S1: There were many questions this week about Israel striking Iran.
S1: Can we think biblically about this? Stay with me and
S1: we'll talk about that in just a moment. Hello, friends.
S1: Welcome to Open Line, Moody Radio's Bible study Across America.
S1: My name is Michael Wright. I'm academic dean and professor
S1: of Jewish studies and Bible at Moody Bible Institute. I'm
S1: so grateful to be joining you around the radio kitchen table.
S1: We're talking about your questions about the Bible, God and
S1: the spiritual life. So if you have a question and
S1: you'd like to call the phone number, here is (877) 548-3675.
S1: Let me give that to you once again. You can
S1: write it down 5483675. And it's always smart if you
S1: want to get through. If you don't want to be
S1: listening to busy dial tone. A busy signal the whole time.
S1: Call early in the program right now because there are
S1: lots of lines open. It's just opening up right now.
S1: Phone number (877) 548-3675 to you to hear. And Lisa are
S1: looking out for the program today producing. And Omar Mendoza
S1: is our tech guy. Once again Rihanna is answering the phones.
S1: The phone number (877) 548-3675. Go get yourself a cup of coffee.
S1: Open your Bible. We're about to study the scriptures together.
S1: Last week, Israeli jets began a stunning assault on Iran,
S1: specifically its nuclear warhead and ballistic missile programs. Iran has
S1: responded by shooting ballistic missiles into civilian communities in Israel.
S1: Although Israel has successfully shot down the vast majority of
S1: these missiles, they've not been able, even with U.S. help,
S1: to shoot all of them down. It's led to destruction
S1: all around Israel, as well as 24 civilian deaths. How
S1: can we think appropriately about Israel's preemptive assault on Iran? Well,
S1: first of all, self-defense is permitted in the Bible. For example,
S1: in Exodus 22 three, if a thief is caught in
S1: the midst of a breakdown and then is killed by
S1: a homeowner, the homeowner is not guilty of manslaughter. Also
S1: in the New Testament, Luke 2236, the Lord directed his
S1: followers to carry a sword implicitly for their own self-defense. Furthermore,
S1: Romans 13 four gives the government a responsibility to use
S1: the power of the sword to protect the innocent and
S1: punish the wicked. This demonstrates that the biblical right of
S1: self-defense is for governments, not merely for individuals. Well, second,
S1: the Israeli attack, I believe, met the standards of just
S1: war theory. Since the time of Augustine, Christian theologians have
S1: discussed and determined what could be deemed a just war.
S1: And here are the six characteristics of just war. First
S1: of all, a war must have a just cause. It
S1: can't be a war of aggression to take land or
S1: natural resources in this war that we're talking about. Now, Iran,
S1: the world's worst state sponsor of terror, was close to
S1: nuclear breakout. Moreover, Iran. Ever since, the Islamic Revolution has
S1: called for and worked toward the annihilation of Israel. What
S1: could be a more just cause than preventing Iran from
S1: gaining the ability to carry out yet another holocaust of
S1: the Jewish people? Second, a war must be waged by
S1: legitimate authority. No individuals or groups other than the actual government,
S1: in this case, the government of Israel could take this action.
S1: Only the government has been given the sword to act as, quote,
S1: God's servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one
S1: who does wrong. Romans 13 four. Third, a war, a
S1: just war must be a last resort. The West has
S1: been negotiating and trying to prevent Iran from seeking and
S1: fulfilling its nuclear aspirations for some 25 years. Recently, the U.S.
S1: president gave the Iranian government 60 days to come to
S1: an agreement. When those negotiations failed, Israel acted. Of course,
S1: some have argued that Israel should have waited longer. But
S1: think of the tragedy that would have resulted if Israel
S1: had waited as Iran strung the U.S. along. Afterwards, Israel
S1: could no longer take preemptive action, because by then Iran
S1: would already have nukes. Or worse, if Israel could only
S1: retaliate for a nuclear bomb on Tel Aviv rather than
S1: to prevent one. They had to act at this time. Forth,
S1: a war must have a just intention. It can't be
S1: mere vengeance or hatred for an enemy. It must. It
S1: must be to protect the nation or prevent disaster. Israel's
S1: goal is just. It's to prevent the Iranian Islamic government
S1: from wiping out Israel. Fifth, a war must be fought justly.
S1: Armed conflict must focus on a legitimate military target, not civilians.
S1: There may be civilian collateral damage. That's sadly a result
S1: of war, but it should never be the goal. Israel
S1: has made the Iranian military its target, while Iran has
S1: deliberately attacked civilians with their ballistic missiles. Sixth, a war
S1: must be proportionate. Proportionality does not mean both sides having
S1: the same number of deaths or equal destruction. Rather, it
S1: means that the attack must be proportional to the objective.
