The Curse of Alcoholic Drink - part 1
Proverbs 20:1
“1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
One of the many curses that man brings upon himself is liquor. It is something that offers trouble to those who produce it, those who sell it and those who consume it. It affects many decisions that are made and a major factor in family break-ups and in many tragic deaths. Yet society sees the production and consumption of liquor as a very real and even necessary part of society.
This week this writer was at a store purchasing some parts for a plumbing repair. The clerk showed where the parts were and recommended a couple of shots of rum would be in order before doing the repair to make sure it was done right. A couple of shots of rum would dull the mind and cause the individual to be less careful, not more so. The man stated that a steady hand was necessary to do the job properly and it was obvious he did not have a steady hand as he did his work. Probably due to his drinking, and possibly when he was drunk, his hands did not shake so much, however that is an assumption as this writer does not know the man.
When we look at the matter of wine in this context, it is not necessarily referring to just one type of alcoholic drink. It is used in a general sense to speak of the entire realm of alcoholic drinks. Wine in the Bible can refer to alcoholic drink or it can refer to fresh grape juice. The context of the passage will make this clear. Many people ignorantly look to John 2 where we read that Jesus turned water into wine and they use that as a defence for consuming alcoholic drinks.
There are several things that help us to understand that what Jesus made in John 2 was not alcoholic drink at all.
1. Jesus never sinned.
Habakkuk 2:15
“15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!”
When God pronounces a woe upon someone it is not a good thing. It is a warning of judgment. It is not something that pleases God. It is something that God says because of man’s sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21
“21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Jesus Christ never sinned. He did not even have any sinful thoughts. He was without sin and that is why He could die on the cross for mankind. Thus we know that Jesus did not turn water into alcoholic wine in John 2 because He never sinned and causing someone to consume liquor is sin.