What Shall It Profit A Father If He Sacrifices His Own Daughter For Blood Money?

Just a week ago, we heard the sad news of how a father took his own biological daughter to a herbalist to be sacrificed for blood money. The herbalist thought it was not right and so called the police to arrest the man and blow his cover in the media. The father apparently returned to Ghana and picked the child from school deceiving her he was getting her a dress not knowing he had such ulterior motives. But for the intervention of the herbalist, this young girl would have died for her father’s greed.

The major question on my mind is: what motivates a man to decide to sacrifice someone to get money? At this point, many people will offer varied opinions about this but I would like to offer biblical answers for this.

Blood money, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary, is “money obtained at the cost of another’s life.”

Here are 4 reasons why this man did what he did:

#1. He Is Sinful

The first reason the Bible offers for utter shocking behavior like this is that this man is sinful. The fallen man can do inconceivable things that will shock the human race. In Romans 5, Paul tells us that through sin, death entered the world. Genesis 4 buttresses this assertion in the sense that after the fall of man in Genesis 3, we saw death rearing its ugly head with Cain killing Abel. The first fitting reason we can offer for this sad story is that sin dominates the heart of the unrepentant soul.

#2. He Is Evil

The next reason we can offer for this man’s act of quick money is sheer act of evil and wickedness. The Bible says that the heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Cain planned in his heart to kill his own biological brother because he was envious of him (Genesis 4). 1 Timothy 6:10 says that, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” A sinful heart is wicked and evil.

#3. He is Greedy

The next thing we can look at is that the father is plainly greedy. Having Ghc10,000 on him which he could have used to start a business or even invest and get more money with time, he decided to rather multiply it over time. Greed in his heart caused him to do what he did. The Bible says in Luke 12:15 that, “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions’”. Greedy people are never content with what they have. They always want more like Oliver Twist.

#4. He Wants Instant Riches

Just as mentioned above, this father had some money he could have used to start or continue with life but he chose to go the shortcut way to pursue instant riches. Waiting is too much work for such people. They want it and they want it now! They can’t wait to invest and get legitimate money. It’s as if they don’t get it now, the world will crumble. Hear the advice of Proverbs 13:11, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow”. May we apply our heart to wisdom.

Now, let me conclude by offering a lasting solution to the aforementioned conditions. This man needs Jesus Christ. He needs a total overhaul of his soul. He needs to be snatched from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Christ. He is not the worst person ever to appear on earth. Consider King David in the Bible. He slept with another man’s wife, killed the man and married the wife. Totally unacceptable and despicable. But when he truly repented, God forgave him and restored him. Yes, the law should take its course (it is biblical) but more than that, he can also be saved by Christ. Mark 8:36 says, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” If this father looks to Christ, he will be made anew and welcomed to the kingdom of Christ.

May God have mercy on his soul.

What have you learnt from this story? Share your lesson with us.