1 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:11,760 S1: Before she was Sarah, she was Sarai, a devoted wife. 2 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,320 S1: She is perhaps best known for her lack of faith. 3 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,080 S1: When God promised she would have a child in her 4 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,720 S1: old age. But have we misjudged her? Coming up, it's 5 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,240 S1: a visit with Sarai. We'll get to know her background 6 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:27,080 S1: and the cultural details that make her story come alive. Plus, 7 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:28,800 S1: a look at the top stories coming out of the 8 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,200 S1: Middle East and much more. This is the land and 9 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,519 S1: the book with noted Middle East expert Doctor Charlie Dyer, 10 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,440 S1: who has recently released an updated version of the important 11 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,720 S1: Moody Publishers book Who Owns the Land? I'm John Gallagher asking, 12 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,839 S1: what does Passover mean for us as believers in Jesus? Some, 13 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,640 S1: of course, will remember the story from the book of Exodus, 14 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:51,560 S1: but there's so much more to it. Did you know, 15 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:55,320 S1: for example, that the Last Supper was actually a Passover meal? 16 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,840 S1: And not only did Jesus and his disciples celebrate Passover, 17 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,390 S1: it also foreshadowed his death on the cross for our redemption. 18 00:01:02,670 --> 00:01:05,149 S2: Jewish people have been keeping the feast of Passover for 19 00:01:05,230 --> 00:01:08,630 S2: thousands of years. Understanding the history and importance of this 20 00:01:08,630 --> 00:01:11,669 S2: holiday will help you better connect with your Jewish friends 21 00:01:11,670 --> 00:01:14,149 S2: and neighbors. And what better way is there to learn 22 00:01:14,150 --> 00:01:18,550 S2: about Passover than to experience a Passover Seder yourself? If 23 00:01:18,550 --> 00:01:21,870 S2: you've never celebrated Passover, our friends at Life in Messiah 24 00:01:21,870 --> 00:01:25,790 S2: would love to partner with you in hosting a Seder experience. 25 00:01:25,790 --> 00:01:29,270 S2: Every year, their staff engages churches and small groups in 26 00:01:29,270 --> 00:01:33,509 S2: an interactive Messiah in the Passover Seder, allowing participants to 27 00:01:33,550 --> 00:01:36,950 S2: taste and see the redemption story. If you're interested in 28 00:01:36,990 --> 00:01:40,550 S2: having someone come lead a Seder in your area, visit 29 00:01:40,590 --> 00:01:43,990 S2: Life in Messiah Org and click on the radio button 30 00:01:43,990 --> 00:01:46,869 S2: there to learn more. That's life in Messiah. 31 00:01:48,670 --> 00:01:51,150 S1: Well, let's switch our focus now toward current events from 32 00:01:51,150 --> 00:01:54,470 S1: the Middle East. Plenty to talk about, as always. Israel's 33 00:01:54,470 --> 00:01:57,990 S1: current coalition has been in power now for two years. 34 00:01:58,070 --> 00:02:02,260 S1: So far, it survived political opposition over judicial reform and 35 00:02:02,260 --> 00:02:06,660 S1: external attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and the Houthis. But 36 00:02:06,660 --> 00:02:09,859 S1: its biggest challenges might lie just ahead, with its own 37 00:02:09,860 --> 00:02:13,940 S1: internal battles over finishing the war with Hamas, drafting the 38 00:02:13,940 --> 00:02:17,140 S1: ultra-Orthodox into the army and approving a budget for the 39 00:02:17,139 --> 00:02:20,660 S1: next fiscal year. What makes these challenges so unique, Charlie? 40 00:02:21,139 --> 00:02:24,180 S2: These challenges strike at the very heart of the coalition. 41 00:02:24,300 --> 00:02:26,980 S2: They threaten to shatter the coalition, which would, of course, 42 00:02:26,980 --> 00:02:30,780 S2: force new elections. The ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition want 43 00:02:30,780 --> 00:02:34,140 S2: a law passed to exempt the ultra-Orthodox from being drafted 44 00:02:34,139 --> 00:02:37,060 S2: into the army. One party leader threatened to blow up 45 00:02:37,060 --> 00:02:39,500 S2: the coalition if such a law isn't passed in the 46 00:02:39,500 --> 00:02:42,980 S2: next two months. And that time frame he gave is significant. 47 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:46,419 S2: The other ultra-Orthodox party threatened to not vote to pass 48 00:02:46,419 --> 00:02:48,940 S2: a budget without the law. Now, failure to pass a 49 00:02:48,980 --> 00:02:53,139 S2: budget will automatically bring down the government and require early elections. 50 00:02:53,260 --> 00:02:55,900 S2: And the deadline to pass the budget is the end 51 00:02:55,900 --> 00:03:00,130 S2: of March. Bezalel Smotrich of the National Religious Party ruled 52 00:03:00,130 --> 00:03:04,610 S2: out making any concessions on ultra-Orthodox conscription. His party is 53 00:03:04,610 --> 00:03:09,970 S2: also religious, but they support having all Israelis, including the ultra-Orthodox, serve. 54 00:03:10,210 --> 00:03:13,370 S2: He challenged the two ultra-Orthodox parties to take part in 55 00:03:13,370 --> 00:03:16,570 S2: military service, or at the very least, to pass the 56 00:03:16,610 --> 00:03:20,130 S2: budget before dissolving the Knesset, saying Israel needs a budget 57 00:03:20,130 --> 00:03:23,370 S2: to fight a war. Following the resignation of Ben-Gvir and 58 00:03:23,370 --> 00:03:26,850 S2: his party from the coalition three weeks ago, Netanyahu is 59 00:03:26,850 --> 00:03:29,970 S2: left with a razor thin majority. If all the parties 60 00:03:29,970 --> 00:03:32,850 S2: can't reach a compromise on the draft, the looming budget 61 00:03:32,850 --> 00:03:35,170 S2: deadline at the end of March could bring about the 62 00:03:35,170 --> 00:03:39,090 S2: collapse of the coalition. Netanyahu was reported to be working 63 00:03:39,090 --> 00:03:42,330 S2: on a plan B should the ultra-Orthodox refuse to budge 64 00:03:42,330 --> 00:03:46,690 S2: in the negotiations. Apparently, he's quietly approached opposition leaders to 65 00:03:46,730 --> 00:03:49,890 S2: back his government through the hostage release in exchange for 66 00:03:49,890 --> 00:03:54,370 S2: holding early elections. One year after the last captive returns, 67 00:03:54,370 --> 00:03:57,600 S2: if accepted, this could allow a minority government to remain 68 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,520 S2: in power while ending the war with Hamas and also 69 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,680 S2: passing a bill to draft the ultra-Orthodox. However, it's unclear 70 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,040 S2: if this is a genuine offer or more of a 71 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,640 S2: threat to the ultra-Orthodox to get them to back down 72 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,280 S2: on their demands. And it's not clear if the opposition 73 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,240 S2: parties even see it as a legitimate offer, since they 74 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,600 S2: don't trust Netanyahu. We've said before that Netanyahu is a 75 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,440 S2: political chess master, but this could be one of the 76 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,680 S2: most difficult political chess matches he's ever played. 77 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,880 S1: Prime Minister Netanyahu met with President Trump this past week, 78 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:32,960 S1: amid the backdrop of threats from Iran and pressure from Washington. 79 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:37,440 S1: Will the U.S. give Israel permission to attack Iran's nuclear facilities? 80 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,440 S1: And if we do, what could we require in return? 81 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,159 S2: Well, some diplomats in Europe suggest Israel has already decided 82 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,840 S2: to attack Iran's nuclear sites. They feel the question isn't if, 83 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,279 S2: but when such an attack will take place. Apparently, U.S. 84 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,900 S2: intelligence has uncovered a covert plan in Iran to explore 85 00:04:54,900 --> 00:04:59,060 S2: a faster but cruder method to develop nuclear weapons. What's 86 00:04:59,060 --> 00:05:01,700 S2: certain is that Iran is concerned enough about the threat 87 00:05:01,700 --> 00:05:04,340 S2: to have publicly stated that any attack on their nuclear 88 00:05:04,380 --> 00:05:07,980 S2: sites will result in all out war in the region. Now, 89 00:05:07,980 --> 00:05:11,180 S2: President Trump denied the US and Israel were planning an 90 00:05:11,180 --> 00:05:14,020 S2: attack in that latest meeting, but he did sign an 91 00:05:14,020 --> 00:05:18,180 S2: executive order renewing maximum economic pressure on Iran to try 92 00:05:18,180 --> 00:05:21,580 S2: to get their oil exports down to zero. The crazy 93 00:05:21,580 --> 00:05:24,940 S2: part of that meeting between Trump and Netanyahu was that 94 00:05:24,940 --> 00:05:28,500 S2: Iran actually took a back seat to Trump's suggested plan 95 00:05:28,500 --> 00:05:32,220 S2: to transform Gaza. His suggestion to resettle the people of 96 