King Noah and his priests were shocked when Abinadi “answered them boldly, and withstood all their questions” (Mosiah 12:19). They must have been accustomed to people deferring to their authority as they sat in their elevated gold seats, speaking “lying and vain words” (Mosiah 11:11).
What was their response to Abinadi’s message? Noah quickly lost patience. “Away with this fellow, and slay him; for what have we to do with him, for he is mad” (Mosiah 13:1). I suppose it’s a lot easier to label and dismiss your adversary than to actually refute his assertions.
But God had other plans for Noah and his priests. They were unable to remove him from the courtroom because he was filled with God’s power, like Nephi in Bountiful and like Moses at Mount Sinai. (See Mosiah 13:3-5, 1 Nephi 17:48, 52, Exodus 34:30.)
Abinadi explained that their violent reaction was not to him personally but to his message:
Because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. And again, because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad….
Yea, and my words fill you with wonder and amazement, and with anger.
Mosiah 13:4, 8
How can we tell when we are rejecting truths we need to hear?
- We focus on the messenger instead of the message.
- We overreact, responding emotionally instead of reasonably.
- We look for other people who will confirm our point of view, as if “strength in numbers” could somehow override reality.
Noah could reject Abinadi’s warning, but in the end, he couldn’t escape it. How much better would it have been for him to recognize that this messenger, however gruff and crusty he may have seemed, was was actually trying to help him.
Today, I will be careful how I receive tough messages. I will look for signs that I’m reacting defensively, and I will strive to consider the message objectively, on its own merits, accepting the possibility that I may be wrong.
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