WEBVTT - Hour 1: Answering Your Bible Questions 0:00:09.480 --> 0:00:13.320 There were many questions this week about Israel striking Iran. 0:00:13.640 --> 0:00:16.920 Can we think biblically about this? Stay with me and 0:00:16.920 --> 0:00:21.160 we'll talk about that in just a moment. Hello, friends. 0:00:21.160 --> 0:00:25.919 Welcome to Open Line, Moody Radio's Bible study Across America. 0:00:25.960 --> 0:00:29.080 My name is Michael Wright. I'm academic dean and professor 0:00:29.080 --> 0:00:33.000 of Jewish studies and Bible at Moody Bible Institute. I'm 0:00:33.000 --> 0:00:36.560 so grateful to be joining you around the radio kitchen table. 0:00:36.720 --> 0:00:41.479 We're talking about your questions about the Bible, God and 0:00:41.479 --> 0:00:45.040 the spiritual life. So if you have a question and 0:00:45.040 --> 0:00:53.320 you'd like to call the phone number, here is (877) 548-3675. 0:00:53.479 --> 0:00:55.680 Let me give that to you once again. You can 0:00:55.680 --> 0:01:04.860 write it down 5483675. And it's always smart if you 0:01:04.860 --> 0:01:08.100 want to get through. If you don't want to be 0:01:08.100 --> 0:01:12.220 listening to busy dial tone. A busy signal the whole time. 0:01:12.819 --> 0:01:15.340 Call early in the program right now because there are 0:01:15.340 --> 0:01:17.980 lots of lines open. It's just opening up right now. 0:01:18.220 --> 0:01:26.220 Phone number (877) 548-3675 to you to hear. And Lisa are 0:01:26.500 --> 0:01:30.860 looking out for the program today producing. And Omar Mendoza 0:01:30.860 --> 0:01:34.740 is our tech guy. Once again Rihanna is answering the phones. 0:01:34.940 --> 0:01:42.100 The phone number (877) 548-3675. Go get yourself a cup of coffee. 0:01:42.140 --> 0:01:45.820 Open your Bible. We're about to study the scriptures together. 0:01:48.420 --> 0:01:53.580 Last week, Israeli jets began a stunning assault on Iran, 0:01:53.780 --> 0:01:59.120 specifically its nuclear warhead and ballistic missile programs. Iran has 0:01:59.120 --> 0:02:03.320 responded by shooting ballistic missiles into civilian communities in Israel. 0:02:04.080 --> 0:02:07.800 Although Israel has successfully shot down the vast majority of 0:02:07.800 --> 0:02:11.919 these missiles, they've not been able, even with U.S. help, 0:02:11.919 --> 0:02:15.880 to shoot all of them down. It's led to destruction 0:02:15.880 --> 0:02:20.040 all around Israel, as well as 24 civilian deaths. How 0:02:20.040 --> 0:02:26.560 can we think appropriately about Israel's preemptive assault on Iran? Well, 0:02:26.560 --> 0:02:30.920 first of all, self-defense is permitted in the Bible. For example, 0:02:30.919 --> 0:02:35.880 in Exodus 22 three, if a thief is caught in 0:02:35.880 --> 0:02:38.760 the midst of a breakdown and then is killed by 0:02:38.760 --> 0:02:43.760 a homeowner, the homeowner is not guilty of manslaughter. Also 0:02:44.200 --> 0:02:48.560 in the New Testament, Luke 2236, the Lord directed his 0:02:48.560 --> 0:02:55.079 followers to carry a sword implicitly for their own self-defense. Furthermore, 0:02:55.680 --> 0:02:59.660 Romans 13 four gives the government a responsibility to use 0:02:59.660 --> 0:03:02.820 the power of the sword to protect the innocent and 0:03:02.820 --> 0:03:06.619 punish the wicked. This demonstrates that the biblical right of 0:03:06.620 --> 0:03:13.620 self-defense is for governments, not merely for individuals. Well, second, 0:03:14.460 --> 0:03:18.540 the Israeli attack, I believe, met the standards of just 0:03:18.580 --> 0:03:23.299 war theory. Since the time of Augustine, Christian theologians have 0:03:23.300 --> 0:03:28.060 discussed and determined what could be deemed a just war. 0:03:28.620 --> 0:03:34.980 And here are the six characteristics of just war. First 0:03:34.980 --> 0:03:39.140 of all, a war must have a just cause. It 0:03:39.140 --> 0:03:42.100 can't be a war of aggression to take land or 0:03:42.140 --> 0:03:47.340 natural resources in this war that we're talking about. Now, Iran, 0:03:47.340 --> 0:03:50.940 the world's worst state sponsor of terror, was close to 0:03:50.980 --> 0:03:58.070 nuclear breakout. Moreover, Iran. Ever since, the Islamic Revolution has 0:03:58.070 --> 0:04:02.310 called for and worked toward the annihilation of Israel. What 0:04:02.310 --> 0:04:05.390 could be a more just cause than preventing Iran from 0:04:05.390 --> 0:04:09.030 gaining the ability to carry out yet another holocaust of 0:04:09.030 --> 0:04:13.270 the Jewish people? Second, a war must be waged by 0:04:13.270 --> 0:04:18.830 legitimate authority. No individuals or groups other than the actual government, 0:04:18.830 --> 0:04:22.190 in this case, the government of Israel could take this action. 0:04:22.510 --> 0:04:26.550 Only the government has been given the sword to act as, quote, 0:04:26.710 --> 0:04:30.630 God's servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one 0:04:30.630 --> 0:04:37.070 who does wrong. Romans 13 four. Third, a war, a 0:04:37.110 --> 0:04:43.230 just war must be a last resort. The West has 0:04:43.230 --> 0:04:46.270 been negotiating and trying to prevent Iran from seeking and 0:04:46.270 --> 0:04:51.470 fulfilling its nuclear aspirations for some 25 years. Recently, the U.S. 0:04:51.470 --> 0:04:55.570 president gave the Iranian government 60 days to come to 0:04:55.610 --> 0:05:00.810 an agreement. When those negotiations failed, Israel acted. Of course, 0:05:01.010 --> 0:05:04.450 some have argued that Israel should have waited longer. But 0:05:04.450 --> 0:05:07.050 think of the tragedy that would have resulted if Israel 0:05:07.050 --> 0:05:11.810 had waited as Iran strung the U.S. along. Afterwards, Israel 0:05:11.810 --> 0:05:15.330 could no longer take preemptive action, because by then Iran 0:05:15.330 --> 0:05:19.089 would already have nukes. Or worse, if Israel could only 0:05:19.089 --> 0:05:22.650 retaliate for a nuclear bomb on Tel Aviv rather than 0:05:22.650 --> 0:05:28.090 to prevent one. They had to act at this time. Forth, 0:05:28.410 --> 0:05:32.289 a war must have a just intention. It can't be 0:05:32.570 --> 0:05:36.770 mere vengeance or hatred for an enemy. It must. It 0:05:36.770 --> 0:05:42.409 must be to protect the nation or prevent disaster. Israel's 0:05:42.450 --> 0:05:46.849 goal is just. It's to prevent the Iranian Islamic government 0:05:46.850 --> 0:05:53.350 from wiping out Israel. Fifth, a war must be fought justly. 0:05:54.150 --> 0:05:59.510 Armed conflict must focus on a legitimate military target, not civilians. 0:05:59.950 --> 0:06:04.670 There may be civilian collateral damage. That's sadly a result 0:06:04.670 --> 0:06:08.270 of war, but it should never be the goal. Israel 0:06:08.710 --> 0:06:12.630 has made the Iranian military its target, while Iran has 0:06:12.630 --> 0:06:18.750 deliberately attacked civilians with their ballistic missiles. Sixth, a war 0:06:18.750 --> 0:06:23.309 must be proportionate. Proportionality does not mean both sides having 0:06:23.310 --> 0:06:28.110 the same number of deaths or equal destruction. Rather, it 0:06:28.110 --> 0:06:31.590 means that the attack must be proportional to the objective. 0:06:32.070 --> 0:06:36.070 For example, if Israel had nuclear bombs and could end 0:06:36.150 --> 0:06:40.190 this Iranian plan instantly by dropping a nuke on Tehran, 0:06:40.510 --> 0:06:46.310 that would be disproportionate. Instead, Israel is acting to end 0:06:46.350 --> 0:06:50.930 the threat with a proportionate attack on Iran's military leadership. 0:06:51.250 --> 0:06:55.770 Missile production and launchers. And of course, their nuclear sites. 0:06:56.450 --> 0:06:59.929 So what can we say? Well, Holocaust survivor and Nobel 0:06:59.930 --> 0:07:03.530 laureate Elie Wiesel once asked what was the great lesson 0:07:03.529 --> 0:07:08.210 of the Holocaust. His reply was, when someone threatens to 0:07:08.210 --> 0:07:13.770 kill you, believe him. Iran has been threatening to kill 0:07:13.810 --> 0:07:17.970 all the Jewish people now for a generation, the Jewish 0:07:17.970 --> 0:07:22.370 state has learned the lesson of the Holocaust and believed Iran. 0:07:23.650 --> 0:07:29.450 And instead of being victims this time. The Israeli government 0:07:29.450 --> 0:07:41.610 set out to invalidate the Iranian threat. That's posted over 0:07:41.650 --> 0:07:46.610 at michael-ray. Org. It's the most recent blog post, so 0:07:47.170 --> 0:07:50.150 if you're interested, you can go over there and maybe 0:07:50.150 --> 0:07:51.870 even a little bit later we'll post it on our 0:07:51.870 --> 0:07:56.790 Facebook page, link it over there, but I do. Before 0:07:56.790 --> 0:07:58.110 we go to the phones, I want to tell you 0:07:58.110 --> 0:08:03.869 about our current resource. Uh, it is one of my 0:08:03.870 --> 0:08:08.869 favorite resources that I think we've ever had. I often 0:08:08.870 --> 0:08:14.270 tell people that everyone should have a Bible library, and 0:08:14.790 --> 0:08:17.870 one of the books in that library is a Bible dictionary. 0:08:18.350 --> 0:08:21.230 And that's why when you're reading the Bible and you 0:08:21.270 --> 0:08:24.110 wonder who are these people that are mentioned, or where 0:08:24.110 --> 0:08:27.670 is that place, or what is the event that's cited? 0:08:27.870 --> 0:08:31.030 You can look it up in the Bible dictionary. And 0:08:31.110 --> 0:08:33.189 right now when you give a gift of any size, 0:08:33.190 --> 0:08:35.989 we'd like to say thanks by sending you the Ultimate 0:08:35.990 --> 0:08:39.350 Bible Dictionary. It's published by B and H. It's the 0:08:39.350 --> 0:08:43.790 same publisher that produced the Holman CSB. My favorite Bible translation, 0:08:44.150 --> 0:08:47.190 the Ultimate Bible Dictionary, is small. It's easy to carry. 0:08:47.190 --> 0:08:51.250 It's easy to use. It is just a terrific, terrific 0:08:51.250 --> 0:08:54.570 little resource. And if you'd like a copy, it's yours. 0:08:54.610 --> 0:08:57.650 When you give a gift of any size. And now's 0:08:57.650 --> 0:08:59.450 a pretty crucial time to give a gift. It's the 0:08:59.450 --> 0:09:01.610 end of the fiscal year. June 30th is when the 0:09:01.610 --> 0:09:04.330 books are closed. And if you'd like to give a 0:09:04.370 --> 0:09:06.850 gift now, we sure would appreciate it. It would really 0:09:06.850 --> 0:09:12.890 help us stay stable financially, uh, in upcoming year. So, uh, 0:09:12.929 --> 0:09:15.170 that's something that we'd really appreciate. And we want to 0:09:15.170 --> 0:09:18.250 say thanks with the Ultimate Bible Dictionary. If you'd like 0:09:18.250 --> 0:09:21.530 to give a gift, go to our website, Open Line Radio. 0:09:21.610 --> 0:09:33.570 Org or call (888) 644-7122. That's (888) 644-7122. And we're going to 0:09:33.570 --> 0:09:35.530 go to the phones right now. We're going to talk 0:09:35.530 --> 0:09:41.170 to Renee in Lakeland Florida listening on KX. Welcome to 0:09:41.210 --> 0:09:43.330 Open Line Renee. How can I help you today. 0:09:44.210 --> 0:09:46.590 Hi. It's nice to meet you. I listen to you 0:09:46.590 --> 0:09:50.350 every single day. It seems like, um. I had a 0:09:50.350 --> 0:09:54.590 quick question about the book of Exodus. Um, I just 0:09:54.590 --> 0:09:59.350 started the Bible over. Uh, naturally. And whenever Moses was 0:09:59.350 --> 0:10:02.150 on the mountain and came back down and the people 0:10:02.150 --> 0:10:05.270 had made, um, idols, which they were told not to do, 0:10:05.309 --> 0:10:08.590 of course. And he was really angry. And then he 0:10:08.710 --> 0:10:11.910 called the people that are going to follow God, um, 0:10:11.910 --> 0:10:15.030 you know, over to him. And so everyone else, um, 0:10:15.030 --> 0:10:19.230 basically they killed, but then it says they and God 0:10:19.230 --> 0:10:23.990 sent plagues on them was so he still plagued the 0:10:23.990 --> 0:10:26.750 people that were down there with the people that were 0:10:26.750 --> 0:10:30.510 doing that. And I didn't understand that. 0:10:30.550 --> 0:10:32.670 Tell me, tell me what it is that you're the 0:10:32.670 --> 0:10:33.829 passage you're looking at. 0:10:34.990 --> 0:10:37.110 Um, the book of Exodus. 0:10:37.350 --> 0:10:39.310 When he comes down from the mountain and sees the 0:10:39.309 --> 0:10:40.590 golden calf. Right? 0:10:41.350 --> 0:10:42.110 Yes. 0:10:42.910 --> 0:10:50.199 Okay. And, uh, so I'm looking here. I'm looking at 0:10:50.200 --> 0:10:57.760 the passage with the golden calf. That's Exodus 31. Uh, and, uh, 0:10:59.240 --> 0:11:04.480 and so, uh, can you. I'm not sure what you're 0:11:04.480 --> 0:11:05.800 talking about, actually. 0:11:06.640 --> 0:11:09.880 Well, they, they, uh, he said and all the ones 0:11:09.880 --> 0:11:12.559 that are for God. I'm so sorry. Um, it just 0:11:12.600 --> 0:11:14.880 it really alarmed me the other day, and I had 0:11:14.880 --> 0:11:17.280 wrote it down so I could call and ask you, 0:11:17.520 --> 0:11:21.200 and I just wrote a quick little, um. Anyways. 0:11:21.559 --> 0:11:26.360 Um, well, I'm looking at I'm looking at chapter 32, and, uh, 0:11:27.000 --> 0:11:29.839 I'm looking at it right here and. 0:11:30.600 --> 0:11:31.520 32. 0:11:32.120 --> 0:11:35.520 And it says Levites did as Moses commanded. About 3000 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:39.680 men fell dead that day among the people afterward, Moses said, today, 0:11:39.679 --> 0:11:42.200 you've been dedicated to the Lord since each man went 0:11:42.200 --> 0:11:44.900 against his son and his brother. Therefore, you've brought a 0:11:44.900 --> 0:11:50.540 blessing on yourselves. And then he says, forgive their sin. 0:11:53.940 --> 0:11:56.980 Of verse 35, I see it. Uh, what he's talking 0:11:56.980 --> 0:12:04.540 about there is verse 28. Uh, it's a summary statement. 0:12:05.380 --> 0:12:11.420 It's a it's a reiteration of what had happened previously 0:12:11.420 --> 0:12:15.179 in verse 28. It is not saying and furthermore, he 0:12:15.179 --> 0:12:21.420 did more. It's saying that this and so summary statement, 0:12:21.740 --> 0:12:24.500 the Lord inflicted a plague on the people for what 0:12:24.500 --> 0:12:27.820 they did with the calf Aaron had made. So it's 0:12:27.820 --> 0:12:31.620 going back to verse 28, uh, to what they had 0:12:31.620 --> 0:12:36.460 done there. Okay. It's a summary statement. Okay. Not it's 0:12:36.460 --> 0:12:44.960 a reiteration, not a, um, a Furthermore. Do you understand? 0:12:45.000 --> 0:12:47.960 It's not. It's not advancing it even further. It's just 0:12:47.960 --> 0:12:50.240 summarizing what already has happened. 0:12:50.480 --> 0:12:53.520 I was hoping I misunderstood because I just remember thinking 0:12:53.520 --> 0:12:56.160 I listened to the YouVersion Bible app as well and 0:12:56.200 --> 0:12:58.360 and just hearing it. And then I heard him say, 0:12:58.400 --> 0:13:01.440 and then he, you know, he flagged them, so I. 0:13:01.600 --> 0:13:04.920 Well, Renee, listen, it's a pretty common mistake. So much 0:13:04.920 --> 0:13:08.800 so that that when, when I looked at verse 35, 0:13:08.960 --> 0:13:13.120 I wrote in it. Right. Look at verse 28. Uh, 0:13:13.240 --> 0:13:17.280 to go back to remind myself what it was talking about. Okay. 0:13:17.880 --> 0:13:20.079 Perfect. And I took a note of that. And I'm 0:13:20.080 --> 0:13:22.319 going to put that in my Bible later. And I 0:13:22.320 --> 0:13:24.680 thank you so much for your time and clarification. 0:13:25.200 --> 0:13:28.200 Thank you so much. Really appreciate it. And we're going 0:13:28.240 --> 0:13:30.280 to come right back. We're going to take a break here. 0:13:30.280 --> 0:13:32.520 When we come back, we're going to talk to you 0:13:32.520 --> 0:13:36.840 about your questions about the Bible, God and the spiritual life. 0:13:36.880 --> 0:13:39.920 My name is Michael Melnick and this program is called 0:13:39.920 --> 0:13:47.060 Open Line. Give us a call (877) 548-3675. And the Bible 0:13:47.100 --> 0:14:08.780 study across America will continue. Stay with us. Welcome back 0:14:08.780 --> 0:14:11.860 to Open Line. I'm Michael Ray Dolnick. So glad to 0:14:11.860 --> 0:14:14.660 be talking with you. Hey, I wanted to tell you something. 0:14:14.660 --> 0:14:18.900 It is a heat wave Saturday, right? It's a heat 0:14:18.940 --> 0:14:22.140 wave Saturday. And we're thinking, boy, it's never going to 0:14:22.140 --> 0:14:27.020 get cold again. Right here in the Midwest. It's very hot. Uh, 0:14:27.140 --> 0:14:30.300 it's going to be up close to 100 today. But 0:14:30.300 --> 0:14:33.580 you know what? December will come and it will be cold, 0:14:33.580 --> 0:14:36.740 and everyone will want to get out of Chicago if 0:14:36.740 --> 0:14:39.520 we can, in December. And now's the time to plan that. 0:14:39.520 --> 0:14:41.640 I wanted to let you know that there are just 0:14:41.680 --> 0:14:45.160 a few cabins left on a cruise that I'll be 0:14:45.160 --> 0:14:48.520 teaching the Bible, on a Bible conference, on a on 0:14:48.520 --> 0:14:53.560 a ship in the Caribbean next December 6th through the 13th. 0:14:53.760 --> 0:14:56.560 It's going to be a great time. And if you're 0:14:56.560 --> 0:15:00.200 interested in studying the book of Daniel with me and 0:15:00.200 --> 0:15:05.320 seeing the Caribbean on a tall ship with beautiful sails, uh, 0:15:05.760 --> 0:15:08.800 and having a great time in the middle of December, 0:15:08.840 --> 0:15:12.000 now's the time to plan it. Just go to openlibrary.org 0:15:12.040 --> 0:15:15.680 and scroll down till you see the link that says 0:15:15.680 --> 0:15:19.160 Michael Melnick's personal web page. If you go to my 0:15:19.160 --> 0:15:22.840 web page, you'll be able to see the upcoming trip 0:15:24.480 --> 0:15:27.600 to the Caribbean in December. If you're interested in joining 0:15:27.600 --> 0:15:30.160 me for that week, we'll have a great time. We're 0:15:30.160 --> 0:15:31.760 going to go right to the phones now and talk 0:15:31.760 --> 0:15:37.900 with Tammy in Chicago listening on Wmbi. Welcome to Open Line, Tammy. 0:15:38.100 --> 0:15:39.340 How can I help you today. 0:15:40.020 --> 0:15:44.859 Doctor? What an honor to speak to you this week online. 0:15:44.900 --> 0:15:46.700 Honored to speak to you, Tammy. 0:15:47.300 --> 0:15:50.420 Thank you, thank you. Um, there was quite a heated 0:15:50.420 --> 0:15:54.740 debate between Senator Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson. I don't 0:15:54.740 --> 0:15:56.820 know if you know the clip I'm referring to. 0:15:57.140 --> 0:15:58.540 I yeah. Sure do. 0:15:59.260 --> 0:16:03.900 Okay. How would you have responded to that exchange? 0:16:05.380 --> 0:16:08.860 Well, let's see, the first thing is that the two 0:16:08.860 --> 0:16:12.700 issues that I've been hearing that came up, let's correct 0:16:12.700 --> 0:16:15.140 me if I'm wrong. One is that modern Israel is 0:16:15.140 --> 0:16:22.220 not the same as. Biblical Israel. Is that one of 0:16:22.220 --> 0:16:23.540 the first things that came up? 0:16:24.060 --> 0:16:24.739 Yes. 0:16:25.220 --> 0:16:30.940 Okay. I would say there certainly is overlap when people say, 0:16:30.940 --> 0:16:34.900 is it the same kind of government? No. The biblical 0:16:34.900 --> 0:16:38.160 Israel was a theocratic government with a king. This is 0:16:38.200 --> 0:16:44.680 a modern democracy, a secular government with a prime minister 0:16:44.680 --> 0:16:49.400 and a parliament. And so it's not exactly the same 0:16:49.440 --> 0:16:53.600 constitution or structure, you would say, of the modern Israel 0:16:53.640 --> 0:16:57.640 as biblical Israel. But they were both nation states of 0:16:57.640 --> 0:17:03.320 the Jewish people, biblical Israel as well as modern Israel. 0:17:03.560 --> 0:17:07.520 And so as that, in that sense, it is the same. 0:17:07.600 --> 0:17:10.840 It doesn't have the same boundaries, you know, and the 0:17:10.920 --> 0:17:15.639 boundary is always kind of fluctuated between the time of 0:17:15.640 --> 0:17:18.879 David and Solomon and then later on got a little smaller. 0:17:18.880 --> 0:17:23.879 But nevertheless, if we are we saying is modern Israel, 0:17:23.920 --> 0:17:27.960 the nation state of the Jewish people, the people of Israel, 0:17:27.960 --> 0:17:34.850 the ethnic Israel? That's true and is ancient biblical Israel, 0:17:34.890 --> 0:17:40.490 the nation state of of the Jewish people of ancient Israel, 0:17:40.490 --> 0:17:45.330 ethnic Israel. The answer, again, is yes. So in that sense, 0:17:45.330 --> 0:17:49.250 we have to recognize that that it is. There they were. 0:17:49.930 --> 0:17:54.690 And also it's kind of interesting, the biblical prophets foretold, 0:17:54.690 --> 0:17:59.370 for example, in Ezekiel 37, the regathering of the Jewish people, 0:17:59.609 --> 0:18:02.770 after their expulsion to the many nations around the world, 0:18:02.810 --> 0:18:05.649 they were going to be brought back to the land 0:18:05.650 --> 0:18:09.210 of Israel. And so Ezekiel 37 talks about them coming 0:18:09.210 --> 0:18:14.090 back in stages, and only once they're back, then they 0:18:14.090 --> 0:18:19.610 would have the spirit breathed into them the spirit of life. 0:18:19.770 --> 0:18:22.130 And so it seems to say that they would first 0:18:22.130 --> 0:18:25.650 come back before they believed in the Messiah, Jesus. And 0:18:25.650 --> 0:18:29.409 only at the culmination of that time would they believe. 