1 00:00:08,030 --> 00:00:11,540 S1: When Ruth's husband died, she was tempted to feel alone 2 00:00:11,539 --> 00:00:14,750 S1: when she moved to another country. She was tempted to 3 00:00:14,750 --> 00:00:18,020 S1: feel alone. But the biblical story of Ruth is a 4 00:00:18,020 --> 00:00:22,370 S1: striking reminder that with God, we are never alone. Today 5 00:00:22,370 --> 00:00:25,009 S1: we're going to meet this famous Bible character in a fresh, 6 00:00:25,010 --> 00:00:28,070 S1: new way. Welcome to the land and the book. If 7 00:00:28,070 --> 00:00:30,730 S1: you're new to the program, a special welcome to you. 8 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,150 S1: Our host is Doctor Charlie Dyer, a noted Old Testament scholar, 9 00:00:34,150 --> 00:00:37,510 S1: frequent Israel traveler. I'm John Gager kind of along for 10 00:00:37,510 --> 00:00:40,870 S1: the ride. And Charlie, help a new listener understand how 11 00:00:40,870 --> 00:00:43,270 S1: we divide up this one hour broadcast. 12 00:00:43,270 --> 00:00:45,489 S2: Oh, yeah. John, this is actually a one hour trip 13 00:00:45,490 --> 00:00:47,980 S2: to Israel. Uh, we start with current events. You know 14 00:00:47,979 --> 00:00:50,170 S2: what's been happening there. And certainly there's a lot in 15 00:00:50,170 --> 00:00:53,080 S2: the news taking place in Israel today. Uh, then we 16 00:00:53,140 --> 00:00:55,420 S2: have an interview. And as you just mentioned, uh, somebody 17 00:00:55,420 --> 00:00:57,940 S2: wants to learn more about Ruth today. Uh, but every 18 00:00:57,940 --> 00:01:00,640 S2: week you have a just a fascinating person there. Uh, 19 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,370 S2: the third segment is question and answer. Once you read 20 00:01:03,370 --> 00:01:05,680 S2: the Bible, you have questions. Well, you can write your 21 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,050 S2: questions to us, send them to us, and we'll answer 22 00:01:08,050 --> 00:01:10,330 S2: them on air. And then the final segment is where 23 00:01:10,330 --> 00:01:13,480 S2: we marry together, the land and the book. That is, 24 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,280 S2: we take you to a spot in the land, open 25 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,580 S2: up the Word of God and help you understand what 26 00:01:17,610 --> 00:01:20,069 S2: God meant there. Today we're going to visit with Solomon 27 00:01:20,069 --> 00:01:23,039 S2: and talk about the lazy days of summer. All right. 28 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,190 S1: So lots of variety, never stuffy or boring. I think 29 00:01:26,220 --> 00:01:29,040 S1: you'll appreciate what you hear. Let's dig into our current events. 30 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:33,060 S1: Topics for the week. Israel's war with Hamas continues, though 31 00:01:33,060 --> 00:01:35,700 S1: this past week saw a surge of optimism that a 32 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:39,150 S1: hostage deal and possible end to the conflict might be 33 00:01:39,150 --> 00:01:42,140 S1: just over the horizon. What's been happening and how quickly 34 00:01:42,140 --> 00:01:45,110 S1: could the conflict end if a deal is reached? 35 00:01:45,140 --> 00:01:48,290 S2: Yeah, well, in spite of the optimistic predictions, it's likely 36 00:01:48,290 --> 00:01:51,350 S2: that a deal, if it finally happens, is several weeks 37 00:01:51,350 --> 00:01:54,800 S2: or more away. The main point that got everyone excited 38 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,800 S2: is that Hamas has dropped its upfront demand for a 39 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:02,059 S2: permanent ceasefire prior to the first phase of a hostage deal, 40 00:02:02,060 --> 00:02:06,130 S2: but several major obstacles remain. Hamas will still likely push 41 00:02:06,130 --> 00:02:08,950 S2: for a permanent cease fire as part of the deal. 42 00:02:08,950 --> 00:02:12,250 S2: Before the release of all the hostages, Prime Minister Netanyahu 43 00:02:12,250 --> 00:02:15,040 S2: tried to temper the optimism. He issued a list of 44 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:18,820 S2: non-negotiable demands from Israel's side, and one is a guarantee 45 00:02:18,820 --> 00:02:22,420 S2: that Israel could still resume fighting should their demands not 46 00:02:22,419 --> 00:02:26,950 S2: be met. War weary Israelis, including those who oppose Netanyahu 47 00:02:26,980 --> 00:02:29,400 S2: even before the start of the war? Well, they accused 48 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,929 S2: him of attempting to sabotage the negotiations. Netanyahu is actually 49 00:02:33,930 --> 00:02:36,900 S2: fighting a two front war. One is the actual fight 50 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:41,010 S2: against Hamas, which Israel has been winning. One reason Hamas 51 00:02:41,010 --> 00:02:43,920 S2: was willing to change its initial bargaining position were the 52 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,820 S2: losses they've sustained in Gaza. But the second front Netanyahu 53 00:02:47,820 --> 00:02:51,269 S2: has to face is an internal battle with dissension and 54 00:02:51,270 --> 00:02:55,710 S2: distrust in Israel itself. and it extends even into his coalition. 55 00:02:55,740 --> 00:02:59,400 S2: Recent polls suggest the majority of Israelis are willing to 56 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,700 S2: end the war, even leaving Hamas in control of Gaza 57 00:03:02,700 --> 00:03:05,880 S2: if that would secure the return of the hostages. And 58 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:10,440 S2: the ruling coalition is displaying deep fractures between the ultra-Orthodox 59 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,710 S2: and the far right parties, their sparring is threatening to 60 00:03:13,710 --> 00:03:17,160 S2: bring down the government. Now, even if Israel and Hamas 61 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,730 S2: can reach agreement on the main points of the deal, 62 00:03:19,730 --> 00:03:22,940 S2: it doesn't mean the conflict is over. It'll take several 63 00:03:22,940 --> 00:03:26,000 S2: weeks to hammer out all the details of an agreement. 64 00:03:26,030 --> 00:03:29,600 S2: In the past, Hamas has suddenly demanded last minute changes, 65 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,090 S2: and the closer the two sides get to reaching a 66 00:03:32,090 --> 00:03:35,600 S2: final agreement, the greater the pressure will be on Israel 67 00:03:35,630 --> 00:03:38,810 S2: to cave in in those key points. All that to say, 68 00:03:38,810 --> 00:03:41,300 S2: a deal might be reached, but it could take longer 69 00:03:41,300 --> 00:03:44,230 S2: than most expect, and the final outcome for Israel could 70 00:03:44,230 --> 00:03:47,470 S2: be less than what they wanted when the fighting first began, 71 00:03:47,470 --> 00:03:51,400 S2: and it could result in new elections sooner rather than later. 72 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,730 S1: Related to the war in Gaza is the ongoing tension 73 00:03:54,730 --> 00:03:58,480 S1: between Israel and Hezbollah. Are these two enemies heading toward 74 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:02,050 S1: peace or war? Reports coming out of northern Israel and 75 00:04:02,050 --> 00:04:05,260 S1: Lebanon are definitely mixed. So what might the future hold 76 00:04:05,260 --> 00:04:06,310 S1: on this front? 77 00:04:06,340 --> 00:04:10,240 S2: Yeah, the situation is still extremely unsettled, though I think 78 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,330 S2: there were positive hints over the past week. Hezbollah has 79 00:04:13,330 --> 00:04:16,060 S2: said it will stop fighting if a ceasefire between Israel 80 00:04:16,060 --> 00:04:20,140 S2: and Hamas takes effect. This places additional pressure on Israel 81 00:04:20,170 --> 00:04:23,589 S2: to reach that agreement. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided 82 00:04:23,620 --> 00:04:27,190 S2: taking any actions that would force the other to launch 83 00:04:27,190 --> 00:04:30,060 S2: an all out war, but at the same time, each 84 00:04:30,089 --> 00:04:32,700 S2: has been trying to put pressure on the other side. 85 00:04:32,820 --> 00:04:37,050 S2: Israel has attacked Hezbollah's rocket launch sites, their outposts, their camps, 86 00:04:37,050 --> 00:04:41,460 S2: their weapons sites and control centers. They've killed over 350 87 00:04:41,460 --> 00:04:45,210 S2: Hezbollah fighters and several senior commanders, along with more than 88 00:04:45,210 --> 00:04:50,610 S2: 150 terrorists from other allied organizations in Lebanon. For its part, 89 00:04:50,610 --> 00:04:55,460 S2: Hezbollah has launched over 5500 rockets and missiles at Israeli 90 00:04:55,460 --> 00:04:59,420 S2: towns and military bases along the border since October 8th, 91 00:04:59,420 --> 00:05:04,160 S2: killing about 20 Israeli soldiers and ten civilians. Hezbollah's rockets 92 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,159 S2: and missiles have also sparked fires in the same area. 93 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:11,330 S2: Around 22,000 acres have been burned in northern Israel, and 94 00:05:11,330 --> 00:05:15,290 S2: they released video footage from drones. They've flown over Israeli bases, 95 00:05:15,290 --> 00:05:19,240 S2: suggesting they have the ability to attack those sites. So 96 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,390 S2: what's next? Well, if a cease fire takes effect between 97 00:05:22,390 --> 00:05:26,200 S2: Hamas and Israel, Hezbollah could very well stop its attacks, 98 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,800 S2: bringing a tense truce to the north. Otherwise, Israel has 99 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,710 S2: threatened to launch an attack against Hezbollah to push the 100 00:05:32,710 --> 00:05:35,020 S2: group off the border. And we just need to hope 101 00:05:35,020 --> 00:05:37,839 S2: that there can be some peaceful solution to that problem. 