WEBVTT - Delighting in God’s Law 0:00:08.180 --> 0:00:11.030 Be honest. Have you ever skipped over or given up 0:00:11.030 --> 0:00:13.040 on a book of the Bible like, oh, let's say 0:00:13.039 --> 0:00:17.989 numbers or Leviticus? These laws, rules and rituals can be confusing, 0:00:17.989 --> 0:00:21.799 daunting even. But why did God include all these in 0:00:21.800 --> 0:00:23.750 the Bible? And what does he want us to learn 0:00:23.750 --> 0:00:26.570 from them today? You'll be surprised at what you discover 0:00:26.570 --> 0:00:29.090 as you join us. Now for the land and the book. 0:00:29.090 --> 0:00:32.090 Thanks for connecting today. I'm John Geiger, excited to be 0:00:32.090 --> 0:00:35.840 teaming up with our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, noted Israel expert. 0:00:35.840 --> 0:00:38.269 And as the end of this year approaches, many world 0:00:38.270 --> 0:00:41.240 events have left us wondering what God's plan is for 0:00:41.240 --> 0:00:44.630 the future. And that's particularly true when it comes to Israel. 0:00:44.659 --> 0:00:48.769 Despite its tiny size, people around the world are intensely 0:00:48.770 --> 0:00:52.160 focused on what takes place. There are today's headlines connected 0:00:52.159 --> 0:00:55.550 in any way with prophecies in the Bible. How should 0:00:55.550 --> 0:00:58.730 followers of Jesus interpret current events as we await his 0:00:58.730 --> 0:00:59.540 second coming? 0:00:59.570 --> 0:01:02.210 Yeah, those are great questions, John. And to help answer 0:01:02.210 --> 0:01:05.720 those important questions, our friends at Life and Messiah encourage 0:01:05.720 --> 0:01:08.869 you to check out their book, God, Israel and Bible 0:01:08.870 --> 0:01:12.560 Prophecy with Scripture as its foundation. This book will take 0:01:12.560 --> 0:01:15.050 you on a journey into what God has in store 0:01:15.050 --> 0:01:18.410 for the Jewish people and the nations. This book is 0:01:18.410 --> 0:01:21.350 for anyone who wants to explore where modern day events 0:01:21.350 --> 0:01:25.130 fit on God's grand timeline. Now, if that's you or 0:01:25.130 --> 0:01:29.030 someone you know, this would be a great resource or gift. 0:01:29.060 --> 0:01:32.360 Visit Life in Messiah org and click on the Moody 0:01:32.390 --> 0:01:35.360 Radio button to find out how you can receive your 0:01:35.360 --> 0:01:41.899 copy of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 0:01:41.990 --> 0:01:42.470 And if you. 0:01:42.500 --> 0:01:45.380 Happen to be a newer listener new to this program, 0:01:45.380 --> 0:01:48.440 why this opening segment? The first of four, by the way, 0:01:48.470 --> 0:01:50.390 brings us a look at current events from the Middle 0:01:50.390 --> 0:01:54.530 East region. Well, Charlie, early last Saturday, Israel finally launched 0:01:54.530 --> 0:01:58.350 its retaliatory strike against Iran in response to their October 0:01:58.380 --> 0:02:01.669 1st missile attack. What do we know about the the 0:02:01.670 --> 0:02:03.890 effect of that strike so far? Could it lead to 0:02:03.920 --> 0:02:06.140 another round of attacks between the two countries? That would 0:02:06.140 --> 0:02:08.510 seem possible, but what's your take? 0:02:08.540 --> 0:02:11.690 Well, the strike was limited, but it was effective. The 0:02:11.720 --> 0:02:15.560 US pressured Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities or 0:02:15.560 --> 0:02:19.459 oil refineries. Those could have taken down Iran's economy, but 0:02:19.460 --> 0:02:22.430 would have demanded an Iranian response. And being so close 0:02:22.430 --> 0:02:26.419 to our elections, that's not something our government wanted. But 0:02:26.419 --> 0:02:30.350 the targets Israel did select were strategic by disabling Iran's 0:02:30.350 --> 0:02:34.790 air defenses. Israel gained greater freedom to attack throughout the country, 0:02:34.790 --> 0:02:37.580 and that could continue on into the future. They then 0:02:37.580 --> 0:02:42.290 crippled Iran's missile manufacturing production by destroying mixers used to 0:02:42.320 --> 0:02:45.290 make the solid fuel used in the rockets. It could 0:02:45.290 --> 0:02:48.410 take up to two years for Iran to repair the damage. 0:02:48.440 --> 0:02:52.040 Israel also hit a site that manufactured drones, which are 0:02:52.040 --> 0:02:55.429 on both used and exported to groups like Hezbollah and 0:02:55.430 --> 0:02:59.810 the Houthis. Israel deliberately tried to avoid civilian casualties and 0:02:59.810 --> 0:03:03.079 apparently attacked in a way that allows Iran to deny 0:03:03.110 --> 0:03:08.000 much was damaged. Apparently, the strike involved over 100 Israeli warplanes, 0:03:08.000 --> 0:03:11.660 all of which returned safely to Israel afterward. Now the 0:03:11.660 --> 0:03:15.410 big question is what will Iran do in response? Iran 0:03:15.410 --> 0:03:18.079 still has rockets stockpiled that it could use to launch 0:03:18.080 --> 0:03:21.889 a retaliatory strike. However, they also know any missiles used 0:03:21.889 --> 0:03:25.310 can't be replaced for several years. And in the meantime, 0:03:25.310 --> 0:03:29.240 Israel could freely retaliate by going after oil refineries, oil 0:03:29.240 --> 0:03:33.650 shipping facilities and power generating stations. That's why many believe 0:03:33.680 --> 0:03:36.590 Iran might hold off striking back in any direct way 0:03:36.590 --> 0:03:39.680 or significant way, and look for other means to hit 0:03:39.680 --> 0:03:43.070 back at Israel. Now, one last point. The Gulf states 0:03:43.070 --> 0:03:46.610 and other Arab countries condemned Israel for the attack, but 0:03:46.610 --> 0:03:50.120 this was more by way of protecting themselves against retaliation 0:03:50.120 --> 0:03:54.290 by Iran, rather than genuine concern over what Israel did. 0:03:54.320 --> 0:03:57.630 For the most part, they're more concerned about Iran's intentions 0:03:57.630 --> 0:04:00.540 in the region than they are about Israel's. So they 0:04:00.540 --> 0:04:04.050 said what needed to be said to protect themselves. But privately, 0:04:04.050 --> 0:04:07.530 they're likely breathing a sigh of relief over Israel's attack. 0:04:07.590 --> 0:04:11.580 Story number two while the conflict with Iran has dominated 0:04:11.580 --> 0:04:15.240 the news for several weeks, Israel's war against both Hamas 0:04:15.240 --> 0:04:18.180 and Hezbollah, as well as its fight against terrorists in 0:04:18.180 --> 0:04:21.390 the West Bank, also continue. What's been happening in these 0:04:21.390 --> 0:04:23.670 areas that the news might be overlooking? We haven't heard 0:04:23.670 --> 0:04:24.570 so much, Charlie. 0:04:24.600 --> 0:04:26.820 Yeah. Well, let me start in the north. Israel is 0:04:26.820 --> 0:04:30.479 continuing its assault on Hezbollah and its leaders after Hezbollah 0:04:30.510 --> 0:04:33.960 appointed its new leader just this week. Israel's defense minister 0:04:33.960 --> 0:04:38.700 posted his picture with the message temporary appointment. Not for long. Okay. 0:04:38.760 --> 0:04:43.050 Israel's soldiers discovered a massive Hezbollah base underneath a Lebanese 0:04:43.080 --> 0:04:46.229 village on their border. It had a subterranean area over 0:04:46.230 --> 0:04:48.539 a mile long that would have served as a staging 0:04:48.540 --> 0:04:52.170 area for hundreds of Hezbollah fighters. It was a definite 0:04:52.200 --> 0:04:55.080 reminder that Hezbollah had planned to do in the north 0:04:55.080 --> 0:04:58.890 what Hamas did in the south. Israel also attacked a 0:04:58.890 --> 0:05:02.280 shadow banking operation set up by Hezbollah to fund the 0:05:02.279 --> 0:05:05.730 organization and its operatives and their families. Now, while most 0:05:05.730 --> 0:05:08.460 normal banks don't keep a great deal of cash reserves 0:05:08.460 --> 0:05:12.030 on hand, Hezbollah kept a large portion of their assets 0:05:12.029 --> 0:05:15.539 in physical cash and gold. So Israel's attack on these 0:05:15.540 --> 0:05:20.580 bank branches was a serious financial blow. In Gaza, Israel 0:05:20.580 --> 0:05:24.960 continues to target Hamas terrorists, including individuals they've identified as 0:05:24.960 --> 0:05:29.850 leaders during the attack on October 7th. Israel discovered documents 0:05:29.850 --> 0:05:33.900 from Hamas seeking funds from Iran to train an additional 0:05:33.930 --> 0:05:37.800 12,000 terrorists. They launched their attack, but they had plans 0:05:37.800 --> 0:05:40.169 to make an even larger attack at some point in 0:05:40.170 --> 0:05:43.590 the future in the West Bank. Israel continues to battle 0:05:43.620 --> 0:05:48.870 both Hamas and Islamic Jihad squads. Now, interestingly, the Palestinian 0:05:48.870 --> 0:05:52.109 Authority has also been trying to crack down on terror 0:05:52.140 --> 0:05:55.440 groups in some West Bank towns. Now they're not doing 0:05:55.440 --> 0:05:58.680 it to support Israel, but for their own survival. Since 0:05:58.680 --> 0:06:01.440 those terror groups want to take over the West Bank, 0:06:01.470 --> 0:06:04.859 the Palestinian Authority is trying to position itself as the 0:06:04.860 --> 0:06:07.080 group that should be in charge, not only in the 0:06:07.080 --> 0:06:10.680 West Bank, but in Gaza. Once Hamas is defeated, though, 0:06:10.680 --> 0:06:14.640 that seems rather uncertain since they're not trusted by Israel 0:06:14.640 --> 0:06:16.650 or by most Palestinians. 