1 00:00:08,180 --> 00:00:11,030 S1: Be honest. Have you ever skipped over or given up 2 00:00:11,030 --> 00:00:13,040 S1: on a book of the Bible like, oh, let's say 3 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:17,989 S1: numbers or Leviticus? These laws, rules and rituals can be confusing, 4 00:00:17,989 --> 00:00:21,799 S1: daunting even. But why did God include all these in 5 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:23,750 S1: the Bible? And what does he want us to learn 6 00:00:23,750 --> 00:00:26,570 S1: from them today? You'll be surprised at what you discover 7 00:00:26,570 --> 00:00:29,090 S1: as you join us. Now for the land and the book. 8 00:00:29,090 --> 00:00:32,090 S1: Thanks for connecting today. I'm John Geiger, excited to be 9 00:00:32,090 --> 00:00:35,840 S1: teaming up with our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, noted Israel expert. 10 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,269 S1: And as the end of this year approaches, many world 11 00:00:38,270 --> 00:00:41,240 S1: events have left us wondering what God's plan is for 12 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,630 S1: the future. And that's particularly true when it comes to Israel. 13 00:00:44,659 --> 00:00:48,769 S1: Despite its tiny size, people around the world are intensely 14 00:00:48,770 --> 00:00:52,160 S1: focused on what takes place. There are today's headlines connected 15 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,550 S1: in any way with prophecies in the Bible. How should 16 00:00:55,550 --> 00:00:58,730 S1: followers of Jesus interpret current events as we await his 17 00:00:58,730 --> 00:00:59,540 S1: second coming? 18 00:00:59,570 --> 00:01:02,210 S2: Yeah, those are great questions, John. And to help answer 19 00:01:02,210 --> 00:01:05,720 S2: those important questions, our friends at Life and Messiah encourage 20 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,869 S2: you to check out their book, God, Israel and Bible 21 00:01:08,870 --> 00:01:12,560 S2: Prophecy with Scripture as its foundation. This book will take 22 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,050 S2: you on a journey into what God has in store 23 00:01:15,050 --> 00:01:18,410 S2: for the Jewish people and the nations. This book is 24 00:01:18,410 --> 00:01:21,350 S2: for anyone who wants to explore where modern day events 25 00:01:21,350 --> 00:01:25,130 S2: fit on God's grand timeline. Now, if that's you or 26 00:01:25,130 --> 00:01:29,030 S2: someone you know, this would be a great resource or gift. 27 00:01:29,060 --> 00:01:32,360 S2: Visit Life in Messiah org and click on the Moody 28 00:01:32,390 --> 00:01:35,360 S2: Radio button to find out how you can receive your 29 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:41,899 S2: copy of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 30 00:01:41,990 --> 00:01:42,470 S2: And if you. 31 00:01:42,500 --> 00:01:45,380 S1: Happen to be a newer listener new to this program, 32 00:01:45,380 --> 00:01:48,440 S1: why this opening segment? The first of four, by the way, 33 00:01:48,470 --> 00:01:50,390 S1: brings us a look at current events from the Middle 34 00:01:50,390 --> 00:01:54,530 S1: East region. Well, Charlie, early last Saturday, Israel finally launched 35 00:01:54,530 --> 00:01:58,350 S1: its retaliatory strike against Iran in response to their October 36 00:01:58,380 --> 00:02:01,669 S1: 1st missile attack. What do we know about the the 37 00:02:01,670 --> 00:02:03,890 S1: effect of that strike so far? Could it lead to 38 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,140 S1: another round of attacks between the two countries? That would 39 00:02:06,140 --> 00:02:08,510 S1: seem possible, but what's your take? 40 00:02:08,540 --> 00:02:11,690 S2: Well, the strike was limited, but it was effective. The 41 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:15,560 S2: US pressured Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities or 42 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,459 S2: oil refineries. Those could have taken down Iran's economy, but 43 00:02:19,460 --> 00:02:22,430 S2: would have demanded an Iranian response. And being so close 44 00:02:22,430 --> 00:02:26,419 S2: to our elections, that's not something our government wanted. But 45 00:02:26,419 --> 00:02:30,350 S2: the targets Israel did select were strategic by disabling Iran's 46 00:02:30,350 --> 00:02:34,790 S2: air defenses. Israel gained greater freedom to attack throughout the country, 47 00:02:34,790 --> 00:02:37,580 S2: and that could continue on into the future. They then 48 00:02:37,580 --> 00:02:42,290 S2: crippled Iran's missile manufacturing production by destroying mixers used to 49 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,290 S2: make the solid fuel used in the rockets. It could 50 00:02:45,290 --> 00:02:48,410 S2: take up to two years for Iran to repair the damage. 51 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,040 S2: Israel also hit a site that manufactured drones, which are 52 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,429 S2: on both used and exported to groups like Hezbollah and 53 00:02:55,430 --> 00:02:59,810 S2: the Houthis. Israel deliberately tried to avoid civilian casualties and 54 00:02:59,810 --> 00:03:03,079 S2: apparently attacked in a way that allows Iran to deny 55 00:03:03,110 --> 00:03:08,000 S2: much was damaged. Apparently, the strike involved over 100 Israeli warplanes, 56 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,660 S2: all of which returned safely to Israel afterward. Now the 57 00:03:11,660 --> 00:03:15,410 S2: big question is what will Iran do in response? Iran 58 00:03:15,410 --> 00:03:18,079 S2: still has rockets stockpiled that it could use to launch 59 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,889 S2: a retaliatory strike. However, they also know any missiles used 60 00:03:21,889 --> 00:03:25,310 S2: can't be replaced for several years. And in the meantime, 61 00:03:25,310 --> 00:03:29,240 S2: Israel could freely retaliate by going after oil refineries, oil 62 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,650 S2: shipping facilities and power generating stations. That's why many believe 63 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,590 S2: Iran might hold off striking back in any direct way 64 00:03:36,590 --> 00:03:39,680 S2: or significant way, and look for other means to hit 65 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,070 S2: back at Israel. Now, one last point. The Gulf states 66 00:03:43,070 --> 00:03:46,610 S2: and other Arab countries condemned Israel for the attack, but 67 00:03:46,610 --> 00:03:50,120 S2: this was more by way of protecting themselves against retaliation 68 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:54,290 S2: by Iran, rather than genuine concern over what Israel did. 69 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,630 S2: For the most part, they're more concerned about Iran's intentions 70 00:03:57,630 --> 00:04:00,540 S2: in the region than they are about Israel's. So they 71 00:04:00,540 --> 00:04:04,050 S2: said what needed to be said to protect themselves. But privately, 72 00:04:04,050 --> 00:04:07,530 S2: they're likely breathing a sigh of relief over Israel's attack. 73 00:04:07,590 --> 00:04:11,580 S1: Story number two while the conflict with Iran has dominated 74 00:04:11,580 --> 00:04:15,240 S1: the news for several weeks, Israel's war against both Hamas 75 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,180 S1: and Hezbollah, as well as its fight against terrorists in 76 00:04:18,180 --> 00:04:21,390 S1: the West Bank, also continue. What's been happening in these 77 00:04:21,390 --> 00:04:23,670 S1: areas that the news might be overlooking? We haven't heard 78 00:04:23,670 --> 00:04:24,570 S1: so much, Charlie. 79 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:26,820 S2: Yeah. Well, let me start in the north. Israel is 80 00:04:26,820 --> 00:04:30,479 S2: continuing its assault on Hezbollah and its leaders after Hezbollah 81 00:04:30,510 --> 00:04:33,960 S2: appointed its new leader just this week. Israel's defense minister 82 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:38,700 S2: posted his picture with the message temporary appointment. Not for long. Okay. 83 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:43,050 S2: Israel's soldiers discovered a massive Hezbollah base underneath a Lebanese 84 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:46,229 S2: village on their border. It had a subterranean area over 85 00:04:46,230 --> 00:04:48,539 S2: a mile long that would have served as a staging 86 00:04:48,540 --> 00:04:52,170 S2: area for hundreds of Hezbollah fighters. It was a definite 87 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,080 S2: reminder that Hezbollah had planned to do in the north 88 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,890 S2: what Hamas did in the south. Israel also attacked a 89 00:04:58,890 --> 00:05:02,280 S2: shadow banking operation set up by Hezbollah to fund the 90 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,730 S2: organization and its operatives and their families. Now, while most 91 00:05:05,730 --> 00:05:08,460 S2: normal banks don't keep a great deal of cash reserves 92 00:05:08,460 --> 00:05:12,030 S2: on hand, Hezbollah kept a large portion of their assets 93 00:05:12,029 --> 00:05:15,539 S2: in physical cash and gold. So Israel's attack on these 94 00:05:15,540 --> 00:05:20,580 S2: bank branches was a serious financial blow. In Gaza, Israel 95 00:05:20,580 --> 00:05:24,960 S2: continues to target Hamas terrorists, including individuals they've identified as 96 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:29,850 S2: leaders during the attack on October 7th. Israel discovered documents 97 00:05:29,850 --> 00:05:33,900 S2: from Hamas seeking funds from Iran to train an additional 98 00:05:33,930 --> 00:05:37,800 S2: 12,000 terrorists. They launched their attack, but they had plans 99 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,169 S2: to make an even larger attack at some point in 100 00:05:40,170 --> 00:05:43,590 S2: the future in the West Bank. Israel continues to battle 101 00:05:43,620 --> 00:05:48,870 S2: both Hamas and Islamic Jihad squads. Now, interestingly, the Palestinian 102 00:05:48,870 --> 00:05:52,109 S2: Authority has also been trying to crack down on terror 103 00:05:52,140 --> 00:05:55,440 S2: groups in some West Bank towns. Now they're not doing 104 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:58,680 S2: it to support Israel, but for their own survival. Since 105 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,440 S2: those terror groups want to take over the West Bank, 106 00:06:01,470 --> 00:06:04,859 S2: the Palestinian Authority is trying to position itself as the 107 00:06:04,860 --> 00:06:07,080 S2: group that should be in charge, not only in the 108 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,680 S2: West Bank, but in Gaza. Once Hamas is defeated, though, 109 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:14,640 S2: that seems rather uncertain since they're not trusted by Israel 110 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:16,650 S2: or by most Palestinians. 111 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,589 S1: You're listening to The Land and the book from Moody Radio. 112 00:06:19,620 --> 00:06:22,560 S1: Our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Geiger. These are 113 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:24,330 S1: the stories that have been coming out of the Middle 114 00:06:24,330 --> 00:06:27,330 S1: East this week. The arrival of November marks the beginning 115 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,420 S1: of the winter rainy season in the Middle East. Charlie, 116 00:06:30,450 --> 00:06:32,700 S1: what impact will the weather have on all of these 117 00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:34,289 S1: various conflicts going on? 118 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:36,900 S2: Yeah, the weather will impact the conflicts in at least 119 00:06:36,900 --> 00:06:40,349 S2: two ways for those fighting, especially in the North. The 120 00:06:40,350 --> 00:06:43,650 S2: biting cold, the rain, the snow and the mud could 121 00:06:43,650 --> 00:06:46,799 S2: make conditions very difficult. We remember last year when we 122 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,400 S2: talked to Meno Kalisher, pastor of the Jerusalem Assembly, and 123 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,039 S2: last October, when the invasion took place, he got a 124 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,230 S2: call from his daughter because she was called up to 125 00:06:55,260 --> 00:06:57,930 S2: serve on the border with Lebanon right about this time 126 00:06:57,930 --> 00:07:01,890 S2: of year. Their entire unit didn't have winter coats. The 127 00:07:01,890 --> 00:07:05,310 S2: church had to buy 220 winter jackets and rushed them 128 00:07:05,310 --> 00:07:08,400 S2: up to the front. Well, this year Israeli forces are 129 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:12,630 S2: better equipped, but they're fighting inside Lebanon, so the weather 130 00:07:12,630 --> 00:07:16,020 S2: will still take a toll on both soldiers and their equipment. 131 00:07:16,170 --> 00:07:18,480 S2: But the second impact from the weather will be on 132 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:22,290 S2: civilians and actually from both sides. Houses have been destroyed, 133 00:07:22,290 --> 00:07:26,280 S2: power lines downed, access to basic necessities like food and 134 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:30,150 S2: water disrupted. At the end of October, the region had 135 00:07:30,150 --> 00:07:33,989 S2: already experienced some unusual weather conditions. A wind gusts up 136 00:07:33,990 --> 00:07:36,510 S2: to 60 miles an hour were recorded on the Sea 137 00:07:36,540 --> 00:07:39,660 S2: of Galilee, and the central part of Israel experienced the 138 00:07:39,660 --> 00:07:44,040 S2: coldest October night in 33 years. This was accompanied by 139 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:47,369 S2: blowing dust from the east. Before the arrival of the 140 00:07:47,370 --> 00:07:50,820 S2: coming winter weather, Hezbollah was using rockets and drones to 141 00:07:50,850 --> 00:07:54,960 S2: start fires in heavily wooded areas in Israel, over 4000 142 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:58,260 S2: acres of forest land were destroyed. In one sense, the 143 00:07:58,260 --> 00:08:01,020 S2: coming rain might make it harder on the soldiers, but 144 00:08:01,020 --> 00:08:03,630 S2: it will help stop the fires and it will help 145 00:08:03,630 --> 00:08:06,910 S2: replenish the Sea of Galilee, which currently stands about eight 146 00:08:06,910 --> 00:08:09,810 S2: feet below the upper red line when it's full and 147 00:08:09,810 --> 00:08:12,000 S2: six feet above the lower red line, which is when 148 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,400 S2: they're forced to stop pumping. So they do need the 149 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,670 S2: rain now, as weather moves through the area, it could 150 00:08:17,700 --> 00:08:21,030 S2: bring about temporary lulls in the conflict. But absent a 151 00:08:21,030 --> 00:08:24,480 S2: cease fire, Israel plans to keep pushing forward until it's 152 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,060 S2: able to bring about a peace for those living along 153 00:08:27,060 --> 00:08:27,810 S2: its borders. 154 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,540 S1: Charlie, apart from the weather and its influence, is there 155 00:08:30,540 --> 00:08:33,510 S1: any indication at all that Lebanon and those in control 156 00:08:33,510 --> 00:08:37,079 S1: of Hezbollah would at last be saying, gee, maybe, you know, 157 00:08:37,110 --> 00:08:40,170 S1: quietly to themselves, we should just pull back? 158 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:43,290 S2: They may be saying it quietly, but publicly. They're always saying, no, no, 159 00:08:43,290 --> 00:08:45,480 S2: no peace with Israel, no agreement with Israel. Our goal 160 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:49,500 S2: is to destroy Israel. But there are negotiations going on 161 00:08:49,500 --> 00:08:51,750 S2: quietly behind the scenes. And what I think we could 162 00:08:51,780 --> 00:08:54,660 S2: hope is that they would happen. I think the end 163 00:08:54,690 --> 00:08:56,940 S2: result would be that Hezbollah would be pushed north of 164 00:08:56,940 --> 00:09:00,180 S2: the Litani River and out of those immediate border areas 165 00:09:00,179 --> 00:09:00,870 S2: with Israel. 166 00:09:00,870 --> 00:09:04,380 S1: And do you see any situation, any scenario in which 167 00:09:04,410 --> 00:09:07,860 S1: Israel would agree to anything apart from that definition, that 168 00:09:07,860 --> 00:09:10,200 S1: they must be north of the Litani River? 169 00:09:10,230 --> 00:09:12,480 S2: I don't see him agreeing to anything other than that, 170 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,300 S2: but I think if that were offered, Israel would take 171 00:09:15,300 --> 00:09:18,240 S2: it because they are war weary right now. 172 00:09:18,270 --> 00:09:20,640 S1: Story number four the Ark of the covenant was on 173 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,940 S1: display in Jerusalem. Oh, no, not the one constructed by 174 00:09:23,940 --> 00:09:27,569 S1: Moses in the wilderness, but a newly constructed replica. Tell 175 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:29,880 S1: us about this new ark and its purpose. 176 00:09:29,910 --> 00:09:32,699 S2: Yeah. Thanks to the efforts of numerous volunteers and an 177 00:09:32,700 --> 00:09:36,359 S2: anonymous architect and a major financial backer, along with over 178 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:39,750 S2: £80 of gold and acacia wood, an exact replica of 179 00:09:39,750 --> 00:09:42,449 S2: the Ark now exists. The new Ark went on display 180 00:09:42,450 --> 00:09:46,260 S2: at different locations in Jerusalem during Sukkot, including a platform 181 00:09:46,260 --> 00:09:49,380 S2: overlooking the Temple Mount, Out. Though starting with the description 182 00:09:49,380 --> 00:09:52,560 S2: in the Bible, much research was needed to. Determine exactly 183 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,290 S2: how the ark was constructed. For example, what was the 184 00:09:55,290 --> 00:09:57,359 S2: purity of the. Gold? And they figured out what it 185 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:00,030 S2: was in Egypt at that time, and what was the 186 00:10:00,030 --> 00:10:02,730 S2: level of torsion and load bearing required to support the 187 00:10:02,730 --> 00:10:05,550 S2: structure's legs and poles and joints? Well, they did all 188 00:10:05,580 --> 00:10:08,069 S2: of that research and saw the ark in the end 189 00:10:08,100 --> 00:10:11,220 S2: as a communication device. Since God spoke to Moses from 190 00:10:11,220 --> 00:10:14,189 S2: between the cherubim on the mercy seat. And because of that, 191 00:10:14,190 --> 00:10:17,189 S2: they did take one bit of artistic license. They inscribed 192 00:10:17,190 --> 00:10:19,950 S2: four scenes on the four sides of the ark the 193 00:10:19,950 --> 00:10:22,530 S2: burning bush, the parting of the Red sea, the cloud 194 00:10:22,530 --> 00:10:25,290 S2: and pillar of fire, and the giving of the Ten Commandments. 195 00:10:25,290 --> 00:10:28,980 S2: But otherwise the final product appears to be breathtakingly beautiful 196 00:10:28,980 --> 00:10:32,430 S2: and very accurate. Now, it's an interesting piece of historical construction, 197 00:10:32,429 --> 00:10:34,590 S2: but I don't think we need to worry about being 198 00:10:34,590 --> 00:10:36,300 S2: struck dead if we happen to see it. There's one 199 00:10:36,300 --> 00:10:39,000 S2: piece missing, and that happens to be the Shekinah glory 200 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,679 S2: that dwelt between the cherubim. 