S1: Be honest. Have you ever skipped over or given up
S1: on a book of the Bible like, oh, let's say
S1: numbers or Leviticus? These laws, rules and rituals can be confusing,
S1: daunting even. But why did God include all these in
S1: the Bible? And what does he want us to learn
S1: from them today? You'll be surprised at what you discover
S1: as you join us. Now for the land and the book.
S1: Thanks for connecting today. I'm John Geiger, excited to be
S1: teaming up with our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, noted Israel expert.
S1: And as the end of this year approaches, many world
S1: events have left us wondering what God's plan is for
S1: the future. And that's particularly true when it comes to Israel.
S1: Despite its tiny size, people around the world are intensely
S1: focused on what takes place. There are today's headlines connected
S1: in any way with prophecies in the Bible. How should
S1: followers of Jesus interpret current events as we await his
S1: second coming?
S2: Yeah, those are great questions, John. And to help answer
S2: those important questions, our friends at Life and Messiah encourage
S2: you to check out their book, God, Israel and Bible
S2: Prophecy with Scripture as its foundation. This book will take
S2: you on a journey into what God has in store
S2: for the Jewish people and the nations. This book is
S2: for anyone who wants to explore where modern day events
S2: fit on God's grand timeline. Now, if that's you or
S2: someone you know, this would be a great resource or gift.
S2: Visit Life in Messiah org and click on the Moody
S2: Radio button to find out how you can receive your
S2: copy of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org.
S2: And if you.
S1: Happen to be a newer listener new to this program,
S1: why this opening segment? The first of four, by the way,
S1: brings us a look at current events from the Middle
S1: East region. Well, Charlie, early last Saturday, Israel finally launched
S1: its retaliatory strike against Iran in response to their October
S1: 1st missile attack. What do we know about the the
S1: effect of that strike so far? Could it lead to
S1: another round of attacks between the two countries? That would
S1: seem possible, but what's your take?
S2: Well, the strike was limited, but it was effective. The
S2: US pressured Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities or
S2: oil refineries. Those could have taken down Iran's economy, but
S2: would have demanded an Iranian response. And being so close
S2: to our elections, that's not something our government wanted. But
S2: the targets Israel did select were strategic by disabling Iran's
S2: air defenses. Israel gained greater freedom to attack throughout the country,
S2: and that could continue on into the future. They then
S2: crippled Iran's missile manufacturing production by destroying mixers used to
S2: make the solid fuel used in the rockets. It could
S2: take up to two years for Iran to repair the damage.
S2: Israel also hit a site that manufactured drones, which are
S2: on both used and exported to groups like Hezbollah and
S2: the Houthis. Israel deliberately tried to avoid civilian casualties and
S2: apparently attacked in a way that allows Iran to deny
S2: much was damaged. Apparently, the strike involved over 100 Israeli warplanes,
S2: all of which returned safely to Israel afterward. Now the
S2: big question is what will Iran do in response? Iran
S2: still has rockets stockpiled that it could use to launch
S2: a retaliatory strike. However, they also know any missiles used
S2: can't be replaced for several years. And in the meantime,
S2: Israel could freely retaliate by going after oil refineries, oil
S2: shipping facilities and power generating stations. That's why many believe
S2: Iran might hold off striking back in any direct way
S2: or significant way, and look for other means to hit
S2: back at Israel. Now, one last point. The Gulf states
S2: and other Arab countries condemned Israel for the attack, but
S2: this was more by way of protecting themselves against retaliation
S2: by Iran, rather than genuine concern over what Israel did.
S2: For the most part, they're more concerned about Iran's intentions
S2: in the region than they are about Israel's. So they
S2: said what needed to be said to protect themselves. But privately,
S2: they're likely breathing a sigh of relief over Israel's attack.
S1: Story number two while the conflict with Iran has dominated
S1: the news for several weeks, Israel's war against both Hamas
S1: and Hezbollah, as well as its fight against terrorists in
S1: the West Bank, also continue. What's been happening in these
S1: areas that the news might be overlooking? We haven't heard
S1: so much, Charlie.
S2: Yeah. Well, let me start in the north. Israel is
S2: continuing its assault on Hezbollah and its leaders after Hezbollah
S2: appointed its new leader just this week. Israel's defense minister
S2: posted his picture with the message temporary appointment. Not for long. Okay.
S2: Israel's soldiers discovered a massive Hezbollah base underneath a Lebanese
S2: village on their border. It had a subterranean area over
S2: a mile long that would have served as a staging
S2: area for hundreds of Hezbollah fighters. It was a definite
S2: reminder that Hezbollah had planned to do in the north
S2: what Hamas did in the south. Israel also attacked a
S2: shadow banking operation set up by Hezbollah to fund the
S2: organization and its operatives and their families. Now, while most
S2: normal banks don't keep a great deal of cash reserves
S2: on hand, Hezbollah kept a large portion of their assets
S2: in physical cash and gold. So Israel's attack on these
S2: bank branches was a serious financial blow. In Gaza, Israel
S2: continues to target Hamas terrorists, including individuals they've identified as
S2: leaders during the attack on October 7th. Israel discovered documents
S2: from Hamas seeking funds from Iran to train an additional
S2: 12,000 terrorists. They launched their attack, but they had plans
S2: to make an even larger attack at some point in
S2: the future in the West Bank. Israel continues to battle
S2: both Hamas and Islamic Jihad squads. Now, interestingly, the Palestinian
S2: Authority has also been trying to crack down on terror
S2: groups in some West Bank towns. Now they're not doing
S2: it to support Israel, but for their own survival. Since
S2: those terror groups want to take over the West Bank,
S2: the Palestinian Authority is trying to position itself as the
S2: group that should be in charge, not only in the
S2: West Bank, but in Gaza. Once Hamas is defeated, though,
S2: that seems rather uncertain since they're not trusted by Israel
S2: or by most Palestinians.
