1 00:00:08,090 --> 00:00:10,789 S1: He's just back from a trip to Israel. But he 2 00:00:10,789 --> 00:00:14,990 S1: wasn't touring. He was learning, observing, and a lot of 3 00:00:14,990 --> 00:00:18,650 S1: what he saw was, quite frankly, shocking. How profound is 4 00:00:18,650 --> 00:00:21,919 S1: the impact of the Hamas war on Israel? What's next 5 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,279 S1: for the nation that Hamas and others want to destroy completely? 6 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,340 S1: Coming up, an update from Israel, plus all the top 7 00:00:28,340 --> 00:00:31,630 S1: stories of the Middle East. Welcome to the land and 8 00:00:31,630 --> 00:00:34,300 S1: the book. It's the one hour broadcast that takes you 9 00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:37,270 S1: to the Holy Land and back without a passport or 10 00:00:37,270 --> 00:00:40,810 S1: plane ticket. Our tour guide is Doctor Charlie Dyer, who, 11 00:00:40,810 --> 00:00:43,240 S1: by the way, has led more than 100 actual trips 12 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,990 S1: to Israel. And I'm John Gager. Well, Israel, of course, 13 00:00:46,990 --> 00:00:49,300 S1: has been in the news a lot over the past year. 14 00:00:49,300 --> 00:00:52,030 S1: And as we know, the Bible is jam packed with 15 00:00:52,030 --> 00:00:56,130 S1: end times prophecies about epic world events, the regathering of 16 00:00:56,130 --> 00:00:59,940 S1: the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, and and then ultimately, 17 00:00:59,940 --> 00:01:03,540 S1: Jesus soon returned. It is crucial for us as believers 18 00:01:03,540 --> 00:01:06,840 S1: to have a proper understanding of Bible prophecy. So our 19 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,050 S1: view of the future is shaped by Scripture, not just 20 00:01:10,050 --> 00:01:11,429 S1: headlines from today. 21 00:01:11,459 --> 00:01:13,500 S2: That's right. And with this in mind, our friends at 22 00:01:13,500 --> 00:01:17,380 S2: Life in Messiah have published a book titled God, Israel 23 00:01:17,380 --> 00:01:20,380 S2: and Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners of 24 00:01:20,380 --> 00:01:22,960 S2: the land in the book for a limited time. This 25 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,380 S2: informative book is focused on providing readers with a deeper 26 00:01:26,380 --> 00:01:30,580 S2: understanding and greater appreciation of what God has in store 27 00:01:30,580 --> 00:01:33,460 S2: for Israel and the nations by digging into what the 28 00:01:33,459 --> 00:01:36,400 S2: scriptures say about these issues. Now, if you're interested in 29 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,880 S2: learning more about what God has in store, visit Life 30 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,979 S2: in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody Radio button 31 00:01:42,980 --> 00:01:45,860 S2: there to find out how you can receive your copy 32 00:01:45,860 --> 00:01:51,170 S2: of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 33 00:01:51,290 --> 00:01:53,150 S1: And now let's take a look at current events from 34 00:01:53,150 --> 00:01:56,510 S1: the Middle East. Israel's war with Hamas is no longer 35 00:01:56,510 --> 00:01:59,780 S1: headline news, but the war is still continuing. Charlie, what 36 00:01:59,780 --> 00:02:01,400 S1: exactly has been happening? 37 00:02:01,430 --> 00:02:04,040 S2: Well, the level of intensity in that war has dropped, 38 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,150 S2: but Israel is continuing to put pressure on Hamas by 39 00:02:07,150 --> 00:02:10,900 S2: attacking remaining pockets of resistance. On Monday, a barrage of 40 00:02:10,900 --> 00:02:14,410 S2: 20 rockets was launched from Gaza against southern Israel. They 41 00:02:14,410 --> 00:02:17,440 S2: landed in open areas near the border but did no damage. 42 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,230 S2: But it was a reminder that the war isn't over. 43 00:02:20,260 --> 00:02:24,250 S2: Israel continues to target Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets. They 44 00:02:24,250 --> 00:02:26,680 S2: want to keep pressure on Hamas to help secure a 45 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,100 S2: hostage deal, but they're also continuing to search for and 46 00:02:30,100 --> 00:02:33,730 S2: destroy tunnels leading from Egypt to Gaza. Those are the 47 00:02:33,730 --> 00:02:36,640 S2: supply lines that were used to arm Hamas, and Israel 48 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,910 S2: wants to cut off their ability to resupply. The number 49 00:02:39,910 --> 00:02:43,179 S2: of tunnels was far more extensive than initially thought. Some 50 00:02:43,180 --> 00:02:46,540 S2: believe that operation could actually take many more months to complete. 51 00:02:46,540 --> 00:02:49,150 S2: The next phase of the war also involves creating some 52 00:02:49,150 --> 00:02:52,330 S2: kind of a government alternative to Hamas. Israel is trying 53 00:02:52,330 --> 00:02:58,560 S2: to place Palestinians not affiliated with Hamas over some administrative functions. Meanwhile, 54 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,200 S2: the US is trying to recruit other Arab countries to 55 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:05,340 S2: participate in a post-war Gaza security force. Secretary of State 56 00:03:05,340 --> 00:03:08,550 S2: Blinken has said Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are 57 00:03:08,550 --> 00:03:10,950 S2: on board to serve as part of that force. However, 58 00:03:10,950 --> 00:03:15,720 S2: both conditioned their participation on plans to establish a pathway 59 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,410 S2: to a future Palestinian state, and the UAE is also 60 00:03:19,410 --> 00:03:22,139 S2: demanding that the US be involved in the security force 61 00:03:22,139 --> 00:03:25,170 S2: in some way. There's one other item of note on 62 00:03:25,169 --> 00:03:27,720 S2: what's been happening in Gaza. A few months ago, the 63 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,900 S2: UN and the International Court of Justice were accusing Israel 64 00:03:30,900 --> 00:03:34,950 S2: of genocide by creating a catastrophic food shortage in Gaza. 65 00:03:34,950 --> 00:03:37,680 S2: At the time, they claimed a full blown famine would 66 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,400 S2: break out between March and July. Well, a new report 67 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,280 S2: was released saying those previous assumptions were wrong. This new 68 00:03:45,310 --> 00:03:49,030 S2: UN linked report found no mortality data to prove famine 69 00:03:49,030 --> 00:03:52,870 S2: is present. The previous projection was based on wrong assumptions 70 00:03:52,870 --> 00:03:55,720 S2: on the amount of food entering the territory, instead of 71 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:00,340 S2: decreasing the supply increased. Those earlier claims made the headlines, 72 00:04:00,340 --> 00:04:04,089 S2: but the new factual data debunking those claims has barely 73 00:04:04,090 --> 00:04:06,900 S2: been acknowledged. It's a good reminder that one of the 74 00:04:06,900 --> 00:04:10,260 S2: first casualties in war is the truth. Hamas has been 75 00:04:10,260 --> 00:04:14,910 S2: caught numerous times announcing so-called Israeli atrocities that turned out 76 00:04:14,910 --> 00:04:18,120 S2: to be false, but the reports were uncritically picked up 77 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,780 S2: and broadcast by mainstream media. The level of coverage on 78 00:04:21,779 --> 00:04:24,480 S2: the war in Gaza is continuing to drop as the 79 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,419 S2: press shifts its focus to other areas, but the war 80 00:04:27,420 --> 00:04:30,479 S2: still continuing, and Israel is still doing everything it can 81 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:34,560 S2: to defeat Hamas, bring back the remaining hostages, and doing 82 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,280 S2: so while harming as few civilians as possible. And that 83 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:39,900 S2: is worth noting. Charlie, what. 84 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:42,540 S1: About time frame here? Any thoughts on this? We're talking 85 00:04:42,540 --> 00:04:47,250 S1: about more tunnels to destroy, obviously hostage negotiations still going on. 86 00:04:47,250 --> 00:04:50,099 S1: What are what's the latest thinking on a time frame 87 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:54,239 S1: for an end or some sort of a a stalled resolution. 88 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,339 S2: Well, the one number that was thrown about was it 89 00:04:56,339 --> 00:04:58,380 S2: would take at least six months to a fully get 90 00:04:58,380 --> 00:05:00,599 S2: rid of all the tunnels that are leading in from 91 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,660 S2: Egypt to Gaza. But the reality is they don't know 92 00:05:03,660 --> 00:05:06,930 S2: what they don't know. So that's just the best guess. 93 00:05:06,930 --> 00:05:10,470 S2: And it may be wildly optimistic or pessimistic. 94 00:05:10,470 --> 00:05:14,099 S1: Well, the conflict with Hamas may be sliding into the background, 95 00:05:14,100 --> 00:05:18,460 S1: but Israel's threatened conflict with Hezbollah and Iran seemed to 96 00:05:18,460 --> 00:05:22,480 S1: be taking its place. Is a peaceful resolution even possible, 97 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,300 S1: or is war just simply inevitable at some point? 98 00:05:25,330 --> 00:05:28,659 S2: Well, war is definitely a possibility, though I wouldn't say 99 00:05:28,660 --> 00:05:31,690 S2: it's inevitable, though the headlines make it seem like that 100 00:05:31,690 --> 00:05:35,080 S2: in a speech, though, Israeli National Unity Party head Benny 101 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,890 S2: Gantz said the Israeli Defense Force can destroy Hezbollah's military 102 00:05:38,890 --> 00:05:42,750 S2: capabilities in a matter of days. The former defense minister 103 00:05:42,750 --> 00:05:45,599 S2: did admit that Israel would pay a price in any war, 104 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,330 S2: but the price paid by Lebanon and Hezbollah would be 105 00:05:48,330 --> 00:05:52,320 S2: far greater. For its part, Iran warned of obliterating Israel 106 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:55,770 S2: if Israel attacks Hezbollah. It threatened to act against Israel 107 00:05:55,770 --> 00:05:58,859 S2: with full force and to include the full involvement of, quote, 108 00:05:58,860 --> 00:06:02,880 S2: all resistance fronts alluding to their allies in Iraq, Yemen 109 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,490 S2: and Syria. Israel's foreign minister responded with his own threat, 110 00:06:06,490 --> 00:06:10,750 S2: saying A regime that threatens destruction deserves to be destroyed. 