00:05:32,220 --> 00:05:35,020 S2: Gaza and turn the area into a resort spot along 97 00:05:35,020 --> 00:05:39,420 S2: the Mediterranean surprised many. It was Trump proposing new and 98 00:05:39,420 --> 00:05:42,940 S2: creative solutions to the problem in Gaza, and he approached 99 00:05:42,940 --> 00:05:45,739 S2: it from his background as a developer looking at prime 100 00:05:45,740 --> 00:05:49,419 S2: waterfront property. Now, the plan was intriguing, but it left 101 00:05:49,420 --> 00:05:53,650 S2: many questions unanswered. Would the displacement of people from Gaza 102 00:05:53,650 --> 00:05:56,250 S2: be temporary or permanent? What did he mean when he 103 00:05:56,250 --> 00:05:59,530 S2: said the US would take over Gaza? And was this 104 00:05:59,529 --> 00:06:02,490 S2: a well developed plan, or simply intended to shock the 105 00:06:02,490 --> 00:06:07,010 S2: different sides into moving off calcified positions? His idea drew 106 00:06:07,010 --> 00:06:11,170 S2: immediate condemnation and rejection from Arab states and Europe, which 107 00:06:11,170 --> 00:06:14,370 S2: was to be expected. But that doesn't necessarily mean the 108 00:06:14,370 --> 00:06:16,930 S2: plan is a non-starter. The key now is to watch, 109 00:06:16,930 --> 00:06:19,850 S2: to see what happens next. President Trump would like to 110 00:06:19,850 --> 00:06:22,570 S2: implement a large scale peace plan in the region to 111 00:06:22,610 --> 00:06:25,850 S2: build on the Abraham Accords and transform the Middle East. 112 00:06:26,050 --> 00:06:28,730 S2: It's definitely a bold gamble, and only time will tell 113 00:06:28,730 --> 00:06:31,130 S2: if he can succeed. And it put the question of 114 00:06:31,130 --> 00:06:34,130 S2: attacking Iran back into a proper context. 115 00:06:34,130 --> 00:06:36,650 S1: From Moody Radio. This is the land and the book. 116 00:06:36,730 --> 00:06:39,370 S1: You're listening to a summary of current events unfolding in 117 00:06:39,370 --> 00:06:42,930 S1: the Middle East this past week. Imagine finding legal notes 118 00:06:42,930 --> 00:06:46,050 S1: from a 100 year old court case. Well, that's what 119 00:06:46,089 --> 00:06:49,450 S1: scholars now believe was discovered in the Judean wilderness. What 120 00:06:49,450 --> 00:06:52,520 S1: exactly was found and what is its is its significance? 121 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,800 S2: Yeah. And first, the background on this. The papyrus discovered 122 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,960 S2: the longest Greek papyrus ever found in the Judean wilderness, 123 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:03,000 S2: was unearthed by Bedouin antiquities dealers back in the 1950s. 124 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:05,920 S2: The document ended up in the archives of the Israel 125 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,880 S2: Antiquities Authority, where it was mislabeled as being Nabataean for 126 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,760 S2: all those years. Ten years ago, the papyrus was rediscovered 127 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:17,400 S2: by a professor who realized it wasn't a Nabataean document, 128 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,200 S2: but notes from a criminal trial in a Roman court 129 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,960 S2: against two Jewish defendants, likely the private notes of an 130 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:28,200 S2: attorney preparing for the trial. The scroll records an accusation 131 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:33,440 S2: of several crimes, including fiscal fraud, forgery, and sedition against 132 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:37,600 S2: two Jewish individuals. The charge was that one Jewish defendant 133 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:39,920 S2: had appeared to sell slaves to a friend in a 134 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:44,040 S2: different province, but instead of transferring them and paying the taxes, 135 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:47,400 S2: the slaves seem to have disappeared. The second defendant was 136 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:51,950 S2: accused of forging a document supporting the fictitious sale. These 137 00:07:51,950 --> 00:07:55,350 S2: notes shed light on the sophistication of the Roman legal system, 138 00:07:55,630 --> 00:07:58,830 S2: including the high standards of proof that were required to 139 00:07:58,830 --> 00:08:03,710 S2: support criminal charges. It shows the Roman practices previously documented 140 00:08:03,710 --> 00:08:07,150 S2: in Egypt were also enforced throughout the eastern part of 141 00:08:07,150 --> 00:08:10,230 S2: the empire. One of the co-authors of the article about 142 00:08:10,230 --> 00:08:13,950 S2: the document called it the best documented Roman court case 143 00:08:13,950 --> 00:08:18,390 S2: from Judea, apart from the trial of Jesus. Sadly, since 144 00:08:18,390 --> 00:08:21,869 S2: these were apparently just preparatory notes ahead of the trial, 145 00:08:21,870 --> 00:08:24,310 S2: the one thing we don't know is what the final 146 00:08:24,310 --> 00:08:25,070 S2: verdict was. 147 00:08:25,870 --> 00:08:28,150 S1: I was about to ask. Thanks for that. Well, in 148 00:08:28,150 --> 00:08:30,790 S1: the very near future, taking your car in to be 149 00:08:30,790 --> 00:08:35,110 S1: serviced might include an MRI as part of the initial inspection. 150 00:08:35,230 --> 00:08:38,630 S1: At least that's the vision of Israeli startup Yuvi. Tell 151 00:08:38,630 --> 00:08:42,150 S1: us about this innovation coming our way from Amazing Israel. 152 00:08:42,830 --> 00:08:47,870 S2: Yuvi has developed an AI driven, camera based scanner platform 153 00:08:47,870 --> 00:08:51,060 S2: that can inspect a car in seconds and generate a 154 00:08:51,059 --> 00:08:54,219 S2: comprehensive report on the condition of the engine, the chassis, 155 00:08:54,460 --> 00:08:58,020 S2: the bodywork and the tyres. In addition to visually scanning 156 00:08:58,020 --> 00:09:01,939 S2: the tyres, undercarriage and body, it also scans the interior 157 00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:05,939 S2: and extracts all sensor data and alerts from the vehicle's computer. 158 00:09:06,179 --> 00:09:10,459 S2: It even analyzes the engine sound. The system, originally developed 159 00:09:10,460 --> 00:09:14,459 S2: for homeland security purposes to check under vehicles for explosives, 160 00:09:14,780 --> 00:09:18,459 S2: has been expanded and repurposed to scan the entire car 161 00:09:18,460 --> 00:09:22,020 S2: or truck. The system is already scanning a million vehicles 162 00:09:22,020 --> 00:09:25,580 S2: a month, but Yuvi sees that as only the beginning. 163 00:09:25,940 --> 00:09:29,020 S2: They recently signed a deal to deploy 850 of their 164 00:09:29,020 --> 00:09:34,020 S2: systems at Amazon delivery stations in the US, Canada, Germany 165 00:09:34,020 --> 00:09:37,260 S2: and the UK. They're also working to sign up new 166 00:09:37,260 --> 00:09:42,020 S2: and used car dealerships, rental car companies and major fleet retailers. 167 00:09:42,300 --> 00:09:44,860 S2: Instead of taking the word of a mechanic or service 168 00:09:44,860 --> 00:09:48,210 S2: advisor or salesperson when it comes to knowing if your 169 00:09:48,210 --> 00:09:51,370 S2: car or truck needs to have work done. Imagine driving 170 00:09:51,370 --> 00:09:55,530 S2: through Uvi and receiving a printout showing the actual mechanical 171 00:09:55,530 --> 00:09:58,730 S2: state of your vehicle. It will save the dealership time, 172 00:09:58,850 --> 00:10:00,650 S2: and it will give you peace of mind in knowing 173 00:10:00,690 --> 00:10:04,450 S2: exactly what needs to be done and when that happens. 174 00:10:04,650 --> 00:10:08,729 S2: We need to be sure to thank Uvi from Amazing Israel. 175 00:10:08,850 --> 00:10:10,890 S1: Thank you. Charlie. One last follow up question. What do 176 00:10:10,890 --> 00:10:13,450 S1: you think is the significance of the fact that Netanyahu, 177 00:10:13,490 --> 00:10:15,650 S1: if I'm not mistaken, is the first head of a 178 00:10:15,650 --> 00:10:18,890 S1: foreign nation to visit with our president? 179 00:10:18,929 --> 00:10:20,810 S2: He is the first. And they made sure to make 180 00:10:20,809 --> 00:10:22,850 S2: that point abundantly clear. I think it was trying to 181 00:10:22,890 --> 00:10:27,089 S2: show the close connection and camaraderie between Israel and the 182 00:10:27,090 --> 00:10:27,930 S2: US right now. 183 00:10:28,690 --> 00:10:30,650 S1: Well, coming up on the land and the book A 184 00:10:30,650 --> 00:10:33,290 S1: visit with Sarah. You know, before she was Sarah, she 185 00:10:33,290 --> 00:10:36,610 S1: was Sarah and a devoted wife. She is perhaps best 186 00:10:36,610 --> 00:10:39,050 S1: known for her lack of faith. When God promised her 187 00:10:39,050 --> 00:10:41,370 S1: she would have a child in her old age. But 188 00:10:41,370 --> 00:10:44,210 S1: have we misjudged her? There's more to the story. Next 189 00:10:44,210 --> 00:11:01,200 S1: here on the land. And the book. He promised her 190 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,240 S1: his heart. She promised him a son. But how long 191 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:08,160 S1: must they wait? Sarah, the last child of her aged father. 192 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,480 S1: Is beautiful, spoiled and used to getting her own way. 193 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,320 S1: Her story comes to life in a conversation we're about 194 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:17,040 S1: to have here on the land. And the book. Welcome 195 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,920 S1: to our second segment. I'm John Gallagher, and before we 196 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,440 S1: meet the Old Testament character, Sarah, let's think for a 197 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:24,760 S1: moment about creative ways that we can show the love 198 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:28,520 S1: of Jesus to our Jewish neighbors and coworkers and friends. 