S1: You're listening to The Land and the book from Moody Radio.
S1: Our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Geiger. These are
S1: the stories that have been coming out of the Middle
S1: East this week. The arrival of November marks the beginning
S1: of the winter rainy season in the Middle East. Charlie,
S1: what impact will the weather have on all of these
S1: various conflicts going on?
S2: Yeah, the weather will impact the conflicts in at least
S2: two ways for those fighting, especially in the North. The
S2: biting cold, the rain, the snow and the mud could
S2: make conditions very difficult. We remember last year when we
S2: talked to Meno Kalisher, pastor of the Jerusalem Assembly, and
S2: last October, when the invasion took place, he got a
S2: call from his daughter because she was called up to
S2: serve on the border with Lebanon right about this time
S2: of year. Their entire unit didn't have winter coats. The
S2: church had to buy 220 winter jackets and rushed them
S2: up to the front. Well, this year Israeli forces are
S2: better equipped, but they're fighting inside Lebanon, so the weather
S2: will still take a toll on both soldiers and their equipment.
S2: But the second impact from the weather will be on
S2: civilians and actually from both sides. Houses have been destroyed,
S2: power lines downed, access to basic necessities like food and
S2: water disrupted. At the end of October, the region had
S2: already experienced some unusual weather conditions. A wind gusts up
S2: to 60 miles an hour were recorded on the Sea
S2: of Galilee, and the central part of Israel experienced the
S2: coldest October night in 33 years. This was accompanied by
S2: blowing dust from the east. Before the arrival of the
S2: coming winter weather, Hezbollah was using rockets and drones to
S2: start fires in heavily wooded areas in Israel, over 4000
S2: acres of forest land were destroyed. In one sense, the
S2: coming rain might make it harder on the soldiers, but
S2: it will help stop the fires and it will help
S2: replenish the Sea of Galilee, which currently stands about eight
S2: feet below the upper red line when it's full and
S2: six feet above the lower red line, which is when
S2: they're forced to stop pumping. So they do need the
S2: rain now, as weather moves through the area, it could
S2: bring about temporary lulls in the conflict. But absent a
S2: cease fire, Israel plans to keep pushing forward until it's
S2: able to bring about a peace for those living along
S2: its borders.
S1: Charlie, apart from the weather and its influence, is there
S1: any indication at all that Lebanon and those in control
S1: of Hezbollah would at last be saying, gee, maybe, you know,
S1: quietly to themselves, we should just pull back?
S2: They may be saying it quietly, but publicly. They're always saying, no, no,
S2: no peace with Israel, no agreement with Israel. Our goal
S2: is to destroy Israel. But there are negotiations going on
S2: quietly behind the scenes. And what I think we could
S2: hope is that they would happen. I think the end
S2: result would be that Hezbollah would be pushed north of
S2: the Litani River and out of those immediate border areas
S2: with Israel.
S1: And do you see any situation, any scenario in which
S1: Israel would agree to anything apart from that definition, that
S1: they must be north of the Litani River?
S2: I don't see him agreeing to anything other than that,
S2: but I think if that were offered, Israel would take
S2: it because they are war weary right now.
S1: Story number four the Ark of the covenant was on
S1: display in Jerusalem. Oh, no, not the one constructed by
S1: Moses in the wilderness, but a newly constructed replica. Tell
S1: us about this new ark and its purpose.
S2: Yeah. Thanks to the efforts of numerous volunteers and an
S2: anonymous architect and a major financial backer, along with over
S2: £80 of gold and acacia wood, an exact replica of
S2: the Ark now exists. The new Ark went on display
S2: at different locations in Jerusalem during Sukkot, including a platform
S2: overlooking the Temple Mount, Out. Though starting with the description
S2: in the Bible, much research was needed to. Determine exactly
S2: how the ark was constructed. For example, what was the
S2: purity of the. Gold? And they figured out what it
S2: was in Egypt at that time, and what was the
S2: level of torsion and load bearing required to support the
S2: structure's legs and poles and joints? Well, they did all
S2: of that research and saw the ark in the end
S2: as a communication device. Since God spoke to Moses from
S2: between the cherubim on the mercy seat. And because of that,
S2: they did take one bit of artistic license. They inscribed
S2: four scenes on the four sides of the ark the
S2: burning bush, the parting of the Red sea, the cloud
S2: and pillar of fire, and the giving of the Ten Commandments.
S2: But otherwise the final product appears to be breathtakingly beautiful
S2: and very accurate. Now, it's an interesting piece of historical construction,
S2: but I don't think we need to worry about being
S2: struck dead if we happen to see it. There's one
S2: piece missing, and that happens to be the Shekinah glory
S2: that dwelt between the cherubim.
S1: And that's a look at current events. It'd be interesting
S1: to see that Ark of the covenant. Thank you so
S1: much for that. Look at the news, Charlie, and I'm
S1: looking forward to a conversation next about delighting in God's law.
S1: That's all ahead on Moody Radio's The Land.