111 00:06:10,779 --> 00:06:14,140 S2: Israel's defense minister said Israel isn't looking for war but 112 00:06:14,170 --> 00:06:16,359 S2: is ready for it. He also said he hopes a 113 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,390 S2: diplomatic solution could be reached. Now, the key to any 114 00:06:19,390 --> 00:06:24,670 S2: settlement is the implementation of UN Security Resolution 1701, which 115 00:06:24,670 --> 00:06:27,880 S2: created a demilitarized zone between the border and the Litani 116 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,680 S2: River in Lebanon. This requires Hezbollah to remove its fighters 117 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,590 S2: away from Israel's border to the north of that river. 118 00:06:34,620 --> 00:06:38,160 S2: This would allow the 60 to 80,000 Israeli citizens, who 119 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:41,460 S2: have been displaced since October to return to their homes, 120 00:06:41,460 --> 00:06:44,039 S2: and it would allow Lebanese civilians who fled their homes 121 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:47,550 S2: to return as well. A peaceful resolution is possible, but 122 00:06:47,550 --> 00:06:51,240 S2: the final decision rests with Hezbollah. One thing's for certain, 123 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,430 S2: though Israel won't allow Hezbollah fighters to remain on their 124 00:06:54,430 --> 00:06:57,640 S2: border indefinitely. And a cut off time, if you will, 125 00:06:57,640 --> 00:06:59,890 S2: might be sometime in July or August. 126 00:06:59,890 --> 00:07:02,109 S1: Charlie, if you're Lebanon, you know you can't be thrilled 127 00:07:02,110 --> 00:07:06,340 S1: about what's happening either. What is the leverage that continues 128 00:07:06,339 --> 00:07:09,429 S1: to keep them from simply being reasonable? 129 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,850 S2: Well, sadly for them, it's the fact that Hezbollah is 130 00:07:12,850 --> 00:07:15,730 S2: better armed than even the Lebanese army. No matter what 131 00:07:15,730 --> 00:07:18,850 S2: they say, they really don't have much of a voice 132 00:07:18,850 --> 00:07:22,630 S2: over Hezbollah because it is so well armed from Iran. 133 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:26,440 S1: Story number three an archaeologist claims to have discovered evidence 134 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,380 S1: of a Syrian army camps in Israel dating back to 135 00:07:29,380 --> 00:07:32,530 S1: the time of King Hezekiah. Where are these camps? How 136 00:07:32,530 --> 00:07:35,590 S1: reliable is the evidence and how would this discovery connect 137 00:07:35,590 --> 00:07:37,150 S1: to claims in the Bible? 138 00:07:37,150 --> 00:07:39,670 S2: You know, it's amazing. There are so many passages in 139 00:07:39,670 --> 00:07:43,410 S2: Second Kings 18 to 20, Isaiah 36 to 39, Second 140 00:07:43,410 --> 00:07:47,550 S2: Chronicles 32, and Isaiah ten. Micah one, along with others, 141 00:07:47,550 --> 00:07:50,610 S2: describe the invasion of Judah during the time of Hezekiah 142 00:07:50,610 --> 00:07:54,930 S2: by King Sennacherib of Assyria. Archaeological evidence from the ancient 143 00:07:54,930 --> 00:07:57,870 S2: city of Lachish matches that description, and so does a 144 00:07:57,870 --> 00:08:01,230 S2: relief on display in the British Museum that was originally 145 00:08:01,230 --> 00:08:04,140 S2: from the palace in Nineveh that depicts the Assyrian army 146 00:08:04,140 --> 00:08:07,070 S2: camp during its siege of Lachish. Now the camp in 147 00:08:07,100 --> 00:08:09,800 S2: that relief is oval shaped, and it's protected by a 148 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,860 S2: wall with guard towers at regular intervals. So they have 149 00:08:12,860 --> 00:08:14,930 S2: some idea of what that camp would have looked like. 150 00:08:14,930 --> 00:08:18,260 S2: Using that relief, along with early photos from Israel and 151 00:08:18,260 --> 00:08:22,130 S2: some modern mapping techniques. Stephen Compton claims to have discovered 152 00:08:22,130 --> 00:08:25,490 S2: the location of the Assyrian army camps, both at Lachish 153 00:08:25,490 --> 00:08:28,760 S2: and just to the north of Jerusalem. If those proposed 154 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,320 S2: sites are indeed Assyrian camps, it would be additional support 155 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,579 S2: for the biblical accounts describing those attacks. However, I can't 156 00:08:36,580 --> 00:08:39,099 S2: get too excited about this announcement, at least not yet. 157 00:08:39,130 --> 00:08:42,550 S2: No actual excavations have been done at either site, so 158 00:08:42,550 --> 00:08:46,390 S2: he's basing his identification on Arabic names along with maps 159 00:08:46,390 --> 00:08:49,660 S2: and photos. But in the area where Lachish is located, well, 160 00:08:49,660 --> 00:08:52,420 S2: there are a lot of hills that would fit this description, 161 00:08:52,420 --> 00:08:54,520 S2: and it's not clear from the relief in the British 162 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:58,300 S2: Museum that the Assyrians even put their camp on a hill. Now, 163 00:08:58,300 --> 00:09:01,420 S2: I believe the Assyrian camps are near Lachish, as shown 164 00:09:01,420 --> 00:09:03,880 S2: in that relief in the British Museum, and that they 165 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,670 S2: were on the north side of Jerusalem, because Isaiah ten 166 00:09:06,670 --> 00:09:09,520 S2: says that. But, uh, the problem is right now we 167 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,610 S2: don't know where they are. Someday his proposed locations might 168 00:09:12,610 --> 00:09:16,000 S2: be validated through excavations, but for right now, all we 169 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,420 S2: can say is his proposed locations are in the right 170 00:09:18,420 --> 00:09:21,660 S2: general area, and that the Assyrians did indeed camp there 171 00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:23,430 S2: based on what the Bible says. 172 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,360 S1: Well, six months ago, you reported on an Israeli medtech 173 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:32,580 S1: company's innovative headset that could reduce delirium in ICU patients, 174 00:09:32,580 --> 00:09:35,820 S1: and an interim report now suggests the system is having 175 00:09:35,820 --> 00:09:39,570 S1: a positive impact on severely injured soldiers. So tell us 176 00:09:39,570 --> 00:09:43,350 S1: about this latest update from Icontrol control medical technology. 177 00:09:43,380 --> 00:09:46,020 S2: Yeah, this is a great story. You know, they originally 178 00:09:46,020 --> 00:09:48,990 S2: developed this headset as an alternative to communicate with people 179 00:09:48,990 --> 00:09:51,929 S2: who have ALS. But they saw an opportunity to try 180 00:09:51,929 --> 00:09:54,420 S2: and use it with those in ICU who are under 181 00:09:54,420 --> 00:09:57,000 S2: sedation and on a ventilator. And their hope was it 182 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:01,439 S2: could help reduce or eliminate delirium and post-traumatic stress disorder. 183 00:10:01,590 --> 00:10:04,290 S2: The headset has an infrared camera that follows the eye, 184 00:10:04,290 --> 00:10:07,420 S2: a bone conduction earphone, and it's connected to the cloud 185 00:10:07,420 --> 00:10:10,960 S2: via Wi-Fi. Sedated patients are in a state of artificial sleep, 186 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,360 S2: but the brain still works to fill in gaps, which 187 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:17,590 S2: is what leads to nightmares, PTSD, and delirium. So playing 188 00:10:17,590 --> 00:10:21,189 S2: familiar sounds in this headset, like favorite music or hearing 189 00:10:21,190 --> 00:10:23,770 S2: verbal messages from the family, is what they were hoping 190 00:10:23,770 --> 00:10:26,500 S2: would fill in the gaps. And indeed, that's what is happening. 191 00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:29,920 S2: One seriously wounded patient awoke after six months in intensive 192 00:10:29,950 --> 00:10:32,650 S2: care and asked the nurse to listen to his favorite music, 193 00:10:32,650 --> 00:10:35,199 S2: which they had been playing. The innovative use of this 194 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:39,819 S2: system is really having a positive impact on those in ICU. 195 00:10:39,820 --> 00:10:41,920 S1: And that's a look at current events from the Middle 196 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,650 S1: East with our host, doctor Charlie Dyer. Coming up, a 197 00:10:44,650 --> 00:10:47,319 S1: conversation where we're going to head inside Israel with a 198 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:51,400 S1: guy who's just back, fresh insights, perspectives you need to hear. 199 00:10:51,429 --> 00:10:54,530 S1: That's all ahead on today's edition of The Land and 200 00:10:54,530 --> 00:11:11,810 S1: the book. When it comes to the war with Hamas, 201 00:11:11,809 --> 00:11:15,530 S1: facts have ceased to matter in America. A generation that 202 00:11:15,530 --> 00:11:19,100 S1: claims to measure everything with science has thrown science out 203 00:11:19,100 --> 00:11:23,450 S1: the window. What's left is narrative, and that narrative is viciously, 204 00:11:23,450 --> 00:11:28,429 S1: sometimes violently, opposed to Israel. What's really going on? Troy 205 00:11:28,429 --> 00:11:32,240 S1: Miller of the National Religious Broadcasters was just in Israel. 206 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,179 S1: He joins us today with fresh insights in just a 207 00:11:35,179 --> 00:11:38,270 S1: moment here on the land and the book. Welcome. I'm 208 00:11:38,270 --> 00:11:41,420 S1: John Gager, and before we join Troy, let's think about 209 00:11:41,420 --> 00:11:44,679 S1: ways that we can model Christ for our Jewish friends 210 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:49,540 S1: and neighbors. Helping you help your Jewish friend find Yeshua 211 00:11:49,540 --> 00:11:52,000 S1: in the Old Testament. That's our challenge. As we sit 212 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,760 S1: down with Michael Riedel, general editor of the Moody Handbook 213 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:56,679 S1: of Messianic Prophecy. Where would you take us? 214 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,110 S3: I would say, you know, so often people say Jesus 215 00:11:59,110 --> 00:12:02,740 S3: was some sort of victim. No, this was a choice 216 00:12:02,740 --> 00:12:06,190 S3: that the Hebrew prophets said he would make to suffer 217 00:12:06,190 --> 00:12:10,030 S3: for us. It says in Isaiah 50 when it talks 218 00:12:10,030 --> 00:12:13,360 S3: about the suffering servant, it's a first person kind of statement, 219 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,579 S3: a poem written in the first person. He says. I 220 00:12:15,580 --> 00:12:18,309 S3: gave my back to those who beat me and my 221 00:12:18,309 --> 00:12:21,190 S3: cheeks to those who tore out my beard. I did 222 00:12:21,190 --> 00:12:26,079 S3: not hide my face from scorn and spitting. Isaiah 50, 223 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:29,740 S3: verse six. What he is saying is, I willingly suffered. 224 00:12:29,770 --> 00:12:32,839 S3: I did not go to the cross as a victim. 225 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,230 S3: It was my choice. That's what the Lord Jesus taught. 226 00:12:36,230 --> 00:12:39,350 S3: No man takes my life, but I lay it down willingly. 227 00:12:39,350 --> 00:12:42,350 S3: He gave himself for us because it was his choice. 228 00:12:42,350 --> 00:12:44,809 S3: He was not a victim of oppression. He was one 229 00:12:44,809 --> 00:12:48,080 S3: who chose. He could have called those angels to deliver him, 230 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:49,970 S3: but he chose to die for us. 231 00:12:49,970 --> 00:12:52,580 S1: Our thanks to Michael Radiogenic, professor of Jewish studies here 232 00:12:52,580 --> 00:12:55,010 S1: at the Moody Bible Institute, joining us on the land 233 00:12:55,010 --> 00:12:59,900 S1: and the book. Troy Miller is president and CEO of 234 00:12:59,900 --> 00:13:05,030 S1: the National Religious Broadcasters. He's enjoyed a distinguished and varied career, 235 00:13:05,030 --> 00:13:08,840 S1: including 15 years with the US Navy. He worked for 236 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:12,920 S1: Personal Computer Gateway Incorporated for ten years, was involved in 237 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:17,270 S1: leading several business start ups, including Gateway's expansion into Europe 238 00:13:17,270 --> 00:13:20,410 S1: and Asia. Troy has also served as the executive vice 239 00:13:20,410 --> 00:13:25,450 S1: president and chief operating officer for James Kennedy Ministries. And 240 00:13:25,450 --> 00:13:28,510 S1: as I mentioned earlier, he recently returned from a trip 241 00:13:28,510 --> 00:13:31,840 S1: to Israel, which is the focus of today's conversation. Hey, 242 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:33,940 S1: welcome to the land and the book, Troy. 243 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:35,830 S4: Thanks, John. I'm glad to be with you. 244 00:13:35,860 --> 00:13:38,860 S1: So what was the nature of your visit to Israel? 245 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:43,140 S4: So we took a group of Christian communicators, uh, people 246 00:13:43,140 --> 00:13:45,750 S4: that were in Christian media over for what we called 247 00:13:45,750 --> 00:13:48,990 S4: a solidarity and fact finding tour. We were able to 248 00:13:48,990 --> 00:13:51,510 S4: meet with a number of officials and a number of 249 00:13:51,510 --> 00:13:54,570 S4: organizations while we were there, to really get a good 250 00:13:54,570 --> 00:13:57,270 S4: perspective of what's going on in Israel today with the 251 00:13:57,270 --> 00:14:00,660 S4: war on Hamas, and also what's going on in the 252 00:14:00,660 --> 00:14:04,530 S4: northern border with Hezbollah. So that was kind of the 253 00:14:04,530 --> 00:14:06,829 S4: whole gist of our mission. But we also met with 254 00:14:06,830 --> 00:14:09,380 S4: a number of religious leaders so that we could show 255 00:14:09,380 --> 00:14:13,130 S4: the solidarity that Christians have for Israel and for our 256 00:14:13,130 --> 00:14:15,349 S4: brothers and sisters there. As you know, there's a lot 257 00:14:15,350 --> 00:14:17,690 S4: of opposition going on in the U.S. right now. And 258 00:14:17,690 --> 00:14:19,940 S4: so that was an important message we wanted to bring. 259 00:14:19,970 --> 00:14:22,640 S1: Well, you did a lot of walking, a lot of touring. 260 00:14:22,670 --> 00:14:25,490 S1: Tell me about an experience you had that felt like 261 00:14:25,490 --> 00:14:28,010 S1: a kick in the stomach. What comes to mind? 262 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:31,040 S4: Yeah, I think the two biggest kicks in the stomach 263 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,910 S4: that we had one. We visited the Nova music Festival 264 00:14:34,910 --> 00:14:39,050 S4: grounds and were able to talk to a few survivors. 265 00:14:39,050 --> 00:14:43,700 S4: And when you really understand what happened on that music grounds, 266 00:14:43,700 --> 00:14:47,330 S4: that festival there, it really is just heart wrenching for 267 00:14:47,330 --> 00:14:51,530 S4: you to understand that these young kids woke up that morning, 268 00:14:51,530 --> 00:14:54,710 S4: they were listening to music. They were getting ready to 269 00:14:54,710 --> 00:14:57,370 S4: kind of head home for the day. And then they 270 00:14:57,370 --> 00:15:01,870 S4: heard the sirens. But the sirens quickly turned into gunfire. 271 00:15:01,870 --> 00:15:05,740 S4: And just the horrific events there, and the number of 272 00:15:05,740 --> 00:15:08,950 S4: young adults that lost their lives, that had promising lives. 273 00:15:08,950 --> 00:15:12,010 S4: It's just a heartache. Just gut wrenching, as you said. 274 00:15:12,370 --> 00:15:16,960 S1: National Religious Broadcasters President and CEO Troy Miller is just 275 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,620 S1: back from a trip to Israel, and we appreciate his 276 00:15:19,620 --> 00:15:22,920 S1: updates today on the land. And the book. Sounds like 277 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:25,740 S1: traveling to Israel right now in particular, is a whole 278 00:15:25,740 --> 00:15:29,640 S1: lot different than talking about Israel, particularly the way the 279 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:33,060 S1: mainstream media has covered the current war. What are your thoughts? 280 00:15:33,450 --> 00:15:37,890 S4: Oh, absolutely. The mainstream media, somehow I don't I'm not 281 00:15:37,890 --> 00:15:42,510 S4: sure how has turned Israel into, you know, the enemy here, 282 00:15:42,510 --> 00:15:46,460 S4: as if Israel was the perpetrator on October 7th and 283 00:15:46,460 --> 00:15:50,960 S4: has forgotten that that it was Hamas who launched this 284 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:56,030 S4: horrific attack on these very peaceful and for the most part, 285 00:15:56,030 --> 00:15:59,900 S4: very liberal communities that were down in the South. A 286 00:15:59,900 --> 00:16:03,560 S4: lot of these communities were working very hard on the 287 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:08,240 S4: behalf of Palestinians and Palestinian citizens, trying to employ them, 288 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,900 S4: educate them, help them get medical coverage. Just a number 289 00:16:11,900 --> 00:16:15,050 S4: of things there. And those are messages that the mainstream 290 00:16:15,050 --> 00:16:18,140 S4: media is just not talking about. And also the fact, 291 00:16:18,140 --> 00:16:20,660 S4: you know, just as, uh, not too long after we 292 00:16:20,660 --> 00:16:24,440 S4: got back, Israel, you know, rescued four hostages. Two of 293 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:30,260 S4: those hostages were being held by Palestinian civilians. They weren't 294 00:16:30,260 --> 00:16:33,310 S4: being held by, you know, the Hamas militants, the terrorists, 295 00:16:33,310 --> 00:16:36,010 S4: they were being held by civilians. And this is just 296 00:16:36,010 --> 00:16:39,580 S4: a message that mainstream media is not reporting. And they're 297 00:16:39,580 --> 00:16:42,040 S4: also not reporting, John, on what's going on on the 298 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,910 S4: northern border. Until recently, Hezbollah on the northern border has 299 00:16:45,910 --> 00:16:50,050 S4: launched well over a thousand rocket attacks into Israel. And 300 00:16:50,050 --> 00:16:53,050 S4: so there's a lot going on in Israel that we 301 00:16:53,050 --> 00:16:54,490 S4: want people to be aware of. 302 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,150 S1: Troy, the question is why? What's the payoff? What's the 303 00:16:57,150 --> 00:17:01,470 S1: pressure point that is creating this kind of false reporting? 304 00:17:01,740 --> 00:17:05,160 S4: Well, I think it just falls in line with the 305 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:09,180 S4: problem we have here in the U.S., the indoctrination on 306 00:17:09,180 --> 00:17:12,690 S4: critical race theory and intersectionality and some of these things 307 00:17:12,690 --> 00:17:15,929 S4: that have been taught in these colleges and universities. And 308 00:17:15,930 --> 00:17:20,420 S4: now they see Israel, you know, portrayed Israel as the aggressor, 309 00:17:20,420 --> 00:17:23,930 S4: as the evil in this, as the colonial power. And 310 00:17:23,930 --> 00:17:26,720 S4: people don't realize that, you know, the land that God 311 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,420 S4: gave Israel way back, all the way back that he 312 00:17:29,420 --> 00:17:33,980 S4: promised Abraham. Jews have been in that land continuously. There 313 00:17:33,980 --> 00:17:36,650 S4: has never been a time where the Jewish people have 314 00:17:36,650 --> 00:17:39,530 S4: not been in the land. There's been a remnant. Of course, 315 00:17:39,530 --> 00:17:42,380 S4: we know there's a dispersion, but the Jewish people were 316 00:17:42,380 --> 00:17:47,060 S4: there long before 1948, before Israel was declared a state. 