1 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,920 S1: You've seen the dramatic footage, you've read the headlines America 2 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:16,079 S1: and Israel's Attempts to destroy Iran's Nuclear weapons. If you've 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,759 S1: noticed an increasing number of stories, though, present conflicting viewpoints, 4 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:21,760 S1: how do we sift through all the spin to find 5 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:25,280 S1: the truth? Well, that's our conversation next. Welcome to the 6 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,520 S1: land and the book with Middle East scholar Doctor Charlie Dyer. 7 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:30,720 S1: I'm John Geiger, and we're about to take a look 8 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:32,920 S1: at the major stories coming out of the Middle East, 9 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,720 S1: including an in-depth look at the situation in Iran. First, though, 10 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,680 S1: Romans 116 says the gospel is to the Jew first 11 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:42,280 S1: and also to the Gentile. But how do you share 12 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:46,080 S1: the good news with a Jewish person because of cultural, historical, 13 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,920 S1: and religious differences? It's sometimes challenging to navigate a gospel 14 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,360 S1: conversation with somebody from a Jewish background. You ever wondered 15 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,560 S1: how the professionals do it? 16 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,200 S2: Well, to answer that question, our friends at Life in 17 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:01,110 S2: Messiah want to mail you samples of the tracks their 18 00:01:01,110 --> 00:01:04,350 S2: staff use as they share the gospel. This will serve 19 00:01:04,390 --> 00:01:07,110 S2: a dual purpose of equipping you with methods of presenting 20 00:01:07,110 --> 00:01:10,470 S2: the gospel, while also supplying you with tracks you can 21 00:01:10,470 --> 00:01:13,550 S2: share with your Jewish friends and neighbors. Life in Messiah's 22 00:01:13,550 --> 00:01:16,230 S2: Prayer is that these tracks will help further the spread 23 00:01:16,230 --> 00:01:19,470 S2: of the gospel among the Jewish people. To receive this 24 00:01:19,470 --> 00:01:22,030 S2: helpful assortment of tracks, all you need to do is 25 00:01:22,030 --> 00:01:25,550 S2: visit Life in Messiah org and click on the radio 26 00:01:25,550 --> 00:01:30,910 S2: button there for more information. That's life in Messiah. Don't 27 00:01:30,910 --> 00:01:32,990 S2: miss out on this great opportunity. 28 00:01:33,430 --> 00:01:35,670 S1: And now let's swing our focus toward current events in 29 00:01:35,670 --> 00:01:39,869 S1: the Middle East. America's strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities last 30 00:01:39,870 --> 00:01:43,069 S1: weekend took the war between Israel and Iran in a 31 00:01:43,069 --> 00:01:47,110 S1: dramatically different direction. What impact would those strikes have, though 32 00:01:47,270 --> 00:01:49,350 S1: long term, on the current conflict? 33 00:01:49,510 --> 00:01:52,710 S2: Well, the strikes demonstrated the willingness of President Trump to 34 00:01:52,750 --> 00:01:57,150 S2: actively intervene to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. When 35 00:01:57,190 --> 00:02:01,660 S2: Iran rejected giving up nuclear enrichment. President Trump followed through 36 00:02:01,660 --> 00:02:04,780 S2: on his threat. Now that message was heard by Iran 37 00:02:04,780 --> 00:02:08,300 S2: and by everyone else in the Middle East. Two days later, 38 00:02:08,300 --> 00:02:11,140 S2: the president was able to announce a cease fire, ending 39 00:02:11,139 --> 00:02:14,579 S2: the 12 day war with Israel as the clear winner. 40 00:02:14,580 --> 00:02:17,900 S2: In spite of what Iran is saying, Iran's nuclear program 41 00:02:17,900 --> 00:02:21,780 S2: was hit hard. Its stockpiles of missiles and launchers have 42 00:02:21,780 --> 00:02:25,980 S2: been degraded and much of the leadership has been eliminated. Now, 43 00:02:25,980 --> 00:02:29,859 S2: this doesn't mean the Islamic Republic of Iran will be overthrown, 44 00:02:30,060 --> 00:02:33,780 S2: or that they'll now give up their nuclear ambitions. Ayatollah 45 00:02:33,780 --> 00:02:37,740 S2: Khamenei is 86 years old and has health issues, so 46 00:02:37,740 --> 00:02:40,579 S2: he might not be around too much longer. But another 47 00:02:40,580 --> 00:02:44,180 S2: ayatollah will likely be chosen to replace him. Iran could 48 00:02:44,180 --> 00:02:48,140 S2: experience a time of internal unrest, but the Islamic Revolutionary 49 00:02:48,139 --> 00:02:51,620 S2: Guard Corps and the army, at least right now, continue 50 00:02:51,620 --> 00:02:55,739 S2: to support the ayatollahs. If the Islamic Republic stays in power, 51 00:02:55,980 --> 00:03:00,490 S2: it will continue trying to develop nuclear weapons. Theologically, the 52 00:03:00,490 --> 00:03:03,810 S2: ayatollahs are committed to the destruction of Israel to help 53 00:03:03,810 --> 00:03:07,450 S2: bring in the Mahdi, their Islamic messiah. Now, all that 54 00:03:07,450 --> 00:03:11,370 S2: to say, Iran's long term goals haven't changed, but their 55 00:03:11,370 --> 00:03:15,010 S2: ability to rebuild their nuclear facilities and to fund and 56 00:03:15,010 --> 00:03:19,850 S2: support terror groups has been greatly diminished. One key question 57 00:03:19,889 --> 00:03:22,290 S2: still to be answered is what has become of that 58 00:03:22,290 --> 00:03:27,090 S2: £900 of enriched uranium? That's enough to ultimately build ten 59 00:03:27,090 --> 00:03:31,049 S2: nuclear bombs. And right now, there is no clear answer. 60 00:03:31,410 --> 00:03:35,130 S2: Iran's retaliatory attack in response to the U.S. destruction of 61 00:03:35,130 --> 00:03:39,410 S2: its nuclear sites was minimal. It had telegraphed it in advance, 62 00:03:39,410 --> 00:03:43,210 S2: and it was ineffective. It was designed to give Iran 63 00:03:43,250 --> 00:03:46,050 S2: a face saving way to bring the conflict to an end, 64 00:03:46,090 --> 00:03:50,690 S2: without provoking further U.S. action. And the missiles they launched 65 00:03:50,690 --> 00:03:53,690 S2: against Israel after the start of the cease fire were 66 00:03:53,690 --> 00:03:57,800 S2: also intended as a face saving measure. Israel responded with 67 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,400 S2: a token attack just to let them know it can 68 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,720 S2: and will still hold them accountable. Now we need to 69 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,040 S2: watch and see if a cease fire can be brokered 70 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:08,840 S2: between Israel and Hamas as a result of the end 71 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:12,720 S2: of this conflict, and hopefully free the remaining hostages and 72 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,320 S2: bring that conflict to an end. But it does look 73 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,920 S2: like things might finally start to calm down in the region, 74 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,920 S2: at least temporarily. And that would be welcome news for many. 75 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,880 S1: That's doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Yeager. This is the 76 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,360 S1: land and the book. A look at current events from 77 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:30,200 S1: the Middle East. As always at the top of our 78 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,720 S1: weekly get together. Well, the focus for weeks has been 79 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,360 S1: on Israel and Iran, of course, but what's been happening 80 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,120 S1: in some of the other countries in the region. Can 81 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:38,560 S1: you give us a brief flyover? 82 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:43,240 S2: Well, Turkey's economy continues to struggle. Their treasury and finance 83 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,760 S2: minister went on social media to try to address concerns 84 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,560 S2: over the impact of the war between Israel and Iran 85 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,719 S2: on Turkey's economy. He offered lots of assurances, but really 86 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:58,859 S2: few specifics. Meanwhile, five district mayors were suspended from office 87 00:04:58,860 --> 00:05:04,060 S2: and arrested in President Erdogan's continuing crackdown on political opponents. 88 00:05:04,339 --> 00:05:08,980 S2: These actions just continue to cause unrest throughout Turkey. Syria 89 00:05:08,980 --> 00:05:12,620 S2: is struggling with the resurgence of ISIS and other Islamic 90 00:05:12,660 --> 00:05:17,300 S2: terrorist groups. Last Sunday, a suicide bomber killed 25 people 91 00:05:17,300 --> 00:05:20,340 S2: and injured dozens of others inside a church on the 92 00:05:20,339 --> 00:05:24,500 S2: outskirts of Damascus. And speaking of terrorism, it could also 93 00:05:24,500 --> 00:05:27,980 S2: be on the rise in Iraq. Iraq addressed its growing 94 00:05:28,020 --> 00:05:33,820 S2: prison overcrowding by granting amnesty to 19,000 prisoners, including members 95 00:05:33,820 --> 00:05:37,500 S2: of ISIS, who had been convicted on terrorism related charges. 96 00:05:38,020 --> 00:05:42,460 S2: Iraqi forces intercepted messengers from Syria with instructions for ISIS 97 00:05:42,500 --> 00:05:46,659 S2: members in Iraq to launch attacks. And authorities in Iraq 98 00:05:46,700 --> 00:05:49,620 S2: tracked down and killed a suicide bomber just before he 99 00:05:49,620 --> 00:05:53,570 S2: was able to detonate his explosive belt in a crowded restaurant, 100 00:05:54,130 --> 00:05:57,210 S2: finally moving to Libya, a truce put in place in 101 00:05:57,210 --> 00:06:00,370 S2: Tripoli to stop the fighting between the different armed groups. 