UU: And the book.
S1: Have you ever skipped over or given up on a
S1: book of the Bible like numbers or Leviticus? Come on,
S1: be honest. These laws and rules and rituals can be confusing,
S1: daunting even. I mean, why did God include all this
S1: in the Bible? What does he want us to learn
S1: from this today? These are important questions, and we'll get
S1: to them after we pause. First for an innovative idea
S1: on sharing Christ with a muslim friend. So you're having
S1: that Muslim friend or coworker or neighbor, and inevitably, there's
S1: this rather embarrassing thing that comes along with regard to
S1: the immorality that is going on in American culture. And
S1: of course, Muslims believe that America is a Christian nation,
S1: and therefore all the immorality they're seeing is a great
S1: disconnect between the Bible and what we pretend to believe.
S1: So my goodness, how do we deal with all of that?
S1: In a conversation with a muslim friend, Stefano Ferrer, with
S1: call of Hope, what do you say?
S3: Well, tell them that this is not Christianity, that what
S3: they see on television has nothing to do with your
S3: life and nothing to do with your faith, and nothing
S3: to do with what you believe. Tell them exactly what
S3: you just said, that this is culture and that this
S3: is not your belief. That's very important. Actually. You are
S3: right that that's crucial. Muslims are also into immoralities, but
S3: I would never talk to them about it. This is
S3: not the point. The point is that what they see
S3: in television has nothing to do with Christianity, and it
S3: has nothing to do with my personal life.
S1: Okay, so state the facts as they are. That's it.
S1: Point to.
S3: Jesus. Absolutely.
S1: And love them anyway.
S3: That's what you should do.
S1: Stefano Ferrer with call of Hope. Us always appreciate your
S1: insights here on the land and the book. Christie Anyabwile
S1: is a Bible teacher at Anacostia River church. She serves
S1: organizations that equip women to study and teach the Bible.
S1: Her writing can be found at Christianity Today. She reads
S1: the Gospel Coalition and more. She and her husband, Pastor
S1: Tim Beatty, have three kids and live in Washington, DC.
S1: Christie has written the Moody Publishers book we're focusing on today,
S1: delighting in God's Law. We are so grateful you joined
S1: us today on the land and the book.
S4: Christie, thank you so much for having me. It's great
S4: to be here. You know, a.
S1: Lot of people might look at the title of that
S1: book and slam on the brakes saying, what delight in
S1: God's law. What could you possibly mean? Isn't the law
S1: out of date and out of mind? What do you say?
S4: Well, listen, I get it. I've actually had that experience myself,
S4: which prompted me to write this Bible study. It can
S4: feel daunting, a little scary, a little, dare I say,
S4: boring to think about the law and the Old Testament.
S4: But I am convinced that all of God's Word is
S4: good and should prompt in us this desire to know
S4: him and should bring us delight. The word itself tells
S4: us that we should delight in God's law and meditate
S4: on it day and night. And so I do believe
S4: that God has given us his law for our instruction,
S4: for our good, so that we can know what he
S4: expects of us and how he desires for us to
S4: live for him, particularly in light of the coming of
S4: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who fulfilled all the
S4: law on our behalf. So that should bring us delight
S4: as our starting place. And then there's so much more
S4: in God's Word about his law that he intends for
S4: us to delight in.
S1: You write that Bible study is a holistic discipline that
S1: engages the heart and mind of the student, but also
S1: each person of the Trinity. Illustrate what you mean by this.
S1: All three members of the Trinity being involved.
S4: I think that in God's Word and in Bible study,
S4: the Holy Spirit is our guide. The Holy Spirit is
S4: our teacher. The Holy Spirit teaches us, leads us into
S4: all truth. And so we need God's Spirit to help
S4: us as we study His Word. And then when we're
S4: studying our Bibles, God Himself has illuminated His Word to us.
S4: He's given it to us. He has created all things
S4: so that we might live in loving obedience to him.
S4: And then Jesus Christ. As we study our Bibles, we
S4: want to know him. We want to know why God
S4: sent his son so that we could have new life
S4: in him. We want to know what Jesus has done
S4: on our behalf. So God the Father created us and
S4: created the world and everything in it. God the son
S4: was with God the Father in the beginning. We read
S4: in John chapter one and Jesus Christ is the one
S4: who all the scriptures are about. So our redemption is
S4: rooted in the person of Jesus, and then by His Spirit,
S4: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit
S4: himself again is guiding us in all truth. It's helping
S4: our hearts to be open to even hearing the good
S4: news of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
S4: So we're studying our Bibles. We're studying about our one
S4: true God who is present with us in three persons
S4: the father, the son, and the spirit, so that we
S4: might have the fullness of what God intends for us
S4: to know about him, and for how God intends to
S4: teach us through the word.
S1: Thanks for being a part of the land and the book.
S1: I'm John Gager. Talking today with Christy Anyabwile, who has
S1: written the Moody Publishers book Delighting in God's Law, A
S1: six week Bible Study. I have to ask, what's the
S1: biggest wow moment that God blessed you with as you
S1: worked on this book, pondering Old Testament commands and and
S1: why they matter today?
S4: You know the big wow moment for me. I'm a
S4: context girl, and so I do like digging around in
S4: the Bible and understanding the context of whatever passage it
S4: is that I'm studying. I'm one of those who like
S4: to chase the rabbit trails and those kinds of things.