317 00:17:47,060 --> 00:17:50,480 S4: And I think that it just fits into this socialist 318 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,630 S4: Marxist indoctrination that they're doing, and they don't know how 319 00:17:53,630 --> 00:17:56,300 S4: to back away from it now. We met with some 320 00:17:56,300 --> 00:18:00,470 S4: protesters and people who, like those who deny the Holocaust, 321 00:18:00,500 --> 00:18:04,490 S4: were even denying that October 7th even happened in Israel, 322 00:18:04,490 --> 00:18:07,250 S4: and that it's just the narrative there is really, really 323 00:18:07,250 --> 00:18:08,510 S4: hard to understand. 324 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,240 S1: Well, if you joined us midstream, this is the Land 325 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,600 S1: and the book from Moody Radio, I'm John Gager, joined 326 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,270 S1: by Troy Miller, who is president of the National Religious 327 00:18:17,270 --> 00:18:20,960 S1: Broadcasters here in the US. Troy polling has shown a 328 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:26,090 S1: precipitous drop in support for Israel among young evangelicals impacted 329 00:18:26,090 --> 00:18:29,389 S1: by both social media and their peers over the images 330 00:18:29,390 --> 00:18:32,129 S1: coming from Gaza. So how do you suggest we counteract 331 00:18:32,130 --> 00:18:33,000 S1: all of this? 332 00:18:33,030 --> 00:18:37,230 S4: It's a topic that pastors and leaders, elders and churches 333 00:18:37,230 --> 00:18:40,350 S4: need to talk about and Christian media is talking about. 334 00:18:40,350 --> 00:18:42,870 S4: And I'm so glad that you're covering this topic today. 335 00:18:42,869 --> 00:18:46,200 S4: And we really need to get Christian influencers on these 336 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:50,790 S4: social media platforms, particularly TikTok, where the young adults, young 337 00:18:50,790 --> 00:18:55,670 S4: evangelicals really get their information from and communicate the truth 338 00:18:55,670 --> 00:18:58,580 S4: about what's really going on in Israel and what's really 339 00:18:58,580 --> 00:19:03,170 S4: behind these attacks, and the fact that Hamas really simply 340 00:19:03,170 --> 00:19:06,260 S4: wants the elimination of the Jewish people in the Middle East. 341 00:19:06,290 --> 00:19:09,950 S1: Well, one bright spot in this discussion. You've observed that 342 00:19:09,950 --> 00:19:14,389 S1: when American students who have a strong faith based background, 343 00:19:14,390 --> 00:19:17,300 S1: when they're presented with the full picture, they're more inclined 344 00:19:17,330 --> 00:19:20,740 S1: to be supportive of Israel than their secular counterparts. Give 345 00:19:20,740 --> 00:19:22,389 S1: us a story or example here. 346 00:19:22,570 --> 00:19:23,320 S5: Yes. 347 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:27,399 S4: So my daughter actually went out to the University of 348 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:31,090 S4: California with Concerned Women of America to march on behalf 349 00:19:31,090 --> 00:19:33,760 S4: of Israel, and they were able to meet some of 350 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,850 S4: the protesters, and particularly some of the protesters who were 351 00:19:36,850 --> 00:19:40,450 S4: Christians out there and have these dialogues, have a conversation 352 00:19:40,450 --> 00:19:44,320 S4: and talk about, okay, here's what happened October 7th. Here's 353 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:48,100 S4: what Israel's facing. Did you know that Israel has given 354 00:19:48,100 --> 00:19:52,870 S4: the Palestinian people complete autonomy to run their cities and 355 00:19:52,869 --> 00:19:56,320 S4: to run their areas? And as she had those conversations, 356 00:19:56,320 --> 00:20:00,730 S4: she found out that very quickly the evangelical students said, oh, 357 00:20:00,730 --> 00:20:03,340 S4: we didn't know any of that. The Christians that were 358 00:20:03,340 --> 00:20:06,190 S4: there marching on behalf of Palestine. So we didn't really 359 00:20:06,190 --> 00:20:08,700 S4: realize any of that. And she said several of them 360 00:20:08,700 --> 00:20:10,530 S4: just walked away from the protest. 361 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,140 S1: Mm. That's great. Hey, let's talk a bit more about 362 00:20:13,140 --> 00:20:18,000 S1: the anti-Semitic wave that's rolling over college campuses. You've written 363 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,659 S1: the actions of an extremist minority on college campuses across 364 00:20:21,660 --> 00:20:24,960 S1: the United States have created a backlash that is bringing 365 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:30,720 S1: Christians and Jews together against the woke driven, anti-Israel ideology 366 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,810 S1: permeating the mainstream media. Give us an example of this 367 00:20:33,810 --> 00:20:34,890 S1: coming together. 368 00:20:35,070 --> 00:20:35,580 S5: Yeah. 369 00:20:35,580 --> 00:20:38,550 S4: So again, look at my daughter. You know, she's 23 370 00:20:38,550 --> 00:20:42,810 S4: years old. She flies out to California to go and 371 00:20:42,810 --> 00:20:46,620 S4: rally on behalf of the Jewish and Israeli students at 372 00:20:46,619 --> 00:20:49,770 S4: the University of Southern California. And we also saw this 373 00:20:49,770 --> 00:20:54,030 S4: down at many of the southern universities, University of Mississippi, 374 00:20:54,030 --> 00:20:56,500 S4: where there was a march down there by a number 375 00:20:56,500 --> 00:21:01,600 S4: of anti-Israeli march, a pro-Palestinian march and a group from 376 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:05,080 S4: one of the Christian student bodies was a group that 377 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,540 S4: helped surround some of the monuments so that they could 378 00:21:07,540 --> 00:21:10,720 S4: not be defaced. And these are groups that are groups 379 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:15,220 S4: across this country that have volunteered to escort Jewish students 380 00:21:15,220 --> 00:21:19,360 S4: to their classes. And these are predominantly Christian groups. These 381 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:23,380 S4: are predominantly young Christian adults who come alongside their Jewish 382 00:21:23,380 --> 00:21:27,340 S4: brothers and sisters on the campuses to show that solidarity 383 00:21:27,340 --> 00:21:30,130 S4: and protect them. And that is really, as you said, 384 00:21:30,130 --> 00:21:33,340 S4: that's a really hopeful thing that we're actually seeing Christians 385 00:21:33,340 --> 00:21:37,389 S4: stand up today and protect our Jewish brothers and sisters. 386 00:21:37,390 --> 00:21:41,260 S1: What's happening now in Israel and how it's being portrayed 387 00:21:41,260 --> 00:21:44,310 S1: here in America. That's our focus on the land and 388 00:21:44,310 --> 00:21:47,370 S1: the book as we dialogue today with Troy Miller, president 389 00:21:47,369 --> 00:21:51,389 S1: of the National Religious Broadcasters, just back from Israel, it 390 00:21:51,390 --> 00:21:54,060 S1: feels very much like Israel has just plain lost the 391 00:21:54,060 --> 00:21:57,300 S1: media war. At least, you know, in the mainstream media. 392 00:21:57,300 --> 00:22:00,480 S1: How can we take seriously though, the claim of genocide 393 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:04,830 S1: against Israel when the Hamas charter talks specifically about the 394 00:22:04,830 --> 00:22:08,209 S1: destruction of Israel? Why does this get no mention, no 395 00:22:08,210 --> 00:22:10,639 S1: traction in the media? And what can believers do to 396 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:11,510 S1: change that? 397 00:22:11,540 --> 00:22:15,020 S4: Look, the mainstream media has a message that they want 398 00:22:15,020 --> 00:22:17,510 S4: to send out. And I think we're seeing this today, 399 00:22:17,510 --> 00:22:21,830 S4: as we've seen a lot of these anti-Israel pro-Palestinian marches 400 00:22:21,830 --> 00:22:26,780 S4: really morph into anti-American marches. And even in some cases, 401 00:22:26,780 --> 00:22:29,899 S4: some of these marches have called, you know, for violence 402 00:22:29,900 --> 00:22:31,760 S4: on Christians. And I think one of the things that 403 00:22:31,790 --> 00:22:35,149 S4: Christian media can do is Christian media needs to keep 404 00:22:35,150 --> 00:22:39,080 S4: reminding people of the truth, and especially us as Christians, 405 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:42,260 S4: we understand, we look in our Bible, we can read 406 00:22:42,260 --> 00:22:45,350 S4: from Exodus, we can read the promises that were made 407 00:22:45,350 --> 00:22:49,909 S4: to Abraham in Genesis. We can read Joshua's conquest. And 408 00:22:49,910 --> 00:22:52,370 S4: we understand that the land that God, this is the 409 00:22:52,369 --> 00:22:55,430 S4: creator of the universe. He carved out this one place 410 00:22:55,430 --> 00:22:57,699 S4: of all the earth. God took this land and carved 411 00:22:57,700 --> 00:23:00,159 S4: it out for his people. And so one of the 412 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:03,730 S4: initiatives that we've launched also is an initiative called Keep 413 00:23:03,730 --> 00:23:06,550 S4: God's Land, which is we change the rhetoric and we 414 00:23:06,550 --> 00:23:08,800 S4: don't talk about things like the West Bank. There is 415 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,780 S4: no such thing as a West Bank. That's a made 416 00:23:10,780 --> 00:23:14,169 S4: up term. This land is Judea and Samaria. This is 417 00:23:14,170 --> 00:23:17,140 S4: the land that Christ walked himself in. And this was 418 00:23:17,140 --> 00:23:19,570 S4: the land that was given to the Jewish people. And 419 00:23:19,570 --> 00:23:21,690 S4: so we need to keep that narrative going. You know, 420 00:23:21,690 --> 00:23:24,060 S4: so many young people can't even name when they chant 421 00:23:24,060 --> 00:23:26,010 S4: from the river to the sea. They can't even name 422 00:23:26,010 --> 00:23:28,680 S4: the river. They don't even understand what's going on there. 