March 14, 2025 • 23 mins
What if the villains in Scripture are more than just obstacles for the heroes to overcome? What if they're actually mirrors, reflecting back our own spiritual blind spots and vulnerabilities?
The biblical narrative is filled with compelling antagonists—Pharaoh stubbornly hardening his heart despite overwhelming evidence of God's power, Jezebel corrupting Israel's worship with pagan practices, Judas betraying Jesus after walking alongside him for three years. These aren't simplistic cartoon villains but complex characters whose failures speak directly to our own spiritual journeys.
When we look closely at Pharaoh's story, we see how each act of resistance against God made the next one easier, creating a dangerous pattern of spiritual calcification. This progression mirrors our own tendency to justify small compromises until we find ourselves far from where we intended to be. Jezebel's tale warns about the corruption of power and the dangers of religious syncretism—blending authentic faith with cultural preferences until truth becomes diluted beyond recognition.
Perhaps most unsettling is Judas, who shows us the thin line between following Jesus and walking away. His proximity to Christ didn't guarantee transformation, just as our church attendance or Bible knowledge doesn't automatically shape our hearts. His gradual slide from disciple to betrayer began with small thefts, demonstrating how spiritual compromise rarely happens suddenly but develops through incremental departures from truth.
These villains' stories aren't simply cautionary tales—they're invitations to examine our own hearts with brutal honesty. Where might we be hardening ourselves against God's voice? In what ways are we blending our faith with values that undermine it? Are we close to Jesus while still holding him at arm's length?
The beauty in these difficult narratives is that even the darkest chapters served God's redemptive purposes. Through Pharaoh's resistance, God displayed his power. Even Jezebel's family line eventually connected to Jesus' ancestry. Judas' betrayal, though tragic, fulfilled scripture and led to our salvation.
Take this journey with us through Scripture's most notorious characters and discover what they reveal about your own spiritual blind spots—and about the God who works all things, even human rebellion, into his perfect plan.
I would love to hear from you!
For listeners looking to deepen their engagement with the topics discussed, visit our website or check out our devotionals and poetry on Amazon, with all proceeds supporting The New York School of The Bible at Calvary Baptist Church. Stay connected and enriched on your spiritual path with us!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 0 (00:00):
Hey friends, welcome to the Faith Compass Podcast.
I'm Javier, your host, and I'mgenuinely so excited that you're
here with me today.
We're about to step intosomething a little unexpected,
something that might flip theway you usually think about
scripture.
We are going to talk aboutvillains in scripture, what we
learn from the antagonists offaith.
Now, when we crack open God'sword, our eyes tend to land on
the heroes, don't they?
David swinging that slingshotat Goliath, esther walking into
(00:22):
the king's court with her heartpounding, paul trekking across
the ancient world to spread thegood news.
Those stories light a fire inus, give us something to cheer
for.
But what about the flip side?
What about the villains, theantagonists who seem to stand in
the way, stirring up trouble?
Have you ever paused to wonderwhy they're there, what their
stories are really about or whatthey might have to say to us
today?
Here's the deal.
These characters aren't justbackground noise.
(00:43):
They're not random bad guystossed in to make the heroes
shine brighter or to give ussomeone to hiss at, like in an
old movie.
No, they're written intoscripture with purpose.
Their lives carry weightylesson, stuff that gets under
our skin and speaks to thenitty-gritty of being human.
We're talking about temptationthat creeps in slow, pride that
blinds us, and even how God'sgrace somehow finds a way to
glow through the darkest messes.
These biblical villains, withall their flaws, their schemes,
(01:05):
their downright disastrouschoices.
They're like a mirror.
They show us what we're capableof slipping into if we're not
paying attention, and they nudgeus toward truths about
ourselves and God's heart thatwe might miss if we only root
for the good guys.
So today we're going to take ourtime, unpack some of these
stories together and dig intowhat they mean for us right here
, right now.
Trust me, it's going to be aride worth taking.
Before we dive in, let's hitpause and pray.
(01:26):
I don't want us to do this onour own.
We need God's help to see thisstuff clearly, to let it sink in
deep.
Lord, thank you for your word.
It's alive, it's powerful, itcuts right to the core and it
meets us even in the messy,complicated parts.
As we look at these toughcharacters today, would you give
us wisdom?
Open our eyes not just to whatthey did wrong, but to what it
shows us about ourselves andabout you.
Help us get real, spottingwhere we might be veering off
(01:46):
your path without even realizingit.
Use even these warning storiesto pull us closer to you, to
mold us into who you're callingus to be.
We're leaning hard on you today.
Open our hearts wide towhatever you want to teach us.
We pray this in your name, amen.
Alright, let's start with one ofthe biggest names in the
villain lineup, pharaoh from theExodus story.
If you've ever flipped throughthe book of Exodus, you've met
this guy.
He's the king who just won'tbudge.
(02:07):
Moses marches in full of God'sfire saying let my people go,
and Pharaoh's like not today,not ever.
God sends plagues like frogshopping all over the place or
locusts munching everythinggreen and darkness so thick you
can feel it.
And still Pharaoh digs indeeper To us.
Reading it now, he almost feelslike a cartoon bad guy, doesn't
he Like?
He's got a cape and a sinisterlaugh, reveling in the chaos.
But there's more to him thanthat.
(02:28):
There is something raw and realthat hits close to home.
If we're willing to look.
The Bible keeps circling back tothis one phrase Pharaoh
hardened his heart.
You'll see it pop up over andover, like in Exodus, chapter 7,
verse 13.
Pharaoh's heart was hardenedand he did not listen to them,
as the Lord had said, or chapter8, verse 15,.
But when Pharaoh saw that therewas relief, he hardened his
heart and would not listen.
It's not just a tagline abouthim being stubborn, it's a
(02:51):
window into what's churninginside him.
Let me paint you a picture.
Have you ever made a choice youknew wasn't quite right?