0:18:29.450 --> 0:18:31.970 And there are many other passages. Even so, many of 0:18:31.970 --> 0:18:35.709 the end time events needs to have a reconstituted Israel 0:18:35.869 --> 0:18:38.830 in the land for those events to happen. So when 0:18:38.830 --> 0:18:40.629 people say, is it the same, it's not the exact 0:18:40.630 --> 0:18:43.710 same kind of government, but it is the same nation 0:18:43.710 --> 0:18:48.550 state of the Jewish people. Secondly, uh, the question is, 0:18:48.750 --> 0:18:51.070 let's see if I get the second question right. Should 0:18:51.070 --> 0:18:56.149 we care about the Jewish people? And of course, uh, 0:18:56.790 --> 0:19:00.470 I think believers, I'm not talking about governments, but believers 0:19:00.510 --> 0:19:03.270 need to. And the reason is, of course, Genesis 12 0:19:03.310 --> 0:19:05.230 three I will bless those who bless you and curse 0:19:05.230 --> 0:19:09.070 the one who curses you. And just recently, I was 0:19:09.070 --> 0:19:14.430 reading one of the shortest books of the Bible. Uh, 0:19:15.270 --> 0:19:21.270 it's called Obadiah. And the thing that struck me about 0:19:21.310 --> 0:19:26.109 Obadiah is it's a reminder to Israel that Edom would 0:19:26.109 --> 0:19:32.530 face judgment. Uh, and and this is the the the 0:19:32.570 --> 0:19:37.050 reminder here it says that Edom would be this. Verse 0:19:37.050 --> 0:19:40.530 ten will be covered with shame and destroyed forever because 0:19:40.530 --> 0:19:43.330 of violence done to your brother Jacob. This is taking 0:19:43.330 --> 0:19:48.050 place or after the Babylonian captivity is what it's talking about. 0:19:48.050 --> 0:19:53.770 That when the Babylonians came and conquered Judah, the Edomites, 0:19:53.770 --> 0:19:57.050 who were their brothers, they were the descendants of Esau, 0:19:57.890 --> 0:20:01.290 turned a blind eye and in fact went along with 0:20:01.290 --> 0:20:07.450 what Babylon did. And because of that they gloated over 0:20:07.450 --> 0:20:10.330 your brother. It says, in the day of his calamity, 0:20:10.730 --> 0:20:13.209 do not rejoice over the people of Judah and the 0:20:13.210 --> 0:20:16.570 day of their destruction. Do not boastfully mock in the 0:20:16.570 --> 0:20:19.929 day of distress. That's verse 12 do not enter the 0:20:19.930 --> 0:20:22.850 gate of my people in the day of their disaster. Yes, 0:20:22.850 --> 0:20:25.690 you do not gloat over their misery in the day 0:20:25.690 --> 0:20:29.369 of their disaster. And so it makes it really clear 0:20:29.650 --> 0:20:33.310 that the Lord is going to intervene. The day of 0:20:33.310 --> 0:20:36.870 the Lord is near against all the nations. Uh, there 0:20:36.869 --> 0:20:40.590 will be deliverance, verse 17, on Mount Zion. So I 0:20:40.590 --> 0:20:45.869 think as believers, we have a responsibility not to turn 0:20:46.310 --> 0:20:50.910 our backs or to celebrate the difficulties that Israel may 0:20:50.950 --> 0:20:56.110 be facing. Um, right now, uh, we have a responsibility 0:20:56.109 --> 0:20:58.310 to care for them. And then last of all, I 0:20:58.310 --> 0:21:01.990 think the best answer for us is to remember that 0:21:02.030 --> 0:21:07.390 Israel's help as a nation doesn't come from the United States, 0:21:07.470 --> 0:21:12.389 even though I believe people should look carefully at those 0:21:12.390 --> 0:21:16.030 verses in Obadiah to remind us of that. But Psalm 0:21:16.030 --> 0:21:20.670 121 is a great reminder. It says, I will lift 0:21:20.670 --> 0:21:23.389 toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? Usually 0:21:23.390 --> 0:21:25.150 the mountains is where you got your help. You know 0:21:25.190 --> 0:21:28.390 the cavalry is coming to ride to the rescue. Then 0:21:28.390 --> 0:21:31.970 the psalmist says, no, my help comes from the Lord, 0:21:32.570 --> 0:21:35.770 the maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow 0:21:35.770 --> 0:21:39.129 your foot to slip. Your protector will not slumber. Indeed, 0:21:39.330 --> 0:21:44.490 the guardian of Israel does not slumber or sleep. So 0:21:44.609 --> 0:21:50.770 I remember many years ago, during some negotiations about 1998, Netanyahu, 0:21:51.130 --> 0:21:54.210 Benjamin Netanyahu was in his first term as prime minister 0:21:54.210 --> 0:21:58.889 of Israel. And he said, I am responsible for the 0:21:59.010 --> 0:22:01.930 security of Israel. And I thought, well, he has been 0:22:01.930 --> 0:22:05.730 delegated that responsibility. But the real responsibility is the God 0:22:05.730 --> 0:22:10.250 of Israel, who neither slumbers nor sleeps. He's the one 0:22:10.250 --> 0:22:11.689 that will take care of that. And that's what we 0:22:11.690 --> 0:22:14.690 have to trust and pray for. So did that help 0:22:14.690 --> 0:22:15.450 at all, Tami? 0:22:15.970 --> 0:22:18.609 It sure did. Thank you so much, Doctor Reidel. Mike, 0:22:18.609 --> 0:22:19.609 I appreciate it. 0:22:20.330 --> 0:22:23.770 Sure. Thank you. And thanks. Thanks for the the very 0:22:23.770 --> 0:22:28.109 good question. I think, uh, believe it or not, someone 0:22:28.109 --> 0:22:29.990 called yesterday and said, you need to write a little 0:22:29.990 --> 0:22:32.590 book about this very subject. And so that's what I'm 0:22:32.590 --> 0:22:34.030 going to spend my July doing. 0:22:34.430 --> 0:22:36.429 So good way to spend your time. 0:22:36.430 --> 0:22:37.830 I'll look forward to that. 0:22:38.270 --> 0:22:41.469 Okay. Great. Thank you so much, Tammy. We're going to 0:22:41.470 --> 0:22:46.550 talk with Jane in Batavia, Illinois, listening on Wmbi. Welcome 0:22:46.550 --> 0:22:48.670 to Open Line. Jane. How can I help you today? 0:22:49.310 --> 0:22:52.390 Yeah. I'm so glad I was what you just said before. 0:22:52.430 --> 0:22:56.750 It really resonated with me. But my question is, I'm 0:22:56.750 --> 0:23:00.910 in several Bible studies and I love getting involved with them. 0:23:01.109 --> 0:23:03.950 And I'm in one where there's more men than women 0:23:03.990 --> 0:23:07.190 who are almost equal. But we discussed the book of 0:23:07.190 --> 0:23:10.990 Esther and they said it shouldn't be in the Bible. 0:23:11.030 --> 0:23:14.470 I disagree, but I'd like your comments because I think. 0:23:14.510 --> 0:23:16.590 They said it shouldn't be in the Bible. 0:23:17.750 --> 0:23:20.790 Well, they said, because the word God is not mentioned 0:23:20.790 --> 0:23:25.149 in that particular book. I disagree with that. Yeah. And 0:23:25.190 --> 0:23:28.920 I've been reading it. I've been reading Esther many. I've 0:23:28.960 --> 0:23:31.159 been reading through the Bible many times. And I listen 0:23:31.160 --> 0:23:33.920 to you often, sometimes when I'm driving. But today I 0:23:33.920 --> 0:23:37.560 wanted to get in because of our Bible study that meets. 0:23:38.080 --> 0:23:40.240 You know, I said I wanted to get some comments 0:23:40.240 --> 0:23:42.679 from you about what you thought about that book. 0:23:43.359 --> 0:23:47.520 Okay, Jane, let me just say you hang on after 0:23:47.520 --> 0:23:52.040 we're done talking and Lisa's going to get your name 0:23:52.040 --> 0:23:54.960 and address, and we're going to mail you a copy 0:23:54.960 --> 0:23:57.479 of a book I wrote called 50 Most Important Bible 0:23:57.480 --> 0:23:59.320 Questions because one. 0:24:00.000 --> 0:24:00.480 I have. 0:24:00.480 --> 0:24:00.960 It. Oh. 0:24:01.760 --> 0:24:04.120 Well, you have to read it, too, Jane. You can't 0:24:04.119 --> 0:24:06.159 just own it, you know, you got to read it. 0:24:06.200 --> 0:24:06.879 Here's why. 0:24:07.280 --> 0:24:09.399 So many bookmarks through that book. 0:24:09.880 --> 0:24:11.760 I just love that book. 0:24:12.560 --> 0:24:14.960 Maybe there's another one to give to some. 0:24:14.960 --> 0:24:15.760 Of the leader in. 0:24:15.760 --> 0:24:16.320 Our group. 