S1: For example, if Israel had nuclear bombs and could end
S1: this Iranian plan instantly by dropping a nuke on Tehran,
S1: that would be disproportionate. Instead, Israel is acting to end
S1: the threat with a proportionate attack on Iran's military leadership.
S1: Missile production and launchers. And of course, their nuclear sites.
S1: So what can we say? Well, Holocaust survivor and Nobel
S1: laureate Elie Wiesel once asked what was the great lesson
S1: of the Holocaust. His reply was, when someone threatens to
S1: kill you, believe him. Iran has been threatening to kill
S1: all the Jewish people now for a generation, the Jewish
S1: state has learned the lesson of the Holocaust and believed Iran.
S1: And instead of being victims this time. The Israeli government
S1: set out to invalidate the Iranian threat. That's posted over
S1: at michael-ray. Org. It's the most recent blog post, so
S1: if you're interested, you can go over there and maybe
S1: even a little bit later we'll post it on our
S1: Facebook page, link it over there, but I do. Before
S1: we go to the phones, I want to tell you
S1: about our current resource. Uh, it is one of my
S1: favorite resources that I think we've ever had. I often
S1: tell people that everyone should have a Bible library, and
S1: one of the books in that library is a Bible dictionary.
S1: And that's why when you're reading the Bible and you
S1: wonder who are these people that are mentioned, or where
S1: is that place, or what is the event that's cited?
S1: You can look it up in the Bible dictionary. And
S1: right now when you give a gift of any size,
S1: we'd like to say thanks by sending you the Ultimate
S1: Bible Dictionary. It's published by B and H. It's the
S1: same publisher that produced the Holman CSB. My favorite Bible translation,
S1: the Ultimate Bible Dictionary, is small. It's easy to carry.
S1: It's easy to use. It is just a terrific, terrific
S1: little resource. And if you'd like a copy, it's yours.
S1: When you give a gift of any size. And now's
S1: a pretty crucial time to give a gift. It's the
S1: end of the fiscal year. June 30th is when the
S1: books are closed. And if you'd like to give a
S1: gift now, we sure would appreciate it. It would really
S1: help us stay stable financially, uh, in upcoming year. So, uh,
S1: that's something that we'd really appreciate. And we want to
S1: say thanks with the Ultimate Bible Dictionary. If you'd like
S1: to give a gift, go to our website, Open Line Radio.
S1: Org or call (888) 644-7122. That's (888) 644-7122. And we're going to
S1: go to the phones right now. We're going to talk
S1: to Renee in Lakeland Florida listening on KX. Welcome to
S1: Open Line Renee. How can I help you today.
S2: Hi. It's nice to meet you. I listen to you
S2: every single day. It seems like, um. I had a
S2: quick question about the book of Exodus. Um, I just
S2: started the Bible over. Uh, naturally. And whenever Moses was
S2: on the mountain and came back down and the people
S2: had made, um, idols, which they were told not to do,
S2: of course. And he was really angry. And then he
S2: called the people that are going to follow God, um,
S2: you know, over to him. And so everyone else, um,
S2: basically they killed, but then it says they and God
S2: sent plagues on them was so he still plagued the
S2: people that were down there with the people that were
S2: doing that. And I didn't understand that.
S1: Tell me, tell me what it is that you're the
S1: passage you're looking at.
S2: Um, the book of Exodus.
S1: When he comes down from the mountain and sees the
S1: golden calf. Right?
S2: Yes.
S1: Okay. And, uh, so I'm looking here. I'm looking at
S1: the passage with the golden calf. That's Exodus 31. Uh, and, uh,
S1: and so, uh, can you. I'm not sure what you're
S1: talking about, actually.
S2: Well, they, they, uh, he said and all the ones
S2: that are for God. I'm so sorry. Um, it just
S2: it really alarmed me the other day, and I had
S2: wrote it down so I could call and ask you,
S2: and I just wrote a quick little, um. Anyways.
S1: Um, well, I'm looking at I'm looking at chapter 32, and, uh,
S1: I'm looking at it right here and.
S2: 32.
S1: And it says Levites did as Moses commanded. About 3000
S1: men fell dead that day among the people afterward, Moses said, today,
S1: you've been dedicated to the Lord since each man went
S1: against his son and his brother. Therefore, you've brought a
S1: blessing on yourselves. And then he says, forgive their sin.
S1: Of verse 35, I see it. Uh, what he's talking
S1: about there is verse 28. Uh, it's a summary statement.
S1: It's a it's a reiteration of what had happened previously
S1: in verse 28. It is not saying and furthermore, he
S1: did more. It's saying that this and so summary statement,
S1: the Lord inflicted a plague on the people for what
S1: they did with the calf Aaron had made. So it's
S1: going back to verse 28, uh, to what they had
S1: done there. Okay. It's a summary statement. Okay. Not it's
S1: a reiteration, not a, um, a Furthermore. Do you understand?
