Fake News is not New

Just a thought... Fake News is Not New..
I was reading in 2 Samuel 13 today.. you know how it is when you re read something and and something new jumps out at you. Well, that was the case this morning.  I was reading along about how a very bad thing happened to a mans' sister. She was shamed and he carried a grudge about this for several years until he found a way to pay him back by having him murdered. The story is as old as time itself...you hurt me so I will hurt you. That is not what stood out to me this morning.
In the story, ( much paraphrased) there were many of the Kings sons attending the event where the murder occurred. Media news at the time, did not happen quite as fast back then as it does today. So, somehow, the King received the news that All the sons were killed, not just the one. Naturally, this caused quit a reaction. The people all started crying and ripping their clothes, putting on ashes and carrying on as so many deaths at one time affected a great many people. There was of course talk of retaliation. Just at the height of their mourning, they get the News Flash..FAKE NEWS !!! Only one son was murdered. The others are on their way home. Naturally, the real news, although still bad, was not as bad as the fake news.
Today, fake news causes the same intensity...it is meant to cause an immediate stirring of emotions. Anger, injustice, a jump to conclusions are all part of the intended consequences.
The word says there is nothing new under the sun. The use of fake news to cause rioting, murder, protest, all manner of political unrest and a general division of people, governments, churches, families and communities is nothing new. The reactions are the same wether the news is given by someone on horseback or by CNN.
My challenge for you today is to not IMMEDIATELY react. Hard as this is to do, let us all take a step back and remember that regardless of how bad the news is...faked or real...It is not new to God, it has happened before, people have survived and life will continue until the Lord returns.