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In Genesis, after Sarah passes away, Abraham decides it’s time to find a spouse for his son Isaac.
He instructs his servant with one task: Locate her in Haran. (Check out the video at the top of this article.)
Why Haran? Earlier in Genesis, Abraham had “made souls” there.
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Haran was undoubtedly a place receptive to goodness.
Abraham held a belief that modern society frequently overlooks: Culture is the most crucial aspect of a location and its inhabitants.
“Abraham held a belief that modern society frequently overlooks: Culture is the most crucial aspect of a location and its inhabitants,” the author states. (iStock)
How can we identify a positive culture today?
The answer can be found in Exodus, where God reveals His own attributes to Moses — referred to as the Thirteen Attributes.
“Repeatedly, the Bible highlights one characteristic to identify admirable leaders.”
One characteristic stands out: slow to anger.
This quality repeatedly distinguishes leaders worth following throughout the Bible.
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When Abraham’s nephew Lot creates significant issues — after Abraham had enriched him — Abraham could have easily reacted in anger.
Instead, he keeps his composure, proposes separation, and allows Lot to choose his path.
Rachel and Moses later face public slurs but also display restraint: No revenge, no fury; they remain completely composed.
“When Abraham’s nephew Lot creates significant issues — after Abraham had enriched him — Abraham could have easily reacted in anger. Instead, he keeps his composure, proposes separation, and allows Lot to choose his path.” (iStock)
These instances reject the prevalent culture of their time: the honor culture.
In an honor culture, a “real man” is quick to take offense and retaliate fiercely.
On the other hand, there’s a contrasting culture where people are easily angered.
“God prohibits favoritism towards the wealthy or the poor, emphasizing character and merit over victimhood,” the author notes.
This is known as the victim culture.
The key distinction between honor and victim cultures lies in their response to offense.
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In the honor culture, the typical response is to fight; in the victim culture, it’s to complain.
God dismisses both cultures and reminds the Jews to remember they were “strangers” in Egypt, not slaves, to avoid a victim mentality.
In Leviticus, God forbids showing favoritism to the rich or the poor, and emphasizes valuing merit and character above victimhood.
Mark Gerson, the author of “God Was Right,” states that “the Bible encourages us to create a different kind of culture — one centered on dignity.” (Fox News Digital)
However, in contemporary America, many institutions foster a victim culture, prompting individuals to identify and report microaggressions and unconscious biases.
Being quick to anger in both honor and victim cultures leads to various issues for numerous reasons.
Research suggests that ongoing rapid anger can result in heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, migraines, memory issues, risky behaviors, and weakened immune responses.
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The Bible urges us to cultivate a culture based on dignity.
A dignified culture comprises individuals who act thoughtfully and strategically, in contrast to those in victim and honor cultures, who react to circumstances.
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A dignified culture is characterized by individuals who take accountability, exercise restraint regarding violence, maintain a clear focus on their mission and purpose, are thankful for what they possess, and choose their words with care.
Therefore: God was indeed right!
Culture plays a vital role in human well-being — and the biblical standard of a dignity-centered culture serves as a model for the society we should strive to create.
Mark Gerson’s upcoming book is “God Was Right: How Modern Social Science Proves the Torah Is True,” published by BenBella Books and slated for distribution by Simon & Schuster (June 2025). This article is part of an exclusive series featured by Fox News Digital.
