Losing the Ark

After Ruth, the Israelite story shifts to Eli, the prophet, and his son’s. The sons are abusing their father’s power and Eli is warned there will be consequences, not for his person but his family and his reputation. This is one of the incidents that make me think the Bible is not just for the church but for all of us and for our daily and  business lives; a precursor of Aesop and his moral fables. The lesson here is that the stigma of a misuse of power, even a dishonourable deed, not only affects the perpetrator but their parents and clings to a family for at least another generation. In the case of Eli’s sons, it affected the war with the Philistines; even bringing their most miraculous artefact, the Ark of the Covenant, didn’t save them, in fact, they lost the Ark. That brings a warning for business managers, executives and owners that dishonest trading kills a business for years. Individuals and even governments that promise things they cannot produce will suffer consequences, not only for the moment but in the future.  Not only that, their actions will enhance the reputation of those they cheat, their rivals, making them appear victims.