My favorite villain on the Dark Knight Rises is the former scarecrow psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Crane who serves as the judge. The police commissioner Gordon when Crane gives him the option of death or exile, Gordon, says, “We are not going out and walking on that ice, we choose death” Commissioner Gordon chooses death, but Cane still condemns him to walk on the ice anyway (exile). It’s a “no win situation.” I have had several no-win situations in my life.
Joseph in the Bible had a no-win situation when his step-brothers were jealous and wanted to kill him. Judah talked his brothers into selling him into slavery. Later, Joseph brothers had to come to Egypt to buy grain during famine, and Joseph was second in command to Pharaoh and he recognized his brothers. He could have gotten even with his brothers after all those years, but he chose to test his brother’s hearts and forgive them.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 5:20
It looked like a no-win situation for Saul and the Israelite army to fight over a 9’ tall giant until David came along with his sling shot.
What I like about the villain Bane on the recent Batman movie is the same with the evil Darth Vader on Star Wars is not to make serving evil glamorous. They ruthlessly killed. Just like the recent massacre at the movie theater there is no personal vendetta, but ruthless killing. Sometimes movies like Bonnie and Clyde or even with the Catwoman on Batman will make serving a life of crime or killing glamorous. The Bible warns that the police do not carry the sword in vain and how people will call evil good and good evil.
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:11 (Psalm 34:14)
There is nothing glamorous about serving time in prison.
For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 1 Peter 2:14
The four Hebrew children had a no-win situation. They refused to bow down and worship the golden image and they were thrown in a fiery furnace. They made the statement that “God can deliver us, but even if he does not deliver us, we will not worship your golden image.” When they were thrown in the fire, even the people who threw them in the fire were burnt up, but the only thing that burnt on them was the ropes that tied their hands. It said that their hair was not singed and there was no smell of smoke on them.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.
Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual.” and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Daniel 3:17-27
For Daniel, an ordinance was passed that you could not pray except to the king. We already see ordinances passed concerning prayer in school or the ten commandments have been taken out of public locations, the nativity scenes are also gone in many public city squares. But this was even at home prayer was banned, and Daniel refused to follow man’s rule above God. He left his window opened and prayed three times a day and he was thrown inside a lion’s den. An angel shut the mouth of the lions. Later, the people and their families that persecuted Daniel were thrown in that lion’s den. The malice of Daniel's enemies. (1-5) His constancy in prayer. (6-10) He is cast into the lion's den. (11-17) His miraculous preservation. (18-24) The decree of Darius. (25-28)..Daniel 6
We had a situation at work where a certain person was trying to dissolve the school I work for, and break it up into pieces to other schools/departments like he did a school at his former university. When I prayed about it, the Lord told me, “I will shut his mouth, like I shut the lion’s mouth for Daniel.” He has now left his executive position at our university, and went to another state and university and his plan to dissolve our school was mute. David talked about people opening their mouths like lions.
Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey. Psalm 22:13 (Lamentations 2:16, 3:46)
Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. Psalm 22:21
He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. Psalm 10:9
Another no-win situation was Job who lost all his children, his health and belongings and his wife was angry and his friends said that he must have sinned, but he said, “God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him. Job 13:15
Job persevered under trial. It said he received twice as much. I’m not sure how you can replace the loss of children, but it talks about God’s compassion and mercy in the long run.
After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10
As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. James 5:11
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13
It’s being between a rock and hard place, i.e In difficulty, faced with a choice between two unsatisfactory options.
Think about it a different terminology as far as just who is the rock?
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:17-18
The revelation of who Jesus was---that is the rock. Who do we serve? The “I am that I am” Exodus 3:14
He is the Alpha and Omega: (Revelation 1:8, 22:13, 1:11, 21:6) ]
Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever: (Hebrews 13:8)
Let’s just do a little “check” right now since I am “union with God through Christ.” (1 John 4:15-16, 3:24, 2:5, 5:20, Rom 6:23; Col 1:2, 1 Cor. 1:30).
I am a branch in the vine. (John 15:7, 15:4)
We really need to get our lives in perspective at times not on who we are, but who we are in union with!
Like David said, “by my God I can run through a troop and leap over a wall,” or Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
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