A Laconic Answer - Sparta & Macedonia

This story, another famous anecdote about the Spartans’ bravery, is from the time of Philip of Macedon (382-336 B.C.), who forcibly unified most of Greece’s cities.

"Long ago the people of Greece were not united, as they are today. Instead there were several cities and states, each with its own leader. King Philip of Macedon, a land in the northern part of Greece, wanted to bring all of Greece together under his rule. So he raised a great army and made war upon the other states, until nearly all were forced to call him their king. Sparta, however, resisted.

"The Spartans lived in the southern part of Greece, an area called Laconia, and so they were sometimes called Lacons. They were noted for their simple habits and their bravery. They were also known as a people who used few words and chose them carefully; even today a short answer is often described as being 'laconic.'

"Philip knew he must subdue the Spartans if all of Greece was to be his. So he brought his great army to the borders of Laconia, and sent a message to the Spartans.

"'If you do not submit at once,' he threatened them, 'I will invade your country. And if I invade, I will pillage and burn everything you hold dear. If I march into Laconia, I will level your great city to the ground.'

"In a few days, Philip received an answer. When he opened the letter, he found only one word written there.

"That word was 'IF.'"

--The Book of Virtues
Edited, with Commentary, by William J. Bennett

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This is a comment from YouTube (The Greatest Speech in History? Alexander the Great & The Opis Mutiny - YouTube):  

"Phillip the II did not go all the way south into Sparta for a funny reason. He asked if he would be received as a friend or foe in the land and the Spartan council replied 'Neither.' He then angrily replied and advised the Spartans to surrender, for if they didn't, he would bring his armies into the country and burn Sparta to the ground. The Spartans replied 'If.'"

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This story reminds me of the 101st Division (U.S. Army) in Bastogne, Belgium in December 1944. The 101st Division was surrounded by the German Army and the Germans asked for their surrender. General McAuliffe sent them a written reply: “NUTS!”

Bastogne: The First Eight Days

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Alexander the Great - Lion Amongst Men

Daniel 2:21: "And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding." 

Daniel 8:20-22: "The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." 

Romans 13:1: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." 

The influence of Alexander the Great can be seen to this day: the Greek New Testament is being taught in Christian Bible colleges and seminaries all over the world. I have always thought that the Lord put Alexander the Great in power so as to defeat the Persian Empire. The New Testament is probably more readable in the Greek than in the Persian language.

Genesis 9:27:  "God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant."

Alexander the Great and the Tower of Babel (34:45 - 35:25)

Alexander the Great