S4: And so my big wow moment was in the very beginning,
S4: studying Genesis one. And I usually in the beginning of
S4: my Bible study, I spend some time thinking about the
S4: context of the passage. What happened before, what happened after,
S4: what are some other things that are going on historically
S4: and culturally at the time. But when you get to
S4: Genesis one, it's the beginning of the Bible. So I'm like, wait,
S4: there is no before. How do I know what happened before?
S4: And so the wow moment for me was spending some
S4: time in God's Word, considering what he says about all
S4: of the things that God was doing before the foundation
S4: of the world. And so having that context and understanding
S4: that even though Genesis one is the beginning of the Bible,
S4: it is not the beginning of God's work in creating
S4: us and having us in mind and in having plans
S4: for us, even from before the foundation of the world.
S1: I like the way you have laid out each week's
S1: study five different parts. Day one is content of the passage.
S1: Day two command of the text. Day three clues about
S1: Christ and other parts of Scripture. Day four carry the
S1: text with you and day five contribution to the law.
S1: Choose one of those facets that is particularly meaningful to you,
S1: or maybe that you've heard some great response from others
S1: as they've gone through this six week Bible study.
S4: One of the things about this study that I found
S4: personally helpful and fulfilling, and as I've engaged with people
S4: who have gone through this study that they found helpful
S4: as well, is that day three clues about Christ and
S4: other parts of Scripture. I think sometimes when we think
S4: about the law, we think about it disconnected from the
S4: life and work and person of Jesus Christ. And so
S4: knowing that all of Scripture the Bible tells us, even
S4: Jesus himself says in Luke 24, when he was on
S4: the Emmaus Road and the guys were on the road
S4: talking about all that they had seen and heard about Jesus,
S4: and then Jesus shows up and they don't know that
S4: it's him. And he tells them, even on the Emmaus road,
S4: that everything written in the law, the books of Moses
S4: and in the prophets and in the writings, the wisdom
S4: literature and poetry and those kinds of things. All of
S4: that is about him. And so Jesus explained to them
S4: how all of Scripture was about him. And so I
S4: think that day three is really a pivotal point in
S4: the study, because it shows us how a particular passage
S4: legitimately relates to Jesus's life, death, and resurrection in very
S4: specific and meaningful ways that help us to know a
S4: part of that big, redemptive, grand narrative of Scripture where
S4: we are and how it looks forward to Jesus, or
S4: how it speaks about Jesus in some specific way. So
S4: we want to look not only at the passage that's
S4: being considered for that particular week, but also other passages
S4: in Scripture, too, that connect us to larger biblical themes
S4: and that connect us to larger themes that help us
S4: to understand our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
S1: Just joining us, this is the land and the book.
S1: I'm John Gager. Our guest today, Christie Anyabwile, who has
S1: written the Moody Publishers six week Bible study, Delighting in
S1: God's Law. Christie, just to make it simple for simple
S1: minds like mine, it seems to me that what you're
S1: really saying is, the reason that we delight in God's
S1: law is because it points us to Jesus, reminds us
S1: of Jesus, reveals something about Jesus. That's why it ought
S1: to matter to us. Is that is that a fair assessment?
S4: That is 100% a fair assessment. When we read about
S4: even you think about the Psalms, when it talks about
S4: the word and the law and precepts and other terms
S4: like that, that relate to the Word of God. The
S4: law isn't just rules and commandments and instruction, but the
S4: law has been embodied in a person. And so when
S4: we read our Bibles, the first five books of the Bible,
S4: the Pentateuch, that is the law given God's instructions and
S4: Expectations given that's the foundation, and then the whole rest
S4: of the Bible is unfolding for us what God expects
S4: of his people. And we know through the story of
S4: Scripture that God's people don't always respond very well to
S4: his instructions. And so we see over and over again
S4: the prophets and the wisdom literature writers pointing us back
S4: to the Lord, saying, remember what God said, remember what
S4: God said. And then we get to the New Testament.
S4: We see God's law embodied in the person of Jesus Christ.
S4: And so, yes, we should delight in God's law because
S4: it's teaching us what God expects is showing us that
S4: we cannot fulfill God's law on our own, and is
S4: pointing us to the one who did to Jesus Christ,
S4: who is the fulfillment of the law, so that we
S4: no longer live a life of constantly striving to make
S4: our way to God, but that God has made his
S4: way to us through Christ. All right.
S1: Give us a favorite picture of Christ in the law.
S1: A snapshot from a passage in the Old Testament that
S1: really speaks to you. What comes to mind?
S4: It's going to be a weird one, so go for it.
S4: One of the passages that we study is Leviticus, and
S4: in particular Leviticus chapter 20. And in that chapter, it's
S4: a very dark chapter, and it talks about a lot
S4: of sins that are related to family and those kinds
S4: of things. And it warns us against sexual sins and
S4: those kinds of things. And so it's a really dark
S4: chapter in that sense. But over and over again, you
S4: read this refrain throughout Leviticus chapter 20, and the refrain
S4: would be something like, they shall be cut off. If
S4: you commit these sorts of sins, you will be cut off.
S4: If you commit these sorts of sins, your blood is
S4: upon you. If you commit these sorts of sins, then
S4: you will bear your iniquity. Inequity. And so as I
S4: read those refrains over and over again throughout. Leviticus 20,
S4: it just showed me a beautiful picture of Jesus. Yes.