199 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,240 S1: Roy Schwartz is with Chosen People Ministries and joins us 200 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,040 S1: in studio now for a quick conversation about how to 201 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:38,000 S1: share our faith with Jewish friends. Roy, let me throw 202 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,800 S1: this at you. Your Jewish friend, my Jewish friend would 203 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:45,320 S1: be more open to a conversation about Jesus if. If 204 00:11:45,420 --> 00:11:48,980 S1: we started how or avoided this or overlooked that? What's 205 00:11:48,980 --> 00:11:49,459 S1: the if? 206 00:11:50,260 --> 00:11:53,900 S3: If we found roots of commonality. If we found something 207 00:11:54,140 --> 00:11:56,540 S3: in common with that person that you were sharing with. 208 00:11:57,100 --> 00:12:01,460 S3: If if you could just touch the heart of that 209 00:12:01,460 --> 00:12:06,460 S3: person and connect with some great memory that connects you 210 00:12:06,460 --> 00:12:09,420 S3: with the faith of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 211 00:12:09,700 --> 00:12:12,660 S3: I mean, most of us grew up with Passover, grew 212 00:12:12,660 --> 00:12:17,180 S3: up with Hanukkah, grew up with, uh, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur. 213 00:12:17,300 --> 00:12:19,500 S3: And if you can touch one of those things that, 214 00:12:20,140 --> 00:12:21,820 S3: you know, that you were reading just the other day 215 00:12:21,940 --> 00:12:25,940 S3: about Rosh Hashanah and, and what it meant to you 216 00:12:25,980 --> 00:12:29,220 S3: and and what does it mean to you? You know, 217 00:12:29,220 --> 00:12:32,580 S3: I was reading about Yom Kippur and or the Feast 218 00:12:32,580 --> 00:12:35,980 S3: of Tabernacles, and those are kind of memories that stir 219 00:12:35,980 --> 00:12:40,140 S3: up things in our heart. And so, again, I would look, John, 220 00:12:40,380 --> 00:12:43,740 S3: for points of commonality, things that we have in common 221 00:12:43,820 --> 00:12:46,370 S3: with the with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 222 00:12:46,530 --> 00:12:49,650 S1: Seems to me that meaningful conversations are a byproduct of 223 00:12:49,650 --> 00:12:52,689 S1: meaningful relationships, and we can't overlook the fact that we're 224 00:12:52,690 --> 00:12:54,770 S1: not going to get to that dialogue that we want 225 00:12:54,770 --> 00:12:57,370 S1: to get to so badly until we've invested time in 226 00:12:57,370 --> 00:12:57,970 S1: the friendship. 227 00:12:58,090 --> 00:13:01,250 S3: Yeah, I think asking questions also is a great thing. 228 00:13:01,250 --> 00:13:04,130 S3: If you ask a good question, you'll get a person 229 00:13:04,130 --> 00:13:07,530 S3: to start talking. And once you get them starting to talk, 230 00:13:07,570 --> 00:13:10,050 S3: the door opens for many things. 231 00:13:10,130 --> 00:13:12,330 S1: I hope I'll be a better question asker and I 232 00:13:12,330 --> 00:13:14,689 S1: hope you will be too. That's Roy Schwartz with Chosen 233 00:13:14,690 --> 00:13:19,250 S1: People Ministries. Jill Eileen Smith is the best selling and 234 00:13:19,250 --> 00:13:23,130 S1: award winning author of many biblical novels, including her first series, 235 00:13:23,130 --> 00:13:26,610 S1: The Wives of King David. In 20 years, she's published 236 00:13:26,610 --> 00:13:30,410 S1: 24 books, fiction and nonfiction, and had one of those 237 00:13:30,410 --> 00:13:33,690 S1: books optioned for film. She loves Jesus, loves His word, 238 00:13:33,690 --> 00:13:36,370 S1: and all things related to learning more about the culture 239 00:13:36,370 --> 00:13:38,850 S1: and times of the people of the Bible, particularly the 240 00:13:38,850 --> 00:13:42,490 S1: women whom God has immortalized there. We're glad to connect 241 00:13:42,490 --> 00:13:45,000 S1: with Jill today on the land and the book. Welcome 242 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:45,600 S1: to you, Jill. 243 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:47,439 S4: Thanks for having me. 244 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,960 S1: Well, the Old Testament character Sarah is familiar to all 245 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:52,800 S1: of us, but let me start by asking, why did 246 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,439 S1: you choose to title the book Sarai, her original name, 247 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,280 S1: as opposed to the name that she came to be 248 00:13:58,280 --> 00:13:59,400 S1: known by Sarah? 249 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:04,760 S4: Um, well, most of the book she's referred to as Sarai, 250 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:08,040 S4: or as I called her, Sarai. I'm not really sure 251 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:11,400 S4: how to pronounce it, but in the Bible her name 252 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,679 S4: isn't changed until almost the end of her life. So 253 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:19,560 S4: since the book is mostly with the original name, I 254 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:22,400 S4: decided that that would be a good choice. And I 255 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,680 S4: don't honestly title my books. Ravel has to make that 256 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:29,840 S4: final decision, so they agreed with me on this one. 257 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,560 S4: It was easy because back then we were just titling 258 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:36,400 S4: books by the name of the woman, but now it's 259 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,120 S4: gotten a little more complicated and it's harder to come 260 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:40,200 S4: up with titles. 261 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:42,950 S1: Yeah, well, where do you go for research on a 262 00:14:42,950 --> 00:14:46,550 S1: character as old as Sarai? Obviously there's scripture. Anything else? 263 00:14:46,590 --> 00:14:49,710 S1: I mean, we're talking something 2000 years ago. 264 00:14:50,110 --> 00:14:53,870 S4: Yeah. Um, well, I had started my research with the 265 00:14:53,870 --> 00:14:58,470 S4: wives of King David in, like, 1900 to 1000 BC. 266 00:14:58,510 --> 00:15:00,870 S4: But when I got to Abraham, I had to go 267 00:15:00,870 --> 00:15:05,270 S4: back a thousand years and study ancient Mesopotamia. So it 268 00:15:05,270 --> 00:15:07,790 S4: took me to a new land. It took me to 269 00:15:08,150 --> 00:15:10,790 S4: a thousand years earlier. And there's not much there, but 270 00:15:10,790 --> 00:15:16,350 S4: there is some. I remember finding research about a tomb 271 00:15:16,350 --> 00:15:19,150 S4: in Ur, and I'm not sure it's the exact Ur 272 00:15:19,750 --> 00:15:23,430 S4: where Abraham came from, but they had uncovered all kinds 273 00:15:23,430 --> 00:15:26,070 S4: of things that this burial site, which gave you a 274 00:15:26,070 --> 00:15:29,030 S4: lot of insight into the culture. So I do a 275 00:15:29,030 --> 00:15:33,190 S4: lot of research that I can find on cultural differences. 276 00:15:33,190 --> 00:15:37,190 S4: And what did they worship? And, you know, the geographical 277 00:15:37,430 --> 00:15:41,900 S4: situation and change, but cultures do. So I try to 278 00:15:41,940 --> 00:15:44,220 S4: search for that. Besides what's in Scripture? 279 00:15:44,900 --> 00:15:47,660 S1: Jill Eileen Smith is the best selling and award winning 280 00:15:47,660 --> 00:15:50,620 S1: author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David. 281 00:15:50,860 --> 00:15:53,740 S1: Wives of the Patriarchs and Daughters of the Promised Land, 282 00:15:53,860 --> 00:15:56,660 S1: along with many, many others. She joins us today on 283 00:15:56,660 --> 00:15:59,580 S1: The land and the book. Okay. You mentioned this tomb. 284 00:15:59,780 --> 00:16:02,740 S1: What are some other actual historical details available to us 285 00:16:02,740 --> 00:16:05,700 S1: regarding the life of Sarai? For example, we know that 286 00:16:05,700 --> 00:16:09,020 S1: she and Abraham were married somewhere around 2000 B.C. but 287 00:16:09,020 --> 00:16:11,780 S1: beyond that, what does history tell us? Or what do 288 00:16:11,780 --> 00:16:14,380 S1: the times of that era suggest? 289 00:16:15,380 --> 00:16:18,180 S4: Well, history doesn't have a lot, and that's one of 290 00:16:18,180 --> 00:16:22,180 S4: the benefits, I suppose, of writing books set in ancient times, 291 00:16:22,180 --> 00:16:25,780 S4: because you're not going to likely run into someone who 292 00:16:25,780 --> 00:16:29,500 S4: is a super expert on those times because they haven't uncovered. 293 00:16:29,540 --> 00:16:32,620 S4: They are more and more uncovering things of the past. 294 00:16:32,620 --> 00:16:35,820 S4: But back when I did this research, that tomb, and 295 00:16:35,820 --> 00:16:39,810 S4: a few other things, I looked for books on ancient Mesopotamia, 296 00:16:39,810 --> 00:16:43,730 S4: but he came from the land of ur of the 297 00:16:43,730 --> 00:16:48,210 S4: Chaldees and moved up to. Um, I forgot the name 298 00:16:48,210 --> 00:16:50,450 S4: of the city now, where they waited a long time 299 00:16:50,530 --> 00:16:53,570 S4: until Terah died and then moved to Canaan. So you 300 00:16:53,610 --> 00:16:57,330 S4: kind of had to get a feel for that area. 301 00:16:57,930 --> 00:17:01,010 S4: I can't pinpoint an actual place to go in a 302 00:17:01,010 --> 00:17:05,290 S4: historical book to tell you so it's too many books ago. 303 00:17:05,330 --> 00:17:06,209 S4: I'm sorry. 