WEBVTT - Drive through History Adventures 0:00:08.000 --> 0:00:12.080 You can read about history. You can lecture about history. 0:00:12.110 --> 0:00:15.170 What if you could drive through history, go to the 0:00:15.170 --> 0:00:18.830 actual places where all the cool stuff took place? Well, 0:00:18.860 --> 0:00:21.560 fasten your seat belt. We're heading for a drive through 0:00:21.590 --> 0:00:24.439 history adventures along the way. We're going to make a 0:00:24.440 --> 0:00:26.390 quick stop for a look at current events from the 0:00:26.390 --> 0:00:30.560 Middle East. Plus, answer your Bible questions so strap yourself 0:00:30.560 --> 0:00:34.460 in for the land and the book. Welcome! I'm John Gager, 0:00:34.490 --> 0:00:38.540 our host and tour guide par excellence is Doctor Charlie Dyer, 0:00:38.570 --> 0:00:41.960 the guy that students and scholars alike turn to for 0:00:41.960 --> 0:00:45.590 reliable perspectives on the Middle East. Good to be with you, Charlie. 0:00:45.620 --> 0:00:47.510 John, it's always great to be with you. 0:00:47.540 --> 0:00:51.320 Well, fall is officially sort of here, and that means 0:00:51.320 --> 0:00:54.860 the Jewish High Holidays are right around the corner. These 0:00:54.860 --> 0:00:57.950 biblical feasts have been celebrated for thousands of years, but 0:00:57.950 --> 0:01:00.980 this year, I think, has added weight and significance as 0:01:00.980 --> 0:01:04.430 Jewish people around the world mark the one year anniversary 0:01:04.430 --> 0:01:07.430 of the brutal attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists. 0:01:07.459 --> 0:01:09.530 Yeah, and that's why our friends at Life and Messiah 0:01:09.560 --> 0:01:12.260 want to help you learn more about the fall feasts, 0:01:12.260 --> 0:01:15.110 the significance they have for us as believers in Jesus, 0:01:15.110 --> 0:01:18.110 and how to stand with Jewish people during this time. 0:01:18.140 --> 0:01:21.920 They're offering a live zoom teaching session, where their knowledgeable 0:01:21.920 --> 0:01:25.340 field staff will walk you through the history and significance 0:01:25.340 --> 0:01:28.010 of the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and 0:01:28.010 --> 0:01:31.100 the Feast of Tabernacles. You'll also hear how you can 0:01:31.100 --> 0:01:33.830 use these holidays as a point of connection with your 0:01:33.830 --> 0:01:37.160 Jewish friends and neighbors, to show and share the love 0:01:37.160 --> 0:01:40.220 of Jesus with them. To sign up for this free teaching, 0:01:40.220 --> 0:01:43.520 all you have to do is visit Life in Messiah org. 0:01:43.520 --> 0:01:46.550 Click on the Moody Radio logo and sign up. Be 0:01:46.550 --> 0:01:50.060 sure to sign up today to discover the fascinating connections 0:01:50.060 --> 0:01:55.040 between these feasts and Jesus at Life in messiah.org. 0:01:55.550 --> 0:01:57.710 And as we always do on the land of the book, 0:01:57.710 --> 0:02:00.600 we open up with a look at current events. Let's 0:02:00.600 --> 0:02:04.140 do that now. Charlie, the war with Hamas continues to 0:02:04.170 --> 0:02:09.389 drive a wedge within Israel as protests erupted nationwide, blaming 0:02:09.389 --> 0:02:13.440 Prime Minister Netanyahu for the recent deaths of six hostages. 0:02:13.440 --> 0:02:16.200 Which was just a horrible thing, of course. But why 0:02:16.200 --> 0:02:19.140 is there such division within Israel, since Hamas is the 0:02:19.139 --> 0:02:22.740 group who started the war and actually murdered these hostages? 0:02:22.770 --> 0:02:24.960 Yeah, and that's an important point to remember. You know, 0:02:24.990 --> 0:02:28.860 secular Israelis have opposed Prime Minister Netanyahu and the current 0:02:28.860 --> 0:02:32.340 government since it was formed. They believe he's responsible for 0:02:32.340 --> 0:02:35.100 the death of the hostages, because he refused to agree 0:02:35.100 --> 0:02:38.310 to all of Hamas's demands for a deal. Even before 0:02:38.340 --> 0:02:41.820 October 7th, there were mass protests against the proposed changes 0:02:41.820 --> 0:02:45.300 in the judiciary, with thousands of Israelis saying they wouldn't 0:02:45.300 --> 0:02:48.630 fulfill their reserve duty in the army to protest the government. 0:02:48.660 --> 0:02:51.600 Now Israel's enemies took note. They saw that as proof 0:02:51.600 --> 0:02:54.930 that Israel was imploding internally. And that wasn't the sole 0:02:54.930 --> 0:02:58.790 cause for the October 7th attack. but it was a factor. 0:02:58.820 --> 0:03:03.230 Israel temporarily came together to stand against Hamas. Their goals 0:03:03.230 --> 0:03:06.679 were to defeat Hamas and to retrieve the hostages. The 0:03:06.680 --> 0:03:10.910 problem is that these two goals became mutually exclusive. Defeating 0:03:10.910 --> 0:03:15.020 Hamas meant conquering Gaza, eliminating the battalions of fighters and 0:03:15.020 --> 0:03:18.109 choking off the supply of weapons coming in from Egypt. 0:03:18.139 --> 0:03:21.950 Getting the hostages back meant negotiating with Hamas and giving 0:03:21.950 --> 0:03:25.250 in to their demands, which included a total Israeli withdrawal 0:03:25.250 --> 0:03:28.850 from Gaza and the release of thousands of Hamas prisoners. 0:03:28.880 --> 0:03:32.389 Prime Minister Netanyahu was willing to agree to some demands, 0:03:32.389 --> 0:03:35.150 but he refused to give up the Philadelphi corridor, the 0:03:35.150 --> 0:03:39.920 narrow boundary between Gaza and Egypt over the past 17 years. 0:03:39.920 --> 0:03:42.950 This is the place where Hamas used tunnels and the 0:03:42.950 --> 0:03:47.450 above ground crossing points to bring in weapons, supplies, ammunition 0:03:47.450 --> 0:03:50.330 and all the other items it used to attack Israel. 0:03:50.360 --> 0:03:54.800 Compounding all this is the total disunity in Israel. Opposition 0:03:54.800 --> 0:03:58.940 lawmakers have portrayed Netanyahu as an opportunist whose only goal 0:03:58.940 --> 0:04:02.360 is his survival. Every decision he makes is second guessed 0:04:02.360 --> 0:04:06.320 until there's virtually no level of trust. Here's my perspective. 0:04:06.320 --> 0:04:10.070 John Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, was convicted of murder 0:04:10.070 --> 0:04:14.060 by Israel back in 1989 and given four life sentences. 0:04:14.060 --> 0:04:17.390 He spent 22 years in prison until he was released 0:04:17.390 --> 0:04:20.510 with over a thousand others in a prisoner exchange for 0:04:20.510 --> 0:04:24.260 one captured Israeli soldier. Wow. Was Israel happy to have 0:04:24.260 --> 0:04:27.289 that soldier back? Yes they were, but at the time, 0:04:27.290 --> 0:04:29.930 they failed to see that the release of Sinwar and 0:04:29.930 --> 0:04:32.810 a thousand others would eventually result in the loss of 0:04:32.810 --> 0:04:37.760 over 1200 Israeli lives and the capture of 250 hostages. 0:04:37.790 --> 0:04:41.090 13 years later, now, I believe Netanyahu dug in his 0:04:41.089 --> 0:04:44.539 heels on the Philadelphi corridor because he knows Hamas needs 0:04:44.540 --> 0:04:47.330 it to remain in power and to rearm. But many 0:04:47.360 --> 0:04:51.350 Israelis and the US, unfortunately, are pressuring him to do 0:04:51.380 --> 0:04:55.260 just that, to get the remaining hostages back. Now. Right now, 0:04:55.260 --> 0:04:58.020 it's unclear how long Netanyahu will be able to survive 0:04:58.020 --> 0:05:02.130 in office. Israel's fractured politically, and the US is pressuring 0:05:02.130 --> 0:05:04.920 him to give in to make a deal. He's facing 0:05:04.920 --> 0:05:08.730 life and death decisions that few politicians ever really face. 0:05:08.760 --> 0:05:12.390 He really needs our prayers for wisdom. Israel also needs 0:05:12.390 --> 0:05:15.359 our prayers. They're deeply divided as a nation. And you know, 0:05:15.390 --> 0:05:18.900 as Jesus said, a house divided against itself cannot stand. 0:05:19.110 --> 0:05:21.839 We need to be praying that the internal anger and 0:05:21.839 --> 0:05:24.690 hatred there will be replaced with unity. 0:05:24.720 --> 0:05:27.060 Lord, we ask even now, as we bring this report, 0:05:27.060 --> 0:05:30.539 that you would do this thing in Israel. Give them wisdom. 0:05:30.540 --> 0:05:34.170 Deliver them from evil. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. 0:05:34.200 --> 0:05:34.920 Amen. 0:05:34.920 --> 0:05:38.070 Well, within Gaza, Charlie, there are also reports that Hamas 0:05:38.070 --> 0:05:42.000 leader Sinwar is encountering growing opposition himself. What obstacles is 0:05:42.000 --> 0:05:42.840 he facing? 