201 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:42,990 S1: And that's a look at current events. It'd be interesting 202 00:10:43,020 --> 00:10:45,780 S1: to see that Ark of the covenant. Thank you so 203 00:10:45,780 --> 00:10:48,150 S1: much for that. Look at the news, Charlie, and I'm 204 00:10:48,150 --> 00:10:51,689 S1: looking forward to a conversation next about delighting in God's law. 205 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,209 S1: That's all ahead on Moody Radio's The Land. 206 00:10:54,210 --> 00:10:55,320 UU: And the book. 207 00:11:09,390 --> 00:11:11,850 S1: Have you ever skipped over or given up on a 208 00:11:11,850 --> 00:11:15,150 S1: book of the Bible like numbers or Leviticus? Come on, 209 00:11:15,150 --> 00:11:19,380 S1: be honest. These laws and rules and rituals can be confusing, 210 00:11:19,380 --> 00:11:22,920 S1: daunting even. I mean, why did God include all this 211 00:11:22,950 --> 00:11:25,080 S1: in the Bible? What does he want us to learn 212 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:28,829 S1: from this today? These are important questions, and we'll get 213 00:11:28,830 --> 00:11:32,190 S1: to them after we pause. First for an innovative idea 214 00:11:32,190 --> 00:11:35,820 S1: on sharing Christ with a muslim friend. So you're having 215 00:11:35,820 --> 00:11:40,199 S1: that Muslim friend or coworker or neighbor, and inevitably, there's 216 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,410 S1: this rather embarrassing thing that comes along with regard to 217 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,800 S1: the immorality that is going on in American culture. And 218 00:11:46,830 --> 00:11:49,860 S1: of course, Muslims believe that America is a Christian nation, 219 00:11:49,860 --> 00:11:52,440 S1: and therefore all the immorality they're seeing is a great 220 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:55,590 S1: disconnect between the Bible and what we pretend to believe. 221 00:11:55,590 --> 00:11:58,080 S1: So my goodness, how do we deal with all of that? 222 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,989 S1: In a conversation with a muslim friend, Stefano Ferrer, with 223 00:12:00,990 --> 00:12:02,280 S1: call of Hope, what do you say? 224 00:12:02,309 --> 00:12:06,059 S3: Well, tell them that this is not Christianity, that what 225 00:12:06,059 --> 00:12:09,120 S3: they see on television has nothing to do with your 226 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,330 S3: life and nothing to do with your faith, and nothing 227 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,510 S3: to do with what you believe. Tell them exactly what 228 00:12:15,510 --> 00:12:18,750 S3: you just said, that this is culture and that this 229 00:12:18,750 --> 00:12:22,440 S3: is not your belief. That's very important. Actually. You are 230 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:28,500 S3: right that that's crucial. Muslims are also into immoralities, but 231 00:12:28,500 --> 00:12:30,900 S3: I would never talk to them about it. This is 232 00:12:30,900 --> 00:12:35,580 S3: not the point. The point is that what they see 233 00:12:35,580 --> 00:12:38,729 S3: in television has nothing to do with Christianity, and it 234 00:12:38,730 --> 00:12:41,010 S3: has nothing to do with my personal life. 235 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,459 S1: Okay, so state the facts as they are. That's it. 236 00:12:44,490 --> 00:12:44,819 S1: Point to. 237 00:12:44,850 --> 00:12:45,990 S3: Jesus. Absolutely. 238 00:12:45,990 --> 00:12:47,040 S1: And love them anyway. 239 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:48,480 S3: That's what you should do. 240 00:12:48,510 --> 00:12:51,480 S1: Stefano Ferrer with call of Hope. Us always appreciate your 241 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:56,040 S1: insights here on the land and the book. Christie Anyabwile 242 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,490 S1: is a Bible teacher at Anacostia River church. She serves 243 00:12:59,490 --> 00:13:02,760 S1: organizations that equip women to study and teach the Bible. 244 00:13:02,790 --> 00:13:06,330 S1: Her writing can be found at Christianity Today. She reads 245 00:13:06,330 --> 00:13:10,170 S1: the Gospel Coalition and more. She and her husband, Pastor 246 00:13:10,170 --> 00:13:13,679 S1: Tim Beatty, have three kids and live in Washington, DC. 247 00:13:13,710 --> 00:13:17,220 S1: Christie has written the Moody Publishers book we're focusing on today, 248 00:13:17,250 --> 00:13:20,910 S1: delighting in God's Law. We are so grateful you joined 249 00:13:20,910 --> 00:13:23,160 S1: us today on the land and the book. 250 00:13:23,190 --> 00:13:26,670 S4: Christie, thank you so much for having me. It's great 251 00:13:26,670 --> 00:13:27,929 S4: to be here. You know, a. 252 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:29,579 S1: Lot of people might look at the title of that 253 00:13:29,580 --> 00:13:33,390 S1: book and slam on the brakes saying, what delight in 254 00:13:33,390 --> 00:13:36,390 S1: God's law. What could you possibly mean? Isn't the law 255 00:13:36,420 --> 00:13:39,090 S1: out of date and out of mind? What do you say? 256 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:45,150 S4: Well, listen, I get it. I've actually had that experience myself, 257 00:13:45,150 --> 00:13:49,140 S4: which prompted me to write this Bible study. It can 258 00:13:49,140 --> 00:13:53,880 S4: feel daunting, a little scary, a little, dare I say, 259 00:13:53,910 --> 00:13:57,390 S4: boring to think about the law and the Old Testament. 260 00:13:57,390 --> 00:14:01,980 S4: But I am convinced that all of God's Word is 261 00:14:01,980 --> 00:14:06,990 S4: good and should prompt in us this desire to know 262 00:14:06,990 --> 00:14:10,380 S4: him and should bring us delight. The word itself tells 263 00:14:10,380 --> 00:14:14,160 S4: us that we should delight in God's law and meditate 264 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:18,600 S4: on it day and night. And so I do believe 265 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,750 S4: that God has given us his law for our instruction, 266 00:14:21,750 --> 00:14:24,960 S4: for our good, so that we can know what he 267 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,290 S4: expects of us and how he desires for us to 268 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:32,970 S4: live for him, particularly in light of the coming of 269 00:14:32,970 --> 00:14:35,910 S4: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who fulfilled all the 270 00:14:35,910 --> 00:14:39,480 S4: law on our behalf. So that should bring us delight 271 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,400 S4: as our starting place. And then there's so much more 272 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:46,000 S4: in God's Word about his law that he intends for 273 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:47,170 S4: us to delight in. 274 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:50,320 S1: You write that Bible study is a holistic discipline that 275 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,650 S1: engages the heart and mind of the student, but also 276 00:14:53,650 --> 00:14:56,410 S1: each person of the Trinity. Illustrate what you mean by this. 277 00:14:56,410 --> 00:14:59,140 S1: All three members of the Trinity being involved. 278 00:14:59,170 --> 00:15:03,730 S4: I think that in God's Word and in Bible study, 279 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,550 S4: the Holy Spirit is our guide. The Holy Spirit is 280 00:15:06,550 --> 00:15:10,720 S4: our teacher. The Holy Spirit teaches us, leads us into 281 00:15:10,750 --> 00:15:14,770 S4: all truth. And so we need God's Spirit to help 282 00:15:14,770 --> 00:15:18,400 S4: us as we study His Word. And then when we're 283 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:23,380 S4: studying our Bibles, God Himself has illuminated His Word to us. 284 00:15:23,380 --> 00:15:27,489 S4: He's given it to us. He has created all things 285 00:15:27,490 --> 00:15:32,560 S4: so that we might live in loving obedience to him. 286 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:35,620 S4: And then Jesus Christ. As we study our Bibles, we 287 00:15:35,620 --> 00:15:39,250 S4: want to know him. We want to know why God 288 00:15:39,250 --> 00:15:43,510 S4: sent his son so that we could have new life 289 00:15:43,510 --> 00:15:46,390 S4: in him. We want to know what Jesus has done 290 00:15:46,390 --> 00:15:50,770 S4: on our behalf. So God the Father created us and 291 00:15:50,770 --> 00:15:54,040 S4: created the world and everything in it. God the son 292 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,710 S4: was with God the Father in the beginning. We read 293 00:15:56,710 --> 00:16:00,640 S4: in John chapter one and Jesus Christ is the one 294 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:05,229 S4: who all the scriptures are about. So our redemption is 295 00:16:05,230 --> 00:16:08,800 S4: rooted in the person of Jesus, and then by His Spirit, 296 00:16:08,830 --> 00:16:11,500 S4: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit 297 00:16:11,530 --> 00:16:15,040 S4: himself again is guiding us in all truth. It's helping 298 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,100 S4: our hearts to be open to even hearing the good 299 00:16:18,100 --> 00:16:21,100 S4: news of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 300 00:16:21,100 --> 00:16:25,060 S4: So we're studying our Bibles. We're studying about our one 301 00:16:25,060 --> 00:16:29,830 S4: true God who is present with us in three persons 302 00:16:29,860 --> 00:16:32,170 S4: the father, the son, and the spirit, so that we 303 00:16:32,170 --> 00:16:35,200 S4: might have the fullness of what God intends for us 304 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:38,739 S4: to know about him, and for how God intends to 305 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,690 S4: teach us through the word. 306 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,330 S1: Thanks for being a part of the land and the book. 307 00:16:43,330 --> 00:16:46,780 S1: I'm John Gager. Talking today with Christy Anyabwile, who has 308 00:16:46,780 --> 00:16:49,960 S1: written the Moody Publishers book Delighting in God's Law, A 309 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,690 S1: six week Bible Study. I have to ask, what's the 310 00:16:52,690 --> 00:16:56,620 S1: biggest wow moment that God blessed you with as you 311 00:16:56,620 --> 00:16:59,920 S1: worked on this book, pondering Old Testament commands and and 312 00:16:59,920 --> 00:17:01,300 S1: why they matter today? 