S4: That it wasn't us who was cut off, but it
S4: was Jesus who was cut off on our behalf because
S4: of our sin, that our blood is not upon us
S4: because of Jesus, his blood. The Lord poured out Jesus's
S4: blood on our behalf. So the blood wasn't on us.
S4: It was Jesus's blood that was shed. And then they
S4: shall bear their iniquity. It wasn't us who have to
S4: bear our iniquity, but Jesus bore our iniquities in our place.
S4: And so as I read Leviticus 20, what really stood
S4: out to me in that chapter was that Jesus is
S4: our substitute. He has paid the penalty for all of
S4: our sins, and it was through him that atonement is made.
S4: The wrong was made right through Jesus. And so the
S4: cutting off the blood being upon them, the bearing of iniquity,
S4: teaches us, yes, that sin has consequences, that it requires
S4: a payment through the shedding of blood and through the
S4: separation of God from people. But again, in this passage,
S4: it taught me a lot about the sacrifice of Christ,
S4: that his blood was shed in the place of ours,
S4: that he took our sins or iniquities upon himself, that
S4: he was cut off from God on the cross, so
S4: that we wouldn't have to be cut off from God eternally.
S4: And all of this was so that we would be
S4: the holy people that God called us to be, that
S4: we might die to sin and live righteously before God,
S4: and that we would be able to eagerly await to
S4: receive eternal inheritance. Because we have been found righteous before God,
S4: we have been made righteous before God through Christ.
S1: Well, you can sense the excitement and enthusiasm in Christie's voice,
S1: and this is the kind of journey and experience that
S1: will be yours as you dig into delighting in God's law.
S1: From Moody Publishers, a six week Bible study, a link
S1: to that book at our website, the land and the
S1: book org. We love your passion, Christie. Thank you for
S1: your time and your insights. You're a blast.
S5: Thank you so much. Oh, it was so much fun.
S5: Thank you so much. All right.
S1: There's more fun to come, though, as Charlie steps back
S1: into the studio to answer your Bible questions. Next here
S1: on the land and the book. It's always a great
S1: day to connect with you here at The Land and
S1: the book. I'm John Gager with our host, Charlie Dyer.
S1: And Charlie, for somebody who is maybe newer to the program,
S1: what is this third segment all about?
S2: This is our question and answer time. If you've got
S2: questions as you're reading through the Bible, send us the question.
S2: Send us what's bothering you, what you don't understand, and
S2: we'll try and get an answer to you.
S1: And those questions get to us via email. Send yours
S1: to the land and the book@moody.edu. Well, Charlie Israel has
S1: been in the news so much over this past year
S1: and as we know, the Bible is jammed with end
S1: times prophecies about epic world events, the regathering of the
S1: Jewish people to their ancient homeland, and of course, Jesus return.
S1: And it is crucial for us as believers to have
S1: a proper understanding of Bible prophecy. So our view of
S1: the future is shaped by Scripture and not just today's headlines. Right?
S2: Absolutely. And with that in mind, our friends at Life
S2: and Messiah have published a book titled God, Israel and
S2: Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners of the
S2: land in the book for a limited time. This informative
S2: book is focused on providing readers with a deeper understanding
S2: and greater appreciation of what God has in store for
S2: Israel and the nations by digging into what the scriptures
S2: say about these issues. Now, if you're interested in learning
S2: more about what God has in store, Visit Life in Messiah.
S2: Org and click on the Moody Radio button there to
S2: find out how you can receive your copy of God,
S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org.
S1: So many questions to get to. Let's dig right in
S1: with this one from Lois. Does the promised return and
S1: blessing of Israel, described in Ezekiel 11, verses 14 through 21,
S1: refer to the times in which we are now living?
S2: Yeah, well, I take the promise. Physical and spiritual restoration
S2: described there to refer to Israel's still future restoration at
S2: the time of Jesus Second coming. And I say that
S2: for several reasons. First, God says the people will not
S2: only be regathered back to the land, but that he'll
S2: also give them an undivided heart and put a new
S2: spirit in them. Well, this restoration, then, is both physical
S2: and spiritual. And second, God later uses those same words
S2: in both Ezekiel and in Jeremiah to help identify when
S2: the new relationship will take place in Ezekiel 36. God
S2: describes it as a time when he'll give you a
S2: new heart and put a new spirit in you, and
S2: remove from you your heart of stone and give you
S2: a heart of flesh. That wording parallels what he said
S2: in chapter 11, and Jeremiah's description of the New Covenant
S2: in Jeremiah 31 says the same thing. Now I say
S2: all of that to say this, I believe the promise
S2: given by God in Ezekiel 11 is an early description
S2: of the New Covenant promise that's later presented in Ezekiel
S2: 36 and Jeremiah 31. And I think it will ultimately
S2: be fulfilled when the Jewish people, as Zechariah says, it,
S2: will look on me, the one they pierced, and will
S2: mourn as one mourns for an only child. That then
S2: followed in Zechariah 13 by God opening up a fountain
S2: to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
S2: to cleanse them from sin and impurity. It's also the
S2: same time Paul describes in Romans chapter 11, where he
S2: pictures God applying the new covenant to the remnant of
S2: Israel to forgive them of their sins. And Paul connects
S2: that to the time he says, when the deliverer, Jesus,
S2: will come from Zion.
S1: John asks, what did Paul specifically mean when he was
S1: going to hand over Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan? Were
S1: they unbelievers or believers in rebellion? Since Paul states that
S1: they were shipwrecked in regard to their faith and needed
S1: to be taught not to blaspheme?