S1: It's not. It's not advancing it even further. It's just
S1: summarizing what already has happened.
S2: I was hoping I misunderstood because I just remember thinking
S2: I listened to the YouVersion Bible app as well and
S2: and just hearing it. And then I heard him say,
S2: and then he, you know, he flagged them, so I.
S1: Well, Renee, listen, it's a pretty common mistake. So much
S1: so that that when, when I looked at verse 35,
S1: I wrote in it. Right. Look at verse 28. Uh,
S1: to go back to remind myself what it was talking about. Okay.
S2: Perfect. And I took a note of that. And I'm
S2: going to put that in my Bible later. And I
S2: thank you so much for your time and clarification.
S1: Thank you so much. Really appreciate it. And we're going
S1: to come right back. We're going to take a break here.
S1: When we come back, we're going to talk to you
S1: about your questions about the Bible, God and the spiritual life.
S1: My name is Michael Melnick and this program is called
S1: Open Line. Give us a call (877) 548-3675. And the Bible
S1: study across America will continue. Stay with us. Welcome back
S1: to Open Line. I'm Michael Ray Dolnick. So glad to
S1: be talking with you. Hey, I wanted to tell you something.
S1: It is a heat wave Saturday, right? It's a heat
S1: wave Saturday. And we're thinking, boy, it's never going to
S1: get cold again. Right here in the Midwest. It's very hot. Uh,
S1: it's going to be up close to 100 today. But
S1: you know what? December will come and it will be cold,
S1: and everyone will want to get out of Chicago if
S1: we can, in December. And now's the time to plan that.
S1: I wanted to let you know that there are just
S1: a few cabins left on a cruise that I'll be
S1: teaching the Bible, on a Bible conference, on a on
S1: a ship in the Caribbean next December 6th through the 13th.
S1: It's going to be a great time. And if you're
S1: interested in studying the book of Daniel with me and
S1: seeing the Caribbean on a tall ship with beautiful sails, uh,
S1: and having a great time in the middle of December,
S1: now's the time to plan it. Just go to openlibrary.org
S1: and scroll down till you see the link that says
S1: Michael Melnick's personal web page. If you go to my
S1: web page, you'll be able to see the upcoming trip
S1: to the Caribbean in December. If you're interested in joining
S1: me for that week, we'll have a great time. We're
S1: going to go right to the phones now and talk
S1: with Tammy in Chicago listening on Wmbi. Welcome to Open Line, Tammy.
S1: How can I help you today.
S3: Doctor? What an honor to speak to you this week online.
S1: Honored to speak to you, Tammy.
S3: Thank you, thank you. Um, there was quite a heated
S3: debate between Senator Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson. I don't
S3: know if you know the clip I'm referring to.
S1: I yeah. Sure do.
S3: Okay. How would you have responded to that exchange?
S1: Well, let's see, the first thing is that the two
S1: issues that I've been hearing that came up, let's correct
S1: me if I'm wrong. One is that modern Israel is
S1: not the same as. Biblical Israel. Is that one of
S1: the first things that came up?
S3: Yes.
S1: Okay. I would say there certainly is overlap when people say,
S1: is it the same kind of government? No. The biblical
S1: Israel was a theocratic government with a king. This is
S1: a modern democracy, a secular government with a prime minister
S1: and a parliament. And so it's not exactly the same
S1: constitution or structure, you would say, of the modern Israel
S1: as biblical Israel. But they were both nation states of
S1: the Jewish people, biblical Israel as well as modern Israel.
S1: And so as that, in that sense, it is the same.
S1: It doesn't have the same boundaries, you know, and the
S1: boundary is always kind of fluctuated between the time of
S1: David and Solomon and then later on got a little smaller.
S1: But nevertheless, if we are we saying is modern Israel,
S1: the nation state of the Jewish people, the people of Israel,
S1: the ethnic Israel? That's true and is ancient biblical Israel,
S1: the nation state of of the Jewish people of ancient Israel,
S1: ethnic Israel. The answer, again, is yes. So in that sense,
S1: we have to recognize that that it is. There they were.
S1: And also it's kind of interesting, the biblical prophets foretold,
S1: for example, in Ezekiel 37, the regathering of the Jewish people,
S1: after their expulsion to the many nations around the world,
S1: they were going to be brought back to the land
S1: of Israel. And so Ezekiel 37 talks about them coming
S1: back in stages, and only once they're back, then they
S1: would have the spirit breathed into them the spirit of life.
S1: And so it seems to say that they would first
S1: come back before they believed in the Messiah, Jesus. And
S1: only at the culmination of that time would they believe.