313 00:17:01,390 --> 00:17:03,760 S4: You know the big wow moment for me. I'm a 314 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:08,139 S4: context girl, and so I do like digging around in 315 00:17:08,140 --> 00:17:12,730 S4: the Bible and understanding the context of whatever passage it 316 00:17:12,730 --> 00:17:15,550 S4: is that I'm studying. I'm one of those who like 317 00:17:15,550 --> 00:17:18,760 S4: to chase the rabbit trails and those kinds of things. 318 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:22,090 S4: And so my big wow moment was in the very beginning, 319 00:17:22,090 --> 00:17:26,649 S4: studying Genesis one. And I usually in the beginning of 320 00:17:26,650 --> 00:17:29,709 S4: my Bible study, I spend some time thinking about the 321 00:17:29,710 --> 00:17:34,420 S4: context of the passage. What happened before, what happened after, 322 00:17:34,420 --> 00:17:36,970 S4: what are some other things that are going on historically 323 00:17:36,970 --> 00:17:39,580 S4: and culturally at the time. But when you get to 324 00:17:39,609 --> 00:17:42,880 S4: Genesis one, it's the beginning of the Bible. So I'm like, wait, 325 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:45,850 S4: there is no before. How do I know what happened before? 326 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:49,000 S4: And so the wow moment for me was spending some 327 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:53,680 S4: time in God's Word, considering what he says about all 328 00:17:53,710 --> 00:17:58,120 S4: of the things that God was doing before the foundation 329 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:02,800 S4: of the world. And so having that context and understanding 330 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:06,639 S4: that even though Genesis one is the beginning of the Bible, 331 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,630 S4: it is not the beginning of God's work in creating 332 00:18:10,630 --> 00:18:14,379 S4: us and having us in mind and in having plans 333 00:18:14,380 --> 00:18:17,410 S4: for us, even from before the foundation of the world. 334 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:19,659 S1: I like the way you have laid out each week's 335 00:18:19,660 --> 00:18:23,949 S1: study five different parts. Day one is content of the passage. 336 00:18:23,980 --> 00:18:27,669 S1: Day two command of the text. Day three clues about 337 00:18:27,670 --> 00:18:30,580 S1: Christ and other parts of Scripture. Day four carry the 338 00:18:30,580 --> 00:18:33,760 S1: text with you and day five contribution to the law. 339 00:18:33,790 --> 00:18:37,900 S1: Choose one of those facets that is particularly meaningful to you, 340 00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:40,480 S1: or maybe that you've heard some great response from others 341 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,879 S1: as they've gone through this six week Bible study. 342 00:18:42,910 --> 00:18:46,570 S4: One of the things about this study that I found 343 00:18:46,570 --> 00:18:50,920 S4: personally helpful and fulfilling, and as I've engaged with people 344 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:54,130 S4: who have gone through this study that they found helpful 345 00:18:54,130 --> 00:18:57,310 S4: as well, is that day three clues about Christ and 346 00:18:57,310 --> 00:19:00,790 S4: other parts of Scripture. I think sometimes when we think 347 00:19:00,790 --> 00:19:04,540 S4: about the law, we think about it disconnected from the 348 00:19:04,540 --> 00:19:08,830 S4: life and work and person of Jesus Christ. And so 349 00:19:08,830 --> 00:19:12,129 S4: knowing that all of Scripture the Bible tells us, even 350 00:19:12,130 --> 00:19:14,770 S4: Jesus himself says in Luke 24, when he was on 351 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,040 S4: the Emmaus Road and the guys were on the road 352 00:19:18,070 --> 00:19:21,430 S4: talking about all that they had seen and heard about Jesus, 353 00:19:21,430 --> 00:19:23,590 S4: and then Jesus shows up and they don't know that 354 00:19:23,590 --> 00:19:26,500 S4: it's him. And he tells them, even on the Emmaus road, 355 00:19:26,500 --> 00:19:30,879 S4: that everything written in the law, the books of Moses 356 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,969 S4: and in the prophets and in the writings, the wisdom 357 00:19:33,970 --> 00:19:36,580 S4: literature and poetry and those kinds of things. All of 358 00:19:36,609 --> 00:19:40,390 S4: that is about him. And so Jesus explained to them 359 00:19:40,390 --> 00:19:43,330 S4: how all of Scripture was about him. And so I 360 00:19:43,330 --> 00:19:47,140 S4: think that day three is really a pivotal point in 361 00:19:47,140 --> 00:19:51,910 S4: the study, because it shows us how a particular passage 362 00:19:51,910 --> 00:19:57,939 S4: legitimately relates to Jesus's life, death, and resurrection in very 363 00:19:57,940 --> 00:20:01,540 S4: specific and meaningful ways that help us to know a 364 00:20:01,540 --> 00:20:06,430 S4: part of that big, redemptive, grand narrative of Scripture where 365 00:20:06,430 --> 00:20:09,730 S4: we are and how it looks forward to Jesus, or 366 00:20:09,730 --> 00:20:13,060 S4: how it speaks about Jesus in some specific way. So 367 00:20:13,060 --> 00:20:16,570 S4: we want to look not only at the passage that's 368 00:20:16,570 --> 00:20:20,740 S4: being considered for that particular week, but also other passages 369 00:20:20,740 --> 00:20:25,419 S4: in Scripture, too, that connect us to larger biblical themes 370 00:20:25,420 --> 00:20:29,260 S4: and that connect us to larger themes that help us 371 00:20:29,260 --> 00:20:32,109 S4: to understand our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 372 00:20:32,140 --> 00:20:34,900 S1: Just joining us, this is the land and the book. 373 00:20:34,900 --> 00:20:38,830 S1: I'm John Gager. Our guest today, Christie Anyabwile, who has 374 00:20:38,830 --> 00:20:42,340 S1: written the Moody Publishers six week Bible study, Delighting in 375 00:20:42,340 --> 00:20:45,609 S1: God's Law. Christie, just to make it simple for simple 376 00:20:45,609 --> 00:20:47,350 S1: minds like mine, it seems to me that what you're 377 00:20:47,350 --> 00:20:51,040 S1: really saying is, the reason that we delight in God's 378 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:54,640 S1: law is because it points us to Jesus, reminds us 379 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,899 S1: of Jesus, reveals something about Jesus. That's why it ought 380 00:20:58,900 --> 00:21:01,090 S1: to matter to us. Is that is that a fair assessment? 381 00:21:01,180 --> 00:21:04,810 S4: That is 100% a fair assessment. When we read about 382 00:21:04,810 --> 00:21:07,419 S4: even you think about the Psalms, when it talks about 383 00:21:07,420 --> 00:21:11,440 S4: the word and the law and precepts and other terms 384 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,170 S4: like that, that relate to the Word of God. The 385 00:21:14,170 --> 00:21:20,410 S4: law isn't just rules and commandments and instruction, but the 386 00:21:20,410 --> 00:21:24,850 S4: law has been embodied in a person. And so when 387 00:21:24,850 --> 00:21:27,490 S4: we read our Bibles, the first five books of the Bible, 388 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:32,080 S4: the Pentateuch, that is the law given God's instructions and 389 00:21:32,140 --> 00:21:35,440 S4: Expectations given that's the foundation, and then the whole rest 390 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:39,460 S4: of the Bible is unfolding for us what God expects 391 00:21:39,460 --> 00:21:41,709 S4: of his people. And we know through the story of 392 00:21:41,710 --> 00:21:44,889 S4: Scripture that God's people don't always respond very well to 393 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:48,430 S4: his instructions. And so we see over and over again 394 00:21:48,460 --> 00:21:53,290 S4: the prophets and the wisdom literature writers pointing us back 395 00:21:53,290 --> 00:21:55,359 S4: to the Lord, saying, remember what God said, remember what 396 00:21:55,390 --> 00:21:58,179 S4: God said. And then we get to the New Testament. 397 00:21:58,180 --> 00:22:02,859 S4: We see God's law embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. 398 00:22:02,859 --> 00:22:06,280 S4: And so, yes, we should delight in God's law because 399 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:10,810 S4: it's teaching us what God expects is showing us that 400 00:22:10,810 --> 00:22:14,080 S4: we cannot fulfill God's law on our own, and is 401 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:17,770 S4: pointing us to the one who did to Jesus Christ, 402 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,470 S4: who is the fulfillment of the law, so that we 403 00:22:20,470 --> 00:22:25,690 S4: no longer live a life of constantly striving to make 404 00:22:25,690 --> 00:22:28,540 S4: our way to God, but that God has made his 405 00:22:28,570 --> 00:22:30,489 S4: way to us through Christ. All right. 406 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:32,780 S1: Give us a favorite picture of Christ in the law. 407 00:22:32,810 --> 00:22:35,810 S1: A snapshot from a passage in the Old Testament that 408 00:22:35,810 --> 00:22:38,030 S1: really speaks to you. What comes to mind? 409 00:22:38,060 --> 00:22:41,000 S4: It's going to be a weird one, so go for it. 410 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:46,340 S4: One of the passages that we study is Leviticus, and 411 00:22:46,340 --> 00:22:51,950 S4: in particular Leviticus chapter 20. And in that chapter, it's 412 00:22:51,950 --> 00:22:55,490 S4: a very dark chapter, and it talks about a lot 413 00:22:55,490 --> 00:22:59,540 S4: of sins that are related to family and those kinds 414 00:22:59,540 --> 00:23:03,830 S4: of things. And it warns us against sexual sins and 415 00:23:03,830 --> 00:23:06,230 S4: those kinds of things. And so it's a really dark 416 00:23:06,230 --> 00:23:09,500 S4: chapter in that sense. But over and over again, you 417 00:23:09,500 --> 00:23:14,780 S4: read this refrain throughout Leviticus chapter 20, and the refrain 418 00:23:14,780 --> 00:23:18,050 S4: would be something like, they shall be cut off. If 419 00:23:18,050 --> 00:23:20,869 S4: you commit these sorts of sins, you will be cut off. 420 00:23:20,869 --> 00:23:24,560 S4: If you commit these sorts of sins, your blood is 421 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:27,980 S4: upon you. If you commit these sorts of sins, then 422 00:23:27,980 --> 00:23:30,770 S4: you will bear your iniquity. Inequity. And so as I 423 00:23:30,770 --> 00:23:35,840 S4: read those refrains over and over again throughout. Leviticus 20, 424 00:23:35,869 --> 00:23:38,959 S4: it just showed me a beautiful picture of Jesus. Yes. 425 00:23:38,990 --> 00:23:41,780 S4: That it wasn't us who was cut off, but it 426 00:23:41,780 --> 00:23:45,109 S4: was Jesus who was cut off on our behalf because 427 00:23:45,109 --> 00:23:49,370 S4: of our sin, that our blood is not upon us 428 00:23:49,369 --> 00:23:54,530 S4: because of Jesus, his blood. The Lord poured out Jesus's 429 00:23:54,530 --> 00:23:57,560 S4: blood on our behalf. So the blood wasn't on us. 430 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:01,340 S4: It was Jesus's blood that was shed. And then they 431 00:24:01,340 --> 00:24:04,760 S4: shall bear their iniquity. It wasn't us who have to 432 00:24:04,790 --> 00:24:09,320 S4: bear our iniquity, but Jesus bore our iniquities in our place. 