0:05:42.870 --> 0:05:46.230 Well, the US charged Sinwar and other Hamas leaders with terrorism, 0:05:46.230 --> 0:05:49.350 but that's not really the major concern for him. He's 0:05:49.350 --> 0:05:52.260 more concerned about the shrinking territory over which he has 0:05:52.260 --> 0:05:55.650 control and the shrinking leadership that he can trust to 0:05:55.650 --> 0:05:58.680 help rule it. In spite of all the dire predictions 0:05:58.680 --> 0:06:01.770 of a humanitarian crisis that would take place if Israel 0:06:01.770 --> 0:06:06.120 attacked Rafah. While the campaign was successful, Israel defeated Hamas 0:06:06.120 --> 0:06:10.170 Rafah brigade and destroyed 80% of the border tunnels, choking 0:06:10.170 --> 0:06:13.620 off the resupply of weapons and ammunition to Hamas. And 0:06:13.620 --> 0:06:16.500 they did it all without causing mass starvation or killing 0:06:16.500 --> 0:06:20.279 large numbers of civilians, as the US and others had predicted. 0:06:20.310 --> 0:06:23.220 Sinwar is now more concerned about his own survival as 0:06:23.220 --> 0:06:27.240 Israel works to track his location and movements. Intelligence sources 0:06:27.240 --> 0:06:30.270 report that he's now surrounding himself with at least 20 0:06:30.300 --> 0:06:35.370 handcuffed hostages to thwart any Israeli attack. Another problem Sinwar 0:06:35.400 --> 0:06:38.250 is facing is with the other terror groups in Gaza, 0:06:38.279 --> 0:06:41.730 over which he appears to be losing control. These smaller 0:06:41.730 --> 0:06:44.700 groups are holding an unknown number of the hostages. They 0:06:44.700 --> 0:06:48.660 were upset when Sinwar was focusing on prioritizing the exchange 0:06:48.660 --> 0:06:52.350 of hostages for Hamas fighters, not members of their groups. 0:06:52.350 --> 0:06:54.359 They want a deal to include the release of all 0:06:54.360 --> 0:06:57.599 convicted terrorists, and they oppose the idea that the terrorists 0:06:57.630 --> 0:07:01.290 released would be sent somewhere other than Gaza. Apparently, some 0:07:01.290 --> 0:07:04.380 of these smaller groups have stopped communicating with Sinwar and 0:07:04.380 --> 0:07:07.230 are threatening to kill the hostages they control if their 0:07:07.230 --> 0:07:10.020 demands aren't met. So the situation here, John, is just 0:07:10.050 --> 0:07:13.230 absolutely complex, and those demanding that Israel give in to 0:07:13.260 --> 0:07:16.800 Hamas's demands need to realize that Hamas itself isn't really 0:07:16.800 --> 0:07:19.950 in control of all Gaza or of all the hostages. 0:07:19.980 --> 0:07:20.700 That's Doctor. 0:07:20.700 --> 0:07:22.950 Charlie Dyer. This is the land and the book. We're 0:07:22.950 --> 0:07:25.620 looking at current events from the Middle East. Fighting has 0:07:25.620 --> 0:07:30.000 also erupted in the West Bank with terrorists attacking Israeli soldiers, 0:07:30.000 --> 0:07:34.500 police and civilians, and with Israel striking terrorist strongholds. What 0:07:34.500 --> 0:07:36.720 exactly is going on and how serious of a threat 0:07:36.720 --> 0:07:38.520 is this to Israel? 0:07:38.550 --> 0:07:40.470 Well, I don't want to minimize this threat, but I 0:07:40.470 --> 0:07:42.780 do want to put it in perspective. 20 years ago, 0:07:42.780 --> 0:07:45.690 there was a five year uprising by Palestinians called the 0:07:45.690 --> 0:07:50.490 second or Al-Aqsa Intifada. It involved suicide bombings in Jerusalem. 0:07:50.490 --> 0:07:53.760 and it also included incursions by the Israeli army against 0:07:53.760 --> 0:07:57.660 terrorists in West Bank cities. One result of that uprising 0:07:57.660 --> 0:08:00.450 was the construction of a barrier by Israel to separate 0:08:00.450 --> 0:08:04.800 Palestinian areas from Jewish areas. That separation barrier was built 0:08:04.800 --> 0:08:07.770 in response to the terrorist attacks, and it choked off 0:08:07.770 --> 0:08:10.980 that conflict. Now the barrier is still in place, and 0:08:10.980 --> 0:08:12.900 as a result, I don't believe the same level of 0:08:12.900 --> 0:08:16.260 terrorism will be experienced in Israel proper. Most of the 0:08:16.260 --> 0:08:19.830 current attacks are taking place against Jewish towns and settlements 0:08:19.830 --> 0:08:22.260 in the West Bank, and Israel is taking a very 0:08:22.290 --> 0:08:27.090 aggressive role in attacking those terrorist infrastructure positions. Iran has 0:08:27.090 --> 0:08:29.820 been trying to smuggle weapons and explosives into the West 0:08:29.820 --> 0:08:33.240 Bank to help the terrorists, and Hamas's leadership has called 0:08:33.240 --> 0:08:36.930 on Palestinians to resume suicide bombings. Not one danger in 0:08:36.929 --> 0:08:39.660 all this is that the fighting, along with the reprisals 0:08:39.660 --> 0:08:42.450 by some of the more radical West Bank settlers, could 0:08:42.450 --> 0:08:45.690 end up driving Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan, 0:08:45.690 --> 0:08:49.380 creating a refugee crisis there. Iran would love to develop 0:08:49.380 --> 0:08:52.110 an armed terror cells in Jordan that could function much 0:08:52.110 --> 0:08:54.720 like Hezbollah does in Lebanon, and that would not be 0:08:54.720 --> 0:08:58.020 good for Jordan or for Israel. The goal should not 0:08:58.020 --> 0:09:00.869 be to create a refugee crisis for Jordan, but to 0:09:00.900 --> 0:09:05.520 provide peace, security and prosperity for Palestinians in the West Bank. 0:09:05.520 --> 0:09:08.459 And that's hopefully what's going to be happening as Israel 0:09:08.490 --> 0:09:12.030 goes after these terrorists, but not after the population in general. 0:09:12.059 --> 0:09:14.010 Charlie, I'm listening to all of these headlines that you're 0:09:14.010 --> 0:09:16.830 doing such a great job of reporting. And I suddenly 0:09:16.830 --> 0:09:18.959 ask myself, if you zoom out at the 30 zero 0:09:18.960 --> 0:09:22.290 zero zero foot level, has Israel ever been this much 0:09:22.320 --> 0:09:26.040 under attack from so many fronts at one time, apart 0:09:26.040 --> 0:09:27.840 from a couple of wars? No. 0:09:27.840 --> 0:09:30.330 That's it. In fact, if we go back to 1973, 0:09:30.480 --> 0:09:34.679 1967 and 1948, those are the three times they've had 0:09:34.679 --> 0:09:38.130 this kind of trouble. In fact, since 1973, Israel has 0:09:38.130 --> 0:09:41.280 really been considered the powerhouse in the region. And yet 0:09:41.309 --> 0:09:44.460 now to have Iran sponsoring so many terror groups has 0:09:44.460 --> 0:09:46.410 really caused a problem for them. 0:09:46.440 --> 0:09:51.670 Archaeologists discovered a small 2700 year old seal during excavations 0:09:51.670 --> 0:09:54.310 in Jerusalem. How significant is the seal and what does 0:09:54.309 --> 0:09:57.100 it tell us about Jerusalem at that time? 0:09:57.309 --> 0:09:59.740 Well, you know, seals are inscribed pieces of stone that 0:09:59.740 --> 0:10:03.040 served as the personal signature of an individual. The seal 0:10:03.070 --> 0:10:05.320 could be pressed into clay and it left behind a 0:10:05.320 --> 0:10:08.920 unique impression. This one's roughly the size of a man's thumbnail, 0:10:08.920 --> 0:10:11.170 and apparently it was intended to be worn around the 0:10:11.170 --> 0:10:13.780 neck because it contained a hole drilled through the piece. 0:10:13.809 --> 0:10:16.810 What makes this seal so significant is the image that 0:10:16.809 --> 0:10:19.660 was carved on it. It's an Assyrian style figure of 0:10:19.660 --> 0:10:22.840 a man standing with an outstretched arm and with wings. Well, 0:10:22.840 --> 0:10:25.900 they found seals before that had more of an Egyptian influence. 0:10:25.900 --> 0:10:28.929 This shows that indeed there was an Assyrian influence at 0:10:28.929 --> 0:10:31.690 the time, and that matches what the Bible says. So 0:10:31.690 --> 0:10:34.060 the seal is a good reminder that Jerusalem was the 0:10:34.059 --> 0:10:37.449 capital of Judah during this period, and a reminder that 0:10:37.450 --> 0:10:41.020 there was Egyptian influence and Assyrian influence, just like the 0:10:41.020 --> 0:10:43.000 Bible pictures during that time. Is this. 0:10:43.000 --> 0:10:44.920 Roughly at the time of Isaiah, the prophet. 0:10:44.950 --> 0:10:46.360 Isaiah and Hezekiah? 0:10:46.360 --> 0:10:47.429 Yes. Okay. 0:10:47.460 --> 0:10:50.850 Fascinating. Look at current events, Charlie. A great job helping 0:10:50.850 --> 0:10:54.120 us understand these very complex issues. Up next on the 0:10:54.120 --> 0:10:57.480 land in the book, a fascinating conversation with a drive 0:10:57.510 --> 0:11:00.929 through history adventure to boot. Stick around for more on 0:11:00.929 --> 0:11:18.390 the land and the book. You can read about history. 0:11:18.420 --> 0:11:21.240 You can lecture about history. But what if you could 0:11:21.240 --> 0:11:24.719 drive through history? Go to the actual places where all 0:11:24.720 --> 0:11:29.130 the cool stuff took place. Well, fasten your seat belt. Sorry, 0:11:29.160 --> 0:11:31.920 I couldn't resist the pun. We are heading for drive 0:11:31.950 --> 0:11:35.430 through history adventures. This is the land and the book. 0:11:35.429 --> 0:11:38.610 I'm John Gager hoping you're having a decent day. And 0:11:38.610 --> 0:11:41.460 before we head off for faraway adventures, though, let's talk 0:11:41.460 --> 0:11:45.540 about the adventure of sharing Christ with your unsaved Jewish friend. 