1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Life Audio Hot Toy, their friends and faithful listeners, and 2 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: welcome to the Bible Explained podcast this lovely morning. We're 3 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: going to be in Second Chronicles twenty eight today, reading 4 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: only a short little passage, but man, it is filled 5 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: filled with content, so we're going to get into it 6 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: in just one second. Alrighty, faithful listeners, before we begin 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: today's episode, here's a quick word from a sponsor or two. 8 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: All right, faithful listeners. Like I said, we're not going 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: to read a lot today in scripture. We're only going 10 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: to read the first four verses. So let's read Second 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,599 Speaker 1: Chronicles twenty eight, verses one through four, and I will 12 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: be reading out of the web this morning. And I'm 13 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: going to be jumping around a lot in scripture today 14 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: actually because there's a lot we can discuss based upon 15 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: these first four verses. So I'll be reading primarily from 16 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: the web this morning, as I always do, but I'll 17 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: also be switching over to the NIV version as well. 18 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: And sometimes when I switch back and forth between versions, 19 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: I forget to mention which version I'm reading out of, 20 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: so I do apologize for that. So if I'm not 21 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: reading from the web, it is from the NIV as well. 22 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: Just to let you guys know, all right, faith listeners, 23 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: grab your cup of coffee or your cup of tea 24 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: this morning, and also your bibles. Let's read Second Chronicles 25 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: twenty eight one through four together. Ahaz was twenty years 26 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: old when he began to rain, and he reigned sixteen 27 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: years in Jerusalem. He didn't do that which was right 28 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: in Yahwe's eyes, like David his father. But he walked 29 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: in the ways of the kings of Israel and also 30 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: made molten images for the bales. Moreover, he burned incense 31 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: in the valley of the son of Hinham and burned 32 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: his children in the fire according to the abominations of 33 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: the nations, whom Yahweh cast out. Before the children of Israel, 34 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places and 35 00:01:54,760 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: on the hills and under every green tree. Meet a 36 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: brand new king in Israel's history. This guy was named 37 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: a Has, and a Has has the record for being 38 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: the worst king in Judah's history. What a record to hold. 39 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: It says that a Has was twenty years old when 40 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 41 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: It says he didn't do that, which was right in 42 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: Yahweh's eyes like David his father, but he walked in 43 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 1: the ways of the kings of Israel and also made 44 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: molten images for the bales. Now what's sad about this 45 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: is a Has, his father, as we talked about last week, 46 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 1: was a pretty decent king. In fact, there's no specific 47 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 1: sins mentioned that he did and his name was Jotham. 48 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: And even though he was a pretty good king, though 49 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: it never specifically mentions his amazing faith like some of 50 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: the other kings that we see in Judah's history, like 51 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 1: if they had really good faith in God, stories would 52 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: be told about that. But Jotham, it just says that 53 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: he was a good king and only briefly mentions the 54 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: spiritual aspects of Jotham's reign, which I personally believe means 55 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: that Jotham, though he was spiritual himself, didn't do much 56 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 1: to encourage the worship of Yahweh in his own kingdom. 57 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: He seemed to be more of a live and let 58 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: live kind of king. And I think Jotham's son, a 59 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: Has proves this point a little bit further because a Has, 60 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: it seems like, wasn't taught anything from his father. When 61 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: it comes to worshiping God. It says that when a 62 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:37,839 Speaker 1: Has began to reign when he was twenty years old, 63 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: he didn't do that which was right in Yahweh's eyes, 64 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: like David his father, But he walked in the ways 65 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: of the kings of Israel and also made molten images 66 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: for the bales. So he didn't follow the example of 67 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: the good kings of Judah. He followed the evil example 68 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: of the bad kings of Israel. Now, granted, every single 69 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: king in Israel's history was a bad king. Things were 70 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: not going well up north in Israel at this time, actually, 71 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: Asiria was about to come in and pretty much destroy Israel. 72 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: So Israel was not doing well at this point anyway. 