433 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:12,380 S4: And so as I read Leviticus 20, what really stood 434 00:24:12,380 --> 00:24:16,129 S4: out to me in that chapter was that Jesus is 435 00:24:16,130 --> 00:24:20,090 S4: our substitute. He has paid the penalty for all of 436 00:24:20,090 --> 00:24:24,889 S4: our sins, and it was through him that atonement is made. 437 00:24:24,890 --> 00:24:28,969 S4: The wrong was made right through Jesus. And so the 438 00:24:28,970 --> 00:24:32,359 S4: cutting off the blood being upon them, the bearing of iniquity, 439 00:24:32,390 --> 00:24:37,070 S4: teaches us, yes, that sin has consequences, that it requires 440 00:24:37,100 --> 00:24:39,859 S4: a payment through the shedding of blood and through the 441 00:24:39,859 --> 00:24:44,030 S4: separation of God from people. But again, in this passage, 442 00:24:44,030 --> 00:24:48,260 S4: it taught me a lot about the sacrifice of Christ, 443 00:24:48,260 --> 00:24:50,390 S4: that his blood was shed in the place of ours, 444 00:24:50,390 --> 00:24:53,720 S4: that he took our sins or iniquities upon himself, that 445 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:55,609 S4: he was cut off from God on the cross, so 446 00:24:55,609 --> 00:24:58,970 S4: that we wouldn't have to be cut off from God eternally. 447 00:24:58,970 --> 00:25:01,520 S4: And all of this was so that we would be 448 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,699 S4: the holy people that God called us to be, that 449 00:25:04,700 --> 00:25:08,810 S4: we might die to sin and live righteously before God, 450 00:25:08,810 --> 00:25:13,340 S4: and that we would be able to eagerly await to 451 00:25:13,369 --> 00:25:19,640 S4: receive eternal inheritance. Because we have been found righteous before God, 452 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:22,790 S4: we have been made righteous before God through Christ. 453 00:25:23,090 --> 00:25:26,600 S1: Well, you can sense the excitement and enthusiasm in Christie's voice, 454 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:29,090 S1: and this is the kind of journey and experience that 455 00:25:29,090 --> 00:25:32,780 S1: will be yours as you dig into delighting in God's law. 456 00:25:32,780 --> 00:25:35,630 S1: From Moody Publishers, a six week Bible study, a link 457 00:25:35,630 --> 00:25:38,119 S1: to that book at our website, the land and the 458 00:25:38,150 --> 00:25:42,410 S1: book org. We love your passion, Christie. Thank you for 459 00:25:42,410 --> 00:25:44,690 S1: your time and your insights. You're a blast. 460 00:25:44,690 --> 00:25:47,210 S5: Thank you so much. Oh, it was so much fun. 461 00:25:47,210 --> 00:25:48,710 S5: Thank you so much. All right. 462 00:25:48,740 --> 00:25:50,810 S1: There's more fun to come, though, as Charlie steps back 463 00:25:50,810 --> 00:25:53,750 S1: into the studio to answer your Bible questions. Next here 464 00:25:53,750 --> 00:26:07,820 S1: on the land and the book. It's always a great 465 00:26:07,820 --> 00:26:09,800 S1: day to connect with you here at The Land and 466 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,740 S1: the book. I'm John Gager with our host, Charlie Dyer. 467 00:26:12,740 --> 00:26:15,470 S1: And Charlie, for somebody who is maybe newer to the program, 468 00:26:15,470 --> 00:26:17,419 S1: what is this third segment all about? 469 00:26:17,450 --> 00:26:19,490 S2: This is our question and answer time. If you've got 470 00:26:19,490 --> 00:26:23,000 S2: questions as you're reading through the Bible, send us the question. 471 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,640 S2: Send us what's bothering you, what you don't understand, and 472 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:27,140 S2: we'll try and get an answer to you. 473 00:26:27,170 --> 00:26:30,080 S1: And those questions get to us via email. Send yours 474 00:26:30,109 --> 00:26:35,720 S1: to the land and the book@moody.edu. Well, Charlie Israel has 475 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:38,419 S1: been in the news so much over this past year 476 00:26:38,420 --> 00:26:40,490 S1: and as we know, the Bible is jammed with end 477 00:26:40,490 --> 00:26:44,510 S1: times prophecies about epic world events, the regathering of the 478 00:26:44,510 --> 00:26:48,200 S1: Jewish people to their ancient homeland, and of course, Jesus return. 479 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,570 S1: And it is crucial for us as believers to have 480 00:26:50,570 --> 00:26:53,780 S1: a proper understanding of Bible prophecy. So our view of 481 00:26:53,780 --> 00:26:57,740 S1: the future is shaped by Scripture and not just today's headlines. Right? 482 00:26:57,770 --> 00:27:00,200 S2: Absolutely. And with that in mind, our friends at Life 483 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:03,860 S2: and Messiah have published a book titled God, Israel and 484 00:27:03,859 --> 00:27:06,560 S2: Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners of the 485 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,680 S2: land in the book for a limited time. This informative 486 00:27:09,710 --> 00:27:13,280 S2: book is focused on providing readers with a deeper understanding 487 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:16,490 S2: and greater appreciation of what God has in store for 488 00:27:16,490 --> 00:27:19,760 S2: Israel and the nations by digging into what the scriptures 489 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:22,669 S2: say about these issues. Now, if you're interested in learning 490 00:27:22,670 --> 00:27:26,510 S2: more about what God has in store, Visit Life in Messiah. 491 00:27:26,810 --> 00:27:29,209 S2: Org and click on the Moody Radio button there to 492 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:32,899 S2: find out how you can receive your copy of God, 493 00:27:32,930 --> 00:27:37,970 S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 494 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,790 S1: So many questions to get to. Let's dig right in 495 00:27:40,790 --> 00:27:43,880 S1: with this one from Lois. Does the promised return and 496 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:48,649 S1: blessing of Israel, described in Ezekiel 11, verses 14 through 21, 497 00:27:48,650 --> 00:27:51,560 S1: refer to the times in which we are now living? 498 00:27:51,590 --> 00:27:54,650 S2: Yeah, well, I take the promise. Physical and spiritual restoration 499 00:27:54,650 --> 00:27:58,369 S2: described there to refer to Israel's still future restoration at 500 00:27:58,369 --> 00:28:01,070 S2: the time of Jesus Second coming. And I say that 501 00:28:01,070 --> 00:28:04,010 S2: for several reasons. First, God says the people will not 502 00:28:04,010 --> 00:28:06,680 S2: only be regathered back to the land, but that he'll 503 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:09,410 S2: also give them an undivided heart and put a new 504 00:28:09,410 --> 00:28:12,410 S2: spirit in them. Well, this restoration, then, is both physical 505 00:28:12,410 --> 00:28:16,790 S2: and spiritual. And second, God later uses those same words 506 00:28:16,790 --> 00:28:20,480 S2: in both Ezekiel and in Jeremiah to help identify when 507 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:24,410 S2: the new relationship will take place in Ezekiel 36. God 508 00:28:24,410 --> 00:28:26,300 S2: describes it as a time when he'll give you a 509 00:28:26,300 --> 00:28:28,609 S2: new heart and put a new spirit in you, and 510 00:28:28,609 --> 00:28:30,650 S2: remove from you your heart of stone and give you 511 00:28:30,650 --> 00:28:33,320 S2: a heart of flesh. That wording parallels what he said 512 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,650 S2: in chapter 11, and Jeremiah's description of the New Covenant 513 00:28:36,650 --> 00:28:39,530 S2: in Jeremiah 31 says the same thing. Now I say 514 00:28:39,530 --> 00:28:41,690 S2: all of that to say this, I believe the promise 515 00:28:41,690 --> 00:28:45,020 S2: given by God in Ezekiel 11 is an early description 516 00:28:45,020 --> 00:28:48,230 S2: of the New Covenant promise that's later presented in Ezekiel 517 00:28:48,260 --> 00:28:51,890 S2: 36 and Jeremiah 31. And I think it will ultimately 518 00:28:51,890 --> 00:28:54,770 S2: be fulfilled when the Jewish people, as Zechariah says, it, 519 00:28:54,770 --> 00:28:56,750 S2: will look on me, the one they pierced, and will 520 00:28:56,780 --> 00:28:59,630 S2: mourn as one mourns for an only child. That then 521 00:28:59,630 --> 00:29:03,080 S2: followed in Zechariah 13 by God opening up a fountain 522 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:05,750 S2: to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem 523 00:29:05,750 --> 00:29:08,810 S2: to cleanse them from sin and impurity. It's also the 524 00:29:08,810 --> 00:29:12,170 S2: same time Paul describes in Romans chapter 11, where he 525 00:29:12,170 --> 00:29:14,780 S2: pictures God applying the new covenant to the remnant of 526 00:29:14,780 --> 00:29:17,959 S2: Israel to forgive them of their sins. And Paul connects 527 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,690 S2: that to the time he says, when the deliverer, Jesus, 528 00:29:20,690 --> 00:29:22,220 S2: will come from Zion. 529 00:29:22,290 --> 00:29:25,110 S1: John asks, what did Paul specifically mean when he was 530 00:29:25,110 --> 00:29:28,950 S1: going to hand over Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan? Were 531 00:29:28,950 --> 00:29:33,030 S1: they unbelievers or believers in rebellion? Since Paul states that 532 00:29:33,030 --> 00:29:35,910 S1: they were shipwrecked in regard to their faith and needed 533 00:29:35,910 --> 00:29:37,830 S1: to be taught not to blaspheme? 