But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Jude 1:9 NIV
Rebuke
A viral clip of a B.C. skier attempting to jump over the Rideau Canal during the winter of 2025 earned a stern rebuke from Parks Canada. Tai How gapped the Ottawa Locks of the Rideau Canal and the attempt was recorded in a slow-motion video. It shows him taking off and just barely making it to the other side of the 33-foot gap and it garnered tens of thousands of views and reshares across social media platforms. Parks Canada, which operates the Rideau Canal, put out a statement condemning it.
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Every one of us has to deal, at one time or another, with being wronged by someone else – false accusations, a personal attack, criticism that cuts deeply. In the flesh, we want to lash out to such attacks. But Jude tells us something striking in Jude 1:9: “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!'” The Lord rebuke you. Michael had authority, strength, and righteousness on his side—and here he chooses restraint. He understood something we often forget: rebuke belongs ultimately to God. There is a humility here that speaks straight to the heart. This verse reminds us that spiritual maturity is not proven by how loudly we speak, but by how deeply we trust. There are battles we are not meant to fight with our own words. There are moments when silence, prayer, and surrender are the strongest acts of faith. If you are in a conflict today hear this gently: you don’t have to control the outcome. Allow the Lord to have the last word.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley