QT 19 Aug 11, Don't take advantage of other's misfortunes

Jer 49:1-6 (NIV) Concerning the Ammonites:

This is what the Lord says:

"Has Israel no sons?

Has she no heirs?

Why then has Molech taken possession of Gad?

Why do his people live in its towns?

. . .

4 Why do you boast of your valleys,

boast of your valleys so fruitful?

O unfaithful daughter,

you trust in your riches and say,

'Who will attack me?'

5 I will bring terror on you

from all those around you,"

 declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

"Every one of you will be driven away,

and no one will gather the fugitives.

6 "Yet afterward, I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites,"

 declares the Lord.

NOTE: The king of Ammon had conspired in the assassination of Gedaliah.  They now seize some of the territory of Gad.  Jeremiah's point is that the heirs of Gad rightfully own the land given to them by God.  Ammon does not have right to it.  Interestingly, in verse 4, God calls Ammon a "unfaithful daughter" apparently in reference to her forefather Lot.  She has completely forgotten Lot's faith and now serves a foreign god.  Ultimately Babylon takes captive Ammon as well.  She reappears in the story of the Maccabees and is quite possibly Arabia today.  Unfortunately, she is an enemy of Israel today. 

So what is the application?  Ammon seeks to take advantage of the difficult situation of another country.  God rebukes her for such thoughts.  There is a tendency for us to "take advantage" of another's misfortune by procuring an item at a very reduced price.  I don't think that honors God as a believer.  Obviously if we don't need the item, that is a different story.  But if there is something we want and we procure it through another's misfortune, why not pay fair price?  In which case, the individual is better off and we have a better conscience for the deal.