0:24:17.000 --> 0:24:20.680 I'm going to answer your question, but there is one 0:24:20.680 --> 0:24:23.240 of the questions in that book is Where is God 0:24:23.240 --> 0:24:26.420 in the book of Esther? So now here's the first 0:24:27.500 --> 0:24:32.500 I've got. Let me try and answer your your question 0:24:32.500 --> 0:24:37.420 now if I can. Okay. Yeah. Uh, it is deliberate 0:24:37.420 --> 0:24:40.180 that God's name is is left out. It is a 0:24:40.180 --> 0:24:44.939 literary strategy. It's not because they forgot that they forgot 0:24:44.940 --> 0:24:47.460 to include his name. I mean, there's hints of it 0:24:47.460 --> 0:24:50.580 they call a fast. Remember, Esther has people fast for 0:24:50.580 --> 0:24:54.820 her for three days and three nights. Uh, they obviously, 0:24:54.859 --> 0:24:59.100 throughout the book, they deliberately leave out the name of 0:24:59.100 --> 0:25:04.220 God as a literary strategy. But they see God's fingerprints, 0:25:04.220 --> 0:25:08.620 his providence, his good work, working out of everything that 0:25:08.619 --> 0:25:13.020 was happening for their good to protect the Jewish people. 0:25:13.500 --> 0:25:16.619 That's where God is. It is in Providence. The lesson 0:25:16.619 --> 0:25:19.699 of the book of Esther for the Jewish people was 0:25:19.700 --> 0:25:24.800 even when they forgot God, he didn't forget them. He 0:25:24.800 --> 0:25:27.960 took care of them. He protected them. He preserved them. 0:25:27.960 --> 0:25:30.359 That was the message there. It's the message for us, too, 0:25:30.520 --> 0:25:33.760 that sometimes we neglect the Lord. But he doesn't neglect us. 0:25:33.760 --> 0:25:36.800 He's got his eye on us at all times. That's 0:25:36.800 --> 0:25:40.680 what providence is, him looking out for us. I hope 0:25:40.680 --> 0:25:44.400 that helps. And, uh, go go back and read that 0:25:44.400 --> 0:25:47.120 chapter in the book 50 Most Important Bible Questions. I 0:25:47.119 --> 0:25:49.400 think you'll like it. We'll be right back with more 0:25:49.400 --> 0:25:52.360 of your questions. In fact, the mailbag coming up straight ahead. 0:26:05.119 --> 0:26:07.480 And we're back. So glad to be with you on 0:26:07.480 --> 0:26:12.119 this Saturday morning. It's time for the Far Eastern Broadcasting 0:26:12.119 --> 0:26:16.400 Company mailbag, the Febc mailbag. We're so grateful to Far 0:26:16.400 --> 0:26:19.400 Eastern Broadcasting Company for partnering with us and bringing you 0:26:19.400 --> 0:26:23.860 the weekly mailbag. It's a terrific organization. They bring the 0:26:23.859 --> 0:26:26.860 good news to people all over the globe, through media 0:26:26.859 --> 0:26:31.340 and through personal engagement. Check out their podcast. It's called 0:26:31.340 --> 0:26:36.540 Until All Have Heard by going to Febc. Now, the 0:26:36.540 --> 0:26:39.860 person in charge of the mailbag is Tricia McMillan, producer 0:26:39.859 --> 0:26:43.540 of Open Line. Uh, should I call you executive producer? 0:26:43.580 --> 0:26:44.859 No, you should not. 0:26:45.260 --> 0:26:47.300 Should I call you top notch producer? 0:26:48.100 --> 0:26:50.500 No, you can just call me. Producer is fine. 0:26:50.540 --> 0:26:52.820 Okay, there we go. Isn't it? Don't you have, like, 0:26:52.820 --> 0:26:54.700 a special role as producer? 0:26:55.100 --> 0:26:59.100 No, I don't, I don't senior producer. Senior producer is my. 0:26:59.260 --> 0:27:02.139 That's it. Yeah, that's that's because you're so much older 0:27:02.140 --> 0:27:02.540 than me. 0:27:02.780 --> 0:27:05.540 Yes, yes, I'm a senior. No. 0:27:07.060 --> 0:27:11.180 No, that's not true. Okay, well, anyway, our senior producer, 0:27:11.180 --> 0:27:14.340 Tricia McMillan, is here with the questions that you've sent in. 0:27:14.380 --> 0:27:16.660 If you'd like to send a question in, best way 0:27:16.660 --> 0:27:19.760 to do that is to go to our website, Open 0:27:19.760 --> 0:27:24.720 line radio. Org. Click on the link that says Ask 0:27:24.720 --> 0:27:27.280 Michael a question and that's where your question will go. 0:27:27.280 --> 0:27:30.120 And it'll come to Tricia's mailbag. And then she'll put 0:27:30.119 --> 0:27:34.960 it in this mailbag for us. Uh, hey, I think, 0:27:34.960 --> 0:27:37.360 you know, a couple weeks ago I went to Akron, 0:27:37.359 --> 0:27:40.200 met a whole bunch of kitchen table partners. But I 0:27:40.240 --> 0:27:45.240 had an interesting email this week from someone that I 0:27:45.359 --> 0:27:51.640 worked with, um, 40 years ago. Uh, I haven't seen 0:27:51.640 --> 0:27:54.960 them in maybe 35 years. 0:27:55.080 --> 0:27:55.480 Wow. 0:27:55.560 --> 0:27:58.240 Uh, this couple and, uh, and they live out in 0:27:58.240 --> 0:28:02.440 the West Coast. They. This is such a cool thing. Uh, 0:28:02.520 --> 0:28:04.640 they live on the West Coast. Haven't talked to them. 0:28:04.680 --> 0:28:08.000 She somehow she got my phone number, texted me the 0:28:08.000 --> 0:28:13.920 wife of this couple, and, uh, she wrote. We listen 0:28:13.920 --> 0:28:17.840 every Saturday on the the Moody Radio app. 0:28:17.880 --> 0:28:18.320 Wow. 0:28:19.060 --> 0:28:23.060 And then she said, and we're kitchen table partners. And 0:28:23.060 --> 0:28:26.220 then she had questions for me. Yeah. Not Bible questions 0:28:26.500 --> 0:28:31.780 about some contact questions, but I, I was just so 0:28:31.820 --> 0:28:37.060 floored by the kindness of that and the, the graciousness 0:28:37.060 --> 0:28:40.380 that they showed me in staying friends from a distance 0:28:40.380 --> 0:28:43.660 all these years and helping to to be part of 0:28:43.660 --> 0:28:46.940 the program by being kitchen table partners. I'm so grateful 0:28:46.940 --> 0:28:50.180 for that. Uh, and, and I was thinking about that, 0:28:50.180 --> 0:28:52.380 that there may be people out there that have listened 0:28:52.380 --> 0:28:57.140 for a long time, whether on a podcast or whether 0:28:57.180 --> 0:29:00.380 maybe online or with the Moody Radio app or just 0:29:00.420 --> 0:29:03.340 on the radio. What an idea on the radio. And 0:29:03.380 --> 0:29:05.780 you've listened for a long time and thought, yeah, I 0:29:05.820 --> 0:29:08.780 want to help keep this program going. Uh, and the 0:29:08.780 --> 0:29:10.580 best way to do that is by becoming a kitchen 0:29:10.580 --> 0:29:12.739 table partner. We so appreciate when you do that. By 0:29:12.780 --> 0:29:16.140 giving monthly keeps us on the air weekly and the 0:29:16.540 --> 0:29:19.880 the real. We're so grateful for it. We produce a 0:29:19.880 --> 0:29:22.680 Bible study moment. It's an audio Bible study that you 0:29:22.720 --> 0:29:26.040 click on. It's produced exclusively for our kitchen table partners. 0:29:26.160 --> 0:29:28.800 If you're interested in becoming a kitchen table partner, all 0:29:28.800 --> 0:29:35.640 you have to do is call (888) 644-7122 or go to 0:29:35.680 --> 0:29:39.160 open Line radio.org. And again, I'm so grateful for every 0:29:39.160 --> 0:29:41.360 one of you for listening, for being a kitchen. For 0:29:41.360 --> 0:29:43.880 those of you who are kitchen table partners, and also 0:29:43.880 --> 0:29:47.960 for my old friends that they're not old, but they 0:29:47.960 --> 0:29:50.560 are friends for a long time and I'm really grateful 0:29:50.560 --> 0:29:51.520 for them doing this. 0:29:51.560 --> 0:29:52.560 Yeah, that's very cool. 0:29:53.120 --> 0:29:56.080 Yeah. Yeah. Out of the blue. Got that text message. 