“As many as I may love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:19
Interfere Definition:
“to enter into or take a part in the concerns of others; to intrude in a way that hinders or impedes: come into collision or be in opposition”
A lot of us have negative associations with the word, “interference.”
It can come across to us like some harmful, disruptive meddling, that causes chaos.
Interference does not appear to have the word, “peace” attached to it.
Calamity. Confusion. Upheaval.
That seems to be more like it, right?
The Most High’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:11).
He is all-knowing, all-seeing, Sovereign and wise.
And, yeah, He has a way of getting things done HIS WAY.
“YHWH breaks apart the counsel of nations; He has disallowed the plans of the peoples. The counsel of YHWH stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation and to generation.”
Psalm 33:10-11
Therefore, His Interference is Holy and Powerful.
And it is beneficial to us, if we can only see it that way.
Long story short?
He “Interferes.” We DON’T.
But, come on, you and I know it’s not that clearcut for us, is it?
Interference is too tempting.
We think that we’re being helpful, noble, kind, and loving. When really?
We just want what we want when we want it.
Eh, not exactly so Holy, now, is it?
All like sheep have gone astray…
“We all like sheep have gone astray, we have turned, each man to his own way; and YHWH has placed on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:6
A few those “astray ways?”
Well, first…
We play dumb.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...”
Hosea 4:6
Come on. You know you have done it.
We feign ignorance. We try to convince others- and ourselves- that we don’t know what we know concerning a matter. This is a way to interfere, because we obstruct things from happening the way they should be happening.
We create obstacles and resistance.
We try our best, perhaps, to look innocent…
“Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.”
James 4:17
Translation?
We interfere.
Are you squirming yet?
“And YHWH said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel your brother?’ And He said, ‘I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?’” Genesis 4:9
We like to interfere.
But the tricky thing is that we are still responsible for our innocent act; we are responsible for playing it dumb.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy Elohim, I will also forget thy children.”
Hosea 4:6
The Next “Way” We Interfere, and Get in the Way?
We are Stubborn.
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! As did your fathers, also you do.”
Acts 7:51
If we are choosing to do wrong, go against The Most High’s will, and sin, we are resisting THE SPIRIT of The Most High.
No small thing there.
We each do it in big ways and in smaller ways.
I’m not going to dig up my rabbit hole’s worth of ways.
You know acutely what yours are.
Come on. You know you do.
Nevertheless, we interfere.
And it’s not helpful.
For anyone.
Being real here.
And next, here’s a sneaky-looking “way” we interfere…
We “love.”
You heard me.
But wait, aren’t we supposed to love? Isn’t love a good thing?
What about…
“A new commandment I give to you, that you should love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”
John 13:34
Well, yes, in ideal theory, sure.
AND we know there’s more to it than that, especially when it comes to our interfering selves…
We like to interfere, supposedly, in the name of “love.”
In fact, we can tend to get so excited and overly invested in the concept of “love,” that we are intoxicated by its new novelty.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you should love one another. As I have loved you, so you⁺ also should love one another.”
John 13:34
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth—do you⁺ not know it? Indeed I am making a way in the wilderness, streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:19
We plunge right into “loving one another,” when what we are really doing is just plain old interfering in something that is none of our business.
Ouch.
“And why do you call Me ‘Master, Master,’ and not do what I say?’”
Luke 6:46
Yep, this Scripture pertains even to our love-driven/interfering motives.
Luke 6:46 is a squirm-inducing question, even concerning such a noble, admirable issue of love.
It boils down to the stark question:
“Did I tell you to DO that?”
And, again, come on, you and I KNOW the answer TO that question!
His “Bigger Picture…”
“So is My word that goes forth from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty until it has done that which I delight, and it will prosper for that which I send it.”
Isaiah 55:11
It IS about HIS Bigger Picture, not even about ours.
He “Interferes.” We DON’T.
Tough Love.
Discipline.
Correction.
Healing.
These are just some examples of the bigger work The King of the Universe is purposing to do here.And He does NOT take that lightly.
“He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.”
Proverbs 26:17
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
Proverbs 14:12
The Bigger Picture Work at hand?
“Rejection Is Protection…”
“A prudent one sees evil coming; he hides himself; simple ones pass along, and they are punished.” Proverbs 27:12
Perhaps, you and I are to “stay out of it” because there’s harm and danger attached TO our interference.
Maybe someone is making some unhealthy and risky choices, choices that place both them and us in harm’s way if we get involved.
You know, enabling, codependency, “loving someone to death.”
Sound extreme?
Well, we don’t know the big, scarier, more life-and-death picture at hand.
HE DOES.
Therefore, let’s not have the angels put in overtime protecting souls from circumstances that Elohim, in His Sovereignty, has under His control.
Another “Bigger Picture?”
He is trying to teach and correct.
“And all discipline indeed for the present does not seem to be of joy, but of grief; but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those having been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11
Not everything needs to be “life-and-death” for it to be important. Sometimes, it’s a teachable moment. Class needs to be in session.
Without our meddling ways.
And that usually involves unpleasant, less-than-fun experiences that need to occur. For others. For you and I.
Teachable moments are about changing behaviors, choices, and heart postures.
Nothing like deep end of the pool, huh?
If we interfere with that, we can be delaying true progress: theirs and ours.
Sometimes, the only way we human creatures can learn is “the hard way.”
I have learned, through that approach, too many times.
How about you?
Another “Bigger Picture?”
He is trying to restore and redeem, despite us endeavoring to muck it up…
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14
What IF someone was closer to major change in their life? Getting healthier? Sober? Getting out of a toxic relationship? And, of course, Accepting The Salvation work of Our Savior?
What if they were SOOOOO close, and then, we pop up on the scene?
It’s one thing if we just bail someone out by, for instance, paying their rent or overdue bills.
It’s another thing altogether when eternity (Which IS a bit of a long time) comes into play.
A soul- being lost or saved.
Again, no small thing there.
We don’t know the state of anyone’s hearts and souls. We don’t know how gradually, how dangerously someone, including ourselves, can be led down a destructive primrose path.
What’s the famous expression?
“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”
Yeah.
Now, things are of a Biblically important nature, aren’t they?
So, is it hopeless? What can we do?
I know it’s overwhelming, confusing, and filled with heart-pulling issues.
But we can start by praying.
Let’s pray.
Abba,
I come to You, through Our Shepherd.
Your only begotten Son, Our Savior, יֵשׁוּעַ.
You know what’s happening in my life, my relationships, my work, and in me directly.
You know how, most of the time, I have resisted You and have interfered with Your Will.
Whatever help, healing, and resolution You have intended, therefore, was not made better by my interference.
Forgive me.
It’s sin and arrogant pride against You.
You know my heart, its motives and reasons.
You know why I “just can’t help myself.”
Help me to abide by Your Will, Your Way of doing things.
Help me to trust what You are doing, to “stay out of it” when You don’t want me involved in a situation.
Give me wisdom to make choices that support how You are Sovereign, in full control of every life, including mine.
Help me to align with Your Will, not go against it.
