Negative Consequences

Misunderstanding may or may not lead to serious results. If you hear a man talking loudly in a restaurant, for instance, you might conclude that he is either an extrovert or a show-off.  You might be wrong. The person he is talking to could have a hearing problem. Or perhaps a salesclerk seems unpleasant, but maybe she is not feeling well. Although such misunderstandings lead to negative impressions, they will likely produce no serious or lasting consequences. Sometimes, though, misunderstandings can provoke disaster.  Consider two episodes in the history of ancient Israel.

When Nahash, king of Ammon, died, David sent messengers to console his  son Hanun, who had begun to rule in his father's place. However, the messengers' visit was misinterpreted as a hostile spying out of Ammonite territory, moving Hanun first to humiliate the messengers and then to make war on Israel. As a result, at least 47,000 people died-all because of a misunderstanding of good  intentions. - 1 Chronicles 19:1-19.

Earlier in Israel's history, another misunderstanding was resolved quite differently. The tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built a conspicuous altar by the Jordan River. The rest of Israel saw this as an act of unfaithfulness, a rebellion against Jehovah.  They therefore, congregated  for military action.  Before doing anything drastic, these other Israelites sent messengers to express indignation at the perceived act of infidelity.  It was well that they had no intention of turning from pure worship.  On the contrary, the altar was to serve as a monument of their faithfulness to Jehovah.  This misunderstanding could have caused a bloodbath, but wisdom averted such dire consequences. -Joshua 22:10-34. 

Next time: Clarify Matters in a Spirit of Love

From the Watchtower magazine, 2001