0:06:16.680 --> 0:06:19.589 You're listening to The Land and the book from Moody Radio. 0:06:19.620 --> 0:06:22.560 Our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Geiger. These are 0:06:22.560 --> 0:06:24.330 the stories that have been coming out of the Middle 0:06:24.330 --> 0:06:27.330 East this week. The arrival of November marks the beginning 0:06:27.360 --> 0:06:30.420 of the winter rainy season in the Middle East. Charlie, 0:06:30.450 --> 0:06:32.700 what impact will the weather have on all of these 0:06:32.700 --> 0:06:34.289 various conflicts going on? 0:06:34.320 --> 0:06:36.900 Yeah, the weather will impact the conflicts in at least 0:06:36.900 --> 0:06:40.349 two ways for those fighting, especially in the North. The 0:06:40.350 --> 0:06:43.650 biting cold, the rain, the snow and the mud could 0:06:43.650 --> 0:06:46.799 make conditions very difficult. We remember last year when we 0:06:46.800 --> 0:06:50.400 talked to Meno Kalisher, pastor of the Jerusalem Assembly, and 0:06:50.400 --> 0:06:53.039 last October, when the invasion took place, he got a 0:06:53.040 --> 0:06:55.230 call from his daughter because she was called up to 0:06:55.260 --> 0:06:57.930 serve on the border with Lebanon right about this time 0:06:57.930 --> 0:07:01.890 of year. Their entire unit didn't have winter coats. The 0:07:01.890 --> 0:07:05.310 church had to buy 220 winter jackets and rushed them 0:07:05.310 --> 0:07:08.400 up to the front. Well, this year Israeli forces are 0:07:08.400 --> 0:07:12.630 better equipped, but they're fighting inside Lebanon, so the weather 0:07:12.630 --> 0:07:16.020 will still take a toll on both soldiers and their equipment. 0:07:16.170 --> 0:07:18.480 But the second impact from the weather will be on 0:07:18.480 --> 0:07:22.290 civilians and actually from both sides. Houses have been destroyed, 0:07:22.290 --> 0:07:26.280 power lines downed, access to basic necessities like food and 0:07:26.280 --> 0:07:30.150 water disrupted. At the end of October, the region had 0:07:30.150 --> 0:07:33.989 already experienced some unusual weather conditions. A wind gusts up 0:07:33.990 --> 0:07:36.510 to 60 miles an hour were recorded on the Sea 0:07:36.540 --> 0:07:39.660 of Galilee, and the central part of Israel experienced the 0:07:39.660 --> 0:07:44.040 coldest October night in 33 years. This was accompanied by 0:07:44.040 --> 0:07:47.369 blowing dust from the east. Before the arrival of the 0:07:47.370 --> 0:07:50.820 coming winter weather, Hezbollah was using rockets and drones to 0:07:50.850 --> 0:07:54.960 start fires in heavily wooded areas in Israel, over 4000 0:07:54.960 --> 0:07:58.260 acres of forest land were destroyed. In one sense, the 0:07:58.260 --> 0:08:01.020 coming rain might make it harder on the soldiers, but 0:08:01.020 --> 0:08:03.630 it will help stop the fires and it will help 0:08:03.630 --> 0:08:06.910 replenish the Sea of Galilee, which currently stands about eight 0:08:06.910 --> 0:08:09.810 feet below the upper red line when it's full and 0:08:09.810 --> 0:08:12.000 six feet above the lower red line, which is when 0:08:12.000 --> 0:08:14.400 they're forced to stop pumping. So they do need the 0:08:14.400 --> 0:08:17.670 rain now, as weather moves through the area, it could 0:08:17.700 --> 0:08:21.030 bring about temporary lulls in the conflict. But absent a 0:08:21.030 --> 0:08:24.480 cease fire, Israel plans to keep pushing forward until it's 0:08:24.480 --> 0:08:27.060 able to bring about a peace for those living along 0:08:27.060 --> 0:08:27.810 its borders. 0:08:27.840 --> 0:08:30.540 Charlie, apart from the weather and its influence, is there 0:08:30.540 --> 0:08:33.510 any indication at all that Lebanon and those in control 0:08:33.510 --> 0:08:37.079 of Hezbollah would at last be saying, gee, maybe, you know, 0:08:37.110 --> 0:08:40.170 quietly to themselves, we should just pull back? 0:08:40.200 --> 0:08:43.290 They may be saying it quietly, but publicly. They're always saying, no, no, 0:08:43.290 --> 0:08:45.480 no peace with Israel, no agreement with Israel. Our goal 0:08:45.480 --> 0:08:49.500 is to destroy Israel. But there are negotiations going on 0:08:49.500 --> 0:08:51.750 quietly behind the scenes. And what I think we could 0:08:51.780 --> 0:08:54.660 hope is that they would happen. I think the end 0:08:54.690 --> 0:08:56.940 result would be that Hezbollah would be pushed north of 0:08:56.940 --> 0:09:00.180 the Litani River and out of those immediate border areas 0:09:00.179 --> 0:09:00.870 with Israel. 0:09:00.870 --> 0:09:04.380 And do you see any situation, any scenario in which 0:09:04.410 --> 0:09:07.860 Israel would agree to anything apart from that definition, that 0:09:07.860 --> 0:09:10.200 they must be north of the Litani River? 0:09:10.230 --> 0:09:12.480 I don't see him agreeing to anything other than that, 0:09:12.480 --> 0:09:15.300 but I think if that were offered, Israel would take 0:09:15.300 --> 0:09:18.240 it because they are war weary right now. 0:09:18.270 --> 0:09:20.640 Story number four the Ark of the covenant was on 0:09:20.640 --> 0:09:23.940 display in Jerusalem. Oh, no, not the one constructed by 0:09:23.940 --> 0:09:27.569 Moses in the wilderness, but a newly constructed replica. Tell 0:09:27.600 --> 0:09:29.880 us about this new ark and its purpose. 0:09:29.910 --> 0:09:32.699 Yeah. Thanks to the efforts of numerous volunteers and an 0:09:32.700 --> 0:09:36.359 anonymous architect and a major financial backer, along with over 0:09:36.360 --> 0:09:39.750 £80 of gold and acacia wood, an exact replica of 0:09:39.750 --> 0:09:42.449 the Ark now exists. The new Ark went on display 0:09:42.450 --> 0:09:46.260 at different locations in Jerusalem during Sukkot, including a platform 0:09:46.260 --> 0:09:49.380 overlooking the Temple Mount, Out. Though starting with the description 0:09:49.380 --> 0:09:52.560 in the Bible, much research was needed to. Determine exactly 0:09:52.559 --> 0:09:55.290 how the ark was constructed. For example, what was the 0:09:55.290 --> 0:09:57.359 purity of the. Gold? And they figured out what it 0:09:57.360 --> 0:10:00.030 was in Egypt at that time, and what was the 0:10:00.030 --> 0:10:02.730 level of torsion and load bearing required to support the 0:10:02.730 --> 0:10:05.550 structure's legs and poles and joints? Well, they did all 0:10:05.580 --> 0:10:08.069 of that research and saw the ark in the end 0:10:08.100 --> 0:10:11.220 as a communication device. Since God spoke to Moses from 0:10:11.220 --> 0:10:14.189 between the cherubim on the mercy seat. And because of that, 0:10:14.190 --> 0:10:17.189 they did take one bit of artistic license. They inscribed 0:10:17.190 --> 0:10:19.950 four scenes on the four sides of the ark the 0:10:19.950 --> 0:10:22.530 burning bush, the parting of the Red sea, the cloud 0:10:22.530 --> 0:10:25.290 and pillar of fire, and the giving of the Ten Commandments. 0:10:25.290 --> 0:10:28.980 But otherwise the final product appears to be breathtakingly beautiful 0:10:28.980 --> 0:10:32.430 and very accurate. Now, it's an interesting piece of historical construction, 0:10:32.429 --> 0:10:34.590 but I don't think we need to worry about being 0:10:34.590 --> 0:10:36.300 struck dead if we happen to see it. There's one 0:10:36.300 --> 0:10:39.000 piece missing, and that happens to be the Shekinah glory 0:10:39.000 --> 0:10:40.679 that dwelt between the cherubim. 