73 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: But for some reason a Has was following the example 74 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 1: of the kings of Israel, not his own father, not 75 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:21,679 Speaker 1: his grandfather, not the other good kings that came before 76 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 1: down in Judah, but the bad kings of Israel. And 77 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: it says that he made these molten images for the bales. Now, 78 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: I actually have this nifty little bible. It's called the 79 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 1: Archaeological Study Bible, and it talks about all of the 80 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: different archaeological finds that correlate to scripture. So when I 81 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: was studying this passage for today, it actually says that 82 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: one of these little bail statues was found and it 83 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 1: had a picture of one in my Bible. And this 84 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: bail is depicted as being this like fearsome warrior that 85 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: holds a spear in one hand and a lightning in another. 86 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 1: I don't know what it is about, like ancient gods, 87 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 1: but every time you see a picture of one, you're 88 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: just like, yeah, that's definitely a demon. And I mean 89 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: it's it's interesting because scripture does call them demons. Certainly 90 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: looks like a little demon. But that is what a 91 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: has chose over Yahweh. He chose this fake little image 92 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 1: that pretends to be the almighty God instead of worshiping 93 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: the true Almighty God Yahweh. It says moreover, he burned 94 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 1: incense in the valley of the Sun of Hinham and 95 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 1: burned his children in the fire according to the abominations 96 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 1: of the nations, whom Yahweh cast out before the children 97 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: of Israel. Now this is talking about the worship of Malik. 98 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: You might not remember this because I haven't really delved 99 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: into Malik worship in quite a while. So what the 100 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 1: people would do in order to worship Mallock and gain 101 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: some sort of favor from him was they would sacrifice 102 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: their baby infant on the hands of this big bronze 103 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: statue that would be heated up to astronomical temperatures, and 104 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 1: the baby would be placed on these terribly boiling hands 105 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: while drums and music were playing in the background to 106 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: drown out the cries of the baby, while the parents 107 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 1: just looked on and watched their infant melt right in 108 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 1: front of them. I have a woodfire heater in my house, 109 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: and let me just tell you that if you touch 110 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: that thing when it's like seven hundred eight hundred degrees, 111 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: your flesh will just melt off your body. And I 112 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 1: do everything I can to make sure that my dogs 113 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: don't go near it, to make sure that when my 114 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: niece comes over, she doesn't go near it, or any 115 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: other person or child that's in my house. I don't 116 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: want them anywhere near that thing because they can get 117 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: seriously injured if they even touch it for a second. Yet, 118 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: parents would place their children on the hands of this 119 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: idol and watch as their child suffered right in front 120 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: of them. This was how disgusting Molik worship was, and 121 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: A has introduced this to Israel. We know that the 122 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: Israelites were somehow worshiping Malik before, very likely not with 123 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: the burning of the children at this point, but A 124 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: has introduced that he introduced the child sacrifice, and this 125 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: was a law against God because the children didn't belong 126 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: to Molik, they belonged to God. Exodus thirteen, verses one 127 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: and two says this Y always spoke to Moses, saying, 128 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: sanctify to me all the firstborn. Whatever opens the womb 129 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: among the children of Israel, both of man and animal, 130 00:07:55,920 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: it is mine. God wanted the children for himself, and 131 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: the reason he told Moses that every single Israelite needed 132 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: to dedicate their children to God was to save children 133 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: from fates like this one, fates of burning to death 134 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: and having their flesh melt off their bodies because their 135 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: parents wanted to sacrifice them to some other God. In fact, 136 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: I believe there's a verse in I think Jeremiah that says, 137 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: in my paraphrase, that God was disgusted with child sacrifice 138 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: because it never even entered his mind to do something 139 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: so filthy like that. He was disgusted with it God 140 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: hated child sacrifices. And yet when people read verses about 141 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: how God wants all the children sanctified to him, they 142 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: get like all up in arms about that. They're like, 143 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 1: how dare you know God command people