102 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,270 S1: You know, Charlie, I think of myself being, let's say, 103 00:05:40,270 --> 00:05:43,060 S1: a resident up there in the North and let's say 104 00:05:43,060 --> 00:05:46,330 S1: an agreement is finally reached with Hezbollah. I just am 105 00:05:46,330 --> 00:05:48,850 S1: not sure how anxious I would be to move back home. 106 00:05:48,850 --> 00:05:51,460 S1: I would like to, but can you trust what do 107 00:05:51,460 --> 00:05:52,479 S1: you think about all that? 108 00:05:52,660 --> 00:05:54,310 S2: That's why the key, I think, is going to be 109 00:05:54,310 --> 00:05:56,620 S2: Hezbollah has to move off the border. In fact, they're 110 00:05:56,620 --> 00:05:59,110 S2: saying that they have to move north of the Litani River, 111 00:05:59,110 --> 00:06:02,859 S2: about 6 to 8 miles away from Israel's border, and 112 00:06:02,860 --> 00:06:04,359 S2: pull all of their forces out, pull all of the 113 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,169 S2: equipment and all their weapons out of that area. That's 114 00:06:07,170 --> 00:06:09,720 S2: what it will take for Israelis to feel safe going 115 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:10,620 S2: back to the border. 116 00:06:10,620 --> 00:06:14,219 S1: That's doctor Charlie Dyer, Israel expert. I'm John Gieger. This 117 00:06:14,220 --> 00:06:16,440 S1: is the land in the book. And as we know, 118 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,440 S1: the Bible is jam packed with end times prophecies about 119 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,440 S1: epic world events, the regathering of the Jewish people to 120 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:26,220 S1: their ancient homeland, and Jesus soon returned. It is crucial 121 00:06:26,220 --> 00:06:28,980 S1: for us as believers, Charlie, to have a proper understanding 122 00:06:28,980 --> 00:06:32,210 S1: of Bible prophecy. So our view of the future is 123 00:06:32,210 --> 00:06:35,000 S1: shaped by Scripture, not today's headlines. Right? 124 00:06:35,029 --> 00:06:37,039 S2: That's right John. And that's why, with this in mind, 125 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,410 S2: our friends at Life and Messiah have published a book 126 00:06:39,410 --> 00:06:43,429 S2: titled God, Israel and Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it 127 00:06:43,430 --> 00:06:45,080 S2: to listeners of the land and the book for a 128 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:48,500 S2: limited time. Now, this informative book is focused on providing 129 00:06:48,500 --> 00:06:52,640 S2: readers with a deeper understanding and greater appreciation of what 130 00:06:52,670 --> 00:06:56,050 S2: God has in store for Israel and the nations by 131 00:06:56,050 --> 00:06:59,350 S2: digging into what the scriptures say about these issues. Now, 132 00:06:59,350 --> 00:07:01,750 S2: if you're interested in learning more about what God has 133 00:07:01,750 --> 00:07:06,160 S2: in store, visit Life in Messiah. Org and click on 134 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,560 S2: the Moody Radio button there to find out how you 135 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,090 S2: can reserve your copy of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. 136 00:07:13,090 --> 00:07:16,030 S2: That's life in messiah.org. 137 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,720 S1: As we continue our look at current events from the week, 138 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:22,350 S1: Egypt has been largely absent from our news. Apart from 139 00:07:22,350 --> 00:07:25,290 S1: its role in trying to broker an agreement between Hamas 140 00:07:25,290 --> 00:07:29,100 S1: and Israel. But they've been facing their own internal struggles. 141 00:07:29,100 --> 00:07:32,760 S1: So what's been happening in Egypt that isn't being widely reported? 142 00:07:32,790 --> 00:07:37,500 S2: Yeah, Egypt is facing rising discontent from several economic challenges 143 00:07:37,500 --> 00:07:41,430 S2: brought on by years of economic mismanagement. And this mismanagement 144 00:07:41,430 --> 00:07:45,880 S2: was compounded first by the pandemic, which devastated the tourism industry, 145 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,910 S2: and then by the war between Russia and Ukraine, which 146 00:07:48,910 --> 00:07:52,030 S2: raised the price of grain. Egypt is the world's largest 147 00:07:52,030 --> 00:07:55,150 S2: importer of grain, and both countries were two of its 148 00:07:55,150 --> 00:07:59,290 S2: major suppliers. The central Bank of Egypt devalued the Egyptian pound, 149 00:07:59,290 --> 00:08:02,980 S2: which helped boost Egyptian exports, but also increased the price 150 00:08:02,980 --> 00:08:05,860 S2: of essential goods like food and fuel. Now all that 151 00:08:05,860 --> 00:08:10,130 S2: is combined to force nearly 30% of Egyptians into poverty. 152 00:08:10,130 --> 00:08:13,340 S2: And to add insult to injury. Extreme heat this summer 153 00:08:13,340 --> 00:08:16,430 S2: has plagued the country, just as the government was forced 154 00:08:16,430 --> 00:08:20,210 S2: to implement rolling electrical blackouts because of a shortage of 155 00:08:20,210 --> 00:08:23,240 S2: fuel needed to power the turbines. In the face of 156 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:27,290 S2: mounting public discontent, Egypt recently swore in a new cabinet. 157 00:08:27,290 --> 00:08:30,500 S2: The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources promised to stop 158 00:08:30,500 --> 00:08:34,969 S2: the power cuts during the summer, but only beginning July 21st. 159 00:08:34,970 --> 00:08:38,450 S2: That's when sufficient shipments of natural gas and diesel will 160 00:08:38,450 --> 00:08:42,949 S2: arrive to help keep those generators operating at higher capacity. Now, 161 00:08:42,950 --> 00:08:46,940 S2: electricity is obviously important during the hot summer, but another 162 00:08:46,940 --> 00:08:50,929 S2: problem is water. Egypt depends on the Nile River for 97% 163 00:08:50,929 --> 00:08:54,390 S2: of its water, and Ethiopia continues to divert water from 164 00:08:54,390 --> 00:08:58,199 S2: the Nile to fill the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which 165 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,260 S2: is going to be Africa's largest dam. Egypt views this 166 00:09:01,260 --> 00:09:04,770 S2: project as a threat to its very existence. Egypt's government 167 00:09:04,770 --> 00:09:07,530 S2: is now under pressure to act quickly to preserve the 168 00:09:07,530 --> 00:09:11,580 S2: country's water rights before it's too late. So water, power, 169 00:09:11,580 --> 00:09:15,270 S2: food three essentials that the government is rushing to address 170 00:09:15,270 --> 00:09:21,120 S2: before they create even greater unrest among Egypt's 114 million inhabitants. 171 00:09:21,150 --> 00:09:24,660 S1: Well, could detecting cancer be as easy as taking a 172 00:09:24,660 --> 00:09:29,310 S1: saliva test? A partnership between cell Agnostics and Sheba medical 173 00:09:29,309 --> 00:09:32,280 S1: center are working on just such a test for oral 174 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:36,210 S1: cavity cancer. Tell us about this innovation from Amazing Israel. 175 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,370 S2: Yeah, this is a work in progress. But it's not 176 00:09:38,370 --> 00:09:42,030 S2: simply wishful thinking. It's a collaborative effort between the Innovation 177 00:09:42,050 --> 00:09:46,189 S2: Center at Israel's largest hospital and agnostics. This Jerusalem based 178 00:09:46,190 --> 00:09:50,120 S2: startup that's already developed several saliva based tests, including the 179 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,990 S2: world's first saliva based pregnancy test. Now, because saliva comes 180 00:09:53,990 --> 00:09:57,380 S2: into contact with infected oral tissue. They're working on the 181 00:09:57,380 --> 00:10:01,070 S2: assumption that saliva very likely carries disease markers, and a 182 00:10:01,070 --> 00:10:05,059 S2: simple saliva test increases the chances of detecting oral cavity 183 00:10:05,059 --> 00:10:08,380 S2: cancer at an earlier stage. In addition to testing for 184 00:10:08,380 --> 00:10:11,170 S2: oral cavity cancer, they also plan to develop saliva based 185 00:10:11,170 --> 00:10:14,319 S2: tests for the early detection of head and neck cancer. 