wife of king Herod) and how the little girl engaged her ability in dancing to distract King Herod from the bitter issue on ground, thereby ended up asking for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.*
*Please read the story in some details:*
*Matt. 14: [6] But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.*
*[7]Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.*
*It was a distraction that prompted an action the king would eventually regret :*
*Matt 41: [8] And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.*
*[9]And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.*
*[10]And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.*
*[11]And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.*
*Just imagine the sequence of the action :*
*The king was celebrating his birthday.*
*Several people were dancing to celebrate with the king.*
*A young girl danced so well that the king promised to give her anything she asked for, up to half of the kingdom.*
*The little girl proceeded to consult with the Mum, and everything changed from there.*
*A decision the king regretted, but which he couldn’t do anything about, having made the promise to the little girl earlier on before the people of the land.*
*Everything that will not allow you to think through a matter before deciding correctly and rationally is a distraction that must be avoided.*
*Going back to the story of Elijah : Imagine Elijah saying he was not better than his forefathers?*
*Jezebel used her message of threat to Elijah to distract and dislocate him :*
*1 Kings 19: [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.*
*[3]And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.*
*[4]But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.*
*In your daily activities, please let everything that will distract you be avoided and done away with as much as possible.*
*Distractions can be very deadly and costly.*
*Imagine how many accidents we have had on our roads because of one distraction or the other?*
Top of the day to you 👍
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
