There are Levels to Stumbling Blocks

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Now to today’s content: There are Levels to Stumbling Blocks

In the New Testament, stumbling blocks are considered things people do that can make others stumble in the doctrine and thus in their faith. Paul talks about it in many instances to the church assembly in letters:

“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.”

1st Corinthians 8:9

“Let us not, therefore, judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”

Romans 14:13

The apostle knew that many zealous individuals would cause stumbling blocks upon those not quite as zealous. I once knew a man who told a first time attending bible class sister to take her Bible, which was a NIV translation, and throw it in the trash.

He even used the jump shot formation of a basketball player shooting, with her NIV bible as the ball. Needless to say, she never returned to the class to strengthen her faith through knowledge and understanding to comprehend why that was a suggestion.

Another example was when a group of brothers told a newer brother to the faith that if he did not get circumcised by the next Passover, he would be cut off and not allowed in the class. The Passover was one week away. They were telling the man to go snip off a piece of his manrod, and hurry so you can be “one of us!”

Again, I never saw that man again.

These are lifestyle stumbling blocks that derail people, often they are spiritually fatal. Paul taught a better approach, but there are levels to stumbling blocks. And the harsh news is that stumbling blocks can be intentional or unintentional. Also, the Father in Heaven also sends stumbling blocks.

In the Old Testament, the stumbling blocks were a bit different in circumstance than in the New Testament. Here is an example in Leviticus chapter 19. Keep in mind, that this chapter is speaking to the children of Akobe, known as the children of Israel or Jacob in the Bible, who were about to take the land of Canaan. The Great Spirit (the Lord) was giving house rules for living in the land; the previous tenant, the Canaanites had woefully abused the house or land rules.

“Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.”

Leviticus 19:14

The Great Spirit commanded them not to curse the deaf, the physical deaf and spiritual, neither should they place a stumbling block before the spiritual or physical blind. Instead, they should do the right thing always, respecting and reverering their Great Creator.

The Canaanites would see someone who could not see or hear or didn’t know about something, so they’d take advantage of them. This is wicked behavior. Have you ever seen someone do an illegal but cool driving move to avoid traffic, like riding on the shoulder of the expressway?

Once they do it, you see a flood of copycats riding the shoulder to avoid the traffic. The police pull over one of the poor copycats, they are ticketed or even worse, racially profiled and attacked by the officers. The provocateur of this was the original illegal shoulder driver whose behavior caused others to copy.

Sure, everyone is responsible for their own decisions, but woe to those who acted as the stumbling block to the blind. The Great Creator knew the Canaanites and their actions would become stumbling blocks or thorns in the sides of the children of Akobe.

Idols Acting As Stumbling Blocks

One of the reasons Abram was commanded by the Great Spirit to leave his father’s house and his people and go to the land he would be shown by the Great Spirit was because of idols. The Chaldeans, the people of Ur (Sumer), Aram, and Assur had gods they worshipped and gave honor to, even before the Eternal Father. With their artwork, they would depict images of these gods called idols and serve these gods to their own imagination.

An example of this is found in the book of Ezekiel.

“Then came certain of the elders of Akobe unto me, and sat before me (Ezekiel). And the word of the Great Spirit came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Great Creator; Every man of the house of Akobe that sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet; I the Great Spirit will answer him that comes according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Akobe in their own heart because they are all estranged from Me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Akobe, Thus saith the Great Creator; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.”

“For every one of the house of Akobe, or of the stranger that sojourns in Akobe, which separated himself from me, and set up his idols in his heart, and put the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to a prophet to enquire of him concerning Me; I the Great Spirit will answer him by Myself: And I will set My face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people; and ye shall know that I am the Great Spirit.”

“And if the prophet is deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Great Spirit have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of My people Akobe. And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that sought unto him; That the house of Akobe may go no more astray from Me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be My people, and I may be their Ruler, saith the Great Creator.

Ezekiel 14:1-14

The children of Akobe’s elders had idols, which were stumbling blocks for them and the sins they committed. It obviously also became a stumbling block for the people following them. Although they had these gods or idols, they would still come to prophets of the Great Creator and enquire about things concerning their situations.

The Creator’s thoughts are, why come to Him for advice if they have an idol they can seek? Thus our Maker made it clear, that if the people are estranged or no longer close or affectionate with someone, in this case, their very Eternal Father, because of their idols, go seek the idol.

If they wanted the Great Spirit, they first had to repent and turn from their idols and the abominations their idols caused them to perform. This is the case for both the house of Akobe and the strangers who dwell among them. The idol was a stumbling block for their sins.