0:11:45.570 --> 0:11:49.199 Here's a quick thought. You've been praying for that Jewish friend, 0:11:49.200 --> 0:11:51.209 and you know you need to witness to them. But 0:11:51.210 --> 0:11:54.570 part of you says, I really can't share Christ with 0:11:54.570 --> 0:11:57.600 him or her. I mean, they know more than I do, right? 0:11:57.630 --> 0:12:00.270 Is that a safe way to think? Levi Hazen is 0:12:00.270 --> 0:12:02.699 executive director of Life in Messiah. I think we do 0:12:02.730 --> 0:12:05.700 fall into that thought, which we know is wrong. But 0:12:05.700 --> 0:12:06.630 tell us why that's wrong. 0:12:06.660 --> 0:12:08.819 Yeah, well, John, I've met quite a few Christians who 0:12:08.820 --> 0:12:11.340 believe this lie that they can't share their faith because 0:12:11.340 --> 0:12:15.030 they don't possess certain knowledge. As important as having Bible 0:12:15.059 --> 0:12:19.349 knowledge is, having faith in God's indwelling spirit is far 0:12:19.350 --> 0:12:22.650 superior than knowing all the answers to the Bible questions. 0:12:22.679 --> 0:12:24.840 Are we to study our Bibles so we can provide 0:12:24.840 --> 0:12:28.380 answers to people who ask? Absolutely. Let's study the Bible 0:12:28.380 --> 0:12:31.290 every day. But we do not have to be a 0:12:31.290 --> 0:12:34.620 greater Bible scholar than somebody else. Or we don't have 0:12:34.620 --> 0:12:37.410 to know the biblical languages in order to share the 0:12:37.410 --> 0:12:41.010 truth of the simple gospel with our Jewish friends. The 0:12:41.010 --> 0:12:43.530 New Testament teaches us that we plant and water in 0:12:43.530 --> 0:12:46.890 our ministries, but it's always God who gives the growth. 0:12:47.070 --> 0:12:50.730 Even if an individual possessed the right answer for every question, 0:12:50.730 --> 0:12:53.819 it still would not be our right answers that saved 0:12:53.820 --> 0:12:57.089 a person. It's always God who does the work of saving. 0:12:57.090 --> 0:12:59.309 So the next time, if you're hesitant to share your 0:12:59.309 --> 0:13:01.920 faith because you're afraid you'll lose a debate or you 0:13:01.920 --> 0:13:05.189 might not know the answer, just remember it's God working 0:13:05.190 --> 0:13:08.069 through the gospel message that has the ability to save, 0:13:08.070 --> 0:13:09.060 not us. 0:13:09.090 --> 0:13:13.920 Encouragement from Levi Hazen with life in Messiah. Hey, I 0:13:13.920 --> 0:13:17.130 want you to meet Dave Stotts. He's the slightly wild 0:13:17.130 --> 0:13:21.240 and crazy guy behind the wheel at Drive Thru History Adventures. 0:13:21.270 --> 0:13:24.870 Dave says of himself, I'm not a historian or scholar. 0:13:24.870 --> 0:13:27.870 I'm just a video guy who happens to love history. Oh, 0:13:27.870 --> 0:13:30.540 and did I mention that he loves theology too? His 0:13:30.540 --> 0:13:34.530 unique series, Drive Thru History, first roared onto the freeway 0:13:34.530 --> 0:13:37.890 back in 2003, and he's been at it ever since. 0:13:37.920 --> 0:13:40.800 Dave lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife Rebecca, and 0:13:40.800 --> 0:13:43.380 their two sons. Hey, Dave, I'm glad we could pull 0:13:43.380 --> 0:13:45.270 you over to the curb for a minute to stop 0:13:45.270 --> 0:13:47.400 and visit here on the land and the book. 0:13:47.400 --> 0:13:49.320 Thank you. John, it's great to be with you today. 0:13:49.320 --> 0:13:52.260 You're demonstrating just how easy it is to come up 0:13:52.260 --> 0:13:55.500 with driving metaphors and puns. I'll try to steer us 0:13:55.500 --> 0:13:56.310 in the right direction. 0:13:56.340 --> 0:13:58.679 Yeah, thank you for that. And I'll. I'll not be 0:13:58.679 --> 0:14:02.550 a backseat driver. But for somebody who's never joined you before, 0:14:02.550 --> 0:14:05.400 describe your drive through adventures. 0:14:05.610 --> 0:14:10.619 Yeah. Drive Through History is an on location history show 0:14:10.650 --> 0:14:15.360 with a driving theme, and we've done about a hundred 0:14:15.360 --> 0:14:19.230 shows so far, and we take viewers on a journey 0:14:19.230 --> 0:14:23.340 to explore the people, places and events of world history. 0:14:23.340 --> 0:14:26.220 And the purpose is to highlight what we believe to 0:14:26.250 --> 0:14:30.810 be the unmistakable fingerprints of God on earth and in history. 0:14:30.810 --> 0:14:34.920 It's his story. So we try to bring the past alive, 0:14:34.950 --> 0:14:37.950 give the viewer an epic journey with me to learn 0:14:37.950 --> 0:14:40.170 about history as kind of a global tour guide, and 0:14:40.170 --> 0:14:43.480 so we really love taking people on location. That's kind 0:14:43.480 --> 0:14:45.940 of the secret sauce of our of our show is 0:14:45.940 --> 0:14:49.660 to kind of remind people that, hey, stories in the Bible, 0:14:49.660 --> 0:14:53.050 they actually happened in time, space, history. There's a place 0:14:53.050 --> 0:14:56.140 on the map you can go and explore. You know, 0:14:56.170 --> 0:14:58.660 where it happened. And so we get to kind of 0:14:58.690 --> 0:15:01.870 conjure up that imagination in the viewer and give them 0:15:01.870 --> 0:15:06.040 a reminder that the Bible, while it is so much 0:15:06.040 --> 0:15:09.460 more than a history book, it's certainly no less than 0:15:09.460 --> 0:15:11.860 a history book. And it's got reliable stories that you 0:15:11.860 --> 0:15:12.850 can bank on. 0:15:12.880 --> 0:15:15.850 I'm amazed at the enormous variety in your subject matter. 0:15:15.850 --> 0:15:20.260 You've got Bible backroads, the Gospels, Acts to Revelation, and 0:15:20.260 --> 0:15:24.820 Bible Unearthed, a series on archaeology. What's your your grid 0:15:24.820 --> 0:15:27.190 for selecting a particular series? 0:15:27.280 --> 0:15:32.470 You know, we look at history as being a linear story, 0:15:32.470 --> 0:15:35.770 as having a beginning. It has a middle and it's 0:15:35.770 --> 0:15:39.010 going somewhere. It's got a plot and it's got a 0:15:39.010 --> 0:15:42.550 main character, if you will. So we're always sort of 0:15:42.580 --> 0:15:47.590 gravitating toward the Christian story, the biblical stories, because we 0:15:47.590 --> 0:15:51.190 believe that life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ is the 0:15:51.190 --> 0:15:55.870 linchpin on which history turns. And when you look at 0:15:55.870 --> 0:15:59.650 it through those lenses, John, we believe that it can 0:15:59.650 --> 0:16:03.730 get really exciting to explore history because you like you said, 0:16:03.850 --> 0:16:06.820 you sort of bring in theology with it as well, 0:16:06.820 --> 0:16:09.820 and you can see yourself as a viewer, as a 0:16:09.820 --> 0:16:13.989 participant in this narrative that God is weaving together from 0:16:13.990 --> 0:16:15.670 the beginning of time to the end. 0:16:15.700 --> 0:16:18.610 You've managed to catch up with Dave Stotz and his 0:16:18.610 --> 0:16:22.210 drive through history adventures. I'm John Gager. This is the 0:16:22.210 --> 0:16:25.090 land and the book. Having watched some of these videos, 0:16:25.090 --> 0:16:28.030 I have to say they're nicely paced. I love the 0:16:28.030 --> 0:16:31.330 use of humor, and I think that's important in today's generation. 0:16:31.480 --> 0:16:34.390 How did you land on a personality feel for this? 0:16:34.720 --> 0:16:37.450 Well, actually, you know, when we travel, that's just sort 0:16:37.480 --> 0:16:42.490 of my personality. I'm sure you've done your share of traveling. 0:16:42.550 --> 0:16:47.200 It's not always glamorous. In case you haven't noticed, it's 0:16:47.200 --> 0:16:49.930 kind of a pain. Sometimes. I love the quote from 0:16:49.930 --> 0:16:53.080 Bob Hope. I think he said something like, I love 0:16:53.080 --> 0:16:56.020 international travel. I've been to almost as many places as 0:16:56.020 --> 0:16:57.010 my luggage. 0:16:57.610 --> 0:16:58.180 You know. 0:16:58.210 --> 0:16:59.950 You get kind of tired of it, so you have 0:16:59.950 --> 0:17:03.640 to joke around and have fun. And that's kind of 0:17:03.640 --> 0:17:07.570 our approach. Have fun. And we've never thought that education 0:17:07.570 --> 0:17:12.430 and entertainment are mutually exclusive. I think we can have 0:17:12.430 --> 0:17:16.330 fun while you learn. And regularly. The feedback we get 0:17:16.330 --> 0:17:19.150 from our audience is that, you know, the humor, even 0:17:19.180 --> 0:17:21.760 though it's not wall to wall, we're not filling it 0:17:21.760 --> 0:17:25.240 up with gratuitous jokes all the time. Just a sprinkle 0:17:25.270 --> 0:17:28.810 here and there, right enough to give people this thought that, hey, 0:17:28.810 --> 0:17:31.389 what zany thing is he going to do next? You know, 0:17:31.420 --> 0:17:35.109 I'm not a I'm not an academic. I'm not an intellectual. 