Living in a house with four daughters was probably more fun for me than my husband because it allowed me to pass down my love for playing with Barbie, Ken, and their entire entourage. Keep in mind, you must have the friends and neighbors too! When I was I girl, I used to make their house and other buildings out of large empty cardboard boxes and use washcloths for their blankets or carpets and any type of small items from around our house or from outdoors to decorate with. It was always a fun time that occupied me for hours. My mother was a crafter, painter, and seamstress; therefore, I would often score items from her as well! Once my girls came along, they did like Barbies, and were showered with multiple dolls with the outfits, shoes, household items, horses, cars, you name it, however, there were various other things to distract them, such as videos, and other more elaborate or electronic toys. Because of this, the small, miniscule items were not as well packed away as I had done back in the day, but often found their way all over the house. These in turn became weapons in the dark. You have never lived until you wake up in the night to a crying child, trying to make your way to their room in the dark, only to step on multiple objects, namely Barbie toys on the way. You cringe and grit your teeth involuntarily, and it really is enough to make you want to, well you know, say not pleasant things at that moment. Whenever my husband or I trip over our dog’s squeaky ball now, we always have a good laugh and say, “At least it’s not a Barbie toy!”
The words ‘stumbling block’ in the dictionary, is stated to be, “a circumstance that causes difficulty or hesitation, or an obstacle to progress, or an impediment to belief or understanding.” Synonyms provided are obstacle · hurdle · barrier · bar · hindrance · impediment · handicap · disadvantage · restriction · limitation · snag · hitch · catch · drawback · difficulty · problem · issue · weakness · defect · pitfall · complication. This is what people all over the United States are seeing these monuments of historic figures as, hinderances, obstacles or a barrier to the rhetoric they are wanting to proclaim, versus what has already taken place. However, herein lies the problem, they have not educated themselves. Just as those who lived in the past have made their mark whether by exemplary actions or despicable, they too can make their own mark and leave their historic footprint on the world as well, without trying to change history, which in fact, the definition of the word denotes it is an impossible feat. The scriptures use the word stumbling block in both a literal and a figurative sense, and in all three contexts that the dictionary definition provided.
Firstly, regarding a stumbling block in the literal sense, let us look at the meaning ‘an obstacle of progress.’ Who of us have never physically stumbled over something as small as a pebble or Barbie toy or as large as a piece of furniture? You may think this a simple concept, however, this is a grave issue to the Lord. We all may have had our clumsy days where we just feel like we have two left feet and are falling over everything. There could be multiple reasons we do this, however, once we find out what the problem is, we can correct it. We could be trying to get to a child in the dark, as aforementioned. Of course, the remedy there is to turn on the light so we can see our way more clearly. It could be a mental issue, such as our ‘head is in the clouds’ as they say, because we are preoccupied worrying about something. It could be a physical problem. We may not have gotten enough sleep the night before and we are exhausted which could make us less aware, or we may have the condition called Vertigo, which causes dizziness. There can be various causes for this, however, most often, it can be cured with a little assistance from our family doctor. It could be a spiritual or an emotional issue that is causing us to be distracted, such as grieving because of a loss, or homesickness for a loved one that we have not seen for a while, or anger, guilt, or depression. These conditions are endless, but we can take steps to remedy them.
In Leviticus 19 as well as the entire book of Leviticus, God is giving Moses lists of things that the children of Israel, His chosen people, should and should not do to add to their quality of life. These are all grave and incredibly important in the sight of God or He would not have bothered saying them and repeating them on more than one occasion. Leviticus 19:14 says, “Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the Lord. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear and let him be your dread.” Deuteronomy 27:18 says, “Cursed be he that makes the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.” These verses show the very nature of God. He has compassion to those who cannot defend or do things for themselves, but He despises the willfully ignorant who are indeed able bodied. Acts 17:29-31 tells us, “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” We no longer serve idols, we now know that God is a spirit, and that Christ Jesus has come to redeem us, therefore, we cannot say we are ignorant and act in such a manner as to cause the blind to stumble intentionally and think it is a joke. This displeases the Lord, and we will be judged accordingly.