Maybe a little white lie, ashortcut you shouldn't have
taken?
But instead of backing off, youleaned in harder, told yourself
I'm in too deep now might aswell keep going.
That's what Pharaoh is up to.
There's this psychologist namedLeon Festinger who came up with
something called cognitivedissonance.
Don't worry, it's not ascomplicated as it sounds.
(03:12):
It's just when what we dodoesn't match what we believe
and it makes us antsy To shakethat feeling.
We either fix our actions or wedouble down and convince
ourselves we're not wrong.
Pharaoh's staring down amountain of evidence that
Israel's God is the real deal.
Plagues aren't exactly subtleright Frogs in your bed rivers
turning to blood.
It's hard to miss, butadmitting that would flip his
whole world upside down.
He's the God-King of Egypt, theguy who's supposed to have
(03:34):
everything locked down.
If he's wrong, his powers aresham, his identity's a lie.
His whole system crumbles, sohe hardens his heart.
And here's the wild part everytime he does it, it gets easier.
By the time you hit Exodus,chapter 10, verse 1,.
(03:54):
We've all got our own versionof this, don't we?
Maybe it's not as dramatic asplagues, but it's there.
Skipping time with God becauseI've got too much on my plate,
letting a grudge simmer insteadof letting it go.
Choosing comfort over steppingout in faith, those little
moments pile up and before weknow it, we're farther from God
than we ever planned.
I love how Timothy Keller putsit in his book Counterfeit Gods
(04:15):
the human heart is an idolfactory.
We're so good at cranking outidols' power, control,
reputation, ease and proppingthem up over God.
That's when our hearts start toharden, just like Pharaoh's did
.
I've caught myself doing it,clinging to my way instead of
God's, convincing myself it'sfine.
Have you been there too?
Now?
Here's where it gets a bitthorny.
Later in the story, like inExodus, chapter 10, verse 1, or
chapter 11, verse 10, it saysGod hardened Pharaoh's heart.
(04:36):
That stops us cold, doesn't it?
Is God making him evil?
I wrestled with this one for along time.
It's one of those questionsthat keeps you up at night.
So I dug into what some wisefolks have said about it.
Rc Sproul, a theologian who'shelped me a ton, explains it in
his book Chosen by God.
He says God's hardening isn'tthe starting line, it's more
like a judge stamping approvalon what Pharaoh's already been
building.
Imagine this Pharaoh's beenstacking these bricks of
(04:58):
resistance, walling off hisheart, and at some point God
says okay, if that's your play,I'll let it solidify.
It's not God planting evil inhim.
It's God honoring his freedom,even when it's a road to wreck
and ruin.
That's a heavy thought to chewon.
Romans, chapter 1, verse 24,talks about God giving people
over to their sinful desires,not forcing them, but letting
them chase what they've chosen.
It's like a spiritual law Keepsaying no to God, and that no
(05:21):
can lock in.
I think about times I'veignored that still small voice
brushing off a nudge toapologize, to trust, to let go.
Each time it gets a littleeasier to tune it out.
Pharaoh's story is a loud alarmfor us Proverbs.
Chapter 4, verse 23, says Keepyour heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs oflife.
Every time we push back againstGod's whisper, choosing pride
over humility, control oversurrender, self over others,
(05:43):
we're laying tracks for wherewe're headed.
It's not just a one-off.
It's a pattern we build.
But don't miss the hopestitched in here, because
there's always hope with God.
Pharaoh's heart got harder, butthe Bible's bursting with people
who flipped the script.
Take King David.
After his colossal mess withBathsheba and Uriah, he prays in
Psalm chapter 51, verse 10,create in me a clean heart, o
God, and renew a right spiritwithin me.
That's a guy who messed up bigbut didn't stay stuck.
(06:05):
Or Paul, where he tells us in 2Corinthians 3, verse 18, that
the Holy Spirit transforms usfrom one degree of glory to
another.
Pharaoh didn't take a chance tosoften up and to turn back.
I have had moments where I feltGod tugging me back from the
edge, and I'm guessing you havetoo.
Now that's grace right there.
And here's the mind-blowingpart God's plan didn't stall out
.
(06:28):
John Piper, a pastor who's greatat zooming out to the big
picture, says God used Pharaoh'shardened heart to display his
power and proclaim his name.
Now let's stop and think aboutthe exodus.
This massive moment for God'speople, a preview of Jesus's
ultimate rescue, didn't happen,despite Pharaoh's stubbornness.
It happened through it.
All those plagues, all thatresistance and God still moving
the chess pieces.
Joseph says something similarin Genesis, chapter 50, verse 20
.
You meant evil against me, butGod meant it for good.
(06:48):
God's purposes don't just limpalong, they charge forward
unstoppable, even when we'rethrowing up walls.
So what's Pharaoh handing ustoday?
A call to keep our hearts soft.
What Ezekiel, chapter 36, verse26, calls a heart of flesh
instead of a heart of stone.
How do we do that?
By saying yes to God's quietprompts.
Maybe it's forgiving someonewho doesn't deserve it, owning
up when we're wrong, trustinghim when we'd rather play it
(07:09):
safe, feel that resistancebubbling up to his word, to a
hard truth, to letting go ofcontrol.
That's your moment.
Stop and ask am I digging inlike Pharaoh, building my own
little fortress, or am I readyto let God take the lead?
That's the challenge he leavesus with, and the promise that we
don't have to end up where hedid.
We don't have to end up wherehe did.
Let's switch gears to Jezebel.
Oh man, her name's got someserious baggage, doesn't it?
In pop culture, she's the queenof manipulation, seduction,
(07:31):
wickedness.
You name it.
She's the poster child.
But let's peel back the cartoonversion and get into her real
story.
It's got a ton to teach usabout power, faith and how
things can spiral out of control.
Jezebel was a Phoenicianprincess who married Ahab, king
of Israel.
She didn't just bring herwardrobe.
She hauled in her gods, baaland Asherah, and set them up
right in the heart of God'schosen people.
1 Kings, chapter 18, tells usshe wasn't playing small.
(07:52):
She hunted down Yahweh'sprophets, killed them off and
propped up hundreds of her ownat the royal table.
This wasn't just her personalspirituality.
She was on a crusade to reshapeIsrael's whole identity.
What was fueling her?
She wasn't twirling a villainmustache, giggling about being
evil.
No, she genuinely believes shewas right, that her gods, her
rules, her vision were the wayforward.
Walter Brueggemann, a theologian, talks about it in Prophetic
(08:13):
Imagination.
He says people in power likeJezebel can get so wrapped up in
their own world that they don'teven see the pain they're
causing.
They build a bubble whereeveryone's nodding along and the
suffering it's off their radar.
That hits home, doesn't it?
Power, whether it's a big job,money or just influence over a
few folks, can blind us.
It surrounds us with yes peopleand over time we start bending
right and wrong to fit what'seasy or what pumps up our ego.
(08:35):
I've seen it in my ownlifetimes.
I've clung to being rightinstead of listening.
Have you ever caught yourselfthere?
Her story ramps up in 1 Kings,chapter 21, with Naboth's
Vineyard.
Ahab's got his eye on Naboth'sland.
Naboth says no, it's hisfamily's inheritance sacred
stuff.
And Jezebel steps in.
She doesn't shrug and move on.
She rigs a fake trial, hiresliars to accuse Naboth of
(08:57):
cursing God and the king andgets him stoned to death.
She takes a system built forjustice witnesses, trials, the
whole deal and twists it into atool for her own ends.
Good things like laws,institutions, even faith, can
turn rotten when power's callingthe shots.
Martin Luther King Jr said itbest Injustice anywhere is a
threat to justice everywhere.
When we see power abused,especially with a religious spin
, that's Jezebel's shadowcreeping in.
What's trickier, though, is howshe mixed religions.
(09:18):
She didn't demand Israel ditchYahweh completely, she just
blended him with Baal andAsherah.
John Walton, a Bible scholar,says this syncretism was
Israel's constant pull.
It might have looked tolerant,even sophisticated hey, let's
all get along right but itgutted their covenant with God.
Sound familiar?
We don't bow to statues today,but we mix faith with stuff like
chasing money, bowing topolitics or saying whatever
(09:38):
works for you over God's truth.
David Wells nails it in noPlace for Truth.
We've turned to a God we canuse rather than a God we must
obey that.
We've turned to a God we canuse rather than a God we must
obey.
That's Jezebel's trap, wateringdown faith until it's just a
feel-good accessory.
Elijah finally throws down thegauntlet in 1 Kings, chapter 18,
verse 21.
How long will you go limpingbetween two different opinions?
If the Lord is God, follow him,but if Baal, then follow him no
(09:59):
more.
Half and half, pick a side.
Now Jezebel's end is grim in 2Kings, chapter 9.
It says she was tossed out awindow, trampled by horses,
eaten by dogs.
Proverbs, chapter 16, verse 18sums it up Pride goes before
destruction and a haughty spiritbefore a fall.
Power built on pride alwayscrashes hard.
But here's the redemption twist.
Her family line ties intoJesus' ancestry through her
(10:20):
daughter's marriage.
God's grace weaves through eventhat mess.
So Jezebel's asking us some bigquestions.
How do we handle power at homeand work in our little corners?
Are we serving others orpushing our own agenda?
Are we bold like Elijah,calling out wrong even when it's
uncomfortable, and are weletting our faith get muddied by
stuff that doesn't belong.
Jesus says in Matthew, chapter6, verse 24, no one can serve
(10:40):
two masters.
Jezebel shows us, trying onlycorrupts everything our hearts,
our relationships, our walk withGod.
Now, judas, iscariot man, hisname just lands like a punch,
doesn't it?
It's the ultimate shorthand forbetrayal.
That kiss he gives Jesus in thegarden is treachery 101.
For 30 pieces of silver, hepoints Jesus out to the
authorities setting thecrucifixion in motion.
But Judas isn't some distantvillain.
(11:00):
He's uncomfortably close,showing us how thin the line can
be between following Jesus andwalking away.
Think about this Judas wasn'tan outsider For three years.
He was right there with Jesus.
He heard the sermon on themount, saw Lazarus stumble out
of the tomb, helped pass outbread to the five thousand.
When Jesus says in John,chapter 13, verse 18, I know
whom I have chosen, but one ofyou will betray me.
The others don't point at Judas.
(11:21):
They're clueless.
He blended in, played the part,but something was off inside.
Nt Wright, a sharp theologian,suggests in the day the
revolution began that Judasmight have wanted a different
Jesus, a rebel king, to smashRome.
When Jesus preached surrender,service and sacrifice instead of
power and glory, maybe Judasfelt let down, even bitter, ever
been there.
We come to God with our plans,make my life easy, fix my
(11:42):
problems, give me the spotlight,but when he calls us to let go
to carry a cross, we hesitate.
John Stott once said the crossis the blazing fire at which the
flame of our love is kindled,but we have to get near enough
for its sparks to fall on us.
Judas wanted the crown withoutthe cross.
For Jesus and himself, that'snot how it works.
The Gospels drop hints about hisslide.
John, chapter 12, verse 6, saysJudas kept the money bag and
(12:03):
used to help himself to what wasput into it.
Little to help himself to whatwas put into it.
Little thefts.
Here and there cracks thatwiden into a chasm.
Cs Lewis put it perfectly thesafest road to hell is the
gradual one, the gentle slope,soft underfoot, without sudden
turnings, without milestones,without signposts.
Even after all, he saw miracles, teachings, jesus' love.
Judas' heart didn't shift.
Tim Keller says you can knowBible stories and not know the
(12:25):
Bible's story.