0:17:35.350 --> 0:17:37.720 I know just enough to be dangerous. But I do 0:17:37.730 --> 0:17:41.060 love history. And, uh, I'd like to have fun when I, 0:17:41.090 --> 0:17:43.250 when I travel and and when we go on these trips. 0:17:43.280 --> 0:17:46.100 And so hopefully a lot of that comes across on screen. 0:17:46.250 --> 0:17:50.240 I love watching the disclaimer on the screen. At the 0:17:50.240 --> 0:17:52.010 end of one of the video segments, it says, this 0:17:52.010 --> 0:17:55.369 video is intended to help you understand the Gospels, but 0:17:55.369 --> 0:17:59.210 there is no substitute for reading them yourself. I was 0:17:59.210 --> 0:18:01.939 grateful that you pushed people to the Bible itself. 0:18:01.970 --> 0:18:05.389 Yes, that was very important to us, because we certainly 0:18:05.390 --> 0:18:09.260 are not trying to give people an alternative to reading 0:18:09.260 --> 0:18:11.690 the Bible. That's the whole point, is we're trying to 0:18:11.720 --> 0:18:15.560 point people to the Bible and hold it up as 0:18:15.560 --> 0:18:19.939 being the priceless treasure that it is. And we think, 0:18:19.970 --> 0:18:22.910 you know, our little lane that we try to stay in. 0:18:22.940 --> 0:18:27.440 To use another driving metaphor, is to really highlight the 0:18:27.440 --> 0:18:30.890 historicity of the stories in the Bible. And I think 0:18:30.890 --> 0:18:34.459 that could give people confidence when they consider their faith 0:18:34.460 --> 0:18:39.340 that it's not just some philosophy that might be an 0:18:39.340 --> 0:18:43.119 optional thing on the table in a buffet of options. No, 0:18:43.119 --> 0:18:46.420 this actually happened in time space, history. You can have 0:18:46.420 --> 0:18:51.220 confidence that your faith is grounded in real history, real people, 0:18:51.220 --> 0:18:54.730 real places, and real events. And taking people on that 0:18:54.730 --> 0:18:58.300 journey to see where they took place is, is an adventure. 0:18:58.480 --> 0:19:00.730 And we think it really helps people learn and. 0:19:00.730 --> 0:19:03.850 You make it fun. Every video series features you driving 0:19:03.850 --> 0:19:06.640 in a car of some kind, and that car is 0:19:06.640 --> 0:19:09.640 from the country where you're shooting the video. But even 0:19:09.640 --> 0:19:11.920 your choice in vehicles has a bit of significance. Share 0:19:11.920 --> 0:19:12.760 a bit more. 0:19:12.940 --> 0:19:17.560 Yeah. You bet. Whether it's a vintage Alfa Romeo in 0:19:17.560 --> 0:19:21.490 Rome or a retro Mini Cooper in the UK, maybe 0:19:21.490 --> 0:19:24.760 it's an old Mercedes-Benz in Germany. You can see where 0:19:24.760 --> 0:19:27.550 I'm going with this. In Eastern Europe we had a 0:19:27.550 --> 0:19:31.930 car called a Lada, which is this Eastern European, very 0:19:31.930 --> 0:19:35.230 communist bloc. Look about it. In Japan, we drove a 0:19:35.260 --> 0:19:39.760 knockoff Corvette Stingray called a rock star. In America, it's 0:19:39.790 --> 0:19:42.040 often a Jeep, you know? So we let the car 0:19:42.070 --> 0:19:44.350 sort of be a metaphor for the place we're at. 0:19:44.350 --> 0:19:47.740 And I'll never forget the Alfa Romeo in Rome. We 0:19:47.770 --> 0:19:51.040 were driving around in Italy and we pulled over for gas, 0:19:51.040 --> 0:19:53.200 and we were pumping gas in the car, and I 0:19:53.200 --> 0:19:55.990 was the one holding the gas pump. And I just thought, man, 0:19:55.990 --> 0:19:58.360 how big is this fuel tank? It's never filling up. 0:19:58.390 --> 0:20:01.810 It just stood there for minutes. And we looked down 0:20:01.900 --> 0:20:04.750 and we were all standing in a puddle of gasoline 0:20:04.750 --> 0:20:08.200 because the fuel line had ruptured in this old vintage car. 0:20:08.350 --> 0:20:12.429 And the vintage cars look really cool on camera, but 0:20:12.430 --> 0:20:15.700 it's a mixed bag because you do sometimes break down. 0:20:15.730 --> 0:20:17.770 And that's happened on multiple occasions. 0:20:17.800 --> 0:20:20.080 All right. So we've got listeners here who are very 0:20:20.080 --> 0:20:23.199 Middle East focused, Israel focused. Talk about some of the 0:20:23.200 --> 0:20:25.810 things that they will be exposed to as they check 0:20:25.840 --> 0:20:29.260 out some of your series, From Acts to Revelation, the 0:20:29.290 --> 0:20:34.419 gospel's Bible, backroads archeology in particular I thought was fascinating. 0:20:34.420 --> 0:20:36.910 You have an archaeologist with you, a pro who does 0:20:36.910 --> 0:20:40.600 this for a living, and what can viewers expect? 0:20:40.630 --> 0:20:44.710 We traveled to about 50 locations all over Israel, and 0:20:44.710 --> 0:20:47.470 it really does sort of change the way you read 0:20:47.470 --> 0:20:50.679 the Bible. John, some of the geographical information, even the 0:20:50.680 --> 0:20:54.010 biographical information sort of leaps off the page because you're like, 0:20:54.040 --> 0:20:57.129 I've been there. I was at the birthplace of that man. 0:20:57.130 --> 0:21:00.310 And so we've been going there many times. We do 0:21:00.310 --> 0:21:04.570 have an archaeologist who is usually along with us on 0:21:04.570 --> 0:21:08.260 our travels. His name is Titus Kennedy, his friend. He's 0:21:08.260 --> 0:21:12.129 written some books. He really has a strong grasp of 0:21:12.130 --> 0:21:15.369 archaeology and of history. And, you know, he brings a 0:21:15.369 --> 0:21:18.880 lot of academic credibility to the content that you hear 0:21:18.910 --> 0:21:21.310 coming out of my mouth. But, you know, if you 0:21:21.310 --> 0:21:23.320 want to talk about Bible history, you're going to be 0:21:23.320 --> 0:21:26.170 going to Israel quite a lot now. These days, that 0:21:26.170 --> 0:21:28.960 travel has slowed down quite a bit for obvious reasons, 0:21:28.960 --> 0:21:32.020 but we're excited. We'd love to go back at some 0:21:32.020 --> 0:21:34.300 point in the not too distant future. But you mentioned 0:21:34.330 --> 0:21:37.270 the latest stuff. It's called Bible Backroads. That's mostly a 0:21:37.270 --> 0:21:40.119 studio based program that we've been working on for a 0:21:40.119 --> 0:21:43.300 couple of years, and we sort of take viewers from 0:21:43.300 --> 0:21:46.480 the studio out to a lot of the content that 0:21:46.480 --> 0:21:50.470 we've acquired from Israel and all over the Mediterranean region 0:21:50.500 --> 0:21:54.490 on these huge screens behind me, as I'm in the studio, 0:21:54.490 --> 0:21:58.330 it's almost like kind of a mr. Rogers, because it's 0:21:58.330 --> 0:22:01.270 all it's a garage theme. So I've got my Jeep 0:22:01.270 --> 0:22:04.210 in there. I've got all my garage kitsch and all 0:22:04.210 --> 0:22:07.570 my paraphernalia that I've acquired over my travels all over 0:22:07.570 --> 0:22:11.230 the world. We use that with TV monitors and screens 0:22:11.230 --> 0:22:13.960 all over the place to really let this footage and 0:22:13.960 --> 0:22:17.560 this content we've acquired over the last really 20 years 0:22:17.590 --> 0:22:19.720 all over the world, and let that be a way 0:22:19.720 --> 0:22:22.390 to introduce people to our stuff that way. 0:22:22.420 --> 0:22:25.210 What kind of reactions have you received to these videos? 0:22:25.210 --> 0:22:29.350 I'm sure you've got church members, you've got homeschoolers, families, 0:22:29.350 --> 0:22:31.960 all kinds of folks who are on board with you. 0:22:32.920 --> 0:22:35.619 We do. We get a lot of feedback. A lot 0:22:35.619 --> 0:22:39.190 of our dialogue and traffic takes place on Facebook, and 0:22:39.190 --> 0:22:41.530 that's an easy way for people to kind of engage 0:22:41.530 --> 0:22:46.720 with us and get little highlights and updates on what's 0:22:46.720 --> 0:22:50.320 dropping next. But yes, a lot of our audience are 0:22:50.320 --> 0:22:52.659 homeschool families, and we didn't even know that at first. 0:22:52.690 --> 0:22:56.170 We started really 20 years ago, started making these shows, 0:22:56.170 --> 0:23:00.970 and our broadcast partner has been TBN, Trinity Broadcasting, and 0:23:00.970 --> 0:23:04.240 we just sort of kept making the shows, assuming that 0:23:04.240 --> 0:23:06.880 it was finding an audience out there somewhere. And when 0:23:06.880 --> 0:23:10.030 we dug in, we realized that a significant percentage of 0:23:10.030 --> 0:23:13.540 our audience are homeschool families who use our shows as 0:23:13.570 --> 0:23:17.649 sort of a supplement to their history and Bible curriculum. 