0:29:56.080 --> 0:29:59.320 That was a surprise. So, anyway, uh, well, let's let's 0:29:59.320 --> 0:30:00.600 talk about some of these questions. 0:30:00.640 --> 0:30:03.080 All right. Our first question is from Robert in Ohio, 0:30:03.080 --> 0:30:07.720 who listens to in Genesis four after King kills his 0:30:07.720 --> 0:30:10.719 brother Abel, God said the ground wouldn't yield its strength, 0:30:10.720 --> 0:30:13.080 and Cain would be a wanderer and a vagrant on 0:30:13.080 --> 0:30:16.450 the earth. I assumed that, uh, it would follow then, 0:30:16.450 --> 0:30:19.530 that Cain would wander and live a lonely life. But 0:30:19.530 --> 0:30:22.090 the Bible says that Cain had a son with his wife. 0:30:22.090 --> 0:30:25.930 Built a city which doesn't sound like a wanderer. Can 0:30:25.930 --> 0:30:27.770 you tell us more about this? 0:30:28.210 --> 0:30:30.810 Yeah. There's kind of a dispute among Bible scholars. If 0:30:30.810 --> 0:30:34.050 you read commentaries on Genesis about whether or not Cain 0:30:34.050 --> 0:30:39.010 repented of his sin. Uh, I guess one of my 0:30:39.010 --> 0:30:43.130 favorite scholars seemed to think that he did. I am 0:30:43.130 --> 0:30:46.090 not convinced. And that's the reason why. Now, if you 0:30:46.090 --> 0:30:49.330 look at the early chapters of the Book of Genesis, 0:30:50.450 --> 0:30:54.130 it seems that every time someone is in rebellion against God, 0:30:54.370 --> 0:30:58.850 they move eastward. Now, that's that's kind of interesting. Uh, 0:30:58.970 --> 0:31:03.530 for example, after Adam and Eve sin, they're cast out 0:31:03.530 --> 0:31:07.610 of the garden for their rebellion. And where is the cherub? 0:31:07.610 --> 0:31:11.090 The cherub is put at the eastern gate of the 0:31:11.090 --> 0:31:15.830 garden to guard them from returning. turning, which means that 0:31:15.830 --> 0:31:19.630 they went eastward in their rebellion. And if you look 0:31:19.630 --> 0:31:26.230 at Genesis chapter 11, when the the people of the 0:31:26.230 --> 0:31:29.110 earth are told to scatter. Uh, they don't do it. 0:31:29.110 --> 0:31:34.550 They rebel against God. Instead, they moved eastward. Uh, in 0:31:35.270 --> 0:31:38.390 my version here says from the east. But it'd be 0:31:38.390 --> 0:31:40.990 better to translate it and move to the east, uh, 0:31:40.990 --> 0:31:44.870 in Genesis 11 two. And they set up the Tower 0:31:44.910 --> 0:31:50.790 of Babel. Uh, and then when Abram separates from lot, 0:31:50.830 --> 0:31:54.830 what does he do? He moves eastward. A lot does 0:31:55.110 --> 0:31:59.710 to rebel. Uh, and and he goes to Sodom. Not 0:31:59.710 --> 0:32:02.190 a good place to go. Uh, and that's sort of 0:32:02.230 --> 0:32:06.510 an interesting thing. He looks uh, lot looked out verse 0:32:06.750 --> 0:32:10.150 chapter 13, verse ten, and saw that the entire Jordan 0:32:10.150 --> 0:32:14.850 Valley as far as Zoar was well watered, right. And 0:32:14.850 --> 0:32:19.250 so he goes eastward. It says in verse 11, then 0:32:19.250 --> 0:32:22.969 lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. So 0:32:22.970 --> 0:32:26.010 here's a little marker in the text. It seems like 0:32:26.010 --> 0:32:32.130 whenever someone moves eastward, they are in rebellion. And here 0:32:32.130 --> 0:32:38.530 in Genesis chapter four, when God tells Cain that that 0:32:38.730 --> 0:32:42.770 he's supposed to be a restless wanderer on the earth, 0:32:42.970 --> 0:32:45.690 and then he says, if I do that, they'll kill me. 0:32:46.010 --> 0:32:48.450 God gives them the mark of Cain to protect him. 0:32:48.570 --> 0:32:51.530 And then it says in verse 16, Then Cain went 0:32:51.530 --> 0:32:53.930 out from the Lord's presence and lived in the land 0:32:53.930 --> 0:32:57.650 of nod, east of Eden. So where did he go? 0:32:57.690 --> 0:32:58.130 He went. 0:32:58.130 --> 0:32:58.770 Eastward. 0:32:59.050 --> 0:33:01.690 Yeah. And then not only that, when he's supposed to 0:33:01.690 --> 0:33:05.010 be a wanderer, what does he do? He builds a city. 0:33:06.290 --> 0:33:08.250 Then Cain became the builder of a city. And he 0:33:08.250 --> 0:33:11.510 named the city Enoch after his son. So when you 0:33:11.510 --> 0:33:14.190 build a city, that means you're settling down, not wandering. 0:33:14.350 --> 0:33:17.150 And so he was in rebellion against God to the 0:33:17.150 --> 0:33:20.790 very end. He never really did repent. I think that 0:33:21.270 --> 0:33:25.110 that's a very good observation. And the text tells us 0:33:25.110 --> 0:33:27.390 that when he went east, that that was a sign 0:33:27.630 --> 0:33:30.910 of rebellion, not that always going east, but that's a 0:33:30.950 --> 0:33:33.510 kind of a literary marker here in the early chapters 0:33:33.510 --> 0:33:34.350 of Genesis. 0:33:34.910 --> 0:33:36.710 Yeah. Okay. Thank you for that. 0:33:36.750 --> 0:33:38.710 I mean, if I moved to New York, it wouldn't mean. 0:33:38.710 --> 0:33:39.790 That I was in sin. 0:33:40.950 --> 0:33:43.590 Right? Because that's east of where I live. But that's 0:33:43.590 --> 0:33:45.350 just a literary marker. Okay. 0:33:45.630 --> 0:33:48.750 Something we can look for as we're reading. One encouraging 0:33:48.790 --> 0:33:51.310 thing I did find, which has nothing to do with 0:33:51.310 --> 0:33:55.270 Robert's question, but that his son is Enoch, who walked 0:33:55.270 --> 0:33:58.190 with God and then was no more like that. That 0:33:58.230 --> 0:34:03.830 even if your parent is rebellious against God, it does 0:34:03.830 --> 0:34:08.390 not mean that that entire line that you cannot have 0:34:08.750 --> 0:34:11.890 a repentant heart and follow God. And it was just 0:34:11.890 --> 0:34:15.810 just those little things that I know that Genesis includes 0:34:15.810 --> 0:34:18.609 those little markers like you're talking about, but that we 0:34:18.610 --> 0:34:21.770 can I find encouragement in that, that, that even if 0:34:21.770 --> 0:34:25.609 your family is broken and rebellious, you don't have to 0:34:25.610 --> 0:34:27.210 be in God can save you. 0:34:27.210 --> 0:34:30.569 The pattern of sin can be broken. Yeah. And then 0:34:30.570 --> 0:34:33.250 the other thing that I think is encouraging in this passage, 0:34:33.250 --> 0:34:37.130 if there if we can find encouragement, is that God 0:34:37.130 --> 0:34:39.890 shows him grace in the midst of judgment. He says, 0:34:39.890 --> 0:34:41.690 you're going to wander the earth. He says, everyone will 0:34:41.690 --> 0:34:43.690 kill me. Gives them the mark of Cain. That was 0:34:43.690 --> 0:34:47.570 God's mercy and grace right there in the midst of 0:34:47.610 --> 0:34:51.770 a passage about judgment. So it just shows that God's 0:34:51.770 --> 0:34:56.970 mercy is always operating, even sometimes when we're rebelling against him. 0:34:57.250 --> 0:35:01.050 Mhm. Thank you. And thank you, Robert, for that question. 0:35:01.050 --> 0:35:04.489 That kind of led us to that also. Um, our 0:35:04.489 --> 0:35:07.250 next question is from Kim on Facebook who says, I'm 0:35:07.250 --> 0:35:10.390 so very grateful for the program. You. Your expertise and 0:35:10.390 --> 0:35:12.350 your team. What is the most. 0:35:12.430 --> 0:35:13.750 Like the team especially? 