186 00:10:14,350 --> 00:10:17,110 S2: On the company's website, they highlight some of the research 187 00:10:17,110 --> 00:10:19,870 S2: where a saliva test can be useful, including a report 188 00:10:19,870 --> 00:10:23,949 S2: on possible biomarkers for the detection of pancreatic cancer. Now 189 00:10:23,950 --> 00:10:27,970 S2: imagine John someday undergoing early cancer detection through the use 190 00:10:27,970 --> 00:10:31,660 S2: of a simple saliva test. That's another innovation being developed 191 00:10:31,660 --> 00:10:34,660 S2: today by researchers in amazing Israel. 192 00:10:34,660 --> 00:10:36,910 S1: And that's a look at current events. Thank you Charlie. 193 00:10:36,910 --> 00:10:40,030 S1: Looking forward to our program. Up next, a conversation about 194 00:10:40,030 --> 00:10:42,130 S1: the life of Ruth, what you and I can learn 195 00:10:42,130 --> 00:10:45,850 S1: from her, her journey, her experience, plus Bible questions and 196 00:10:45,850 --> 00:10:49,300 S1: answers and Charlie's devotional to finish things out. Lots to 197 00:10:49,300 --> 00:10:51,160 S1: listen to and I hope you'll be here for all 198 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,220 S1: of it. On the land and the book from Moody Radio. 199 00:11:08,540 --> 00:11:14,090 S1: Faraway lands, hostile roads. Not enough water. Way too many robbers. 200 00:11:14,090 --> 00:11:17,750 S1: Think of all the obstacles that Ruth and Naomi faced 201 00:11:17,750 --> 00:11:21,050 S1: in their trek to Bethlehem. When you give it further thought, 202 00:11:21,050 --> 00:11:24,920 S1: the biblical story of Ruth paves the way for our story. Hey, 203 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:28,220 S1: welcome to segment two. Here on the land and the book, 204 00:11:28,220 --> 00:11:30,530 S1: I'm John Gager, and we're about to connect with one 205 00:11:30,530 --> 00:11:34,190 S1: of my favorite Bible characters. But what about the characters 206 00:11:34,190 --> 00:11:37,220 S1: in your neighborhood specifically? How can you and I be 207 00:11:37,220 --> 00:11:40,130 S1: more intentional in sharing the love of Jesus with our 208 00:11:40,130 --> 00:11:44,589 S1: Jewish friends? Here's an idea worth considering. Finding Yeshua in 209 00:11:44,590 --> 00:11:47,439 S1: the Old Testament. Wouldn't you want your Jewish friend to 210 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,350 S1: find him there? But that's my heart. And we're talking 211 00:11:50,350 --> 00:11:52,810 S1: with Michael Redlich, who has the editor of the Moody 212 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:56,290 S1: Handbook of Messianic Prophecy. Some wisdom from you, Michael. What 213 00:11:56,290 --> 00:11:56,830 S1: would you say? 214 00:11:56,860 --> 00:11:59,140 S3: Well, it's not enough to point out that the Psalms 215 00:11:59,140 --> 00:12:04,030 S3: say that Jesus died for us by crucifixion. Psalm 2216 216 00:12:04,030 --> 00:12:07,260 S3: but also that he was raised. It is crucial to 217 00:12:07,260 --> 00:12:10,500 S3: see that the prophets foretold, and particularly the Book of Psalms, 218 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:12,959 S3: foretold the Messiah would be raised from the dead in 219 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,200 S3: Psalm 1610. This is not talking about David. It says, 220 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,839 S3: for you will not abandon me to she'll. She'll is 221 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,720 S3: the place of the dead. That's all it really means 222 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,780 S3: in the Hebrew Bible. You will not allow your faithful 223 00:12:24,780 --> 00:12:27,300 S3: one one of the most common terms for the Messiah 224 00:12:27,300 --> 00:12:32,520 S3: to undergo decay. Not only will he not stay dead 225 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:37,620 S3: in Sheol, but he will be raised before he actually 226 00:12:37,620 --> 00:12:41,100 S3: undergoes any kind of decay, sees any kind of corruption, 227 00:12:41,100 --> 00:12:44,430 S3: no bodily decay. And so it's saying just very rapidly, 228 00:12:44,429 --> 00:12:47,490 S3: there will be a resurrection that will happen. And so 229 00:12:47,490 --> 00:12:49,830 S3: right there, that was one of the key points. Peter 230 00:12:49,830 --> 00:12:53,730 S3: mentions it in acts two and Paul mentions it in 231 00:12:53,730 --> 00:12:56,210 S3: acts 13. I think this is one of the crucial 232 00:12:56,210 --> 00:12:58,760 S3: psalms that was pointed out that the Messiah not only 233 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,160 S3: would die for us, but that he would be raised 234 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:02,030 S3: from the dead. 235 00:13:02,030 --> 00:13:04,640 S1: Finding Yeshua in the Old Testament. A great tool to 236 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,820 S1: share with your friend as well. That's Doctor Michael Redlich, 237 00:13:07,820 --> 00:13:10,640 S1: professor of Jewish studies at Moody Bible Institute on the 238 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:15,890 S1: land and the book. Jessica Manfrey is a licensed master 239 00:13:15,890 --> 00:13:20,660 S1: social worker, author, and co-founder of a nonprofit called Inspire Up. 240 00:13:20,690 --> 00:13:23,000 S1: She spent her childhood years on the west coast of 241 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,900 S1: Florida and comes from a big Italian family. Jessica is 242 00:13:26,900 --> 00:13:30,080 S1: a proud United States Coast Guard spouse of 15 years 243 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,170 S1: and mom of two beautiful children. She's also written the 244 00:13:33,170 --> 00:13:36,800 S1: Moody Publishers book Never Alone. Hey, welcome to the land 245 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:38,240 S1: and the book, Jessica. 246 00:13:38,390 --> 00:13:40,429 S4: Thank you so much for having me. 247 00:13:40,460 --> 00:13:43,230 S1: So you've made an unusual connection, I think, between the 248 00:13:43,230 --> 00:13:47,790 S1: biblical character of Ruth and the lives of modern military spouses. 249 00:13:47,790 --> 00:13:49,410 S1: What led you to this insight? 250 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,590 S4: Well, I knew that I was going to write this book. 251 00:13:52,590 --> 00:13:55,860 S4: I really wanted to target loneliness and bring it to 252 00:13:55,860 --> 00:13:59,430 S4: the forefront and have an open discussion about it. And really, 253 00:13:59,429 --> 00:14:02,880 S4: Ruth has always been my favorite book of the Bible. 254 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,910 S4: It's probably because it's very rich in narration. I love 255 00:14:05,910 --> 00:14:09,200 S4: a good story more than that, I guess. You know, honestly, 256 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,450 S4: I was I was reading it over coffee and I 257 00:14:11,450 --> 00:14:14,120 S4: just it was an aha moment, you know, that we 258 00:14:14,150 --> 00:14:17,750 S4: sometimes hear. And I just found that connection like, you know, 259 00:14:17,750 --> 00:14:20,690 S4: the way, the way we follow our service members, the 260 00:14:20,690 --> 00:14:23,690 S4: way we, you know, cleave to our friendships again, faraway 261 00:14:23,690 --> 00:14:26,180 S4: lands and don't know where you're going. I mean, so 262 00:14:26,180 --> 00:14:28,130 S4: much of it was parallel to our lives. 263 00:14:28,130 --> 00:14:30,770 S1: I think too often when we read the story of Ruth, 264 00:14:30,770 --> 00:14:33,470 S1: some of us want to jump to the happily ever 265 00:14:33,470 --> 00:14:36,980 S1: after moment where she and Boaz get married. You know, 266 00:14:36,980 --> 00:14:40,730 S1: all the land is, you know, appropriated. But that's a mistake. 267 00:14:40,730 --> 00:14:44,660 S1: It seems to me. It minimizes the long season of anxiety, 268 00:14:44,660 --> 00:14:48,050 S1: unfulfillment and uncertainty that that she lived through. What are 269 00:14:48,050 --> 00:14:48,920 S1: your thoughts? 270 00:14:48,950 --> 00:14:51,830 S4: No, I completely agree. And you know, when I wrote this, 271 00:14:51,830 --> 00:14:54,140 S4: you know, the introduction clearly states you don't need to 272 00:14:54,140 --> 00:14:56,200 S4: be a military spouse to read this, that I'm talking 273 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:01,390 S4: to everyone because we've all gone through it, you know, loneliness, despair, 274 00:15:01,390 --> 00:15:04,600 S4: you know, bitterness really in our situation. I mean, there's 275 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,210 S4: such honesty in it, you know, and I've heard people say, 276 00:15:07,210 --> 00:15:09,460 S4: oh my gosh, like, how could she have these moments? 277 00:15:09,460 --> 00:15:12,610 S4: But you know what? We're all human and we've been there. 278 00:15:12,610 --> 00:15:15,310 S4: And then to have someone come in like Ruth, you know, 279 00:15:15,310 --> 00:15:18,700 S4: so unexpected, right? A pagan woman to be the one 280 00:15:18,700 --> 00:15:21,450 S4: to bring her back to faith. It's really a beautiful story, 281 00:15:21,450 --> 00:15:24,690 S4: you know, a friendship, redemption and just the goodness that's there, 282 00:15:24,690 --> 00:15:26,040 S4: even when we can't see it. 283 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:27,870 S1: What does that say of us, though, as a as 284 00:15:27,870 --> 00:15:30,360 S1: a culture that we do want to rush to the 285 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,090 S1: happily ever after? I mean, it was a long trek, 286 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,520 S1: a long desert, a hot desert, and and there were 287 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,370 S1: a whole lot of unanswered questions for Ruth and Naomi. 