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It is an ego trip for some to know something others don't. Of
course, if those around them are unaware of their ignorance, the joy
of knowing is diminished. So, a bit of baiting is called for. The
techniques vary from silly to stupid -- they are never sophisticated.
This "bait" becomes the whole morsel to the one that receives it;
unless he can pump more out. But if not, that will have to be his
meal for that day. He will add that piece to others from different
sources in an attempt to form a more complete picture. In doing so,
he will share his bit (a kind of barter) in discussions with others.
The more "others" the better. Additional pieces of information are
added or discarded as seems best.
Both the baiter and the baited are in the wrong. Together they
create rumor and spread it. All to satisfy both their quests for
self-esteem (in their search for meaningful hints about the future).
Christ's prophecy that "he that exalts himself shall be abased" seems
to have been overlooked in their quest for meaningful hints about the
future. Their goal is to be exalted in the eyes of those around them.
That may be their only reward.
Or, it may not. When the blind lead the blind in this way,
it is not only they that fall into the ditch. Hundreds may fall
with them, because the conclusions they arrive at and spread usually
have an ugliness and a viciousness about them that could make a
"little one" stumble. If that happens, another reward may be the
promised millstone.
People do appear to have an ungodly fascination with the negative
and ignoble. The worse the rumor, the faster it travels. Presumably
more want to hear it and tell it.
That is not God's way at all. When David was driven from Jeru
salem during Absolom's rebellion, he was eager for news. When he
was told Ahimaaz was running he said, "He is a good man and comes with
good news" (2 Sam. 18). That may seem like a shallow observation but
it is preserved in God's Word for our learning. David knew that
Zadok's son liked to deliver good news. Unlike 98% of rumor passers,
he hated to give bad news. If Ahimaaz was running that hard, he had
to have good news. To David, that made him a good man. Some com
mentaries state that Ahimaaz did not know of Absolom's death which
was bad news for David. They assume the best. Others feel he did.
That may reflect the commentaries fascination with the unbeautiful.·
Either way, Ahimaaz was eager to tell the King his throne was restored.
That was good news.
Ahimaaz, like a tree, is still known by his fruits --in this
case, the words that came from his mouth. Christ, about to be given
the same throne, said "A good man out of the good treasure of his
heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the
evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: fo� of
the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" ( Luke 6). •
To God, builders and suppliers of ugly.rumors reveal more about
themselves than they do about the truth of the people and events
they seek to report. He said He will have a little chat with them
about it in �he future (Matt. 12:36).