423 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,680 S4: And as you said, we don't talk enough about Hamas, 424 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:34,470 S4: who recently just got on. The Hamas leader who's in 425 00:23:34,470 --> 00:23:37,950 S4: Qatar recently just got on the the mainstream media, got 426 00:23:37,980 --> 00:23:42,330 S4: on Al Jazeera and called for the elimination of all 427 00:23:42,330 --> 00:23:46,040 S4: homosexuals across the Middle East, and talked about how there's 428 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:50,090 S4: no repentance for that. And that's the difference between Christianity 429 00:23:50,090 --> 00:23:54,680 S4: and radical Islam. We understand that God forgives, there is repentance. 430 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:57,350 S4: There is a way back to Christ, has paid the 431 00:23:57,350 --> 00:24:01,070 S4: penalty for our sins, and we need to talk more 432 00:24:01,070 --> 00:24:03,320 S4: about that. As a church, we need to talk about 433 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,930 S4: this is God's land, and we need to talk about 434 00:24:05,930 --> 00:24:09,820 S4: really the difference that's going on here between Islam, Judaism 435 00:24:09,820 --> 00:24:10,990 S4: and Christianity. 436 00:24:11,020 --> 00:24:14,050 S1: Troy, I read a Pew Research report, This is fresh, 437 00:24:14,050 --> 00:24:17,650 S1: in which people were asked about speech that supports Israel's 438 00:24:17,650 --> 00:24:21,369 S1: right to exist, among other questions. Should that type of 439 00:24:21,369 --> 00:24:24,940 S1: speech be allowed, meaning Israel's right to exist? Should that 440 00:24:24,940 --> 00:24:30,129 S1: be allowed? Get this 7% of Americans said no and 21% 441 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:34,630 S1: were unsure. Why are we not more outraged by this 442 00:24:34,630 --> 00:24:38,260 S1: apparent desire to shut down even speech about these things? 443 00:24:38,859 --> 00:24:40,420 S5: Yeah, well, look. 444 00:24:40,420 --> 00:24:43,990 S4: We should be completely outraged that we can't talk about 445 00:24:43,990 --> 00:24:47,109 S4: something as simple as the right for the Israeli state 446 00:24:47,109 --> 00:24:50,170 S4: to exist, a right that was given to them in 1948, 447 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:53,140 S4: a right that has been there, as we said, from 448 00:24:53,140 --> 00:24:56,490 S4: God from the beginning. And this is very indicative of 449 00:24:56,490 --> 00:24:59,880 S4: what's going on in society today. We see the weaponization 450 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:03,479 S4: of the mainstream media. Mainstream media today is not media. 451 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:08,970 S4: They're a propaganda generation, factories generating factories that are out there. 452 00:25:08,970 --> 00:25:12,300 S4: And we see this weaponization of the government. And I 453 00:25:12,300 --> 00:25:14,940 S4: think people I really would hope that people would have 454 00:25:14,940 --> 00:25:18,930 S4: a bigger backlash to this after the whole Covid pandemic mess, 455 00:25:18,930 --> 00:25:21,109 S4: where we found out that so much of what they 456 00:25:21,109 --> 00:25:26,810 S4: called misinformation really turned out to be real information. And today, 457 00:25:26,810 --> 00:25:29,060 S4: I don't know why we don't, but we need our 458 00:25:29,060 --> 00:25:32,570 S4: pastors need to talk about the value of our First 459 00:25:32,570 --> 00:25:35,330 S4: Amendment rights, our God given rights. The values that the 460 00:25:35,330 --> 00:25:39,680 S4: Founding Fathers understood were rights given to us not by 461 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:42,230 S4: the government, but given to us by our creator. 462 00:25:42,260 --> 00:25:46,240 S1: National Religious broadcasters. Broadcasters President and CEO Troy Miller has 463 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:48,700 S1: joined us today on the land and the book. We're 464 00:25:48,700 --> 00:25:51,790 S1: up next. Charlie Dyer takes a look at your questions. 465 00:25:51,790 --> 00:25:54,730 S1: I'm looking forward to what's puzzling you on the land 466 00:25:54,730 --> 00:26:08,290 S1: and the book. Hope your day is going well. This 467 00:26:08,290 --> 00:26:10,750 S1: is the land and the book from Moody Radio with 468 00:26:10,750 --> 00:26:13,810 S1: our host, Charlie Dyer. I'm John Gager, and this is 469 00:26:13,810 --> 00:26:16,750 S1: segment three, Bible Questions and Answers. We have a great 470 00:26:16,750 --> 00:26:20,290 S1: time because it's not us doing the scripting, the asking, 471 00:26:20,290 --> 00:26:22,900 S1: it's you. The questions are all yours. They're all real. 472 00:26:22,900 --> 00:26:25,270 S1: They come to us via email at The Land and 473 00:26:25,270 --> 00:26:29,590 S1: the book@moody.edu. You know, Charlie Israel has been in the 474 00:26:29,590 --> 00:26:32,260 S1: news a lot over the past year and as we know, 475 00:26:32,260 --> 00:26:35,639 S1: the Bible is jam packed with end times prophecies about 476 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,790 S1: epic world events, the regathering of the Jewish people to 477 00:26:38,790 --> 00:26:42,720 S1: their ancient homeland, and Jesus return. It's crucial for us, though, 478 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,260 S1: as believers, to have a proper understanding of Bible prophecy. 479 00:26:46,260 --> 00:26:48,810 S1: So our view of the future is shaped by Scripture, right? 480 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:49,950 S1: Not today's headlines. 481 00:26:49,980 --> 00:26:52,800 S2: That's exactly right. And with this in mind, our friends 482 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:56,010 S2: at Life and Messiah have published a book titled God, 483 00:26:56,010 --> 00:26:59,450 S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners 484 00:26:59,450 --> 00:27:01,490 S2: of the land in the book for a limited time. 485 00:27:01,490 --> 00:27:04,820 S2: This informative book is focused on providing readers with a 486 00:27:04,820 --> 00:27:08,690 S2: deeper understanding and greater appreciation of what God has in 487 00:27:08,690 --> 00:27:11,600 S2: store for Israel and the nations by digging into what 488 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,450 S2: the scriptures say about these issues. Now, if you're interested 489 00:27:14,450 --> 00:27:17,240 S2: in learning more about what God has in store, visit 490 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:20,270 S2: Life in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody Radio 491 00:27:20,270 --> 00:27:22,930 S2: button to find out how you can receive your copy 492 00:27:22,930 --> 00:27:28,390 S2: of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in Messiah org. 493 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:31,419 S1: All right. Thank you. Charlie. Let's dig into our first question. 494 00:27:31,420 --> 00:27:34,659 S1: This one from Sue she says, is time one of 495 00:27:34,660 --> 00:27:37,929 S1: God's attributes or did he create time? And if he 496 00:27:37,930 --> 00:27:41,169 S1: created time, when did he do so? Is God just 497 00:27:41,170 --> 00:27:44,260 S1: present in this moment or does he simultaneously exist in 498 00:27:44,260 --> 00:27:48,850 S1: the past, present, and future? How does God see the future? Yeah, I. 499 00:27:48,850 --> 00:27:51,250 S2: Don't see time as being an attribute of God. A 500 00:27:51,250 --> 00:27:53,710 S2: time seems to be a function of the created order. 501 00:27:53,710 --> 00:27:56,109 S2: It's a property of creation, kind of like the second 502 00:27:56,109 --> 00:27:58,869 S2: law of thermodynamics or the speed of light. You know, 503 00:27:58,869 --> 00:28:02,560 S2: passages like Psalm 90 put God outside the created order. 504 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:04,870 S2: It says there before the mountains were born, or you 505 00:28:04,869 --> 00:28:08,830 S2: brought forth the whole earth from everlasting to everlasting, your God. 506 00:28:09,010 --> 00:28:12,070 S2: That Psalm also describes, I think, in poetic fashion, how 507 00:28:12,070 --> 00:28:15,040 S2: God's view of time is so vastly different than ours. 508 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:17,980 S2: It says A thousand years in your sight are like 509 00:28:17,980 --> 00:28:19,990 S2: a day that's just gone by, or like a watch 510 00:28:19,990 --> 00:28:23,410 S2: in the night. Now, in terms of God's relationship to time, 511 00:28:23,410 --> 00:28:26,710 S2: I like what God himself said in Isaiah 46. He says, 512 00:28:26,710 --> 00:28:29,260 S2: remember the former things those of long ago I'm God, 513 00:28:29,260 --> 00:28:32,020 S2: there is no other. I'm God, there's none like me. 514 00:28:32,020 --> 00:28:35,479 S2: I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times. 515 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,300 S2: What is still to come. So trying to determine how 516 00:28:38,330 --> 00:28:40,430 S2: time relates to God, at least to me, seems to 517 00:28:40,430 --> 00:28:44,780 S2: be irrelevant since time itself, past, present, future exists within 518 00:28:44,780 --> 00:28:49,070 S2: the plan he designed before time, as we even understand it, began. 519 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:51,830 S2: One last passage though it's from the New Testament. First 520 00:28:51,830 --> 00:28:55,610 S2: Timothy one nine. There Paul describes God's gracious plan of 521 00:28:55,610 --> 00:28:58,180 S2: salvation through his son. He says it was given in 522 00:28:58,180 --> 00:29:02,290 S2: Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. Literally. It says 523 00:29:02,290 --> 00:29:06,520 S2: before time eternal. We might say before the eons of time. 524 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:09,370 S2: But the key here is that this was before those 525 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,310 S2: eons of time even began. God was there, and he 526 00:29:12,310 --> 00:29:15,160 S2: had a plan prior to the foundation of time itself. 527 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:19,150 S1: Interesting. Robin takes us to Romans 826, which says, the 528 00:29:19,150 --> 00:29:23,760 S1: Holy Spirit intercedes for us. But verse 34 says, Jesus 529 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,220 S1: Christ intercedes for us. Now how are these two roles 530 00:29:26,220 --> 00:29:27,900 S1: similar and or different? 