0:10:40.679 --> 0:10:42.990 And that's a look at current events. It'd be interesting 0:10:43.020 --> 0:10:45.780 to see that Ark of the covenant. Thank you so 0:10:45.780 --> 0:10:48.150 much for that. Look at the news, Charlie, and I'm 0:10:48.150 --> 0:10:51.689 looking forward to a conversation next about delighting in God's law. 0:10:51.720 --> 0:10:54.209 That's all ahead on Moody Radio's The Land. 0:10:54.210 --> 0:10:55.320 And the book. 0:11:09.390 --> 0:11:11.850 Have you ever skipped over or given up on a 0:11:11.850 --> 0:11:15.150 book of the Bible like numbers or Leviticus? Come on, 0:11:15.150 --> 0:11:19.380 be honest. These laws and rules and rituals can be confusing, 0:11:19.380 --> 0:11:22.920 daunting even. I mean, why did God include all this 0:11:22.950 --> 0:11:25.080 in the Bible? What does he want us to learn 0:11:25.080 --> 0:11:28.829 from this today? These are important questions, and we'll get 0:11:28.830 --> 0:11:32.190 to them after we pause. First for an innovative idea 0:11:32.190 --> 0:11:35.820 on sharing Christ with a muslim friend. So you're having 0:11:35.820 --> 0:11:40.199 that Muslim friend or coworker or neighbor, and inevitably, there's 0:11:40.200 --> 0:11:43.410 this rather embarrassing thing that comes along with regard to 0:11:43.440 --> 0:11:46.800 the immorality that is going on in American culture. And 0:11:46.830 --> 0:11:49.860 of course, Muslims believe that America is a Christian nation, 0:11:49.860 --> 0:11:52.440 and therefore all the immorality they're seeing is a great 0:11:52.440 --> 0:11:55.590 disconnect between the Bible and what we pretend to believe. 0:11:55.590 --> 0:11:58.080 So my goodness, how do we deal with all of that? 0:11:58.080 --> 0:12:00.989 In a conversation with a muslim friend, Stefano Ferrer, with 0:12:00.990 --> 0:12:02.280 call of Hope, what do you say? 0:12:02.309 --> 0:12:06.059 Well, tell them that this is not Christianity, that what 0:12:06.059 --> 0:12:09.120 they see on television has nothing to do with your 0:12:09.120 --> 0:12:12.330 life and nothing to do with your faith, and nothing 0:12:12.360 --> 0:12:15.510 to do with what you believe. Tell them exactly what 0:12:15.510 --> 0:12:18.750 you just said, that this is culture and that this 0:12:18.750 --> 0:12:22.440 is not your belief. That's very important. Actually. You are 0:12:22.440 --> 0:12:28.500 right that that's crucial. Muslims are also into immoralities, but 0:12:28.500 --> 0:12:30.900 I would never talk to them about it. This is 0:12:30.900 --> 0:12:35.580 not the point. The point is that what they see 0:12:35.580 --> 0:12:38.729 in television has nothing to do with Christianity, and it 0:12:38.730 --> 0:12:41.010 has nothing to do with my personal life. 0:12:41.040 --> 0:12:44.459 Okay, so state the facts as they are. That's it. 0:12:44.490 --> 0:12:44.819 Point to. 0:12:44.850 --> 0:12:45.990 Jesus. Absolutely. 0:12:45.990 --> 0:12:47.040 And love them anyway. 0:12:47.040 --> 0:12:48.480 That's what you should do. 0:12:48.510 --> 0:12:51.480 Stefano Ferrer with call of Hope. Us always appreciate your 0:12:51.480 --> 0:12:56.040 insights here on the land and the book. Christie Anyabwile 0:12:56.040 --> 0:12:59.490 is a Bible teacher at Anacostia River church. She serves 0:12:59.490 --> 0:13:02.760 organizations that equip women to study and teach the Bible. 0:13:02.790 --> 0:13:06.330 Her writing can be found at Christianity Today. She reads 0:13:06.330 --> 0:13:10.170 the Gospel Coalition and more. She and her husband, Pastor 0:13:10.170 --> 0:13:13.679 Tim Beatty, have three kids and live in Washington, DC. 0:13:13.710 --> 0:13:17.220 Christie has written the Moody Publishers book we're focusing on today, 0:13:17.250 --> 0:13:20.910 delighting in God's Law. We are so grateful you joined 0:13:20.910 --> 0:13:23.160 us today on the land and the book. 0:13:23.190 --> 0:13:26.670 Christie, thank you so much for having me. It's great 0:13:26.670 --> 0:13:27.929 to be here. You know, a. 0:13:27.960 --> 0:13:29.579 Lot of people might look at the title of that 0:13:29.580 --> 0:13:33.390 book and slam on the brakes saying, what delight in 0:13:33.390 --> 0:13:36.390 God's law. What could you possibly mean? Isn't the law 0:13:36.420 --> 0:13:39.090 out of date and out of mind? What do you say? 0:13:39.720 --> 0:13:45.150 Well, listen, I get it. I've actually had that experience myself, 0:13:45.150 --> 0:13:49.140 which prompted me to write this Bible study. It can 0:13:49.140 --> 0:13:53.880 feel daunting, a little scary, a little, dare I say, 0:13:53.910 --> 0:13:57.390 boring to think about the law and the Old Testament. 0:13:57.390 --> 0:14:01.980 But I am convinced that all of God's Word is 0:14:01.980 --> 0:14:06.990 good and should prompt in us this desire to know 0:14:06.990 --> 0:14:10.380 him and should bring us delight. The word itself tells 0:14:10.380 --> 0:14:14.160 us that we should delight in God's law and meditate 0:14:14.160 --> 0:14:18.600 on it day and night. And so I do believe 0:14:18.600 --> 0:14:21.750 that God has given us his law for our instruction, 0:14:21.750 --> 0:14:24.960 for our good, so that we can know what he 0:14:24.960 --> 0:14:28.290 expects of us and how he desires for us to 0:14:28.320 --> 0:14:32.970 live for him, particularly in light of the coming of 0:14:32.970 --> 0:14:35.910 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who fulfilled all the 0:14:35.910 --> 0:14:39.480 law on our behalf. So that should bring us delight 0:14:39.480 --> 0:14:42.400 as our starting place. And then there's so much more 0:14:42.400 --> 0:14:46.000 in God's Word about his law that he intends for 0:14:46.000 --> 0:14:47.170 us to delight in. 0:14:47.200 --> 0:14:50.320 You write that Bible study is a holistic discipline that 0:14:50.320 --> 0:14:53.650 engages the heart and mind of the student, but also 0:14:53.650 --> 0:14:56.410 each person of the Trinity. Illustrate what you mean by this. 0:14:56.410 --> 0:14:59.140 All three members of the Trinity being involved. 0:14:59.170 --> 0:15:03.730 I think that in God's Word and in Bible study, 0:15:03.760 --> 0:15:06.550 the Holy Spirit is our guide. The Holy Spirit is 0:15:06.550 --> 0:15:10.720 our teacher. The Holy Spirit teaches us, leads us into 0:15:10.750 --> 0:15:14.770 all truth. And so we need God's Spirit to help 0:15:14.770 --> 0:15:18.400 us as we study His Word. And then when we're 0:15:18.400 --> 0:15:23.380 studying our Bibles, God Himself has illuminated His Word to us. 0:15:23.380 --> 0:15:27.489 He's given it to us. He has created all things 0:15:27.490 --> 0:15:32.560 so that we might live in loving obedience to him. 0:15:32.560 --> 0:15:35.620 And then Jesus Christ. As we study our Bibles, we 0:15:35.620 --> 0:15:39.250 want to know him. We want to know why God 0:15:39.250 --> 0:15:43.510 sent his son so that we could have new life 0:15:43.510 --> 0:15:46.390 in him. We want to know what Jesus has done 0:15:46.390 --> 0:15:50.770 on our behalf. So God the Father created us and 0:15:50.770 --> 0:15:54.040 created the world and everything in it. God the son 0:15:54.040 --> 0:15:56.710 was with God the Father in the beginning. We read 0:15:56.710 --> 0:16:00.640 in John chapter one and Jesus Christ is the one 0:16:00.640 --> 0:16:05.229 who all the scriptures are about. So our redemption is 0:16:05.230 --> 0:16:08.800 rooted in the person of Jesus, and then by His Spirit, 0:16:08.830 --> 0:16:11.500 God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit 0:16:11.530 --> 0:16:15.040 himself again is guiding us in all truth. It's helping 0:16:15.040 --> 0:16:18.100 our hearts to be open to even hearing the good 0:16:18.100 --> 0:16:21.100 news of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 0:16:21.100 --> 0:16:25.060 So we're studying our Bibles. We're studying about our one 0:16:25.060 --> 0:16:29.830 true God who is present with us in three persons 0:16:29.860 --> 0:16:32.170 the father, the son, and the spirit, so that we 0:16:32.170 --> 0:16:35.200 might have the fullness of what God intends for us 0:16:35.200 --> 0:16:38.739 to know about him, and for how God intends to 0:16:38.800 --> 0:16:40.690 teach us through the word. 0:16:40.720 --> 0:16:43.330 Thanks for being a part of the land and the book. 0:16:43.330 --> 0:16:46.780 I'm John Gager. Talking today with Christy Anyabwile, who has 0:16:46.780 --> 0:16:49.960 written the Moody Publishers book Delighting in God's Law, A 0:16:49.960 --> 0:16:52.690 six week Bible Study. I have to ask, what's the 0:16:52.690 --> 0:16:56.620 biggest wow moment that God blessed you with as you 0:16:56.620 --> 0:16:59.920 worked on this book, pondering Old Testament commands and and 0:16:59.920 --> 0:17:01.300 why they matter today? 0:17:01.390 --> 0:17:03.760 You know the big wow moment for me. I'm a 0:17:03.760 --> 0:17:08.139 context girl, and so I do like digging around in 0:17:08.140 --> 0:17:12.730 the Bible and understanding the context of whatever passage it 0:17:12.730 --> 0:17:15.550 is that I'm studying. I'm one of those who like 0:17:15.550 --> 0:17:18.760 to chase the rabbit trails and those kinds of things. 