0:23:17.650 --> 0:23:21.850 So we've really had homeschool families sort of living in 0:23:21.850 --> 0:23:25.270 our heads rent free for quite a while because we 0:23:25.270 --> 0:23:28.149 try to we try to check all the boxes, make 0:23:28.150 --> 0:23:31.550 it entertaining and An engaging and something that a young 0:23:31.550 --> 0:23:35.300 person would find interesting and entertaining and fun, but at 0:23:35.300 --> 0:23:40.969 the same time make it really robust with information and content, 0:23:41.000 --> 0:23:45.139 rich and dense with history. And what we found is 0:23:45.140 --> 0:23:47.330 that a lot of these homeschool families, they watch the 0:23:47.330 --> 0:23:50.420 shows multiple times because they hear things they didn't hear 0:23:50.420 --> 0:23:51.470 the first time they saw the. 0:23:51.470 --> 0:23:54.470 Shows, right? Boy, a lot of good stuff. And there's 0:23:54.470 --> 0:23:57.470 so much more to talk about. You'll find it all 0:23:57.470 --> 0:24:00.170 at the Drive Through History Adventures website, which we'll link 0:24:00.170 --> 0:24:04.850 you to at our website. The land and the book.org. Dave, 0:24:04.850 --> 0:24:06.890 what's ahead for you guys? Anything you're looking at that 0:24:06.890 --> 0:24:09.379 would be of interest to land and the book listeners. 0:24:10.040 --> 0:24:14.240 We are really investing in our online platform right now, 0:24:14.240 --> 0:24:17.750 and it's called Drive Through History Adventures, and it's all 0:24:17.750 --> 0:24:21.679 our shows, but they are delivered in the context of 0:24:21.680 --> 0:24:25.850 curriculum and education. Now, you can watch the shows kind 0:24:25.850 --> 0:24:29.150 of on their own, but they're designed to go alongside 0:24:29.150 --> 0:24:33.740 with extra readings and footnotes and citations and links to 0:24:33.770 --> 0:24:37.340 other things and articles, and it allows you to really 0:24:37.340 --> 0:24:41.659 dig deeper into the next level of the context of 0:24:41.660 --> 0:24:45.139 these programs. And so we've we've been building an audience 0:24:45.140 --> 0:24:49.610 that way and point people to that educational resource and 0:24:49.640 --> 0:24:54.620 are really excited about how it's growing and finding new audiences. 0:24:54.650 --> 0:24:58.580 I mean, the homeschool community is growing by leaps and bounds. 0:24:58.609 --> 0:25:01.490 You know, Covid really influenced a lot of families to 0:25:01.520 --> 0:25:06.260 consider homeschooling. And so we have seen our audience grow, 0:25:06.260 --> 0:25:11.540 and we are certainly invested in making more content for that. 0:25:11.570 --> 0:25:14.990 We've done a lot on the Bible, so that stuff's 0:25:14.990 --> 0:25:16.939 always going to be there. And now we're sort of 0:25:16.970 --> 0:25:22.040 considering maybe doing more on how did Christianity influence North 0:25:22.040 --> 0:25:26.990 America and look at some eras in our own recent history. 0:25:27.020 --> 0:25:30.859 And sometimes that's going to be looking at stories involving America, 0:25:30.859 --> 0:25:34.219 how it was born, some of the wars. Civil war, 0:25:34.250 --> 0:25:37.909 World War two, things like that, that families are interested 0:25:37.910 --> 0:25:39.650 in making sure their kids grow. 0:25:39.650 --> 0:25:40.699 Up learning about. 0:25:40.790 --> 0:25:43.820 Dave starts with drive Through History Adventures, a link to 0:25:43.850 --> 0:25:48.350 his website at ours, the land and the book.org. Thanks 0:25:48.350 --> 0:25:50.689 for putting the pedal to the metal and making the 0:25:50.690 --> 0:25:53.240 drive with us. Charlie Dyer is back in the car 0:25:53.240 --> 0:26:07.400 next here on the land and the book. Few things 0:26:07.400 --> 0:26:11.359 are more satisfying than puzzling over something and finally getting 0:26:11.359 --> 0:26:14.300 an answer. Well, that's what this next segment is all about. 0:26:14.330 --> 0:26:17.180 On the land and the book. Welcome back. Our host, 0:26:17.180 --> 0:26:20.419 Doctor Charlie Dyer, has his Bible open a smile on 0:26:20.420 --> 0:26:23.570 his face because he loves this. Your questions, no matter 0:26:23.570 --> 0:26:27.619 how challenging, don't make him sweat. They make me sweat, though. 0:26:27.830 --> 0:26:29.840 All right, before we get to that first question, think 0:26:29.840 --> 0:26:32.929 about this. Fall is here again. And that means that 0:26:32.930 --> 0:26:36.440 the Jewish high Holidays are right around the corner. These 0:26:36.440 --> 0:26:39.620 biblical feasts have been celebrated for thousands of years, but 0:26:39.619 --> 0:26:42.980 this year, boy has added weight and significance as Jewish 0:26:42.980 --> 0:26:46.280 people around the world mark one year since the brutal 0:26:46.280 --> 0:26:49.850 attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists. Boy, lots to think 0:26:49.850 --> 0:26:50.869 about there, Charlie. 0:26:50.900 --> 0:26:52.939 Yeah, there is John. And our friends at Life and 0:26:52.940 --> 0:26:55.610 Messiah want to help you learn more about the fall feasts, 0:26:55.609 --> 0:26:58.580 the significance they have for us as believers in Jesus, 0:26:58.580 --> 0:27:01.520 and how to stand with Jewish people during this time. 0:27:01.550 --> 0:27:05.659 They're offering a live zoom teaching session where their knowledgeable 0:27:05.660 --> 0:27:09.409 field staff will walk you through the history and significance 0:27:09.410 --> 0:27:12.170 of the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and 0:27:12.170 --> 0:27:15.080 the Feast of Tabernacles. You'll also hear how you can 0:27:15.080 --> 0:27:17.990 use these holidays as a point of connection with your 0:27:17.990 --> 0:27:21.290 Jewish neighbors, to show and share the love of Jesus 0:27:21.290 --> 0:27:24.169 with them. To sign up for this free teaching, all 0:27:24.170 --> 0:27:27.260 you have to do is visit Life in Messiah org, 0:27:27.260 --> 0:27:30.170 click on the Moody Radio logo and sign up. Be 0:27:30.170 --> 0:27:32.900 sure to sign up today and find out the fascinating 0:27:32.900 --> 0:27:38.899 connections between these feasts and Jesus at Life in messiah.org. 0:27:38.930 --> 0:27:41.450 I love the fact that Alan's question kicking things off 0:27:41.450 --> 0:27:44.600 today points us toward the return of Jesus future events. 0:27:44.630 --> 0:27:47.720 That's really where our hearts should be, says Colossians. He 0:27:47.720 --> 0:27:51.140 takes us, though, to first Thessalonians chapter four, where verses 0:27:51.140 --> 0:27:55.129 13 through 17 say, the dead in Christ will rise first. 0:27:55.130 --> 0:27:57.470 And Alan wants to know Charlie, is there an order 0:27:57.470 --> 0:28:01.070 dependent in the rapture sequence that anybody who is alive 0:28:01.070 --> 0:28:03.470 at the time of the rapture goes to the back 0:28:03.470 --> 0:28:05.449 of the line when entering heaven? 0:28:05.480 --> 0:28:07.760 Yeah. And I need to answer this two ways. First, 0:28:07.790 --> 0:28:10.250 there is a specific order given by Paul in first 0:28:10.250 --> 0:28:12.949 Thessalonians four. You know when he says, the dead in 0:28:12.950 --> 0:28:15.889 Christ will rise first. The words protos, which has the 0:28:15.890 --> 0:28:19.010 idea of being first in a succession of items or events. 0:28:19.010 --> 0:28:23.689 So in that sense, their resurrection and glorification does happen 0:28:23.690 --> 0:28:26.119 prior to the transformation of those of us who are 0:28:26.119 --> 0:28:29.180 still alive. And Paul says this to support his words 0:28:29.180 --> 0:28:31.580 in verse 15, that those of us who are still 0:28:31.580 --> 0:28:34.609 alive at that time will in no way take priority 0:28:34.609 --> 0:28:37.460 or precede those who have died. Now I need to 0:28:37.490 --> 0:28:40.790 balance that, though, in Paul's message to the Corinthians. In 0:28:40.790 --> 0:28:44.960 first Corinthians 15, verses 51 and 52, Paul says that 0:28:44.960 --> 0:28:48.050 entire process, that is, those who are asleep and those 0:28:48.050 --> 0:28:50.480 who are still alive, who are caught up to be 0:28:50.480 --> 0:28:53.210 with Jesus will happen. He says in a moment, in 0:28:53.210 --> 0:28:55.490 the twinkling of an eye. Now the word for moment 0:28:55.490 --> 0:28:58.790 is the Greek word atomos, which refers to an individual 0:28:58.790 --> 0:29:01.070 moment of time that can't be split. We get our 0:29:01.070 --> 0:29:04.160 word atom from it, and Paul further describes it as 0:29:04.160 --> 0:29:06.590 happening in the blink of an eye. So if I 0:29:06.620 --> 0:29:09.470 summarize it all, there's an order in the resurrection. But 0:29:09.470 --> 0:29:12.140 if we're still alive when it happens, we'll only be 0:29:12.170 --> 0:29:15.110 half a blink behind those who have already died. And 0:29:15.110 --> 0:29:16.850 I don't think we need to worry about waiting in 0:29:16.850 --> 0:29:18.980 line when we arrive. I think God has all those 0:29:18.980 --> 0:29:20.630 logistics already worked out. 0:29:20.660 --> 0:29:23.900 Chris wants to know, biblically speaking, what's the difference between 0:29:23.900 --> 0:29:27.500 being stubborn and having a hardened heart? For Christian, what 0:29:27.530 --> 0:29:30.620 are the dangers of being stubborn and and when does 0:29:30.620 --> 0:29:33.650 stubbornness turn into a hardened heart? Well, you. 0:29:33.650 --> 0:29:36.080 Know, biblically, I think stubbornness and a hardened heart are 0:29:36.080 --> 0:29:39.050 very similar. You know, I love the prophets. And several 0:29:39.050 --> 0:29:42.200 passages there illustrate that, you know, when God called Ezekiel 0:29:42.230 --> 0:29:43.850 as a prophet, he said, I want to make your 0:29:43.850 --> 0:29:47.300 forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not 0:29:47.300 --> 0:29:49.520 be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they 0:29:49.520 --> 0:29:52.250 are a rebellious house. You know, Ezekiel needed to be 0:29:52.250 --> 0:29:56.240 stubborn and persistent, forehead like flint, because he'd be facing 0:29:56.270 --> 0:30:00.200 a nation that was absolutely stubborn in its rebellion against God. 0:30:00.530 --> 0:30:04.190 So there are times when steadfastness or stubbornness is a 0:30:04.190 --> 0:30:06.860 good thing. In describing the servant of the Lord in 0:30:06.860 --> 0:30:09.620 Isaiah 50. It's one of the servant songs that point 0:30:09.650 --> 0:30:12.410 to the work of Jesus. It says there because the 0:30:12.410 --> 0:30:14.990 sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore 0:30:15.020 --> 0:30:17.570 I have set my face like flint, and no, I 0:30:17.570 --> 0:30:19.820 will not be put to shame. So the servant was 0:30:19.820 --> 0:30:23.580 determined to accomplish God's will, even when it involved being 0:30:23.580 --> 0:30:26.640 mocked and spit upon. Now. Okay, let me land the 0:30:26.640 --> 0:30:29.340 plane here. Stubbornness and determination are two sides of the 0:30:29.340 --> 0:30:32.220 same coin. It's a commitment to continue in a certain 0:30:32.220 --> 0:30:35.910 direction no matter what. Now, ultimately, the force of character 0:30:35.910 --> 0:30:38.700 can be either good or bad, depending on the relationship 0:30:38.700 --> 0:30:40.800 the person has to God and to his or her 0:30:40.800 --> 0:30:44.220 willingness to submit to God. So Ezekiel and Jesus were 0:30:44.220 --> 0:30:47.520 unwavering in their determination that in spite of pressure, they 0:30:47.520 --> 0:30:49.800 were going to stick with God and do what God wants. 0:30:49.830 --> 0:30:53.070 That's positive. But those who refuse to accept God and 0:30:53.070 --> 0:30:55.860 His Word, and the advice of godly people and who 0:30:55.860 --> 0:31:00.030 stubbornly follow their own ways, they're foolish. So all that 0:31:00.030 --> 0:31:02.340 to say, those who are stubborn and who refuse to 0:31:02.370 --> 0:31:04.830 submit their will to that of the Lord do open 0:31:04.830 --> 0:31:08.370 themselves up to the results of foolish, sinful choices. 0:31:08.400 --> 0:31:12.150 Rene's question takes us to geopolitical tensions. She says, I 0:31:12.150 --> 0:31:14.700 know you have your sources, but the threats by Hezbollah 0:31:14.700 --> 0:31:18.330 and their leader, Nasrallah, make my blood run cold. What 0:31:18.330 --> 0:31:19.170 are you hearing? 0:31:19.200 --> 0:31:21.920 Well, part of what Nasrallah says is a bluff. He's 0:31:21.920 --> 0:31:25.400 intending to keep Israel from attacking, and that's also true. 0:31:25.550 --> 0:31:28.760 He published some drone footage they had taken showing potential 0:31:28.790 --> 0:31:31.580 targets in Haifa and Tel Aviv. So if Israel and 0:31:31.580 --> 0:31:34.430 Hezbollah do get into an all out war, Hezbollah can 0:31:34.430 --> 0:31:38.120 inflict damage on Israel. But Israel will also inflict terrible 0:31:38.120 --> 0:31:41.660 damage on them and on Lebanon. So one difference between 0:31:41.660 --> 0:31:44.510 the war with Hamas and any potential future war with 0:31:44.510 --> 0:31:47.810 Hezbollah is that Hamas surprised Israel. They were able to 0:31:47.840 --> 0:31:52.340 capture hostages. Israel has evacuated tens of thousands of Israelis 0:31:52.340 --> 0:31:55.370 from its border with Lebanon to take that option away 0:31:55.370 --> 0:31:58.310 from Hezbollah, so they won't be hindered by any worries 0:31:58.310 --> 0:32:00.500 over hostages. But now, let me put it all in 0:32:00.500 --> 0:32:04.220 a biblical perspective. I go back to some foundational passages 0:32:04.400 --> 0:32:06.920 in Genesis 12 three. God said he'll bless those who 0:32:06.920 --> 0:32:10.310 bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. Well, that 0:32:10.310 --> 0:32:13.280 tells me where Nasrallah is in relationship to the God 0:32:13.280 --> 0:32:16.580 of the universe. In Zechariah 12 three, God talked about 0:32:16.580 --> 0:32:20.000 what will happen to the nation that threatens Jerusalem in 0:32:20.000 --> 0:32:22.070 the last days, he said. On that day, when all 0:32:22.070 --> 0:32:24.290 the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I 0:32:24.290 --> 0:32:27.350 will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. 0:32:27.350 --> 0:32:30.500 All who try to move it will injure themselves. Now 0:32:30.500 --> 0:32:33.440 that tells me how to put those threats by Nasrallah 0:32:33.440 --> 0:32:37.160 and others in perspective. In Psalm 83, the psalmist wrote, 0:32:37.160 --> 0:32:39.500 O God, do not keep silent. Do not be quiet. 0:32:39.530 --> 0:32:42.320 Do not be still. See how your enemies are astir. 0:32:42.350 --> 0:32:45.950 Know your foes rear their heads with cunning. They conspire 0:32:45.950 --> 0:32:49.700 against your people. They plot against your cherished. Come, they say. 0:32:49.700 --> 0:32:52.460 Let's destroy them as a nation. And then, if you 0:32:52.460 --> 0:32:54.770 want to keep reading that Psalm 83, just read verses 0:32:54.770 --> 0:32:57.410 13 to 18 and we're told how that story is 0:32:57.410 --> 0:32:58.370 going to end. 0:32:58.400 --> 0:33:01.520 You're listening to The Land and the book from Moody Radio. 0:33:01.520 --> 0:33:05.030 Questions and answers. Our focus. This segment, Mary, takes us 0:33:05.030 --> 0:33:09.590 to Romans 11, explaining Elijah's plea to God against Israel. 0:33:09.620 --> 0:33:12.140 But in verse four, God tells Elijah that he has 0:33:12.140 --> 0:33:15.920 kept for himself 7000 men who have not bowed down 0:33:15.920 --> 0:33:18.570 to Baal. What about women, she asks. How were they 0:33:18.600 --> 0:33:22.020 saved in acts 16? It looks like Lydia wasn't married, 0:33:22.020 --> 0:33:24.810 but she wants to be a Christian, and Peter tells 0:33:24.810 --> 0:33:27.959 wives how to respect and show love to their unbelieving husbands. 0:33:27.960 --> 0:33:32.340 So please explain women's accountability to God in terms of salvation, 0:33:32.340 --> 0:33:35.340 especially prior to Christ's death and resurrection. 0:33:35.370 --> 0:33:37.710 Yeah, and as I started to say, though, some passages 0:33:37.710 --> 0:33:40.709 like that Elijah one mentioned men, I believe the entire 0:33:40.710 --> 0:33:43.260 message of the Bible is that God's plan of salvation 0:33:43.260 --> 0:33:45.840 is for all humanity, male and female. And it's the 0:33:45.840 --> 0:33:49.350 same when John 316 says, God loved the world, that 0:33:49.350 --> 0:33:51.810 he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes 0:33:51.810 --> 0:33:54.960 in him should not perish but have eternal life. Those 0:33:54.960 --> 0:33:57.960 words are intended to be inclusive without regard to gender. Now, 0:33:57.960 --> 0:34:00.630 it's true that much of the biblical account focuses on 0:34:00.630 --> 0:34:03.510 the exploits and faith of men, but it doesn't do 0:34:03.510 --> 0:34:06.390 so to the exclusion of women. I love the images 0:34:06.390 --> 0:34:10.320 of faith presented by Rahab at Jericho, or by Deborah 0:34:10.320 --> 0:34:12.690 in the Book of Judges, by Ruth, and in the 0:34:12.690 --> 0:34:15.150 book that has her name and the portrait of a 0:34:15.150 --> 0:34:18.660 wife of noble character in Proverbs 31 is remarkable. Now, 0:34:18.660 --> 0:34:21.450 in the New Testament, Lydia, as you mentioned, is an 0:34:21.450 --> 0:34:24.870 amazing woman who is the first convert to Christianity in Europe. 0:34:24.870 --> 0:34:27.960 So whether before or after the death of Christ, faith 0:34:27.960 --> 0:34:30.029 came by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 0:34:30.030 --> 0:34:33.600 And both women and men responded to that message. 0:34:33.630 --> 0:34:36.570 Romans six verse seven says, for when a person dies, 0:34:36.570 --> 0:34:39.120 he's set free from the power of sin. But what 0:34:39.120 --> 0:34:42.030 about the death of an unbeliever? Death for an unbeliever 0:34:42.030 --> 0:34:44.220 wouldn't set them free from the power of sin, if 0:34:44.250 --> 0:34:47.190 at death they're separated from God for eternity and they 0:34:47.190 --> 0:34:50.250 will exist in eternal torment, so does Romans six, verse 0:34:50.250 --> 0:34:53.340 seven refer to the death only of an unbeliever. Yeah. 0:34:53.370 --> 0:34:55.950 And the passage really isn't focusing on the death of 0:34:55.950 --> 0:34:59.009 an unbeliever. In fact, Paul uses two extended clauses in 0:34:59.040 --> 0:35:03.000 that section. The first, it's verses five through seven, explains 0:35:03.000 --> 0:35:06.450 the reality of our becoming united with Christ in his death. 