288 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,610 S4: Well, I mean, I can laugh with you and talk 289 00:15:41,610 --> 00:15:44,870 S4: about just the changes in technology, but the reality is 290 00:15:44,870 --> 00:15:48,620 S4: we've become this instant gratification society. I don't even know 291 00:15:48,620 --> 00:15:51,320 S4: if my children could handle dial up internet, let alone 292 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:55,220 S4: a desert trek, you know? But we really are like, 293 00:15:55,220 --> 00:15:57,979 S4: if it doesn't happen instantly, you know, we're frustrated. Think 294 00:15:57,980 --> 00:16:00,830 S4: about being in the car and traffic is bad. I mean, 295 00:16:00,830 --> 00:16:04,160 S4: it really, really puts a lens on. Are we putting 296 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:08,060 S4: those expectations of instant for God to, you know, in 297 00:16:08,060 --> 00:16:08,900 S4: our lives? 298 00:16:09,140 --> 00:16:13,220 S1: Jessica Manfrey has written the Moody Publishers book Never Alone. 299 00:16:13,250 --> 00:16:15,980 S1: Her husband is with the United States Coast Guard for 300 00:16:15,980 --> 00:16:19,130 S1: more than 15 years. She's got two beautiful kids, and 301 00:16:19,130 --> 00:16:22,100 S1: she joins us again on the land and the book. Hey, 302 00:16:22,100 --> 00:16:26,600 S1: let me ask you what you personally most admire about Ruth. 303 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,570 S1: What character quality of hers do you wish you had 304 00:16:29,570 --> 00:16:30,320 S1: more of? 305 00:16:30,860 --> 00:16:33,850 S4: Oh my gosh. Um, she strikes me as just such 306 00:16:33,850 --> 00:16:38,050 S4: a courageous woman without fear, you know? Um, she's lost 307 00:16:38,050 --> 00:16:41,830 S4: her husband. Everything is going wrong. And suddenly, you know, 308 00:16:41,830 --> 00:16:45,220 S4: her mother in law is essentially asking her to, you know, 309 00:16:45,220 --> 00:16:48,250 S4: abandon her. And despite the fact that she probably had 310 00:16:48,250 --> 00:16:51,790 S4: family to go back to, you know, she made the decision. No, like, 311 00:16:51,790 --> 00:16:53,740 S4: this is the right way. This is the right path. 312 00:16:53,740 --> 00:16:57,060 S4: I'm going to go essentially completely alone, you know, with 313 00:16:57,060 --> 00:16:59,100 S4: no ties to where they were going. So I would 314 00:16:59,100 --> 00:17:03,030 S4: say the courage, just undeniable courage. I wish I had 315 00:17:03,030 --> 00:17:05,369 S4: more than that because I definitely hesitate a lot. I mean, 316 00:17:05,369 --> 00:17:07,260 S4: you know, I'm a mom, so I'm like, fear, what's 317 00:17:07,260 --> 00:17:09,359 S4: going to get broken? You know, what's going to happen. 318 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,840 S4: You know, I overanalyze. So her courage is just beautiful. 319 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:13,409 S5: Yeah. 320 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:15,540 S1: Where do you think she got that courage? I mean, 321 00:17:15,540 --> 00:17:19,740 S1: as part of that natural born personality or is it 322 00:17:19,740 --> 00:17:22,710 S1: a God given gift that was uniquely hers, or is 323 00:17:22,710 --> 00:17:26,310 S1: it a combination or byproduct of of lessons learned? 324 00:17:26,310 --> 00:17:29,970 S4: Young you know, we can speculate so much. And this 325 00:17:29,970 --> 00:17:31,830 S4: is one of those stories that I'm like, man, I 326 00:17:31,830 --> 00:17:33,389 S4: wish we had more meat to it. You know what 327 00:17:33,390 --> 00:17:36,180 S4: I mean? To really understand because we can just imagine, 328 00:17:36,180 --> 00:17:38,760 S4: I would I mean, we know she lost her husband. 329 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:42,300 S4: We know that she immediately was like, no, where you go, 330 00:17:42,330 --> 00:17:44,659 S4: I go. So you have to wonder. I think it 331 00:17:44,660 --> 00:17:47,360 S4: was a character thing. I definitely think, you know, there 332 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:50,210 S4: were some God moments there of encouraging her, because why 333 00:17:50,210 --> 00:17:52,580 S4: else would this woman with with no God say no? 334 00:17:52,580 --> 00:17:56,090 S4: Your God is my God without any hesitation or need 335 00:17:56,090 --> 00:17:59,149 S4: a moment, you know, to to think about it. So yeah, 336 00:17:59,150 --> 00:18:01,520 S4: I would say combination of those two things character and 337 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:02,929 S4: definitely got involved. 338 00:18:02,930 --> 00:18:06,530 S1: You've titled the book Never Alone. Elaborate on what you 339 00:18:06,530 --> 00:18:09,100 S1: or or maybe Ruth even are trying to say here 340 00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:10,000 S1: in that title. 341 00:18:10,570 --> 00:18:14,320 S4: You know, this story can correlate to so much, you know, 342 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,510 S4: when I was writing it and then when I released it, 343 00:18:16,510 --> 00:18:19,719 S4: the Surgeon General of the United States labeled loneliness as 344 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,780 S4: an epidemic. You know, the world with the pandemic and, 345 00:18:22,780 --> 00:18:25,449 S4: you know, just the restrictions that were placed and, you know, 346 00:18:25,450 --> 00:18:28,359 S4: the isolation that was felt. But I think it started 347 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:31,180 S4: long before that. You know, we've stopped connecting, you know, 348 00:18:31,180 --> 00:18:33,690 S4: with one another. We've stopped having faith in our fellow 349 00:18:33,690 --> 00:18:36,780 S4: human being or knowing our neighbors. And so I would 350 00:18:36,780 --> 00:18:39,000 S4: hope that this will be a reminder that no matter 351 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:42,630 S4: how desperate your circumstances are or how alone you feel, 352 00:18:42,660 --> 00:18:46,109 S4: God is right there with you, you know, waiting, you know, 353 00:18:46,109 --> 00:18:48,150 S4: to guide you. If you just listen. 354 00:18:48,540 --> 00:18:51,330 S1: Today on the Land and the book, it's a conversation 355 00:18:51,330 --> 00:18:54,300 S1: with Jessica Manfrey, who has written the Moody Publishers book 356 00:18:54,300 --> 00:18:58,850 S1: Never Alone. Hey, let's envision a conversation unfolding now between 357 00:18:58,850 --> 00:19:03,110 S1: Ruth and a concerned wife, perhaps a military spouse. What 358 00:19:03,109 --> 00:19:05,840 S1: kind of counsel might she offer to that person? And 359 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,330 S1: the point really is loneliness. I mean, I you know, 360 00:19:08,330 --> 00:19:10,220 S1: she says, I, I thought I was geared for this, 361 00:19:10,220 --> 00:19:12,080 S1: ready for this, but I'm not. What would you say 362 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:13,850 S1: to me, Ruth? What would Ruth say? 363 00:19:14,180 --> 00:19:16,399 S4: Oh my gosh. Um, I think number one would be 364 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:20,020 S4: hold fast to your faith. You know, that is something 365 00:19:20,020 --> 00:19:22,150 S4: that if we can just, you know, treat it like 366 00:19:22,150 --> 00:19:24,609 S4: an anchor, that's something that's always going to be present 367 00:19:24,609 --> 00:19:27,820 S4: for us and know I'm not going to be light 368 00:19:27,820 --> 00:19:29,949 S4: hearted and say, you know, nothing else matters because we 369 00:19:29,950 --> 00:19:32,890 S4: know it does. We know that being a military spouse 370 00:19:32,890 --> 00:19:35,830 S4: carries a sacrifice and a weight, especially when you are 371 00:19:35,830 --> 00:19:38,560 S4: far from family and supports. But if we hold fast 372 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,320 S4: to faith, and I imagine Ruth would be encouraging them, 373 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:44,350 S4: you know, look how far you've come. Look at the 374 00:19:44,350 --> 00:19:46,300 S4: journey that's ahead of you. You don't have to do 375 00:19:46,300 --> 00:19:49,480 S4: it alone. He's right here. There's so much richness, you know, 376 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,300 S4: in this word to help guide you. That's what I 377 00:19:52,300 --> 00:19:53,590 S4: would hope she would say. 378 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,980 S1: What do you think is an aspect of Ruth's life 379 00:19:56,980 --> 00:19:59,890 S1: that we don't really focus on, but maybe should? What 380 00:19:59,890 --> 00:20:01,120 S1: are we what are we missing? 