to dedicate the 144 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: children to him? Well, maybe it's because God doesn't want 145 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,599 Speaker 1: parents sacrificing their own children. And you know, I'm just 146 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: gonna say this goes back to abortion as well. He 147 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: might be like, well, Jen, it has nothing to do 148 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 1: with abortion because the baby is in the womb, and 149 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 1: you know, child's sacrifice is disgusting because the baby was 150 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:15,439 Speaker 1: already born. Okay, but what difference does it make if 151 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: the baby is already born or not. That baby is 152 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: still a human being, whether he is six weeks old 153 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: in the womb or six months old outside of the womb, 154 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 1: he's a human being. But this was the reason why 155 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: God wanted the children to be dedicated to him, because 156 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: he loves little children and because he wants them to 157 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: be protected. And this was a way for God to 158 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: protect these little children by putting this law in place. 159 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: But he didn't just put that law in place. He 160 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: put other laws in place as well. For example, Leviticus 161 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: chapter eighteen verse twenty one says you shall not give 162 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: any of your children as a sacrifice to Mullik. You 163 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 1: shall not profane the name of your God, I Am Yahweh. 164 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: And then two chapters over Levitic twenty verses one through five, 165 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:06,679 Speaker 1: God pronounces the death sentence to any parent that sacrifices 166 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: their children to Malik. It says he always spoke to Moses, saying, moreover, 167 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: you shall tell the children of Israel. Any one of 168 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: the children of Israel or of the strangers who live 169 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: as a foreigner in Israel, who gives any of his 170 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: offspring to Malik, shall surely be put to death. The 171 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: people of the land shall stone that person with stones. 172 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 1: I also will set my face against that person and 173 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: will cut him off from among his people, because he 174 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: is given of his offspring to Malik, to defile my 175 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: sanctuary and to profane my holy name. If the people 176 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: of the land all hide their eyes from that person 177 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: when he gives of his offspring to Malik, and don't 178 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: put him to death, then I will set my face 179 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: against that man and against his family, and will cut 180 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: him off, and all who play the prostitute after him 181 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: to play the prostitute with Molik from among their people. 182 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: So God actually puts two safeguards in place right there. 183 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: He says, if anybody sacrifices their children to Malik, the 184 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: a death sentence must happen, because that little human baby 185 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 1: was killed, and the person who did that to their 186 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: child committed murder. But the second safeguard in place was 187 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: that God himself was going to turn his face against 188 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: that person. Because God knew that the people were not 189 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:19,439 Speaker 1: actually going to put anybody to death for sacrificing the 190 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: children to Malik. Instead, pretty much everybody would just join 191 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: in and sacrifice their own children as well, which is 192 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 1: why God says, if the people of the land all 193 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: hide their eyes from that person when he gives of 194 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: his offspring to Malik and don't put him to death, 195 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: then I will set my face against that man and 196 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: against his family and will cut him off along with 197 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: everybody else who plays the prostitute after him with Molik. 198 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: So God put many safeguards in place in order to 199 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: protect these children. He said, this is serious. I don't 200 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: want you sacrificing any of your children to Molok. I 201 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: want your children dedicated to me, and I will bless 202 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: your family if you dedicate your children to me instead 203 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: of to Malik. And he says, but if you don't 204 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: dedicate these children to me, and you sacrifice them to Malik, 205 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: then if the people don't put you to death, then 206 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: I will set my face against you, meaning God will 207 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: dole out the punishment that he feels is fit for 208 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: that person who sacrificed their own children to Molik. And 209 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 1: unfortunately a has a King of Judah, an Israelite man, 210 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: introduced this kind of idolatry into Israel. It says he 211 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: built this thing in the valley of the son of Hinnham, 212 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:40,199 Speaker 1: where he burned his children in the fire according to 213 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: the abominations of the nations, whom Yahweh cast out before 214 