And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, “You have cursed God and the king.” Then take him out and stone him to death. 1 Kings 21:10
Occasionally, a patient will plop down a bottle of pain pills – my drug of choice – asking me what they should do to get rid of them. I’ve got to admit that every time that has happened, the thought has involuntarily popped into my head that I could manipulate the situation, claiming to destroy them, but using them instead. That’s what I once would have done, and those old thoughts are somehow right there, even after years of not doing it. I suspect that the thought will always be there, but recovery means learning to not listen to those voices of manipulation.
Manipulation isn’t just about drugs though. Whenever I see something I want, my brain just naturally begins thinking about how to get it. Particularly if it’s something that I know I’m not supposed to have – even if it’s as simple as a fast-food restaurant meal when I’m supposed to be eating healthy – I begin to think about how I could obtain it and get rid of the evidence before I get home. How can I get what I want and get away with it?
Today’s passage is about the evil of manipulation. In the story, King Ahab coveted a vineyard owned by a man named Naboth. Naboth refused to sell it and Ahab went home dejected. Ahab’s wife Jezebel, indignant for her husband, schemed to get two scoundrels to accuse Naboth of cursing God and King. In the end, the innocent Naboth was stoned to death and Ahab took possession of his vineyard. Ahab wanted something and his wife manipulated Jewish law to get rid of Naboth so Ahab could get his way. It’s a terrible story of abuse of power and injustice, revealing what happens when a manipulator gets his (or her) way.
Like I said, this isn’t just about drugs for me. When I see something unhealthy that I desire, it’s natural for me to begin to scheme about how to get it and get away with it. That which is natural for me though, is often profoundly unhealthy. So, in recovery, I must learn to go to God, not asking how I could obtain what I want, but whether I should obtain it. Then, upon recognizing that it’s unhealthy for me, I must abandon the pursuit, refusing to participate in the evil of my manipulation.