534 00:29:38,010 --> 00:29:41,370 S2: Well, I take it that Hymenaeus and Alexander were believers 535 00:29:41,370 --> 00:29:44,250 S2: who had turned aside and embraced some kind of a 536 00:29:44,250 --> 00:29:47,640 S2: false teaching or doctrine. And again, I see that first 537 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:51,030 S2: in first Timothy one nine, just before this verse, Paul 538 00:29:51,030 --> 00:29:54,330 S2: says they had shipwrecked their faith. Though that suggests they 539 00:29:54,330 --> 00:29:58,290 S2: had faith prior to developing this false teaching or new view. 540 00:29:58,290 --> 00:30:01,800 S2: And second, Jiménez is named again by Paul in second 541 00:30:01,830 --> 00:30:05,610 S2: Timothy 217 as someone whose false teaching would spread and 542 00:30:05,610 --> 00:30:09,690 S2: corrupt like gangrene. He says. Verse 18. There then describes 543 00:30:09,690 --> 00:30:12,180 S2: the false teaching he'd adopted, and it sounds like an 544 00:30:12,180 --> 00:30:16,980 S2: early form of Gnosticism that denied the physical bodily resurrection. 545 00:30:17,130 --> 00:30:20,460 S2: So Alexander then is not mentioned again later, which either 546 00:30:20,460 --> 00:30:22,640 S2: means he may have repented or may have died in 547 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:26,120 S2: the intervening time between first and second Timothy. Now, when 548 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:28,220 S2: Paul hands the two men over to Satan to be 549 00:30:28,220 --> 00:30:31,670 S2: taught not to blaspheme, I take that to mean he's commanding, 550 00:30:31,670 --> 00:30:34,459 S2: that they be excommunicated from fellowship in the church in 551 00:30:34,460 --> 00:30:38,150 S2: Ephesus to be fully exposed to satanic attack. Now, in 552 00:30:38,180 --> 00:30:41,300 S2: that sense, I see their judgment as being similar to 553 00:30:41,330 --> 00:30:44,540 S2: the one Paul handed down on the immoral brother in 554 00:30:44,570 --> 00:30:47,450 S2: first Corinthians five. There the man was guilty of gross 555 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:50,600 S2: immorality and was to be handed over to Satan so 556 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:53,090 S2: that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit 557 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:55,700 S2: saved on the day of the Lord. Now, in both cases, 558 00:30:55,700 --> 00:30:58,940 S2: I see this being more a form of extreme discipline 559 00:30:58,940 --> 00:31:01,130 S2: of a believer. So as a result, I do see 560 00:31:01,130 --> 00:31:03,500 S2: them as believers and not unbelievers. 561 00:31:03,500 --> 00:31:06,110 S1: From Moody Radio. This is the land and the book. 562 00:31:06,110 --> 00:31:09,380 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer, our host, answering questions that have come 563 00:31:09,380 --> 00:31:14,090 S1: in via our email address, the land and the book@moody.edu. 564 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:17,330 S1: Jared asks, what about the issue of the Holy Spirit 565 00:31:17,330 --> 00:31:20,720 S1: acting through the human Jesus? I've recently come across a 566 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:23,630 S1: teacher who says that all of Jesus miracles were not 567 00:31:23,630 --> 00:31:27,380 S1: involving his deity, but the Holy Spirit acting through the 568 00:31:27,380 --> 00:31:30,500 S1: human Jesus. And the rationale is to argue that Jesus 569 00:31:30,500 --> 00:31:33,410 S1: human nature was limited as ours is, and we have 570 00:31:33,410 --> 00:31:36,410 S1: the same power. But I think there's plenty of evidence 571 00:31:36,410 --> 00:31:39,500 S1: that Jesus deity was active. I'd appreciate your thoughts. 572 00:31:39,530 --> 00:31:42,260 S2: Yeah, and I think your instincts are right on target. 573 00:31:42,260 --> 00:31:45,170 S2: I see several dangerous flaws in the argument that teacher 574 00:31:45,170 --> 00:31:47,690 S2: was trying to make. First, he's wrong in saying that 575 00:31:47,690 --> 00:31:50,990 S2: all Jesus's miracles were just the Holy Spirit acting through 576 00:31:50,990 --> 00:31:54,080 S2: the human Jesus. I'll just give one example the healing 577 00:31:54,110 --> 00:31:57,170 S2: of the paralyzed man in Matthew nine. The miracle was 578 00:31:57,170 --> 00:32:01,580 S2: performed to demonstrate Jesus had the power to forgive sin. Second, 579 00:32:01,610 --> 00:32:03,950 S2: the passage also says Jesus knew the thoughts of the 580 00:32:03,950 --> 00:32:07,910 S2: teachers who had complained. The miracle was intended to physically 581 00:32:07,910 --> 00:32:10,940 S2: validate the truth, that Jesus had the power to forgive 582 00:32:10,970 --> 00:32:14,000 S2: sin and that he was omniscient. So the miracle actually 583 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:18,170 S2: demonstrated his deity. Uh, one other example. In John chapter 20, 584 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:21,440 S2: The Apostle John says the purpose of Jesus signs, which 585 00:32:21,470 --> 00:32:24,050 S2: is what he calls the miracles, was to demonstrate that 586 00:32:24,050 --> 00:32:27,170 S2: Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. It 587 00:32:27,170 --> 00:32:29,630 S2: wasn't to show that he was merely human and empowered 588 00:32:29,630 --> 00:32:32,840 S2: by the Holy Spirit. Again, the miracles were intended to 589 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:34,970 S2: be evidence of his deity. 590 00:32:35,030 --> 00:32:38,480 S1: Question here from Vernon. Throughout the Old Testament, God calls 591 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:41,720 S1: his people to be holy and separate from the surrounding nations, 592 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:44,900 S1: and they would disobey and fall into sin and a 593 00:32:44,900 --> 00:32:48,320 S1: promise for a future restoration. Well, with that said, how 594 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:51,020 S1: does the Holocaust fit into God's plan for the Jews? 595 00:32:51,050 --> 00:32:53,600 S1: I don't believe there's any scriptural prophecy that speaks to 596 00:32:53,630 --> 00:32:57,230 S1: this event, or explains the purpose for it taking place. 597 00:32:57,260 --> 00:32:58,040 S1: What do you say? 598 00:32:58,070 --> 00:33:00,530 S2: Yeah, I need to start by saying we're not told 599 00:33:00,530 --> 00:33:04,010 S2: specifically why God allowed the Holocaust, or how it fits 600 00:33:04,010 --> 00:33:07,070 S2: into his overall plan for his people. The event was 601 00:33:07,070 --> 00:33:09,770 S2: not prophesied in Scripture. As a result, I want to 602 00:33:09,770 --> 00:33:12,320 S2: make sure I don't trivialize the horror of that event 603 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:15,650 S2: by somehow trying to provide a simplistic answer to a 604 00:33:15,650 --> 00:33:19,770 S2: very terrible time. the Holocaust displayed the reality of humanity's 605 00:33:19,770 --> 00:33:23,250 S2: capacity for evil, and I think the real Satanic roots 606 00:33:23,250 --> 00:33:26,940 S2: of anti-Semitism. God permitted it to happen, but he in 607 00:33:26,940 --> 00:33:29,430 S2: no way approved of that evil. Now, having said that, 608 00:33:29,460 --> 00:33:32,790 S2: there is one possible reason God allowed the Holocaust to 609 00:33:32,820 --> 00:33:36,090 S2: take place. It's possible that as only God can do, 610 00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:39,480 S2: he worked to bring good out of evil. The Holocaust 611 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:42,090 S2: was the impetus that finally brought about the establishment of 612 00:33:42,090 --> 00:33:45,570 S2: the State of Israel in 1948. Promises have been made 613 00:33:45,570 --> 00:33:48,480 S2: to the Jewish people during World War One that had 614 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:51,960 S2: remained unfulfilled, and it took the Holocaust to energize both 615 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:54,810 S2: the governments of the world and the Jewish survivors to 616 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:59,520 S2: realize the importance of reestablishing Israel. That was a good result, 617 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:03,270 S2: but it in no way excuses those who instigated such evil. 618 00:34:03,270 --> 00:34:05,640 S2: And perhaps the words of Joseph to his brothers in 619 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:08,640 S2: Genesis 50 can help us, maybe in some small way, 620 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:11,219 S2: to put the event into a larger perspective. You remember 621 00:34:11,219 --> 00:34:14,670 S2: Joseph said there, you intended to harm me, but God 622 00:34:14,670 --> 00:34:18,000 S2: intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, 623 00:34:18,030 --> 00:34:19,800 S2: the saving of many lives. 624 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,739 S1: Sally points out. The Bible says that some of King 625 00:34:22,739 --> 00:34:26,700 S1: David's sons were close advisors to him. Scripture also says 626 00:34:26,700 --> 00:34:29,040 S1: that David had a son named Nathan. Do you think 627 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:33,270 S1: it was this son, Nathan, who confronted David regarding Bathsheba? 628 00:34:33,300 --> 00:34:34,200 S1: Your thoughts? 