304 00:17:07,450 --> 00:17:09,850 S1: Yeah. So talk to me, though, about the fact that 305 00:17:09,850 --> 00:17:12,969 S1: you have done a lot of research in Israel. Uh, 306 00:17:12,970 --> 00:17:15,810 S1: how does that impact the flavor of what you write? 307 00:17:15,810 --> 00:17:18,649 S1: The factual basis, the historical context? 308 00:17:19,570 --> 00:17:23,369 S4: I haven't actually done research in Israel. I only got 309 00:17:23,369 --> 00:17:27,449 S4: to go to Israel after my first series sold. I 310 00:17:27,450 --> 00:17:32,930 S4: had done everything either through books on Israel or cultural 311 00:17:32,930 --> 00:17:36,130 S4: things like I always do. I look up commentaries, I 312 00:17:36,130 --> 00:17:39,600 S4: look up life and times, books and all the ancient 313 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:43,800 S4: Israel books online, whatever I could find. I had studied 314 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:48,840 S4: King David for like 20 years, a long time, and 315 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,359 S4: done Bible study on his life. And so I had 316 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,960 S4: dug deep into that era, into his life. And of course, 317 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:59,280 S4: Scripture gives so much on him that was easier. But, 318 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:01,480 S4: you know, when you're switching back a thousand years, it's 319 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:05,440 S4: just having to figure out, okay, what were the differences? 320 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:09,119 S4: Were the culture? I mean, they were living in tents, 321 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,320 S4: not living in palaces, but David lived in caves, so 322 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,600 S4: it wasn't a lot different. The clothing is still similar. 323 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:19,359 S4: You know what? They ate those kind of things. Um, 324 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:23,360 S4: but back in with Abraham, he started out not knowing God. 325 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,520 S4: He came from a very pagan land. Although there is 326 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:32,920 S4: a link between him coming from the the line of Shem. 327 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,709 S4: And it's possible that one of those descendants. When I 328 00:18:36,710 --> 00:18:39,350 S4: did the math, but I'm not good at math. So anyway, 329 00:18:39,910 --> 00:18:43,230 S4: I think it was could have been alive when Abraham 330 00:18:43,230 --> 00:18:46,590 S4: was alive. And that, I think, is where we get 331 00:18:46,590 --> 00:18:51,150 S4: the name Hebrew. And anyway, he could have known some 332 00:18:51,150 --> 00:18:54,470 S4: of the history of the ark and the descendants that 333 00:18:54,470 --> 00:18:56,950 S4: came from that, but they were living in a very 334 00:18:56,950 --> 00:19:03,390 S4: pagan area, worshiping different gods. And Sarai could have been 335 00:19:03,390 --> 00:19:06,990 S4: also a worshiper of foreign gods until the Lord called 336 00:19:06,990 --> 00:19:10,830 S4: them to leave. She did go with him, but how 337 00:19:10,830 --> 00:19:14,510 S4: her faith was compared to his. We really aren't told. 338 00:19:14,790 --> 00:19:16,110 S4: At least at first. 339 00:19:16,150 --> 00:19:18,790 S1: We're talking with Jill Eileen Smith today on the land 340 00:19:18,790 --> 00:19:21,950 S1: and the book as we learn about the life of Sarai. Obviously, 341 00:19:22,150 --> 00:19:26,310 S1: you're creating a work of fiction based on historical biblical facts. 342 00:19:26,310 --> 00:19:29,390 S1: So what guidelines shape your editing decisions when it comes 343 00:19:29,390 --> 00:19:32,470 S1: to creative license with the biblical characters? And in this case, 344 00:19:32,470 --> 00:19:34,990 S1: because as we've, you know, readily conceded, there isn't all 345 00:19:34,990 --> 00:19:37,530 S1: that much to go on, but you still have to, 346 00:19:37,570 --> 00:19:40,929 S1: you know, have some kind of guidelines. What do you use? 347 00:19:41,250 --> 00:19:44,570 S4: Well, the Bible is my main guideline. I don't change 348 00:19:44,570 --> 00:19:47,770 S4: what it says. I don't change what happened. I look 349 00:19:47,770 --> 00:19:51,729 S4: for what might motivate them. I look for how it 350 00:19:51,730 --> 00:19:57,209 S4: might have come about. And sometimes the why questions. You know, 351 00:19:57,250 --> 00:20:01,610 S4: why did they make that decision? Like, for instance, Abraham decided, well, 352 00:20:01,609 --> 00:20:05,850 S4: when he was Abraham to ask Sarah to tell everyone, 353 00:20:05,850 --> 00:20:08,370 S4: you're my sister so they won't kill me. And I 354 00:20:08,369 --> 00:20:11,369 S4: had a friend years ago that I had met. I 355 00:20:11,369 --> 00:20:14,890 S4: didn't know her well, but she always wondered how Sarah 356 00:20:14,930 --> 00:20:19,209 S4: felt when foreign kings would just take her, you know? 357 00:20:19,250 --> 00:20:22,250 S4: What was it like when the Egyptian king said, okay, 358 00:20:22,250 --> 00:20:25,690 S4: I'll take you for my wife and Abraham? Just let him? 359 00:20:25,690 --> 00:20:29,130 S4: It's like, where's the protective husband, you know? And so 360 00:20:29,130 --> 00:20:33,010 S4: to a woman looking at that going, this does not compute. 361 00:20:33,010 --> 00:20:36,120 S4: But she went along with it more than once because 362 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:39,760 S4: it was their habit according to Scripture. So I stick 363 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:43,320 S4: with whatever scripture says and try to figure out, well, 364 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,600 S4: how did she feel in that situation? How did he feel? 365 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,040 S4: Why was he afraid for his life and not trusting 366 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:52,720 S4: God to protect him? And, you know, just trying to 367 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:56,960 S4: understand how the human nature would have played out in 368 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:01,479 S4: the situation that we're given in Scripture. And, you know, 369 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,840 S4: how might all of this have taken a toll on 370 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:08,600 S4: her for waiting and waiting and waiting. That's not easy. 371 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:11,920 S1: No. You know, since you've taken us down this path, 372 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,800 S1: a lot of Bible readers struggle to wrap their brains 373 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:19,199 S1: around Sarah being not just beautiful, but beautiful, even in 374 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,520 S1: her old age. Mhm. Apparently she's still turning heads in 375 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:24,320 S1: her senior years. What's your take. 376 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:29,399 S4: Ah that was pretty amazing. That why on earth even after. 377 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:34,470 S4: I think it was after the Lord visited Abraham. Abraham 378 00:21:34,470 --> 00:21:37,550 S4: at that point and told him in a year, Sarah, 379 00:21:37,550 --> 00:21:39,550 S4: by that point is going to have a child. And 380 00:21:39,550 --> 00:21:44,070 S4: even then, unless it's like sometimes people say it's not 381 00:21:44,070 --> 00:21:47,830 S4: necessarily written chronologically the way our Bibles are laid out. 382 00:21:47,830 --> 00:21:51,869 S4: But it's like he traveled to the Philistine territory and 383 00:21:51,869 --> 00:21:56,070 S4: another king took her into his harem. Yes. And she 384 00:21:56,070 --> 00:21:59,950 S4: was supposed to be having a baby within that year. 385 00:21:59,950 --> 00:22:04,109 S4: And you're like, what? Why are they doing this? So 386 00:22:04,109 --> 00:22:07,070 S4: it was really strange. I mean, I could understand why 387 00:22:07,070 --> 00:22:12,350 S4: she gave Hagar to Abraham. I proposed that she hit 388 00:22:12,350 --> 00:22:15,430 S4: menopause and decided I'm done. I can't have a kid. Yes. 389 00:22:15,470 --> 00:22:18,510 S4: And so that could have very well been her motivation there. 390 00:22:18,510 --> 00:22:22,110 S4: But what was his to keep lying about this when 391 00:22:22,150 --> 00:22:25,230 S4: God made all these promises to him? It's like, well, 392 00:22:25,270 --> 00:22:28,470 S4: this is weird. And I think one thing I wonder 393 00:22:28,590 --> 00:22:30,910 S4: about at the very end, if you don't mind a 394 00:22:30,910 --> 00:22:34,859 S4: side trail, but you can interrupt me. At the end 395 00:22:34,859 --> 00:22:40,379 S4: of her life, after God tests Abraham to sacrifice Isaac 396 00:22:40,380 --> 00:22:43,899 S4: and she finds out about it. We aren't shown what 397 00:22:43,940 --> 00:22:47,580 S4: her opinion or what happens there in her mind. But 398 00:22:47,580 --> 00:22:52,060 S4: the Bible says in the chapter before her death, near 399 00:22:52,060 --> 00:22:55,700 S4: the end of it, it says that Abraham lived in Beersheba, 400 00:22:56,180 --> 00:22:59,380 S4: and in the next chapter she was in Hebron, and 401 00:22:59,380 --> 00:23:01,659 S4: he went there to mourn for her. It doesn't say 402 00:23:01,660 --> 00:23:04,420 S4: he went there, but I mean, it makes you wonder, 403 00:23:04,420 --> 00:23:08,500 S4: were they living separately? I mean, can you imagine? You 404 00:23:08,500 --> 00:23:10,500 S4: took my son and did what? 405 00:23:11,020 --> 00:23:11,660 S1: Right? 