And the One in the Middle Stays Devoted to God: Isabella's Plight
...se she’s now dealing with the Satan once again in the form of Angelo. Isabella remains strong knowing that Angelo has the power to pardon. This situation is reminiscent of a story in the Bible where a Canaanite woman begs Jesus to save the life of her demon possessed daughter. (Matthew 15:21-28) Isabella knows Angelo holds the authoritative power to pardon her brother. The Canaanite woman knows Jesus has the ability to heal and save her daughter. Isabella is confident and knows she must go to the source of the power in order to see a change in the situation. How can Isabella be so confident that her efforts can change Claudio’s situation? Well, she has every right to be confident because she has her God and His word on her side. In Matthew 19:26, Jesus says “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”. Isabella is walking out, by faith, what she already knows to be true. Isabella then uses reverse psychology when she realizes Angelo has no intention of backing down on his decision. Just like a child of God with great devotion she pulls scripture out of her bag because it (scripture) is the sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:17) She asks Angelo how he would feel if God Himself judged him like his is judging Claudio. In Luke 6:37-38 Jesus states quite plainly how judgment works, "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.......For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Isabella knows how God works and understands that forgiveness is far better than judgment. For those who choose not to forgive, judgment is rendered and God’s judgment isn’t only an eye for an eye (Matthew 5:38) but is also “measure for measure”. When begging and reverse psychology fails, Isabella tries belittling Angelo by calling him an ignorant, proud man with “little brief authority” (Shakespeare II.ii.118). She even gets personal and asks Angelo to look deep inside his heart for the truth. Jesus, when He came to earth as a man, came to set man free from their past, present and future sins. Salvation through Jesus is the pathway to freedom and the acceptance of such is the gateway to heaven. Jesus says in Revelation 3:20 that He stands at the door (of the heart of man) and knocks and if any man hears His voice, He will enter. Jesus represents the truth, and heart is the doorway for that truth to enter. Isabella, as a last resort, asks Angelo to look inside himself for the truth because she knows that the truth will set man free. (John 8:31) Isabella is able to remain true to her morals and her convictions to this point. She leaves Angelo’s presence to tell her brother that her efforts have failed and he should prepare to die. She is sure that when Claudio hears what Angelo wants Isabella to do, he will support her in her denial of Angelo’s offer. After all they are brother and sister and quite possibly had the same religious upbringing. Isabella is sure that Claudio knows that “...to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (Corinthians 5:8) He doesn’t agree. In fact Claudio is afraid to die and states such. Isabella views Claudio’s request for her to think about Angelo’s offer upon as shameful and she becomes angry at him for even contemplating her succumbing to Angelo’s request. Isabella keeps her eyes on her God for she knows that “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (Matthew 5:37) Isabella is aware of the gray area in life and wants nothing to do with it as it is sure to bring evil. Isabella tells Claudio she is willing to die to save his life if a physical death were enough; but for Angelo’s lustful heart it isn’t. Isabella refuses to relinquish what is precious to her while Angelo is asking her to sell her soul to the devil. God has told his children “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) Isabella maintains this prayer to God deep inside “O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee” (Psalm 25:20) and continues escaping of the evil that surrounds her. Her soul belongs to God alone and her soul is what will live with Him forever. Up to this point Isabella’s ability to circumvent evil has been successful; but what she isn’t aware of is that a false prophet, the Duke, is coming to her with a proposition. Isabella accepts the Duke’s plan which entails Isabella’s acceptance of Angelo’s request. Isabella will come to Angelo at night. During that time Marianna, whose dowry was lost in a shipwreck and thus her impending marriage to Angelo was cancelled, will take part in a bait and switch. The plan is for Marianna to replace Isabella in Angelo’s bed. Isabella’s agreement to this plan is out of character for her. However, the Duke, disguised as a Friar, presents himself as a righteous man, one of God’s representatives on earth. It’s completely natural for Isabella to feel a spiritual kinship with him; and thus trusts the sheep, who is really a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Isabella sells out. The first time someone sol...