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 1: the children of Israel. And that's an important verse because 215 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: if you turn to Second Kings, chapter seventeen, verses thirteen 216 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 1: through eighteen, here's what this says about Israel, the neighbor 217 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: up north. It says, yet Yahweh testified to Israel and 218 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: to Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, turn 219 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, 220 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: according to all the law which I commanded your fathers 221 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding, 222 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: they would not listen, but they hardened their necks like 223 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: the neck of their fathers, who didn't believe in Yahweh 224 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: their god. They rejected his statutes and his covenant that 225 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,199 Speaker 1: he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he 226 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: testified to them. And they followed vanity and became vain, 227 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: and followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom 228 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 1: Yahweh had commanded them that they should not do like them. 229 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 1: They abandoned all the commandments of Yahweh their god, and 230 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: made molten images for themselves, even two calves, and made 231 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: an ashrarah and worshiped all the army of the sky 232 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 1: and served bail. They caused their sons and their daughters 233 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: to pass through the fire, used divination and enchantments, and 234 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: sold themselves to do that which was evil in Yahweh's sight, 235 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 1: to provoke him to anger. Therefore, Yahweh was very angry 236 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: with Israel and removed them out of his sight. There 237 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: was none left but the tribe of Judah only. So 238 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,959 Speaker 1: this is talking about when Assyria came in and pretty 239 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: much completely wiped out Israel. At this point in time 240 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: and took all of the Israeli people back to Assyria essentially, 241 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 1: And this was happening right around the time of King 242 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: a Has, by the way, and for some reason a 243 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: Has thought it was a good idea to look to 244 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: the kings of Israel and see what they were worshiping, 245 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 1: what they were doing. And it turned out not to 246 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: be a very good thing that he did. But going 247 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: back to an earlier point that I made that the 248 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: sacrifice of children to molik is similar to abortion, I 249 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: just want to say that God is forgiving. And here's 250 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 1: how we know that God is forgiving is because God 251 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: did forgive his people for all of these sins that 252 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: they committed. He was angry at his people for doing this. 253 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: He didn't want those little children to die because He 254 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: loves babies, and he loves little children because he created them. 255 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: They are part of his image. They are his people, 256 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: his image bearers, no matter how small they are. God 257 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: loves babies. He was angry with his people for doing this, 258 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: but he was not angry forever. He forgave his people. 259 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: We find this out in Ezekiel chapter twenty, verses forty 260 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 1: one through forty four. It says when I bring you 261 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: home from your exile, you will be like a pleasing 262 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: sacrifice to me, and I will display my holiness through 263 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: you as all the nations watch. Then, when I have 264 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: brought you home to the land I promised with a 265 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: solemn oath to give to your ancestors, you will know 266 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: that I am the Lord. You will look back on 267 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: all the ways that you defiled yourselves and will hate 268 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: yourselves because of the evil that you have done. You 269 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: will know that I am the Lord o people of Israel. 270 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,359 Speaker 1: When I have honored my name by treating you mercifully 271 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 1: in spite of your wickedness. I, the sovereign Lord Lord, 272 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: have spoken, and this was what God was going to 273 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: do for his people. He even said right before that 274 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: in verse thirty nine verbatim, go right ahead and worship 275 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: your idols, But sooner or later you will obey me 276 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: and stop bringing shame on my holy name by worshiping idols. 277 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: He says. Eventually you will worship me and I will 278 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: accept you. God is forgiving and he is merciful. In fact, 279 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: just a couple chapters before that, in Ezekiel eighteen, verses 280 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: twenty three through thirty two, these are some of my 281 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: favorite verses actually in the entire Bible. Here's what it says. 282 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: Do you think that I like to see wicked people die, 283 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not. I want them 284 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: to turn from their wicked ways and live. However, if 285 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 1: righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing 286 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be 287 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: allowed to live? No, of course not. All Their righteous 288 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: acts will be forgotten and they will die for their sins. 289 00:16:57,640 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: Yet you say the Lord isn't doing what is right. 