531 00:29:27,930 --> 00:29:30,330 S2: Well, I see them as complementary, you know, in verses 532 00:29:30,330 --> 00:29:33,840 S2: 22 to 28. In that section, Paul uses three forms 533 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:36,540 S2: of a word for groan or groaning. In verse 22, 534 00:29:36,540 --> 00:29:40,320 S2: the whole creation groans together. In verse 23, we groan 535 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:43,860 S2: within ourselves, and then in verse 26, the spirit intercedes 536 00:29:43,860 --> 00:29:47,400 S2: for us, he says with groanings that words can't express. 537 00:29:47,580 --> 00:29:49,560 S2: His point here is that the world around us is 538 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:52,950 S2: full of struggles. We experience struggles as well. And he 539 00:29:52,950 --> 00:29:55,770 S2: says in verse 26, the spirit comes to our aid 540 00:29:55,770 --> 00:29:58,830 S2: by taking all the prayer concerns we struggle over and 541 00:29:58,830 --> 00:30:01,410 S2: bringing them to God the Father with an intensity with 542 00:30:01,410 --> 00:30:04,709 S2: groanings that we can't even begin to imagine. And he 543 00:30:04,710 --> 00:30:07,440 S2: does it in accordance with God's will. So as a result, 544 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:09,920 S2: we have confidence God will work all things together for 545 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:11,990 S2: the good of those who love him. Because of the 546 00:30:11,990 --> 00:30:14,510 S2: role of the spirit in praying for us and taking 547 00:30:14,510 --> 00:30:17,750 S2: our feeble prayers and translating them into those powerful and 548 00:30:17,750 --> 00:30:21,110 S2: passionate words that align with God's will. Now the second part, 549 00:30:21,110 --> 00:30:24,920 S2: verses 31 to 35. The focus isn't on prayer, but 550 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:27,350 S2: it's on the issue of our acceptance by God. And 551 00:30:27,350 --> 00:30:29,690 S2: he says, no charge can be made against us that 552 00:30:29,690 --> 00:30:34,300 S2: can stand because God has predestined, called, justified and glorified us. 553 00:30:34,300 --> 00:30:36,430 S2: And we know that because God gave His Son to 554 00:30:36,430 --> 00:30:39,130 S2: pay the penalty for our sin. So Paul's arguing from 555 00:30:39,130 --> 00:30:41,440 S2: the greater to the lesser. If if God already has 556 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:43,750 S2: given us his son, won't he also meet all our 557 00:30:43,750 --> 00:30:46,150 S2: other needs by his grace? And then he says, how 558 00:30:46,150 --> 00:30:49,090 S2: can charges be made against us since God justifies us? 559 00:30:49,090 --> 00:30:51,700 S2: Christ died for us, was raised from the dead, and 560 00:30:51,700 --> 00:30:54,640 S2: intercedes for us. And now in those verses, the intercession 561 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:58,320 S2: isn't focused on answering prayer, but on answering any objections 562 00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:00,750 S2: someone might raise about our salvation. 563 00:31:00,750 --> 00:31:03,600 S1: Questions and answers. With Charlie and John here on the 564 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:07,170 S1: land and the book. Charlie's answering those questions. I get 565 00:31:07,170 --> 00:31:09,780 S1: to ask your questions, and that's kind of fun. Here's 566 00:31:09,780 --> 00:31:12,330 S1: one from Joe, she says, considering the great importance that 567 00:31:12,330 --> 00:31:16,620 S1: the tabernacle and temple sacrifices had for the Jewish people, 568 00:31:16,620 --> 00:31:18,990 S1: how did they transition out of all that? A ritual 569 00:31:18,990 --> 00:31:21,180 S1: that was so incredibly significant? 570 00:31:21,210 --> 00:31:24,840 S2: Well, from a human perspective, the sacrifices and temple system 571 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:27,540 S2: ceased because the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 572 00:31:27,540 --> 00:31:32,160 S2: AD 70. In Deuteronomy 12, God gave specific requirements on 573 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,890 S2: where they were to offer their sacrifices. He says, you 574 00:31:34,890 --> 00:31:36,870 S2: can't just choose any place. You've got to go to 575 00:31:36,870 --> 00:31:39,600 S2: the one which your Lord, your God will choose. So 576 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:42,330 S2: initially the tabernacle was set up at Shiloh. That's the 577 00:31:42,330 --> 00:31:45,350 S2: place chosen by God. But then it became Jerusalem when 578 00:31:45,350 --> 00:31:48,740 S2: Solomon's Temple was built. There are Jewish individuals today who 579 00:31:48,740 --> 00:31:51,710 S2: believe they need to rebuild the temple now, since they're 580 00:31:51,710 --> 00:31:54,260 S2: back in the land. But until a new temple is built, 581 00:31:54,260 --> 00:31:58,550 S2: they're prohibited from offering sacrifices and performing those other rituals. 582 00:31:58,700 --> 00:32:02,780 S1: From Brian this question some Christians believe that nations should 583 00:32:02,780 --> 00:32:06,260 S1: be non-resistant and never enter a war. Others think we 584 00:32:06,260 --> 00:32:09,290 S1: shouldn't start one but have a right to defend ourselves 585 00:32:09,290 --> 00:32:13,370 S1: and or other nations. Still, others might feel Christians shouldn't fight, 586 00:32:13,370 --> 00:32:16,460 S1: but it's all right for non-Christians to fight. What can 587 00:32:16,460 --> 00:32:18,080 S1: we conclude from Scripture? 588 00:32:18,170 --> 00:32:19,970 S2: Yeah, and this is one where I've got to watch 589 00:32:19,970 --> 00:32:22,730 S2: very carefully, because to fit everything in, I could go 590 00:32:22,730 --> 00:32:24,560 S2: a mile a minute speaking. So I want to try 591 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:27,080 S2: and speak slowly, but we're going to cover a lot 592 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,560 S2: of ground because good and godly people do disagree. So 593 00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:32,630 S2: I'm going to offend some listeners and what I'm going 594 00:32:32,630 --> 00:32:34,770 S2: to say. and it's my opinion. And here's what I 595 00:32:34,770 --> 00:32:37,020 S2: believe the Bible teaches. So if you don't like it 596 00:32:37,020 --> 00:32:39,780 S2: I'm sorry, but God does prohibit murder. We can all 597 00:32:39,780 --> 00:32:42,780 S2: agree on that. That's the intentional taking of an innocent life. 598 00:32:42,780 --> 00:32:46,470 S2: That's the sixth commandment thou shalt not kill. But second, 599 00:32:46,470 --> 00:32:49,380 S2: I don't believe that command is intended to be absolute 600 00:32:49,380 --> 00:32:53,670 S2: without exception. In this sense, in Genesis nine six, God 601 00:32:53,670 --> 00:32:57,480 S2: established capital punishment for deliberate murder. Whoever sheds the blood 602 00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:00,240 S2: of man by man shall his blood be shed. For 603 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:02,460 S2: in the image of God, God has made him. A 604 00:33:02,460 --> 00:33:05,010 S2: human life is to be held sacred, and the penalty 605 00:33:05,010 --> 00:33:08,520 S2: for deliberately taking a human life for committing murder is 606 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:10,530 S2: the forfeiture of the life of the one who commits 607 00:33:10,530 --> 00:33:13,110 S2: that murder. Now that principle is repeated in both the 608 00:33:13,110 --> 00:33:17,400 S2: Old and New Testaments. In Leviticus 2417, God said, if 609 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:19,890 S2: anyone takes the life of a human being, he must 610 00:33:19,890 --> 00:33:23,150 S2: be put to death. And in Romans 13, verses three 611 00:33:23,150 --> 00:33:25,490 S2: and four, Paul said, you know, rulers don't hold terror 612 00:33:25,490 --> 00:33:27,560 S2: for those who do, right? But if you do wrong, 613 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:29,900 S2: you do because he's God's servant to do you good 614 00:33:29,900 --> 00:33:32,000 S2: if you do right. But he's an agent of wrath 615 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,820 S2: to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. You know, God did 616 00:33:34,820 --> 00:33:38,870 S2: establish capital punishment to judge those who commit murder. I 617 00:33:38,870 --> 00:33:41,870 S2: go beyond that. Third. I believe God provides human government 618 00:33:41,870 --> 00:33:44,780 S2: to help hold evil in check. And a legitimate role 619 00:33:44,780 --> 00:33:47,500 S2: of government is to provide safety for its citizens. And 620 00:33:47,500 --> 00:33:50,620 S2: sometimes that includes going to war. A God sent Israel 621 00:33:50,620 --> 00:33:54,490 S2: to war on multiple occasions. Now how does that impact believers? 622 00:33:54,490 --> 00:33:56,500 S2: Here's the bottom line. I think this is where it 623 00:33:56,500 --> 00:33:59,590 S2: becomes a matter of personal conviction. Can a believer join 624 00:33:59,590 --> 00:34:02,290 S2: the military and fight for his country? I believe that's 625 00:34:02,290 --> 00:34:06,610 S2: possible if the individual understands the differences between not seeking vengeance, 626 00:34:06,610 --> 00:34:10,230 S2: but seeking to promote justice and national protection. Uh, the 627 00:34:10,230 --> 00:34:12,930 S2: same thing is true for someone serving as a police officer, 628 00:34:12,930 --> 00:34:15,450 S2: in the sense that they're given authority by the state 629 00:34:15,450 --> 00:34:18,540 S2: to maintain order and help bring lawbreakers to justice. And 630 00:34:18,540 --> 00:34:20,790 S2: at times, that includes the power to take the life 631 00:34:20,790 --> 00:34:23,609 S2: of someone threatening others. Does a Christian have a right 632 00:34:23,610 --> 00:34:26,700 S2: to defend himself or herself or others if attacked? Well, 633 00:34:26,700 --> 00:34:29,130 S2: Psalm 82 says, we're to defend the cause of the 634 00:34:29,130 --> 00:34:32,130 S2: weak and fatherless, maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed, 635 00:34:32,130 --> 00:34:34,919 S2: rescue the weak and needy, deliver them from the hand 636 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:37,500 S2: of the wicked. And that suggests to me we can 637 00:34:37,500 --> 00:34:41,190 S2: step in to defend those being attacked. But how about us? 638 00:34:41,190 --> 00:34:43,950 S2: How does this impact us if we're the one being attacked? 