Being near Jesus doesn't meanyou're changed by him.
Luke, chapter 22, verse 3, saysSatan entered Judas, which gets
tricky.
How much was Judas?
How much was evil?
His choices open the door,though.
After Matthew, chapter 27,verse 3, says he was seized with
remorse and threw the moneyback.
But it wasn't repentance, itwas regret sinking into despair.
Compare that to Peter.
Both failed Jesus, but Peterstuck around, wept and got
(12:46):
restored.
John Orberg writes in SoulKeeping the difference between
despair and hope is a differentway of telling stories from the
same facts.
Judas rattles us because heshows faith can be a mask.
Jesus warns in Matthew, chapter7, verse 21,.
Not everyone who says to me,lord, lord, will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but the onewho does the will of my Father,
who is in heaven but even hereGod's in control.
(13:06):
Acts, chapter 1, verse 16, saysJudas' betrayal fulfilled
scripture.
His evil paved the way for thecross, our salvation.
That's God's sovereigntyshining through.
So Judas asks are we chasingthe real Jesus or our version of
him?
Are we all in or holding backwhen we stumble?
Do we hide or seek grace?
Paul Tillich said grace strikesus when we're in great pain and
restlessness.
Judas missed it, but it'swaiting for us.
(13:27):
Back to Genesis, chapter 4, cainthe first murderer.
He kills his brother Abel, andthis raw story peels back how
sin grows and what's simmeringinside before it blows up.
God accepts Abel's offering,but not Cain's.
Maybe Cain's heart wasn't in it, we don't know for sure.
Genesis, chapter 4, verse 5,says Cain was very angry and his
face fell.
That fallen face paints envyand shame.
Kurt Thompson says In anatomyof the soul shame is the feeling
(13:49):
that tells us something aboutus is fundamentally wrong.
Cain doesn't deal with it, heturns it on.
Abel God steps in saying inGenesis, chapter 4, verses 6-7,
why are you angry and why hasyour face fallen?
If you do well, will you not beaccepted?
And if you do not do well, sinis crouching at the door.
Its desire is contrary to you,but you must rule over it.
Sin's a beast waiting to pounce.
Walter Brueggemann says it's aforce with momentum.
(14:11):
If we don't stop it, it runs us.
James, chapter 1, verses 14-15,maps it.
Each person is tempted when heis lured and enticed by his own
desire.
Then desire, when it hasconceived, gives birth to sin,
and sin, when it is fully grown,brings forth death.
Cain's anger grew because hefed it.
What if he'd owned it, talkedto God or Abel?
We'll never know, but it's aquestion for us.
After God asks in Genesis,chapter 4, verse 9, where is
(14:33):
Abel, your brother, not for info, but to call Cain out.
His am I, my brother's keeper.
Shows sin's relational wreckage.
He's cursed to wander inGenesis, chapter 4, verse 12.
Violence isolates, likeMiroslav Volf says, in exclusion
and embrace.
Yet God marks him forprotection in Genesis, chapter 4
, verse 15.
Mercy and judgment.
Cain's violence echoes Lamech'sbribes in Genesis, chapter 4,
(14:54):
verses 23-24, about killing overa scratch.
Jesus flips it in Matthew,chapter 5, verses 38-39.
You have heard that it was saidan eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth.
But I say to you, do not resistthe one who is evil, but if
anyone slaps you on the rightcheek, turn to him the other.
Also, cain asks us to catchenvy early.
Rene Girard says we scapegoatto vent.
Jesus took it on to end it.
Haman and Esther is the schemer,nearly wipes out the Jews over
(15:16):
a personal beef.
He's a top dog under KingAhasuerus, expecting everyone to
bow.
Mordecai doesn't.
And Esther, chapter 3, verse 5,says when Haman saw that
Mordecai did not bow down or payhomage to him, haman was filled
with fury.
He tricks the king intogenocide in Esther, chapter 3,
verse 8.
Why so extreme?
Haman's pride couldn't take one, no, proverbs, chapter 16,
verse 18, says Pride goes beforedestruction and a haughty
(15:38):
spirit before a fall.
He's calculated.
John Maxwell says leaders shinein crisis, but Haman's vengeful
Esther and Mordecai flip it andHaman hangs in Esther, chapter
7, verse 10.
What's the lesson?
How do we handle slights?
James, chapter 4, verse 6, saysGod opposes the proud but gives
grace to the humble.
Are we using influence right?
Jesus says in Mark, chapter 10,verse 43, but whoever would be
(15:59):
great among you must be yourservant.
Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 32,pushes forgiveness.
Haman warns of bitterness' toll.
Paul's a wild card.
In Acts, chapter 9, verse 1, hesaw breathing threats and
murder against the disciples ofthe Lord, a Pharisee on a
rampage.
John Stott said Saul was socertain he was right that he
never paused to question whetherhe could be wrong.
Zeal without love blinds.
Then Acts, chapter 9, verse 4.
(16:20):
Saul, saul, why are youpersecuting me?
Jesus ties himself to hispeople, huge.
Saul's blind humbled.
And ananias prays in Acts,chapter 9, verse 15.
He's reborn Paul saying in 1Timothy, chapter 1, verse 15,
the saying is trustworthy anddeserving of full acceptance
that Christ Jesus came into theworld to save sinners, of whom I
am the foremost.
Paul warns against pride butshouts hope.
No one's too far.
(16:41):
Are we open to correction?
Do we give grace?
His story calls us to meetJesus and change Satan.
The accuser.
Job, chapter 1, verses 9 and 11, shows him betting.
Job's faith is fake.
Zechariah, chapter 3 has himaccusing Joshua.
God shuts it down.
Revelation, chapter 12, verse 10, calls him the accuser of our
brothers, who accuses them dayand night before our God.
Matthew, chapter 4 shows himtempting Jesus with twisted
(17:04):
truth and tea.
Wright says he pushes sensibleshortcuts.