102 00:06:00,370 --> 00:06:04,330 S2: There remains rather shaky. The problem is that security in 103 00:06:04,330 --> 00:06:08,730 S2: Libya's capital has been effectively outsourced to different armed groups 104 00:06:08,730 --> 00:06:12,290 S2: with official sounding names, but actually little loyalty to the state. 105 00:06:12,730 --> 00:06:16,210 S2: These countries, all of them, seem to vacillate between internal 106 00:06:16,210 --> 00:06:23,210 S2: chaos and corruption, or strict control under a dominant central leader. Unfortunately, 107 00:06:23,210 --> 00:06:27,170 S2: neither option bodes well for their long term stability. 108 00:06:27,770 --> 00:06:31,530 S1: Here's an interesting story. Archaeologists announced the discovery of a 109 00:06:31,529 --> 00:06:35,730 S1: 1700 year old sarcophagus in Caesarea. What do we know 110 00:06:35,730 --> 00:06:37,929 S1: about this rather unusual discovery? 111 00:06:38,250 --> 00:06:41,130 S2: Well, the sarcophagus dates back to the Roman era and 112 00:06:41,130 --> 00:06:44,690 S2: apparently belonged to someone of great wealth. It's carved out 113 00:06:44,690 --> 00:06:47,849 S2: of white marble, which isn't native to Israel. It was 114 00:06:47,850 --> 00:06:52,320 S2: likely quarried and carved in northwestern Turkey and then shipped 115 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:55,080 S2: to Caesarea by boat. The other thing that makes the 116 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,359 S2: sarcophagus so unique is the carving on the outside, which 117 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:02,400 S2: depicts a scene from Greek mythology showing a drinking contest 118 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,880 S2: between Heracles or we might call him Hercules and Dionysus, 119 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,720 S2: the god of wine. The sarcophagus was uncovered outside the 120 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,360 S2: walled area of Caesarea. A mausoleum had been built in 121 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,960 S2: connection with the sarcophagus, with mosaic floors and other decorations. 122 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:23,360 S2: Apparently some inscriptions were also uncovered during the excavations, but 123 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:26,600 S2: those details have not yet been made public. Right now, 124 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,520 S2: we don't know the nature of the person who had 125 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,320 S2: the sarcophagus carved and brought to Caesarea. Apart from the 126 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,200 S2: fact that he was probably a wealthy pagan who perhaps 127 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:38,760 S2: loved to drink. But there is one other detail. A 128 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,240 S2: few hundred years after the sarcophagus and mausoleum were built, 129 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,360 S2: the site where they were located fell into disrepair and 130 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,280 S2: became part of the city dump. It's a good reminder, 131 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,190 S2: I guess, that our best efforts for lasting fame here 132 00:07:51,190 --> 00:07:54,230 S2: in this life are only an illusion. It reminds me 133 00:07:54,230 --> 00:07:57,230 S2: of the words of that great missionary CT Studd. Only 134 00:07:57,230 --> 00:07:59,950 S2: one life. Twill soon be past. Only what's done for 135 00:07:59,950 --> 00:08:01,670 S2: Christ will last. Mm. 136 00:08:01,910 --> 00:08:06,110 S1: Great perspective. How about perpetual power for robots? Well, that's 137 00:08:06,110 --> 00:08:09,870 S1: the vision propelling Israeli startup Kapow and its plan to 138 00:08:09,910 --> 00:08:14,110 S1: develop a flexible power transfer system for any robotic fleet. 139 00:08:14,230 --> 00:08:18,230 S1: Tell us more about this rather unusual innovation from amazing Israel. 140 00:08:18,590 --> 00:08:20,510 S2: You know, John, this is a system that when you 141 00:08:20,510 --> 00:08:22,790 S2: see it in action, you slap the side of your 142 00:08:22,790 --> 00:08:25,990 S2: head and say, now, why didn't I think of that? 143 00:08:25,990 --> 00:08:29,310 S2: Robotics are becoming part of everyday life in more industries. 144 00:08:29,470 --> 00:08:33,350 S2: From Amazon's order fulfillment centers to the robotic delivery of 145 00:08:33,350 --> 00:08:37,429 S2: parts inside auto assembly plants. But the downside to having 146 00:08:37,429 --> 00:08:40,230 S2: so many robots is that you have to plan on 147 00:08:40,230 --> 00:08:43,830 S2: downtime for each one to allow for recharging, along with 148 00:08:43,830 --> 00:08:47,550 S2: allocating space for those robots to sit idle while being charged. 149 00:08:47,590 --> 00:08:50,780 S2: On average, each robot needs to charge for an hour. 150 00:08:50,820 --> 00:08:53,740 S2: After working for three. So if you need to have 151 00:08:53,740 --> 00:08:56,580 S2: 100 robots working at any one time, you need to 152 00:08:56,620 --> 00:08:59,579 S2: invest in a fleet of 130 robots to allow for 153 00:08:59,580 --> 00:09:03,939 S2: those offline. That's what led a professor at Ben-Gurion University 154 00:09:03,940 --> 00:09:08,100 S2: to develop Kapow! A cartoon sounding word that stands for 155 00:09:08,100 --> 00:09:11,900 S2: capacitive power. A he and his team developed a wireless 156 00:09:11,900 --> 00:09:15,780 S2: power in motion platform that allows a robotic fleet to 157 00:09:15,820 --> 00:09:18,980 S2: receive a sip of energy while passing over the strategically 158 00:09:18,980 --> 00:09:22,860 S2: placed charging pads. And they developed a floor planner app 159 00:09:22,860 --> 00:09:26,780 S2: to help companies place these charging pads at strategic locations, 160 00:09:26,780 --> 00:09:30,380 S2: so robots are charged while going about their regular routine. 161 00:09:30,700 --> 00:09:34,140 S2: The system can be installed on concrete, metal, wood or 162 00:09:34,140 --> 00:09:36,980 S2: on shelving. And it's been demonstrated to work with more 163 00:09:36,980 --> 00:09:41,620 S2: than 20 types of robotic families, reduce the initial investment 164 00:09:41,620 --> 00:09:45,340 S2: in a company's fleet of robots, and reclaim floor space 165 00:09:45,340 --> 00:09:49,690 S2: lost to charging zones, all by installing a headache free 166 00:09:49,730 --> 00:09:53,770 S2: plug and play seamless energy solution that charges the robots 167 00:09:53,770 --> 00:09:56,810 S2: as they drive up and down warehouse aisles. This is 168 00:09:56,809 --> 00:10:00,690 S2: another great innovation from Amazing Israel and if you're interested, 169 00:10:00,850 --> 00:10:06,090 S2: Google Kapow! Kapow! To watch videos of the system in action. 170 00:10:06,290 --> 00:10:09,250 S1: Hey, who wrote the Bible? Scholars say a new algorithm 171 00:10:09,250 --> 00:10:12,530 S1: may shatter scholarly certainty on the subject. What's the truth 172 00:10:12,530 --> 00:10:14,010 S1: behind these claims, Charlie? 173 00:10:14,250 --> 00:10:16,890 S2: Well, let's just say I'm underwhelmed. And this so-called announcement, 174 00:10:16,890 --> 00:10:20,050 S2: it really tries to use computer algorithms and use fancy 175 00:10:20,050 --> 00:10:22,970 S2: words like that to help people think that there's somehow 176 00:10:23,010 --> 00:10:25,610 S2: difference in the Bible, but in reality, it's just an 177 00:10:25,610 --> 00:10:28,010 S2: old system dressed up. Uh, how did they do it? 178 00:10:28,010 --> 00:10:30,650 S2: They took specific words like the word no and said, 179 00:10:30,650 --> 00:10:33,930 S2: that has to be connected with Deuteronomy. Uh, well, commands 180 00:10:33,929 --> 00:10:36,929 S2: in Deuteronomy all start with no, uh, it uses the 181 00:10:36,929 --> 00:10:38,690 S2: word gold and said, that must be a priestly thing. 182 00:10:38,690 --> 00:10:40,890 S2: But when you talk about the ark or the temple, 183 00:10:40,890 --> 00:10:43,490 S2: you end up with gold. So, uh, if you hear 184 00:10:43,490 --> 00:10:47,240 S2: about this system, don't believe it. It's really not that important, 185 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:48,560 S2: but it made the headlines. 186 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,079 S1: Coming up on the land and the book, A conversation 187 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,120 S1: with Rob West about tearing down the idols of money. 188 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:13,439 S1: The Bible contains more than 2300 references to money and possessions, 189 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,600 S1: which means what you think about stuff. What you do 190 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:19,679 S1: with your stuff is big stuff to him. So how 191 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,280 S1: can we really know we're on a biblical track with 192 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:25,520 S1: our finances? This is the land and the book. I'm 193 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:27,920 S1: John Gager coming up. We're going to get in your 194 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:31,400 S1: face about what's in your wallet first. Join me in 195 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,240 S1: thinking through how we can maybe better connect. In a 196 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:38,960 S1: gospel conversation with a Jewish friend. Eva Rydell is on 197 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,920 S1: staff with Chosen People Ministries and has joined us today 198 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:43,360 S1: in the studio here on the land of the book. 199 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,079 S1: And I got a question for you, Eva, with so 200 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,500 S1: much resistance on the part of Jewish people to the 201 00:11:48,500 --> 00:11:51,740 S1: notion of Jesus as Messiah, what can we, as lovers 202 00:11:51,740 --> 00:11:54,939 S1: of Jesus, do to make him more appealing? 