0:17:18.760 --> 0:17:22.090 And so my big wow moment was in the very beginning, 0:17:22.090 --> 0:17:26.649 studying Genesis one. And I usually in the beginning of 0:17:26.650 --> 0:17:29.709 my Bible study, I spend some time thinking about the 0:17:29.710 --> 0:17:34.420 context of the passage. What happened before, what happened after, 0:17:34.420 --> 0:17:36.970 what are some other things that are going on historically 0:17:36.970 --> 0:17:39.580 and culturally at the time. But when you get to 0:17:39.609 --> 0:17:42.880 Genesis one, it's the beginning of the Bible. So I'm like, wait, 0:17:42.880 --> 0:17:45.850 there is no before. How do I know what happened before? 0:17:45.880 --> 0:17:49.000 And so the wow moment for me was spending some 0:17:49.000 --> 0:17:53.680 time in God's Word, considering what he says about all 0:17:53.710 --> 0:17:58.120 of the things that God was doing before the foundation 0:17:58.119 --> 0:18:02.800 of the world. And so having that context and understanding 0:18:02.800 --> 0:18:06.639 that even though Genesis one is the beginning of the Bible, 0:18:06.640 --> 0:18:10.630 it is not the beginning of God's work in creating 0:18:10.630 --> 0:18:14.379 us and having us in mind and in having plans 0:18:14.380 --> 0:18:17.410 for us, even from before the foundation of the world. 0:18:17.440 --> 0:18:19.659 I like the way you have laid out each week's 0:18:19.660 --> 0:18:23.949 study five different parts. Day one is content of the passage. 0:18:23.980 --> 0:18:27.669 Day two command of the text. Day three clues about 0:18:27.670 --> 0:18:30.580 Christ and other parts of Scripture. Day four carry the 0:18:30.580 --> 0:18:33.760 text with you and day five contribution to the law. 0:18:33.790 --> 0:18:37.900 Choose one of those facets that is particularly meaningful to you, 0:18:37.900 --> 0:18:40.480 or maybe that you've heard some great response from others 0:18:40.480 --> 0:18:42.879 as they've gone through this six week Bible study. 0:18:42.910 --> 0:18:46.570 One of the things about this study that I found 0:18:46.570 --> 0:18:50.920 personally helpful and fulfilling, and as I've engaged with people 0:18:50.920 --> 0:18:54.130 who have gone through this study that they found helpful 0:18:54.130 --> 0:18:57.310 as well, is that day three clues about Christ and 0:18:57.310 --> 0:19:00.790 other parts of Scripture. I think sometimes when we think 0:19:00.790 --> 0:19:04.540 about the law, we think about it disconnected from the 0:19:04.540 --> 0:19:08.830 life and work and person of Jesus Christ. And so 0:19:08.830 --> 0:19:12.129 knowing that all of Scripture the Bible tells us, even 0:19:12.130 --> 0:19:14.770 Jesus himself says in Luke 24, when he was on 0:19:14.800 --> 0:19:18.040 the Emmaus Road and the guys were on the road 0:19:18.070 --> 0:19:21.430 talking about all that they had seen and heard about Jesus, 0:19:21.430 --> 0:19:23.590 and then Jesus shows up and they don't know that 0:19:23.590 --> 0:19:26.500 it's him. And he tells them, even on the Emmaus road, 0:19:26.500 --> 0:19:30.879 that everything written in the law, the books of Moses 0:19:30.880 --> 0:19:33.969 and in the prophets and in the writings, the wisdom 0:19:33.970 --> 0:19:36.580 literature and poetry and those kinds of things. All of 0:19:36.609 --> 0:19:40.390 that is about him. And so Jesus explained to them 0:19:40.390 --> 0:19:43.330 how all of Scripture was about him. And so I 0:19:43.330 --> 0:19:47.140 think that day three is really a pivotal point in 0:19:47.140 --> 0:19:51.910 the study, because it shows us how a particular passage 0:19:51.910 --> 0:19:57.939 legitimately relates to Jesus's life, death, and resurrection in very 0:19:57.940 --> 0:20:01.540 specific and meaningful ways that help us to know a 0:20:01.540 --> 0:20:06.430 part of that big, redemptive, grand narrative of Scripture where 0:20:06.430 --> 0:20:09.730 we are and how it looks forward to Jesus, or 0:20:09.730 --> 0:20:13.060 how it speaks about Jesus in some specific way. So 0:20:13.060 --> 0:20:16.570 we want to look not only at the passage that's 0:20:16.570 --> 0:20:20.740 being considered for that particular week, but also other passages 0:20:20.740 --> 0:20:25.419 in Scripture, too, that connect us to larger biblical themes 0:20:25.420 --> 0:20:29.260 and that connect us to larger themes that help us 0:20:29.260 --> 0:20:32.109 to understand our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 0:20:32.140 --> 0:20:34.900 Just joining us, this is the land and the book. 0:20:34.900 --> 0:20:38.830 I'm John Gager. Our guest today, Christie Anyabwile, who has 0:20:38.830 --> 0:20:42.340 written the Moody Publishers six week Bible study, Delighting in 0:20:42.340 --> 0:20:45.609 God's Law. Christie, just to make it simple for simple 0:20:45.609 --> 0:20:47.350 minds like mine, it seems to me that what you're 0:20:47.350 --> 0:20:51.040 really saying is, the reason that we delight in God's 0:20:51.040 --> 0:20:54.640 law is because it points us to Jesus, reminds us 0:20:54.640 --> 0:20:58.899 of Jesus, reveals something about Jesus. That's why it ought 0:20:58.900 --> 0:21:01.090 to matter to us. Is that is that a fair assessment? 0:21:01.180 --> 0:21:04.810 That is 100% a fair assessment. When we read about 0:21:04.810 --> 0:21:07.419 even you think about the Psalms, when it talks about 0:21:07.420 --> 0:21:11.440 the word and the law and precepts and other terms 0:21:11.440 --> 0:21:14.170 like that, that relate to the Word of God. The 0:21:14.170 --> 0:21:20.410 law isn't just rules and commandments and instruction, but the 0:21:20.410 --> 0:21:24.850 law has been embodied in a person. And so when 0:21:24.850 --> 0:21:27.490 we read our Bibles, the first five books of the Bible, 0:21:27.520 --> 0:21:32.080 the Pentateuch, that is the law given God's instructions and 0:21:32.140 --> 0:21:35.440 Expectations given that's the foundation, and then the whole rest 0:21:35.440 --> 0:21:39.460 of the Bible is unfolding for us what God expects 0:21:39.460 --> 0:21:41.709 of his people. And we know through the story of 0:21:41.710 --> 0:21:44.889 Scripture that God's people don't always respond very well to 0:21:44.920 --> 0:21:48.430 his instructions. And so we see over and over again 0:21:48.460 --> 0:21:53.290 the prophets and the wisdom literature writers pointing us back 0:21:53.290 --> 0:21:55.359 to the Lord, saying, remember what God said, remember what 0:21:55.390 --> 0:21:58.179 God said. And then we get to the New Testament. 0:21:58.180 --> 0:22:02.859 We see God's law embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. 0:22:02.859 --> 0:22:06.280 And so, yes, we should delight in God's law because 0:22:06.280 --> 0:22:10.810 it's teaching us what God expects is showing us that 0:22:10.810 --> 0:22:14.080 we cannot fulfill God's law on our own, and is 0:22:14.080 --> 0:22:17.770 pointing us to the one who did to Jesus Christ, 0:22:17.800 --> 0:22:20.470 who is the fulfillment of the law, so that we 0:22:20.470 --> 0:22:25.690 no longer live a life of constantly striving to make 0:22:25.690 --> 0:22:28.540 our way to God, but that God has made his 0:22:28.570 --> 0:22:30.489 way to us through Christ. All right. 0:22:30.520 --> 0:22:32.780 Give us a favorite picture of Christ in the law. 0:22:32.810 --> 0:22:35.810 A snapshot from a passage in the Old Testament that 0:22:35.810 --> 0:22:38.030 really speaks to you. What comes to mind? 0:22:38.060 --> 0:22:41.000 It's going to be a weird one, so go for it. 0:22:41.240 --> 0:22:46.340 One of the passages that we study is Leviticus, and 0:22:46.340 --> 0:22:51.950 in particular Leviticus chapter 20. And in that chapter, it's 0:22:51.950 --> 0:22:55.490 a very dark chapter, and it talks about a lot 0:22:55.490 --> 0:22:59.540 of sins that are related to family and those kinds 0:22:59.540 --> 0:23:03.830 of things. And it warns us against sexual sins and 0:23:03.830 --> 0:23:06.230 those kinds of things. And so it's a really dark 0:23:06.230 --> 0:23:09.500 chapter in that sense. But over and over again, you 0:23:09.500 --> 0:23:14.780 read this refrain throughout Leviticus chapter 20, and the refrain 0:23:14.780 --> 0:23:18.050 would be something like, they shall be cut off. If 0:23:18.050 --> 0:23:20.869 you commit these sorts of sins, you will be cut off. 0:23:20.869 --> 0:23:24.560 If you commit these sorts of sins, your blood is 0:23:24.560 --> 0:23:27.980 upon you. If you commit these sorts of sins, then 0:23:27.980 --> 0:23:30.770 you will bear your iniquity. Inequity. And so as I 0:23:30.770 --> 0:23:35.840 read those refrains over and over again throughout. Leviticus 20, 0:23:35.869 --> 0:23:38.959 it just showed me a beautiful picture of Jesus. Yes. 0:23:38.990 --> 0:23:41.780 That it wasn't us who was cut off, but it 0:23:41.780 --> 0:23:45.109 was Jesus who was cut off on our behalf because 0:23:45.109 --> 0:23:49.370 of our sin, that our blood is not upon us 0:23:49.369 --> 0:23:54.530 because of Jesus, his blood. The Lord poured out Jesus's 0:23:54.530 --> 0:23:57.560 blood on our behalf. So the blood wasn't on us. 0:23:57.560 --> 0:24:01.340 It was Jesus's blood that was shed. And then they 0:24:01.340 --> 0:24:04.760 shall bear their iniquity. It wasn't us who have to 0:24:04.790 --> 0:24:09.320 bear our iniquity, but Jesus bore our iniquities in our place. 