# I need examples from the Bible **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370 "2012-09-01T15:32:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/1 "2012-09-01T15:32:28Z")
… Of God stopping people from doing things, especially when they thought they were doing the right thing. I already know about all the Thou Shalt Nots in the 10 Commandments, and the story about stopping Abraham from sacrificing his son. Can you suggest any others? I’m looking for support for the concept of being a slacker in the Bible. On a related note, I’m looking for Biblical examples of approval for taking short cuts, or choosing the easy path over the difficult one. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/2 "2012-09-01T16:07:19Z")
Balaam’s ass. Balaam tries to… What was it again? Get out of there or something? On a donkey, anyways. God sends an angel to stop him. It’s in Numbers 22. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/3 "2012-09-01T16:09:23Z")
Remember that God TOLD Abraham to sacrifice his son. Then told him to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/4 "2012-09-01T16:13:11Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Remember that God TOLD Abraham to sacrifice his son. Then told him to stop. Thanks, I knew that God was fucking with Abraham. That actually makes it a better example for me. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/5 "2012-09-01T16:20:55Z")
Not from the Bible (I know, I know) but I just can’t help myself from mentioning that awesome moment in the Iliad when Athena stops Achilles from killing Agamemnon – _by pulling Achilles’ hair_. The Greeks I tell ya, they sure knew how to tell a story. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/6 "2012-09-01T17:58:56Z")
God hardened Pharoh’s heart, preventing him from setting the Jews free in Egypt. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/7 "2012-09-01T18:29:48Z")
Is the story of Mary and Martha something like what you’re looking for? [QUOTE=Luke 10:38-42] As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/8 "2012-09-01T18:32:38Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’m looking for support for the concept of being a slacker in the Bible. I’d say pretty much the whole book defines God as being a slacker. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/9 "2012-09-01T18:40:22Z")
Paul on the road to Damascus. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/10 "2012-09-01T20:45:03Z")
Can you give any context about why you’re looking for these? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/11 "2012-09-01T21:13:16Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > Can you give any context about why you’re looking for these? The context is – God is good with slacking and slackers. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/12 "2012-09-01T21:41:46Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The context is – God is good with slacking and slackers. He’s not, though. Not always, anyways. Like that one time God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and kick some ass. Jonah, slacker that he is, does that thing where you go “babe? can’t hear you babe you’re breaking up, reception’s shit around here, look I’ll just call you when I get back mmmmmkay love you babe bye”. God gets, like, super-pissed – sends storm, giant fish, etc. There’s also that one time Elijah’s out looking for some bright new kid to take up his mantle (hehe), i.e. succeed him as God’s prophet. Who gets the job? No slacker, no sirree – but instead, a random dude who just so happens to be plowing a field nearby, presumably shirtless and sweating like crazy and shit. Why? I like Matthew Henry’s interpretation: > [@](#): > > Elijah found Elisha by Divine direction, not in the schools of the prophets, but in the field; not reading, or praying, or sacrificing, but ploughing. _Idleness is no man’s honour, nor is husbandry any man’s disgrace_. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/13 "2012-09-01T21:50:32Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > Can you give any context about why you’re looking for these? > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The context is – God is good with slacking and slackers. That’s kind of a slackerish response, with all due respect. Can you share with us some context that might give us a clear idea of why it’s important to you to be able to support that assertion with Bible quotes? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/14 "2012-09-01T21:56:25Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > There’s also that one time Elijah’s out looking for some bright new kid to take up his mantle (hehe), i.e. succeed him as God’s prophet. Who gets the job? No slacker, no sirree – but instead, a random dude who just so happens to be plowing a field nearby, presumably shirtless and sweating like crazy and shit. Why? I like Matthew Henry’s interpretation: > > > [@](#): > > > > Elijah found Elisha by Divine direction, not in the schools of the prophets, but in the field; not reading, or praying, or sacrificing, but ploughing. Idleness is no man’s honour, nor is husbandry any man’s disgrace. Wait, they have _Prophet_ schools? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/15 "2012-09-01T21:57:34Z")
Lots of slacking is regularly required. Sabbath, various religious holidays, mourning periods, sabbath years, jubilee years, etc. Letting mild bad stuff happen on a sabbath and doing nothing about it is a good thing. (Short of letting someone die and such.) In sabbath years, you’re off work if you’re a farmer. And in jubilee years, the slaves are set free which presumably allows them to slack off as much as they can afford. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/16 "2012-09-01T22:00:25Z")
I am perfectly happy to cherry pick examples of the however few times that God prefers slacking over working. I am not exactly doing a scholarly study here. For example, I claim Jesus was a Trust Fund Baby, who didn’t have to lift a finger for the first 30 years of life because of his gold, frankensence, and myrrh endowment. I’m not asking anyone to spin these stories for me, I just need some stories of God just not seeming to mind people chilling out. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/17 "2012-09-01T22:02:45Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > …mourning periods … and doing nothing about it is a good thing. (Short of letting someone die and such.) … Damn… letting people die while slacking wouldda been a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/18 "2012-09-01T22:35:49Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Wait, they have _Prophet_ schools? Yes. Mind you, the prophets were the teachers, not the pupils. It wasn’t Hogwarts, see. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I am perfectly happy to cherry pick examples of the however few times that God prefers slacking over working. I am not exactly doing a scholarly study here. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’m not asking anyone to spin these stories for me, I just need some stories of God just not seeming to mind people chilling out. OK, how about that one time Noah got super-drunk and passed out naked in his tent? The next day, God _did_ mete out terrible punishment… But not to Noah! Nah, God was totally cool with that whole balls-to-the-wall falling-down-drunk thing. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/19 "2012-09-01T22:59:06Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > God hardened Pharoh’s heart, preventing him from setting the Jews free in Egypt. Doesn’t that mean the Pharaoh had to actually do things to keep them enslaved? ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370/20 "2012-09-02T02:00:10Z")
If **Steken** will tell the stories I might go back to Sunday school. Awesome, dude (or dudette). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-examples-from-the-bible/633370.md?page=2)