0:35:14.230 --> 0:35:18.470 What is the most accurate translation from the original writing 0:35:18.469 --> 0:35:23.110 of Jeremiah 17, verse nine. And she does not give 0:35:23.110 --> 0:35:26.710 any explanation as to why, but I know that you 0:35:26.750 --> 0:35:30.549 you can just translate this on the spot from the Hebrew. 0:35:30.550 --> 0:35:34.430 And so tell us what Jeremiah 17 nine says. 0:35:34.469 --> 0:35:37.390 Okay, I pulled up the Hebrew text. It says the 0:35:37.390 --> 0:35:42.029 heart is more crooked than all else, which really has 0:35:42.030 --> 0:35:44.029 to do with, you know, when we even use the 0:35:44.030 --> 0:35:50.670 word that way. Oh, that guy's crooked. That means dishonest. Deceitful, right? 0:35:50.989 --> 0:35:53.469 So the heart is more crooked than all else. In fact, 0:35:53.469 --> 0:35:58.870 the word crooked is used of, uh, kinds of sin. Uh, 0:35:59.670 --> 0:36:04.390 you know, a dishonest. And so the heart is more 0:36:04.430 --> 0:36:09.210 crooked than anything else. And it is, you know, the 0:36:09.210 --> 0:36:14.170 new American standard, the most literal translation says it's desperately 0:36:14.330 --> 0:36:18.930 wicked or desperately sick. But I think it just means incurable. 0:36:19.250 --> 0:36:23.210 That's what the word that's used there means. Uh, it's 0:36:23.450 --> 0:36:26.290 so it's the heart is more crooked than anything else. 0:36:26.489 --> 0:36:30.330 And it is crooked. Who can know it or who can? 0:36:30.370 --> 0:36:33.170 And the word know has to do with understanding. So 0:36:33.170 --> 0:36:35.730 that's what it means. I think probably the person's wondering 0:36:35.730 --> 0:36:39.370 if the word deceitful means crooked. It does, but it's 0:36:39.370 --> 0:36:42.010 a metaphor for deceitfulness. 0:36:42.690 --> 0:36:43.410 Okay. So. 0:36:43.770 --> 0:36:44.410 All right. 0:36:44.450 --> 0:36:47.489 Happy to do it. I love getting to, uh, do 0:36:47.489 --> 0:36:48.610 the translation from. 0:36:48.610 --> 0:36:49.370 Time to time. 0:36:50.010 --> 0:36:51.609 And I think, I think we do need the play 0:36:51.650 --> 0:36:54.130 by play, though, because you'll just go silent for a 0:36:54.130 --> 0:36:56.049 second and we don't know what's happening. 0:36:56.650 --> 0:36:59.609 Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. What is he doing? Well, he's 0:36:59.610 --> 0:37:01.810 pulling out his Hebrew Bible and taking a look at it. 0:37:01.850 --> 0:37:04.170 That's what he's doing, right? So. Well, we're going to 0:37:04.170 --> 0:37:06.980 be right back. That was Tricia McMillan. I'm Michael Melnick. 0:37:07.020 --> 0:37:09.580 You're listening to Open Line. More with your questions coming. 0:37:09.620 --> 0:37:13.100 More of your questions coming up straight ahead, right here 0:37:13.100 --> 0:37:30.620 on Open Line. And we're back. So good to be 0:37:30.620 --> 0:37:34.219 with you this Saturday morning talking about the Bible, God 0:37:34.219 --> 0:37:38.620 and the spiritual life. All your questions, uh, and, uh, 0:37:38.940 --> 0:37:44.700 before we. Before we get on to your calls, I 0:37:44.820 --> 0:37:47.540 wanted to mention a current the resource that Chosen People 0:37:47.540 --> 0:37:53.140 Ministries is offering because Israel is in a war right now. 0:37:53.540 --> 0:38:00.459 Multi-front War. The war with Iran, obviously, that started last week, 0:38:00.460 --> 0:38:04.520 but also continued to fight in Gaza Uh, to take 0:38:04.520 --> 0:38:08.680 out Hamas. It's. It's a terrible time. I've been talking 0:38:08.719 --> 0:38:13.120 to my Israeli friends, and they are just stressed to 0:38:13.160 --> 0:38:18.360 no end. But what does the future hold? Chosen people Ministries, 0:38:18.360 --> 0:38:22.839 one of our ministry partners, is offering a special book 0:38:22.840 --> 0:38:26.719 called Israel's Glorious Future. It details God's faithfulness to his 0:38:26.719 --> 0:38:29.719 covenant and his promises that he made to Israel the 0:38:29.719 --> 0:38:33.319 past and the present and the future. All God will 0:38:33.320 --> 0:38:38.200 be faithful to his people, and Israel's future is certain 0:38:38.200 --> 0:38:40.880 and glorious. If you'd like a free copy of Israel's 0:38:40.880 --> 0:38:45.400 Glorious future, just go to our website openline. radio.org. That's 0:38:45.400 --> 0:38:49.000 our website. Scroll down until you see the link that 0:38:49.000 --> 0:38:53.239 says Free Gift from Chosen People Ministries. Click on that 0:38:53.239 --> 0:38:54.839 and then you'll be taken to a page where you 0:38:54.840 --> 0:38:58.759 can sign up for your very own copy of Israel's 0:38:58.800 --> 0:39:07.700 Glorious Future. And. That. Let's start. Uh. Omar with, uh, 0:39:07.700 --> 0:39:13.460 Ethan in Libertyville, Illinois, listening on W-m-b-d. Uh, welcome to 0:39:13.500 --> 0:39:15.260 Open Line. Ethan. How can I help you? 0:39:17.620 --> 0:39:20.620 Yeah. Hi. This is, uh, it's Doctor Rydell. Is that right? 0:39:21.380 --> 0:39:23.180 It's Michael. It's fine. Michael. 0:39:23.739 --> 0:39:24.100 Okay. 0:39:24.140 --> 0:39:27.460 Yeah, yeah. Hi, Michael. Um, so I've got a question 0:39:27.460 --> 0:39:29.500 about the, you know, the same thing with the Ted 0:39:29.500 --> 0:39:35.740 Cruz and Tucker Carlson interview that everybody had seen. And I'm. 0:39:35.900 --> 0:39:37.140 By the way, I want. 0:39:37.180 --> 0:39:43.779 To say Tucker Carlson really, uh, has hosted anti-Semites on 0:39:43.780 --> 0:39:47.140 his program and not challenged them. He has taken a 0:39:47.140 --> 0:39:52.300 terrible attitude about Jewish people. So I think he's has 0:39:52.300 --> 0:39:56.939 colored his perspective. Uh, not as a journalist, but, uh, 0:39:56.940 --> 0:40:01.480 he's really taken some, uh, attacks. He's attacked Jewish other 0:40:01.480 --> 0:40:06.920 Jewish people in media. Uh, it's it's shameful, I think. 0:40:08.120 --> 0:40:10.120 Right. Well, this. 0:40:10.400 --> 0:40:11.680 He hosted a Holocaust. 0:40:11.680 --> 0:40:13.719 Denier of all things. Go ahead. 0:40:13.760 --> 0:40:14.440 What's your question? 0:40:14.480 --> 0:40:17.279 I did not know that. Yeah. So I'm a young 0:40:17.280 --> 0:40:19.600 Christian and, you know, in their early 20s, and I 0:40:19.640 --> 0:40:24.680 hear this topic constantly about Zionism. And as Christians, are 0:40:24.680 --> 0:40:29.439 we called to have this undying support for modern Israel 0:40:29.640 --> 0:40:34.000 or is modern Israel the, the, the new church, the 0:40:34.000 --> 0:40:35.840 body of believers on earth? 0:40:36.320 --> 0:40:37.480 And I obviously. 0:40:37.480 --> 0:40:40.600 Many passages used to support both and it's it's just 0:40:40.600 --> 0:40:41.920 hard to navigate that. 0:40:42.200 --> 0:40:42.560 Yeah. 0:40:42.600 --> 0:40:46.239 I can't answer that whole big question right here. 0:40:46.280 --> 0:40:46.560 Yeah. 0:40:46.600 --> 0:40:50.440 In in just 2 or 3 minutes. Uh, I do 0:40:50.440 --> 0:40:54.439 want to point out to you that in Romans 1128. 