Despite its big star (Chris Hemsworth) “In the Heart of the Sea”, a movie about the events that were the inspiration for Melville’s “Moby Dick”, didn’t do very well at the box-office. Probably because it included scenes of sailors stranded out on an endless stretch of ocean resorting to cannibalism to survive. (It was perversely ironic that they avoided the closest land because they thought the inhabitants were cannibals.) Regardless, it’s simply not something many want to see, even in the relatively safe confines of a movie theater.

One of the many sad events in the OT took place in the days of Elisha when the Syrian king attempted to capture Samaria, Israel’s capital city. The siege lasted so long that the residents were paying ransoms for delicious delicacies like donkey’s heads and bird poop. Yes, bird poop. But the worst scene of all was when the king was walking on the wall and a woman approached to lodge a complaint and ask for him to act as judge between her and another woman. When granted permission to speak she explained how another woman had backed out of the deal to share food. She had boiled, and they had eaten her son, but the other woman hid her son when it was time to eat him (2 Kings 6:24-29).

The king of Israel was rightfully horror stricken at the story and angry. But he blamed the wrong person. Instead of admitting that his sin and the sin of his father and mother (Ahab and Jezebel) had brought wrath on the nation he decided it was Elisha’s fault. And by extension that meant it was God’s fault. Since he couldn’t touch God he decided that Elisha was going to die (2 Kings 6:30-31). Like his father and mother who had mocked and threatened Elisha’s mentor, Elijah, he thought that silencing God’s messenger would change the message.

Don’t for a moment think we’re any better today. Try telling people they’re living in sin, or that they may be wrong in their understanding and their wrath will descend upon you. The truth isn’t what most people want to hear, especially when it involves being told we must change how we live our own life. In some ways cannibalism isn’t much worse than the nastiness some will pour out on the poor soul bold enough to tell them what they need to hear. Refuse to be silenced by people who don’t want to hear the truth, but speak with gentleness and love. And don’t try to silence those who tell you the truth. Listen with honesty and a willingness to change. Your soul may depend on it.