Passive Voice of Biblical Proportions.

Posted bySteven WalesPosted inConfession, Integrity Builds CourageTags:, , , , , ,

You know what passive voice is? It’s the opposite of Jocko Willink’s “extreme ownership.” Writers and English teachers deride passive voice because it is an attempt to conceal the cause of things, such as when you say, “the lamp fell and broke,” rather than “I broke the lamp.”

In Exodus 32, Aaron employs passive voice. After Aaron listened to the people, collected thousands of pieces of gold jewelry, melted it and molded it into a golden calf, Moses asked him what happened. 

“They brought me their gold, I cast it into the fire, and out came this calf.” 32:24.

What? It just magically popped out? If you’ve ever sculpted anything, you know that’s not true. Aaron put a LOT of work into his idolatry. But he was afraid to face Moses and speak honestly about it. So he used passive, rather than active voice.

When you sin, don’t diminish it. Let’s be honest about it. Take ownership. True confession is the first step toward repentance and real change.

ΑΩ

Published by Steven Wales

Dad's Daily Devotional began as text messages to my family. I wanted my teenagers to know their father was reading the Bible. But they were at school by then. Initially, I sent them a favorite verse or an insight based on what I read each day. That grew into drafting a devotional readng which I would send them via text. I work as an attorney and an adjunct professor, and recently wrote a book called HOW TO MAKE A'S.

Leave a comment