Ai

When the Israelites had taken Jericho, they went trying to Ai and were repulsed. According to the story, all the precious metal was reserved for God yet one of the men had taken and hidden some for himself. In other words, the organisation was rotten from within. It’s like a takeover of a business but one of the parent company’s people has set an asset aside for himself. The same is true of a relationship where one partner has kept alive part of an old relationship. The new relationship is doomed. Or a business selling flowers that tries to keep something from the old butchery, selling sausages, maybe, going as well.

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Samson's hair

I want to look at the Samson story in the Bible and what lessons it has for the reader as far as ordinary life is concerned. I don’t for a minute believe his strength depended on the length of his hair, so there must be some other reason for telling the tale. Samson married someone from a group that was opposed to his own but this isn’t about racial purity but about sensibly having a partner who shares your philosophy in life. That shared ideal applies in all walks of life, marriage, business and social. Then Samson tells Delilah where his strength lies and is betrayed. That’s a warning not to expose your weakest areas to anyone you can’t trust, in fact anyone with an interest in hurting you. Then we have the denouement and Samson takes revenge on his tormentors but kills himself in the process. Taking revenge often has that effect, in personal relationships, in general life and in business. It is always better to look at what is best for you, your relationship, or your business, than how you can damage the opposition.