290 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: Listen to me, o, people of Israel. Am I the 291 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: one that's not doing right? Or is it you? When 292 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing 293 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will 294 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: die because of their sinful deeds. And if wicked people 295 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: turn from their wickedness, obey the law and do what 296 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 1: is just and right, they will save their lives. They 297 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 1: will live because they thought it over and decided to 298 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 1: turn from their sins. Such people will not die. And 299 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:27,400 Speaker 1: yet the people of Israel keep saying the Lord isn't 300 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 1: doing what's right. Oh, people of Israel, it is you 301 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: who are not doing what's right, not I. Therefore I 302 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,400 Speaker 1: will judge each of you, O, people of Israel, according 303 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent and turn 304 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: from your sins. Don't let them destroy you. Put all 305 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,160 Speaker 1: your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart 306 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: and a new spirit. For why should you die, O, 307 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: people of Israel. I don't want you to die, says 308 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live. That is God 309 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: essentially begging his people to turn from their sins. He 310 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:04,880 Speaker 1: is begging them to live. I don't want you to die. 311 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: I think that verse is really beautiful and shows the 312 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 1: heart of God. He doesn't hate sinners, but he does 313 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:14,640 Speaker 1: hate the sin because the sin is what separates us 314 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: from him. The sin is what causes other people to 315 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,360 Speaker 1: get hurt, and not just other people, but the individual 316 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 1: whose sins as well. You know, there's so many women 317 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 1: out there that talk about how guilty they feel after 318 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 1: an abortion, how distraught it really was, and it's like 319 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: they're not even allowed to talk about that because if 320 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: they talk about that, people are either uncompassionate or they say, oh, yeah, right, 321 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:46,160 Speaker 1: you know, abortion is great and you don't have any 322 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: regret whatsoever, because you're supposed to think that abortion is 323 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,919 Speaker 1: a good thing, and man, I feel for those women. 324 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: The good news is that God loves you and that 325 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: He is merciful and kind, even if you went through 326 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: an abortion years ago. He is merciful and kind and 327 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: he accepts you. It says right here, if you turn 328 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: away from your wickedness and obey the law and do 329 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 1: what is just and right, you will save your life. 330 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: That is what God says about his people. And don't 331 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:21,160 Speaker 1: forget he's talking to the idolatrous Israelites and Judites that 332 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: were performing these child sacrifices, specifically talking to them. So 333 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 1: my encouragement to any woman who is listening that has 334 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 1: gotten an abortion, or any man that may have encouraged 335 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 1: his girlfriend or wife to get an abortion, hold on 336 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: to these truths that scripture says about how God loves 337 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: you and wants to free you from that sin and 338 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 1: from that guilt. And also to any person listening to 339 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: this that may be considering an abortion, I encourage you 340 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,640 Speaker 1: to go back to Exodus thirteen, verses one and two, 341 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: where it says, sanctify to me all the firstborn. Whatever 342 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of 343 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: man and of animal, it is mine. Those children belong 344 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 1: to God. Psalm one point thirty nine says that God 345 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: knit together that little baby in your womb, and that 346 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 1: baby belongs to God. Even if you don't know how 347 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: you're going to survive with a baby, because you feel 348 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: like you're not ready or you feel like you can't 349 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 1: possibly survive with a child, God knows that that baby exists. 