Jehovah dealt decisively because of their blatant lack of respect for the channel of communication that he was using on earth at that time." ... channel of communication that he was using on earth at that time."
Of course this is supposed to directly mirror the "faithful and discreet slave". Why does every authority figure in the Bible picture the faithful and discreet slave? I am so sick of this sort of mental intimidation that I don't know what to do with myself.
Man, I know what you mean. One of the last straws for me was the 2001 DC drama, which used a similar scare tactic, only the authority figure was Moses and the disrespecters were Korah, Nadab and Abiram. The drama was such a thinly disguised demand for unquestioning submission and obedience with threats of grave harm if not heeded that it was comical, in a sad way. It was a surreal moment for me, to be standing there after it was over feeling like I had spent the last half hour having a threatening, brass-knuckled fist waved in front of my face, while everyone around me was applauding like always. 'Oh wasn't that a great drama'.