381 00:20:01,990 --> 00:20:02,350 S5: Um. 382 00:20:02,740 --> 00:20:05,050 S4: I mean, there's a lot there. I wish we had 383 00:20:05,050 --> 00:20:08,310 S4: more of her early years to understand. I also think 384 00:20:08,310 --> 00:20:11,640 S4: sometimes when we go through this story, we don't focus 385 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,490 S4: on their arrival. Right. And what that must have been 386 00:20:14,490 --> 00:20:18,179 S4: like her, her being a stranger, not knowing anyone, but 387 00:20:18,180 --> 00:20:20,100 S4: immediately saying, I'm going to work. I'm going to figure 388 00:20:20,100 --> 00:20:23,310 S4: this out. I'm going to I'm going to care for you. 389 00:20:23,310 --> 00:20:25,560 S4: You know, we are not alone. We're going to make 390 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,169 S4: it through. And she wasn't just, you know, pursuing a 391 00:20:28,170 --> 00:20:30,449 S4: life for herself, but she was taking care of another 392 00:20:30,450 --> 00:20:33,410 S4: human being. And so when you just think of what 393 00:20:33,410 --> 00:20:36,440 S4: can we be doing? You know, for others are we 394 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:39,230 S4: like Ruth in that way? It just begs that question. 395 00:20:39,380 --> 00:20:42,619 S1: You know, I think of that iconic statement of Ruth's, 396 00:20:42,619 --> 00:20:44,930 S1: you know, where you go, I'm going to go and 397 00:20:44,930 --> 00:20:48,140 S1: your God will be my God. You have to ask yourself, 398 00:20:48,140 --> 00:20:51,889 S1: is that declaration of faith in God something that that 399 00:20:51,890 --> 00:20:54,410 S1: she reached at that moment? Was it something she had 400 00:20:54,410 --> 00:20:57,850 S1: already possessed, or was it? I'm launching into this here 401 00:20:57,850 --> 00:20:59,889 S1: and now. You know, we don't know, as you say, 402 00:20:59,890 --> 00:21:02,770 S1: all the details, but it does make you wonder, doesn't it? 403 00:21:03,250 --> 00:21:06,010 S4: It really does. And I've thought about that often. I'm like, 404 00:21:06,010 --> 00:21:07,840 S4: was this something that was a slow build for her? 405 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,480 S4: And we just didn't know because we don't have that context? 406 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,370 S4: Or was it in that moment, you know, she was 407 00:21:12,369 --> 00:21:15,400 S4: just filled with the Holy Spirit and just knew with, 408 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,340 S4: you know, wavering conviction. This is it. You know, your 409 00:21:18,340 --> 00:21:20,890 S4: God is my God. It's such a beautiful thing to ponder. 410 00:21:20,890 --> 00:21:23,950 S4: I like to envision that maybe it was a slow build, 411 00:21:23,950 --> 00:21:26,169 S4: maybe being, you know, around the family and coming to 412 00:21:26,170 --> 00:21:28,870 S4: these conclusions. And, you know, what a beautiful thing. But 413 00:21:28,869 --> 00:21:31,810 S4: just given how fast it happened in the story, the 414 00:21:31,810 --> 00:21:34,600 S4: other thing is certainly possible and how remarkable, right, that 415 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:36,040 S4: God would use her that way. 416 00:21:36,250 --> 00:21:38,710 S1: Thanks for being a part of the land and the book. 417 00:21:38,710 --> 00:21:42,370 S1: I'm John Gager with our guest, Jessica Manfrey, a military 418 00:21:42,369 --> 00:21:46,200 S1: spouse who has written the Moody Publishers book Never Alone. 419 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:50,010 S1: You know, Ruth is nothing if not a story of redemption. 420 00:21:50,010 --> 00:21:53,820 S1: We cheer for her, but talk to the spouse who 421 00:21:53,820 --> 00:21:57,330 S1: isn't feeling much of that redemption right now. Maybe there 422 00:21:57,330 --> 00:22:00,690 S1: is no happily ever after. Maybe separation from her military 423 00:22:00,690 --> 00:22:03,900 S1: spouse is leading to, you know, a separation in marriage 424 00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:06,690 S1: or worse, encourage them. What would you say to them? 425 00:22:06,930 --> 00:22:09,920 S4: Well, I would say that this chapter is not your 426 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,739 S4: whole story, you know, and one of the things that 427 00:22:12,740 --> 00:22:15,650 S4: I try to do, you know, really intentionally with, with 428 00:22:15,650 --> 00:22:19,400 S4: this book is that I infused my own backstory, you know, 429 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,490 S4: traumas that I had endured, things that went on. And 430 00:22:22,490 --> 00:22:25,940 S4: I really try, even in my practice as a therapist, 431 00:22:25,940 --> 00:22:29,930 S4: to get, you know, my patients to come to the reconciliation, 432 00:22:29,930 --> 00:22:32,530 S4: not your worst day is not your only day. The 433 00:22:32,530 --> 00:22:35,800 S4: worst mistake you've ever made, you know, doesn't define you. 434 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,530 S4: And so whatever that spouse is walking through, or even 435 00:22:38,530 --> 00:22:41,080 S4: someone who's not a military spouse, just know that you 436 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,510 S4: are more you are so much more. And God has 437 00:22:43,510 --> 00:22:46,720 S4: called us to be more. And so yes, you know, seek, 438 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:51,040 S4: you know, redemption and, you know, work towards, you know, good. Absolutely. 439 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:52,090 S4: I know you're going to have to sit in a 440 00:22:52,090 --> 00:22:55,119 S4: bad space, but you've got to help guide you. 441 00:22:55,300 --> 00:22:59,050 S1: You also write extensively about the wounds of despair, as 442 00:22:59,050 --> 00:23:02,560 S1: you put it. Address that in a military context, and 443 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,740 S1: maybe also for civilian spouses, those who definitely feel the 444 00:23:05,740 --> 00:23:07,450 S1: wounds of despair. 445 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:10,570 S4: Despair is such a oh my gosh, that's such a 446 00:23:10,570 --> 00:23:13,149 S4: heavy emotion, right? I mean, you can feel it in 447 00:23:13,150 --> 00:23:15,250 S4: the loss, you know, of a family member of a 448 00:23:15,250 --> 00:23:17,889 S4: child in the separation. You know, if you are a 449 00:23:17,890 --> 00:23:22,350 S4: military spouse who's undergoing a deployment and everything is going wrong, 450 00:23:22,350 --> 00:23:24,300 S4: it's really, really hard to see the light in that 451 00:23:24,300 --> 00:23:28,260 S4: kind of darkness. Right? And those wounds can can leave scars, right. 452 00:23:28,260 --> 00:23:30,960 S4: You feel like they're healed, but maybe they're not really. 453 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:34,380 S4: They're still present. They're still there. They're pulling. Right. And 454 00:23:34,380 --> 00:23:37,680 S4: so it's just kind of up to us to be really, 455 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:40,740 S4: really honest with ourselves and recognize those things that are 456 00:23:40,770 --> 00:23:44,090 S4: that are maybe building and address them accordingly, whether that's 457 00:23:44,090 --> 00:23:47,540 S4: with your pastor, you know, a good friend. I'm always 458 00:23:47,540 --> 00:23:50,360 S4: an encourager of therapy because, you know, therapist is going 459 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:52,550 S4: to be that third party. They're unbiased. They're going to 460 00:23:52,550 --> 00:23:54,770 S4: help you unpack things and do it in a way 461 00:23:54,770 --> 00:23:57,380 S4: that allows you to do some really, really deep work. 462 00:23:57,770 --> 00:24:00,110 S1: I noticed in the book, you also kind of introduce 463 00:24:00,109 --> 00:24:03,800 S1: us to a conversation about preparing for loss. What does 464 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:06,710 S1: this look like for military spouses and and how can 465 00:24:06,740 --> 00:24:08,949 S1: the rest of us prepare for loss? Obviously, in the 466 00:24:08,950 --> 00:24:11,560 S1: military world, you know, we we jump immediately to people 467 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,050 S1: who are in harm's way. But give us your own 468 00:24:14,050 --> 00:24:15,370 S1: particular spin on that. 469 00:24:15,609 --> 00:24:16,359 S6: Yeah. 470 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:19,150 S4: So for us, you know, as a military spouse, I moved, 471 00:24:19,150 --> 00:24:21,820 S4: you know, nine, ten times. I've kind of lost count. And, 472 00:24:21,820 --> 00:24:24,670 S4: you know, that means saying goodbye to people and that hurts. 473 00:24:24,670 --> 00:24:27,310 S4: Oh my gosh. You know, when you when you've turned 474 00:24:27,310 --> 00:24:30,699 S4: a place that you've never been to suddenly to home 475 00:24:30,700 --> 00:24:32,680 S4: and it's filled with people that you love Walking away 476 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:36,340 S4: from that is incredibly difficult, as is leaving your family 477 00:24:36,340 --> 00:24:39,310 S4: and friends from, you know, your place of origin and 478 00:24:39,310 --> 00:24:42,159 S4: missing out on so much. And so you kind of 479 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:44,139 S4: have to prepare yourself. And I say this for a 480 00:24:44,140 --> 00:24:47,740 S4: lot of reasons. Grief can really be the anchor that 481 00:24:47,740 --> 00:24:50,680 S4: we don't want, so we can find ourselves almost going 482 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:54,040 S4: down a rabbit hole and letting it determine our entire life. 483 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:57,389 S4: And so preparing your heart for loss really just, you know, 484 00:24:57,390 --> 00:25:00,840 S4: essentially is building a backpack with really, really healthy coping. 