Audacious

Audacious: showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks; showing an impudent lack of respect

 

“And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go‘” (Exodus 5:2).

 

Hey dear reader, what is your definition of audacious?  Do you display audacity? 

 

Character traits

I like this word very much, because I can relate to it; it is one of my character traits. I have a tendency to say and do things and get away with them, that the average afraid to stand out in a crowd person would never dream or dare say and do, especially if it means drawing eyes in their direction, with eyebrows raised that say, how very dare you? I dare, not because I can, but because sometimes I simply must.

Status quo compliance

Being audacious lands me in some interesting territories or perhaps, better yet, camps. Using the definition of audacious above, I can be seen as surprisingly bold (and admirable) in my risk taking and alternatively, as impudent with a lack of respect for others; when I do not comply with status quo standards established by an invisible politeness committee that I have yet to be introduced to. In other words dear reader, while I may be seen as rash and impolite, I can never be accused of being unethical. I have a standard that I apply to life based on biblical principles, and when these are violated, when someone, anyone, acts like a Pharaoh, a ruler over my life without Gods nod of approval, I do not stand down. 

 

Clarity on impudence

 “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice…” when I read scripture this morning, I had to chuckle at Pharaohs audacity. He thought he had the power of control and command, the ability to override God Almighty. Silly fellow, his tricks were for kids. While he thought he was entitled to continue to enslave and force labour on Gods Hebrews, and was asked politely to let them go and worship and sacrifice to their God, he determined that he had the right to deny the request! Now that, that dear one, is a display of impudent lack of respect for the living God. 

 

Funny thing with Pharaohs

 “I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go” The funny thing is, with Pharaohs and their grandiose ideas, they are always the last ones to know, to see, despite many warnings, that God is not to be trifled with, and that there is always a comeuppance for impudent arrogance. 

 

“And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, ‘Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me; and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn” (Exodus 4:22-23). 

 

Pharaoh was absolutely positively irrefutably correct when he stated I know not the LORD; his audacity kicked in in a most unbecoming way, when he declared neither will I let Israel go. The God of the Hebrews, the Israelites, declares himself Jehovah, and as I stated above, he is not to be trifled with. 

Fraudulently created kings

Not much has changed dear reader. We still have impudent self-aggrandized fraudulently created kings, rulers, pretend Pharaohs, that refuse to obey the LORD. They feel entitled to control and command others without regard for the inherent freedom each of us are born with, something called free will: and they know not the King of kings, LORD of lords. While they may temporarily, seemingly, get away with their shenanigans, it won’t be long before punishment befalls them. As Pharaoh learned, when he disallowed Gods rulings, the price he paid was his kingdom, and the son that was to take his place for posterity: his blood line ended needlessly, because he behaved heedlessly. 

 

Audacious or reverent

Am I truly audacious? This is the question I am left with: maybe, or perhaps I have reverence, a confidence in things unseen, a trust in a mighty God that is able to save. 

 

Do you know the LORD

What about you dear one? Do you know the LORD? Do you hear and obey his voice? Are you willing to take surprisingly bold risks that may to all the world, appear to be impudent lack of respect for those that impose their will upon you in a most audaciously ungodly way?! 

 

Tip toeing 

We are, forever and always, at choice. We determine who we obey and why, and without this God given gift of autonomy, we become automatons, cogs in someone else’s machine, tip toeing through someone else’s tulips. I just don’t want to be safe and careful dear reader; I want to be alive. 

 

How about you?