0:24:09.320 --> 0:24:12.380 And so as I read Leviticus 20, what really stood 0:24:12.380 --> 0:24:16.129 out to me in that chapter was that Jesus is 0:24:16.130 --> 0:24:20.090 our substitute. He has paid the penalty for all of 0:24:20.090 --> 0:24:24.889 our sins, and it was through him that atonement is made. 0:24:24.890 --> 0:24:28.969 The wrong was made right through Jesus. And so the 0:24:28.970 --> 0:24:32.359 cutting off the blood being upon them, the bearing of iniquity, 0:24:32.390 --> 0:24:37.070 teaches us, yes, that sin has consequences, that it requires 0:24:37.100 --> 0:24:39.859 a payment through the shedding of blood and through the 0:24:39.859 --> 0:24:44.030 separation of God from people. But again, in this passage, 0:24:44.030 --> 0:24:48.260 it taught me a lot about the sacrifice of Christ, 0:24:48.260 --> 0:24:50.390 that his blood was shed in the place of ours, 0:24:50.390 --> 0:24:53.720 that he took our sins or iniquities upon himself, that 0:24:53.720 --> 0:24:55.609 he was cut off from God on the cross, so 0:24:55.609 --> 0:24:58.970 that we wouldn't have to be cut off from God eternally. 0:24:58.970 --> 0:25:01.520 And all of this was so that we would be 0:25:01.520 --> 0:25:04.699 the holy people that God called us to be, that 0:25:04.700 --> 0:25:08.810 we might die to sin and live righteously before God, 0:25:08.810 --> 0:25:13.340 and that we would be able to eagerly await to 0:25:13.369 --> 0:25:19.640 receive eternal inheritance. Because we have been found righteous before God, 0:25:19.640 --> 0:25:22.790 we have been made righteous before God through Christ. 0:25:23.090 --> 0:25:26.600 Well, you can sense the excitement and enthusiasm in Christie's voice, 0:25:26.600 --> 0:25:29.090 and this is the kind of journey and experience that 0:25:29.090 --> 0:25:32.780 will be yours as you dig into delighting in God's law. 0:25:32.780 --> 0:25:35.630 From Moody Publishers, a six week Bible study, a link 0:25:35.630 --> 0:25:38.119 to that book at our website, the land and the 0:25:38.150 --> 0:25:42.410 book org. We love your passion, Christie. Thank you for 0:25:42.410 --> 0:25:44.690 your time and your insights. You're a blast. 0:25:44.690 --> 0:25:47.210 Thank you so much. Oh, it was so much fun. 0:25:47.210 --> 0:25:48.710 Thank you so much. All right. 0:25:48.740 --> 0:25:50.810 There's more fun to come, though, as Charlie steps back 0:25:50.810 --> 0:25:53.750 into the studio to answer your Bible questions. Next here 0:25:53.750 --> 0:26:07.820 on the land and the book. It's always a great 0:26:07.820 --> 0:26:09.800 day to connect with you here at The Land and 0:26:09.800 --> 0:26:12.740 the book. I'm John Gager with our host, Charlie Dyer. 0:26:12.740 --> 0:26:15.470 And Charlie, for somebody who is maybe newer to the program, 0:26:15.470 --> 0:26:17.419 what is this third segment all about? 0:26:17.450 --> 0:26:19.490 This is our question and answer time. If you've got 0:26:19.490 --> 0:26:23.000 questions as you're reading through the Bible, send us the question. 0:26:23.000 --> 0:26:25.640 Send us what's bothering you, what you don't understand, and 0:26:25.640 --> 0:26:27.140 we'll try and get an answer to you. 0:26:27.170 --> 0:26:30.080 And those questions get to us via email. Send yours 0:26:30.109 --> 0:26:35.720 to the land and the book@moody.edu. Well, Charlie Israel has 0:26:35.720 --> 0:26:38.419 been in the news so much over this past year 0:26:38.420 --> 0:26:40.490 and as we know, the Bible is jammed with end 0:26:40.490 --> 0:26:44.510 times prophecies about epic world events, the regathering of the 0:26:44.510 --> 0:26:48.200 Jewish people to their ancient homeland, and of course, Jesus return. 0:26:48.200 --> 0:26:50.570 And it is crucial for us as believers to have 0:26:50.570 --> 0:26:53.780 a proper understanding of Bible prophecy. So our view of 0:26:53.780 --> 0:26:57.740 the future is shaped by Scripture and not just today's headlines. Right? 0:26:57.770 --> 0:27:00.200 Absolutely. And with that in mind, our friends at Life 0:27:00.200 --> 0:27:03.860 and Messiah have published a book titled God, Israel and 0:27:03.859 --> 0:27:06.560 Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners of the 0:27:06.560 --> 0:27:09.680 land in the book for a limited time. This informative 0:27:09.710 --> 0:27:13.280 book is focused on providing readers with a deeper understanding 0:27:13.280 --> 0:27:16.490 and greater appreciation of what God has in store for 0:27:16.490 --> 0:27:19.760 Israel and the nations by digging into what the scriptures 0:27:19.760 --> 0:27:22.669 say about these issues. Now, if you're interested in learning 0:27:22.670 --> 0:27:26.510 more about what God has in store, Visit Life in Messiah. 0:27:26.810 --> 0:27:29.209 Org and click on the Moody Radio button there to 0:27:29.240 --> 0:27:32.899 find out how you can receive your copy of God, 0:27:32.930 --> 0:27:37.970 Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 0:27:38.000 --> 0:27:40.790 So many questions to get to. Let's dig right in 0:27:40.790 --> 0:27:43.880 with this one from Lois. Does the promised return and 0:27:43.880 --> 0:27:48.649 blessing of Israel, described in Ezekiel 11, verses 14 through 21, 0:27:48.650 --> 0:27:51.560 refer to the times in which we are now living? 0:27:51.590 --> 0:27:54.650 Yeah, well, I take the promise. Physical and spiritual restoration 0:27:54.650 --> 0:27:58.369 described there to refer to Israel's still future restoration at 0:27:58.369 --> 0:28:01.070 the time of Jesus Second coming. And I say that 0:28:01.070 --> 0:28:04.010 for several reasons. First, God says the people will not 0:28:04.010 --> 0:28:06.680 only be regathered back to the land, but that he'll 0:28:06.680 --> 0:28:09.410 also give them an undivided heart and put a new 0:28:09.410 --> 0:28:12.410 spirit in them. Well, this restoration, then, is both physical 0:28:12.410 --> 0:28:16.790 and spiritual. And second, God later uses those same words 0:28:16.790 --> 0:28:20.480 in both Ezekiel and in Jeremiah to help identify when 0:28:20.480 --> 0:28:24.410 the new relationship will take place in Ezekiel 36. God 0:28:24.410 --> 0:28:26.300 describes it as a time when he'll give you a 0:28:26.300 --> 0:28:28.609 new heart and put a new spirit in you, and 0:28:28.609 --> 0:28:30.650 remove from you your heart of stone and give you 0:28:30.650 --> 0:28:33.320 a heart of flesh. That wording parallels what he said 0:28:33.320 --> 0:28:36.650 in chapter 11, and Jeremiah's description of the New Covenant 0:28:36.650 --> 0:28:39.530 in Jeremiah 31 says the same thing. Now I say 0:28:39.530 --> 0:28:41.690 all of that to say this, I believe the promise 0:28:41.690 --> 0:28:45.020 given by God in Ezekiel 11 is an early description 0:28:45.020 --> 0:28:48.230 of the New Covenant promise that's later presented in Ezekiel 0:28:48.260 --> 0:28:51.890 36 and Jeremiah 31. And I think it will ultimately 0:28:51.890 --> 0:28:54.770 be fulfilled when the Jewish people, as Zechariah says, it, 0:28:54.770 --> 0:28:56.750 will look on me, the one they pierced, and will 0:28:56.780 --> 0:28:59.630 mourn as one mourns for an only child. That then 0:28:59.630 --> 0:29:03.080 followed in Zechariah 13 by God opening up a fountain 0:29:03.080 --> 0:29:05.750 to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem 0:29:05.750 --> 0:29:08.810 to cleanse them from sin and impurity. It's also the 0:29:08.810 --> 0:29:12.170 same time Paul describes in Romans chapter 11, where he 0:29:12.170 --> 0:29:14.780 pictures God applying the new covenant to the remnant of 0:29:14.780 --> 0:29:17.959 Israel to forgive them of their sins. And Paul connects 0:29:17.960 --> 0:29:20.690 that to the time he says, when the deliverer, Jesus, 0:29:20.690 --> 0:29:22.220 will come from Zion. 0:29:22.290 --> 0:29:25.110 John asks, what did Paul specifically mean when he was 0:29:25.110 --> 0:29:28.950 going to hand over Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan? Were 0:29:28.950 --> 0:29:33.030 they unbelievers or believers in rebellion? Since Paul states that 0:29:33.030 --> 0:29:35.910 they were shipwrecked in regard to their faith and needed 0:29:35.910 --> 0:29:37.830 to be taught not to blaspheme? 