S2: Well, I take it that Hymenaeus and Alexander were believers
S2: who had turned aside and embraced some kind of a
S2: false teaching or doctrine. And again, I see that first
S2: in first Timothy one nine, just before this verse, Paul
S2: says they had shipwrecked their faith. Though that suggests they
S2: had faith prior to developing this false teaching or new view.
S2: And second, Jiménez is named again by Paul in second
S2: Timothy 217 as someone whose false teaching would spread and
S2: corrupt like gangrene. He says. Verse 18. There then describes
S2: the false teaching he'd adopted, and it sounds like an
S2: early form of Gnosticism that denied the physical bodily resurrection.
S2: So Alexander then is not mentioned again later, which either
S2: means he may have repented or may have died in
S2: the intervening time between first and second Timothy. Now, when
S2: Paul hands the two men over to Satan to be
S2: taught not to blaspheme, I take that to mean he's commanding,
S2: that they be excommunicated from fellowship in the church in
S2: Ephesus to be fully exposed to satanic attack. Now, in
S2: that sense, I see their judgment as being similar to
S2: the one Paul handed down on the immoral brother in
S2: first Corinthians five. There the man was guilty of gross
S2: immorality and was to be handed over to Satan so
S2: that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit
S2: saved on the day of the Lord. Now, in both cases,
S2: I see this being more a form of extreme discipline
S2: of a believer. So as a result, I do see
S2: them as believers and not unbelievers.
S1: From Moody Radio. This is the land and the book.
S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer, our host, answering questions that have come
S1: in via our email address, the land and the book@moody.edu.
S1: Jared asks, what about the issue of the Holy Spirit
S1: acting through the human Jesus? I've recently come across a
S1: teacher who says that all of Jesus miracles were not
S1: involving his deity, but the Holy Spirit acting through the
S1: human Jesus. And the rationale is to argue that Jesus
S1: human nature was limited as ours is, and we have
S1: the same power. But I think there's plenty of evidence
S1: that Jesus deity was active. I'd appreciate your thoughts.
S2: Yeah, and I think your instincts are right on target.
S2: I see several dangerous flaws in the argument that teacher
S2: was trying to make. First, he's wrong in saying that
S2: all Jesus's miracles were just the Holy Spirit acting through
S2: the human Jesus. I'll just give one example the healing
S2: of the paralyzed man in Matthew nine. The miracle was
S2: performed to demonstrate Jesus had the power to forgive sin. Second,
S2: the passage also says Jesus knew the thoughts of the
S2: teachers who had complained. The miracle was intended to physically
S2: validate the truth, that Jesus had the power to forgive
S2: sin and that he was omniscient. So the miracle actually
S2: demonstrated his deity. Uh, one other example. In John chapter 20,
S2: The Apostle John says the purpose of Jesus signs, which
S2: is what he calls the miracles, was to demonstrate that
S2: Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. It
S2: wasn't to show that he was merely human and empowered
S2: by the Holy Spirit. Again, the miracles were intended to
S2: be evidence of his deity.
S1: Question here from Vernon. Throughout the Old Testament, God calls
S1: his people to be holy and separate from the surrounding nations,
S1: and they would disobey and fall into sin and a
S1: promise for a future restoration. Well, with that said, how
S1: does the Holocaust fit into God's plan for the Jews?
S1: I don't believe there's any scriptural prophecy that speaks to
S1: this event, or explains the purpose for it taking place.
S1: What do you say?
S2: Yeah, I need to start by saying we're not told
S2: specifically why God allowed the Holocaust, or how it fits
S2: into his overall plan for his people. The event was
S2: not prophesied in Scripture. As a result, I want to
S2: make sure I don't trivialize the horror of that event
S2: by somehow trying to provide a simplistic answer to a
S2: very terrible time. the Holocaust displayed the reality of humanity's
S2: capacity for evil, and I think the real Satanic roots
S2: of anti-Semitism. God permitted it to happen, but he in
S2: no way approved of that evil. Now, having said that,
S2: there is one possible reason God allowed the Holocaust to
S2: take place. It's possible that as only God can do,
S2: he worked to bring good out of evil. The Holocaust
S2: was the impetus that finally brought about the establishment of
S2: the State of Israel in 1948. Promises have been made
S2: to the Jewish people during World War One that had
S2: remained unfulfilled, and it took the Holocaust to energize both
S2: the governments of the world and the Jewish survivors to
S2: realize the importance of reestablishing Israel. That was a good result,
S2: but it in no way excuses those who instigated such evil.
S2: And perhaps the words of Joseph to his brothers in
S2: Genesis 50 can help us, maybe in some small way,
S2: to put the event into a larger perspective. You remember
S2: Joseph said there, you intended to harm me, but God
S2: intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done,
S2: the saving of many lives.
S1: Sally points out. The Bible says that some of King
S1: David's sons were close advisors to him. Scripture also says
S1: that David had a son named Nathan. Do you think
S1: it was this son, Nathan, who confronted David regarding Bathsheba?
S1: Your thoughts?
S2: Yeah, well, the Nathan who confronted David over his sin
S2: with Bathsheba wasn't the Nathan who was David's son. And
S2: I can say that because of First Chronicles chapter three,
S2: that section lists the four sons of David who were
S2: born to Bathsheba, and it includes both Nathan and Solomon. Well,
S2: the first child born as a result of David's sin
S2: with Bathsheba died after seven days. David then again went
S2: into Bathsheba and the next child born was Solomon. So
S2: Solomon was the oldest living child of Bathsheba. Well, since
S2: Nathan the prophet came to David at the time of
S2: his adultery with Bathsheba, he had to be a different
S2: Nathan than the one who was later born to Bathsheba.