406 00:23:11,700 --> 00:23:14,659 S4: You know, I mean, I could imagine she'd have been 407 00:23:14,700 --> 00:23:17,939 S4: angry and hurt. And how could you do that? This 408 00:23:17,940 --> 00:23:21,780 S4: was after all these years. And did they separate? I mean, 409 00:23:21,780 --> 00:23:25,340 S4: he had a concubine, and I don't know if he 410 00:23:25,340 --> 00:23:27,540 S4: got the concubine. I can't remember if it was before 411 00:23:27,540 --> 00:23:30,649 S4: or after she died. I think it was after, But still. 412 00:23:30,810 --> 00:23:33,090 S1: Yeah, a lot of unanswered questions there for sure. 413 00:23:33,250 --> 00:23:35,010 S4: I know a lot of questions I want to ask 414 00:23:35,010 --> 00:23:35,850 S4: the Lord someday. 415 00:23:35,850 --> 00:23:39,610 S1: So if you're just joining us, this is the land 416 00:23:39,609 --> 00:23:43,649 S1: and the book, our conversation with Jill Ileene Smith. Uh, 417 00:23:43,650 --> 00:23:47,330 S1: you know, is there a historical custom or perspective most 418 00:23:47,330 --> 00:23:49,930 S1: of us might be ignorant of that would really help 419 00:23:49,930 --> 00:23:53,290 S1: us understand just a bit better the life of Sarah, 420 00:23:53,369 --> 00:23:55,490 S1: something that you encountered in your research? 421 00:23:56,570 --> 00:24:01,330 S4: I think perhaps we can look at her life as 422 00:24:01,330 --> 00:24:04,609 S4: one of having. I mean, for me, she's a great 423 00:24:04,609 --> 00:24:07,609 S4: example of someone that has to learn to wait on 424 00:24:07,609 --> 00:24:12,290 S4: the Lord and trust him, and that waiting for 25 425 00:24:12,290 --> 00:24:15,810 S4: years and being barren. You know, it happened to Zechariah 426 00:24:15,810 --> 00:24:19,570 S4: and Elizabeth, too. And there's no mention of Elizabeth being, 427 00:24:19,609 --> 00:24:22,290 S4: you know, here, take my servant or, you know, she 428 00:24:22,290 --> 00:24:25,810 S4: was just okay. God doesn't want me to have a kid. 429 00:24:25,810 --> 00:24:30,200 S4: But Sarah, she had all this angst to deal with 430 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,920 S4: because the promise was given to her husband, and she 431 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:36,760 S4: hadn't actually heard the promise until that visit at the 432 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:40,160 S4: tent when she left. You know, it came through Abraham. 433 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:44,000 S4: It's like Adam told Eve about the tree. God didn't 434 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:46,880 S4: tell Eve. God told Adam. And so when we look 435 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:51,400 S4: at things in Scripture and realize, well, the woman got 436 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:54,600 S4: the information second hand. And how much harder is that 437 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:58,560 S4: to trust the Lord? Because you're trusting your husband and 438 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,480 S4: he's trusting the Lord, and you're trying to think that 439 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:03,360 S4: he knows what he's doing, but he's asking you to 440 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:05,359 S4: lie for him at the same time. So you're kind 441 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:09,240 S4: of having this crisis of faith, perhaps. But I think 442 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,879 S4: in the end, she's written about in Hebrews 11, as 443 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:16,800 S4: someone with the faith that, you know, she's commended for. 444 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:20,520 S4: So she did have faith. We find it out later, 445 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:23,960 S4: you know. But in her actual story, it's harder to see. 446 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,360 S1: I think that is helpful. And it'll even be more 447 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:29,110 S1: helpful as we as we check out the book. Sara. 448 00:25:29,230 --> 00:25:32,390 S1: It's from Jill Eileen Smith. There's a link to the book, 449 00:25:32,430 --> 00:25:34,790 S1: a link to her website at our website. The land 450 00:25:34,790 --> 00:25:39,030 S1: and the book. Org, the land and the book org. 451 00:25:39,230 --> 00:25:41,669 S1: Sure appreciate your taking the time to let us understand 452 00:25:41,670 --> 00:25:43,790 S1: this lady's life a lot better. You put a lot 453 00:25:43,830 --> 00:25:46,470 S1: into it and we thank you for your careful research. 454 00:25:46,869 --> 00:25:49,830 S4: Oh, thank you for asking the questions. 455 00:25:49,869 --> 00:25:52,350 S1: All right, well, up next we've got more questions, not mine. 456 00:25:52,350 --> 00:26:07,310 S1: Yours right here on the land and the book. Welcome 457 00:26:07,310 --> 00:26:09,910 S1: back to segment three of the Land and the book. 458 00:26:09,910 --> 00:26:12,389 S1: I'm John Gager hoping your day is going well. It's 459 00:26:12,390 --> 00:26:15,710 S1: about to get better. Why? Because there's something very, very 460 00:26:15,710 --> 00:26:19,510 S1: satisfying about looking at a puzzling issue of scripture and 461 00:26:19,510 --> 00:26:22,429 S1: getting an actual answer. That's what's in store for you 462 00:26:22,430 --> 00:26:24,189 S1: as we sit down and say hello to Doctor Gerald 463 00:26:24,190 --> 00:26:26,700 S1: Peterman of the Moody Bible Institute faculty. Good to connect 464 00:26:26,700 --> 00:26:27,220 S1: with you, sir. 465 00:26:27,340 --> 00:26:28,740 S5: Likewise. Good to be connected. 466 00:26:28,900 --> 00:26:31,180 S1: And you know, we've got a big stack of questions 467 00:26:31,180 --> 00:26:33,940 S1: as always. So let's dig right in, starting with this 468 00:26:33,940 --> 00:26:37,979 S1: one from Dan who asks, can all diseases encountered by 469 00:26:37,980 --> 00:26:40,980 S1: Christians be a result of specific sins? 470 00:26:41,140 --> 00:26:44,300 S5: Okay, to give a short answer, Dan, no. This is 471 00:26:44,300 --> 00:26:50,859 S5: an important question, but can a sin cause a disease? Yes. 472 00:26:50,859 --> 00:26:55,060 S5: But are all of them caused by sins? No. We 473 00:26:55,060 --> 00:26:57,580 S5: should now go look at some passages of scripture about that. 474 00:26:57,700 --> 00:27:01,060 S5: In first Corinthians 11, Paul warns the Corinthians about how 475 00:27:01,060 --> 00:27:02,820 S5: they partake of the Lord's Supper. Do not partake of 476 00:27:02,820 --> 00:27:04,900 S5: the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner, because if you 477 00:27:04,900 --> 00:27:07,979 S5: do so, it could be trouble. He says anyone who 478 00:27:08,020 --> 00:27:10,699 S5: eats or drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord 479 00:27:10,820 --> 00:27:13,619 S5: eats and drinks judgment unto himself. This is why many 480 00:27:13,619 --> 00:27:18,220 S5: among you are weak and sick. In other words, yes, 481 00:27:18,220 --> 00:27:22,100 S5: it's possible for a sin to lead to illness. But wait, 482 00:27:22,140 --> 00:27:24,100 S5: now we must go to John chapter nine. You know 483 00:27:24,100 --> 00:27:26,610 S5: what happens in happens in John chapter nine? Jesus is 484 00:27:26,609 --> 00:27:29,570 S5: walking along. He encounters a man born blind, and the 485 00:27:29,570 --> 00:27:34,170 S5: disciples ask, Lord, who sinned? This man should be born blind, 486 00:27:34,290 --> 00:27:37,050 S5: him or his parents. And the Lord said, neither one 487 00:27:37,609 --> 00:27:40,450 S5: this is for the glory of God. Yeah. So we 488 00:27:40,450 --> 00:27:43,810 S5: should ask ourselves the question when we're ill, is this 489 00:27:43,810 --> 00:27:45,490 S5: a sin? Because the answer might be yes, it might 490 00:27:45,490 --> 00:27:49,570 S5: be no. This question is, in part, the question that 491 00:27:49,570 --> 00:27:54,210 S5: job's friends are bringing to job. Exactly right. The Lord's testimony. 492 00:27:54,490 --> 00:27:58,490 S5: He is righteous, but he is really suffering physically. 493 00:27:59,250 --> 00:28:02,210 S1: Let's go to Sadie's question in judges 11. Why is 494 00:28:02,210 --> 00:28:06,490 S1: Jephthah prohibited from an inheritance for being born to a prostitute? 495 00:28:06,650 --> 00:28:08,450 S1: What was his fault if his father was the one 496 00:28:08,450 --> 00:28:11,449 S1: who fornicated? I mean, this almost follows that first question. 497 00:28:11,609 --> 00:28:14,409 S5: Yeah, and I appreciate that question. If we come to 498 00:28:14,410 --> 00:28:18,210 S5: the passage of Scripture, what we find is that God 499 00:28:18,210 --> 00:28:21,770 S5: isn't the one that prohibits it. It's the other sons 500 00:28:21,770 --> 00:28:25,389 S5: who prohibit it. Did so the text reads this is 501 00:28:25,390 --> 00:28:29,270 S5: 11 two. Gilead's wife also bore him sons, and when 502 00:28:29,270 --> 00:28:33,590 S5: they were grown up, they drove Jethro away. You're not 503 00:28:33,590 --> 00:28:36,389 S5: going to get any inheritance in our family, they said, 504 00:28:36,510 --> 00:28:39,230 S5: because you are the son of another woman. This isn't 505 00:28:39,230 --> 00:28:42,190 S5: the Lord's decision. This isn't the father's decision. This is 506 00:28:42,190 --> 00:28:44,670 S5: the other brother's decision. 507 00:28:44,670 --> 00:28:46,750 S1: Let's get to Terry's question. He wants to know, is 508 00:28:46,750 --> 00:28:50,030 S1: it possible that before the flood, all the land was 509 00:28:50,030 --> 00:28:52,990 S1: together and all the seas were one? The flood caused 510 00:28:52,990 --> 00:28:56,230 S1: such an amazing disruption on the earth, with mountains and 511 00:28:56,230 --> 00:29:00,390 S1: rising up of landmasses, amazing tsunamis, the foundations of the 512 00:29:00,390 --> 00:29:04,070 S1: deep burst forth were told. My question and it's obvious speculation, 513 00:29:04,070 --> 00:29:07,390 S1: says Terry. Is there anywhere in the Bible that suggests 514 00:29:07,390 --> 00:29:08,470 S1: this as possible? 