Furthermore, a prophet can become a stumbling block for people.

The Great Creator also states that if a prophet deceives people when he speaks, know of a sure thing, it is the Great Spirit that deceived that prophet. Yes, the people who listened to the deceiving prophet will be destroyed because of the stumbling blocks of deception given by the prophet.

However, the prophet will be destroyed just as the people he deceived. Why would the Great Spirit deceive the prophet and people? It is because that is the way they wanted it. They wanted to be deceived even to their destruction.

Do not be distracted, this is another level to stumbling blocks. People, prophets, priests, and pastors can operate as stumbling blocks. We can hear the truth of the Word of the Creator, or we can trust our pastors and priests, who become idols and stumbling blocks.

Consider this passage from the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Bible (Isaiah 57:1-15), it conveys several key messages:

The Fate of the Righteous:

The righteous are perishing, and nobody seems to notice or care. Merciful individuals are being taken away from a wicked world, often without recognition. Even to this moment of the creation, it is barely known that these good people are being spared from the evil to come. The righteous who have passed away will enter into a state of peace and rest in their final resting places, free from the troubles and trials of the world.

A Different Story in Addressing the Wicked: The passage then addresses the sons of sorceresses and those with a lineage of adultery and immorality. It questions their behavior, highlighting their sinful actions, including idol worship and even child sacrifice in the name of false gods.

The Creator’s Response: The Great Creator challenged these sinful actions, asking whether the people find comfort and hope in such practices. He points out that they have sought solace in everything but Him. They have even gone to great lengths to engage in idolatry and sinful alliances. For that, they will be condemned. He condemns their behavior, including their involvement with foreign kings and reliance on worldly remedies. Despite their weariness and efforts, they have not turned to Him in true repentance.

Divine Comfort for the Humble:

The Great Creator, who dwells in a high and holy place, promises comfort. He promises revival to those who are contrite and humble in spirit. He offers hope to the humble and contrite, promising to revive their spirits and hearts.

In summary, this passage from Isaiah emphasizes the fate of the righteous. It condemns the sinful behavior of the wicked. Also, it offers comfort and revival to those who humble themselves before their Maker. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin. And it shows the importance of turning to the Creator in humility and repentance. Those who do, who place their trust in Him will also act in His ways. They will go about removing stumbling blocks from the path of His people.

“And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people.”

Isaiah 57:14

Stumbling blocks come from the Creator when we turn to sin. When we turn to sin, the Great Spirit attempts to correct us. But if we do not heed the correction, more stumbling blocks will present themselves. This the case until we have fallen, all because we have an idol in our heart.

“Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him a warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

Ezekiel 3:20

A righteous man turned from righteousness and began to sin. He did this because of the stumbling block the Great Spirit laid before him. He will die in his sin. This is especially so if he does not take heed to the warning of the prophet. The prophets sent by the Great Spirit. All of his goodwill not be remembered.

“They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.”

Ezekiel 7:19

In Ezekiel chapter 7; Ezekiel was sent with a message that Yerusalema would be destroyed because of their sins. Their gold, silver, and other resources, will not be able to save them or satisfy them. This is because those things were stumbling blocks or the cause of their sin.

There are levels to stumbling blocks; even our riches, possessions, and lifestyle can result in making us stumble. Our vast knowledge, riches, and sciences can cause stumbling blocks. How we treat others, the list goes on, the Great Spirit will try or prove us, using stumbling blocks.

Are you in tune with your Eternal Father and Great Spirit enough to know and identify stumbling blocks?

That is great if you are; if you are not sure, study more to show yourself approved. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you, to lead and guide you to the right people. Ask for forgiveness of your past sins and the sins of your ancestors, and learn to walk anew. This is the way back to the good graces of our Eternal Father.

Again, a stumbling block is something that would cause you or someone else to stumble away from their path.

“But I have a few things against thee because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Akobe, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”

Revelation 2:14

The children of Akobe could not be cursed by any diviner, sorcerer, or Chaldean. Balaam tried but realized the people of Akobe were enriched by their Maker. However, he knew one card would work. This care was pretty women. They would cause the men to sin. And this is how to break the endowment of the Creator on them.

The beautiful women, the fornication, adultery, and lewd acts opened the door to the idols and gods of the Moabites. This caused the children of Akobe to sin. The stumbling block to their sin was the women they took part in. What stumbling block are you allowing to potentially destroy you?