203 00:11:55,140 --> 00:11:57,179 S3: Ah, great question. I think, first of all, I think 204 00:11:57,179 --> 00:12:00,459 S3: we should pray. You know, it says in Psalm 122 four, 205 00:12:00,460 --> 00:12:02,340 S3: pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And I think that 206 00:12:02,340 --> 00:12:05,380 S3: does mean literally for the city of Jerusalem, the land 207 00:12:05,380 --> 00:12:08,380 S3: of Israel. But it also means for our individual Jewish friends, 208 00:12:08,380 --> 00:12:09,780 S3: we should pray for them. And do you know the 209 00:12:09,780 --> 00:12:12,420 S3: only verse in the whole Bible that talks about praying 210 00:12:12,420 --> 00:12:15,820 S3: for the salvation of people? It's in Romans ten when 211 00:12:15,820 --> 00:12:18,500 S3: it says, my heart's desire and prayer to God for 212 00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:21,260 S3: Israel is that they might be saved. Yeah. The command 213 00:12:21,260 --> 00:12:23,380 S3: in the Scripture is pray for the salvation of Jewish people. 214 00:12:23,380 --> 00:12:25,260 S3: So I think that's the first thing. Pray by name. 215 00:12:25,260 --> 00:12:29,459 S3: Pray believing. Ask for opportunities. Ask for clarity. Ask for boldness. 216 00:12:29,500 --> 00:12:31,699 S3: Pray for their understanding of who Messiah is. They'll come 217 00:12:31,700 --> 00:12:35,580 S3: to that faith point. And secondly is be bold. You know. 218 00:12:35,620 --> 00:12:39,020 S3: Lovingly share your life and your love of Jesus with 219 00:12:39,020 --> 00:12:42,740 S3: your Jewish friends. Again, start with felt need, not with 220 00:12:42,740 --> 00:12:46,010 S3: messianic prophecy that comes later, but start with those areas 221 00:12:46,010 --> 00:12:49,050 S3: of commonality, of where people are facing the pavement of 222 00:12:49,050 --> 00:12:51,490 S3: life and say, you know, God works for me here, 223 00:12:51,490 --> 00:12:54,010 S3: and he works for you too. And Jesus is God. 224 00:12:54,050 --> 00:12:55,809 S1: Pray boldly and speak lovingly. 225 00:12:55,809 --> 00:12:57,570 S3: Exactly. Perfectly put. 226 00:12:57,610 --> 00:13:02,370 S1: Eva Rydell is with Chosen People Ministries. Rob West is 227 00:13:02,370 --> 00:13:04,890 S1: the host of Faith and Finance Live, heard on more 228 00:13:04,890 --> 00:13:09,250 S1: than 900 radio outlets every day, including Moody Radio. Rob 229 00:13:09,250 --> 00:13:12,930 S1: also serves as the president of Kingdom Advisors, an international 230 00:13:12,929 --> 00:13:17,330 S1: community of financial professionals who are specialists in delivering biblically 231 00:13:17,330 --> 00:13:21,130 S1: wise financial advice. Rob serves as primary spokesman for the 232 00:13:21,130 --> 00:13:24,890 S1: organization and he gives leadership to a strategy there. Rob 233 00:13:24,890 --> 00:13:27,170 S1: and his wife, Julie, live in Marietta, Georgia with their 234 00:13:27,170 --> 00:13:29,290 S1: four children. And I know I'm about to have a 235 00:13:29,290 --> 00:13:31,970 S1: great day at Moody Radio whenever Rob West is in 236 00:13:31,970 --> 00:13:34,610 S1: the studio. Thanks for connecting with us today, Rob. 237 00:13:34,730 --> 00:13:36,770 S4: John, my friend, great to be with you. 238 00:13:37,170 --> 00:13:39,610 S1: Well, Rob, our program, of course, is called The Land 239 00:13:39,610 --> 00:13:43,080 S1: and the book. Issues related to money and possessions, though, 240 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:47,199 S1: are found in almost every chapter of the book. Genesis 241 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,960 S1: two describes the land of Havilah, which is filled with gold, 242 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,400 S1: and in chapter 23 of that first book, we see 243 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:56,960 S1: the first financial transaction involving a purchase of land. And 244 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,840 S1: of course, very few pages in the entire Bible are 245 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:03,319 S1: without some kind of reference to finances. So my question 246 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,160 S1: why does God care so much about what we do 247 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:07,880 S1: with our money and possessions? 248 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,320 S4: Oh, it's such a great question, John. And, you know, 249 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,640 S4: I have found and I've spent my entire professional career 250 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,199 S4: at the intersection of faith and finance, that our financial 251 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,360 S4: journey is one of the key ways that God shapes 252 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:25,080 S4: our spiritual journey. And I think the reason is that 253 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,920 S4: money issues are hard issues. You remember what Jesus said? 254 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:32,600 S4: He says, for where your treasure is, there your heart 255 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,960 S4: will be also. So our heart follows our money. And 256 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,840 S4: if you think about it, John, the way we allocate 257 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:42,150 S4: God's resources and it all belongs to him, That's the 258 00:14:42,150 --> 00:14:44,670 S4: one big idea we need to begin with, and therefore 259 00:14:44,670 --> 00:14:47,550 S4: we're stewards. Or if you translate that word in the 260 00:14:47,550 --> 00:14:51,350 S4: New Testament, Oikonomos, where the household manager of the King 261 00:14:51,390 --> 00:14:55,150 S4: of kings. We're then charged with being found faithful with 262 00:14:55,150 --> 00:15:00,470 S4: God's resources. And our hearts are so interconnected to this 263 00:15:00,470 --> 00:15:03,310 S4: issue that I think that's why it's front and center. 264 00:15:03,310 --> 00:15:07,070 S4: That's why Jesus is not only using it as an illustration, 265 00:15:07,070 --> 00:15:11,510 S4: there's also plenty of direct teaching about money, because when 266 00:15:11,510 --> 00:15:15,030 S4: we take this good gift and allow it to occupy 267 00:15:15,070 --> 00:15:18,550 S4: first position in our lives, well, it competes with God 268 00:15:18,550 --> 00:15:21,950 S4: for lordship. We worship the creation over the creator, and 269 00:15:21,950 --> 00:15:23,310 S4: that's when we have real problems. 270 00:15:23,310 --> 00:15:25,790 S1: Well, if you visit the Kingdom Advisors website, which you 271 00:15:25,790 --> 00:15:28,950 S1: definitely should, there's a big, bold question that you're immediately 272 00:15:28,950 --> 00:15:32,230 S1: confronted with I love this. What if we live as 273 00:15:32,230 --> 00:15:34,750 S1: if God owns it all? Now, Rob, I saw that 274 00:15:34,750 --> 00:15:36,950 S1: and I began thinking, we can't even take a single 275 00:15:36,990 --> 00:15:40,820 S1: breath without God's enabling. So how do we almost instinctively 276 00:15:40,820 --> 00:15:45,260 S1: reach the outrageous conclusion that, quote, our money is ours? 277 00:15:45,660 --> 00:15:49,580 S4: Yeah. Exactly right. And it comes down to pride. And 278 00:15:49,580 --> 00:15:53,140 S4: I think so often we think about the things that 279 00:15:53,140 --> 00:15:57,060 S4: we have, the resources that we have as if they 280 00:15:57,060 --> 00:15:59,780 S4: are from our own doing. And, you know, I go 281 00:15:59,780 --> 00:16:02,300 S4: to the the parable of the rich fool. I mean, 282 00:16:02,500 --> 00:16:05,260 S4: listen to what he says here. He he says the 283 00:16:05,260 --> 00:16:07,820 S4: land of a rich man produced plentifully. And he thought 284 00:16:07,820 --> 00:16:10,900 S4: to himself, what shall I do? For I have nowhere 285 00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:13,860 S4: to store my crops. And he says, I will do this. 286 00:16:13,860 --> 00:16:16,500 S4: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones. 287 00:16:16,500 --> 00:16:19,580 S4: And there I will store all my grain and my goods. 288 00:16:19,620 --> 00:16:22,540 S4: I mean, he uses the word I or my nine 289 00:16:22,540 --> 00:16:25,580 S4: times in two verses. Wow. And I think, you know, 290 00:16:25,620 --> 00:16:28,500 S4: we can point fingers and say, oh, he's got it 291 00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:30,700 S4: all wrong. But how often do we do that in 292 00:16:30,700 --> 00:16:34,060 S4: our own lives where we take credit for something that 293 00:16:34,060 --> 00:16:35,340 S4: is ultimately God's? 294 00:16:35,380 --> 00:16:37,820 S1: Yeah, it's either me and mine or him and his. 295 00:16:37,860 --> 00:16:38,180 S4: That's right. 296 00:16:38,220 --> 00:16:40,770 S1: Rob West is the host of Faith and Finance Live. 297 00:16:40,810 --> 00:16:44,210 S1: He's also president of Kingdom Advisors, and we're focused today 298 00:16:44,210 --> 00:16:47,690 S1: on tearing down the idol of money. Rob, you've written 299 00:16:47,690 --> 00:16:50,490 S1: that Jesus talked a lot about money because it's a 300 00:16:50,490 --> 00:16:53,810 S1: chief competitor for our hearts. What is it about money 301 00:16:53,810 --> 00:16:56,050 S1: that makes us want to idolize it, though? 