Difficult People: Devotions From Time Of GraceSample

The fox

Some people are difficult to deal with because they act like foxes. They’re always working an angle. They are driven by self-interest. There’s always a hidden agenda. They grin, but you can’t trust what’s behind it. Deceit is a regular part of their modus operandi. It’s sad, but you can never trust a fox. If you do, it will likely come back to bite you. 

Solomon was fed up with the damage foxes caused. He said, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom” (Song of Songs 2:15). The only way to effectively deal with foxes is to catch them in the act. Don’t try to catch one by yourself. It is essential to have witnesses to discussions and transactions. Verbal agreements with foxes are worthless because foxes manipulate the circumstances around them. Insist that foxes produce evidence to back up their claims. Rumors are not evidence. Make foxes go on the record, and be willing to go on the record yourself if you need to challenge one.

Herod was a political hack and was jealous of Jesus. He was out to get the Messiah. Jesus called him out publicly: “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal’” (Luke 13:32). It’s very hard to deal with foxes, and there is often a price to pay.