0:29:38.010 --> 0:29:41.370 Well, I take it that Hymenaeus and Alexander were believers 0:29:41.370 --> 0:29:44.250 who had turned aside and embraced some kind of a 0:29:44.250 --> 0:29:47.640 false teaching or doctrine. And again, I see that first 0:29:47.640 --> 0:29:51.030 in first Timothy one nine, just before this verse, Paul 0:29:51.030 --> 0:29:54.330 says they had shipwrecked their faith. Though that suggests they 0:29:54.330 --> 0:29:58.290 had faith prior to developing this false teaching or new view. 0:29:58.290 --> 0:30:01.800 And second, Jiménez is named again by Paul in second 0:30:01.830 --> 0:30:05.610 Timothy 217 as someone whose false teaching would spread and 0:30:05.610 --> 0:30:09.690 corrupt like gangrene. He says. Verse 18. There then describes 0:30:09.690 --> 0:30:12.180 the false teaching he'd adopted, and it sounds like an 0:30:12.180 --> 0:30:16.980 early form of Gnosticism that denied the physical bodily resurrection. 0:30:17.130 --> 0:30:20.460 So Alexander then is not mentioned again later, which either 0:30:20.460 --> 0:30:22.640 means he may have repented or may have died in 0:30:22.640 --> 0:30:26.120 the intervening time between first and second Timothy. Now, when 0:30:26.120 --> 0:30:28.220 Paul hands the two men over to Satan to be 0:30:28.220 --> 0:30:31.670 taught not to blaspheme, I take that to mean he's commanding, 0:30:31.670 --> 0:30:34.459 that they be excommunicated from fellowship in the church in 0:30:34.460 --> 0:30:38.150 Ephesus to be fully exposed to satanic attack. Now, in 0:30:38.180 --> 0:30:41.300 that sense, I see their judgment as being similar to 0:30:41.330 --> 0:30:44.540 the one Paul handed down on the immoral brother in 0:30:44.570 --> 0:30:47.450 first Corinthians five. There the man was guilty of gross 0:30:47.480 --> 0:30:50.600 immorality and was to be handed over to Satan so 0:30:50.600 --> 0:30:53.090 that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit 0:30:53.120 --> 0:30:55.700 saved on the day of the Lord. Now, in both cases, 0:30:55.700 --> 0:30:58.940 I see this being more a form of extreme discipline 0:30:58.940 --> 0:31:01.130 of a believer. So as a result, I do see 0:31:01.130 --> 0:31:03.500 them as believers and not unbelievers. 0:31:03.500 --> 0:31:06.110 From Moody Radio. This is the land and the book. 0:31:06.110 --> 0:31:09.380 Doctor Charlie Dyer, our host, answering questions that have come 0:31:09.380 --> 0:31:14.090 in via our email address, the land and the book@moody.edu. 0:31:14.120 --> 0:31:17.330 Jared asks, what about the issue of the Holy Spirit 0:31:17.330 --> 0:31:20.720 acting through the human Jesus? I've recently come across a 0:31:20.720 --> 0:31:23.630 teacher who says that all of Jesus miracles were not 0:31:23.630 --> 0:31:27.380 involving his deity, but the Holy Spirit acting through the 0:31:27.380 --> 0:31:30.500 human Jesus. And the rationale is to argue that Jesus 0:31:30.500 --> 0:31:33.410 human nature was limited as ours is, and we have 0:31:33.410 --> 0:31:36.410 the same power. But I think there's plenty of evidence 0:31:36.410 --> 0:31:39.500 that Jesus deity was active. I'd appreciate your thoughts. 0:31:39.530 --> 0:31:42.260 Yeah, and I think your instincts are right on target. 0:31:42.260 --> 0:31:45.170 I see several dangerous flaws in the argument that teacher 0:31:45.170 --> 0:31:47.690 was trying to make. First, he's wrong in saying that 0:31:47.690 --> 0:31:50.990 all Jesus's miracles were just the Holy Spirit acting through 0:31:50.990 --> 0:31:54.080 the human Jesus. I'll just give one example the healing 0:31:54.110 --> 0:31:57.170 of the paralyzed man in Matthew nine. The miracle was 0:31:57.170 --> 0:32:01.580 performed to demonstrate Jesus had the power to forgive sin. Second, 0:32:01.610 --> 0:32:03.950 the passage also says Jesus knew the thoughts of the 0:32:03.950 --> 0:32:07.910 teachers who had complained. The miracle was intended to physically 0:32:07.910 --> 0:32:10.940 validate the truth, that Jesus had the power to forgive 0:32:10.970 --> 0:32:14.000 sin and that he was omniscient. So the miracle actually 0:32:14.000 --> 0:32:18.170 demonstrated his deity. Uh, one other example. In John chapter 20, 0:32:18.200 --> 0:32:21.440 The Apostle John says the purpose of Jesus signs, which 0:32:21.470 --> 0:32:24.050 is what he calls the miracles, was to demonstrate that 0:32:24.050 --> 0:32:27.170 Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. It 0:32:27.170 --> 0:32:29.630 wasn't to show that he was merely human and empowered 0:32:29.630 --> 0:32:32.840 by the Holy Spirit. Again, the miracles were intended to 0:32:32.840 --> 0:32:34.970 be evidence of his deity. 0:32:35.030 --> 0:32:38.480 Question here from Vernon. Throughout the Old Testament, God calls 0:32:38.480 --> 0:32:41.720 his people to be holy and separate from the surrounding nations, 0:32:41.720 --> 0:32:44.900 and they would disobey and fall into sin and a 0:32:44.900 --> 0:32:48.320 promise for a future restoration. Well, with that said, how 0:32:48.320 --> 0:32:51.020 does the Holocaust fit into God's plan for the Jews? 0:32:51.050 --> 0:32:53.600 I don't believe there's any scriptural prophecy that speaks to 0:32:53.630 --> 0:32:57.230 this event, or explains the purpose for it taking place. 0:32:57.260 --> 0:32:58.040 What do you say? 0:32:58.070 --> 0:33:00.530 Yeah, I need to start by saying we're not told 0:33:00.530 --> 0:33:04.010 specifically why God allowed the Holocaust, or how it fits 0:33:04.010 --> 0:33:07.070 into his overall plan for his people. The event was 0:33:07.070 --> 0:33:09.770 not prophesied in Scripture. As a result, I want to 0:33:09.770 --> 0:33:12.320 make sure I don't trivialize the horror of that event 0:33:12.320 --> 0:33:15.650 by somehow trying to provide a simplistic answer to a 0:33:15.650 --> 0:33:19.770 very terrible time. the Holocaust displayed the reality of humanity's 0:33:19.770 --> 0:33:23.250 capacity for evil, and I think the real Satanic roots 0:33:23.250 --> 0:33:26.940 of anti-Semitism. God permitted it to happen, but he in 0:33:26.940 --> 0:33:29.430 no way approved of that evil. Now, having said that, 0:33:29.460 --> 0:33:32.790 there is one possible reason God allowed the Holocaust to 0:33:32.820 --> 0:33:36.090 take place. It's possible that as only God can do, 0:33:36.120 --> 0:33:39.480 he worked to bring good out of evil. The Holocaust 0:33:39.480 --> 0:33:42.090 was the impetus that finally brought about the establishment of 0:33:42.090 --> 0:33:45.570 the State of Israel in 1948. Promises have been made 0:33:45.570 --> 0:33:48.480 to the Jewish people during World War One that had 0:33:48.480 --> 0:33:51.960 remained unfulfilled, and it took the Holocaust to energize both 0:33:51.960 --> 0:33:54.810 the governments of the world and the Jewish survivors to 0:33:54.840 --> 0:33:59.520 realize the importance of reestablishing Israel. That was a good result, 0:33:59.520 --> 0:34:03.270 but it in no way excuses those who instigated such evil. 0:34:03.270 --> 0:34:05.640 And perhaps the words of Joseph to his brothers in 0:34:05.640 --> 0:34:08.640 Genesis 50 can help us, maybe in some small way, 0:34:08.640 --> 0:34:11.219 to put the event into a larger perspective. You remember 0:34:11.219 --> 0:34:14.670 Joseph said there, you intended to harm me, but God 0:34:14.670 --> 0:34:18.000 intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, 0:34:18.030 --> 0:34:19.800 the saving of many lives. 0:34:19.800 --> 0:34:22.739 Sally points out. The Bible says that some of King 0:34:22.739 --> 0:34:26.700 David's sons were close advisors to him. Scripture also says 0:34:26.700 --> 0:34:29.040 that David had a son named Nathan. Do you think 0:34:29.040 --> 0:34:33.270 it was this son, Nathan, who confronted David regarding Bathsheba? 0:34:33.300 --> 0:34:34.200 Your thoughts? 0:34:34.230 --> 0:34:37.020 Yeah, well, the Nathan who confronted David over his sin 0:34:37.020 --> 0:34:40.650 with Bathsheba wasn't the Nathan who was David's son. And 0:34:40.650 --> 0:34:43.290 I can say that because of First Chronicles chapter three, 0:34:43.290 --> 0:34:46.380 that section lists the four sons of David who were 0:34:46.380 --> 0:34:50.640 born to Bathsheba, and it includes both Nathan and Solomon. Well, 0:34:50.640 --> 0:34:52.560 the first child born as a result of David's sin 0:34:52.560 --> 0:34:55.980 with Bathsheba died after seven days. David then again went 0:34:55.980 --> 0:34:58.859 into Bathsheba and the next child born was Solomon. So 0:34:58.860 --> 0:35:02.280 Solomon was the oldest living child of Bathsheba. Well, since 0:35:02.280 --> 0:35:04.920 Nathan the prophet came to David at the time of 0:35:04.920 --> 0:35:07.710 his adultery with Bathsheba, he had to be a different 0:35:07.739 --> 0:35:10.440 Nathan than the one who was later born to Bathsheba. 