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For Messiah's words, "stumble" was the choice in the NKJV while the KJV used "offended." The description of the meaning of the word, skandalizo (G4624 Greek) includes "to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way." Others include: "to entice to sin" "to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey." This last one seems the most descriptive, and the most harmful to me!  But oh, perhaps it is equal in danger with this definition: "to be offended in one; i.e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority." One indicates an action that affects someone else's trust and the other indicates my own inclination not to trust based on what I have seen.

 

As it has been throughout Scripture, what was will be again. Just as the disciples were asked to watch and pray with Him then, aren't we doing the same today? IS it inevitable that we, too, will be "made to stumble" or be "offended?" What do we need to be watchful about that will "make us stumble?" How then should we pray as we watch?

 

I have been considering that last definition: "hinders me from acknowledging his authority." Which "his" are we referring to here?  It isn't capitalized so perhaps it is the authority of the person in question that is not acknowledged? Or could it be that what is seen in someone could hinder us from acknowledging His--Messiah's-- authority?

 

The Greek word, skandalizo, meaning as listed above; takes us to a root word, skandalon, which indicates "a movable stick or trigger of a trap, or any impediment placed in the way causing one to stumble or fall." (1)  It has been applied figuratively to Yeshua, as in his person and work being so contrary to Jewish expectations that they rejected Him. (2) This word leads us to another root, kampto (3) ; apparently a primary verb, which means "to bend, bow the knee to one in honor, in religious veneration." It is used of worshippers or may just mean to bow one's self.

 

I sincerely doubt that I would have ever seen a connection between these things without having done word study. Praise Yeshua, and  may we give thanks for all those who have gone before us, assembling the information we need and making it accessible for us to learn more about how to honor our Mighty God!

 

Okay; so now we have the connection between stumble, offense, a trap or snare, and bowing, either by desire to honor and worship or being forced to bow. In one way or another, each one has to do with being brought low. As is so often the case, the picture seems to get more unclear before it finally comes together!  Once again, as we have seen before, the verb chosen here can be seen in at least two ways.  It can mean something good, as in bowing in worship, or it can mean to be trapped or ensnared and taken down in a bad way.

 

All will be "made to stumble" at Yeshua Messiah:  if they do not bow their knees willingly in love, they will come to the time where they will be forced to acknowledge Him. If He doesn't meet one's expectations one will stumble or be offended and unable to accept Him.

 

 

And here is another sobering thought: if we are a person who leads another to bow in praise and submission to our YHWH, it is well and good, BUT if we are one that causes someone to doubt or mistrust our Messiah because our behavior is not a good reflection of Him, we will answer for that, too. It is not likely to be pleasant if we are unrepentant! Oh, Abba!  Give us humble hearts that we may stand before you, covered by Messiah's work on our behalf because surely, we are not consistently able in our own strength to picture You in all of Your beauty and grace.

 

This does, of course, bring up that question of what it really means to "judge."  Although that is not the focus here, because it is such a hot button and so frequently misunderstood, I just want to note that I do not believe that human beings really have the ability or authority to finally "judge:" only YHWH can do that! The word in Hebrew also carries connections with the idea of strife. I suspect that here, too, discernment and wisdom must come in because if no one ever took responsibility to act in judgment in a matter, we would have mass chaos.  Strife carries the connotation of contentiousness, lies, and provocation, which is not always the case when there is a matter to be judged.  I believe that the directions about making judgment have more to do with making humbly certain that one's own standing is taken into account before making a "ruling" on anyone else! NaTan Lawrence has done a masterful work in helping to understand this matter in an article called "Confrontational Shepherding" which is available at his site, www.hoshanarabbah.org for any interested reader.

 

Checking the connection with Hebrew words that have to do with stumbling or offense, I found four that all address the ideas of fall, cast down, overthrown, ruin, weak, smite, beaten, thrown down, beat upon and offend.  Following just one of them, nagaph, Strong's #5062, led me to connections in the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament having to do with a blow that is "divinely meted which is fatal or disastrous." It can also refer to the action of walking on rocks, as in the picture of striking one's foot on rocks. (4) This seems more like the mental picture I had gotten at first when I considered the meanings of being made to stumble! Considering the meaning of the paleo-Hebrew letters that make up the word, nagaph, I found that they are nun, gimmel and pey;  referring to the mouth or speaking, the foot as in walking, gathering and carrying and the picture of continuation, inheritance and seed. 

 

It would seem to me that we can walk and talk carefully, encouraging our own and others preservation or we could be careless, stumble, lose what we have and cause others to do so as well. May we choose well so that our "stumbling" or "offense" will be of our own accord, humbling and bowing ourselves, coming out of adoration and submission to the only One Who is able to keep us from falling and Who has promised to finish what He has begun in us.

 

There can be no doubt that we need the Ruach for the wisdom and understanding, the wise counsel and all 7 of His attributes as we watch and pray with Messiah.

 

So, how shall we pray as we watch with Him?

 

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