Two Wrongs Never Make A Right!
Exodus 2: 11-14
As a boy growing up, my Grandaddy instilled many principles in my life.
One of those sayings was, "Two wrongs don't make a right."
There are times in our lives when we learn important lessons about life the hard way…
This Scripture reference does not tell us how Moses knew about his Hebrew background.
The text simply says that " he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors."
(Exodus 2: 11)
Miriam may have been able to maintain close contact with Moses, since she assisted
the Egyptian maiden in bringing him into Pharaoh's house.
In secret sessions at certain intervals, Miriam may have instructed Moses in his Hebrew heritage.
It is also possible that the Egyptians reared Moses by making it clear to him that he was an adopted son.
Influenced by his Hebrew heritage, he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave.
He buried the body, but soon discovered that the Hebrews and the Egyptians were aware of his deed.
In fear he fled Egypt and escaped into the desert.
He had to learn some truths the hard way.
He had to learn that two wrongs never make a right.
When Moses discovered an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, he struck out in anger and killed the Egyptian.
Murder was not the answer to acts of cruelty, and God's future prophet learned the hard way
that two wrongs never make a right.
Jesus taught this simple truth.
In Luke 9: 51-56, the Samaritans would have nothing to do with Jesus
" because his face was set toward Jerusalem." (Verse 51)
James and John were indignant at the attitude of the Samaritans and suggested to Jesus that
they should pray for fire to fall from heaven upon the Samaritans.
If we had been there, we probably would have made the same suggestion.
The Word of God states that Jesus " turned and rebuked them." (Luke 9: 55)
When Jesus was arrested, Peter was disturbed to the point of cutting off the ear of a slave of the high priest.
Jesus quickly responded by healing the slashed ear and said, " Stop! No more of this." (Luke 22:51)
Jesus taught His disciples, in word and deed, that two wrongs never make a right.
The Apostle Paul wrote about how to react when confronting evil:
" Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God,
for it is written, "… I will repay, says the Lord.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12: 17, 19, 21)
These wise words remind us that if we answer a wrong with a wrong, we are simply allowing evil
to become a part of our lives.
In the end, the evil we sought to destroy will destroy us.
Years ago, I read about a father who took vengeance into his own hands.
His oldest daughter rebelled and started associating with young people who were involved
in drugs and sexual promiscuity.
Late one night, the police called to inform the father that his daughter had been found dead
from an overdose of drugs.
In a state of rage, the father loaded his rifle and drove to the house where his daughter had been living.
Finding her " friends" at the house, he shot them all.
Many fathers might have been tempted to do the same; however, two wrongs never make a right.
When I was living in Tennessee, a nine-year-old Marcia Trimble was kidnapped and brutally murdered.
A reporter once asked Mrs. Trimble, " If you could face the kidnapper, what would you say?"
She hesitated, and then said, " I would tell him that God loves him."
Mrs. Trimble is a Christian who, with God's help, has refused to allow evil to destroy her spirit.
She knew that two wrongs never make a right.
In 1970, Diane Bristol of San Diego, California was raped and murdered.
Out of the hurt and pain of that tragedy, Diane's mother, Mrs. Goldie Mae Bristol, turned to God
and became a Christian.
Later, Mrs. Bristol spoke to a group of prisoners, saying that she had found the strength
not only to forgive but also to love the young man responsible for her daughter's death.
She was aware that her daughter's murderer was among the prisoners to which she was speaking.
At the conclusion of her talk, Michael Dennis Keeyes, the convicted killer of Mrs. Bristol's daughter,
rose from his chair and walk forward to identify himself.
His voice breaking, he tried to express his gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Bristol.
Later that day, Michael Keeyes and the Bristols met in private.
Im trying to explain her attitude to the press, Mrs. Bristols said,
" I can't explain it. I know others can't understand. Maybe it is best that way."
With God's help the Bristols had overcome evil with good, and they answered a wrong with a right.