302 00:16:56,770 --> 00:16:59,370 S4: Well, if you think about it, we have this God 303 00:16:59,410 --> 00:17:02,570 S4: sized hole in our hearts. We were created for abundance, 304 00:17:02,570 --> 00:17:05,410 S4: and we try to stuff all kinds of things in 305 00:17:05,450 --> 00:17:10,250 S4: that space, thinking it will provide lasting fulfillment and contentment 306 00:17:10,250 --> 00:17:13,570 S4: and significance. And I think money is one of those 307 00:17:13,570 --> 00:17:18,330 S4: primary competitors. The late Tim Keller said in his book 308 00:17:18,330 --> 00:17:21,970 S4: Counterfeit Gods that money is the most common counterfeit God. 309 00:17:22,010 --> 00:17:25,449 S4: He said, I've had every sin confessed in my office, 310 00:17:25,490 --> 00:17:27,369 S4: save one, and it's the sin of greed. And I 311 00:17:27,369 --> 00:17:30,929 S4: think it's because we try to redeem greed in the 312 00:17:30,930 --> 00:17:33,850 S4: name of the American dream. And we've just got to 313 00:17:33,850 --> 00:17:37,960 S4: be careful there, because really, it's about making God our 314 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:41,920 S4: ultimate treasure. When we treasure him above everything else and 315 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,560 S4: realize that he is our abundance, he is the thing 316 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,080 S4: that will provide fulfillment and significance. And then we put 317 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,040 S4: money in its proper place as a tool to accomplish 318 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,080 S4: God's purposes. Well, that changes everything. Yeah. 319 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,120 S1: I want to go back to that Luke 12 parable 320 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:58,520 S1: you mentioned of the the farmer with his bumper crop. 321 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:01,560 S1: He was going to build bigger barns. And, and you know, 322 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:03,880 S1: the God says of him, you fool, tonight your life 323 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,320 S1: will be required of you. I think of the chilling words, though, 324 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,000 S1: that are at the end of that parable. And Jesus 325 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,080 S1: condemns this man's outlook with these words. So it will 326 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:16,960 S1: be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself and 327 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,000 S1: is not rich in relation to God. Boy, that's a 328 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,880 S1: chilling thought to be to be rich in treasures for ourselves, 329 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,760 S1: but not in relation to God. That's that's a poverty 330 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,480 S1: that you don't really recover from. 331 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,320 S4: No, that's exactly right. And I think that's why this 332 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:35,080 S4: parable is so poignant. Listen to these words from author 333 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:38,190 S4: Paul David Tripp. He writes, what the Bible clearly teaches 334 00:18:38,190 --> 00:18:41,750 S4: is that when functional, life shaping love for money and 335 00:18:41,750 --> 00:18:44,990 S4: what it allows you to acquire and enjoy squeezes out 336 00:18:44,990 --> 00:18:47,590 S4: of your heart the functional, life shaping love for God 337 00:18:47,590 --> 00:18:51,590 S4: that was designed to be the organizing principle of your life. 338 00:18:51,590 --> 00:18:54,310 S4: Then you're a person in deep spiritual trouble. He goes 339 00:18:54,310 --> 00:18:56,870 S4: on to say, money is one of God's good creations, 340 00:18:56,869 --> 00:18:59,949 S4: but this good thing becomes a bad thing for you 341 00:18:59,950 --> 00:19:03,430 S4: when it becomes a ruling thing. He finishes by saying, 342 00:19:03,430 --> 00:19:06,350 S4: you simply cannot serve the King of Kings, and have 343 00:19:06,350 --> 00:19:10,830 S4: the acquisition of wealth as the organizing dream of your heart. 344 00:19:10,869 --> 00:19:13,950 S4: You see, John, if God is our ultimate treasure, our 345 00:19:13,950 --> 00:19:17,709 S4: life will reflect God's character to the world as image 346 00:19:17,710 --> 00:19:22,030 S4: bearers of this relational and generous God. One beautiful and 347 00:19:22,030 --> 00:19:25,629 S4: tangible way we exhibit our love for God is through 348 00:19:25,630 --> 00:19:29,270 S4: our financial decisions, and it's ultimately about making God our 349 00:19:29,270 --> 00:19:32,230 S4: ultimate treasure and again, putting money in its proper place. 350 00:19:32,270 --> 00:19:35,030 S1: Boy, what a quote there. The organizing dream of your heart. 351 00:19:35,130 --> 00:19:37,650 S1: That's great. Hey, thanks for connecting with us today on 352 00:19:37,650 --> 00:19:40,330 S1: the land and the book. I'm John Yeager. Our guest. 353 00:19:40,330 --> 00:19:43,930 S1: Rob West has a massive ax in his hands. That's 354 00:19:43,930 --> 00:19:47,010 S1: because he's helping us chop down the idol of money. 355 00:19:47,050 --> 00:19:49,730 S1: All right, Rob, for somebody who is serious about wanting 356 00:19:49,770 --> 00:19:52,530 S1: to tear down the idol of money, what's step one? 357 00:19:53,130 --> 00:19:55,850 S4: Well, we've got to change our perspective. It really does 358 00:19:55,850 --> 00:19:58,170 S4: come down to this idea that we started with today, John, 359 00:19:58,170 --> 00:20:00,609 S4: and that is that God is the owner of everything. 360 00:20:00,850 --> 00:20:04,810 S4: I own nothing, but I have stewardship responsibilities. You and 361 00:20:04,810 --> 00:20:08,010 S4: I are money managers for the King of Kings. That's 362 00:20:08,010 --> 00:20:10,489 S4: a high calling. We have to start there. But I 363 00:20:10,490 --> 00:20:12,730 S4: think if we're if we're going to break through the 364 00:20:12,730 --> 00:20:16,090 S4: stronghold that money can have over us, remember, it's a 365 00:20:16,090 --> 00:20:19,250 S4: good gift. But there is a seduction of wealth that 366 00:20:19,250 --> 00:20:21,929 S4: the Bible talks about. And if we're going to break 367 00:20:21,930 --> 00:20:25,250 S4: through that, I think generosity is one of the keys 368 00:20:25,250 --> 00:20:29,330 S4: to that. Giving actually breaks the grip of money over 369 00:20:29,330 --> 00:20:31,810 S4: our lives. When we hold it loosely, we're saying, God, 370 00:20:31,810 --> 00:20:35,200 S4: I trust you. You are my provider and therefore I 371 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,399 S4: can give it away and be a part of your 372 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,879 S4: activity in the world, knowing that you will continue to 373 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:44,720 S4: provide and just watch as that stronghold of money begins 374 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:45,800 S4: to just fall away. 375 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,320 S1: You know, as I listen to this conversation with you, Rob, 376 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:52,040 S1: I'm struck by the fact that that it seems like maybe, maybe. 377 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:54,320 S1: And I'll let you be the judge here. You're the expert. 378 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,359 S1: Pride is the issue more than stuff. You see, the 379 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:00,080 S1: moment we believe that we have stuff, that we are 380 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:03,560 S1: the owners. Well, that gives us a significance. That gives 381 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:05,600 S1: us a place, it gives us position. But when we 382 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:08,879 S1: realize we have nothing, we own nothing. It's all God's. 383 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:12,560 S1: That puts us in a position of undeniable humility. So 384 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:16,320 S1: is it not maybe the ultimate sin being pride as 385 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:18,159 S1: opposed to possessions themselves? 386 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:19,919 S4: I think you're exactly right. I mean, if we go 387 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:23,000 S4: back to that rich man in Jesus parable, he's not 388 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:26,480 S4: being a faithful steward because a faithful steward understands that 389 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,120 S4: the Lord is the source of financial blessings. So instead 390 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:34,350 S4: of feeling proud about our Possessions. We use our resources 391 00:21:34,350 --> 00:21:37,470 S4: to glorify God and serve others, and I think that's 392 00:21:37,470 --> 00:21:40,670 S4: where we so often miss the mark by taking credit 393 00:21:40,670 --> 00:21:45,990 S4: for our success and then using God's money to serve ourselves. 394 00:21:45,990 --> 00:21:49,109 S4: That's both proud and greedy. We need to flip the 395 00:21:49,109 --> 00:21:50,830 S4: script and be rich toward God. 396 00:21:50,830 --> 00:21:53,389 S1: This is the land and the book. I'm John Gager. 397 00:21:53,430 --> 00:21:55,670 S1: Glad to be hanging out with one of my very 398 00:21:55,670 --> 00:22:00,110 S1: favorite people, Rob West. Rob serves as president of Kingdom Advisors. 399 00:22:00,109 --> 00:22:03,110 S1: He's also the host of Faith and Finance Live. All right. 400 00:22:03,109 --> 00:22:05,550 S1: A second step or third step for somebody serious about 401 00:22:05,550 --> 00:22:07,990 S1: wanting to tear down the idol of money. 402 00:22:08,430 --> 00:22:10,550 S4: So once we understand God owns it all and we're 403 00:22:10,590 --> 00:22:14,510 S4: giving generously, then we need to recognize that God has 404 00:22:14,510 --> 00:22:17,670 S4: given us instructions in His Word about how we're to 405 00:22:17,670 --> 00:22:20,710 S4: handle money. And, you know, we have to live within 406 00:22:20,710 --> 00:22:23,590 S4: God's provision. We live in a world that allows us 407 00:22:23,590 --> 00:22:26,870 S4: to live beyond that through the use of debt. And 408 00:22:26,869 --> 00:22:29,790 S4: so I think taking this next step of saying, I'm 409 00:22:29,830 --> 00:22:33,020 S4: going to rightsize size my spending in a way that 410 00:22:33,020 --> 00:22:35,780 S4: allows me to live within God's provision. But even more 411 00:22:35,780 --> 00:22:39,020 S4: than that, John, the way we allocate our money tells 412 00:22:39,020 --> 00:22:41,620 S4: a story about what's most important to us. And here's 413 00:22:41,619 --> 00:22:44,859 S4: the question do you agree with the story? Your money 414 00:22:44,859 --> 00:22:47,300 S4: is telling about what's truly most important to you, and 415 00:22:47,300 --> 00:22:49,939 S4: if not, what changes do we need to make? So 416 00:22:49,940 --> 00:22:53,260 S4: I think after we build in that rhythm of generosity, 417 00:22:53,300 --> 00:22:55,460 S4: we've got to take a hard look at how we're 418 00:22:55,660 --> 00:22:57,820 S4: actually allocating God's resources. 