350 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 1: God was the one who formed him or her in 351 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,479 Speaker 1: your womb. And if God knows that baby exists, I 352 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:41,159 Speaker 1: know wholeheartedly that he is going to take care of you, 353 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: and He is going to provide you with everything you 354 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,719 Speaker 1: need in order to take care of that baby. I 355 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: encourage you to look into some women's care centers in 356 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:55,360 Speaker 1: your area and find some help there. Those places are 357 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: ready and willing to help you. There's a few in 358 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,159 Speaker 1: my area that my church is partnered with over the 359 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,679 Speaker 1: years and that I have gone to dinners and different 360 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 1: events that they hold, and they do really, really good 361 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 1: work for these women. And some of the women went 362 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: up and you know, said their testimonies about how that 363 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 1: care center actually saved their lives and provided them with 364 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: shelter and food and clothing that they needed for their 365 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: babies and diapers and all sorts of stuff, and now 366 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 1: their babies are healthy and well and five or six 367 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 1: years old. These kind of resources do exist, and God 368 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: is going to take care of you, and he's going 369 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: to take care of that baby as well. Just dedicate 370 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:36,399 Speaker 1: your child to God and see how he works in 371 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: your life. It's always hard to talk about topics like 372 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,119 Speaker 1: this because they're very sensitive. And also this topic is 373 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,119 Speaker 1: hard because I know that there's a lot of women 374 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: and men out there that have been completely destroyed by 375 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: an abortion that they had. And if that's the case, 376 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 1: you have to acknowledge that, yes, you sinned. But when 377 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: you admit that and you confess your sin before God, 378 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: just see how merciful and kind He actually is. This 379 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: reminds me of the story back in the Book of 380 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: Genesis where Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery. They did 381 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: not know what happened to Joseph. They probably assumed that 382 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: he was dead after about two decades, and they were 383 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 1: racked with guilt when they went into Egypt. You could 384 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 1: tell that this was eating them alive for decades after 385 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: they had sold their brother into slavery. And yet God 386 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: worked that entire situation out for good, and Joseph was 387 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 1: the second command in all of Egypt. He started out 388 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 1: as a slave and yet, with God's help built his 389 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 1: way up to becoming the second in command, Pharaoh's right 390 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: hand man. And even after that, Joseph's brothers were still 391 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 1: feeling guilt. You can see this because after their father died, 392 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 1: when they were all living in Egypt together, the brothers 393 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,200 Speaker 1: kept saying to Joseph, They're like, are you gonna kill 394 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: us now that our father died? Like we are so 395 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 1: sorry for what we did to you. And Joseph was like, no, 396 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 1: don't let that guilt eat your entire life away, because 397 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 1: God is good and God is forgiving and merciful and 398 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 1: loving toward all of his people. Well, faithful listeners, this 399 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: episode was a heavier topic, but I hope it was 400 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 1: both convicting and encouraging for all of you guys. Now, 401 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 1: before I let you all go with a happy listening 402 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:32,399 Speaker 1: and God bless, here's a quick advertisement from one or 403 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: two of the sponsors, and then I will wrap things 404 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: up after that. Already, faithful listeners, I hope you have 405 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: a fantastic and wonderful rest of your day. If you 406 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:45,679 Speaker 1: have any more questions about this topic, don't hesitate to 407 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: reach out. I do read all of my emails and 408 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,400 Speaker 1: I try to respond to as many as I possibly can. 409 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 1: So if you have a question about any of this, 410 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,200 Speaker 1: you can find my contact information listed in the description 411 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,200 Speaker 1: of this episode. But also, faithful listeners, if you have 412 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,959 Speaker 1: a prayer request, don't hesitate to reach out about that 413 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:04,679 Speaker 1: as well, and I will write you down in my 414 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: little prayer journal and pray for you for the week. 415 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: Faithful listeners, have a fantastic and wonderful rest of your day. 416 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 1: I will see you guys tomorrow as we start a 417 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: brand new book of the New Testament, which is phi Lemen, 418 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: and we'll be in Philemen for about five seconds because 419 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: it is a very very short book of the Bible. 420 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 1: So I'll see you guys tomorrow as we discuss Philemen 421 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:36,360 Speaker 1: Chapter one. Happy listening, and God bless I just want 422 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: to take a second to thank the team at Life 423 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 1: Audio for their partnership with me on the Bible Explain podcast. 424 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 1: In fact, if you go to lifeudio dot com you 425 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 1: will find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. 426 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting and more