639 00:34:43,950 --> 00:34:46,590 S2: And the answer depends on how we take passages like 640 00:34:46,590 --> 00:34:49,530 S2: Jesus's words in Matthew five. You've heard it was said, 641 00:34:49,530 --> 00:34:51,299 S2: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 642 00:34:51,300 --> 00:34:53,819 S2: But I say, do not resist an evil person. If 643 00:34:53,820 --> 00:34:56,310 S2: someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him 644 00:34:56,310 --> 00:34:58,969 S2: the other also. So as you can see, there isn't 645 00:34:58,969 --> 00:35:01,460 S2: one simple answer, but what I would encourage you to 646 00:35:01,460 --> 00:35:04,070 S2: do is study all those different passages and ask the 647 00:35:04,070 --> 00:35:05,839 S2: Lord to give you wisdom to know how he wants 648 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:08,899 S2: you to respond in a way that best honors him. Huh? 649 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:12,800 S1: What a complex question and a great answer. Thank you. Charlie. 650 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:16,009 S1: Stan says that my men's Bible study last week, somebody 651 00:35:16,010 --> 00:35:18,320 S1: mentioned that Jesus will be the only one in heaven 652 00:35:18,320 --> 00:35:21,350 S1: with scars on his eternal body as a result of 653 00:35:21,350 --> 00:35:25,150 S1: the crucifixion. They support this view with revelation five verse six, 654 00:35:25,150 --> 00:35:28,570 S1: where Jesus is represented as a lamb looking as if 655 00:35:28,570 --> 00:35:31,960 S1: it had been slain. Also, Jesus had nail and spear 656 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:35,380 S1: marks when he appeared to Thomas after the resurrection. I'm 657 00:35:35,380 --> 00:35:37,899 S1: not sure I agree with this position. What are your thoughts? 658 00:35:37,900 --> 00:35:40,060 S2: Well, I see two separate questions here, so let me 659 00:35:40,060 --> 00:35:42,820 S2: answer each one first. Does Jesus bear the marks of 660 00:35:42,820 --> 00:35:45,930 S2: his crucifixion in his resurrection body? And the Bible says 661 00:35:45,930 --> 00:35:49,860 S2: he does. In fact, you you referenced Jesus's post-resurrection encounter 662 00:35:49,860 --> 00:35:53,010 S2: with Thomas. That's in John chapter 20, where he mentions 663 00:35:53,010 --> 00:35:55,110 S2: the imprint of the nails in Jesus's hands and the 664 00:35:55,110 --> 00:35:57,660 S2: wound in his side. So I do see that. Now. 665 00:35:57,660 --> 00:35:59,940 S2: The second question, though, is whether Jesus will be the 666 00:35:59,940 --> 00:36:04,050 S2: only one with identifiable marks on the resurrection body. And 667 00:36:04,050 --> 00:36:06,600 S2: as far as I can see, we're simply not told 668 00:36:06,719 --> 00:36:09,420 S2: we must be identifiable in some way in our new bodies, 669 00:36:09,420 --> 00:36:13,200 S2: but we're not told what those identifiable characteristics might be. 670 00:36:13,260 --> 00:36:14,910 S2: This is a case, I think, where we need to rest. 671 00:36:14,910 --> 00:36:17,880 S2: In Paul's words in first Corinthians 15, you know, he 672 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:20,160 S2: talked about some are wondering, how will the dead be raised, 673 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:22,109 S2: what kind of body will they have? And he says, 674 00:36:22,110 --> 00:36:25,500 S2: the body that's sown is perishable, it's raised imperishable. It's 675 00:36:25,500 --> 00:36:28,410 S2: sown in dishonor, raised in glory, sown in weakness, raised 676 00:36:28,410 --> 00:36:31,650 S2: in power, sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. 677 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:34,549 S2: Beyond his general description, we really don't know exactly what 678 00:36:34,550 --> 00:36:36,680 S2: our new bodies are going to be like, but whatever 679 00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:38,540 S2: they are, I think they're going to be pretty amazing 680 00:36:38,540 --> 00:36:40,010 S2: and I think we'll be pleased with them. 681 00:36:40,010 --> 00:36:42,290 S1: And that's an amazing set of questions that have come 682 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:44,870 S1: our way. Yours. Welcome. Any time when you email us 683 00:36:44,870 --> 00:36:49,970 S1: at The Land and the book@moody.edu. Hey, Charlie Dyer's devotional 684 00:36:49,969 --> 00:37:05,320 S1: is next. It's going to be great right here. Welcome 685 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:08,140 S1: back to the land and the book. I'm John Gager asking, 686 00:37:08,140 --> 00:37:11,200 S1: don't you love a great coincidence? I've got one for you. 687 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:13,899 S1: This morning in my Bible study time, I was reading 688 00:37:13,900 --> 00:37:16,930 S1: through Proverbs eight, and now I find out. Charlie, you're 689 00:37:16,930 --> 00:37:19,150 S1: about to take us to Proverbs 14. Is that. 690 00:37:19,150 --> 00:37:20,410 S2: Correct? That's right. 691 00:37:20,410 --> 00:37:24,060 S1: John, and we've titled this devotional What is Versus What 692 00:37:24,060 --> 00:37:26,550 S1: Should Be? That's an interesting title. We'll get to the 693 00:37:26,550 --> 00:37:29,760 S1: content after this quick Holy Land experience moment. Let's give 694 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:30,480 S1: it a listen. 695 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:37,140 S6: My name is Nita Tin and I was on the 696 00:37:37,140 --> 00:37:41,610 S6: Moody tour and it was such a wonderful experience. If 697 00:37:41,610 --> 00:37:44,759 S6: you want to get closer to the Lord, what better 698 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:48,259 S6: place than to come to where he walked? And as 699 00:37:48,260 --> 00:37:52,670 S6: I think of the song I walked today where Jesus walked, 700 00:37:52,670 --> 00:37:56,330 S6: that became so real. And just reading the Bible is 701 00:37:56,330 --> 00:37:59,719 S6: going to make it so different. Just because you've been 702 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:04,910 S6: there in the land where Jesus was and, uh, especially 703 00:38:04,910 --> 00:38:09,920 S6: for me, was, um, where Jesus was in the Garden 704 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:14,150 S6: of Gethsemane and where he cried, not my will, but 705 00:38:14,150 --> 00:38:17,150 S6: thine be done. And that was so special to me 706 00:38:17,150 --> 00:38:20,060 S6: because of what he has done for me and how 707 00:38:20,060 --> 00:38:21,200 S6: he has saved me. 708 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:25,730 S1: Boy, it just no end to the different reactions to 709 00:38:25,730 --> 00:38:28,610 S1: what people encounter as they travel to Israel. Thank you 710 00:38:28,610 --> 00:38:31,460 S1: for sharing that. Well, I'm looking forward to this discussion. 711 00:38:31,460 --> 00:38:34,360 S1: Charlie Solomon in the book of Proverbs. That's a great 712 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:35,290 S1: place to be. 713 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:36,820 S2: It is. And that's where we're going to spend the 714 00:38:36,820 --> 00:38:40,960 S2: month of July. Now, one of my all time favorite musicals, John, 715 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:43,600 S2: is Fiddler on the roof. The story itself is full 716 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:46,750 S2: of pathos, and the songs evoke the emotions experienced by 717 00:38:46,750 --> 00:38:50,050 S2: the different characters. You know? For example, in the movie version, 718 00:38:50,050 --> 00:38:53,020 S2: Tevye is in the barn feeding his animals. When he turned, 719 00:38:53,020 --> 00:38:55,839 S2: he looks to heaven and says in a tired prayer, Lord, 720 00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:58,660 S2: you made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, 721 00:38:58,660 --> 00:39:01,450 S2: it's no shame to be poor. And then he adds 722 00:39:01,450 --> 00:39:04,900 S2: as something of an afterthought. But it's no great honor either. 723 00:39:04,900 --> 00:39:07,660 S2: So what would have been so terrible if I had 724 00:39:07,660 --> 00:39:10,330 S2: a small fortune? And then he launches into if I 725 00:39:10,330 --> 00:39:13,600 S2: were a rich man. Now, most listening today can resonate 726 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:16,480 S2: with Tevye's words, at least emotionally. I think we've all 727 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:18,219 S2: felt at times how nice it would be to have 728 00:39:18,219 --> 00:39:21,280 S2: just a small fortune. You're not enough to rival Bill 729 00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:24,290 S2: Gates or Warren Buffett, but just enough to buy that 730 00:39:24,290 --> 00:39:27,469 S2: car or house we've always wanted, or to not get 731 00:39:27,469 --> 00:39:29,360 S2: stressed out at the end of each month when the 732 00:39:29,360 --> 00:39:33,589 S2: different bills arrive or or, well, you can finish the sentence. 733 00:39:33,590 --> 00:39:36,140 S2: Part of the problem is that we tend to compare 734 00:39:36,140 --> 00:39:38,719 S2: ourselves with those who are more well off, not against 735 00:39:38,719 --> 00:39:41,750 S2: those who are less fortunate. We seem to be attracted 736 00:39:41,750 --> 00:39:44,629 S2: to the lifestyles of the rich because it helps fuel 737 00:39:44,630 --> 00:39:49,109 S2: our desire to become more wealthy ourselves. And yet, compared globally, 738 00:39:49,110 --> 00:39:54,450 S2: most Americans are already exceptionally blessed. In a 2024 poverty 739 00:39:54,450 --> 00:39:58,620 S2: ranking by country in the United States, less than 2.2% 740 00:39:58,620 --> 00:40:01,890 S2: of the population live on less than $10 a day. 741 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:05,670 S2: In Canada, it's even lower. Less than 1.2% of the 742 00:40:05,670 --> 00:40:09,180 S2: population live on less than $10 a day. Now compare 743 00:40:09,180 --> 00:40:12,680 S2: that to the 4.4 billion people in the rest of 744 00:40:12,680 --> 00:40:15,799 S2: the world who live on less than $10 a day, 745 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:19,100 S2: or the nearly 700 million who live on less than 746 00:40:19,100 --> 00:40:22,550 S2: $2 per day. To help put our thinking in perspective, 747 00:40:22,550 --> 00:40:25,819 S2: let's pay a visit to Wise King Solomon and focus 748 00:40:25,820 --> 00:40:30,350 S2: on what is versus what should be, but follow along closely, 749 00:40:30,350 --> 00:40:33,290 S2: because the point of the story might not be what 750 00:40:33,290 --> 00:40:38,190 S2: you think. In Proverbs 1420, Solomon presents