June 26, 2026

Business by the Book

Matthew 12:14-15 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence…

There is a time to stand and fight and there is a time to retreat. The difficulty is knowing what time it is. Jesus knew that there was a powerful group of people which desired nothing more than to destroy Him. So, He withdrew Himself.

Earlier in Matthew (10:23) He instructed His followers to retreat:  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another… Our Lord has never lost a battle; He did not retreat because He was afraid. He knew that there was much work yet to be done in His earthly ministry before the final showdown took place. His retreat was a tactical decision and it was the right thing to do.

Someone once coined the phrase “bull in a China shop.”  This is a tremendous word picture. Imagine a 2,000 or more pound bull walking through a China shop. The nearest thing I can imagine as a China shop is our neighborhood Gene Allen Hallmark store. They have dozens upon dozens of glass curios, statues, Precious Moments figurines and other assorted delicate merchandise. I can just picture my dad’s Angus bull in that shop. If the store has a “you break it you buy it” policy, my dad would have to buy out the entire store if his bull was turned loose in there.

Individuals who do not know the time, nor have humility, wisdom, or control of their pride are like bulls in the China shop. They break things needlessly, they fight battles that would be better left for another day, and oftentimes they sound charge at the most inopportune moments.

Take a note out of the Lord’s playbook, sometimes it is time to stand and fight, and sometimes it is time to retreat. The key is to know what time it is.

Dr. William Howe