419 00:22:57,859 --> 00:23:01,140 S1: It seems to me we can't or won't be successful 420 00:23:01,340 --> 00:23:03,780 S1: at tearing down the idol of money. Apart from a 421 00:23:03,780 --> 00:23:08,180 S1: switch in focus where heaven becomes the driving force. Your response? 422 00:23:08,340 --> 00:23:12,100 S4: Yeah, that's exactly right. I mean, ultimately, when we treasure 423 00:23:12,140 --> 00:23:14,820 S4: God above everything else, our finances are one of the 424 00:23:14,820 --> 00:23:18,900 S4: most tangible expressions of that. I love what Ron Blue, 425 00:23:18,940 --> 00:23:21,620 S4: one of my mentors and the the author of more 426 00:23:21,619 --> 00:23:24,859 S4: than 20 books on biblical finance. He says money is 427 00:23:24,859 --> 00:23:28,700 S4: a tool to accomplish God's purposes. It's a test to 428 00:23:28,700 --> 00:23:31,170 S4: see if we're going to allow it to to rival 429 00:23:31,210 --> 00:23:33,449 S4: our hearts for devotion to God. But it's also a 430 00:23:33,450 --> 00:23:37,370 S4: testimony to the world, because how we handle God's money 431 00:23:37,369 --> 00:23:41,530 S4: is really a testimony as to our trust and our 432 00:23:41,530 --> 00:23:44,530 S4: devotion to God. Are we going? Even in the midst 433 00:23:44,530 --> 00:23:48,570 S4: of uncertainty, to continue to trust God and handle his 434 00:23:48,570 --> 00:23:52,810 S4: money appropriately and even continue to give? What an opportunity. 435 00:23:53,330 --> 00:23:55,649 S1: At your website you've got a really great resource called 436 00:23:55,650 --> 00:24:00,770 S1: Wisdom Over Wealth 12 Lessons on Money from Ecclesiastes. Describe that. 437 00:24:01,170 --> 00:24:03,730 S4: Yeah. So we took a deep dive into this incredible 438 00:24:03,770 --> 00:24:07,610 S4: book where the preacher really talks about the brevity of 439 00:24:07,609 --> 00:24:11,649 S4: life and celebrates the idea that we can use the 440 00:24:11,650 --> 00:24:15,010 S4: brevity of life. This five minutes we have on the 441 00:24:15,010 --> 00:24:19,450 S4: summit of life, to think about how much pain we're 442 00:24:19,450 --> 00:24:23,450 S4: in from trekking up the mountain, or to really focus 443 00:24:23,450 --> 00:24:27,170 S4: on how great and vast and amazing God is, and 444 00:24:27,170 --> 00:24:30,920 S4: worship him and put everything in its proper perspective. It's 445 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:35,399 S4: ultimately about wisdom over wealth. And here's the secret, John. 446 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,680 S4: Wisdom is found in a person and his name is Jesus. 447 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:40,320 S1: All right. I'm going to invite you to point people 448 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:42,560 S1: to your website where you have not just this resource, 449 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,960 S1: but many more, including an app that people can download, 450 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:48,320 S1: talk just for a minute about what people can do 451 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,800 S1: if they want to make this personal, this idea of 452 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:53,480 S1: tearing down the idol of money. How can you resource 453 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:54,560 S1: our listeners? Rob. 454 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:58,040 S4: Well, if you head to Faith. Com that's faith. Philly.com. 455 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,600 S4: You'll find a lot of great resources there, including content 456 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,000 S4: that I think John leans into this idea of changing 457 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,760 S4: your perspective. Remember, we've got to get away from this 458 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:10,120 S4: idea that everything we have is ours and accept our 459 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:12,840 S4: role as a steward, and there are real implications to that. 460 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:14,880 S4: And I think a lot of the resources there will 461 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:17,480 S4: help you down that path. And then to your point, 462 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:20,439 S4: not only the studies and the devotionals, like our new one, 463 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,040 S4: Wisdom Over Wealth, but also the app that will allow 464 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:26,240 S4: you on a daily basis to put a plan together 465 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:28,669 S4: that truly reflects what's most important to you as a 466 00:25:28,670 --> 00:25:31,950 S4: Christ follower, as you make daily financial decisions. 467 00:25:31,990 --> 00:25:33,869 S1: All right, one more time. The website is. 468 00:25:33,910 --> 00:25:37,030 S4: Faith. Com that's faith. Philly.com. 469 00:25:37,070 --> 00:25:40,070 S1: All right. And that's Rob West, president of Kingdom Advisors. 470 00:25:40,070 --> 00:25:42,510 S1: You can also hear him daily on the program Faith 471 00:25:42,510 --> 00:25:45,270 S1: and Finance Live. Great to have you with us today, Rob. 472 00:25:45,430 --> 00:25:46,550 S4: John, always a pleasure. 473 00:25:46,710 --> 00:25:49,389 S1: Well, coming up, it's another set of Bible questions, always 474 00:25:49,390 --> 00:25:51,949 S1: something that somebody thought about that maybe you have too, 475 00:25:51,990 --> 00:25:54,429 S1: but never got an answer to. It's next on the 476 00:25:54,430 --> 00:26:08,669 S1: land and the book. Welcome back to the land and 477 00:26:08,670 --> 00:26:11,710 S1: the book segment three. I'm John Gager, honored to be 478 00:26:11,710 --> 00:26:14,310 S1: sitting down with Doctor Gerald Peterman. How long have you 479 00:26:14,310 --> 00:26:16,429 S1: been teaching at the Moody Bible Institute, sir? 480 00:26:16,470 --> 00:26:19,469 S5: Oh, wow. I'm so thankful. 23 years. Wow. 481 00:26:19,869 --> 00:26:22,030 S1: That's a lot of classes. A lot of students and 482 00:26:22,030 --> 00:26:23,830 S1: a lot of questions that have been asked of you. 483 00:26:23,950 --> 00:26:26,030 S5: And a lot of really good times. Yes, indeed. 484 00:26:26,220 --> 00:26:29,580 S1: Well, questions and answers are what this segment is all about. 485 00:26:29,619 --> 00:26:31,820 S1: We're looking forward to digging into a whole collection of 486 00:26:31,820 --> 00:26:34,820 S1: questions that have come in via email. You know, Romans 487 00:26:34,820 --> 00:26:37,939 S1: 116 says that the gospel is to the Jew first 488 00:26:37,940 --> 00:26:40,980 S1: and also to the Gentile. So the question here is, 489 00:26:40,980 --> 00:26:43,220 S1: how do you share the gospel with a Jewish person? 490 00:26:43,220 --> 00:26:47,899 S1: Because of cultural, historical and religious differences, it sometimes rather 491 00:26:47,940 --> 00:26:51,500 S1: challenging to navigate a gospel conversation with someone from a 492 00:26:51,500 --> 00:26:55,180 S1: Jewish background. You ever wondered how the professionals do it? 493 00:26:55,660 --> 00:26:58,740 S5: To answer this question, our friends at Life and Messiah 494 00:26:58,740 --> 00:27:01,780 S5: want to mail you samples of the tracks their staff 495 00:27:01,820 --> 00:27:04,379 S5: use as they share the gospel. This will serve a 496 00:27:04,420 --> 00:27:08,180 S5: dual purpose of equipping you with methods of presenting the gospel, 497 00:27:08,180 --> 00:27:11,060 S5: and also supplying you with tracks you can share with 498 00:27:11,060 --> 00:27:14,540 S5: your Jewish friends and neighbors. Life in Messiah's Prayer is 499 00:27:14,540 --> 00:27:17,420 S5: that these tracks will further the spread of the gospel 500 00:27:17,420 --> 00:27:21,020 S5: among the Jewish people. To receive this helpful assortment of tracks, 501 00:27:21,020 --> 00:27:23,500 S5: all you need to do is visit Life in Messiah 502 00:27:23,930 --> 00:27:27,290 S5: Org and click on the Moody Radio button for more information. 503 00:27:27,290 --> 00:27:32,010 S5: That's life in Messiah. Don't miss out on this great opportunity. 504 00:27:32,050 --> 00:27:34,090 S1: Yeah, I think that's a neat idea. A helpful assortment 505 00:27:34,090 --> 00:27:36,650 S1: of tracks there that you can use. Probably one very 506 00:27:36,650 --> 00:27:40,210 S1: specifically tailored for your friend. All right. Our first question 507 00:27:40,210 --> 00:27:42,850 S1: of the day is from Todd, who takes us to 508 00:27:42,890 --> 00:27:47,770 S1: numbers chapter 20. There Balak warns Balaam, you got to 509 00:27:47,770 --> 00:27:51,170 S1: say those right. Keep them straight, Balak and Balaam. He 510 00:27:51,210 --> 00:27:53,929 S1: warns Balaam to go with him and to curse Israel. 511 00:27:54,050 --> 00:27:58,130 S1: So why in numbers 2220 was Balaam told by God 512 00:27:58,170 --> 00:28:01,970 S1: to go? And then under God's anger, because he went? 513 00:28:02,130 --> 00:28:04,210 S5: It's a little bit of a puzzle, isn't it? It's 514 00:28:04,210 --> 00:28:06,530 S5: hard to know with certainty, but we get a hint 515 00:28:06,530 --> 00:28:10,850 S5: from second Peter 215, where the apostle says that Balaam 516 00:28:11,090 --> 00:28:15,490 S5: loved the wages of unrighteousness. That is, he loves an 517 00:28:15,490 --> 00:28:20,010 S5: evil way of making money. Balak promised to greatly honor Balaam. 518 00:28:20,010 --> 00:28:24,990 S5: This is numbers 2217, and Jewish tradition believes that Balaam's 519 00:28:25,030 --> 00:28:28,910 S5: fairly quick response to Balak indicates his eagerness to curse Israel, 520 00:28:29,230 --> 00:28:32,150 S5: and that's what Balak wants. So it appears to me 521 00:28:32,150 --> 00:28:35,550 S5: that Balaam wrongly assumed that God would allow him to 522 00:28:35,590 --> 00:28:38,470 S5: curse Israel so he could get a bunch of financial reward. 