0:35:10.469 --> 0:35:12.900 Sally's follow up here. So do you think that Nathan 0:35:12.900 --> 0:35:15.010 was the name of the child that was conceived in 0:35:15.010 --> 0:35:16.540 sin and then died. 0:35:16.570 --> 0:35:19.270 You know, it's at least theoretically possible that's the name 0:35:19.270 --> 0:35:22.360 of the child. But I personally don't think that's the case. 0:35:22.390 --> 0:35:26.439 In later Jewish tradition, children weren't named until the time 0:35:26.440 --> 0:35:29.020 of their circumcision, which took place at the eighth day 0:35:29.020 --> 0:35:32.080 after birth. We see that in Luke chapter one, when 0:35:32.110 --> 0:35:34.990 the family gathered and they gave the name John for 0:35:34.989 --> 0:35:38.170 the child of Zechariah and Elizabeth. And then in chapter 0:35:38.170 --> 0:35:40.390 two of Luke it says, the eighth day when it 0:35:40.390 --> 0:35:43.900 was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus. Now 0:35:43.930 --> 0:35:46.870 those took place hundreds of years after the time of David. 0:35:46.870 --> 0:35:49.630 But they do seem to be grounded in Jewish tradition. 0:35:49.630 --> 0:35:52.060 And I think that could be important, because in Second 0:35:52.060 --> 0:35:54.759 Samuel it says that that first child born to David 0:35:54.760 --> 0:35:58.090 and Bathsheba died on the seventh day, which would be 0:35:58.090 --> 0:36:01.509 the day before he would have been circumcised and possibly named. 0:36:01.510 --> 0:36:03.759 So as a result, I don't think that baby is 0:36:03.760 --> 0:36:05.350 the one that was named Nathan. 0:36:05.380 --> 0:36:08.290 Todd asks, have you heard the theory that Jesus was 0:36:08.290 --> 0:36:11.200 crucified on the Mount of Olives? Can you address this theory? 0:36:11.230 --> 0:36:13.350 Yeah, I've heard the theory. I'm aware of those who 0:36:13.350 --> 0:36:15.810 promote it. The problem is to make their theory work. 0:36:15.840 --> 0:36:19.140 They ignore all the information that shows that the temple 0:36:19.140 --> 0:36:22.469 was actually on Mount Moriah, and if the temple was 0:36:22.469 --> 0:36:25.320 on Mount Moriah, their position doesn't seem to work. I 0:36:25.320 --> 0:36:27.360 have a friend named Gordon Franz who wrote an article 0:36:27.360 --> 0:36:32.310 on that. If you're interested, Google Gordon, Franz, Franz and 0:36:32.310 --> 0:36:35.219 location of temple and you'll get a great article explaining 0:36:35.219 --> 0:36:35.880 the problem. 0:36:36.000 --> 0:36:37.830 I love the variety of questions that have come in 0:36:37.830 --> 0:36:40.379 this week. As always, you can send yours to the 0:36:40.380 --> 0:36:45.000 land and the book@moody.edu. Hey, there's more to the program. 0:36:45.030 --> 0:36:47.489 Charlie Dyer's devotional is next. I love the way he 0:36:47.489 --> 0:36:49.890 takes us to a place in Scripture, a place in 0:36:49.890 --> 0:36:52.890 the Holy Land and welds them together. That's next on 0:36:52.890 --> 0:37:08.190 the land and the book. Thanks for being with us 0:37:08.190 --> 0:37:10.350 here at the land of the book, John Geiger asking, 0:37:10.350 --> 0:37:14.069 have you heard enough about the election yet? Yeah. You 0:37:14.070 --> 0:37:16.440 know what? I can hear you from wherever you're listening 0:37:16.440 --> 0:37:19.200 right now. You're sick of hearing about the election, I 0:37:19.200 --> 0:37:22.020 get it, but, Charlie, you're talking about a different kind 0:37:22.020 --> 0:37:23.190 of election today. 0:37:23.219 --> 0:37:25.650 I am John, we're going to talk about the election. 0:37:25.650 --> 0:37:27.960 That's the subject of Charlie's devotional. He's going to take 0:37:27.960 --> 0:37:30.960 us to Joshua chapter 24. I'm getting ahead of myself 0:37:30.960 --> 0:37:32.880 because right now we're going to pause you and me 0:37:32.880 --> 0:37:35.760 and listen to this Holy Land experience. 0:37:39.510 --> 0:37:45.390 Hi, this is Charlene Hutchinson. When I visited Israel, I 0:37:45.390 --> 0:37:48.930 went with some people from church, and we had a 0:37:48.930 --> 0:37:52.980 wonderful trip. And it was a gift from the Lord 0:37:52.980 --> 0:37:55.980 to me and my son. We had not been able 0:37:55.980 --> 0:38:00.239 to take a vacation for several years, and my husband had, um, 0:38:00.270 --> 0:38:04.980 left me. And so we had been given this gift 0:38:05.010 --> 0:38:09.060 to be in Israel and really get close to the Lord. 0:38:09.060 --> 0:38:13.830 And my son, uh, had decided to get baptized in Israel. 0:38:13.860 --> 0:38:17.610 He had not been baptized in water at all, and 0:38:17.610 --> 0:38:19.890 he had been saved since he was eight years old. 0:38:19.980 --> 0:38:23.100 And every time someone was baptized at church, I would 0:38:23.100 --> 0:38:25.950 talk to him and say, did you want to consider? 0:38:25.980 --> 0:38:28.920 Would you like to have a baptism? And he'd said, no. 0:38:28.920 --> 0:38:33.480 And so before we left, he talked to me and said, mom, 0:38:33.480 --> 0:38:38.310 I want to get baptized where Jesus was baptized. So 0:38:38.310 --> 0:38:41.520 it was such a blessing, um, to see him get 0:38:41.520 --> 0:38:45.960 baptized in Israel. And that was a true experience and 0:38:45.989 --> 0:38:49.590 a blessing to be there and watch my son make 0:38:49.590 --> 0:38:53.339 that decision. And I was just thank the Lord that 0:38:53.340 --> 0:38:55.290 I was able to be there and my son was 0:38:55.290 --> 0:38:58.830 baptized there. Thank you for taking my message. 0:39:00.450 --> 0:39:03.120 All right, Charlie, I'm looking for a breather, a break 0:39:03.120 --> 0:39:05.490 from our current election. So take it away. 0:39:05.520 --> 0:39:08.640 Okay, John. Thanks. I remember when I first arrived in 0:39:08.640 --> 0:39:11.190 Chicago in the summer of 2000, in the midst of 0:39:11.190 --> 0:39:14.610 what was another bitter presidential contest. That was the first 0:39:14.610 --> 0:39:17.640 time I ever heard the expression vote early and vote 0:39:17.640 --> 0:39:21.180 often suggesting that past elections in the Windy City weren't 0:39:21.180 --> 0:39:24.420 always as free and fair as I might have assumed. Now, 0:39:24.420 --> 0:39:28.649 some link that phrase to former Chicago Mayor William Hale Thompson, 0:39:28.650 --> 0:39:31.860 who was supported by Al Capone. But the phrase was 0:39:31.860 --> 0:39:35.700 likely around long before their time with our upcoming election. 0:39:35.700 --> 0:39:37.680 As the background, I want to take you to what 0:39:37.680 --> 0:39:40.920 was perhaps the most unusual election in history. There was 0:39:40.920 --> 0:39:44.880 only one polling location. The campaign only lasted a single day, 0:39:44.880 --> 0:39:49.080 and the vote was unanimous. Sound intriguing? Well, then follow 0:39:49.080 --> 0:39:51.690 me to the city of Shechem, nestled in the valley 0:39:51.690 --> 0:39:54.480 between Mount Ebal to the north and Mount Gerizim to 0:39:54.510 --> 0:39:58.110 the south. Standing in this valley at Shechem is impressive. 0:39:58.140 --> 0:40:00.720 The nation of Israel had gathered at the same spot 0:40:00.719 --> 0:40:04.410 shortly after entering the land under Joshua. After building an 0:40:04.410 --> 0:40:06.630 altar on Mount Ebal, the group made their way down 0:40:06.630 --> 0:40:09.780 into the valley, and Joshua eight describes what happened next 0:40:09.780 --> 0:40:14.430 this way. All Israel, aliens and citizens alike, with their elders, 0:40:14.430 --> 0:40:17.580 officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the 0:40:17.580 --> 0:40:20.040 ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing those who 0:40:20.070 --> 0:40:23.100 carried it. The priests who were Levites, half of the 0:40:23.100 --> 0:40:25.710 people stood in front of Mount Gerizim, and half of 0:40:25.710 --> 0:40:29.100 them in front of Mount Ebal. As Moses, the servant 0:40:29.100 --> 0:40:31.890 of the Lord had formerly commanded them, when he gave 0:40:31.890 --> 0:40:35.700 instructions to bless the people of Israel. Afterward, Joshua read 0:40:35.700 --> 0:40:38.609 all the words of the law, the blessings, and the curses, 0:40:38.610 --> 0:40:41.219 just as it is written in the book of the law. 0:40:41.250 --> 0:40:43.920 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded, 0:40:43.920 --> 0:40:47.250 that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, 0:40:47.250 --> 0:40:50.370 including the women and children, and the aliens who lived 0:40:50.370 --> 0:40:53.819 among them. That first gathering at Shechem and the battles 0:40:53.820 --> 0:40:57.330 that followed are now a distant memory. The 80 something 0:40:57.360 --> 0:41:00.419 year old veteran who led Israel in its conquest is 0:41:00.420 --> 0:41:05.010 now 30 years older. At 110, Joshua is nearing the 0:41:05.010 --> 0:41:07.739 end of his life. At that time, a new generation 0:41:07.739 --> 0:41:10.860 had grown up, one that had no first hand recollection 0:41:10.860 --> 0:41:14.430 of Israel's slavery in Egypt or their wanderings in the wilderness. 