How to Deal with Temptation
Ken D. Trivette
Genesis 39:1-13
Many of you may remember a public service commercial that featured Iron Eyes Cody, a native American actor. In the commercial he was an Indian drifting alone in a canoe. As he saw the waters being polluted, a single tear rolled down his cheek.
Iron Eyes Cody told an Indian legend that appeared in Guideposts magazine. According to Indian legend, many years ago, Indian youths would go away in solitude to prepare for manhood. There was one such youth that hiked into a beautiful valley, green with trees, bright with flowers. There he fasted. On the third day he noticed a tall rugged peak, capped with snow. He said to himself, ''I will test myself against that mountain.'' He put on his buffalo-hide shirt, threw his blanket over his shoulders and set off to climb the peak.
When he reached the top he stood on the rim of the world. He could see forever, and his heart swelled with pride. Then he heard a rustle at his feet, and looking down, he saw a snake. The snake spoke to him and said, ''Its too cold for me up here and I am freezing. There is no food and I am starving. Put me under your shirt and take me down into the valley.'' The youth said, ''No, I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite, and your bite will kill me.'' ''No,'' said the snake. ''I will treat you differently. If you do this for me, you will be special and I will not harm you.'' The youth resisted for a while but the snake was very persuasive. At last the youth tucked him in his shirt and carried it down into the valley. There he laid it gently down on the grass, when suddenly the snake coiled, rattled, leapt, biting him on the leg.
The youth cried, ''But you promised.'' The snake replied, ''You knew what I was when you picked me up,'' and then slithered away.
1. In spite of the numerous warnings given in God's Word, the numerous examples that can be found, and the repeated stories that are told, ...
Ken D. Trivette
Genesis 39:1-13
Many of you may remember a public service commercial that featured Iron Eyes Cody, a native American actor. In the commercial he was an Indian drifting alone in a canoe. As he saw the waters being polluted, a single tear rolled down his cheek.
Iron Eyes Cody told an Indian legend that appeared in Guideposts magazine. According to Indian legend, many years ago, Indian youths would go away in solitude to prepare for manhood. There was one such youth that hiked into a beautiful valley, green with trees, bright with flowers. There he fasted. On the third day he noticed a tall rugged peak, capped with snow. He said to himself, ''I will test myself against that mountain.'' He put on his buffalo-hide shirt, threw his blanket over his shoulders and set off to climb the peak.
When he reached the top he stood on the rim of the world. He could see forever, and his heart swelled with pride. Then he heard a rustle at his feet, and looking down, he saw a snake. The snake spoke to him and said, ''Its too cold for me up here and I am freezing. There is no food and I am starving. Put me under your shirt and take me down into the valley.'' The youth said, ''No, I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite, and your bite will kill me.'' ''No,'' said the snake. ''I will treat you differently. If you do this for me, you will be special and I will not harm you.'' The youth resisted for a while but the snake was very persuasive. At last the youth tucked him in his shirt and carried it down into the valley. There he laid it gently down on the grass, when suddenly the snake coiled, rattled, leapt, biting him on the leg.
The youth cried, ''But you promised.'' The snake replied, ''You knew what I was when you picked me up,'' and then slithered away.
1. In spite of the numerous warnings given in God's Word, the numerous examples that can be found, and the repeated stories that are told, ...
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