Christian Living

Flitting Forth and Back

by Terry Barlow
01/02/14
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When satan appears before God at the begining of the book of Job he doesn't seem to be recognized, as one scholar noted, by the other angels, but God (who initiates and defines discernment by dividing day from night) of course recognizes him instantly and asks where he came from. "From flitting forth and back through the earth" is one rendering of satan's answer. It strikes me that it's animals like birds that are meant to flit not humans or even angels. Animals also are meant to scurry or creep but not humans who are to focus and establish themselves, and exercise dominion over the rest of creation.   Humans weren't designed to always hurry about this world. We're human "beings" not human "doings" as my wife likes to remind me. Maybe that's part of why people are often vilified deservedly or not as "creeps" or "creepy." It's seems like another way of calling them beasts or beast-like. Also it's "forth and back" in the original instead of "back and forth" putting an emphasis on regressing instead of progressing. It's like taking 2 steps forward and 3 back, slow and gradual retreat, instead of 3 steps forward and 2 back, slow and gradual advancement. At least rats on a treadwheel remain where they are instead of going backward, but then again remaining where we are is going backward. I can't fault the work ethic or determination of all those on treadmills in gyms and spas across the nation, but imagine all that energy (some narcissistically driven) poured into a worthy humanitarian result that was visible outside themselves like some volunteer project helping the disadvantaged!