629 00:34:34,230 --> 00:34:37,020 S2: Yeah, well, the Nathan who confronted David over his sin 630 00:34:37,020 --> 00:34:40,650 S2: with Bathsheba wasn't the Nathan who was David's son. And 631 00:34:40,650 --> 00:34:43,290 S2: I can say that because of First Chronicles chapter three, 632 00:34:43,290 --> 00:34:46,380 S2: that section lists the four sons of David who were 633 00:34:46,380 --> 00:34:50,640 S2: born to Bathsheba, and it includes both Nathan and Solomon. Well, 634 00:34:50,640 --> 00:34:52,560 S2: the first child born as a result of David's sin 635 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:55,980 S2: with Bathsheba died after seven days. David then again went 636 00:34:55,980 --> 00:34:58,859 S2: into Bathsheba and the next child born was Solomon. So 637 00:34:58,860 --> 00:35:02,280 S2: Solomon was the oldest living child of Bathsheba. Well, since 638 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:04,920 S2: Nathan the prophet came to David at the time of 639 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:07,710 S2: his adultery with Bathsheba, he had to be a different 640 00:35:07,739 --> 00:35:10,440 S2: Nathan than the one who was later born to Bathsheba. 641 00:35:10,469 --> 00:35:12,900 S1: Sally's follow up here. So do you think that Nathan 642 00:35:12,900 --> 00:35:15,010 S1: was the name of the child that was conceived in 643 00:35:15,010 --> 00:35:16,540 S1: sin and then died. 644 00:35:16,570 --> 00:35:19,270 S2: You know, it's at least theoretically possible that's the name 645 00:35:19,270 --> 00:35:22,360 S2: of the child. But I personally don't think that's the case. 646 00:35:22,390 --> 00:35:26,439 S2: In later Jewish tradition, children weren't named until the time 647 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,020 S2: of their circumcision, which took place at the eighth day 648 00:35:29,020 --> 00:35:32,080 S2: after birth. We see that in Luke chapter one, when 649 00:35:32,110 --> 00:35:34,990 S2: the family gathered and they gave the name John for 650 00:35:34,989 --> 00:35:38,170 S2: the child of Zechariah and Elizabeth. And then in chapter 651 00:35:38,170 --> 00:35:40,390 S2: two of Luke it says, the eighth day when it 652 00:35:40,390 --> 00:35:43,900 S2: was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus. Now 653 00:35:43,930 --> 00:35:46,870 S2: those took place hundreds of years after the time of David. 654 00:35:46,870 --> 00:35:49,630 S2: But they do seem to be grounded in Jewish tradition. 655 00:35:49,630 --> 00:35:52,060 S2: And I think that could be important, because in Second 656 00:35:52,060 --> 00:35:54,759 S2: Samuel it says that that first child born to David 657 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:58,090 S2: and Bathsheba died on the seventh day, which would be 658 00:35:58,090 --> 00:36:01,509 S2: the day before he would have been circumcised and possibly named. 659 00:36:01,510 --> 00:36:03,759 S2: So as a result, I don't think that baby is 660 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:05,350 S2: the one that was named Nathan. 661 00:36:05,380 --> 00:36:08,290 S1: Todd asks, have you heard the theory that Jesus was 662 00:36:08,290 --> 00:36:11,200 S1: crucified on the Mount of Olives? Can you address this theory? 663 00:36:11,230 --> 00:36:13,350 S2: Yeah, I've heard the theory. I'm aware of those who 664 00:36:13,350 --> 00:36:15,810 S2: promote it. The problem is to make their theory work. 665 00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:19,140 S2: They ignore all the information that shows that the temple 666 00:36:19,140 --> 00:36:22,469 S2: was actually on Mount Moriah, and if the temple was 667 00:36:22,469 --> 00:36:25,320 S2: on Mount Moriah, their position doesn't seem to work. I 668 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:27,360 S2: have a friend named Gordon Franz who wrote an article 669 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:32,310 S2: on that. If you're interested, Google Gordon, Franz, Franz and 670 00:36:32,310 --> 00:36:35,219 S2: location of temple and you'll get a great article explaining 671 00:36:35,219 --> 00:36:35,880 S2: the problem. 672 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:37,830 S1: I love the variety of questions that have come in 673 00:36:37,830 --> 00:36:40,379 S1: this week. As always, you can send yours to the 674 00:36:40,380 --> 00:36:45,000 S1: land and the book@moody.edu. Hey, there's more to the program. 675 00:36:45,030 --> 00:36:47,489 S1: Charlie Dyer's devotional is next. I love the way he 676 00:36:47,489 --> 00:36:49,890 S1: takes us to a place in Scripture, a place in 677 00:36:49,890 --> 00:36:52,890 S1: the Holy Land and welds them together. That's next on 678 00:36:52,890 --> 00:37:08,190 S1: the land and the book. Thanks for being with us 679 00:37:08,190 --> 00:37:10,350 S1: here at the land of the book, John Geiger asking, 680 00:37:10,350 --> 00:37:14,069 S1: have you heard enough about the election yet? Yeah. You 681 00:37:14,070 --> 00:37:16,440 S1: know what? I can hear you from wherever you're listening 682 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:19,200 S1: right now. You're sick of hearing about the election, I 683 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:22,020 S1: get it, but, Charlie, you're talking about a different kind 684 00:37:22,020 --> 00:37:23,190 S1: of election today. 685 00:37:23,219 --> 00:37:25,650 S2: I am John, we're going to talk about the election. 686 00:37:25,650 --> 00:37:27,960 S1: That's the subject of Charlie's devotional. He's going to take 687 00:37:27,960 --> 00:37:30,960 S1: us to Joshua chapter 24. I'm getting ahead of myself 688 00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:32,880 S1: because right now we're going to pause you and me 689 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:35,760 S1: and listen to this Holy Land experience. 690 00:37:39,510 --> 00:37:45,390 S6: Hi, this is Charlene Hutchinson. When I visited Israel, I 691 00:37:45,390 --> 00:37:48,930 S6: went with some people from church, and we had a 692 00:37:48,930 --> 00:37:52,980 S6: wonderful trip. And it was a gift from the Lord 693 00:37:52,980 --> 00:37:55,980 S6: to me and my son. We had not been able 694 00:37:55,980 --> 00:38:00,239 S6: to take a vacation for several years, and my husband had, um, 695 00:38:00,270 --> 00:38:04,980 S6: left me. And so we had been given this gift 696 00:38:05,010 --> 00:38:09,060 S6: to be in Israel and really get close to the Lord. 697 00:38:09,060 --> 00:38:13,830 S6: And my son, uh, had decided to get baptized in Israel. 698 00:38:13,860 --> 00:38:17,610 S6: He had not been baptized in water at all, and 699 00:38:17,610 --> 00:38:19,890 S6: he had been saved since he was eight years old. 700 00:38:19,980 --> 00:38:23,100 S6: And every time someone was baptized at church, I would 701 00:38:23,100 --> 00:38:25,950 S6: talk to him and say, did you want to consider? 702 00:38:25,980 --> 00:38:28,920 S6: Would you like to have a baptism? And he'd said, no. 703 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:33,480 S6: And so before we left, he talked to me and said, mom, 704 00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:38,310 S6: I want to get baptized where Jesus was baptized. So 705 00:38:38,310 --> 00:38:41,520 S6: it was such a blessing, um, to see him get 706 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:45,960 S6: baptized in Israel. And that was a true experience and 707 00:38:45,989 --> 00:38:49,590 S6: a blessing to be there and watch my son make 708 00:38:49,590 --> 00:38:53,339 S6: that decision. And I was just thank the Lord that 709 00:38:53,340 --> 00:38:55,290 S6: I was able to be there and my son was 710 00:38:55,290 --> 00:38:58,830 S6: baptized there. Thank you for taking my message. 711 00:39:00,450 --> 00:39:03,120 S1: All right, Charlie, I'm looking for a breather, a break 712 00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:05,490 S1: from our current election. So take it away. 713 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:08,640 S2: Okay, John. Thanks. I remember when I first arrived in 714 00:39:08,640 --> 00:39:11,190 S2: Chicago in the summer of 2000, in the midst of 715 00:39:11,190 --> 00:39:14,610 S2: what was another bitter presidential contest. That was the first 716 00:39:14,610 --> 00:39:17,640 S2: time I ever heard the expression vote early and vote 717 00:39:17,640 --> 00:39:21,180 S2: often suggesting that past elections in the Windy City weren't 718 00:39:21,180 --> 00:39:24,420 S2: always as free and fair as I might have assumed. Now, 719 00:39:24,420 --> 00:39:28,649 S2: some link that phrase to former Chicago Mayor William Hale Thompson, 720 00:39:28,650 --> 00:39:31,860 S2: who was supported by Al Capone. But the phrase was 721 00:39:31,860 --> 00:39:35,700 S2: likely around long before their time with our upcoming election. 722 00:39:35,700 --> 00:39:37,680 S2: As the background, I want to take you to what 723 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:40,920 S2: was perhaps the most unusual election in history. There was 724 00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:44,880 S2: only one polling location. The campaign only lasted a single day, 725 00:39:44,880 --> 00:39:49,080 S2: and the vote was unanimous. Sound intriguing? Well, then follow 726 00:39:49,080 --> 00:39:51,690 S2: me to the city of Shechem, nestled in the valley 727 00:39:51,690 --> 00:39:54,480 S2: between Mount Ebal to the north and Mount Gerizim to 728 00:39:54,510 --> 00:39:58,110 S2: the south. Standing in this valley at Shechem is impressive. 729 00:39:58,140 --> 00:40:00,720 S2: The nation of Israel had gathered at the same spot 730 00:40:00,719 --> 00:40:04,410 S2: shortly after entering the land under Joshua. After building an 731 00:40:04,410 --> 00:40:06,630 S2: altar on Mount Ebal, the group made their way down 732 00:40:06,630 --> 00:40:09,780 S2: into the valley, and Joshua eight describes what happened next 733 00:40:09,780 --> 00:40:14,430 S2: this way. All Israel, aliens and citizens alike, with their elders, 734 00:40:14,430 --> 00:40:17,580 S2: officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the 735 00:40:17,580 --> 00:40:20,040 S2: ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing those who 736 00:40:20,070 --> 00:40:23,100 S2: carried it. The priests who were Levites, half of the 737 00:40:23,100 --> 00:40:25,710 S2: people stood in front of Mount Gerizim, and half of 738 00:40:25,710 --> 00:40:29,100 S2: them in front of Mount Ebal. As Moses, the servant 739 00:40:29,100 --> 00:40:31,890 S2: of the Lord had formerly commanded them, when he gave 740 00:40:31,890 --> 00:40:35,700 S2: instructions to bless the people of Israel. Afterward, Joshua read 741 00:40:35,700 --> 00:40:38,609 S2: all the words of the law, the blessings, and the curses, 742 00:40:38,610 --> 00:40:41,219 S2: just as it is written in the book of the law. 743 00:40:41,250 --> 00:40:43,920 S2: There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded, 744 00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:47,250 S2: that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, 745 00:40:47,250 --> 00:40:50,370 S2: including the women and children, and the aliens who lived 746 00:40:50,370 --> 00:40:53,819 S2: among them. That first gathering at Shechem and the battles 747 00:40:53,820 --> 00:40:57,330 S2: that followed are now a distant memory. The 80 something 748 00:40:57,360 --> 00:41:00,419 S2: year old veteran who led Israel in its conquest is 749 00:41:00,420 --> 00:41:05,010 S2: now 30 years older. At 110, Joshua is nearing the 750 00:41:05,010 --> 00:41:07,739 S2: end of his life. At that time, a new generation 751 00:41:07,739 --> 00:41:10,860 S2: had grown up, one that had no first hand recollection 752 00:41:10,860 --> 00:41:14,430 S2: of Israel's slavery in Egypt or their wanderings in the wilderness. 