Understanding the Times Through Ancient Wisdom
Have you ever felt like the world has turned upside down, where things that used to be considered bad are now celebrated, and things that used to be praised are now put down? You’re not alone. Many people feel confused as our society drifts further away from what once seemed like common sense. This confusion about what is “good” and what is “evil” isn’t new; in fact, it’s been going on for centuries.
A Spirit of Confusion
The Bible talks about a “spirit of stupor”—a kind of sleepiness or blindness that comes over people, making it hard for them to see what’s really happening, or to hear what’s truly being said. Romans 11:8 says, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” In other words, it’s like people are walking around with their eyes open but not really seeing, or their ears open but not really listening.
Why Does This Happen?
Throughout history, especially in the stories of Israel and Judah in the Bible, people often ignored what was right and followed their own paths. When they did this, they faced problems—sometimes even exile from their own land. The main problems were idolatry (putting something else in the place of God), hypocrisy (saying one thing but doing another), and social injustice (mistreating others). When people lose touch with right and wrong, trouble follows.
Prophets and Their Message
Prophets in the Bible were like messengers or spokespeople for God. Their job was to help people see the truth, remind them of what’s right, and warn them about what happens when they forget. They often spoke out against the culture of their day, calling people out when they replaced good with evil and vice versa. Their message was deeply tied to the issues and problems of their own time, especially around justice, fairness, and staying true to their values.
Calling Good Evil and Evil Good
Today, it can feel like our culture is doing exactly what Isaiah warned against: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20) When people start saying that what’s wrong is actually okay, and what’s right is actually old-fashioned, it leads to confusion and pain in society.
Where Do We Go from Here?
So what does all this mean for us now? First, it’s important to recognize what’s happening around us. It’s easy to go along with the crowd, but it’s harder—and more important—to stop, think, and ask ourselves: “Is this really good? Is this really right?” Sometimes, the loudest voices aren’t always speaking the truth.
Second, learning from the wisdom of history and ancient texts reminds us that we aren’t the first to deal with these issues. The prophets challenged their culture, not by following the crowd, but by standing up for what was true and just. We can be inspired to do the same.
Finally, if you feel like things don’t make sense anymore, remember that confusion about good and evil has always been a challenge for people. But by staying alert, thinking for ourselves, and seeking out what’s right, we can make a difference—even in confusing times.
Minister A Francine Green
August 2025
afrancinegreen.com 