John, chapter 8, verse 44,calls him a liar and the father
of lies, starting in Genesis,chapter 3, verse 1.
2 Corinthians, chapter 11,verse 14, says Satan disguises
himself as an angel of light.
1 Peter, chapter 5, verse 8,calls him a roaring lion seeking
someone to devour, but verse 9says resist.
(17:24):
Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 12,says the fight spiritual, use
God's armor.
James, chapter 4, verse 7, saysresist the devil and he will
flee from you.
Revelation 12.12 says histime's short.
Romans 8.1 and Colossians 2.15say Christ wins.
These villains mirror us pride,power, betrayal, violence,
bitterness, accusation, butGod's grace triumphs.
(17:45):
Romans 10.9 says if you confesswith your mouth that Jesus is
Lord and believe in your heartthat God raised him from the
dead you will be saved.
Pray with me, lord Jesus.
I need you.
I believe you died and rose forme.
Be my Lord, forgive me, make menew.
Amen.
If you prayed, hitwwwthecrossroadscollectiveorg
for help growing.
Thanks for joining, subscribe,share and let God's word guide
(18:06):
you.
Hey friends, welcome to the Faith Compass Podcast.
I'm Javier, your host, and I'mgenuinely so excited that you're
here with me today.
We're about to step intosomething a little unexpected,
something that might flip theway you usually think about
scripture.
We are going to talk aboutvillains in scripture, what we
learn from the antagonists offaith.
Now, when we crack open God'sword, our eyes tend to land on
the heroes, don't they?
David swinging that slingshotat Goliath, esther walking into
(00:22):
the king's court with her heartpounding, paul trekking across
the ancient world to spread thegood news.
Those stories light a fire inus, give us something to cheer
for.
But what about the flip side?
What about the villains, theantagonists who seem to stand in
the way, stirring up trouble?
Have you ever paused to wonderwhy they're there, what their
stories are really about or whatthey might have to say to us
today?
Here's the deal.
These characters aren't justbackground noise.
(00:43):
They're not random bad guystossed in to make the heroes
shine brighter or to give ussomeone to hiss at, like in an
old movie.
No, they're written intoscripture with purpose.
Their lives carry weightylesson, stuff that gets under
our skin and speaks to thenitty-gritty of being human.
We're talking about temptationthat creeps in slow, pride that
blinds us, and even how God'sgrace somehow finds a way to
glow through the darkest messes.
These biblical villains, withall their flaws, their schemes,
(01:05):
their downright disastrouschoices.
They're like a mirror.
They show us what we're capableof slipping into if we're not
paying attention, and they nudgeus toward truths about
ourselves and God's heart thatwe might miss if we only root
for the good guys.
So today we're going to take ourtime, unpack some of these
stories together and dig intowhat they mean for us right here
, right now.
Trust me, it's going to be aride worth taking.
Before we dive in, let's hitpause and pray.
(01:26):
I don't want us to do this onour own.
We need God's help to see thisstuff clearly, to let it sink in
deep.
Lord, thank you for your word.
It's alive, it's powerful, itcuts right to the core and it
meets us even in the messy,complicated parts.
As we look at these toughcharacters today, would you give
us wisdom?
Open our eyes not just to whatthey did wrong, but to what it
shows us about ourselves andabout you.
Help us get real, spottingwhere we might be veering off
(01:46):
your path without even realizingit.
Use even these warning storiesto pull us closer to you, to
mold us into who you're callingus to be.
We're leaning hard on you today.
Open our hearts wide towhatever you want to teach us.
We pray this in your name, amen.
Alright, let's start with one ofthe biggest names in the
villain lineup, pharaoh from theExodus story.
If you've ever flipped throughthe book of Exodus, you've met
this guy.
He's the king who just won'tbudge.
(02:07):
Moses marches in full of God'sfire saying let my people go,
and Pharaoh's like not today,not ever.
God sends plagues like frogshopping all over the place or
locusts munching everythinggreen and darkness so thick you
can feel it.
And still Pharaoh digs indeeper To us.
Reading it now, he almost feelslike a cartoon bad guy, doesn't
he Like?
He's got a cape and a sinisterlaugh, reveling in the chaos.
But there's more to him thanthat.
(02:28):
There is something raw and realthat hits close to home.
If we're willing to look.
The Bible keeps circling back tothis one phrase Pharaoh
hardened his heart.
You'll see it pop up over andover, like in Exodus, chapter 7,
verse 13.
Pharaoh's heart was hardenedand he did not listen to them,
as the Lord had said, or chapter8, verse 15,.
But when Pharaoh saw that therewas relief, he hardened his
heart and would not listen.
It's not just a tagline abouthim being stubborn, it's a
(02:51):
window into what's churninginside him.
Let me paint you a picture.
Have you ever made a choice youknew wasn't quite right?
Maybe a little white lie, ashortcut you shouldn't have
taken?
But instead of backing off, youleaned in harder, told yourself
I'm in too deep now might aswell keep going.
That's what Pharaoh is up to.
There's this psychologist namedLeon Festinger who came up with
something called cognitivedissonance.
Don't worry, it's not ascomplicated as it sounds.
(03:12):
It's just when what we dodoesn't match what we believe
and it makes us antsy To shakethat feeling.
We either fix our actions or wedouble down and convince
ourselves we're not wrong.
Pharaoh's staring down amountain of evidence that
Israel's God is the real deal.
Plagues aren't exactly subtleright Frogs in your bed rivers
turning to blood.
It's hard to miss, butadmitting that would flip his
whole world upside down.
He's the God-King of Egypt, theguy who's supposed to have
(03:34):
everything locked down.
If he's wrong, his powers aresham, his identity's a lie.
His whole system crumbles, sohe hardens his heart.
And here's the wild part everytime he does it, it gets easier.
By the time you hit Exodus,chapter 10, verse 1,.
(03:54):
We've all got our own versionof this, don't we?