523 00:28:38,470 --> 00:28:41,430 S5: And the Lord was angry. And of course, Balaam learns 524 00:28:41,430 --> 00:28:44,150 S5: otherwise as he continues to travel on his donkey. 525 00:28:44,790 --> 00:28:48,510 S1: All right, Earls question. He says on a previous Q&A segment, 526 00:28:48,510 --> 00:28:51,870 S1: the question was asked, why doesn't Satan repent knowing that 527 00:28:51,870 --> 00:28:54,310 S1: he is lost? He says, I think the degree of 528 00:28:54,310 --> 00:28:57,310 S1: his evil is beyond forgiveness, as you said on the radio. 529 00:28:57,310 --> 00:28:59,510 S1: But I'd like to add a thought isn't Satan guilty 530 00:28:59,510 --> 00:29:03,350 S1: of constant blasphemy ongoing? Or is it just pride? 531 00:29:03,630 --> 00:29:06,510 S5: You know, I really appreciate this follow up. Listeners are 532 00:29:06,510 --> 00:29:09,590 S5: listening and they're engaged. Isn't that wonderful? Yeah, I think 533 00:29:09,590 --> 00:29:12,590 S5: the short answer to that question is yes, our enemy 534 00:29:12,590 --> 00:29:16,310 S5: is a horrific blasphemer. If we go to revelation 13, 535 00:29:16,310 --> 00:29:19,310 S5: we find that a beast will arise. He has been 536 00:29:19,310 --> 00:29:22,150 S5: given great authority by the dragon. And then we read 537 00:29:22,260 --> 00:29:25,140 S5: later in revelation 13 six that the beast opened its 538 00:29:25,140 --> 00:29:29,460 S5: mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and 539 00:29:29,460 --> 00:29:33,420 S5: his dwelling. Then revelation 20 identifies the dragon as that 540 00:29:33,420 --> 00:29:37,460 S5: ancient serpent as the devil and Satan. So Earl is right. 541 00:29:37,700 --> 00:29:41,500 S5: The beast blasphemes because the dragon Blasphemes. 542 00:29:42,100 --> 00:29:46,100 S1: Yeonmi's question is based in John chapter six verse 21. 543 00:29:46,100 --> 00:29:48,860 S1: She says, can you please explain this first? I'm confused. 544 00:29:49,220 --> 00:29:51,540 S5: Well, let's read the verse. Yeah, that will help us. 545 00:29:51,540 --> 00:29:54,500 S5: I think in John six, our Lord Jesus walks on 546 00:29:54,500 --> 00:29:57,300 S5: water and then he steals a storm. Amazing stuff. And 547 00:29:57,300 --> 00:30:01,780 S5: then 621 says, then they were glad to take him 548 00:30:01,780 --> 00:30:04,380 S5: into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the 549 00:30:04,380 --> 00:30:06,900 S5: land to which they were going. This looks like a 550 00:30:06,900 --> 00:30:09,660 S5: further miracle. Yeah. First he walks on the water, then 551 00:30:09,660 --> 00:30:11,700 S5: he stills the storm, and then the boat comes right 552 00:30:11,700 --> 00:30:13,820 S5: away to where they were going. But you know what? 553 00:30:13,820 --> 00:30:18,140 S5: I suspect that this verse, John 621, is an allusion 554 00:30:18,140 --> 00:30:21,570 S5: to Psalm 107 and the great works of God amongst 555 00:30:21,570 --> 00:30:26,170 S5: his people, especially Psalm 107, verse 30. It says. Then 556 00:30:26,170 --> 00:30:29,530 S5: they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he 557 00:30:29,530 --> 00:30:32,370 S5: brought them to their desired haven. 558 00:30:32,650 --> 00:30:34,770 S1: You know, listening to you read that passage and sort 559 00:30:34,770 --> 00:30:37,650 S1: of highlight that detail there makes me wonder how many 560 00:30:37,650 --> 00:30:42,130 S1: other smaller miracles, quote unquote, things that were missing in 561 00:30:42,130 --> 00:30:43,210 S1: our readings of Scripture. 562 00:30:43,250 --> 00:30:47,210 S5: Oh, I wouldn't doubt it, because many times we read shallowly, 563 00:30:47,210 --> 00:30:50,970 S5: even I sometimes just kind of read half awake. But 564 00:30:50,970 --> 00:30:53,090 S5: I think if we pay close attention, God will bring 565 00:30:53,090 --> 00:30:54,450 S5: things to mind. Yeah. 566 00:30:54,490 --> 00:30:56,530 S1: And not only that, you know, we're told in Scripture 567 00:30:56,530 --> 00:30:59,209 S1: many other things Jesus did that were if they were recorded, 568 00:30:59,210 --> 00:31:00,610 S1: they wouldn't be room for them all. 569 00:31:00,810 --> 00:31:03,690 S5: Oh, even the world couldn't hold all the books. Yeah, right. 570 00:31:03,730 --> 00:31:07,490 S1: Amazing. All right. Eric wants to know, can you explain 571 00:31:07,490 --> 00:31:10,770 S1: what the author of Hebrews is getting at in Hebrews 12, 572 00:31:10,810 --> 00:31:14,450 S1: verses 25 through 29? What are the applications, if any, 573 00:31:14,490 --> 00:31:16,610 S1: that we can draw from these verses? 574 00:31:16,650 --> 00:31:20,480 S5: Oh, Hebrews is a wonderful book, and I really appreciate 575 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:23,800 S5: what Doctor Ron Sauer does on this portion in the 576 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:27,320 S5: Moody Bible Commentary when he explains it. The writer warns 577 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:30,760 S5: in verse 25 that we should not refuse the God 578 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:33,840 S5: who is speaking to them from the Old Testament in 579 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:36,400 S5: the gospel and in this letter. And he refers back 580 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:39,760 S5: to Israel at Mount Sinai, and how if they didn't 581 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:43,360 S5: listen to Moses, they were punished. And that means if 582 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:45,520 S5: we do not listen to God, the one who speaks 583 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:48,680 S5: from heaven will be punished. To our listeners are familiar 584 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:50,320 S5: with the book of Hebrews, and how many times it 585 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:54,000 S5: warns about falling away. And this particular passage is the 586 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:57,600 S5: last warning about falling away in Hebrews. So the writer 587 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:00,320 S5: of Hebrews actually draws the application for us in the 588 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:03,520 S5: last two verses of this passage. First, we should be 589 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:07,360 S5: thankful to God for rescuing us in Christ, and then 590 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:11,600 S5: we should offer him acceptable service with fear and reverence. 591 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:13,760 S5: That's our proper conclusion. 592 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:17,880 S1: So far, we've already talked about Balak and Balaam. We've 593 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:21,590 S1: been to Hebrews. We've been to John, the gospel of John, 594 00:32:21,790 --> 00:32:24,670 S1: a question about Satan, just all kinds of great, great, 595 00:32:24,670 --> 00:32:27,310 S1: great questions. And yours is welcome, by the way, at 596 00:32:27,310 --> 00:32:31,430 S1: the land and the book at Moody's. That's a mouthful. 597 00:32:31,430 --> 00:32:34,830 S1: Let me slow it down. The land and the book 598 00:32:35,070 --> 00:32:38,870 S1: at Moody's. How long does it take to get an answer? 599 00:32:38,870 --> 00:32:40,710 S5: Somewhere between two days and a week. 600 00:32:40,950 --> 00:32:41,470 S1: Okay. 601 00:32:41,670 --> 00:32:43,350 S5: It depends on, you know, what else is going on 602 00:32:43,350 --> 00:32:45,670 S5: in my life. Okay. How many exams after grade? 603 00:32:47,150 --> 00:32:48,830 S1: But you you will get an answer. 604 00:32:48,870 --> 00:32:51,270 S5: You'll get an answer. Hang in there. Pray. Pray for me. 605 00:32:51,310 --> 00:32:51,870 S5: All right. 606 00:32:52,590 --> 00:32:56,710 S1: This question from Isagani, who says Ezekiel 45 through 48 607 00:32:56,710 --> 00:32:59,590 S1: are confusing me. As we studied this book during our 608 00:32:59,590 --> 00:33:02,950 S1: Bible study, it was said that the chapters pertained to 609 00:33:02,950 --> 00:33:05,990 S1: the millennial reign. If that's true, why is there a 610 00:33:05,990 --> 00:33:07,670 S1: need for sacrifices then? 611 00:33:08,150 --> 00:33:11,430 S5: That's a really good question, and many wonder about this question. 612 00:33:11,430 --> 00:33:15,390 S5: I do think that these chapters about a new temple 613 00:33:15,670 --> 00:33:18,140 S5: are referring to the millennial reign. And then we have 614 00:33:18,140 --> 00:33:21,180 S5: to ask ourselves the question, then why would there be? 615 00:33:21,420 --> 00:33:23,700 S5: Why would there be sacrifices? Well, I take it that 616 00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:27,420 S5: the sacrifices are going to look back to Christ and 617 00:33:27,420 --> 00:33:30,660 S5: be illustrations of the work he has done. In other words, 618 00:33:30,660 --> 00:33:35,500 S5: the sacrifices during the millennium are not atoning sacrifices. As 619 00:33:35,500 --> 00:33:38,700 S5: a matter of fact, during the Old Testament period, when 620 00:33:38,700 --> 00:33:41,820 S5: the sacrifices were being given, they weren't atoning either. The 621 00:33:41,820 --> 00:33:44,380 S5: writer of Hebrews tells us that it's impossible for the 622 00:33:44,380 --> 00:33:47,500 S5: blood of goats and bulls to take away sins. Only 623 00:33:47,500 --> 00:33:50,620 S5: the death of Christ can do this. So during the millennium, 624 00:33:50,780 --> 00:33:54,860 S5: you will find regular Jewish worship going on in memory 625 00:33:54,860 --> 00:33:58,340 S5: of Messiah. We should also remember that the early church 626 00:33:58,620 --> 00:34:03,100 S5: Acts two and following those Jewish believers, those Jewish believers 627 00:34:03,100 --> 00:34:06,980 S5: in Messiah Jesus didn't abandon temple worship. As a matter 628 00:34:06,980 --> 00:34:10,140 S5: of fact, they engaged in it regularly. Acts two, acts three, 629 00:34:10,180 --> 00:34:13,580 S5: acts five. And furthermore, that is, they didn't see the 630 00:34:13,620 --> 00:34:17,010 S5: ongoing sacrifices being given in and that is some reason 631 00:34:17,010 --> 00:34:17,730 S5: to stay away. 632 00:34:18,930 --> 00:34:22,609 S1: Dave takes us to Psalm 119, verse 102, where the 633 00:34:22,610 --> 00:34:26,290 S1: psalmist declares, I have not departed from your laws, for 634 00:34:26,290 --> 00:34:29,569 S1: you yourself have taught me. And here's the question in 635 00:34:29,570 --> 00:34:33,370 S1: what sense does God teach individuals, when so many have 636 00:34:33,370 --> 00:34:38,330 S1: created so many denominations over differing interpretations of God's Word? 637 00:34:38,650 --> 00:34:40,850 S5: Well, I appreciate Dave's question. It is a little bit 638 00:34:40,850 --> 00:34:44,890 S5: frustrating for us, but the Psalm itself actually doesn't give 639 00:34:44,930 --> 00:34:48,250 S5: us an answer to this question. That is you, Lord, 640 00:34:48,290 --> 00:34:50,930 S5: teach me. So let's think back through the Old Testament. 