0:35:06.630 --> 0:35:09.270 It's more properly beginning. In verse five he says, since 0:35:09.270 --> 0:35:12.120 we have been united with him like this. And then 0:35:12.120 --> 0:35:16.960 the second clause begins in verse eight and would be translated, now, 0:35:16.960 --> 0:35:19.359 since we've died with Christ, we believe that we'll live 0:35:19.360 --> 0:35:22.210 with him. Now. In that last clause, Paul's describing how 0:35:22.239 --> 0:35:25.719 our old self was crucified together with Christ on the cross. 0:35:25.930 --> 0:35:28.989 In verse seven, Paul is then continuing his argument. The 0:35:28.989 --> 0:35:31.870 word for freed comes from the word meaning to pronounce 0:35:31.870 --> 0:35:34.630 righteous or to justify, and the word is in the 0:35:34.630 --> 0:35:38.440 perfect tense, describing a past act with continuing results. And 0:35:38.440 --> 0:35:41.020 his point is that since our old self was crucified 0:35:41.020 --> 0:35:43.450 with Christ, we've been freed in the sense of having 0:35:43.450 --> 0:35:46.509 been declared righteous because of Christ's death for us. So 0:35:46.510 --> 0:35:49.810 it's referring to the continued standing of a believer because 0:35:49.810 --> 0:35:52.390 of what Christ's death for us was on the cross. 0:35:52.420 --> 0:35:55.450 Mark wants to know what is the High Sabbath referred 0:35:55.450 --> 0:35:58.660 to in John 19. This is used so often by 0:35:58.660 --> 0:36:02.859 cults to prove Jesus resurrection, along with John 1240, which 0:36:02.860 --> 0:36:04.029 was on the Sabbath. 0:36:04.180 --> 0:36:08.410 Yeah. Well, John 1931 literally says for great the day 0:36:08.410 --> 0:36:11.259 that one of the Sabbath. Or we might smooth it 0:36:11.260 --> 0:36:13.650 out to say, for the day of the Sabbath was great. 0:36:13.680 --> 0:36:17.040 I believe John is simply saying this particular Sabbath was 0:36:17.040 --> 0:36:20.700 special or great, because it occurred just after Passover. In 0:36:20.700 --> 0:36:24.000 response to those who think Jesus was resurrected on the Sabbath. 0:36:24.030 --> 0:36:27.390 I think Mark 1542 clearly shows the day of the 0:36:27.390 --> 0:36:30.360 crucifixion was the day before the start of the Sabbath, 0:36:30.390 --> 0:36:32.880 because it says when evening had come, because it was 0:36:32.880 --> 0:36:35.489 the preparation day, that is the day before the Sabbath. 0:36:35.520 --> 0:36:37.890 And then, of course, all four Gospels make it clear 0:36:37.890 --> 0:36:40.620 that Jesus was resurrected on Sunday. 0:36:40.830 --> 0:36:43.200 Boy, a lot of questions today. Thank you for sending 0:36:43.200 --> 0:36:48.720 yours in to the land and the book@moody.edu. Stick around. 0:37:01.530 --> 0:37:04.470 If you're a horse lover. This next segment is just 0:37:04.469 --> 0:37:07.170 for you. Welcome back to the land and the book. 0:37:07.200 --> 0:37:10.350 I'm John Gager with our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer. Where 0:37:10.350 --> 0:37:12.399 are we going with today's devotional, Charlie. 0:37:12.580 --> 0:37:14.950 Uh, John, we're going to visit horse town in Mark 0:37:14.950 --> 0:37:15.850 chapter five. 0:37:15.850 --> 0:37:18.279 I'm looking forward to that. Before we get there, though, 0:37:18.310 --> 0:37:21.010 let's pause and listen to this testimony from somebody who's 0:37:21.010 --> 0:37:23.740 traveled to Israel and wants to share this perspective with 0:37:23.739 --> 0:37:24.580 you and me. 0:37:28.420 --> 0:37:32.140 My name is Elizabeth Lightbody, and my Holy Land experience 0:37:32.140 --> 0:37:38.230 was one that I hadn't really anticipated would be so colorful. 0:37:38.290 --> 0:37:42.339 I remember so often that Doctor Dyer would say, when 0:37:42.340 --> 0:37:45.250 you go to the Holy Land, your scripture goes from 0:37:45.250 --> 0:37:48.459 black and white to color, and I really don't think 0:37:48.460 --> 0:37:53.230 I believed him as he would say that. But I 0:37:53.230 --> 0:37:56.620 must say that as I began to read scripture, my 0:37:56.620 --> 0:37:59.530 mind would always go back to those events and where 0:37:59.530 --> 0:38:04.930 Jesus had been, the picking up a stone and thinking 0:38:04.930 --> 0:38:08.080 that that was the very valley that David had picked 0:38:08.080 --> 0:38:12.569 up a stone to kill Goliath, but it reminds me 0:38:12.570 --> 0:38:18.180 again and again that it was God's hand that gave. 0:38:18.210 --> 0:38:23.279 Strength to David as he flung that and killed a giant. 0:38:23.310 --> 0:38:27.120 Thinking about giants in my own life, and my allowing 0:38:27.120 --> 0:38:31.259 Jesus to be the one that takes the stones that 0:38:31.260 --> 0:38:36.000 are around me. His scriptures and slays the the giants 0:38:36.000 --> 0:38:41.489 that I, I struggle with daily. I highly recommend the 0:38:41.489 --> 0:38:44.700 trip to Israel. It will change your life. 0:38:46.440 --> 0:38:49.770 All right, horse town. I'm intrigued. Charlie, where are we going? 0:38:49.800 --> 0:38:52.080 Well, John, we're going to be heading to an ancient 0:38:52.110 --> 0:38:55.020 town that had two names. But those two names had 0:38:55.020 --> 0:38:58.109 one meaning. Now, that sounds confusing, but if it does, 0:38:58.110 --> 0:39:00.419 follow me as we head into one of Israel's newest 0:39:00.420 --> 0:39:04.590 national parks. Well, I'm breathing a little heavier after that 0:39:04.590 --> 0:39:07.020 uphill walk. It's a good spot right here to stop 0:39:07.020 --> 0:39:09.810 and rest. And. And while you're catching your breath. Let 0:39:09.810 --> 0:39:13.890 me introduce you to the ancient city of Susita or hippos. 0:39:13.890 --> 0:39:18.030 Susita comes from sus, the Hebrew word for horse. And hippos, 0:39:18.030 --> 0:39:20.400 of course, is the Greek word for horse. You might 0:39:20.430 --> 0:39:23.130 have learned that somewhere back in school, when you learned 0:39:23.130 --> 0:39:26.100 about the word hippopotamus. That comes from two Greek words 0:39:26.100 --> 0:39:30.330 hippos for horse and potamus for river. But where we're 0:39:30.330 --> 0:39:33.030 standing today, it doesn't matter whether you use the Hebrew 0:39:33.030 --> 0:39:36.630 name or the Greek name. Either way, this is horse town. 0:39:36.660 --> 0:39:39.750 Hippos was one of the group of ten Hellenistic cities 0:39:39.750 --> 0:39:42.029 on the eastern end of the Roman Empire. At the 0:39:42.030 --> 0:39:45.810 time of the New Testament they were collectively called the Decapolis, 0:39:45.840 --> 0:39:49.110 which is the Greek meaning ten cities. And no, this 0:39:49.110 --> 0:39:52.319 isn't a Greek lesson today. That's the last Greek word 0:39:52.320 --> 0:39:56.069 I'll use so you can breathe easier. Susita or hippos 0:39:56.100 --> 0:39:59.370 is one of the northernmost of the towns in the Decapolis. 0:39:59.400 --> 0:40:02.370 Look just over to the west and you can see 0:40:02.370 --> 0:40:05.610 that this town is sitting almost halfway up the eastern 0:40:05.610 --> 0:40:07.950 side of the Sea of Galilee. Now we think of 0:40:07.950 --> 0:40:10.020 the Sea of Galilee as being a Jewish area in 0:40:10.020 --> 0:40:12.899 the time of Jesus, and much of it was. But 0:40:12.900 --> 0:40:15.810 starting here and heading south all the way to modern 0:40:15.810 --> 0:40:20.430 day Amman, Jordan, was an area dominated by Greek speaking gentiles. 0:40:20.460 --> 0:40:22.560 A ridge of land just to the north of where 0:40:22.560 --> 0:40:26.280 we're standing was the dividing line between the Jews and Gentiles. 0:40:26.280 --> 0:40:29.280 On this side of the lake. As you can see, 0:40:29.310 --> 0:40:32.489 hippos provides an impressive view of the Sea of Galilee. 