515 00:29:09,230 --> 00:29:12,030 S5: Well, the short answer is there's no particular text that 516 00:29:12,070 --> 00:29:16,390 S5: directly addresses this. There are a couple that are sometimes cited. 517 00:29:16,390 --> 00:29:20,670 S5: Genesis 110 mentions that there are various seas in this 518 00:29:20,670 --> 00:29:22,340 S5: earth as created, but we should keep in keep in 519 00:29:22,340 --> 00:29:25,380 S5: mind that a C might be a smaller body of water, 520 00:29:25,380 --> 00:29:27,500 S5: like we would say, the Sea of Galilee, rather than 521 00:29:27,540 --> 00:29:31,020 S5: being an ocean. Later on in Genesis ten, when one 522 00:29:31,020 --> 00:29:34,980 S5: describes an ancestor who's named Peleg, it said that because 523 00:29:34,980 --> 00:29:38,420 S5: in his time the earth was divided. But almost certainly 524 00:29:38,420 --> 00:29:42,660 S5: divided here means people were driven apart at Babel. They 525 00:29:42,660 --> 00:29:47,540 S5: were in different tribes rather than landmasses being divided. So 526 00:29:47,740 --> 00:29:52,780 S5: certainly the flood caused some disruption, but changing one landmass 527 00:29:52,780 --> 00:29:55,140 S5: into many, we just can't be sure. 528 00:29:55,180 --> 00:29:58,820 S1: All right. Does Prevenient Grace allow a person to reject 529 00:29:58,820 --> 00:30:01,300 S1: and later accept the call of Christ by the Holy 530 00:30:01,300 --> 00:30:04,580 S1: Spirit free will? Or is there one call? And that's 531 00:30:04,580 --> 00:30:07,500 S1: the moment of salvation, just this irresistible grace thing. 532 00:30:07,900 --> 00:30:11,620 S5: And I appreciate this question too. Likewise, we have some 533 00:30:11,620 --> 00:30:16,460 S5: phrases which can be helpful, but really are not biblical phrases. 534 00:30:16,500 --> 00:30:20,620 S5: Prevenient grace a kind of grace that goes ahead. A 535 00:30:20,620 --> 00:30:22,770 S5: kind of kind of grace that helps you to do 536 00:30:22,770 --> 00:30:25,810 S5: what you want to do, but you're actually kind of 537 00:30:25,850 --> 00:30:28,370 S5: doing it yourself. Prevenient grace is a kind of grace 538 00:30:28,370 --> 00:30:33,170 S5: that works with you. This is set up against irresistible grace, 539 00:30:33,610 --> 00:30:36,210 S5: which is something you cannot work against. It's just going 540 00:30:36,210 --> 00:30:40,410 S5: to draw you. But this is not human experience. Rather 541 00:30:40,410 --> 00:30:43,730 S5: than using these kinds of categories, I'd rather say that 542 00:30:43,730 --> 00:30:47,690 S5: God is continuously working with us and in us and 543 00:30:47,690 --> 00:30:50,090 S5: for us. Let me give you myself as an example 544 00:30:50,090 --> 00:30:54,250 S5: of this. I heard the gospel many, many times as 545 00:30:54,250 --> 00:30:58,250 S5: a young man in church, on the radio from friends, 546 00:30:58,250 --> 00:31:01,330 S5: and it never made any sense. I rejected it as 547 00:31:01,330 --> 00:31:04,370 S5: silly and stupid until the day I heard it again. 548 00:31:04,370 --> 00:31:08,810 S5: I heard nothing new. It made sense. Yes, that was 549 00:31:08,810 --> 00:31:12,050 S5: the time that God enabled me to understand it. But 550 00:31:12,050 --> 00:31:14,130 S5: it was not as if I felt like, oh, I'm 551 00:31:14,130 --> 00:31:17,410 S5: going to be now believing against my will. Now he 552 00:31:17,410 --> 00:31:20,320 S5: drew me and I came to came to Christ. 553 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:23,320 S1: Doctor Gerald Peterman is a professor of Bible at Moody 554 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:26,840 S1: Bible Institute. In the classroom every day teaching students and 555 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:28,960 S1: kind enough to share some of his wisdom with us. 556 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:31,560 S1: As you email us your questions at the Land and 557 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:37,840 S1: the book@moody.edu. Alan says it sounds like Jeremiah 4935 through 558 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:42,000 S1: 39 is really a future judgment of the Iranian regime. 559 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:44,840 S1: Am I off here? Could it apply to the current 560 00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:47,840 S1: situation that's happening right now? Would it apply to that, 561 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:50,400 S1: or is that stretching things to say that Iran's judgment 562 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:51,080 S1: is coming? 563 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:55,320 S5: I personally take the judgment on Islam in Jeremiah 49 564 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:58,760 S5: as having occurred in the past, though I know some 565 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:02,600 S5: take it as a future destruction. Jeremiah dates the prophecy 566 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,560 S5: to early in the reign of Zedekiah, who began ruling 567 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:11,640 S5: at Judah's final king in 597 BC. In Ezekiel 3217, 568 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:15,240 S5: Ezekiel delivers a prophecy that is dated to March 5th, 569 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:20,950 S5: 85 BC. His prophecy focuses on Egypt's impending destruction by Babylon. 570 00:32:21,790 --> 00:32:24,790 S5: In the prophecy, Ezekiel pictures Egypt going down to the 571 00:32:24,790 --> 00:32:28,630 S5: grave and encountering other nations already there. Now here comes 572 00:32:28,630 --> 00:32:33,830 S5: the key part. These include Assyria, Elam, Meshech and Tubal, 573 00:32:34,110 --> 00:32:37,390 S5: and Edom and the Sidonians. The point of the prophecy 574 00:32:37,390 --> 00:32:39,870 S5: is to show that the Egyptians were about to be 575 00:32:39,870 --> 00:32:42,870 S5: defeated in battle by the Babylonians, and joined the ranks 576 00:32:42,870 --> 00:32:46,670 S5: of the other nations, who had also been defeated by Nebuchadnezzar. 577 00:32:46,710 --> 00:32:48,790 S5: So my point here is that Ezekiel seems to be 578 00:32:48,790 --> 00:32:52,790 S5: saying that by 585 BC, Elam had been defeated by 579 00:32:52,790 --> 00:32:53,910 S5: the Babylonians. 580 00:32:54,470 --> 00:32:57,150 S1: Our Q&A segment continues here on the land and the book. 581 00:32:57,150 --> 00:33:00,150 S1: With Mark's question, he says, I'm somewhat perplexed by the 582 00:33:00,150 --> 00:33:04,230 S1: story of Solomon, particularly his request for discernment and wisdom 583 00:33:04,230 --> 00:33:07,470 S1: in First Kings chapter two. The Lord granted that request. 584 00:33:07,510 --> 00:33:11,110 S1: Plus something Solomon had not asked for, namely great wealth 585 00:33:11,110 --> 00:33:14,870 S1: and riches. Solomon demonstrated great maturity for a 20 year 586 00:33:14,870 --> 00:33:18,300 S1: old by asking only for wisdom. The wealth that the 587 00:33:18,300 --> 00:33:21,420 S1: Lord bestowed may well have led to Solomon's downfall, though 588 00:33:21,900 --> 00:33:24,540 S1: so did the Lord. Lead him into temptation by also 589 00:33:24,540 --> 00:33:25,660 S1: giving that wealth. 590 00:33:26,540 --> 00:33:29,580 S5: I don't see the wealth that God gave Solomon as 591 00:33:29,580 --> 00:33:32,620 S5: the primary temptation that led to his downfall. I say 592 00:33:32,620 --> 00:33:35,940 S5: this for two reasons. First, we know from first Timothy 593 00:33:35,940 --> 00:33:39,540 S5: six verse ten, it's the love of money, and not 594 00:33:39,540 --> 00:33:42,180 S5: just money itself. That's the root of all evil. And 595 00:33:42,180 --> 00:33:46,100 S5: I think Solomon knew this because he said virtually the 596 00:33:46,100 --> 00:33:51,140 S5: same thing in Ecclesiastes 510. Whoever loves money never has 597 00:33:51,140 --> 00:33:55,180 S5: enough money. Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. 598 00:33:55,300 --> 00:33:59,700 S5: This too is meaningless. Now, the second reason I think 599 00:33:59,700 --> 00:34:02,380 S5: that money isn't the primary issue here is the Bible 600 00:34:02,380 --> 00:34:05,340 S5: makes it clear that the ultimate sin that brought down 601 00:34:05,340 --> 00:34:09,060 S5: Solomon wasn't wealth, but the idolatry that came into his 602 00:34:09,060 --> 00:34:11,820 S5: life through his multiple wives. As you know, he married 603 00:34:11,980 --> 00:34:14,779 S5: wives from several other countries, and they all had their 604 00:34:14,780 --> 00:34:18,690 S5: own particular gods. In First Kings 11, the writer summarizes 605 00:34:18,690 --> 00:34:22,530 S5: the problem this way. King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women. 606 00:34:22,810 --> 00:34:27,130 S5: As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after 607 00:34:27,130 --> 00:34:30,049 S5: other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to 608 00:34:30,050 --> 00:34:32,850 S5: the Lord his God. As the heart of David, his 609 00:34:32,850 --> 00:34:35,529 S5: father had been. I think these two things are the 610 00:34:35,530 --> 00:34:36,570 S5: primary issues. 611 00:34:37,210 --> 00:34:40,489 S1: Last question from Greg, who describes the the millions of 612 00:34:40,489 --> 00:34:43,810 S1: Israelites that fled Egypt heading for the Promised Land. Do 613 00:34:43,810 --> 00:34:45,850 S1: we know from Scripture who died in the desert and 614 00:34:45,850 --> 00:34:47,969 S1: who made it? In that 40 years there would have 615 00:34:47,969 --> 00:34:50,649 S1: been a lot of children born? Did only those plus 616 00:34:50,650 --> 00:34:53,250 S1: Caleb and Joshua make it? I know it's not a 617 00:34:53,250 --> 00:34:55,009 S1: super critical question, but I'm curious. 