“Bugging The Authorities”
An arraignment hearing was underway in Albany, New York this past Tuesday for four individuals arrested earlier at the state Capitol. People apparently sympathetic to the defendants must not have been pleased with how things were proceeding. Their actions succeeded in stalling the hearing, and having the courtroom cleared.
How did they disrupt the court’s actions? By releasing hundreds of cockroaches that had been brought into the courtroom in plastic containers. Cockroaches are universally despised and are known to be unclean and unhealthy. Thus, the courthouse was closed for the remainder of the day so it could be fumigated.
A 34-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the “bugging”. Of her actions the court said, “it is criminal behavior with the intent to disrupt a proceeding and cause damage.” Disruption was clearly the outcome of her actions (and possibly others who may have been involved).
God’s people had spent more than 400 years in Egypt. When they arrived, they were the honored guests of Pharaoh due to the God-given wisdom and leadership provided by Joseph. Now, however, they were slaves who were severely oppressed. God ordered Moses to go to Pharaoh, supreme commander of Egypt, with a simple message: “Let My people go” (Exodus 5:1).
Pharaoh had no interest in doing as Moses said, and added, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2). God then proceeded to educate the arrogant Pharaoh about the real power of the universe. He disrupted the course of affairs for Egypt, and three of the ten plagues sent upon the land involved bugs: lice (the third plague, Exodus 8:16-19), flies (the fourth plague, Exodus 8:20-32), and locusts (the eighth plague, Exodus 10:1-20).
Egypt was a culture built on polytheism, i.e. the worship of many “gods”. It has been noted by scholars that each of the ten plagues on Egypt was directed at one of these gods, to show that they were powerless before the true God of heaven and earth. Numbers 33:4 states the point: “… Also on their gods the Lord had executed judgments.” By the time Israel crossed the Red Sea into freedom, Egypt knew that the God of Israel was the true authority.
Sometimes our lives need to be disrupted, especially if our focus is on things that are evil or don’t matter. In our pursuit of riches, fame, or power, we may forget the highest responsibility of people: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Why is it important to do these things? “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
Cockroaches should never be released in a courtroom, or any other place for that matter. But when we feel our lives have been bugged, maybe it’s a way to redirect our focus to where it needs to be. Such “bugs” may help us obey the admonition of Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2022, Timothy D. Hall.