S1: Sally's follow up here. So do you think that Nathan
S1: was the name of the child that was conceived in
S1: sin and then died.
S2: You know, it's at least theoretically possible that's the name
S2: of the child. But I personally don't think that's the case.
S2: In later Jewish tradition, children weren't named until the time
S2: of their circumcision, which took place at the eighth day
S2: after birth. We see that in Luke chapter one, when
S2: the family gathered and they gave the name John for
S2: the child of Zechariah and Elizabeth. And then in chapter
S2: two of Luke it says, the eighth day when it
S2: was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus. Now
S2: those took place hundreds of years after the time of David.
S2: But they do seem to be grounded in Jewish tradition.
S2: And I think that could be important, because in Second
S2: Samuel it says that that first child born to David
S2: and Bathsheba died on the seventh day, which would be
S2: the day before he would have been circumcised and possibly named.
S2: So as a result, I don't think that baby is
S2: the one that was named Nathan.
S1: Todd asks, have you heard the theory that Jesus was
S1: crucified on the Mount of Olives? Can you address this theory?
S2: Yeah, I've heard the theory. I'm aware of those who
S2: promote it. The problem is to make their theory work.
S2: They ignore all the information that shows that the temple
S2: was actually on Mount Moriah, and if the temple was
S2: on Mount Moriah, their position doesn't seem to work. I
S2: have a friend named Gordon Franz who wrote an article
S2: on that. If you're interested, Google Gordon, Franz, Franz and
S2: location of temple and you'll get a great article explaining
S2: the problem.
S1: I love the variety of questions that have come in
S1: this week. As always, you can send yours to the
S1: land and the book@moody.edu. Hey, there's more to the program.
S1: Charlie Dyer's devotional is next. I love the way he
S1: takes us to a place in Scripture, a place in
S1: the Holy Land and welds them together. That's next on
S1: the land and the book. Thanks for being with us
S1: here at the land of the book, John Geiger asking,
S1: have you heard enough about the election yet? Yeah. You
S1: know what? I can hear you from wherever you're listening
S1: right now. You're sick of hearing about the election, I
S1: get it, but, Charlie, you're talking about a different kind
S1: of election today.
S2: I am John, we're going to talk about the election.
S1: That's the subject of Charlie's devotional. He's going to take
S1: us to Joshua chapter 24. I'm getting ahead of myself
S1: because right now we're going to pause you and me
S1: and listen to this Holy Land experience.
S6: Hi, this is Charlene Hutchinson. When I visited Israel, I
S6: went with some people from church, and we had a
S6: wonderful trip. And it was a gift from the Lord
S6: to me and my son. We had not been able
S6: to take a vacation for several years, and my husband had, um,
S6: left me. And so we had been given this gift
S6: to be in Israel and really get close to the Lord.
S6: And my son, uh, had decided to get baptized in Israel.
S6: He had not been baptized in water at all, and
S6: he had been saved since he was eight years old.
S6: And every time someone was baptized at church, I would
S6: talk to him and say, did you want to consider?
S6: Would you like to have a baptism? And he'd said, no.
S6: And so before we left, he talked to me and said, mom,
S6: I want to get baptized where Jesus was baptized. So
S6: it was such a blessing, um, to see him get
S6: baptized in Israel. And that was a true experience and
S6: a blessing to be there and watch my son make
S6: that decision. And I was just thank the Lord that
S6: I was able to be there and my son was
S6: baptized there. Thank you for taking my message.
S1: All right, Charlie, I'm looking for a breather, a break
S1: from our current election. So take it away.
S2: Okay, John. Thanks. I remember when I first arrived in
S2: Chicago in the summer of 2000, in the midst of
S2: what was another bitter presidential contest. That was the first
S2: time I ever heard the expression vote early and vote
S2: often suggesting that past elections in the Windy City weren't
S2: always as free and fair as I might have assumed. Now,
S2: some link that phrase to former Chicago Mayor William Hale Thompson,
S2: who was supported by Al Capone. But the phrase was
S2: likely around long before their time with our upcoming election.
S2: As the background, I want to take you to what
S2: was perhaps the most unusual election in history. There was
S2: only one polling location. The campaign only lasted a single day,
S2: and the vote was unanimous. Sound intriguing? Well, then follow
S2: me to the city of Shechem, nestled in the valley
S2: between Mount Ebal to the north and Mount Gerizim to
S2: the south. Standing in this valley at Shechem is impressive.
S2: The nation of Israel had gathered at the same spot
S2: shortly after entering the land under Joshua. After building an
S2: altar on Mount Ebal, the group made their way down
S2: into the valley, and Joshua eight describes what happened next
S2: this way. All Israel, aliens and citizens alike, with their elders,
S2: officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the
S2: ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing those who
S2: carried it. The priests who were Levites, half of the
S2: people stood in front of Mount Gerizim, and half of
S2: them in front of Mount Ebal. As Moses, the servant
S2: of the Lord had formerly commanded them, when he gave
S2: instructions to bless the people of Israel. Afterward, Joshua read
S2: all the words of the law, the blessings, and the curses,
S2: just as it is written in the book of the law.
