Conflict In The Bible

Conflict is inevitable. Despite how many can create conflict, very few can properly resolve it. The Bible provides a plethora of examples of conflict from which we can learn applicable truths to become peacemakers. The following Biblical examples provide instances of conflict that was handled properly, and that which was not.
Conflict 1—Cessation of Proximity (Genesis 3)
Genesis 3 records the first human conflict ever recorded: the conflict between Man and G-d. G-d had previously instructed Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but they did not obey Him and gave into the temptation from Satan. Adam and Eve, committing the first sin, began the first and most influential conflict, initiating six thousand years …show more content…
Because there are more persons involved and people view the group as a shelter, people in a group are more likely to take a risk. Risky shift describes the tendency of people to go one way or the other, or to do something that they otherwise would not do, except with the pressure of a group. The results of risky shift can often be disastrous. We find a good example of risky shift in the account of Joseph and his brothers.
Joseph was his father’s favorite son. Naturally, his brothers hated him for this. But to make matters worse, he began having dreams that he would rule over his brothers. When he told these dreams to his brothers, they hated him even more. One day, his father, Jacob, told Joseph to go check on his brothers where they were pasturing the flock. However, when the brothers saw him coming, they felt that they could stop his dreams from coming true. In the brothers’ conversation, we see risky shift as they plot to kill Joseph. The shift turns around when two brothers, Reuben and Judah, influence the other brothers. Reuben persuades the brothers not to kill him, but instead to throw him into a pit. He hoped to keep them from killing Joseph, so he could release him later. Since Reuben wanted to “rid him out of their hands” (Genesis 37:22), there was obviously a strong sense of risky shift, and he was not able to just stop them. However, …show more content…
The crowd then switched to polarization. They were no longer acting sensibly, but had transformed into an irrational mob. They could not even offer a reason for Him to be crucified (Matthew 27:22), but just screamed, “Let Him be crucified.”
The strength of the crowd is demonstrated in Pilate’s response: “Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made” (Mathew 27:24). The crowd had become a uncontrollable. They did not even understand the power of their response to Pilate when they said, “His blood be on us, and on our children” (Matthew 27:25). However, instead of confronting the crowd, Pilate gave in to it. Thus, Yeshua was crucified and Barabbas released. Even though the crowd prevailed, this was G-d’s will, in order that all men would be saved through Yeshua’s death. Thankfully, He rose again.
What can we learn from the example of polarization found in this account? The people submitted to the persuasion by the chief priests and elders, and then were motivated by each other. We must be careful to not be easily swayed by the crowd. We should focus on what G-d wants, not what we think or the pressure that is put on

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