Secondly, regarding a stumbling block in the figurative sense, let us look at the meaning, ‘a circumstance that causes difficulty or hesitation.’ The scriptures have much to say about putting stumbling blocks in the way of the spiritually blind and deaf, or those of less or weaker understanding or maturity in the Lord. Remember, compassion to those less fortunate, is the very nature of God. He takes this very seriously. If we think we are mature in the Lord and with great understanding, then our responsibility is also great toward our fellowman and fellow believers to not put hinderances, difficulties or hurdles in their way. Though we may have revelation, not all do. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 says, “Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies. And if any man think that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man loves God, the same is known of him. As concerning therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commends us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. For if any man sees thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, lest I make my brother to offend.”
Romans 14:1-15 states, “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eats herbs. Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him which eats not judge him that eats: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judges another man’s servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regards the day, regards it unto the Lord; and he that regards not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eats, eats to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So, then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteems anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now you are not walking charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.”
Here again, God does not want us to act ignorantly when we are claiming to be the stronger brother lest Satan would get the upper hand in our lives and cause us also to stumble. 2 Corinthians 2:9-11 states,” For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Thirdly, regarding a stumbling block in the literal and figurative sense, let us look at the meaning, ‘an impediment to belief or understanding.’ God was not pleased with Israel turning to idols, both physical and spiritual ones. It was an insult to His omniscience. As if He could not know their thoughts and intents of their hearts. Ezekiel 14:1-9 tells us, “Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me and sat before me. And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore, speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore, say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourns in Israel, which separates himself from me, and sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself: And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.” We should never try to play pretend when it comes to church and our salvation. They did not get away with it in the Old Testament, and neither will we who are under the New Covenant.
Isaiah 8:14-16 prophesied of the Messiah who came in the form of a literal man, to reveal Himself to the world and thereby casting down all idols, to redeem us finally. Isaiah states, “And he shall be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” He became a stumbling block to them because they were not looking for Him and were not prepared. They lacked understanding and were ignorant of the fact that the Kingdom of God was not going to be a physical one, but a spiritual one and they became offended. However, this opened the door for the Gentiles to receive redemption also. Romans 9:30-33 says, “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” In Romans 11, Paul continues and tells us that God has allowed them to stumble and their eyes to be blinded because they had rejected the Messiah, but we see the difference between them and those who believe, in 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 which says, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God…For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”
Once we have knowledge and are no longer ignorant or in the dark, and become obedient to the cross, 1 Peter 2:1-9 tells us how we can move forward by removing barriers, obstacles and hinderances from our lives. “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
Tertullian (155 A.D. – 220 A.D.) a Christian theologian, left us thirty-one treatises, all written in Latin. In Volume 3 of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, he has this to say about Jesus the Christ, regarding the subject. “The apostle Paul was not the preacher of a NEW God. The God who is in (the Man Jesus) is the Creator. This is that ‘stumbling-block’ to the Jews. It seems to me that the princes and powers (of the air) did knowingly crucify the God of glory IN that Man Jesus. Paul said of the Jews, however, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8).” Because we have been given vast knowledge and revelation, we should act accordingly. Peter stated in his second book that they were willfully ignorant. Ignorance was not bliss, for the Jews when the Messiah came the first time. They were not looking for him, nor were they prepared. Ignorance will not help us when he comes again either. We must not let Satan plant doubt and confusion in our minds that will become stumbling blocks to us and hinder our walk with God. Matthew 26:41 states, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 1 Peter 4:7 tells us, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer.” We do not have time to be distracted, His coming is imminent.
As was the case with the Jews, the same holds true for us. If you have received the revelation of truth and it becomes a stumbling block to you, it cannot be changed to suit one’s fancy. Hebrews 10:26 says, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins.” You will have to go back to the cross because there is no other way. God told the Jews for thousands of years that a redeemer, the Messiah, would come, and then He fulfilled that promise. Upon His arrival, they allowed it to become a stumbling block because of their preconceived ideas of trying to pigeon hole this miracle, by viewing it through the lens of the Old Testament law and did not receive Him through faith as the Gentiles did. We tend to do the same. We must remove the barriers from our minds of preconceived notions and read the Word of Truth at face value. 2 Timothy 2:15 states, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
We must take personal responsibility for our own words and actions towards and in the presence of others, which becomes part of our own salvation. Philippians 2:12 tells us, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” We must examine what we are going to do and say in our hearts and minds before we act upon them, even if they are harmless and acceptable to us, they could be a stumbling block to someone else. No man lives or dies unto himself, we are our ‘brother and sister’s keeper.’ Do not be the cause of someone cringing, gritting their teeth involuntarily, or wanting to say something, not so nice. Do not become someone’s Barbie toy!