Maybe it's not as dramatic asplagues, but it's there.
Skipping time with God becauseI've got too much on my plate,
letting a grudge simmer insteadof letting it go.
Choosing comfort over steppingout in faith, those little
moments pile up and before weknow it, we're farther from God
than we ever planned.
I love how Timothy Keller putsit in his book Counterfeit Gods
(04:15):
the human heart is an idolfactory.
We're so good at cranking outidols' power, control,
reputation, ease and proppingthem up over God.
That's when our hearts start toharden, just like Pharaoh's did
.
I've caught myself doing it,clinging to my way instead of
God's, convincing myself it'sfine.
Have you been there too?
Now?
Here's where it gets a bitthorny.
Later in the story, like inExodus, chapter 10, verse 1, or
chapter 11, verse 10, it saysGod hardened Pharaoh's heart.
(04:36):
That stops us cold, doesn't it?
Is God making him evil?
I wrestled with this one for along time.
It's one of those questionsthat keeps you up at night.
So I dug into what some wisefolks have said about it.
Rc Sproul, a theologian who'shelped me a ton, explains it in
his book Chosen by God.
He says God's hardening isn'tthe starting line, it's more
like a judge stamping approvalon what Pharaoh's already been
building.
Imagine this Pharaoh's beenstacking these bricks of
(04:58):
resistance, walling off hisheart, and at some point God
says okay, if that's your play,I'll let it solidify.
It's not God planting evil inhim.
It's God honoring his freedom,even when it's a road to wreck
and ruin.
That's a heavy thought to chewon.
Romans, chapter 1, verse 24,talks about God giving people
over to their sinful desires,not forcing them, but letting
them chase what they've chosen.
It's like a spiritual law Keepsaying no to God, and that no
(05:21):
can lock in.
I think about times I'veignored that still small voice
brushing off a nudge toapologize, to trust, to let go.
Each time it gets a littleeasier to tune it out.
Pharaoh's story is a loud alarmfor us Proverbs.
Chapter 4, verse 23, says Keepyour heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs oflife.
Every time we push back againstGod's whisper, choosing pride
over humility, control oversurrender, self over others,
(05:43):
we're laying tracks for wherewe're headed.
It's not just a one-off.
It's a pattern we build.
But don't miss the hopestitched in here, because
there's always hope with God.
Pharaoh's heart got harder, butthe Bible's bursting with people
who flipped the script.
Take King David.
After his colossal mess withBathsheba and Uriah, he prays in
Psalm chapter 51, verse 10,create in me a clean heart, o
God, and renew a right spiritwithin me.
That's a guy who messed up bigbut didn't stay stuck.
(06:05):
Or Paul, where he tells us in 2Corinthians 3, verse 18, that
the Holy Spirit transforms usfrom one degree of glory to
another.
Pharaoh didn't take a chance tosoften up and to turn back.
I have had moments where I feltGod tugging me back from the
edge, and I'm guessing you havetoo.
Now that's grace right there.
And here's the mind-blowingpart God's plan didn't stall out
.
(06:28):
John Piper, a pastor who's greatat zooming out to the big
picture, says God used Pharaoh'shardened heart to display his
power and proclaim his name.
Now let's stop and think aboutthe exodus.
This massive moment for God'speople, a preview of Jesus's
ultimate rescue, didn't happen,despite Pharaoh's stubbornness.
It happened through it.
All those plagues, all thatresistance and God still moving
the chess pieces.
Joseph says something similarin Genesis, chapter 50, verse 20
.
You meant evil against me, butGod meant it for good.
(06:48):
God's purposes don't just limpalong, they charge forward
unstoppable, even when we'rethrowing up walls.
So what's Pharaoh handing ustoday?
A call to keep our hearts soft.
What Ezekiel, chapter 36, verse26, calls a heart of flesh
instead of a heart of stone.
How do we do that?
By saying yes to God's quietprompts.
Maybe it's forgiving someonewho doesn't deserve it, owning
up when we're wrong, trustinghim when we'd rather play it
(07:09):
safe, feel that resistancebubbling up to his word, to a
hard truth, to letting go ofcontrol.
That's your moment.
Stop and ask am I digging inlike Pharaoh, building my own
little fortress, or am I readyto let God take the lead?
That's the challenge he leavesus with, and the promise that we
don't have to end up where hedid.
We don't have to end up wherehe did.
Let's switch gears to Jezebel.
Oh man, her name's got someserious baggage, doesn't it?
In pop culture, she's the queenof manipulation, seduction,
(07:31):
wickedness.
You name it.
She's the poster child.
But let's peel back the cartoonversion and get into her real
story.
It's got a ton to teach usabout power, faith and how
things can spiral out of control.
Jezebel was a Phoenicianprincess who married Ahab, king
of Israel.
She didn't just bring herwardrobe.
She hauled in her gods, baaland Asherah, and set them up
right in the heart of God'schosen people.
1 Kings, chapter 18, tells usshe wasn't playing small.
(07:52):
She hunted down Yahweh'sprophets, killed them off and
propped up hundreds of her ownat the royal table.
This wasn't just her personalspirituality.
She was on a crusade to reshapeIsrael's whole identity.
What was fueling her?
She wasn't twirling a villainmustache, giggling about being
evil.
No, she genuinely believes shewas right, that her gods, her
rules, her vision were the wayforward.
Walter Brueggemann, a theologian, talks about it in Prophetic
(08:13):
Imagination.
He says people in power likeJezebel can get so wrapped up in
their own world that they don'teven see the pain they're
causing.
They build a bubble whereeveryone's nodding along and the
suffering it's off their radar.
That hits home, doesn't it?
Power, whether it's a big job,money or just influence over a
few folks, can blind us.
It surrounds us with yes peopleand over time we start bending
right and wrong to fit what'seasy or what pumps up our ego.
(08:35):
I've seen it in my ownlifetimes.
I've clung to being rightinstead of listening.
Have you ever caught yourselfthere?
Her story ramps up in 1 Kings,chapter 21, with Naboth's
Vineyard.
Ahab's got his eye on Naboth'sland.
Naboth says no, it's hisfamily's inheritance sacred
stuff.
And Jezebel steps in.
She doesn't shrug and move on.
She rigs a fake trial, hiresliars to accuse Naboth of
(08:57):
cursing God and the king andgets him stoned to death.
She takes a system built forjustice witnesses, trials, the
whole deal and twists it into atool for her own ends.
Good things like laws,institutions, even faith, can
turn rotten when power's callingthe shots.
Martin Luther King Jr said itbest Injustice anywhere is a
threat to justice everywhere.
When we see power abused,especially with a religious spin
, that's Jezebel's shadowcreeping in.
What's trickier, though, is howshe mixed religions.
(09:18):
She didn't demand Israel ditchYahweh completely, she just
blended him with Baal andAsherah.
John Walton, a Bible scholar,says this syncretism was
Israel's constant pull.
It might have looked tolerant,even sophisticated hey, let's
all get along right but itgutted their covenant with God.
Sound familiar?
We don't bow to statues today,but we mix faith with stuff like
chasing money, bowing topolitics or saying whatever
(09:38):
works for you over God's truth.
David Wells nails it in noPlace for Truth.
We've turned to a God we canuse rather than a God we must
obey that.
We've turned to a God we canuse rather than a God we must
obey.
That's Jezebel's trap, wateringdown faith until it's just a
feel-good accessory.
Elijah finally throws down thegauntlet in 1 Kings, chapter 18,
verse 21.
How long will you go limpingbetween two different opinions?
If the Lord is God, follow him,but if Baal, then follow him no
(09:59):
more.
Half and half, pick a side.
Now Jezebel's end is grim in 2Kings, chapter 9.
It says she was tossed out awindow, trampled by horses,
eaten by dogs.
Proverbs, chapter 16, verse 18sums it up Pride goes before
destruction and a haughty spiritbefore a fall.
Power built on pride alwayscrashes hard.
But here's the redemption twist.
Her family line ties intoJesus' ancestry through her
(10:20):
daughter's marriage.
God's grace weaves through eventhat mess.
So Jezebel's asking us some bigquestions.
How do we handle power at homeand work in our little corners?
Are we serving others orpushing our own agenda?
Are we bold like Elijah,calling out wrong even when it's
uncomfortable, and are weletting our faith get muddied by
stuff that doesn't belong.
Jesus says in Matthew, chapter6, verse 24, no one can serve
(10:40):
two masters.
Jezebel shows us, trying onlycorrupts everything our hearts,
our relationships, our walk withGod.
Now, judas, iscariot man, hisname just lands like a punch,
doesn't it?
It's the ultimate shorthand forbetrayal.
That kiss he gives Jesus in thegarden is treachery 101.
For 30 pieces of silver, hepoints Jesus out to the
authorities setting thecrucifixion in motion.
But Judas isn't some distantvillain.
(11:00):
He's uncomfortably close,showing us how thin the line can
be between following Jesus andwalking away.
Think about this Judas wasn'tan outsider For three years.
He was right there with Jesus.
He heard the sermon on themount, saw Lazarus stumble out
of the tomb, helped pass outbread to the five thousand.
When Jesus says in John,chapter 13, verse 18, I know
whom I have chosen, but one ofyou will betray me.
The others don't point at Judas.
(11:21):
They're clueless.
He blended in, played the part,but something was off inside.
Nt Wright, a sharp theologian,suggests in the day the
revolution began that Judasmight have wanted a different
Jesus, a rebel king, to smashRome.
When Jesus preached surrender,service and sacrifice instead of
power and glory, maybe Judasfelt let down, even bitter, ever
been there.
We come to God with our plans,make my life easy, fix my
(11:42):
problems, give me the spotlight,but when he calls us to let go
to carry a cross, we hesitate.
John Stott once said the crossis the blazing fire at which the
flame of our love is kindled,but we have to get near enough
for its sparks to fall on us.
Judas wanted the crown withoutthe cross.
For Jesus and himself, that'snot how it works.
The Gospels drop hints about hisslide.
John, chapter 12, verse 6, saysJudas kept the money bag and
(12:03):
used to help himself to what wasput into it.
Little to help himself to whatwas put into it.
Little thefts.
Here and there cracks thatwiden into a chasm.
Cs Lewis put it perfectly thesafest road to hell is the
gradual one, the gentle slope,soft underfoot, without sudden
turnings, without milestones,without signposts.
Even after all, he saw miracles, teachings, jesus' love.
Judas' heart didn't shift.
Tim Keller says you can knowBible stories and not know the
(12:25):
Bible's story.
Being near Jesus doesn't meanyou're changed by him.
Luke, chapter 22, verse 3, saysSatan entered Judas, which gets
tricky.
How much was Judas?
How much was evil?
His choices open the door,though.
After Matthew, chapter 27,verse 3, says he was seized with
remorse and threw the moneyback.
But it wasn't repentance, itwas regret sinking into despair.
Compare that to Peter.
Both failed Jesus, but Peterstuck around, wept and got
(12:46):
restored.
John Orberg writes in SoulKeeping the difference between
despair and hope is a differentway of telling stories from the
same facts.
Judas rattles us because heshows faith can be a mask.
Jesus warns in Matthew, chapter7, verse 21,.
Not everyone who says to me,lord, lord, will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but the onewho does the will of my Father,
who is in heaven but even hereGod's in control.
(13:06):
Acts, chapter 1, verse 16, saysJudas' betrayal fulfilled
scripture.
His evil paved the way for thecross, our salvation.
That's God's sovereigntyshining through.
So Judas asks are we chasingthe real Jesus or our version of
him?
Are we all in or holding backwhen we stumble?
Do we hide or seek grace?