0:41:14.460 --> 0:41:18.390 A generation that knew only the Promised Land, yet who 0:41:18.390 --> 0:41:21.510 still faced temptation to abandon the God of Israel by 0:41:21.510 --> 0:41:25.950 their idol worshipping neighbors. Joshua sensed the threat and summoned 0:41:25.980 --> 0:41:28.710 Israel one last time to call on them to make 0:41:28.710 --> 0:41:31.469 a decision. Standing here near the back of the crowd, 0:41:31.469 --> 0:41:35.400 we're still impressed by the strength of Joshua's voice. Though 0:41:35.430 --> 0:41:39.360 frail and stooped with age, Joshua continues to display a 0:41:39.360 --> 0:41:43.560 commanding presence. Today, he will serve as the campaign manager, 0:41:43.560 --> 0:41:46.979 poll watcher and vote counter for the upcoming election. Now 0:41:46.980 --> 0:41:50.730 let's watch what unfolds. We're impressed with the range of 0:41:50.730 --> 0:41:53.700 those assembled. In addition to normal Israelites who came to 0:41:53.730 --> 0:41:56.220 see what was happening, the site is crowded with all 0:41:56.219 --> 0:42:00.960 the dignitaries. Joshua had summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and 0:42:00.960 --> 0:42:05.370 officials of Israel. They've all come to present themselves before God. 0:42:05.400 --> 0:42:09.240 Joshua raises his hands and the crowd grows silent. Then 0:42:09.239 --> 0:42:13.260 he speaks, sharing God's message to the people. Long ago, 0:42:13.290 --> 0:42:17.069 your forefathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, 0:42:17.100 --> 0:42:21.270 lived beyond the river and worshiped other gods. Tracing his 0:42:21.270 --> 0:42:24.210 call from Abraham and Isaac through the ministry of Moses 0:42:24.210 --> 0:42:28.530 and Aaron, God has Joshua recount Israel's history, their dramatic 0:42:28.530 --> 0:42:32.010 deliverance from Egypt, their time in the wilderness, and their 0:42:32.010 --> 0:42:35.790 entrance into the Promised Land. The citizens of Jericho fought 0:42:35.790 --> 0:42:41.340 against you, as did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, 0:42:41.340 --> 0:42:45.210 and Jebusites. But I gave them over into your hands. 0:42:45.239 --> 0:42:47.910 God said, so I gave you a land on which 0:42:47.910 --> 0:42:51.060 you did not toil, and cities which you did not build, 0:42:51.060 --> 0:42:53.130 and you live in them, and eat from their vineyards 0:42:53.130 --> 0:42:57.240 and olive groves that you did not plant. Joshua's message 0:42:57.239 --> 0:43:00.150 is a history lesson for a generation that had not 0:43:00.150 --> 0:43:05.109 experienced all these miracles firsthand in an election campaign. Candidates, 0:43:05.110 --> 0:43:09.040 especially incumbents, will focus on the benefits that they've delivered, 0:43:09.040 --> 0:43:12.520 the success stories of their administration that make them worthy 0:43:12.520 --> 0:43:17.110 of re-election. But God's campaign speech through Joshua takes a 0:43:17.110 --> 0:43:21.010 much different tone. Rather than promising more goodies to entice 0:43:21.010 --> 0:43:24.399 the voters to vote for him, God instead challenges these 0:43:24.400 --> 0:43:27.219 voters to be as faithful to him as he has 0:43:27.250 --> 0:43:30.609 been to them. Now fear the Lord and serve him 0:43:30.610 --> 0:43:34.480 with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped 0:43:34.480 --> 0:43:38.260 beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 0:43:38.620 --> 0:43:41.980 That last phrase suggests that the people hadn't remained all 0:43:42.010 --> 0:43:44.710 that faithful to God. They were enjoying the land he 0:43:44.739 --> 0:43:47.080 had given them, but they were still clinging to the 0:43:47.080 --> 0:43:50.260 false idols and gods that had enticed them since the 0:43:50.260 --> 0:43:53.680 nation's days in Egypt and in their time in the wilderness. 0:43:53.710 --> 0:43:57.310 In reading Joshua's message and thinking about all the promises 0:43:57.310 --> 0:44:00.850 being made in the current election campaigns, I can summarize 0:44:00.850 --> 0:44:04.840 Joshua's campaign speech this way. Forget the rewards and the 0:44:04.840 --> 0:44:09.040 perks you hope to receive. Focus instead on the responsibilities 0:44:09.040 --> 0:44:13.299 and priorities you need to accept. Joshua then laid out 0:44:13.300 --> 0:44:16.569 the choices to be voted on in very direct terms. 0:44:16.870 --> 0:44:20.740 Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether 0:44:20.739 --> 0:44:23.860 the gods your forefathers served beyond the river, or the 0:44:23.890 --> 0:44:26.950 gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. 0:44:26.950 --> 0:44:30.279 But as for me and my household, we will serve 0:44:30.280 --> 0:44:34.209 the Lord. The choice facing Israel that day was very 0:44:34.210 --> 0:44:37.600 direct the God of Israel, or the gods of Egypt 0:44:37.600 --> 0:44:41.590 and the surrounding peoples. They couldn't vote early or vote often. 0:44:41.590 --> 0:44:45.069 This was intended as a straight up or down decision. 0:44:45.100 --> 0:44:47.890 Joshua left no doubt in their minds where he stood 0:44:47.890 --> 0:44:50.920 on the matter. He and his family had already chosen 0:44:50.920 --> 0:44:53.950 to serve the Lord. The people then voted and the 0:44:53.950 --> 0:44:57.670 results were unanimous. We will serve the Lord our God 0:44:57.670 --> 0:45:01.330 and obey him. Joshua made a covenant for the people 0:45:01.330 --> 0:45:03.759 and set up a large stone as a witness for them, 0:45:03.760 --> 0:45:07.150 a reminder that they had heard God's word and committed 0:45:07.150 --> 0:45:11.200 once again to follow it. The book of Joshua ends almost, 0:45:11.200 --> 0:45:15.070 it seems, quite suddenly. Joshua sent the people away, each 0:45:15.070 --> 0:45:18.520 to his inheritance. And after these things, Joshua, son of nun, 0:45:18.550 --> 0:45:21.969 the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. 0:45:22.060 --> 0:45:25.330 It seems obvious that Joshua saw this as the culmination 0:45:25.330 --> 0:45:28.480 of his life's work, his final challenge to the people 0:45:28.510 --> 0:45:32.230 before he passed off the scene. But was he successful? 0:45:32.260 --> 0:45:35.470 Or was this just a final, feeble attempt by an 0:45:35.469 --> 0:45:37.900 elderly man to try and hold back the tide of 0:45:37.900 --> 0:45:41.380 change as it rushed forward? Well, the Book of Joshua 0:45:41.380 --> 0:45:45.010 ends by suggesting that Joshua's final speech had a profound 0:45:45.010 --> 0:45:48.400 impact on the nation, at least for the next generation. 0:45:48.430 --> 0:45:52.210 Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and 0:45:52.239 --> 0:45:54.819 of the elders who outlived him, and who had experienced 0:45:54.820 --> 0:45:58.089 everything the Lord had done for Israel. So what does 0:45:58.090 --> 0:46:01.010 Joshua's final message have to do with you and with 0:46:01.010 --> 0:46:05.270 our upcoming election. Let me suggest this. The most important 0:46:05.270 --> 0:46:07.850 choice you can make this coming week is not who 0:46:07.850 --> 0:46:11.090 gets into the white House, or Congress, or the governor's mansion, 0:46:11.090 --> 0:46:14.570 or the state legislature. The most important choice you can 0:46:14.570 --> 0:46:17.330 make this week is to choose to serve the Lord 0:46:17.330 --> 0:46:21.049 with all your heart, and to study and obey His Word. 0:46:21.080 --> 0:46:24.020 Vote to put God first in your life, and to 0:46:24.050 --> 0:46:26.210 live in a way that will encourage others to follow 0:46:26.210 --> 0:46:29.870 him as well. Choose for yourselves this day whom you 0:46:29.870 --> 0:46:33.230 will serve. But as for me and my house, we 0:46:33.230 --> 0:46:34.820 will serve the Lord. 0:46:35.000 --> 0:46:38.089 By very, very practical. Thank you Charlie. Love that application. 0:46:38.090 --> 0:46:40.460 And yes, I do want to cast my vote to 0:46:40.489 --> 0:46:43.160 serve the Lord. Thank you for that devotional. You can 0:46:43.160 --> 0:46:45.620 hear it all again at our website, the land and 0:46:45.620 --> 0:46:48.859 the book org. Our time is gone, but we thank 0:46:48.890 --> 0:46:50.960 you for being a part of the land in the book, 0:46:50.989 --> 0:46:55.040 a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.