1 Maccabees 13:12-16: a reflection

12Tryphon left Ptolemais with a mighty army to enter into the land of Judah, and Jonathan was with him under guard. 13But Simon encamped at Adida, near the plain. 14Tryphon knew that Simon had risen up in the place of his brother Jonathan, and meant to join battle with him, so he sent ambassadors to him, saying, 15“It is for money which Jonathan your brother owed to the king’s treasury, by reason of the offices which he had, that we are detaining him. 16Now send one hundred talents of silver and two of his sons for hostages, so that when he is released he may not revolt against us, and we will release him.”

Simon faces a treacherous enemy in Tryphon, who holds his brother Jonathan hostage and demands money and Simon's own sons as further hostages, promising to release Jonathan in return. But Tryphon is a deceiver; his promises cannot be trusted. Simon is in an impossible position, dealing with a foe who will not keep his word whatever Simon does. He must act wisely, without being naive about the treachery he faces, in a situation another's deceit has created.

Notice the impossible situation created by another's treachery: Simon must deal with a foe who will not keep his word, whatever he does. Tryphon's promises were worthless; whether Simon complied or not, the treacherous enemy could not be trusted to keep his word. Simon faced a no-win situation, created not by his own fault but by another's deceit; and he had to act wisely in it, without naively trusting the deceiver's promises, doing what he could while knowing the treachery he faced.

That kind of situation, created by another's treachery, is one we may face too. Sometimes we are put in impossible positions by the deceit or treachery of others, situations where whatever we do, the deceiver cannot be trusted, and there is no clean or easy path. In such situations, we must act wisely, without being naive about the treachery we face, doing what we can while not trusting the untrustworthy. When you are put in an impossible position by another's treachery or deceit, do not be naive, trusting the promises of one who cannot be trusted; act wisely, doing what you can, without being deceived by empty promises. And where the situation is beyond your control, created by another's deceit, entrust the outcome to God, who is not deceived and who judges the treacherous. Act wisely and without naivete in situations another's treachery creates, trusting God with what you cannot control, rather than being either paralyzed or deceived by the treachery you face, as Simon had to act wisely against the treacherous Tryphon.

Lord, Simon faced a treacherous enemy in Tryphon, who held his brother hostage and demanded money and Simon's own sons, promising release in return; but Tryphon was a deceiver whose promises could not be trusted, and Simon was in an impossible position, dealing with a foe who would not keep his word whatever he did. Show me the impossible situation created by another's treachery: Simon had to act wisely, without being naive about the treachery, in a situation another's deceit had created. That kind of situation I may face too. Sometimes I am put in impossible positions by the deceit or treachery of others, situations where whatever I do, the deceiver cannot be trusted, and there is no clean or easy path. In such situations, I must act wisely, without being naive about the treachery, doing what I can while not trusting the untrustworthy. When I am put in an impossible position by another's treachery, keep me from being naive, trusting the promises of one who cannot be trusted; help me act wisely, doing what I can, without being deceived. And where the situation is beyond my control, help me entrust the outcome to you, who are not deceived and who judge the treacherous. Help me act wisely and without naivete in situations another's treachery creates, Lord, trusting you with what I cannot control, rather than being either paralyzed or deceived by the treachery I face. Give me wisdom against treachery, and help me entrust the outcome to you.