a sad reality 751 00:40:38,190 --> 00:40:41,940 S2: of life. The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, 752 00:40:41,940 --> 00:40:45,810 S2: but the rich have many friends. A stark reality in 753 00:40:45,810 --> 00:40:49,200 S2: life is that people like to hobnob with the haves 754 00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:53,730 S2: while trying to avoid the have nots. In Proverbs 19 seven, 755 00:40:53,730 --> 00:40:57,450 S2: Solomon paints an even grimmer picture. A poor man is 756 00:40:57,450 --> 00:41:00,319 S2: shunned by all his relatives. How much more do his 757 00:41:00,320 --> 00:41:03,739 S2: friends avoid him? Though he pursues them with pleading, they 758 00:41:03,739 --> 00:41:07,910 S2: are nowhere to be found. The Hebrew literally says, all 759 00:41:07,910 --> 00:41:10,760 S2: the brothers of the poor man hate him, and his 760 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:14,420 S2: friends abandon him. And it's not just that this unfortunate 761 00:41:14,420 --> 00:41:18,470 S2: relative had slipped their mind. They actively seek to avoid him. 762 00:41:18,469 --> 00:41:22,100 S2: Solomon continues. Though he pursues them with pleading, they are 763 00:41:22,100 --> 00:41:26,510 S2: nowhere to be found. As Solomon so wisely observed in life, 764 00:41:26,510 --> 00:41:29,629 S2: people often try to avoid the poor, even when those 765 00:41:29,630 --> 00:41:33,500 S2: who are poor are relatives. Perhaps they're embarrassed, perhaps they're 766 00:41:33,500 --> 00:41:36,770 S2: greedy or selfish. The reasons can vary, but the end 767 00:41:36,770 --> 00:41:39,680 S2: result is that most prefer not to think about, be 768 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:43,550 S2: associated with, or extend help to the poor. Now I 769 00:41:43,550 --> 00:41:46,569 S2: do need to add two crucial points. First, Solomon is 770 00:41:46,570 --> 00:41:49,690 S2: not preaching an ancient form of socialism, as we'll see 771 00:41:49,690 --> 00:41:52,810 S2: next week. Solomon also has much to say about someone 772 00:41:52,810 --> 00:41:56,650 S2: whose poverty is the result of laziness or idleness. Such 773 00:41:56,650 --> 00:42:00,759 S2: behavior wasn't to be rewarded. Solomon's words match those written 774 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:04,510 S2: almost 900 years later by the Apostle Paul in Second 775 00:42:04,510 --> 00:42:08,410 S2: Thessalonians three. Keep away from every brother who is idle. 776 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:11,160 S2: If a man will not work, he shall not eat. 777 00:42:11,190 --> 00:42:16,740 S2: Neither Solomon nor Paul condone supporting someone's Slothfulness the poverty 778 00:42:16,739 --> 00:42:21,180 S2: being pictured by Solomon isn't the result of laziness or inactivity. Rather, 779 00:42:21,180 --> 00:42:25,080 S2: circumstances can arise that lead to poverty. Ruth and Naomi 780 00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:27,780 S2: were in poverty because of a famine followed by the 781 00:42:27,780 --> 00:42:31,080 S2: deaths of their husbands. Job lost his wealth to a 782 00:42:31,080 --> 00:42:36,320 S2: satanic attack. Illness. Fire. Flood. economic calamity, war and a 783 00:42:36,320 --> 00:42:39,920 S2: host of other causes can lead to poverty. I believe 784 00:42:39,920 --> 00:42:43,310 S2: Solomon's focus in Proverbs 14 is on those who find 785 00:42:43,310 --> 00:42:47,239 S2: themselves in poverty, not caused by their own foolish actions. 786 00:42:47,239 --> 00:42:50,420 S2: And that leads to the crucial point in Proverbs. I've 787 00:42:50,420 --> 00:42:54,259 S2: quoted part of two proverbs that describe what is, and 788 00:42:54,260 --> 00:42:56,960 S2: by that I mean Solomon is picturing what is often 789 00:42:56,960 --> 00:43:00,080 S2: true in life. People do tend to ignore or not 790 00:43:00,080 --> 00:43:02,780 S2: think about those who are in poverty. But now let's 791 00:43:02,780 --> 00:43:04,730 S2: go back to see the other side of the coin, 792 00:43:04,730 --> 00:43:09,560 S2: the what should be that? Solomon also stresses in 1420. 793 00:43:09,590 --> 00:43:12,830 S2: Solomon said the poor are shunned even by their neighbors, 794 00:43:12,830 --> 00:43:15,470 S2: while the rich have many friends. But then look at 795 00:43:15,469 --> 00:43:18,200 S2: what he says in the very next verse. He who 796 00:43:18,200 --> 00:43:22,100 S2: despises his neighbor sins. But blessed is he who is 797 00:43:22,100 --> 00:43:25,419 S2: kind to the needy. Having pictured what might be considered 798 00:43:25,420 --> 00:43:28,870 S2: normal by the world, Solomon quickly adds that it is 799 00:43:28,870 --> 00:43:33,129 S2: not normal from God's perspective. I'm reminded of Jesus's parable 800 00:43:33,130 --> 00:43:36,400 S2: of the Good Samaritan, given in response to someone trying 801 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:39,550 S2: to justify himself by saying, well, who is my neighbor? 802 00:43:39,550 --> 00:43:42,219 S2: If the second greatest command is to love your neighbor 803 00:43:42,219 --> 00:43:46,060 S2: as yourself, then despising and refusing to help one's truly 804 00:43:46,060 --> 00:43:49,500 S2: needy neighbor is indeed a sin. And the one who 805 00:43:49,500 --> 00:43:54,180 S2: does reach out to help receives God's blessing. In Proverbs 19, 806 00:43:54,180 --> 00:43:57,960 S2: Solomon does something very similar, having described how even brothers 807 00:43:57,960 --> 00:44:01,170 S2: and friends will abandon and shun the poor. Solomon then 808 00:44:01,170 --> 00:44:04,050 S2: goes on in verse 17 to say, he who is 809 00:44:04,050 --> 00:44:07,350 S2: kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he 810 00:44:07,350 --> 00:44:09,630 S2: that is the Lord will reward him for what he 811 00:44:09,630 --> 00:44:12,560 S2: has done. People didn't want to lend to the poor 812 00:44:12,560 --> 00:44:15,410 S2: because it was almost certain they would never get repaid. 813 00:44:15,410 --> 00:44:18,739 S2: But Solomon turns the equation on its head in helping 814 00:44:18,739 --> 00:44:21,830 S2: the poor. You're not lending to them, but to the Lord. 815 00:44:21,830 --> 00:44:25,190 S2: And God always pays back those who lend to him. 816 00:44:25,190 --> 00:44:27,170 S2: It might be in this life, or it might be 817 00:44:27,170 --> 00:44:29,870 S2: in the life to come. But picturing a gift to 818 00:44:29,870 --> 00:44:32,990 S2: the poor as a loan to God puts an entirely 819 00:44:32,989 --> 00:44:36,890 S2: different spin on the action. So what's the practical application 820 00:44:36,890 --> 00:44:41,030 S2: of Solomon's wise words for us today? First, he didn't 821 00:44:41,030 --> 00:44:44,240 S2: write to guilt us into giving to every panhandler holding 822 00:44:44,239 --> 00:44:47,000 S2: up a sign at a stoplight. I like the signs 823 00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:49,550 S2: posted in a number of cities that say it is 824 00:44:49,550 --> 00:44:53,000 S2: okay to say no to panhandlers. Give instead to agencies 825 00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:56,239 S2: that help those in need. Your local rescue mission can 826 00:44:56,239 --> 00:44:59,410 S2: provide physical and spiritual help that will do far more 827 00:44:59,410 --> 00:45:03,550 S2: good with your contribution. A second be wise. Do you 828 00:45:03,550 --> 00:45:06,670 S2: personally know the circumstances that caused a family member or 829 00:45:06,670 --> 00:45:09,790 S2: neighbor to be in financial need? Was it caused by 830 00:45:09,790 --> 00:45:13,150 S2: a genuine calamity or is it the result of poor 831 00:45:13,150 --> 00:45:16,810 S2: or even sinful life choices? You don't want to subsidize 832 00:45:16,810 --> 00:45:19,660 S2: or encourage such a lifestyle, but you do want to 833 00:45:19,660 --> 00:45:23,380 S2: help someone with a genuine need. Finally, be as generous 834 00:45:23,380 --> 00:45:26,259 S2: and helpful as you can be without harming yourself or 835 00:45:26,260 --> 00:45:29,319 S2: your family. If you're on a fixed budget, give what 836 00:45:29,320 --> 00:45:32,589 S2: you can without going into poverty yourself. You can give 837 00:45:32,590 --> 00:45:35,319 S2: directly to an individual, but you can also give to 838 00:45:35,320 --> 00:45:39,040 S2: your church's assistance fund if it has one. Churches often 839 00:45:39,040 --> 00:45:41,440 S2: have such a fund to minister to those in the 840 00:45:41,440 --> 00:45:45,400 S2: congregation and community with physical needs, or give instead to 841 00:45:45,400 --> 00:45:49,190 S2: a ministry that focuses on providing physical and spiritual support 842 00:45:49,190 --> 00:45:52,820 S2: in times of need. Samaritan's purse and The Salvation Army 843 00:45:52,820 --> 00:45:55,790 S2: are two groups that come immediately to mind. It's a 844 00:45:55,790 --> 00:45:58,130 S2: reality of life that people tend to look up to 845 00:45:58,130 --> 00:46:01,520 S2: those with wealth and power, and to ignore those in poverty. 846 00:46:01,550 --> 00:46:05,420 S2: God wants us to demonstrate generosity and grace to those 847 00:46:05,420 --> 00:46:08,989 S2: with legitimate needs. That requires wisdom on our part. But 848 00:46:08,989 --> 00:46:11,480 S2: in reaching out to share with those in genuine need, 849 00:46:11,480 --> 00:46:14,360 S2: just remember that God views it as a loan you're 850 00:46:14,360 --> 00:46:18,410 S2: making to him, and he promises to someday reward your generosity. 851 00:46:18,410 --> 00:46:21,529 S2: And that's part of Solomon's instruction for how to live 852 00:46:21,530 --> 00:46:22,910 S2: life wisely. 853 00:46:22,910 --> 00:46:26,540 S1: I love that nudge toward generosity. Thank you Charlie, if 854 00:46:26,540 --> 00:46:28,790 S1: you want to hear today's program again, any of it 855 00:46:28,790 --> 00:46:31,460 S1: or all of it, you can do that at our website, 856 00:46:31,460 --> 00:46:36,170 S1: the land and the book.org information Information there about our guest, 857 00:46:36,170 --> 00:46:40,130 S1: past programs, future programs, and more. The land and the book. 858 00:46:40,430 --> 00:46:43,550 S1: Org that'll do it for today's edition of the broadcast 859 00:46:43,550 --> 00:46:46,400 S1: for our host, Charlie Dyer. Our producer, Dan Anderson, I'm 860 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:48,620 S1: John Geiger, thanking you for your company. Nice to have 861 00:46:48,620 --> 00:46:51,530 S1: you along the land. And the book is a production 862 00:46:51,530 --> 00:46:55,040 S1: of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.