When I was growing up, " Amos and Andy" was one of my favorite TV programs.
It was one of the great TV comedies of all time.
In one episode, Andy had grown tired of the abuse he was receiving from Kingfish.
Kingfish would tell a joke, and then slap Andy extremely hard across the chest.
Speaking to Amos, Andy said, " I'm ready for the Kingfish."
Throwing open his coat, he revealed several sticks of dynamite tied to his chest.
He said, " The next time the Kingfish hits me, he is gonna get his hand blown off."
However, Andy was forgetting that such an act would also blow a hole in his chest.
Like Moses, he was on the verge of learning that two wrongs never make a right.
One night in 1958, a Korean student at the University of Pennsylvania was brutally murdered
by a gang of teenagers.
The citizens of Philadelphia cried for vengeance and demanded the death penalty.
As the trial got underway, the district attorney received a letter from the parents and relatives
of the murdered Korean student.
The letter stated:
" Our family has met together and we have decided to petition that the most generous
treatment possible within the laws of your government be given to those who have committed
this criminal act.
We have decided to save money to start a fund to be used for the religious, educational,
vocational, and social guidance of the boys when they are released.
We have dared to express our hope with the spirit received from the gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who died for our sins."
The Bible does say, " Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
(Romans 12: 21)
Moses learned that a hole in the ground will not cover sin.
After killing the Egyptian, Moses attempted to hide his deed so he dug a deep hole
and buried the dead man.
Fearing detection and possible punishment, he assumed that burying the body
would conceal the murder.
However, his tragic deed was known, and he discovered the hard way that a hole in the ground
cannot cover sin.
This act of Moses causes us to ask a simple question: how shall we cover our sins?
Luke 18: 9-14 tells of the Pharisee who denied his own sinfulness.
The Pharisee was heard to say, " God, I thank thee that I am not like other people: swindlers,
unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer." (Luke 18:11)
This attempt to cover sin was futile.
Jesus contended that a man who prayed in that manner was living an illusion.
The apostle John put it best when he said, " If we say that we have no sin,
we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1: 8)
To deny our sinfulness is to guarantee that we will have a permanent seat in hell.
When confronted by God in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve attempted to deal with sin
by blaming others.
Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the snake.
They discovered that God would not allow them to " pass the buck."
They could not cover their sin by blaming others.
The Bible tells us how our sins can be covered.
The apostle John wrote: " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."
(1 John 1: 9)
Our sins can only be covered by the blood of Christ.
When we come to Christ, confessing our sinfulness, His death on the cross becomes
our mercy seat where our sins are covered by His blood. (1 John 2: 2)
Seaborn McKelva Cole, who preached a media delay after the Civil War, was one of the
great Baptist preachers of northeast Mississippi.
Before the war Seaborn was known for his riotous living and heavy drinking.
His conversion occurred at the Battle of Gettysburg.
As a member of Co. K of the 42nd Mississippi Regiment, he participated in Pickett's charge
on the last day of the great battle.
By that time, the battle had turned against the Confederates, and rebel troops were fleeing for their lives.
Running as fast as his legs would carry him, Seaborn attempted to escape the enemies' fire.
When he was about halfway down the hill, he was struck in the eye.
As he fell to his knees, he felt blood covering his face.
He looked to heaven and cried, " Lord, I'm a sinner. Please forgive me."
He then got up and struggled down the hill.
Again, he was struck by a minie ball; the shock threw him to the ground.
This time he looked to heaven and said, " Lord, if you will get me off this hill,
I will not only get saved, I'll be a preacher."
God spared Seaborn's life, and he was one of the few survivors of Pickett's Charge.
Because of sins, mistakes, and errors in judgment, we, too, are often forced to learn the hard way.
If this has been your experience, don't be discouraged.
Remember that God loves you and can use any learning experience to make your life rich
and more useful in His service.
So, confess your mistakes and sins, and seek God's will for your life.
Sermon adapted by Dr. Harold L White