641 00:34:50,969 --> 00:34:54,250 S5: How has God taught his people? He's taught his people 642 00:34:54,250 --> 00:34:57,130 S5: through prophets. He's taught his people through the Word of God, 643 00:34:57,130 --> 00:35:01,850 S5: through Scripture. He's taught his people through the Levitical priesthood. 644 00:35:01,890 --> 00:35:03,370 S5: They were to learn Scripture and they were to teach 645 00:35:03,370 --> 00:35:08,370 S5: it to others. So he's often taught his people through agents. 646 00:35:08,850 --> 00:35:10,969 S5: He's often used agents to teach his people. As a 647 00:35:10,969 --> 00:35:13,689 S5: matter of fact, I think that's the typical way. And 648 00:35:13,690 --> 00:35:18,149 S5: so let me give you another example from Corinthians. That 649 00:35:18,150 --> 00:35:22,669 S5: is certainly Paul taught the Corinthians. He he was with 650 00:35:22,670 --> 00:35:25,990 S5: them at least twice. He wrote them at least four letters. 651 00:35:26,350 --> 00:35:29,950 S5: Now how well did they catch on? Well, some of 652 00:35:29,950 --> 00:35:31,670 S5: them caught on pretty well. Some of them didn't catch 653 00:35:31,710 --> 00:35:36,030 S5: on pretty well. So being taught, even being taught by 654 00:35:36,030 --> 00:35:39,669 S5: an apostle spirit inspired. Giving you the commandments of God 655 00:35:39,710 --> 00:35:42,270 S5: doesn't guarantee that we pick up on it. So to 656 00:35:42,270 --> 00:35:46,069 S5: get back to the concern of this questioner, why so 657 00:35:46,070 --> 00:35:49,870 S5: many denominations? I think that's a tragic that's very sad 658 00:35:49,870 --> 00:35:52,549 S5: for us. One of the reasons why we don't listen 659 00:35:52,550 --> 00:35:53,670 S5: to what God has taught. 660 00:35:53,710 --> 00:35:56,350 S1: Yeah. Well, I think you've touched on it. Well, there 661 00:35:56,630 --> 00:35:58,910 S1: the fact of the matter is, even if it's Jesus 662 00:35:58,910 --> 00:36:02,069 S1: himself in the room explaining a passage, some of us 663 00:36:02,070 --> 00:36:05,310 S1: are going to walk away with things he never said. Yes, yes. 664 00:36:05,310 --> 00:36:06,830 S1: And so that's part of the reason. It isn't that 665 00:36:06,830 --> 00:36:09,390 S1: God has failed to speak or God has failed to teach. 666 00:36:09,630 --> 00:36:10,670 S1: We have failed to learn. 667 00:36:10,670 --> 00:36:12,669 S5: Oh, John, that's a that's a really good point that 668 00:36:12,670 --> 00:36:15,700 S5: I should have brought in myself. Folks, you love the Gospels. 669 00:36:15,700 --> 00:36:19,380 S5: Keep reading the Gospels. Jesus teaches. And then sometimes people ask, what? 670 00:36:19,420 --> 00:36:22,100 S5: What did that mean? Yeah, tell us what that means, 671 00:36:22,140 --> 00:36:25,100 S5: you know. So even being taught by God does not 672 00:36:25,100 --> 00:36:27,260 S5: necessarily mean you always get it. 673 00:36:27,580 --> 00:36:29,700 S1: Well, I hope you've enjoyed this conversation as much as 674 00:36:29,700 --> 00:36:31,980 S1: I have. Maybe you'd like to hear it all again. 675 00:36:32,100 --> 00:36:35,219 S1: It's available as part of our podcast at The Land 676 00:36:35,219 --> 00:36:39,260 S1: and the books. Share that podcast with your friends too. 677 00:36:39,460 --> 00:36:40,940 S1: And while you're doing that, let them know that they 678 00:36:40,940 --> 00:36:43,860 S1: can ask their Bible question as well. With an email 679 00:36:43,860 --> 00:36:47,980 S1: to the land and the book at Moody's. That's the 680 00:36:47,980 --> 00:36:53,180 S1: land and the book at Moody's. Don't go away. Charlie 681 00:36:53,180 --> 00:36:56,060 S1: Dyer's devotional is coming up right here on the land 682 00:36:56,060 --> 00:37:12,649 S1: and the book. Presenting a quiz from your friends at 683 00:37:12,650 --> 00:37:15,290 S1: the land and the book. Fasten your seat belts. Here 684 00:37:15,290 --> 00:37:19,570 S1: we go. Can you identify the source of this quote? When? 685 00:37:19,610 --> 00:37:23,690 S1: In the course of human events. I'll say it again. When? 686 00:37:23,730 --> 00:37:26,930 S1: In the course of human events. What does that come from? 687 00:37:26,930 --> 00:37:31,170 S1: If you guess the Declaration of Independence. You're right. And, Charlie, 688 00:37:31,170 --> 00:37:35,569 S1: there is a different declaration of independence and dependence that 689 00:37:35,570 --> 00:37:38,210 S1: we're headed to in today's devotional, I understand. 690 00:37:38,450 --> 00:37:40,529 S2: You're exactly right, John. We're going to hear about a 691 00:37:40,530 --> 00:37:43,049 S2: Declaration of Independence before ours. 692 00:37:43,090 --> 00:37:46,450 S1: Okay. I'll look forward to that conversation after we listen 693 00:37:46,450 --> 00:37:49,370 S1: to this testimony from an Israel traveler who shares this 694 00:37:49,370 --> 00:37:50,210 S1: with you and me. 695 00:37:54,489 --> 00:37:58,410 S6: I'm Candy lamb from Irving, Texas. I came here in 696 00:37:58,410 --> 00:38:01,009 S6: the late 90s. There have been a lot of changes, 697 00:38:01,050 --> 00:38:04,290 S6: a lot more people, a lot more conflict that's going on. 698 00:38:04,290 --> 00:38:07,850 S6: But I still always felt safe. The thing about this 699 00:38:07,850 --> 00:38:11,440 S6: trip is that we have uncovered Covered more and more 700 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:14,680 S6: about what the scriptures say about where the places are. 701 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:19,360 S6: It's just been phenomenal to really know the deep history 702 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:23,560 S6: and the perfect planning of God's people. We studied the 703 00:38:23,560 --> 00:38:27,080 S6: Tabernacle last year and I saw what a detailed person 704 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:31,719 S6: our God is. And he certainly is, even today in Israel. 705 00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:35,839 S7: I'm all good. Griffin from Vail, Colorado. And for me, 706 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:39,240 S7: this trip was about the moments and the people. Each 707 00:38:39,239 --> 00:38:43,120 S7: spot had a special moment and an aha moment as 708 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:48,080 S7: well as each dinner, each breakfast, each bus ride had 709 00:38:48,080 --> 00:38:51,759 S7: special people on it, and they taught me and shared 710 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:53,640 S7: their stories with me. And it was great. 711 00:38:55,920 --> 00:38:58,759 S1: We're headed for Second Kings Chapter ten today on the 712 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:01,600 S1: land and the book. In this fourth and final segment, Charlie, 713 00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:03,000 S1: take it away with your devotional. 714 00:39:03,320 --> 00:39:06,040 S2: Okay, well, this coming week is the 4th of July. 715 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:09,790 S2: The fireworks displays are getting set up. The charcoal briquettes 716 00:39:09,830 --> 00:39:12,510 S2: are ready to be lit. The hamburgers and hot dogs 717 00:39:12,510 --> 00:39:15,190 S2: have all been purchased and are ready to be devoured. 718 00:39:15,390 --> 00:39:18,110 S2: The parades are organized and the flags are starting to 719 00:39:18,110 --> 00:39:22,750 S2: be unfurled. Yep. Independence day is just about here. This 720 00:39:22,750 --> 00:39:27,469 S2: 249th celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence 721 00:39:27,510 --> 00:39:30,549 S2: looks back at a key moment in our nation's history. 722 00:39:30,910 --> 00:39:34,350 S2: But today, I want to look at a declaration of independence. 723 00:39:34,390 --> 00:39:40,230 S2: Independence that took place 2859 years ago. So for those 724 00:39:40,230 --> 00:39:43,670 S2: who remember The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, as Mr. Peabody 725 00:39:43,670 --> 00:39:46,629 S2: would say to his boy, Sherman set the Wayback Machine 726 00:39:46,630 --> 00:39:50,710 S2: to the year 835 BC. As we travel to Jerusalem 727 00:39:50,710 --> 00:39:54,070 S2: to watch the royal coronation of a seven year old boy. 728 00:39:54,430 --> 00:39:57,790 S2: And just like that, we're standing in the temple courtyard. 729 00:39:58,190 --> 00:40:01,030 S2: There before us is an elderly man wearing the robes, 730 00:40:01,030 --> 00:40:04,589 S2: breastplate and turban of the high priest. He looks to 731 00:40:04,590 --> 00:40:08,339 S2: be somewhere over 90 years old. Next to him is 732 00:40:08,340 --> 00:40:10,980 S2: a very young boy, and by young I mean a 733 00:40:10,980 --> 00:40:14,580 S2: child of seven. He definitely looks out of place in 734 00:40:14,580 --> 00:40:18,219 S2: this gathering of adults and surrounding the pair are hundreds 735 00:40:18,219 --> 00:40:22,260 S2: of armed guards, swords drawn and shields raised for protection. 736 00:40:22,620 --> 00:40:26,060 S2: It's early Saturday morning. The Sabbath and the number of 737 00:40:26,060 --> 00:40:29,859 S2: armed guards present is about three times the normal number 738 00:40:29,860 --> 00:40:32,900 S2: on duty. There's a sense of excitement in the air. 739 00:40:32,940 --> 00:40:36,580 S2: Something is about to happen. The past seven years were 740 00:40:36,620 --> 00:40:40,339 S2: years of struggle and uncertainty. The last legitimate king of 741 00:40:40,340 --> 00:40:44,219 S2: Judah had been killed near Megiddo. He was an evil king, 742 00:40:44,219 --> 00:40:46,299 S2: but at least he was from the line of David. 