618 00:34:55,690 --> 00:34:58,810 S5: What we know for sure is that every male over 619 00:34:58,810 --> 00:35:02,009 S5: 20 except Joshua and Caleb died during the time in 620 00:35:02,010 --> 00:35:09,009 S5: the wilderness. That would be something like 603,548. And this 621 00:35:09,010 --> 00:35:12,450 S5: doesn't count the priests and Levites who weren't numbered with 622 00:35:12,450 --> 00:35:15,390 S5: the men of war. We can also assume that many 623 00:35:15,390 --> 00:35:17,990 S5: of the women died, though they're not given a total number. 624 00:35:18,030 --> 00:35:21,230 S5: In addition, some of the mixed multitude that left Egypt 625 00:35:21,230 --> 00:35:25,550 S5: with the Israelites must also have died. Finally, even those 626 00:35:25,550 --> 00:35:29,230 S5: under 20 who could have lived probably died during events 627 00:35:29,350 --> 00:35:33,230 S5: like Coras Rebellion. Scene number 16 the incident with the 628 00:35:33,230 --> 00:35:36,830 S5: fiery serpents. See number 21. And the immorality that took 629 00:35:36,830 --> 00:35:40,109 S5: place with the Moabite women. As Israel neared the Promised Land. 630 00:35:40,150 --> 00:35:44,070 S5: Scene number 25. In fact, that the number of fighting 631 00:35:44,070 --> 00:35:46,230 S5: men was slightly less at the end of 40 years 632 00:35:46,230 --> 00:35:48,910 S5: than it was at the beginning. By just a few thousand, 633 00:35:48,910 --> 00:35:52,390 S5: suggests that the number of people likely remained relatively constant. 634 00:35:52,390 --> 00:35:55,670 S5: So 2 to 3 million started out for the promised land, 635 00:35:55,670 --> 00:35:58,470 S5: and the same number were alive some 40 years later. 636 00:35:58,750 --> 00:36:01,150 S5: It seems likely that the number who died must have 637 00:36:01,150 --> 00:36:03,710 S5: been about the same, something like 2 to 3 million. 638 00:36:03,950 --> 00:36:05,589 S1: Well, either way, that's a lot of funerals. 639 00:36:05,750 --> 00:36:06,310 S5: Indeed. 640 00:36:06,790 --> 00:36:09,069 S1: Well, your question welcome as you email us at The 641 00:36:09,070 --> 00:36:13,029 S1: Land and the book@moody.edu. But right now we're going to 642 00:36:13,030 --> 00:36:15,500 S1: going to pause before getting ready to hear Charlie Dyer's devotional, 643 00:36:15,500 --> 00:36:31,339 S1: next on the land and the book. Welcome back to 644 00:36:31,380 --> 00:36:33,860 S1: segment four of the land and the book. I'm John 645 00:36:33,860 --> 00:36:36,500 S1: Gager with our host, Charlie Dyer. Charlie, just yesterday I 646 00:36:36,500 --> 00:36:39,020 S1: was walking from Moody to the train station, and I 647 00:36:39,060 --> 00:36:41,660 S1: encountered a lady with a tiny little dog. It looked 648 00:36:41,660 --> 00:36:43,940 S1: like a puppy, but it wasn't. It was a I 649 00:36:43,940 --> 00:36:46,060 S1: think she called it an Aussie. And she said, it's 650 00:36:46,060 --> 00:36:48,739 S1: full grown, six years old. That's all the bigger it gets. 651 00:36:48,739 --> 00:36:50,900 S1: I'm just amazed at the number of kind of dogs 652 00:36:50,900 --> 00:36:52,180 S1: there are, right? 653 00:36:52,180 --> 00:36:55,379 S2: The number is astounding. I watched a dog show the 654 00:36:55,380 --> 00:36:57,259 S2: other day, and I never even heard of half the 655 00:36:57,260 --> 00:36:58,380 S2: breeds that they were showing. 656 00:36:58,700 --> 00:37:00,739 S1: Well, in case you think the show has gone to 657 00:37:00,739 --> 00:37:03,460 S1: the dogs, it has. But we'll let Charlie share all 658 00:37:03,460 --> 00:37:05,900 S1: of that after this perspective from somebody who's been to 659 00:37:05,900 --> 00:37:08,580 S1: the Holy Land and shares this now with you and me. 660 00:37:12,969 --> 00:37:15,649 S6: Hi, my name is Eunice and I'm going to tell 661 00:37:15,650 --> 00:37:20,529 S6: you my Holy Land experience. We won in 2001. There 662 00:37:20,530 --> 00:37:23,129 S6: were six of us and we went and we just 663 00:37:23,610 --> 00:37:26,370 S6: had the most wonderful guide. He knew the Bible backwards 664 00:37:26,370 --> 00:37:29,489 S6: and forwards, but he did not want to be a Christian. 665 00:37:29,489 --> 00:37:33,810 S6: We tried, but he took us so many wonderful places. 666 00:37:34,330 --> 00:37:36,850 S6: And the place that stands out is we went to 667 00:37:36,850 --> 00:37:41,049 S6: the Jordan River and they gave each of us a 668 00:37:41,050 --> 00:37:46,049 S6: robe and we were baptized in the Jordan River. It 669 00:37:46,050 --> 00:37:49,810 S6: was so memorable to know that that's where Jesus was 670 00:37:49,810 --> 00:37:53,930 S6: baptized and we were too. We had so many wonderful 671 00:37:53,930 --> 00:37:58,810 S6: experiences and do not hesitate to go. There are many 672 00:37:58,810 --> 00:38:03,130 S6: wonderful people there who welcome us to come and are 673 00:38:03,170 --> 00:38:06,569 S6: grateful for us to come and say thank you. We 674 00:38:06,570 --> 00:38:10,279 S6: even went unto the Palestinian side of the of the 675 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:13,960 S6: market by where Jesus was crucified. They opened up a 676 00:38:13,960 --> 00:38:16,600 S6: shop for us, and he could not say thank you 677 00:38:16,600 --> 00:38:20,600 S6: enough that we would come over and take the risk 678 00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:23,560 S6: and the time to go over there. And I praise 679 00:38:23,560 --> 00:38:25,960 S6: God that we had the opportunity, and I hope we 680 00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:27,280 S6: get to go back soon. 681 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:32,600 S1: I'm intrigued. Charlie, you have titled Today's devotional. 682 00:38:32,719 --> 00:38:35,080 S2: What show? Dogs and hunting dogs. 683 00:38:35,680 --> 00:38:37,080 S1: All right. I'll let you have at it. 684 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:39,600 S2: Okay. Thanks, John. Well, some years ago, when I was 685 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:41,759 S2: living in Texas, I was talking with a friend about 686 00:38:41,760 --> 00:38:45,759 S2: an organisation's new chief financial officer. My buddy was a 687 00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:48,719 S2: native Texan, and his response came right from the Lone 688 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:52,440 S2: Star State. It was direct to the point and colorful. 689 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:57,080 S2: The man's a show dog. Seeing my quizzical expression, he 690 00:38:57,080 --> 00:39:00,799 S2: added an equally colorful explanation. He looks good, but he 691 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:04,400 S2: can't hunt. Well, that expression and its meaning have stuck 692 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:07,560 S2: with me ever since. We all come across show dogs 693 00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:12,230 S2: in our lives. Men and women who appear confident, sophisticated, distinguished, 694 00:39:12,230 --> 00:39:15,990 S2: intelligent or successful, but who can't get the job done. 695 00:39:16,230 --> 00:39:20,069 S2: They look good, but they can't hunt. Jesus had little 696 00:39:20,070 --> 00:39:23,310 S2: patience for the show dogs of his day, the hypocritical 697 00:39:23,310 --> 00:39:27,030 S2: religious leaders who put on a facade of godliness but 698 00:39:27,070 --> 00:39:30,149 S2: who didn't know God. And he was equally colorful in 699 00:39:30,150 --> 00:39:33,629 S2: his description of these charlatans. Woe to you, teachers of 700 00:39:33,630 --> 00:39:37,230 S2: the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed 701 00:39:37,270 --> 00:39:40,589 S2: tombs which look beautiful on the outside, but on the 702 00:39:40,590 --> 00:39:44,110 S2: inside are full of dead man's bones and everything unclean. 703 00:39:44,870 --> 00:39:48,310 S2: From the very beginning of his public ministry, Jesus challenged 704 00:39:48,310 --> 00:39:51,350 S2: the show dog mentality of his day. In the early 705 00:39:51,350 --> 00:39:55,629 S2: chapters of Matthew, the author pictures Jesus as the ideal Israelite, 706 00:39:56,070 --> 00:39:58,990 S2: just as the nation in its infancy went into Egypt. 707 00:39:58,989 --> 00:40:01,950 S2: So Jesus was carried to Egypt as a baby. The 708 00:40:01,950 --> 00:40:05,110 S2: nation had its baptismal experience in the Red sea, and 709 00:40:05,110 --> 00:40:08,540 S2: Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. Israel then went 710 00:40:08,540 --> 00:40:11,620 S2: into the wilderness where it was tested. So Jesus went 711 00:40:11,620 --> 00:40:15,259 S2: into the wilderness and was tempted by Satan. Finally, Israel 712 00:40:15,260 --> 00:40:18,420 S2: went to Mount Sinai to receive the law. And Jesus 713 00:40:18,420 --> 00:40:21,220 S2: went up on a mountainside and explained the true meaning 714 00:40:21,219 --> 00:40:23,459 S2: of God's law, and how it ought to be lived 715 00:40:23,460 --> 00:40:26,980 S2: out in our lives. We often call that message the 716 00:40:26,980 --> 00:40:29,820 S2: sermon on the Mount, and it's found in Matthew chapter 717 00:40:29,820 --> 00:40:32,700 S2: 5 to 7. The Bible doesn't tell us the exact 718 00:40:32,700 --> 00:40:35,940 S2: location where Jesus delivered the sermon on the Mount, but 719 00:40:35,940 --> 00:40:39,100 S2: the traditional spot overlooking the Sea of Galilee fits the 720 00:40:39,100 --> 00:40:43,060 S2: few biblical details recorded. Matthew tells us Jesus was in 721 00:40:43,060 --> 00:40:45,420 S2: Galilee when he went up on the mountainside to deliver 722 00:40:45,420 --> 00:40:48,500 S2: his message. And when he came down from the mountainside 723 00:40:48,500 --> 00:40:51,540 S2: in Matthew eight, the first town he entered was Capernaum, 724 00:40:52,140 --> 00:40:55,060 S2: standing at the entrance to Capernaum. Today, the dome of 725 00:40:55,060 --> 00:40:58,100 S2: the church on the traditional Mount of Beatitudes is visible 726 00:40:58,219 --> 00:41:01,299 S2: on top of the hill, just a mile to the west. 727 00:41:01,620 --> 00:41:04,700 S2: From the balcony of that church, there's a magnificent view 728 00:41:04,700 --> 00:41:08,170 S2: of the Sea of Galilee, grassy fields interspersed with banana 729 00:41:08,210 --> 00:41:12,170 S2: groves descend toward the water's edge. It's easy to visualize 730 00:41:12,210 --> 00:41:16,730 S2: thousands of curiosity seekers flocking to this hillside, or one nearby, 731 00:41:16,969 --> 00:41:19,610 S2: to listen to the latest message from this rabbi, and 732 00:41:19,610 --> 00:41:21,970 S2: perhaps to be an eye witness to one of his miracles. 