0:40:32.520 --> 0:40:35.730 Just across the lake is the city of Tiberius, and 0:40:35.730 --> 0:40:38.220 just to the north of Tiberius, you can make out 0:40:38.219 --> 0:40:41.100 the silhouette of Mount Arbel, with its steep cliff that 0:40:41.100 --> 0:40:44.430 provides a panoramic view of the lake from that side. 0:40:44.460 --> 0:40:47.070 Continue north along the lake, and you soon come to 0:40:47.100 --> 0:40:50.219 the cities where Jesus spent most of his time. In fact, 0:40:50.219 --> 0:40:53.820 most of Jesus's ministry in Galilee focused on the towns 0:40:53.820 --> 0:40:57.779 along the northern edge of the lake. Archaeologists excavating here 0:40:57.780 --> 0:41:00.630 have discovered the remains of eight different churches from the 0:41:00.630 --> 0:41:03.989 Byzantine period. That's a lot of churches for a relatively 0:41:03.989 --> 0:41:07.080 small city. They've also uncovered the remains of a theatre 0:41:07.080 --> 0:41:09.870 and an odeon, which is a smaller theatre used for 0:41:09.870 --> 0:41:13.830 musical performances and poetry readings, and they found remains of 0:41:13.830 --> 0:41:16.740 the main street that extended from east to west through 0:41:16.739 --> 0:41:20.100 the centre of the town. This was a thoroughly modern town, 0:41:20.100 --> 0:41:23.430 but it wasn't perfect. See that row of columns that 0:41:23.430 --> 0:41:26.640 are toppled over over there? Much like the larger cities 0:41:26.640 --> 0:41:29.700 of Beit She'an and Jerash to the south, Hippus was 0:41:29.700 --> 0:41:33.270 destroyed by a massive earthquake that tore through this region 0:41:33.270 --> 0:41:36.930 in 749 AD. On the far west side of town 0:41:36.930 --> 0:41:39.750 is a church, sometimes called the Burnt Church because it 0:41:39.750 --> 0:41:43.080 was destroyed by fire, possibly by the Persians in the 0:41:43.080 --> 0:41:46.859 early seventh century. What makes this church so special are 0:41:46.860 --> 0:41:50.670 the inscriptions and the mosaics discovered there. But to explain 0:41:50.670 --> 0:41:53.489 why these mosaics are so important, I need to share 0:41:53.489 --> 0:41:57.330 a second reason. This site is significant. To our north, 0:41:57.330 --> 0:42:00.150 in the far northeastern end of the Sea of Galilee, 0:42:00.150 --> 0:42:03.660 is where Jesus fed the 5000, and the actual number 0:42:03.660 --> 0:42:07.140 fed was much greater. Matthew says there were 5000 men 0:42:07.140 --> 0:42:10.320 besides women and children. There could have been as many 0:42:10.320 --> 0:42:13.560 as 10,000 who were fed. We don't know the exact 0:42:13.560 --> 0:42:16.230 spot where that miracle took place, but we do know 0:42:16.260 --> 0:42:19.739 it was somewhere to our north, not very many miles away. 0:42:19.770 --> 0:42:21.840 So what does that miracle have to do with this 0:42:21.840 --> 0:42:25.680 town and more specifically with that particular church? Well, as 0:42:25.680 --> 0:42:29.069 the archaeologists began uncovering the mosaics on the floor, they 0:42:29.070 --> 0:42:33.810 discovered baskets with something inside. 12 baskets filled with something. 0:42:33.810 --> 0:42:37.830 And while some suggest they represent fruit, the archaeologist believes 0:42:37.830 --> 0:42:40.500 the number is significant. He thinks they could represent the 0:42:40.500 --> 0:42:44.070 12 baskets of leftover bread that were collected once the 0:42:44.070 --> 0:42:47.430 multitude had been fed. But there's a third reason we've 0:42:47.430 --> 0:42:49.350 come to this site today, and it might just be 0:42:49.350 --> 0:42:51.810 the most important one of all. You see, this is 0:42:51.810 --> 0:42:55.469 the hometown of the demon possessed man healed by Jesus. 0:42:55.469 --> 0:42:58.529 And from here we can gain new insight into that event. 0:42:58.560 --> 0:43:01.770 The gospel accounts record several different names for the place 0:43:01.770 --> 0:43:06.069 where Jesus encountered the man possessed by a legion of demons. 0:43:06.070 --> 0:43:09.220 Matthew records the exact spot where it happened. While Mark 0:43:09.219 --> 0:43:11.710 and Luke record the nearest major town that would have 0:43:11.710 --> 0:43:15.250 been known to their Roman and Greek audiences. Matthew places 0:43:15.250 --> 0:43:18.580 the event at Gergesa, a seaside village just over the 0:43:18.580 --> 0:43:22.090 ridge of land to our north, about four miles away. Now, 0:43:22.090 --> 0:43:25.000 you probably remember most of the details from that story. 0:43:25.030 --> 0:43:28.209 Jesus encountered the man after arriving on the east side 0:43:28.210 --> 0:43:30.670 of the lake. The man was possessed by so many 0:43:30.700 --> 0:43:33.700 demons that he was known as Legion, and he lived 0:43:33.700 --> 0:43:36.430 in the tombs cut into the hillside by the town. 0:43:36.460 --> 0:43:39.340 When Jesus commanded the demons to depart, they asked to 0:43:39.370 --> 0:43:42.880 be sent into a herd of swine on a nearby hillside. 0:43:42.910 --> 0:43:46.120 Jesus granted the request, and the demons entered the swine, 0:43:46.120 --> 0:43:49.930 who rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned. 0:43:50.200 --> 0:43:53.770 All well and good. But the story raises two questions. First, 0:43:53.800 --> 0:43:57.250 what were pigs doing in a story about the Jewish Messiah? 0:43:57.280 --> 0:44:01.180 After all, pigs were considered unclean to the Jews. But again, 0:44:01.180 --> 0:44:04.089 look at the hillside just to our north. That's the 0:44:04.090 --> 0:44:07.540 border between the Jewish region where Jesus landed and the 0:44:07.540 --> 0:44:11.290 Gentile region where we're now standing. The pigs were grazing 0:44:11.290 --> 0:44:13.990 on that hill right on the border, but they belonged 0:44:13.989 --> 0:44:16.630 to the Gentiles living on this side of the hill, 0:44:16.780 --> 0:44:19.720 likely from the people who lived in this very town. 0:44:19.719 --> 0:44:22.989 And that leads to the second question. Does the town 0:44:22.989 --> 0:44:26.500 where we're now standing play any role in the story? Now, 0:44:26.500 --> 0:44:29.830 it's not the place where Jesus encountered the demon possessed man, 0:44:29.830 --> 0:44:32.950 but it does play a role. Listen to the final 0:44:32.950 --> 0:44:35.920 verses in Mark's account of the event in Mark five, 0:44:35.920 --> 0:44:39.700 verses 18 to 20. As Jesus was getting into the boat, 0:44:39.700 --> 0:44:42.069 the man who had been demon possessed begged to go 0:44:42.100 --> 0:44:45.040 with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, go 0:44:45.040 --> 0:44:47.440 home to your family and tell them how much the 0:44:47.440 --> 0:44:49.660 Lord has done for you and how he has had 0:44:49.660 --> 0:44:52.360 mercy on you. So the man went away and began 0:44:52.360 --> 0:44:55.450 to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done 0:44:55.450 --> 0:44:58.870 for him. And all the people were amazed. Where was 0:44:58.870 --> 0:45:02.680 this man from? He's from the region of the Decapolis, 0:45:02.739 --> 0:45:05.980 almost certainly from the town of Hippos or Susita, where 0:45:05.980 --> 0:45:09.670 we're now standing. This is the town the man returned to. 0:45:09.700 --> 0:45:12.160 We don't know if it was because of his witness, 0:45:12.160 --> 0:45:15.279 but quite possibly this town saw a large number come 0:45:15.280 --> 0:45:18.280 to know the Lord. And maybe that's why this relatively 0:45:18.280 --> 0:45:22.270 small place ended up with so many churches. So what's 0:45:22.270 --> 0:45:25.149 the lesson for us as we get ready to leave? 0:45:25.540 --> 0:45:29.080 How about this? God wants us to tell others about him. 0:45:29.080 --> 0:45:33.070 And frankly, that thought can be frightening to many. But 0:45:33.070 --> 0:45:36.190 just remember, you don't have to preach to thousands to 0:45:36.219 --> 0:45:39.100 be effective. The man who returned to his family and 0:45:39.100 --> 0:45:42.550 horse town simply told them about his encounter with Jesus 0:45:42.550 --> 0:45:46.180 and how it had changed his life. But that simple message, 0:45:46.210 --> 0:45:50.319 accompanied by a dramatic change in his life, ultimately impacted 0:45:50.320 --> 0:45:54.760 this entire city. Dwight Moody spoke to millions about Christ, 0:45:54.760 --> 0:45:58.690 but before that could ever happen, God used Edward Kimball 0:45:58.719 --> 0:46:01.850 to share the message of God's love with a young moody, 0:46:01.850 --> 0:46:04.970 when Moody was just a salesman in a shoe store. 0:46:05.000 --> 0:46:08.480 Just tell others what God has done for you and 0:46:08.480 --> 0:46:11.150 then trust God to do the rest. 0:46:11.360 --> 0:46:14.690 Great insights, as always. Thank you. Charlie. Hey, if it's 0:46:14.690 --> 0:46:16.430 been a while since you've sent us an email, we'd 0:46:16.430 --> 0:46:18.650 love to hear from you. You can connect with us 0:46:18.650 --> 0:46:23.120 at The Land and the book@moody.edu. Let us know how 0:46:23.120 --> 0:46:25.460 you listen. Let us know what the program is doing 0:46:25.460 --> 0:46:27.980 in your life. And maybe if you've got a question, 0:46:27.980 --> 0:46:30.590 you can share that with us as well. The land 0:46:30.590 --> 0:46:35.630 and the book@moody.edu. Our podcast is waiting for you at 0:46:35.630 --> 0:46:37.790 the website. A great way to connect further with the 0:46:37.790 --> 0:46:40.250 program and to share us with a friend. Go to 0:46:40.280 --> 0:46:44.450 the land and the book.org. Well, that'll do it for 0:46:44.450 --> 0:46:47.629 today's broadcast. On behalf of our producer Dan Anderson, our host, 0:46:47.630 --> 0:46:50.990 Charlie Dyer, I'm John Gager. The land and the book 0:46:50.989 --> 0:46:53.810 is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody 0:46:53.810 --> 0:46:55.130 Bible Institute.