S2: There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded,
S2: that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel,
S2: including the women and children, and the aliens who lived
S2: among them. That first gathering at Shechem and the battles
S2: that followed are now a distant memory. The 80 something
S2: year old veteran who led Israel in its conquest is
S2: now 30 years older. At 110, Joshua is nearing the
S2: end of his life. At that time, a new generation
S2: had grown up, one that had no first hand recollection
S2: of Israel's slavery in Egypt or their wanderings in the wilderness.
S2: A generation that knew only the Promised Land, yet who
S2: still faced temptation to abandon the God of Israel by
S2: their idol worshipping neighbors. Joshua sensed the threat and summoned
S2: Israel one last time to call on them to make
S2: a decision. Standing here near the back of the crowd,
S2: we're still impressed by the strength of Joshua's voice. Though
S2: frail and stooped with age, Joshua continues to display a
S2: commanding presence. Today, he will serve as the campaign manager,
S2: poll watcher and vote counter for the upcoming election. Now
S2: let's watch what unfolds. We're impressed with the range of
S2: those assembled. In addition to normal Israelites who came to
S2: see what was happening, the site is crowded with all
S2: the dignitaries. Joshua had summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and
S2: officials of Israel. They've all come to present themselves before God.
S2: Joshua raises his hands and the crowd grows silent. Then
S2: he speaks, sharing God's message to the people. Long ago,
S2: your forefathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor,
S2: lived beyond the river and worshiped other gods. Tracing his
S2: call from Abraham and Isaac through the ministry of Moses
S2: and Aaron, God has Joshua recount Israel's history, their dramatic
S2: deliverance from Egypt, their time in the wilderness, and their
S2: entrance into the Promised Land. The citizens of Jericho fought
S2: against you, as did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites,
S2: and Jebusites. But I gave them over into your hands.
S2: God said, so I gave you a land on which
S2: you did not toil, and cities which you did not build,
S2: and you live in them, and eat from their vineyards
S2: and olive groves that you did not plant. Joshua's message
S2: is a history lesson for a generation that had not
S2: experienced all these miracles firsthand in an election campaign. Candidates,
S2: especially incumbents, will focus on the benefits that they've delivered,
S2: the success stories of their administration that make them worthy
S2: of re-election. But God's campaign speech through Joshua takes a
S2: much different tone. Rather than promising more goodies to entice
S2: the voters to vote for him, God instead challenges these
S2: voters to be as faithful to him as he has
S2: been to them. Now fear the Lord and serve him
S2: with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped
S2: beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
S2: That last phrase suggests that the people hadn't remained all
S2: that faithful to God. They were enjoying the land he
S2: had given them, but they were still clinging to the
S2: false idols and gods that had enticed them since the
S2: nation's days in Egypt and in their time in the wilderness.
S2: In reading Joshua's message and thinking about all the promises
S2: being made in the current election campaigns, I can summarize
S2: Joshua's campaign speech this way. Forget the rewards and the
S2: perks you hope to receive. Focus instead on the responsibilities
S2: and priorities you need to accept. Joshua then laid out
S2: the choices to be voted on in very direct terms.
S2: Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether
S2: the gods your forefathers served beyond the river, or the
S2: gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living.
S2: But as for me and my household, we will serve
S2: the Lord. The choice facing Israel that day was very
S2: direct the God of Israel, or the gods of Egypt
S2: and the surrounding peoples. They couldn't vote early or vote often.
S2: This was intended as a straight up or down decision.
S2: Joshua left no doubt in their minds where he stood
S2: on the matter. He and his family had already chosen
S2: to serve the Lord. The people then voted and the
S2: results were unanimous. We will serve the Lord our God
S2: and obey him. Joshua made a covenant for the people
S2: and set up a large stone as a witness for them,
S2: a reminder that they had heard God's word and committed
S2: once again to follow it. The book of Joshua ends almost,
S2: it seems, quite suddenly. Joshua sent the people away, each
S2: to his inheritance. And after these things, Joshua, son of nun,
S2: the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110.
S2: It seems obvious that Joshua saw this as the culmination
S2: of his life's work, his final challenge to the people
S2: before he passed off the scene. But was he successful?
S2: Or was this just a final, feeble attempt by an
S2: elderly man to try and hold back the tide of
S2: change as it rushed forward? Well, the Book of Joshua
S2: ends by suggesting that Joshua's final speech had a profound
S2: impact on the nation, at least for the next generation.
S2: Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and
S2: of the elders who outlived him, and who had experienced
S2: everything the Lord had done for Israel. So what does
S2: Joshua's final message have to do with you and with
S2: our upcoming election. Let me suggest this. The most important
S2: choice you can make this coming week is not who
S2: gets into the white House, or Congress, or the governor's mansion,
S2: or the state legislature. The most important choice you can
S2: make this week is to choose to serve the Lord
S2: with all your heart, and to study and obey His Word.
S2: Vote to put God first in your life, and to
S2: live in a way that will encourage others to follow
S2: him as well. Choose for yourselves this day whom you
S2: will serve. But as for me and my house, we
S2: will serve the Lord.
S1: By very, very practical. Thank you Charlie. Love that application.
S1: And yes, I do want to cast my vote to
S1: serve the Lord. Thank you for that devotional. You can
S1: hear it all again at our website, the land and
S1: the book org. Our time is gone, but we thank
S1: you for being a part of the land in the book,
S1: a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.