485 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:04,109 S4: And it develops us into really gritty people who, yes, 486 00:25:04,109 --> 00:25:06,240 S4: something bad and horrific has happened. And we're going to 487 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:08,700 S4: acknowledge that. But now what are we going to do? 488 00:25:08,730 --> 00:25:12,150 S4: You know, we're in charge of how we proceed, you know, 489 00:25:12,150 --> 00:25:15,810 S4: do we proceed, you know, with looking, you know, beyond 490 00:25:15,810 --> 00:25:18,090 S4: that and knowing that goodness is going to come, that 491 00:25:18,090 --> 00:25:20,930 S4: this grief and, you know, these feelings are going to subside, 492 00:25:20,930 --> 00:25:24,140 S4: they'll always be that missing piece. But we still have 493 00:25:24,140 --> 00:25:26,330 S4: the rest of our lives that we have to contend 494 00:25:26,330 --> 00:25:30,410 S4: with and hopefully, you know, love and and live through well. 495 00:25:30,710 --> 00:25:32,930 S1: Well, this sounds like a conversation that a whole lot 496 00:25:32,930 --> 00:25:35,210 S1: of listeners are going to want to be a part of. 497 00:25:35,210 --> 00:25:37,340 S1: And we invite you to visit our web site, The 498 00:25:37,340 --> 00:25:40,490 S1: Land and the Book org, where we'll link you to 499 00:25:40,490 --> 00:25:43,670 S1: Jessica's book and to her website as well, the land 500 00:25:43,670 --> 00:25:46,840 S1: and the book. Org thanks for your time, Jessica. 501 00:25:46,869 --> 00:25:49,780 S4: Thank you for having me. This was such a wonderful conversation. 502 00:25:49,780 --> 00:25:51,010 S4: I surely appreciate it. 503 00:25:51,010 --> 00:25:53,350 S1: And we're looking forward to a visit from Charlie Dyer 504 00:25:53,380 --> 00:26:08,050 S1: next on the Land and the book. It's that time again. 505 00:26:08,050 --> 00:26:09,850 S1: Time to take a look at questions that have come 506 00:26:09,850 --> 00:26:13,360 S1: into our email inbox from listeners just like you. Kind 507 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:15,310 S1: of fun to get an answer to a question that 508 00:26:15,310 --> 00:26:18,190 S1: you've been puzzling over. And that's your experience every time 509 00:26:18,190 --> 00:26:23,470 S1: you email us at The Land and the book@moody.edu. Our host, 510 00:26:23,470 --> 00:26:26,740 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer, has his Bible open. And Charlie, you know, 511 00:26:26,740 --> 00:26:28,689 S1: Israel has been in the news a lot over the 512 00:26:28,690 --> 00:26:31,330 S1: past year. And as we know, the Bible is jam 513 00:26:31,330 --> 00:26:35,429 S1: packed with end times prophecies about epic world events, the 514 00:26:35,430 --> 00:26:38,310 S1: regathering of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland. And 515 00:26:38,310 --> 00:26:42,090 S1: then Jesus soon returned. It is crucial for us as believers, though, 516 00:26:42,090 --> 00:26:45,690 S1: to have a proper understanding of Bible prophecy. So our 517 00:26:45,690 --> 00:26:49,709 S1: view of the future is shaped by Scripture, not today's headlines. Right? 518 00:26:49,740 --> 00:26:52,050 S2: That's exactly right. And with this in mind, our friends 519 00:26:52,050 --> 00:26:55,470 S2: at Life and Messiah have published a book titled God, 520 00:26:55,470 --> 00:26:59,010 S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners 521 00:26:59,010 --> 00:27:01,109 S2: of the land in the book for a limited time. 522 00:27:01,109 --> 00:27:04,560 S2: This informative book is focused on providing readers with a 523 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:08,129 S2: deeper understanding and a greater appreciation of what God has 524 00:27:08,130 --> 00:27:11,220 S2: in store for Israel and the nations by digging into 525 00:27:11,220 --> 00:27:14,100 S2: what the scriptures say about these issues. Now, if you're 526 00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:16,800 S2: interested in learning more about what God has in store, 527 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:20,070 S2: visit Life in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody 528 00:27:20,070 --> 00:27:22,750 S2: Radio button there to find out how you can receive 529 00:27:22,750 --> 00:27:27,460 S2: your copy of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life 530 00:27:27,460 --> 00:27:29,530 S2: in messiah.org. 531 00:27:29,590 --> 00:27:32,950 S1: Well, as always, we've got a wide range of questions today. 532 00:27:32,950 --> 00:27:35,260 S1: They're all over the map. Fasten your seat belts will 533 00:27:35,260 --> 00:27:38,230 S1: dig in. Here we go. Question one does the Holy 534 00:27:38,230 --> 00:27:43,240 S1: Spirit still give the gifts of apostles, prophets and tongues today? 535 00:27:43,450 --> 00:27:45,520 S2: Yeah, well, I believe the answer is no. And I 536 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:49,060 S2: say that for two reasons. First, Paul specifically said some 537 00:27:49,060 --> 00:27:51,729 S2: of the gifts of the Holy Spirit were temporary. In 538 00:27:51,730 --> 00:27:55,810 S2: first Corinthians 13 eight he specifically mentions prophecy and tongues. 539 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:58,660 S2: He says love never fails, but if there are gifts 540 00:27:58,660 --> 00:28:01,570 S2: of prophecy, they'll be done away. If there are tongues, 541 00:28:01,570 --> 00:28:04,840 S2: they will cease. If there's knowledge, it'll be done away. 542 00:28:05,140 --> 00:28:06,820 S2: And the second reason I say this is the gift 543 00:28:06,820 --> 00:28:10,690 S2: of apostleship seems specifically to have been related to actually 544 00:28:10,690 --> 00:28:15,190 S2: having seen the risen Lord Jesus Christ. In first Corinthians 911, 545 00:28:15,190 --> 00:28:18,040 S2: Paul wrote, am I not an apostle? Have I not 546 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,890 S2: seen Jesus our Lord? Now, I don't want to minimize, 547 00:28:20,890 --> 00:28:23,080 S2: you know, people who claim to have these gifts. But 548 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,030 S2: as I read the Bible, it looks to me like 549 00:28:25,030 --> 00:28:28,300 S2: these were temporary gifts related to the foundation of the 550 00:28:28,300 --> 00:28:31,720 S2: early church. Once the church was established and the Bible 551 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:34,400 S2: was completed, then there was no need any longer for 552 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,160 S2: these temporary gifts. Can a person. 553 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,430 S1: Lose his or her salvation is question two. 554 00:28:40,460 --> 00:28:43,040 S2: Yeah, well, the short answer is someone who's been truly 555 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:46,250 S2: born again cannot lose their salvation. And I say that 556 00:28:46,250 --> 00:28:49,970 S2: because of two key passages of Scripture in John ten 557 00:28:49,970 --> 00:28:53,840 S2: verses 27 to 30. Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice. 558 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:56,360 S2: I know them, and they follow me, and I give 559 00:28:56,380 --> 00:28:59,050 S2: eternal life to them, and they shall never perish, and 560 00:28:59,050 --> 00:29:02,410 S2: no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My father, 561 00:29:02,410 --> 00:29:04,330 S2: who has given them to me is greater than all, 562 00:29:04,330 --> 00:29:05,980 S2: and no one is able to snatch them out of 563 00:29:05,980 --> 00:29:09,550 S2: my father's hand. I and the father are one. Jesus 564 00:29:09,550 --> 00:29:11,920 S2: says that He and God the Father have teamed up 565 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:15,100 S2: together to keep his sheep safe forever, and that's a 566 00:29:15,100 --> 00:29:20,530 S2: powerful combination. The second passage is first John 511 to 13. 567 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:23,070 S2: There John wrote, the witness is this that God has 568 00:29:23,070 --> 00:29:25,860 S2: given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 569 00:29:25,890 --> 00:29:28,680 S2: He who has the son has life. He who does 570 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:31,350 S2: not have the Son of God does not have the life. 571 00:29:31,380 --> 00:29:33,300 S2: These things I've written to you, who believe in the 572 00:29:33,300 --> 00:29:35,310 S2: name of the Son of God, in order that you 573 00:29:35,310 --> 00:29:38,370 S2: may know that you have eternal life. If we can 574 00:29:38,370 --> 00:29:41,400 S2: lose it, then it's not eternal. Now I need to 575 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:43,740 S2: add one other word of caution, though. It's possible for 576 00:29:43,740 --> 00:29:46,350 S2: someone to make a false profession of faith in Christ. 