Beating Around the Bush
Boar hunters of olden Europe once employed assistants known as beaters to flush the boar out of the brush. In order to avoid dangerously close contact with the ferocious animals, the otherwise unarmed assistants would use their sticks and such to beat around the bush instead of venturing into it. Since that time, anyone appearing to avoid the direct approach in any matter was said to figuratively beat around the bush. This is something the Savior could never be justifiably accused of doing. At Matthew Twelve, Christ was very direct to refer to His critics as a wicked and adulterous generation for requiring more miraculous signs than those already provided. No greater sign would be given them than that of the prophet Jonah, who himself was swallowed by a great fish as God’s response to his unwillingness to go cry against the wickedness of the city of Nineveh. Once released from the sea creature’s belly after three days and nights, a more cooperative Jonah brought the Ninevites to repentance. We can learn from Jonah’s experience. Before that prophet could convince others, he had to learn himself that God was not beating around the bush.
Written by David Hayes Prophater