S1: And there are many other passages. Even so, many of
S1: the end time events needs to have a reconstituted Israel
S1: in the land for those events to happen. So when
S1: people say, is it the same, it's not the exact
S1: same kind of government, but it is the same nation
S1: state of the Jewish people. Secondly, uh, the question is,
S1: let's see if I get the second question right. Should
S1: we care about the Jewish people? And of course, uh,
S1: I think believers, I'm not talking about governments, but believers
S1: need to. And the reason is, of course, Genesis 12
S1: three I will bless those who bless you and curse
S1: the one who curses you. And just recently, I was
S1: reading one of the shortest books of the Bible. Uh,
S1: it's called Obadiah. And the thing that struck me about
S1: Obadiah is it's a reminder to Israel that Edom would
S1: face judgment. Uh, and and this is the the the
S1: reminder here it says that Edom would be this. Verse
S1: ten will be covered with shame and destroyed forever because
S1: of violence done to your brother Jacob. This is taking
S1: place or after the Babylonian captivity is what it's talking about.
S1: That when the Babylonians came and conquered Judah, the Edomites,
S1: who were their brothers, they were the descendants of Esau,
S1: turned a blind eye and in fact went along with
S1: what Babylon did. And because of that they gloated over
S1: your brother. It says, in the day of his calamity,
S1: do not rejoice over the people of Judah and the
S1: day of their destruction. Do not boastfully mock in the
S1: day of distress. That's verse 12 do not enter the
S1: gate of my people in the day of their disaster. Yes,
S1: you do not gloat over their misery in the day
S1: of their disaster. And so it makes it really clear
S1: that the Lord is going to intervene. The day of
S1: the Lord is near against all the nations. Uh, there
S1: will be deliverance, verse 17, on Mount Zion. So I
S1: think as believers, we have a responsibility not to turn
S1: our backs or to celebrate the difficulties that Israel may
S1: be facing. Um, right now, uh, we have a responsibility
S1: to care for them. And then last of all, I
S1: think the best answer for us is to remember that
S1: Israel's help as a nation doesn't come from the United States,
S1: even though I believe people should look carefully at those
S1: verses in Obadiah to remind us of that. But Psalm
S1: 121 is a great reminder. It says, I will lift
S1: toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? Usually
S1: the mountains is where you got your help. You know
S1: the cavalry is coming to ride to the rescue. Then
S1: the psalmist says, no, my help comes from the Lord,
S1: the maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow
S1: your foot to slip. Your protector will not slumber. Indeed,
S1: the guardian of Israel does not slumber or sleep. So
S1: I remember many years ago, during some negotiations about 1998, Netanyahu,
S1: Benjamin Netanyahu was in his first term as prime minister
S1: of Israel. And he said, I am responsible for the
S1: security of Israel. And I thought, well, he has been
S1: delegated that responsibility. But the real responsibility is the God
S1: of Israel, who neither slumbers nor sleeps. He's the one
S1: that will take care of that. And that's what we
S1: have to trust and pray for. So did that help
S1: at all, Tami?
S3: It sure did. Thank you so much, Doctor Reidel. Mike,
S3: I appreciate it.
S1: Sure. Thank you. And thanks. Thanks for the the very
S1: good question. I think, uh, believe it or not, someone
S1: called yesterday and said, you need to write a little
S1: book about this very subject. And so that's what I'm
S1: going to spend my July doing.
S4: So good way to spend your time.
S3: I'll look forward to that.
S1: Okay. Great. Thank you so much, Tammy. We're going to
S1: talk with Jane in Batavia, Illinois, listening on Wmbi. Welcome
S1: to Open Line. Jane. How can I help you today?
S5: Yeah. I'm so glad I was what you just said before.
S5: It really resonated with me. But my question is, I'm
S5: in several Bible studies and I love getting involved with them.
S5: And I'm in one where there's more men than women
S5: who are almost equal. But we discussed the book of
S5: Esther and they said it shouldn't be in the Bible.
S5: I disagree, but I'd like your comments because I think.
S1: They said it shouldn't be in the Bible.
S5: Well, they said, because the word God is not mentioned
S5: in that particular book. I disagree with that. Yeah. And
S5: I've been reading it. I've been reading Esther many. I've
S5: been reading through the Bible many times. And I listen
S5: to you often, sometimes when I'm driving. But today I
S5: wanted to get in because of our Bible study that meets.
S5: You know, I said I wanted to get some comments
S5: from you about what you thought about that book.
S1: Okay, Jane, let me just say you hang on after
S1: we're done talking and Lisa's going to get your name
S1: and address, and we're going to mail you a copy
S1: of a book I wrote called 50 Most Important Bible
S1: Questions because one.
S5: I have.
S6: It. Oh.
S1: Well, you have to read it, too, Jane. You can't
S1: just own it, you know, you got to read it.
S1: Here's why.
S4: So many bookmarks through that book.
S5: I just love that book.
S4: Maybe there's another one to give to some.
S5: Of the leader in.
S4: Our group.