577 00:29:46,350 --> 00:29:48,900 S2: They say the right words, but they don't truly turn 578 00:29:48,900 --> 00:29:51,570 S2: from their sins to accept him as their Savior and Lord. Right? 579 00:29:51,570 --> 00:29:54,240 S2: And Jesus made that clear in Matthew seven. He said, 580 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:56,880 S2: A time will come when people will say, uh, Lord, Lord. 581 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,820 S2: And he says, depart from me. I never knew you. 582 00:30:00,180 --> 00:30:02,610 S2: Those people didn't lose their salvation. They just never had 583 00:30:02,610 --> 00:30:03,600 S2: it to begin with. 584 00:30:03,630 --> 00:30:07,620 S1: Here's an interesting question what kind of food did Jesus 585 00:30:07,620 --> 00:30:10,320 S1: and the disciples eat? Did they have pita bread, Charlie? 586 00:30:10,350 --> 00:30:13,980 S2: Well, pita bread? Yes. Big Macs? No. Uh, yeah. But 587 00:30:13,980 --> 00:30:16,110 S2: on a serious note, we do have a relatively good 588 00:30:16,110 --> 00:30:18,390 S2: idea of what they ate. You know, the seven species 589 00:30:18,390 --> 00:30:20,940 S2: of the land, as they're called in Deuteronomy eight, uh, 590 00:30:20,940 --> 00:30:24,060 S2: were the main foods a wheat, barley, vines, which means 591 00:30:24,060 --> 00:30:27,960 S2: grapes and wine and figs, pomegranates, olive oil, and date 592 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:30,360 S2: palm honey. So they ate a lot of what we'd 593 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:32,790 S2: say are whole grains and fruit. Now, they also kept 594 00:30:32,790 --> 00:30:36,370 S2: sheep and goats, but they ate relatively little meat. Remember, 595 00:30:36,370 --> 00:30:38,920 S2: the fatted calf wasn't killed until a feast was held 596 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:41,590 S2: when the prodigal son returned. They used the milk, though, 597 00:30:41,590 --> 00:30:44,860 S2: from those animals. For milk and for cheese and for yogurt. Now, 598 00:30:44,860 --> 00:30:47,530 S2: in Ezekiel eight, we're also given a list of other 599 00:30:47,530 --> 00:30:50,320 S2: grains they would have eaten in picturing a time of famine. 600 00:30:50,350 --> 00:30:53,380 S2: Ezekiel was told to mix together these grains, which normally 601 00:30:53,380 --> 00:30:55,600 S2: would have been eaten separately, and he mentions wheat and 602 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,250 S2: barley and beans and lentils and millet and spelt. So 603 00:30:59,250 --> 00:31:01,800 S2: the bottom line in all this the primary diet was 604 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:05,820 S2: whole grains, fresh vegetables with olive oil, some dairy products 605 00:31:05,820 --> 00:31:08,760 S2: and very little meat or sweets. They combine all that 606 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:11,190 S2: with a great deal of physical exercise, and they were 607 00:31:11,190 --> 00:31:12,690 S2: generally in pretty good health. 608 00:31:12,810 --> 00:31:16,050 S1: This listener wants to know is Psalm 22 a prophecy 609 00:31:16,050 --> 00:31:18,900 S1: of Jesus praying to God on the cross? 610 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:21,780 S2: Yeah, I believe you're heading in the right direction. Jesus 611 00:31:21,780 --> 00:31:24,480 S2: quoted the very words of Psalm 22, verse one, when 612 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:27,090 S2: he was on the cross, My God, my God, why 613 00:31:27,090 --> 00:31:30,000 S2: have you forsaken me? The psalm was written by David 614 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:33,060 S2: to describe his experience, but I believe it was also 615 00:31:33,060 --> 00:31:36,330 S2: intended to give us a prophetic glimpse into the suffering 616 00:31:36,330 --> 00:31:38,790 S2: of Jesus. And I say that because of all the parallels, 617 00:31:38,790 --> 00:31:41,850 S2: they're just too dramatic to ignore. You know, David mentions 618 00:31:41,850 --> 00:31:44,670 S2: the mocking of those who were watching. He mentions the 619 00:31:44,670 --> 00:31:47,660 S2: enemies piercing my hands and my feet. He mentions them 620 00:31:47,660 --> 00:31:50,750 S2: casting lots for my clothing. You know, a thousand years 621 00:31:50,750 --> 00:31:54,200 S2: before the events of Calvary, I believe David described perfectly 622 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,630 S2: what Jesus experienced on the cross. 623 00:31:56,690 --> 00:31:58,970 S1: This listener wants to know why do we bow our 624 00:31:58,970 --> 00:32:02,540 S1: heads and close our eyes when we pray? When Jesus 625 00:32:02,540 --> 00:32:04,430 S1: looked up to heaven when he prayed. 626 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:06,979 S2: Yeah, it's actually a great question. The first thing that 627 00:32:06,980 --> 00:32:09,580 S2: comes to mind I do believe it's related more to 628 00:32:09,580 --> 00:32:12,610 S2: tradition than anything else. I think bowing our heads was 629 00:32:12,610 --> 00:32:15,910 S2: intended to show reverence and respect and humility, and closing 630 00:32:15,910 --> 00:32:18,610 S2: our eyes was to help blot out distractions. But in 631 00:32:18,610 --> 00:32:21,760 S2: the Bible, you find people prostrating themselves on the ground 632 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:24,970 S2: and standing upright. You find them raising their hands and 633 00:32:24,970 --> 00:32:27,850 S2: beating their breasts. At least in the case of Jesus 634 00:32:27,850 --> 00:32:30,640 S2: illustration of the public and praying to God in the temple, 635 00:32:30,730 --> 00:32:34,080 S2: no one position is demanded, though the most common probably 636 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:37,380 S2: is lifting our hands toward heaven. I believe Jesus's words 637 00:32:37,380 --> 00:32:39,690 S2: in the sermon on the Mount are most helpful here. 638 00:32:39,690 --> 00:32:43,290 S2: It's not so much where we pray or how we pray, 639 00:32:43,290 --> 00:32:45,960 S2: as it is what we pray and our heart attitude 640 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:46,800 S2: when we're doing it. 641 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:49,770 S1: From Moody Radio, This is the Land and the book, 642 00:32:49,770 --> 00:32:52,410 S1: a fast paced set of questions today that we're looking 643 00:32:52,410 --> 00:32:55,440 S1: at yours. Welcome. Any time when you email us at 644 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:59,190 S1: The Land and the Book at book@moody.edu. Maybe it's a 645 00:32:59,190 --> 00:33:02,010 S1: Bible study. You're in a sermon. You heard a passage 646 00:33:02,010 --> 00:33:05,100 S1: you just read. That question is welcome at the land 647 00:33:05,100 --> 00:33:10,680 S1: and the book@moody.edu. First, Samuel 17 has the story of 648 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:13,350 S1: David and Goliath, and this listener wants to know, did 649 00:33:13,350 --> 00:33:17,610 S1: David pick up five smooth stones, as we're told, because 650 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:19,950 S1: Goliath had four other brothers. 651 00:33:20,250 --> 00:33:23,300 S2: You know, second Samuel 21, does appear to say that 652 00:33:23,300 --> 00:33:26,270 S2: Goliath had four brothers. But that passage does have a 653 00:33:26,270 --> 00:33:29,660 S2: few problems, depending on the translation of verse 19. It 654 00:33:29,660 --> 00:33:32,270 S2: either says the the person killed was Goliath or the 655 00:33:32,270 --> 00:33:35,120 S2: brother of Goliath. But I think there's a better answer, though, 656 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:38,120 S2: as to why David chose five smooth stones as he 657 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:40,880 S2: prepared to fight Goliath, and it has to do with 658 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:44,630 S2: biblical wisdom. Although David was certain God was on his side, 659 00:33:44,630 --> 00:33:47,090 S2: he had no guarantee that God would give him victory 660 00:33:47,090 --> 00:33:50,690 S2: on his very first attempt. I suspect that David's past 661 00:33:50,690 --> 00:33:53,900 S2: experience had taught him to fill his pouch with stones, 662 00:33:53,900 --> 00:33:56,959 S2: so that he would have a backup ready, just in case. Now, 663 00:33:56,960 --> 00:33:59,600 S2: that's not a lack of faith on David's part, as 664 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:01,580 S2: much as it is a realization of trying to hit 665 00:34:01,610 --> 00:34:04,880 S2: a target in battle, conditions can be hard. He had 666 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:07,310 S2: plenty of faith in God, but he was allowing for 667 00:34:07,310 --> 00:34:10,740 S2: his own human frailty in planning for the possibility of 668 00:34:10,739 --> 00:34:12,210 S2: missing on his first attempt. 669 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:15,689 S1: All right. Our next question. Why do eastern cultures seem 670 00:34:15,690 --> 00:34:19,620 S1: to be more in tune with spirituality than Western cultures? 671 00:34:19,980 --> 00:34:22,290 S2: I think it probably has to do with the rise 672 00:34:22,290 --> 00:34:25,320 S2: of rationalism in the West. During the late Middle Ages, 673 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:30,359 S2: we became more enamored with science, the scientific method, observation, experimentation, 674 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:33,000 S2: your logic. And in one sense, these are good things. 