753 00:41:14,460 --> 00:41:18,390 S2: A generation that knew only the Promised Land, yet who 754 00:41:18,390 --> 00:41:21,510 S2: still faced temptation to abandon the God of Israel by 755 00:41:21,510 --> 00:41:25,950 S2: their idol worshipping neighbors. Joshua sensed the threat and summoned 756 00:41:25,980 --> 00:41:28,710 S2: Israel one last time to call on them to make 757 00:41:28,710 --> 00:41:31,469 S2: a decision. Standing here near the back of the crowd, 758 00:41:31,469 --> 00:41:35,400 S2: we're still impressed by the strength of Joshua's voice. Though 759 00:41:35,430 --> 00:41:39,360 S2: frail and stooped with age, Joshua continues to display a 760 00:41:39,360 --> 00:41:43,560 S2: commanding presence. Today, he will serve as the campaign manager, 761 00:41:43,560 --> 00:41:46,979 S2: poll watcher and vote counter for the upcoming election. Now 762 00:41:46,980 --> 00:41:50,730 S2: let's watch what unfolds. We're impressed with the range of 763 00:41:50,730 --> 00:41:53,700 S2: those assembled. In addition to normal Israelites who came to 764 00:41:53,730 --> 00:41:56,220 S2: see what was happening, the site is crowded with all 765 00:41:56,219 --> 00:42:00,960 S2: the dignitaries. Joshua had summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and 766 00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:05,370 S2: officials of Israel. They've all come to present themselves before God. 767 00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:09,240 S2: Joshua raises his hands and the crowd grows silent. Then 768 00:42:09,239 --> 00:42:13,260 S2: he speaks, sharing God's message to the people. Long ago, 769 00:42:13,290 --> 00:42:17,069 S2: your forefathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, 770 00:42:17,100 --> 00:42:21,270 S2: lived beyond the river and worshiped other gods. Tracing his 771 00:42:21,270 --> 00:42:24,210 S2: call from Abraham and Isaac through the ministry of Moses 772 00:42:24,210 --> 00:42:28,530 S2: and Aaron, God has Joshua recount Israel's history, their dramatic 773 00:42:28,530 --> 00:42:32,010 S2: deliverance from Egypt, their time in the wilderness, and their 774 00:42:32,010 --> 00:42:35,790 S2: entrance into the Promised Land. The citizens of Jericho fought 775 00:42:35,790 --> 00:42:41,340 S2: against you, as did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, 776 00:42:41,340 --> 00:42:45,210 S2: and Jebusites. But I gave them over into your hands. 777 00:42:45,239 --> 00:42:47,910 S2: God said, so I gave you a land on which 778 00:42:47,910 --> 00:42:51,060 S2: you did not toil, and cities which you did not build, 779 00:42:51,060 --> 00:42:53,130 S2: and you live in them, and eat from their vineyards 780 00:42:53,130 --> 00:42:57,240 S2: and olive groves that you did not plant. Joshua's message 781 00:42:57,239 --> 00:43:00,150 S2: is a history lesson for a generation that had not 782 00:43:00,150 --> 00:43:05,109 S2: experienced all these miracles firsthand in an election campaign. Candidates, 783 00:43:05,110 --> 00:43:09,040 S2: especially incumbents, will focus on the benefits that they've delivered, 784 00:43:09,040 --> 00:43:12,520 S2: the success stories of their administration that make them worthy 785 00:43:12,520 --> 00:43:17,110 S2: of re-election. But God's campaign speech through Joshua takes a 786 00:43:17,110 --> 00:43:21,010 S2: much different tone. Rather than promising more goodies to entice 787 00:43:21,010 --> 00:43:24,399 S2: the voters to vote for him, God instead challenges these 788 00:43:24,400 --> 00:43:27,219 S2: voters to be as faithful to him as he has 789 00:43:27,250 --> 00:43:30,609 S2: been to them. Now fear the Lord and serve him 790 00:43:30,610 --> 00:43:34,480 S2: with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped 791 00:43:34,480 --> 00:43:38,260 S2: beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 792 00:43:38,620 --> 00:43:41,980 S2: That last phrase suggests that the people hadn't remained all 793 00:43:42,010 --> 00:43:44,710 S2: that faithful to God. They were enjoying the land he 794 00:43:44,739 --> 00:43:47,080 S2: had given them, but they were still clinging to the 795 00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:50,260 S2: false idols and gods that had enticed them since the 796 00:43:50,260 --> 00:43:53,680 S2: nation's days in Egypt and in their time in the wilderness. 797 00:43:53,710 --> 00:43:57,310 S2: In reading Joshua's message and thinking about all the promises 798 00:43:57,310 --> 00:44:00,850 S2: being made in the current election campaigns, I can summarize 799 00:44:00,850 --> 00:44:04,840 S2: Joshua's campaign speech this way. Forget the rewards and the 800 00:44:04,840 --> 00:44:09,040 S2: perks you hope to receive. Focus instead on the responsibilities 801 00:44:09,040 --> 00:44:13,299 S2: and priorities you need to accept. Joshua then laid out 802 00:44:13,300 --> 00:44:16,569 S2: the choices to be voted on in very direct terms. 803 00:44:16,870 --> 00:44:20,740 S2: Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether 804 00:44:20,739 --> 00:44:23,860 S2: the gods your forefathers served beyond the river, or the 805 00:44:23,890 --> 00:44:26,950 S2: gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. 806 00:44:26,950 --> 00:44:30,279 S2: But as for me and my household, we will serve 807 00:44:30,280 --> 00:44:34,209 S2: the Lord. The choice facing Israel that day was very 808 00:44:34,210 --> 00:44:37,600 S2: direct the God of Israel, or the gods of Egypt 809 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:41,590 S2: and the surrounding peoples. They couldn't vote early or vote often. 810 00:44:41,590 --> 00:44:45,069 S2: This was intended as a straight up or down decision. 811 00:44:45,100 --> 00:44:47,890 S2: Joshua left no doubt in their minds where he stood 812 00:44:47,890 --> 00:44:50,920 S2: on the matter. He and his family had already chosen 813 00:44:50,920 --> 00:44:53,950 S2: to serve the Lord. The people then voted and the 814 00:44:53,950 --> 00:44:57,670 S2: results were unanimous. We will serve the Lord our God 815 00:44:57,670 --> 00:45:01,330 S2: and obey him. Joshua made a covenant for the people 816 00:45:01,330 --> 00:45:03,759 S2: and set up a large stone as a witness for them, 817 00:45:03,760 --> 00:45:07,150 S2: a reminder that they had heard God's word and committed 818 00:45:07,150 --> 00:45:11,200 S2: once again to follow it. The book of Joshua ends almost, 819 00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:15,070 S2: it seems, quite suddenly. Joshua sent the people away, each 820 00:45:15,070 --> 00:45:18,520 S2: to his inheritance. And after these things, Joshua, son of nun, 821 00:45:18,550 --> 00:45:21,969 S2: the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. 822 00:45:22,060 --> 00:45:25,330 S2: It seems obvious that Joshua saw this as the culmination 823 00:45:25,330 --> 00:45:28,480 S2: of his life's work, his final challenge to the people 824 00:45:28,510 --> 00:45:32,230 S2: before he passed off the scene. But was he successful? 825 00:45:32,260 --> 00:45:35,470 S2: Or was this just a final, feeble attempt by an 826 00:45:35,469 --> 00:45:37,900 S2: elderly man to try and hold back the tide of 827 00:45:37,900 --> 00:45:41,380 S2: change as it rushed forward? Well, the Book of Joshua 828 00:45:41,380 --> 00:45:45,010 S2: ends by suggesting that Joshua's final speech had a profound 829 00:45:45,010 --> 00:45:48,400 S2: impact on the nation, at least for the next generation. 830 00:45:48,430 --> 00:45:52,210 S2: Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and 831 00:45:52,239 --> 00:45:54,819 S2: of the elders who outlived him, and who had experienced 832 00:45:54,820 --> 00:45:58,089 S2: everything the Lord had done for Israel. So what does 833 00:45:58,090 --> 00:46:01,010 S2: Joshua's final message have to do with you and with 834 00:46:01,010 --> 00:46:05,270 S2: our upcoming election. Let me suggest this. The most important 835 00:46:05,270 --> 00:46:07,850 S2: choice you can make this coming week is not who 836 00:46:07,850 --> 00:46:11,090 S2: gets into the white House, or Congress, or the governor's mansion, 837 00:46:11,090 --> 00:46:14,570 S2: or the state legislature. The most important choice you can 838 00:46:14,570 --> 00:46:17,330 S2: make this week is to choose to serve the Lord 839 00:46:17,330 --> 00:46:21,049 S2: with all your heart, and to study and obey His Word. 840 00:46:21,080 --> 00:46:24,020 S2: Vote to put God first in your life, and to 841 00:46:24,050 --> 00:46:26,210 S2: live in a way that will encourage others to follow 842 00:46:26,210 --> 00:46:29,870 S2: him as well. Choose for yourselves this day whom you 843 00:46:29,870 --> 00:46:33,230 S2: will serve. But as for me and my house, we 844 00:46:33,230 --> 00:46:34,820 S2: will serve the Lord. 845 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:38,089 S1: By very, very practical. Thank you Charlie. Love that application. 846 00:46:38,090 --> 00:46:40,460 S1: And yes, I do want to cast my vote to 847 00:46:40,489 --> 00:46:43,160 S1: serve the Lord. Thank you for that devotional. You can 848 00:46:43,160 --> 00:46:45,620 S1: hear it all again at our website, the land and 849 00:46:45,620 --> 00:46:48,859 S1: the book org. Our time is gone, but we thank 850 00:46:48,890 --> 00:46:50,960 S1: you for being a part of the land in the book, 851 00:46:50,989 --> 00:46:55,040 S1: a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.