743 00:40:46,660 --> 00:40:49,939 S2: When he died, his mother Athaliah, who was none other 744 00:40:49,940 --> 00:40:53,259 S2: than the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, gave orders to 745 00:40:53,300 --> 00:40:56,620 S2: kill every male child from the line of David. Her 746 00:40:56,620 --> 00:41:00,299 S2: plan was to seize control and rule the kingdom herself, 747 00:41:00,460 --> 00:41:03,900 S2: and it required her to kill every remaining descendant of David. 748 00:41:03,940 --> 00:41:08,170 S2: Every child who could legitimately claim the throne. In the 749 00:41:08,170 --> 00:41:12,370 S2: bloodbath that ensued, she almost wiped out all of David's descendants, 750 00:41:12,370 --> 00:41:15,729 S2: but one baby was snatched away in the confusion. That 751 00:41:15,730 --> 00:41:18,089 S2: child was carried to the temple and hidden away with 752 00:41:18,090 --> 00:41:21,730 S2: the priests. All God's promises to David were now resting 753 00:41:21,730 --> 00:41:25,770 S2: on a single thread, one young baby, and for seven 754 00:41:25,770 --> 00:41:28,690 S2: years the child was kept hidden from view, locked in 755 00:41:28,690 --> 00:41:31,730 S2: a temple that was largely forsaken by a queen who 756 00:41:31,730 --> 00:41:35,250 S2: was driven to install Baal as the new god of Judah. 757 00:41:35,570 --> 00:41:39,290 S2: But the moment of independence had now arrived. The high 758 00:41:39,290 --> 00:41:43,450 S2: priest Jehoiada rehearses his final instructions to the commanders of 759 00:41:43,450 --> 00:41:46,730 S2: the guard surround the king, each with his weapon in 760 00:41:46,730 --> 00:41:49,489 S2: his hand, and whoever comes within the ranks shall be 761 00:41:49,489 --> 00:41:51,810 S2: put to death, and be with the king when he 762 00:41:51,810 --> 00:41:54,370 S2: goes out. And when he comes in, just like the 763 00:41:54,370 --> 00:41:57,529 S2: Secret Service today, the role of these royal guards was 764 00:41:57,530 --> 00:42:01,770 S2: simple at all cost. Protect the life of the King. Remember, 765 00:42:01,770 --> 00:42:04,609 S2: there was no vice king, no second in command who 766 00:42:04,610 --> 00:42:08,279 S2: could take his place if this child were killed. David's 767 00:42:08,280 --> 00:42:12,400 S2: royal line was finished. The coronation celebration went off without 768 00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:15,239 S2: a hitch as Jehoiada placed the crown on the young 769 00:42:15,239 --> 00:42:18,239 S2: boy's head. The crowd in the temple court shouted with 770 00:42:18,239 --> 00:42:22,840 S2: joy and clapped their hands. Long live the king! Wicked 771 00:42:22,840 --> 00:42:26,280 S2: queen Athaliah heard the commotion and rushed from her palace 772 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:29,400 S2: to the temple to see what all the shouting was about. 773 00:42:29,640 --> 00:42:31,600 S2: When she saw the young boy with a crown on 774 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:35,919 S2: his head, she screamed treason, treason and tried to escape. 775 00:42:36,120 --> 00:42:39,319 S2: But she was captured. Taken outside the temple and put 776 00:42:39,320 --> 00:42:43,440 S2: to death, America struggled to break free from British control. 777 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:46,759 S2: Didn't end until seven years after the signing of the 778 00:42:46,760 --> 00:42:51,480 S2: Declaration of Independence. In contrast, the people of Judah experienced 779 00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:55,960 S2: their seven years of oppression and struggle before this declaration. 780 00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:59,120 S2: While the final battle took just a few minutes, our 781 00:42:59,120 --> 00:43:01,920 S2: founding fathers wrote out their declaration at the beginning of 782 00:43:01,920 --> 00:43:05,259 S2: the rebellion. But Judah's declaration came at the end of 783 00:43:05,260 --> 00:43:08,819 S2: the battle, and the declaration was a declaration of independence 784 00:43:08,820 --> 00:43:12,379 S2: from Baal and a declaration of dependence on the God 785 00:43:12,380 --> 00:43:15,339 S2: of Israel. As Jehoiada put the crown on the head 786 00:43:15,340 --> 00:43:18,819 S2: of young King Josiah. He also placed a copy of 787 00:43:18,820 --> 00:43:21,780 S2: the covenant in his hand, perhaps to help the young 788 00:43:21,780 --> 00:43:25,900 S2: king fulfill Deuteronomy 17, where God commanded each king to 789 00:43:25,940 --> 00:43:29,180 S2: write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll. 790 00:43:29,500 --> 00:43:32,219 S2: And then, just after Queen Athaliah was put to death, 791 00:43:32,260 --> 00:43:35,540 S2: Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the King 792 00:43:35,540 --> 00:43:38,460 S2: and the people, that they should be the Lord's people. 793 00:43:39,060 --> 00:43:42,500 S2: Israel was free from wicked Queen Athaliah and her Baal worship, 794 00:43:42,700 --> 00:43:45,739 S2: but they were not free from following God or from 795 00:43:45,739 --> 00:43:49,420 S2: submitting to his authority. This was a day of independence, 796 00:43:49,820 --> 00:43:52,220 S2: but it was also a day they chose to follow 797 00:43:52,219 --> 00:43:55,780 S2: God and to be dependent on him. The real hero 798 00:43:55,780 --> 00:43:59,379 S2: of this story, this Independence Day drama, was the High 799 00:43:59,420 --> 00:44:02,379 S2: priest Jehoiada. At an age when most would have been 800 00:44:02,380 --> 00:44:06,450 S2: long retired. He continued to serve God with a passion 801 00:44:06,450 --> 00:44:09,530 S2: and a devotion that left men half his age struggling 802 00:44:09,570 --> 00:44:12,930 S2: to keep up. When he finally died at the amazing 803 00:44:12,969 --> 00:44:16,050 S2: age of 130, he was honored in a way that 804 00:44:16,050 --> 00:44:19,089 S2: no other person outside the line of David had ever 805 00:44:19,090 --> 00:44:22,770 S2: been honored before. The compiler of Second Chronicles reported the 806 00:44:22,770 --> 00:44:25,330 S2: honor this way. They buried him in the city of 807 00:44:25,330 --> 00:44:28,489 S2: David among the kings, because he had done well in 808 00:44:28,489 --> 00:44:32,770 S2: Israel and to God and his house. Jehoiada was buried 809 00:44:32,810 --> 00:44:35,810 S2: in the royal tomb belonging to David and the kings 810 00:44:35,810 --> 00:44:39,490 S2: of Israel, because in a very real sense, he ruled 811 00:44:39,489 --> 00:44:42,130 S2: over Israel at a time when there was no adult 812 00:44:42,130 --> 00:44:45,890 S2: from the line of David capable of providing strong leadership. 813 00:44:46,290 --> 00:44:50,650 S2: What an epitaph. Well, on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Mr. 814 00:44:50,650 --> 00:44:53,049 S2: Peabody and Sherman would end their time travel with a 815 00:44:53,050 --> 00:44:56,810 S2: terrible pun, but our journey back in time ends with 816 00:44:56,810 --> 00:45:00,170 S2: a far more profound observation. We live in a day 817 00:45:00,170 --> 00:45:02,800 S2: when it seems as if the very foundations of faith 818 00:45:02,800 --> 00:45:05,879 S2: are collapsing around us, and it's very tempting for us 819 00:45:05,880 --> 00:45:10,040 S2: to lower our spiritual profile, become less vocal about our faith, 820 00:45:10,120 --> 00:45:12,279 S2: or even to just give in to what seems to 821 00:45:12,280 --> 00:45:16,520 S2: be the new norm for society. But Jehoiada reminds us 822 00:45:16,520 --> 00:45:19,960 S2: that God wants us to walk a different path. Jehoiada 823 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:24,160 S2: acted wisely and courageously as he took a stand for God. 824 00:45:24,239 --> 00:45:27,560 S2: He showed wisdom by hiding this young descendant of David 825 00:45:27,560 --> 00:45:30,520 S2: for seven years, until the child was old enough to 826 00:45:30,560 --> 00:45:33,319 S2: be accepted as king. And he showed courage when he 827 00:45:33,320 --> 00:45:37,000 S2: stood up to publicly proclaim this young boy as king. 828 00:45:37,600 --> 00:45:41,600 S2: With our 2020 hindsight, we see God's hand of protection 829 00:45:41,600 --> 00:45:45,160 S2: on him through this dark period. But he didn't know 830 00:45:45,160 --> 00:45:47,520 S2: that he would succeed, and that's why he ordered the 831 00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:51,319 S2: guards to protect the King with their lives. Failure meant death. 832 00:45:51,440 --> 00:45:53,359 S2: But he was willing to take a stand for what 833 00:45:53,360 --> 00:45:56,399 S2: was right, even if it cost him his life. And 834 00:45:56,400 --> 00:45:59,800 S2: his wisdom and courage brought Judah a day of independence 835 00:45:59,800 --> 00:46:03,149 S2: from Queen Athaliah and the worship of Baal, and a 836 00:46:03,150 --> 00:46:06,390 S2: new era of dependence on the God of Israel. So 837 00:46:06,390 --> 00:46:08,710 S2: how willing are you to take your stand for God, 838 00:46:08,710 --> 00:46:11,989 S2: regardless of the cost? May God give us all the 839 00:46:11,989 --> 00:46:15,469 S2: wisdom and courage to do what's right, so our spiritual 840 00:46:15,469 --> 00:46:18,510 S2: epitaph can say, we did what was good in our 841 00:46:18,510 --> 00:46:21,190 S2: land for God and for his work. 842 00:46:21,590 --> 00:46:25,950 S1: Thank you Charlie. A fitting Independence Day devotional. Our website 843 00:46:25,950 --> 00:46:29,190 S1: is The Land and the book. We welcome you to 844 00:46:29,230 --> 00:46:32,629 S1: visit there information about all of our guests, past programs, 845 00:46:32,630 --> 00:46:36,430 S1: future programs, and very importantly, our podcast. Is there something 846 00:46:36,430 --> 00:46:39,230 S1: that you can enjoy yourself? And best of all, share 847 00:46:39,230 --> 00:46:41,790 S1: with a friend. Not everybody can hear us on a 848 00:46:41,790 --> 00:46:44,350 S1: on a radio station, so a podcast is a great 849 00:46:44,390 --> 00:46:46,830 S1: option to share us with your friends. Thanks for passing 850 00:46:46,830 --> 00:46:49,870 S1: the word along. About the land and the book. A 851 00:46:49,870 --> 00:46:53,710 S1: production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. 852 00:46:53,750 --> 00:46:54,590 S1: See you next time.