The difference between a contradiction and a paradox is that the former contains an irreconcilable set of facts where the latter does not. Contradictions are necessarily false, but a paradox only appears to be irrational. Common paradoxical sayings include “less is more” and “the only constant is change.” The paradox is a helpful literary device that the Bible also makes use of. Here is one example.
Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God. Therefore when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget. (Deut. 25:17–19)
Israel was instructed to “remember” what Amalek did, then to “blot out the memory of Amalek” and ends with the directive “you shall not forget.” How’s that for a brainteaser?
First, what did Amalek do? He followed after the fatigued Israelites in the desert and made war by ruthlessly murdering the slowest ones. He would have killed the women, children, elderly and lame before engaging Israelite soldiers. (It was the battle in Exodus 17 where Israel was victorious as long as Moses kept his staff raised.) It’s to this merciless tactic that God is referring when He said the Amalekites “cut off your tail.”
Second, how are we to reconcile the instructions to “remember,” “blot out the memory” and “you shall not forget”? Note how personally God took Amalek’s evil tactic. God demanded their attention by telling them to “remember.” He called them to action for the harm that was caused due to Amalek’s failure to fear God. The act of “blotting out the memory” was not an instruction to forget, but a turn of phrase meaning that the nation should be utterly destroyed—that there should not be one person left to carry on their name. Finally, God’s closing comment “do not forget” was like saying, “I’m serious!” This is carefully crafted language designed to emphasize a point important to God.
This is more than merely an interesting analysis of a biblical literary tool. It is symbolic of how believers should view their sin. The law-breaking patterns of your past are as ruthless and harmful to you as Amalek was to Israel. The Evil One shows no decency in battle just as temptation is not concerned with etiquette. It will seek you out at your weakest and most vulnerable moments. For that reason, God mandates that you treat those in the same manner that Israel was commanded to deal with the Amalekites.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (Col. 3:5–8)
Look again at that list. Do any of those crop up at weak moments and seek to “cut off your tail”? Is there any form of impurity, any remnants of jealousy, do you indulge in fits of anger, do you damage the reputation of others or speak in a crude or offensive manner? Remember the destruction they caused and wipe out their memory. Do not forget!
If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, then Christians must choose to be serious about that which God is serious. Kill those sins! Ask God to cause you to remember to utterly destroy those sinful patterns. Don’t forget!
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Rom. 6:13–14)