Paul Tillich said grace strikesus when we're in great pain and
restlessness.
Judas missed it, but it'swaiting for us.
(13:27):
Back to Genesis, chapter 4, cainthe first murderer.
He kills his brother Abel, andthis raw story peels back how
sin grows and what's simmeringinside before it blows up.
God accepts Abel's offering,but not Cain's.
Maybe Cain's heart wasn't in it, we don't know for sure.
Genesis, chapter 4, verse 5,says Cain was very angry and his
face fell.
That fallen face paints envyand shame.
Kurt Thompson says In anatomyof the soul shame is the feeling
(13:49):
that tells us something aboutus is fundamentally wrong.
Cain doesn't deal with it, heturns it on.
Abel God steps in saying inGenesis, chapter 4, verses 6-7,
why are you angry and why hasyour face fallen?
If you do well, will you not beaccepted?
And if you do not do well, sinis crouching at the door.
Its desire is contrary to you,but you must rule over it.
Sin's a beast waiting to pounce.
Walter Brueggemann says it's aforce with momentum.
(14:11):
If we don't stop it, it runs us.
James, chapter 1, verses 14-15,maps it.
Each person is tempted when heis lured and enticed by his own
desire.
Then desire, when it hasconceived, gives birth to sin,
and sin, when it is fully grown,brings forth death.
Cain's anger grew because hefed it.
What if he'd owned it, talkedto God or Abel?
We'll never know, but it's aquestion for us.
After God asks in Genesis,chapter 4, verse 9, where is
(14:33):
Abel, your brother, not for info, but to call Cain out.
His am I, my brother's keeper.
Shows sin's relational wreckage.
He's cursed to wander inGenesis, chapter 4, verse 12.
Violence isolates, likeMiroslav Volf says, in exclusion
and embrace.
Yet God marks him forprotection in Genesis, chapter 4
, verse 15.
Mercy and judgment.
Cain's violence echoes Lamech'sbribes in Genesis, chapter 4,
(14:54):
verses 23-24, about killing overa scratch.
Jesus flips it in Matthew,chapter 5, verses 38-39.
You have heard that it was saidan eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth.
But I say to you, do not resistthe one who is evil, but if
anyone slaps you on the rightcheek, turn to him the other.
Also, cain asks us to catchenvy early.
Rene Girard says we scapegoatto vent.
Jesus took it on to end it.
Haman and Esther is the schemer,nearly wipes out the Jews over
(15:16):
a personal beef.
He's a top dog under KingAhasuerus, expecting everyone to
bow.
Mordecai doesn't.
And Esther, chapter 3, verse 5,says when Haman saw that
Mordecai did not bow down or payhomage to him, haman was filled
with fury.
He tricks the king intogenocide in Esther, chapter 3,
verse 8.
Why so extreme?
Haman's pride couldn't take one, no, proverbs, chapter 16,
verse 18, says Pride goes beforedestruction and a haughty
(15:38):
spirit before a fall.
He's calculated.
John Maxwell says leaders shinein crisis, but Haman's vengeful
Esther and Mordecai flip it andHaman hangs in Esther, chapter
7, verse 10.
What's the lesson?
How do we handle slights?
James, chapter 4, verse 6, saysGod opposes the proud but gives
grace to the humble.
Are we using influence right?
Jesus says in Mark, chapter 10,verse 43, but whoever would be
(15:59):
great among you must be yourservant.
Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 32,pushes forgiveness.
Haman warns of bitterness' toll.
Paul's a wild card.
In Acts, chapter 9, verse 1, hesaw breathing threats and
murder against the disciples ofthe Lord, a Pharisee on a
rampage.
John Stott said Saul was socertain he was right that he
never paused to question whetherhe could be wrong.
Zeal without love blinds.
Then Acts, chapter 9, verse 4.
(16:20):
Saul, saul, why are youpersecuting me?
Jesus ties himself to hispeople, huge.
Saul's blind humbled.
And ananias prays in Acts,chapter 9, verse 15.
He's reborn Paul saying in 1Timothy, chapter 1, verse 15,
the saying is trustworthy anddeserving of full acceptance
that Christ Jesus came into theworld to save sinners, of whom I
am the foremost.
Paul warns against pride butshouts hope.
No one's too far.
(16:41):
Are we open to correction?
Do we give grace?
His story calls us to meetJesus and change Satan.
The accuser.
Job, chapter 1, verses 9 and 11, shows him betting.
Job's faith is fake.
Zechariah, chapter 3 has himaccusing Joshua.
God shuts it down.
Revelation, chapter 12, verse 10, calls him the accuser of our
brothers, who accuses them dayand night before our God.
Matthew, chapter 4 shows himtempting Jesus with twisted
(17:04):
truth and tea.
Wright says he pushes sensibleshortcuts.
John, chapter 8, verse 44,calls him a liar and the father
of lies, starting in Genesis,chapter 3, verse 1.
2 Corinthians, chapter 11,verse 14, says Satan disguises
himself as an angel of light.
1 Peter, chapter 5, verse 8,calls him a roaring lion seeking
someone to devour, but verse 9says resist.
(17:24):
Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 12,says the fight spiritual, use
God's armor.
James, chapter 4, verse 7, saysresist the devil and he will
flee from you.
Revelation 12.12 says histime's short.
Romans 8.1 and Colossians 2.15say Christ wins.
These villains mirror us pride,power, betrayal, violence,
bitterness, accusation, butGod's grace triumphs.
(17:45):
Romans 10.9 says if you confesswith your mouth that Jesus is
Lord and believe in your heartthat God raised him from the
dead you will be saved.
Pray with me, lord Jesus.
I need you.
I believe you died and rose forme.
Be my Lord, forgive me, make menew.
Amen.
If you prayed, hitwwwthecrossroadscollectiveorg
for help growing.
Thanks for joining, subscribe,share and let God's word guide
(18:06):
you.
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com