STAND UP FOR JUSTICE. Sermon outline by Lieut-Colonel Joyce Theu (Malawi Territory)
Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking Bible reading: 1 Kings chapter 21
1. Stand up for justice to protect and rescue victims of human trafficking (vv 1-16) a. Victims of human trafficking often receive unfair or unjust treatment i. Naboth had a right to his piece of property, but King Ahab and his evil wife, Jezebel, violated this right. It was an honour and a sacred stewardship to inherit the land from ancestors and pass it on to the next generation. ii. Victims of human trafficking are brutalised, exposed to forced labour, prostitution and many other devastating experiences. We need to be proactive in rescuing these victims. b. Human traffickers have no respect for human dignity i. It would have been very unfortunate if Naboth had had to sell the precious land entrusted to him by his ancestors, except in a time of emergency. Even then it would have been leased and never sold completely. ii. It was just for his pleasure that Ahab took the piece of land near his house, but to Naboth and his family it meant valuable life. iii. Human traffickers find it easy to disregard those they traffic – someone who is a daughter, son, father, mother, aunt, uncle or friend – it devastates the world of those who care for the victims. c.
Human traffickers work in networks From those who first take the person, to transporters, to owners of facilities where the victims are sold, traffickers collaborate in this evil practice, as do those who make use of the resultant services or goods. ii. Many must have collaborated in the injustice done to Naboth – his wife, lying witnesses, deceived judges – not just Ahab. i.
d. Human traffickers are, and use, corrupt and dangerous people i. Jezebel lined up Naboth’s accusers – ‘sons of Belial’ (which means ‘worthless, wicked or destructive’ men). ii. By these wicked men a noble, innocent man was dragged out of the city to be stoned to death.
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Compare this to the stories found in Matthew chapter 26 and Acts 7:57 ‘At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.’ Stephen did not deserve all these injustices at the hands of evil people, but had to endure them because their hearts were evil. Often those who fall prey to human traffickers are innocent and vulnerable people who need our support.
2. Stand up for justice to declare and fulfil God’s mission (vv 17-19) a. Human trafficking needs everyone’s constant intervention i.
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Elijah thought that God was through with him and he felt he was no longer worthy after fleeing from Jezebel. But God continued with Elijah, giving him further mission opportunities. The Church, as the people of God, is given a mission to seek justice in this world. Though we may feel inadequate, we are challenged to stand up and speak out against the evil of human trafficking and continue to declare and fulfil God’s mission.
b. God is on our side as we confront human trafficking i.
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God's words of assurance to the prophet were to let him know that the Lord was in control of the situation. God knew where Ahab was and what he had been doing. Surely it brought comfort to him to know that God was in control. Considering the dangers involved we may be afraid to confront human trafficking, but we should take courage for we are not alone in the fight against this injustice. God is in control. God knows the traffickers and those who are trafficked. He also knows you and is aware of what you are facing in life. He knows all about your obstacles, trials, failures, hopes and dreams. He knows what you are facing as his servant (see Matthew 10:29-31 and Hebrews 4:13), and that should bring comfort to the children of God as they stand up for justice and for the victims of human trafficking.
Why we should stand up for justice for victims of human trafficking i.
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The reason God sent Elijah with this message was to hold Ahab and Jezebel accountable for their actions. They committed some horrifying acts, including bribing false witnesses, putting an innocent man to death, and taking that which belonged to the dead man. They perverted the Law of God. We should stand up against human trafficking by holding people to account for their actions. There must be justice for crimes committed and restitution made.
3. Stand up for justice by delivering God’s message (vv 20-26) a. Delivering God’s message on human trafficking is challenging i.
When Elijah received this new call, he wasted no time in setting out to do the bidding of the Lord. He went directly to Naboth's vineyard where he found Ahab enjoying his ill-gotten gains. When he arrived, he faithfully and forcefully delivers the message of God. We must declare without fear or compromise that human trafficking is evil. Ahab saw Elijah approaching and called him his enemy. It had been a long time since they had seen each other and there was no love lost between them. But, while Ahab looked on Elijah as his enemy, Elijah was, in fact, the best friend Ahab had! How was this so? Because Elijah tried his best to teach Ahab the proper way to live, repeatedly pointing him in the right direction. If Ahab wanted to find his real enemy he needed look no further than the woman he called his wife. She was the source of his trouble, not Elijah! The Word of God tells us that much of what Ahab did was because he listened to his wife (v 25), a vile and wicked woman. Whilst we must condemn sin, we must always offer the redemption that God provides.
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b. Human trafficking must be confronted i.
Elijah's response to Ahab was to confront the sin head-on. The man of God pulled no punches and let Ahab know that his sins had been exposed! This reminds me of when Nathan came to King David and said, ‘You are the man!’ (2 Samuel 12:7). I am sure that Ahab had already justified his treatment of Naboth, thinking, ‘I didn't have anything to do with it. I was in the palace minding my own business when Jezebel came and told me that Naboth was dead. If she had a hand in it that's just too bad, but it isn't my fault!’ Elijah's statement exposed the fact that Ahab was to blame for all that had taken place. Naboth died because:
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Ahab was greedy Ahab knew his wife would act for him Ahab turned a blind eye to Jezebel’s deceit Ahab had no regard for God’s instructions Ahab was controlled by his sinful nature. Human trafficking has many contributing factors, including corruption, greed, abuse of power and negligence, all behaviours that are contrary to Jesus’ teaching.
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Human trafficking must be condemned Elijah delivered the terms of God's judgement to Ahab. He told him, in no uncertain terms, just what would happen to him, his family and his kingdom because of his sins. Surely this wasn't a popular message, but it was the message of the Lord and it had to be delivered! Confronting those who seek to profit from human trafficking is unpopular with those who are defied, but they cannot be ignored and we cannot turn a blind eye.
4. Stand up for justice by dispensing God’s mercy (vv 27-29) a. Our aim should be to transform the minds and behaviour of traffickers. i. When Ahab heard the sentence that was handed down by Elijah, he knew that he had run out of chances and that he must repent or perish. So, even this wicked man did what he should have done many years before. He repented of his sins and walked in humility before the Lord. All those involved in human trafficking are not beyond the grace of God. If they repent they can receive mercy. ii. Because Ahab repented, God let Elijah know that he would show mercy to Ahab. There will be consequences, but Ahab was spared – grace in action! iii. ‘But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)’ (Ephesians 2:4-5 King James Version). God can forgive sins, but consequences still follow. b. Reformed human traffickers can influence others involved in trafficking Witnessing to a transformed life can educate others who then advocate against human trafficking. When Saul repented, as recorded in Acts chapter 9, as Paul he became a very effective advocate of the gospel message.
Conclusion All of us are called to stand for justice. In the Scripture we saw that the people who stood up for justice also stood for God. God intends justice for everyone. As God’s messengers we should stand for the justice that he requires. Let justice prevail wherever we preach the message of hope.