S1: I'm going to answer your question, but there is one
S1: of the questions in that book is Where is God
S1: in the book of Esther? So now here's the first
S1: I've got. Let me try and answer your your question
S1: now if I can. Okay. Yeah. Uh, it is deliberate
S1: that God's name is is left out. It is a
S1: literary strategy. It's not because they forgot that they forgot
S1: to include his name. I mean, there's hints of it
S1: they call a fast. Remember, Esther has people fast for
S1: her for three days and three nights. Uh, they obviously,
S1: throughout the book, they deliberately leave out the name of
S1: God as a literary strategy. But they see God's fingerprints,
S1: his providence, his good work, working out of everything that
S1: was happening for their good to protect the Jewish people.
S1: That's where God is. It is in Providence. The lesson
S1: of the book of Esther for the Jewish people was
S1: even when they forgot God, he didn't forget them. He
S1: took care of them. He protected them. He preserved them.
S1: That was the message there. It's the message for us, too,
S1: that sometimes we neglect the Lord. But he doesn't neglect us.
S1: He's got his eye on us at all times. That's
S1: what providence is, him looking out for us. I hope
S1: that helps. And, uh, go go back and read that
S1: chapter in the book 50 Most Important Bible Questions. I
S1: think you'll like it. We'll be right back with more
S1: of your questions. In fact, the mailbag coming up straight ahead.
S1: And we're back. So glad to be with you on
S1: this Saturday morning. It's time for the Far Eastern Broadcasting
S1: Company mailbag, the Febc mailbag. We're so grateful to Far
S1: Eastern Broadcasting Company for partnering with us and bringing you
S1: the weekly mailbag. It's a terrific organization. They bring the
S1: good news to people all over the globe, through media
S1: and through personal engagement. Check out their podcast. It's called
S1: Until All Have Heard by going to Febc. Now, the
S1: person in charge of the mailbag is Tricia McMillan, producer
S1: of Open Line. Uh, should I call you executive producer?
S7: No, you should not.
S1: Should I call you top notch producer?
S7: No, you can just call me. Producer is fine.
S1: Okay, there we go. Isn't it? Don't you have, like,
S1: a special role as producer?
S7: No, I don't, I don't senior producer. Senior producer is my.
S1: That's it. Yeah, that's that's because you're so much older
S1: than me.
S7: Yes, yes, I'm a senior. No.
S1: No, that's not true. Okay, well, anyway, our senior producer,
S1: Tricia McMillan, is here with the questions that you've sent in.
S1: If you'd like to send a question in, best way
S1: to do that is to go to our website, Open
S1: line radio. Org. Click on the link that says Ask
S1: Michael a question and that's where your question will go.
S1: And it'll come to Tricia's mailbag. And then she'll put
S1: it in this mailbag for us. Uh, hey, I think,
S1: you know, a couple weeks ago I went to Akron,
S1: met a whole bunch of kitchen table partners. But I
S1: had an interesting email this week from someone that I
S1: worked with, um, 40 years ago. Uh, I haven't seen
S1: them in maybe 35 years.
S7: Wow.
S1: Uh, this couple and, uh, and they live out in
S1: the West Coast. They. This is such a cool thing. Uh,
S1: they live on the West Coast. Haven't talked to them.
S1: She somehow she got my phone number, texted me the
S1: wife of this couple, and, uh, she wrote. We listen
S1: every Saturday on the the Moody Radio app.
S7: Wow.
S1: And then she said, and we're kitchen table partners. And
S1: then she had questions for me. Yeah. Not Bible questions
S1: about some contact questions, but I, I was just so
S1: floored by the kindness of that and the, the graciousness
S1: that they showed me in staying friends from a distance
S1: all these years and helping to to be part of
S1: the program by being kitchen table partners. I'm so grateful
S1: for that. Uh, and, and I was thinking about that,
S1: that there may be people out there that have listened
S1: for a long time, whether on a podcast or whether
S1: maybe online or with the Moody Radio app or just
S1: on the radio. What an idea on the radio. And
S1: you've listened for a long time and thought, yeah, I
S1: want to help keep this program going. Uh, and the
S1: best way to do that is by becoming a kitchen
S1: table partner. We so appreciate when you do that. By
S1: giving monthly keeps us on the air weekly and the
S1: the real. We're so grateful for it. We produce a
S1: Bible study moment. It's an audio Bible study that you
S1: click on. It's produced exclusively for our kitchen table partners.
S1: If you're interested in becoming a kitchen table partner, all
S1: you have to do is call (888) 644-7122 or go to
S1: open Line radio.org. And again, I'm so grateful for every
S1: one of you for listening, for being a kitchen. For
S1: those of you who are kitchen table partners, and also
S1: for my old friends that they're not old, but they
S1: are friends for a long time and I'm really grateful
S1: for them doing this.
S7: Yeah, that's very cool.