733 00:41:22,250 --> 00:41:24,930 S2: But whatever brought them to the site, they weren't prepared 734 00:41:24,930 --> 00:41:28,410 S2: for the penetrating message he was about to deliver. Most 735 00:41:28,410 --> 00:41:31,570 S2: of us know the beginning of Jesus's message, the Beatitudes. 736 00:41:31,850 --> 00:41:33,770 S2: But I want to focus on the rest of the message. 737 00:41:34,410 --> 00:41:36,930 S2: Jesus made it clear he had not arrived to do 738 00:41:36,930 --> 00:41:40,170 S2: away with God's standards for right and wrong. Do not 739 00:41:40,170 --> 00:41:42,450 S2: think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets, 740 00:41:42,450 --> 00:41:44,890 S2: he cried. I have not come to abolish them, but 741 00:41:44,890 --> 00:41:49,050 S2: to fulfill them. He explained the true intent of God's law, 742 00:41:49,570 --> 00:41:53,130 S2: giving several examples. You have heard that it was said 743 00:41:53,130 --> 00:41:57,730 S2: he announced, followed by the standard pharisaic interpretation of God's 744 00:41:57,730 --> 00:42:01,810 S2: law concerning murder, adultery, divorce, the taking of an oath, 745 00:42:01,969 --> 00:42:06,080 S2: seeking revenge, and loving one's neighbor. But he followed each 746 00:42:06,080 --> 00:42:09,440 S2: section explaining God's true intent for that law with a 747 00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:14,200 S2: dramatic contrast. But I tell you, the difference was profound. 748 00:42:14,360 --> 00:42:16,839 S2: Like the difference between a show dog and one that 749 00:42:16,840 --> 00:42:20,360 S2: can actually hunt. So what was the standard for obedience 750 00:42:20,360 --> 00:42:23,879 S2: that God expected? Jesus gave a summary at the end 751 00:42:23,880 --> 00:42:28,040 S2: of chapter five. Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly father 752 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:34,120 S2: is perfect. God's standard is perfection. Jesus achieved that standard. 753 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:37,279 S2: But the religious leaders of his day did not. And 754 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:40,040 S2: if we're honest with ourselves, we need to admit we 755 00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:43,880 S2: don't reach that standard either. Jesus then looked beyond a 756 00:42:43,880 --> 00:42:47,719 S2: person's actions to focus on his or her motives. Be 757 00:42:47,719 --> 00:42:50,479 S2: careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men 758 00:42:50,480 --> 00:42:54,120 S2: to be seen by them. He highlighted the key ways 759 00:42:54,239 --> 00:42:58,000 S2: one demonstrated devotion to God in his day, giving to 760 00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:01,759 S2: the needy, praying and fasting. In each case, he said, 761 00:43:01,760 --> 00:43:04,819 S2: A religious hypocrite does the right thing, but for the 762 00:43:04,820 --> 00:43:07,739 S2: wrong motives to be honored by others, to be seen 763 00:43:07,739 --> 00:43:11,140 S2: by others, to demonstrate to others his or her devotion 764 00:43:11,140 --> 00:43:15,100 S2: to God. Those seeking to impress others forfeit the reward 765 00:43:15,100 --> 00:43:19,380 S2: they could have received from God. Jesus's point is profound. 766 00:43:19,660 --> 00:43:22,980 S2: If we really are seeking to please God by our actions, 767 00:43:22,980 --> 00:43:25,860 S2: then it shouldn't matter whether or not others even know 768 00:43:25,860 --> 00:43:29,500 S2: what we've done. Jesus ended his message with a stern 769 00:43:29,500 --> 00:43:33,580 S2: series of warnings. The way leading to destruction is wide, 770 00:43:33,580 --> 00:43:36,060 S2: but small is the gate and narrow the road that 771 00:43:36,100 --> 00:43:38,819 S2: leads to life, and only a few find it. Not 772 00:43:38,820 --> 00:43:42,259 S2: everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the 773 00:43:42,260 --> 00:43:45,460 S2: kingdom of heaven. The ones listening to his words and 774 00:43:45,460 --> 00:43:48,660 S2: putting them into practice are like a wise man building 775 00:43:48,660 --> 00:43:52,140 S2: his house on the rock. In short, obedience to his 776 00:43:52,140 --> 00:43:56,180 S2: words will provide stability and a solid foundation to help 777 00:43:56,180 --> 00:43:59,739 S2: one withstand life's storms. And that brings us back to 778 00:43:59,739 --> 00:44:03,050 S2: the Sea of Galilee, to Jesus and to And to us. 779 00:44:03,530 --> 00:44:07,450 S2: Jesus understood the power of storms. He would soon calm 780 00:44:07,450 --> 00:44:10,930 S2: a storm on the Sea of Galilee with the simple command. Peace. 781 00:44:11,210 --> 00:44:15,370 S2: Be still. More importantly, he understood the sinfulness of the 782 00:44:15,370 --> 00:44:19,170 S2: human heart. The religious leaders in Jesus's day sought to 783 00:44:19,210 --> 00:44:22,770 S2: meet God's righteous standards by reinterpreting them to make them 784 00:44:22,770 --> 00:44:25,290 S2: easier to keep. And don't get me wrong, they still 785 00:44:25,290 --> 00:44:28,890 S2: wanted to have standards that were too difficult for most people, 786 00:44:28,890 --> 00:44:31,770 S2: but just not for them. They weren't perfect, but if 787 00:44:31,770 --> 00:44:34,569 S2: God would just grade on a curve, they would be 788 00:44:34,570 --> 00:44:37,850 S2: better than everyone else. But Jesus knew that dog wouldn't 789 00:44:37,890 --> 00:44:40,850 S2: hunt for I tell you. He warned that unless your 790 00:44:40,850 --> 00:44:44,370 S2: righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of 791 00:44:44,370 --> 00:44:47,730 S2: the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. 792 00:44:48,330 --> 00:44:51,090 S2: God doesn't grade on a curve. And the only passing 793 00:44:51,090 --> 00:44:55,529 S2: grade is 100%. So where does that leave us? The 794 00:44:55,530 --> 00:44:57,690 S2: Bible makes it clear that all have sinned and come 795 00:44:57,730 --> 00:45:00,330 S2: short of the glory of God. No one, no matter 796 00:45:00,330 --> 00:45:04,480 S2: how religious, has met God's standard. So can anyone get 797 00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:08,000 S2: to heaven? The answer, thankfully, is yes. We can't make 798 00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:10,520 S2: it there through our own good works, because none of 799 00:45:10,520 --> 00:45:14,120 S2: us can achieve the standard set by God. But Jesus 800 00:45:14,120 --> 00:45:17,239 S2: was perfect. He did reach that standard. He was the 801 00:45:17,239 --> 00:45:19,880 S2: only person who ever lived who could make it to 802 00:45:19,920 --> 00:45:22,959 S2: heaven through his own good works. But instead of going 803 00:45:22,960 --> 00:45:25,919 S2: straight to heaven, he took a detour that led him 804 00:45:25,920 --> 00:45:29,240 S2: from this hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee to another 805 00:45:29,239 --> 00:45:33,279 S2: hill called Calvary, just outside the city of Jerusalem. When 806 00:45:33,280 --> 00:45:35,359 S2: Jesus hung on the cross, he did so to pay 807 00:45:35,360 --> 00:45:38,640 S2: the penalty for your sin and mine. As the prophet 808 00:45:38,640 --> 00:45:42,440 S2: Isaiah predicted seven centuries before the time of Jesus, he 809 00:45:42,440 --> 00:45:46,160 S2: was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. 810 00:45:46,440 --> 00:45:49,200 S2: The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and 811 00:45:49,200 --> 00:45:52,040 S2: by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, 812 00:45:52,040 --> 00:45:54,640 S2: have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his 813 00:45:54,640 --> 00:45:56,960 S2: own way. And the Lord has laid on him the 814 00:45:56,960 --> 00:46:00,000 S2: iniquity of us all. So how do we get to heaven? 815 00:46:00,550 --> 00:46:03,270 S2: It's not through our own efforts. Rather, we can receive 816 00:46:03,270 --> 00:46:06,230 S2: eternal life as a gift by placing our faith and 817 00:46:06,230 --> 00:46:09,310 S2: trust in Jesus and in his death on our behalf. 818 00:46:09,790 --> 00:46:12,790 S2: Sometime today, get by yourself and read Matthew 5 to 7. 819 00:46:13,110 --> 00:46:17,190 S2: Note the impossibly high standards required to be righteous before God, 820 00:46:17,550 --> 00:46:20,549 S2: and then thank God that Jesus met those standards and 821 00:46:20,550 --> 00:46:23,190 S2: willingly went to the cross in our place to pay 822 00:46:23,190 --> 00:46:25,469 S2: the penalty for our disobedience. 823 00:46:25,830 --> 00:46:28,310 S1: Thank you Charlie. And if you're tired of being a 824 00:46:28,310 --> 00:46:30,790 S1: show dog spiritually, if you want to be the real 825 00:46:30,790 --> 00:46:33,910 S1: deal right with God, a friend will pray with you now. 826 00:46:34,110 --> 00:46:37,989 S1: Answer your questions about knowing Jesus when you call 888. 827 00:46:38,030 --> 00:46:42,510 S1: Need him? Talk to that volunteer now at 888. Need him. 828 00:46:43,030 --> 00:46:45,629 S1: But a great program, a full broadcast. As always. We 829 00:46:45,630 --> 00:46:48,310 S1: thank you for listening. We thank the station here for 830 00:46:48,310 --> 00:46:51,270 S1: providing air time for the land and the book, a 831 00:46:51,270 --> 00:46:54,950 S1: production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.