Check Your Character--The Challenger

Jonah; Exodus 18:13-27; John 11

We are walking in today:  Check Your Character--The Challenger

Witness challenge/challenger throughout the Complete Jewish Bible:  one who causes another to take part in a competition--athletically, intellectually or in battle
1 Samuel 17:10, 17:16, 17:25-26, 17:45; Jeremiah 50:24; Psalms 66:7, 78:41, 95:9; Daniel 8:25; Acts 5:8; Hebrews 3:9

In our review of our characters and the characteristics in the community, we come to look at the 'challenger'.  These are the people who ask questions on top of questions.  This is for there understanding--by asking questions.  This is not necessarily intended to be disrespectful but this is their process to understand the process or instruction.  There are other elements to the challenger based on being a high level or low level challenger.  The low level challenger is seeking these answers to assist the community.  That they will obtain the details needed for processing the information to keep the direction and intentions of the community on the correct path.  The questions of why much like when a child will ask the same--can cause you to consider and really look at the reasons behind the 'why'.  When this is done for understanding or for a review of a situation it brings about a discussion to address an issue.  When the questions are to be a disrespectful toward leadership, then you have a high level challenger who is not seeking the benefit of the community--they feel that they are above and have no need to relent from this pursuit of questions.  This type of activity, in some cases undermines or derails the focus of the group. 
As we see in the book of Jonah we have the prophet who decided to go another route than he was instructed and obtained passage on a ship.  While he was down below sleeping, the sailors were fighting the storm and crying out to find why the winds and waves were so rough with them.  In there pleas to various gods they eventually come to ask Jonah about his background to see if this storm was because of him.  Fiveamprayer we have to know who is on the boat with us.  We don't have to throw anyone over board but we must be aware of those that we engage with--is this is a wise association.  Does this person get to receive an all access pass to the information of the community?  The challenger can actually bring about solutions to a problem because of their questions they are looking and searching things out, to find a better way or process.  As Jethro told Moses that he must teach the children of Israel, the laws of Yahweh so that the people are not wore out nor Moses himself!  The were people divided into groups and judged by righteous men by various levels and only the most difficult decisions brought to Moses.  To hear more of the awesome teaching click here.