S1: Yeah. Yeah. Out of the blue. Got that text message.
S1: That was a surprise. So, anyway, uh, well, let's let's
S1: talk about some of these questions.
S7: All right. Our first question is from Robert in Ohio,
S7: who listens to in Genesis four after King kills his
S7: brother Abel, God said the ground wouldn't yield its strength,
S7: and Cain would be a wanderer and a vagrant on
S7: the earth. I assumed that, uh, it would follow then,
S7: that Cain would wander and live a lonely life. But
S7: the Bible says that Cain had a son with his wife.
S7: Built a city which doesn't sound like a wanderer. Can
S7: you tell us more about this?
S1: Yeah. There's kind of a dispute among Bible scholars. If
S1: you read commentaries on Genesis about whether or not Cain
S1: repented of his sin. Uh, I guess one of my
S1: favorite scholars seemed to think that he did. I am
S1: not convinced. And that's the reason why. Now, if you
S1: look at the early chapters of the Book of Genesis,
S1: it seems that every time someone is in rebellion against God,
S1: they move eastward. Now, that's that's kind of interesting. Uh,
S1: for example, after Adam and Eve sin, they're cast out
S1: of the garden for their rebellion. And where is the cherub?
S1: The cherub is put at the eastern gate of the
S1: garden to guard them from returning. turning, which means that
S1: they went eastward in their rebellion. And if you look
S1: at Genesis chapter 11, when the the people of the
S1: earth are told to scatter. Uh, they don't do it.
S1: They rebel against God. Instead, they moved eastward. Uh, in
S1: my version here says from the east. But it'd be
S1: better to translate it and move to the east, uh,
S1: in Genesis 11 two. And they set up the Tower
S1: of Babel. Uh, and then when Abram separates from lot,
S1: what does he do? He moves eastward. A lot does
S1: to rebel. Uh, and and he goes to Sodom. Not
S1: a good place to go. Uh, and that's sort of
S1: an interesting thing. He looks uh, lot looked out verse
S1: chapter 13, verse ten, and saw that the entire Jordan
S1: Valley as far as Zoar was well watered, right. And
S1: so he goes eastward. It says in verse 11, then
S1: lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. So
S1: here's a little marker in the text. It seems like
S1: whenever someone moves eastward, they are in rebellion. And here
S1: in Genesis chapter four, when God tells Cain that that
S1: he's supposed to be a restless wanderer on the earth,
S1: and then he says, if I do that, they'll kill me.
S1: God gives them the mark of Cain to protect him.
S1: And then it says in verse 16, Then Cain went
S1: out from the Lord's presence and lived in the land
S1: of nod, east of Eden. So where did he go?
S1: He went.
S7: Eastward.
S1: Yeah. And then not only that, when he's supposed to
S1: be a wanderer, what does he do? He builds a city.
S1: Then Cain became the builder of a city. And he
S1: named the city Enoch after his son. So when you
S1: build a city, that means you're settling down, not wandering.
S1: And so he was in rebellion against God to the
S1: very end. He never really did repent. I think that
S1: that's a very good observation. And the text tells us
S1: that when he went east, that that was a sign
S1: of rebellion, not that always going east, but that's a
S1: kind of a literary marker here in the early chapters
S1: of Genesis.
S7: Yeah. Okay. Thank you for that.
S1: I mean, if I moved to New York, it wouldn't mean.
S8: That I was in sin.
S1: Right? Because that's east of where I live. But that's
S1: just a literary marker. Okay.
S7: Something we can look for as we're reading. One encouraging
S7: thing I did find, which has nothing to do with
S7: Robert's question, but that his son is Enoch, who walked
S7: with God and then was no more like that. That
S7: even if your parent is rebellious against God, it does
S7: not mean that that entire line that you cannot have
S7: a repentant heart and follow God. And it was just
S7: just those little things that I know that Genesis includes
S7: those little markers like you're talking about, but that we
S7: can I find encouragement in that, that, that even if
S7: your family is broken and rebellious, you don't have to
S7: be in God can save you.
S1: The pattern of sin can be broken. Yeah. And then
S1: the other thing that I think is encouraging in this passage,
S1: if there if we can find encouragement, is that God
S1: shows him grace in the midst of judgment. He says,
S1: you're going to wander the earth. He says, everyone will
S1: kill me. Gives them the mark of Cain. That was
S1: God's mercy and grace right there in the midst of
S1: a passage about judgment. So it just shows that God's
S1: mercy is always operating, even sometimes when we're rebelling against him.
S7: Mhm. Thank you. And thank you, Robert, for that question.
S7: That kind of led us to that also. Um, our
S7: next question is from Kim on Facebook who says, I'm
S7: so very grateful for the program. You. Your expertise and
S7: your team. What is the most.
S8: Like the team especially?
