Factionalism can overpower a vision

By Derick Matsengarwodzi

Many authors have undertaken to illuminate the factual soul of factionalism in diverse establishments. Some have turned into overnight doyens on the aforementioned subject. Truly, it is their democratic right to try to highlight what they see unfolding in the near future.

Ultimately, factions seek to divide a whole. Therefore they are an evil that seeks to humiliate, infiltrate, sell out and dilute a nation’s vision. The initial story of division dates back to biblical is recorded in (Genesis 3: 4-5).

‘Then the serpent said to the woman, you will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’

A snake, an allegory of deception, facilitated the first known form of factionalism between men (Adam) and God, the Creator’s plan to make men live in peace and without sin, forever. The snake’s utterance is the first bite, defeating the harmony that existed within Eden.

In the end, Adam blamed his wife, creating animosity. God had no option but to bestow the punishment of abolishment on the three actors. This was a triumph of God’s will against the evil notion of factions. Let it be known that God’s will, will always win. Factionalism and its evil associates are just temporary setbacks.

Unfortunately, the act of divisions did not withdraw despite an apparent defeat.

When Sodom and Gomorrah became an eyesore to the Lord, He sought to annihilate it from the face of earth. Lot was a just man who found favour in the Lord. In Genesis 9: 14, a word came to Lot, saying, ‘Get up, get out of this place, for the Lord will destroy this city! But to his sons in law he seemed to be joking.’

Instead, they chose to divert God’s will, their offshoot faced humiliation because they perceived God’s will as a joke. Their refusal to heed God’s plan resulted in their faction subsequent elimination.

Lot’s wife also defied a clear instruction not turn back, but she did and became a pile of salt. The ultimate prize of defiance is ejection from the main body in the case of Adam and Eve who were spit out of Eden.

At the age of 17, Joseph was esteemed by his father more than his siblings. This created eternal animosity between him and the other children. The animosity multiplied when he told them of his dreams.

Even the deal to dispense him was divisive amongst his brothers. Genesis 37:20 reveals that, ‘Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, some wild beast has devoured him. We shall see what will become of his dreams!’

The brothers’ conviction was to his vision, but others were against this resolve, resulting in extra factions emerging amongst the existing ones. This then weakened their solidarity but enhanced Joseph’s survival odds. Finally, they sold him to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Joseph’s stay in Egypt was not rosy as more groups emerged to counter his advancement. Potiphar’s wife was one such. Her lust for Joseph was dissolved with resistance, and the only solution was for her to tell a lie, sending Joseph to prison.

Still, he found favour in confinement becoming a leader of prisoners. Finally, after a testing time, Joseph became a leader in a foreign land, proving that no amount of challenge could deter it.

Perseverance, discipline and commitment will definitely wither any challenge. Even after a visionary’s demise, his dream will survive. Despite what factions can do, they will never falter a vision.

A nation’s vision cannot be abandoned because there are recurrent challenges. Despite all, a vision must be persevered to the end. Moses was a defined deliverer of Israel, but his birth was mired in contestation. In his era, a decree was announced to eliminate all sons, but as visionary, he managed to escape. This was a defeat of the devil’s functionality.

When God appoints vision bearers, He will also anoint fitting successors at His own accord, not by majority or people’s consensus. So, when we debate a leader’s appointment, we are circumventing God’s will with our own canal minds. In Exodus 7: 1, ‘… see, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron you brother shall be your prophet.’

God knows His own flock. As much as we might try to wrestle His will, our efforts will surely be scattered. During the exodus of Israel out of Egypt, Moses confronted many factions including idolatry, criticism of his leadership and much more. Some even wished to return to captivity.

This is the dilemma of carrying a vision. Exodus 17: 3, says, ‘Why is it you have brought us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?’ Whenever confronted with minute deficit, their wish is to return to bondage, reducing their hard-earned freedom. Even some today are willing to trade their freedom for a smidgen of sugar.

A leader’s criticism stems even from his trusted lieutenants.

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses in Numbers 12: 2. ‘So they said, Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also? God’s response was imminent. ‘… (Numbers 12:8) why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?’ God protects his anointed ones.

There is punishment reserved for those who defy His servants. In this scenario, Miriam became a leaper. One cannot defy authority and remain unscathed.

A successful, successor is not a rebel. (Deuteronomy 34: 9) is clear. ‘Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirits of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.’

Without a blessing a successor will definitely fail. Without that, the nation will rebel against him. The laying of hands is a direct transfer of vision to the next phase. There has to be a consensus between the two, they cannot contradict each other.

Divisions in the bible are not limited to the Old Testament. Jesus’s tenure on earth was a constant argument with the Pharisees, scholars etc. regarding his authenticity. Until this day, some people are still waiting for a “messiah”. Visionaries are forthright.

Divisive elements including Judas are short sighted and are manipulated by the devil to delete a nation’s mandate. Fanning splits within any body can attract severe punishment or even imminent elimination. This is represented by Judas who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. In the end, Judas hanged himself in shame for his deeds.

Money can expose a nation’s vision to be sold out. Even when Judas sought to withdraw his bargain, the evil had already been done. It must be noted that factions attract negativity; they deserve to be eliminated before the body rots from within.

A vision for a community comes through an individual but it is collective (Acts 16: 9-10). It fulfilments depends on unity not divisions. A nation’s values are more central than mere egoistic returns. Even when you are absent when a vision is decreed, by virtue of a blood lineage, you are mandated to follow it. – Salvation Press News (SPN).