0:40:55.280 --> 0:40:55.760 Yeah. 0:40:56.640 --> 0:40:59.560 Uh, it's a very and the reason I point this 0:40:59.620 --> 0:41:06.620 out to you is that a friend of mine said 0:41:06.620 --> 0:41:09.940 that they wanted to go ahead and believe that God 0:41:09.980 --> 0:41:14.100 had replaced the people of Israel with the church, with a, 0:41:14.300 --> 0:41:18.540 quote unquote, new Israel or spiritual Israel. And Romans nine 0:41:18.580 --> 0:41:22.300 through 11 kept them from doing that. They couldn't believe it. 0:41:22.460 --> 0:41:28.020 It says this about unbelieving Israel in Romans 1128 regarding 0:41:28.020 --> 0:41:31.100 the gospel. They are enemies. Now that means they are 0:41:31.100 --> 0:41:34.259 opposed to the gospel, not enemies of God. They are 0:41:34.260 --> 0:41:40.140 enemies for your advantage, meaning they are opposed to the gospel. 0:41:40.540 --> 0:41:43.260 And this is this was good because now the gospel 0:41:43.260 --> 0:41:45.540 went out to the Gentiles. That's what he talks about 0:41:45.540 --> 0:41:48.739 in verse 11 of the same chapter. But then it says, 0:41:48.739 --> 0:41:51.060 but regarding election, which is just a big word for 0:41:51.100 --> 0:41:53.900 chosenness regarding being chosen. 0:41:54.660 --> 0:41:54.899 Right? 0:41:54.940 --> 0:41:57.700 Okay. This is talking about Jewish people. They don't. They're 0:41:57.700 --> 0:42:02.120 opposed to the gospel. But regarding Chosenness, they are loved 0:42:02.120 --> 0:42:06.080 because of the patriarchs. God gave the Abrahamic Covenant to Abraham, Isaac, 0:42:06.080 --> 0:42:09.520 and Jacob, and because of that, God loves them. Since 0:42:09.520 --> 0:42:16.160 God's gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. So, uh, you 0:42:16.160 --> 0:42:21.080 go back to chapter nine and there it talks about 0:42:21.080 --> 0:42:23.680 the gifts that God has given the Israelites. It says 0:42:23.680 --> 0:42:29.600 they are Israelites. To them there's nine, four belong the adoption, 0:42:29.640 --> 0:42:32.839 the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the 0:42:32.840 --> 0:42:36.400 temple service, and the promises which include the promise of 0:42:36.400 --> 0:42:40.400 the land. The ancestors are there, so the patriarchs are theirs, 0:42:40.400 --> 0:42:45.320 and from them by physical descent came the Messiah. So, um, 0:42:46.160 --> 0:42:48.839 that I think we can't take the promise away from 0:42:48.840 --> 0:42:51.680 Israel based on what the Apostle Paul says. Now, the 0:42:51.680 --> 0:42:55.880 second thing I want to mention is people misunderstand Zionism. 0:42:56.860 --> 0:42:57.180 Uh. 0:42:57.300 --> 0:43:00.700 It has been, uh, there's been a propaganda war out 0:43:00.700 --> 0:43:09.020 there to somehow dirty the word Zionism. Uh, and I 0:43:09.020 --> 0:43:14.100 think this is really a tragedy because Zionism, you know, 0:43:14.140 --> 0:43:17.220 you can go back to its roots. Uh, Theodor Herzl, 0:43:17.260 --> 0:43:22.020 who developed Zionism at the first Zionist Congress. All it 0:43:22.020 --> 0:43:29.060 is is the belief that Jewish people should have self-determination 0:43:29.700 --> 0:43:37.620 in their ancient homeland. Just, uh, just the same as, uh, 0:43:37.620 --> 0:43:46.100 French patriotism or, uh, English patriotism, uh, thinking that they 0:43:46.100 --> 0:43:48.180 should have, you know, we think the English should have 0:43:48.260 --> 0:43:54.500 self-determination in England. The Brits should have self-determination in Great Britain. Uh, 0:43:54.500 --> 0:43:57.030 the same thing for the Jewish people, like all peoples 0:43:57.030 --> 0:44:00.950 of the earth, to be allowed to have self-determination in 0:44:00.989 --> 0:44:05.549 their ancient homeland. That's what Zionism is and it has 0:44:05.550 --> 0:44:08.989 been turned into something dirty. I recommend a couple of books. 0:44:09.510 --> 0:44:14.390 There's a book by Gerald McDermott. Simpler form of it 0:44:14.390 --> 0:44:19.350 is called Israel Matters. He's a, I think, a Presbyterian 0:44:19.350 --> 0:44:22.910 or an Anglican pastor, a professor who wrote it up 0:44:24.590 --> 0:44:28.149 and it's called Israel Matters, and it's a really good 0:44:28.150 --> 0:44:32.910 little book. And then there's also a book that he 0:44:32.910 --> 0:44:35.910 edited that's a little bit more technical, called The New 0:44:35.910 --> 0:44:42.830 Christian Zionism by McDermott. And I recommend both those books 0:44:42.830 --> 0:44:46.550 to you because it's not written from the perspective people 0:44:46.550 --> 0:44:49.310 dismiss me. Oh, you're Jewish, Michael, so that's why you 0:44:49.310 --> 0:44:52.549 say what you do. But McDermott's I can't remember if 0:44:52.550 --> 0:44:55.650 he's Anglican or Presbyterian, but he's one of those, uh, 0:44:55.650 --> 0:44:59.689 and he certainly is not a dispensationalist like people want 0:44:59.730 --> 0:45:05.490 to dismiss it. Uh, he's just someone that that's quite biblical. Um, 0:45:05.730 --> 0:45:08.489 in terms of understanding Romans nine through 11, he does 0:45:08.489 --> 0:45:12.489 a really good job explaining it. Uh, it's the new 0:45:12.489 --> 0:45:17.489 Christian Zionism, but don't I? I am saddened to see 0:45:17.489 --> 0:45:20.689 the way people have made Zionism a dirty word. And 0:45:20.690 --> 0:45:23.930 they say things like, it's an ethno. Israel is an 0:45:23.930 --> 0:45:27.770 ethno nationalist state, meaning an ethnic national state. Well, what 0:45:27.770 --> 0:45:30.089 is France? What's Saudi Arabia? 0:45:31.250 --> 0:45:31.650 Yeah. 0:45:32.530 --> 0:45:35.969 They it's it doesn't mean that there are minorities in 0:45:35.969 --> 0:45:39.969 Israel with full rights and full citizens. The freest Arabs 0:45:39.969 --> 0:45:43.810 in the world are the Israeli Arabs. They have. 0:45:44.010 --> 0:45:44.370 Yeah. 0:45:44.810 --> 0:45:48.730 All the freedoms of a democracy. Uh, and and it's 0:45:48.730 --> 0:45:50.970 a shame to me that this word has been made 0:45:50.969 --> 0:45:54.590 into some sort of dirty word. It shouldn't be. Even 0:45:54.590 --> 0:45:58.110 people who believe who are actually Zionists believe in a 0:45:58.110 --> 0:46:02.150 a homeland for the Jewish people. So I'm a Zionist 0:46:02.150 --> 0:46:06.310 because it's been so defamed. It's unfortunate. Anyway, thanks so 0:46:06.310 --> 0:46:09.230 much for your call, Ethan. I really appreciate it. Thanks 0:46:09.230 --> 0:46:12.910 for listening, everyone. That's the first hour. Keep listening. There's 0:46:12.950 --> 0:46:15.669 a second hour of Open Line on most of these stations, 0:46:15.670 --> 0:46:17.910 so you should check it out. Uh, if you if 0:46:17.950 --> 0:46:19.989 your station doesn't carry it, you can always listen on 0:46:19.989 --> 0:46:22.950 the Moody Radio app or get the podcast. Or listen online. 0:46:23.230 --> 0:46:26.710 Go to our web page, Open Line radio.org. During the break, 0:46:26.710 --> 0:46:31.189 check out all the things there. Past programs, the question page, uh, 0:46:31.190 --> 0:46:33.230 where to get our current resource. How to become a 0:46:33.230 --> 0:46:36.350 kitchen table partner. It's all at the website. Our Bible 0:46:36.350 --> 0:46:39.629 study across America will continue in the second hour, so 0:46:39.630 --> 0:46:42.630 stay with us. Open line with Doctor Michael Ray Zelnick 0:46:42.630 --> 0:46:46.510 is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody 0:46:46.510 --> 0:46:48.310 Bible Institute. Be right. 0:46:48.310 --> 0:46:48.710 Back.