S7: What is the most accurate translation from the original writing
S7: of Jeremiah 17, verse nine. And she does not give
S7: any explanation as to why, but I know that you
S7: you can just translate this on the spot from the Hebrew.
S7: And so tell us what Jeremiah 17 nine says.
S1: Okay, I pulled up the Hebrew text. It says the
S1: heart is more crooked than all else, which really has
S1: to do with, you know, when we even use the
S1: word that way. Oh, that guy's crooked. That means dishonest. Deceitful, right?
S1: So the heart is more crooked than all else. In fact,
S1: the word crooked is used of, uh, kinds of sin. Uh,
S1: you know, a dishonest. And so the heart is more
S1: crooked than anything else. And it is, you know, the
S1: new American standard, the most literal translation says it's desperately
S1: wicked or desperately sick. But I think it just means incurable.
S1: That's what the word that's used there means. Uh, it's
S1: so it's the heart is more crooked than anything else.
S1: And it is crooked. Who can know it or who can?
S1: And the word know has to do with understanding. So
S1: that's what it means. I think probably the person's wondering
S1: if the word deceitful means crooked. It does, but it's
S1: a metaphor for deceitfulness.
S8: Okay. So.
S7: All right.
S1: Happy to do it. I love getting to, uh, do
S1: the translation from.
S8: Time to time.
S7: And I think, I think we do need the play
S7: by play, though, because you'll just go silent for a
S7: second and we don't know what's happening.
S1: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. What is he doing? Well, he's
S1: pulling out his Hebrew Bible and taking a look at it.
S1: That's what he's doing, right? So. Well, we're going to
S1: be right back. That was Tricia McMillan. I'm Michael Melnick.
S1: You're listening to Open Line. More with your questions coming.
S1: More of your questions coming up straight ahead, right here
S1: on Open Line. And we're back. So good to be
S1: with you this Saturday morning talking about the Bible, God
S1: and the spiritual life. All your questions, uh, and, uh,
S1: before we. Before we get on to your calls, I
S1: wanted to mention a current the resource that Chosen People
S1: Ministries is offering because Israel is in a war right now.
S1: Multi-front War. The war with Iran, obviously, that started last week,
S1: but also continued to fight in Gaza Uh, to take
S1: out Hamas. It's. It's a terrible time. I've been talking
S1: to my Israeli friends, and they are just stressed to
S1: no end. But what does the future hold? Chosen people Ministries,
S1: one of our ministry partners, is offering a special book
S1: called Israel's Glorious Future. It details God's faithfulness to his
S1: covenant and his promises that he made to Israel the
S1: past and the present and the future. All God will
S1: be faithful to his people, and Israel's future is certain
S1: and glorious. If you'd like a free copy of Israel's
S1: Glorious future, just go to our website openline. radio.org. That's
S1: our website. Scroll down until you see the link that
S1: says Free Gift from Chosen People Ministries. Click on that
S1: and then you'll be taken to a page where you
S1: can sign up for your very own copy of Israel's
S1: Glorious Future. And. That. Let's start. Uh. Omar with, uh,
S1: Ethan in Libertyville, Illinois, listening on W-m-b-d. Uh, welcome to
S1: Open Line. Ethan. How can I help you?
S9: Yeah. Hi. This is, uh, it's Doctor Rydell. Is that right?
S1: It's Michael. It's fine. Michael.
S8: Okay.
S9: Yeah, yeah. Hi, Michael. Um, so I've got a question
S9: about the, you know, the same thing with the Ted
S9: Cruz and Tucker Carlson interview that everybody had seen. And I'm.
S10: By the way, I want.
S1: To say Tucker Carlson really, uh, has hosted anti-Semites on
S1: his program and not challenged them. He has taken a
S1: terrible attitude about Jewish people. So I think he's has
S1: colored his perspective. Uh, not as a journalist, but, uh,
S1: he's really taken some, uh, attacks. He's attacked Jewish other
S1: Jewish people in media. Uh, it's it's shameful, I think.
S9: Right. Well, this.
S10: He hosted a Holocaust.
S1: Denier of all things. Go ahead.
S10: What's your question?
S9: I did not know that. Yeah. So I'm a young
S9: Christian and, you know, in their early 20s, and I
S9: hear this topic constantly about Zionism. And as Christians, are
S9: we called to have this undying support for modern Israel
S9: or is modern Israel the, the, the new church, the
S9: body of believers on earth?
S10: And I obviously.
S9: Many passages used to support both and it's it's just
S9: hard to navigate that.
S10: Yeah.
S1: I can't answer that whole big question right here.
S8: Yeah.
S1: In in just 2 or 3 minutes. Uh, I do
S1: want to point out to you that in Romans 1128.
S8: Yeah.
S1: Uh, it's a very and the reason I point this
S1: out to you is that a friend of mine said
S1: that they wanted to go ahead and believe that God
S1: had replaced the people of Israel with the church, with a,
S1: quote unquote, new Israel or spiritual Israel. And Romans nine
S1: through 11 kept them from doing that. They couldn't believe it.
S1: It says this about unbelieving Israel in Romans 1128 regarding
S1: the gospel. They are enemies. Now that means they are
S1: opposed to the gospel, not enemies of God. They are
S1: enemies for your advantage, meaning they are opposed to the gospel.
S1: And this is this was good because now the gospel
S1: went out to the Gentiles. That's what he talks about
S1: in verse 11 of the same chapter. But then it says,
S1: but regarding election, which is just a big word for
S1: chosenness regarding being chosen.
S10: Right?
S1: Okay. This is talking about Jewish people. They don't. They're
S1: opposed to the gospel. But regarding Chosenness, they are loved
S1: because of the patriarchs. God gave the Abrahamic Covenant to Abraham, Isaac,
S1: and Jacob, and because of that, God loves them. Since
S1: God's gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. So, uh, you
S1: go back to chapter nine and there it talks about
S1: the gifts that God has given the Israelites. It says
S1: they are Israelites. To them there's nine, four belong the adoption,
S1: the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the
S1: temple service, and the promises which include the promise of
S1: the land. The ancestors are there, so the patriarchs are theirs,
S1: and from them by physical descent came the Messiah. So, um,
S1: that I think we can't take the promise away from
S1: Israel based on what the Apostle Paul says. Now, the
S1: second thing I want to mention is people misunderstand Zionism.
S10: Uh.
S1: It has been, uh, there's been a propaganda war out
S1: there to somehow dirty the word Zionism. Uh, and I
S1: think this is really a tragedy because Zionism, you know,
S1: you can go back to its roots. Uh, Theodor Herzl,
S1: who developed Zionism at the first Zionist Congress. All it
S1: is is the belief that Jewish people should have self-determination
S1: in their ancient homeland. Just, uh, just the same as, uh,
S1: French patriotism or, uh, English patriotism, uh, thinking that they
S1: should have, you know, we think the English should have
S1: self-determination in England. The Brits should have self-determination in Great Britain. Uh,
S1: the same thing for the Jewish people, like all peoples
S1: of the earth, to be allowed to have self-determination in
S1: their ancient homeland. That's what Zionism is and it has
S1: been turned into something dirty. I recommend a couple of books.
S1: There's a book by Gerald McDermott. Simpler form of it
S1: is called Israel Matters. He's a, I think, a Presbyterian
S1: or an Anglican pastor, a professor who wrote it up
S1: and it's called Israel Matters, and it's a really good
S1: little book. And then there's also a book that he
S1: edited that's a little bit more technical, called The New
S1: Christian Zionism by McDermott. And I recommend both those books
S1: to you because it's not written from the perspective people
S1: dismiss me. Oh, you're Jewish, Michael, so that's why you
S1: say what you do. But McDermott's I can't remember if
S1: he's Anglican or Presbyterian, but he's one of those, uh,
S1: and he certainly is not a dispensationalist like people want
S1: to dismiss it. Uh, he's just someone that that's quite biblical. Um,
S1: in terms of understanding Romans nine through 11, he does
S1: a really good job explaining it. Uh, it's the new
S1: Christian Zionism, but don't I? I am saddened to see
S1: the way people have made Zionism a dirty word. And
S1: they say things like, it's an ethno. Israel is an
S1: ethno nationalist state, meaning an ethnic national state. Well, what
S1: is France? What's Saudi Arabia?
S10: Yeah.
S1: They it's it doesn't mean that there are minorities in
S1: Israel with full rights and full citizens. The freest Arabs
S1: in the world are the Israeli Arabs. They have.
S9: Yeah.
S1: All the freedoms of a democracy. Uh, and and it's
S1: a shame to me that this word has been made
S1: into some sort of dirty word. It shouldn't be. Even
S1: people who believe who are actually Zionists believe in a
S1: a homeland for the Jewish people. So I'm a Zionist
S1: because it's been so defamed. It's unfortunate. Anyway, thanks so
S1: much for your call, Ethan. I really appreciate it. Thanks
S1: for listening, everyone. That's the first hour. Keep listening. There's
S1: a second hour of Open Line on most of these stations,
S1: so you should check it out. Uh, if you if
S1: your station doesn't carry it, you can always listen on
S1: the Moody Radio app or get the podcast. Or listen online.
S1: Go to our web page, Open Line radio.org. During the break,
S1: check out all the things there. Past programs, the question page, uh,
S1: where to get our current resource. How to become a
S1: kitchen table partner. It's all at the website. Our Bible
S1: study across America will continue in the second hour, so
S1: stay with us. Open line with Doctor Michael Ray Zelnick
S1: is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody
S1: Bible Institute. Be right.
S8: Back.