675 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:36,390 S2: They've brought about major advances in science and medicine. But 676 00:34:36,390 --> 00:34:38,820 S2: the downside is that many in the West have neglected 677 00:34:38,820 --> 00:34:42,810 S2: that part of life, which can't be subject to scientific analysis. 678 00:34:42,810 --> 00:34:46,650 S2: But let me add, though, that spirituality alone isn't necessarily 679 00:34:46,650 --> 00:34:50,969 S2: a good thing. A feeling and experience divorced from knowledge 680 00:34:50,969 --> 00:34:55,110 S2: can lead to serious error. Second Timothy three. The apostle 681 00:34:55,110 --> 00:34:57,240 S2: described the end times as a time when people would 682 00:34:57,239 --> 00:35:00,290 S2: hold to a. He says a form of godliness, but 683 00:35:00,290 --> 00:35:03,500 S2: deny its power. That is, they'll appear to be spiritual, 684 00:35:03,500 --> 00:35:08,060 S2: but it'll be a delusional spirituality that's divorced from God's revelation. 685 00:35:08,180 --> 00:35:10,580 S2: And in Second Peter two, Peter makes it clear that 686 00:35:10,580 --> 00:35:14,180 S2: the apostles didn't follow cleverly devised tales, but he says 687 00:35:14,180 --> 00:35:17,360 S2: they were eyewitnesses of the events. In short, he's saying 688 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:20,509 S2: that the spirituality of the Christian faith is a rational 689 00:35:20,510 --> 00:35:24,250 S2: Christianity based on actual factual events. 690 00:35:24,250 --> 00:35:28,270 S1: And here's an interesting question. When was the Sabbath changed 691 00:35:28,270 --> 00:35:29,680 S1: to Sunday? Well, the. 692 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:32,379 S2: Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. And that's never changed. 693 00:35:32,380 --> 00:35:35,109 S2: But the time when people gathered to worship did change 694 00:35:35,110 --> 00:35:38,110 S2: from Saturday to Sunday in the early church. And I 695 00:35:38,110 --> 00:35:40,180 S2: think it was related to the fact that Jesus rose 696 00:35:40,180 --> 00:35:41,920 S2: from the dead on the first day of the week, 697 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:45,460 S2: which is Sunday. Matthew 28 one now after the Sabbath, 698 00:35:45,460 --> 00:35:47,940 S2: as it began to dawn toward the first day of 699 00:35:47,940 --> 00:35:50,370 S2: the week, that's when Mary Magdalene and the others came 700 00:35:50,370 --> 00:35:53,520 S2: to the tomb. Acts 20. Verse seven. On the first 701 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:55,350 S2: day of the week, when we were gathered together to 702 00:35:55,350 --> 00:35:58,140 S2: break bread, Paul begins talking to the people at the 703 00:35:58,140 --> 00:36:02,460 S2: church in Troas. And first Corinthians 16 two Paul says, 704 00:36:02,460 --> 00:36:04,380 S2: on the first day of every week, let each of 705 00:36:04,380 --> 00:36:06,930 S2: you put aside and save as he may prosper, that 706 00:36:06,930 --> 00:36:09,660 S2: no collections be made when I come. So he writes 707 00:36:09,660 --> 00:36:11,820 S2: that to the church in Corinth. But it seems like 708 00:36:11,820 --> 00:36:14,549 S2: the early church from very early on began worshiping on 709 00:36:14,550 --> 00:36:16,560 S2: the first day of the week, because that was the 710 00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:18,330 S2: day Jesus rose from the dead. 711 00:36:18,630 --> 00:36:23,399 S1: Back to Genesis after he killed Abel, who did Cain marry? 712 00:36:23,430 --> 00:36:26,489 S2: I think the Bible gives a fairly straightforward answer. Genesis 713 00:36:26,489 --> 00:36:29,190 S2: five four says, Adam and Eve had other sons and daughters. 714 00:36:29,190 --> 00:36:32,550 S2: After the birth of Cain and Abel, Cain, after killing 715 00:36:32,550 --> 00:36:34,880 S2: his brother, must have married one of his sisters. 716 00:36:34,910 --> 00:36:38,420 S1: Okay, boy, we've covered the ground here today, wide and deep. 717 00:36:38,450 --> 00:36:43,400 S1: Your question is always welcome at the land and the book@moody.edu. 718 00:36:43,430 --> 00:37:00,430 S1: Charlie's devotional is next. Whether you're watching online or on television, 719 00:37:00,430 --> 00:37:03,160 S1: it seems like the images almost encourage you to chill 720 00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:06,460 S1: out and be lazy during the summer. But should we 721 00:37:06,460 --> 00:37:09,520 S1: be lazy during the summer? What do you say, Charlie Dyer? 722 00:37:09,580 --> 00:37:11,980 S2: My answer will be no, but you'll be surprised how 723 00:37:11,980 --> 00:37:12,700 S2: I say it. 724 00:37:12,850 --> 00:37:15,879 S1: You'll be surprised as you listen to his devotional, Avoiding 725 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:18,279 S1: the Lazy Days of Summer. That's what's next here on 726 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:20,680 S1: the land and the book in this fourth segment. Welcome back, 727 00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:23,010 S1: by the way. And before we get to that devotional, 728 00:37:23,010 --> 00:37:25,560 S1: let's get to this testimony from an Israel traveler. 729 00:37:29,670 --> 00:37:33,390 S7: Hi, my name is Linda. And one of the things 730 00:37:33,390 --> 00:37:38,009 S7: that when we were traveling right from the beginning on 731 00:37:38,010 --> 00:37:42,000 S7: the Sea of Galilee was the realization that you get 732 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:45,000 S7: out there on that water and you think, you look 733 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:47,900 S7: this way and you look that way, and you look 734 00:37:47,900 --> 00:37:51,890 S7: all around you, and you see how the things that 735 00:37:51,890 --> 00:37:57,319 S7: Jesus did, Charlie presented things of the different things that 736 00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:00,050 S7: took place just around the Sea of Galilee, and then, 737 00:38:00,050 --> 00:38:04,100 S7: of course, on the sea with Peter walking and all 738 00:38:04,100 --> 00:38:07,340 S7: of that type of thing. And what a wonderful thing 739 00:38:07,370 --> 00:38:10,910 S7: to be able to see all of this, to be 740 00:38:10,910 --> 00:38:14,030 S7: aware of where Jesus was and the things that he 741 00:38:14,030 --> 00:38:16,490 S7: accomplished around that sea. 742 00:38:18,350 --> 00:38:21,379 S1: All right, let's get on with Charlie Dyer's devotional, Avoiding 743 00:38:21,380 --> 00:38:24,230 S1: the Lazy Days of Summer. We're headed for Proverbs 24 744 00:38:24,230 --> 00:38:27,229 S1: and 26. And Charlie, it's all yours. Ah. 745 00:38:27,230 --> 00:38:31,130 S2: Thank you. You know, John, way back in 1963, Nat 746 00:38:31,130 --> 00:38:35,020 S2: King Cole released a song titled Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy 747 00:38:35,020 --> 00:38:38,170 S2: Days of Summer. The song became a top ten single, 748 00:38:38,170 --> 00:38:41,500 S2: and it ended 1963 at number 59 on the list 749 00:38:41,500 --> 00:38:45,069 S2: of Billboard Hot 100 singles for the year. Even now, 750 00:38:45,070 --> 00:38:49,690 S2: six decades later, it's still occasionally receives airtime, usually connected 751 00:38:49,690 --> 00:38:53,410 S2: with comments about the warm summer weather. Well, today we're 752 00:38:53,410 --> 00:38:56,530 S2: heading back to Israel to talk with Solomon about wisdom 753 00:38:56,530 --> 00:38:59,880 S2: for life. And in many ways, today's conversation is the 754 00:38:59,880 --> 00:39:03,299 S2: flipside of his wisdom from last week. That's where Solomon 755 00:39:03,300 --> 00:39:06,540 S2: shared what is versus what should be in our response 756 00:39:06,540 --> 00:39:10,110 S2: to those struggling in poverty. But this week, Solomon is 757 00:39:10,110 --> 00:39:13,500 S2: focusing on how to avoid the lazy days of summer. 758 00:39:13,500 --> 00:39:15,899 S2: But I'm getting ahead of myself. So let's head out 759 00:39:15,900 --> 00:39:19,739 S2: to meet Solomon and hear his wise observations. We're outside 760 00:39:19,739 --> 00:39:23,520 S2: Jerusalem on the road that leads south toward Bethlehem. On 761 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:26,220 S2: both sides of the dirt road are terraced fields covered 762 00:39:26,219 --> 00:39:30,239 S2: with ripening barley and wheat, interspersed with vineyards. And coming 763 00:39:30,270 --> 00:39:34,290 S2: toward us is Solomon, deep in thought. He stops and 764 00:39:34,290 --> 00:39:37,290 S2: we ask where he's been. His answer is direct, but 765 00:39:37,290 --> 00:39:40,650 S2: also rather cryptic. I went past the field of the sluggard, 766 00:39:40,650 --> 00:39:43,860 S2: past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment. Thorns 767 00:39:43,860 --> 00:39:46,590 S2: had come up everywhere. The ground was covered with weeds 768 00:39:46,590 --> 00:39:49,620 S2: and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my 769 00:39:49,620 --> 00:39:51,990 S2: heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from 770 00:39:51,989 --> 00:39:55,380 S2: what I saw. A little sleep, a little slumber, a 771 00:39:55,380 --> 00:39:58,140 S2: little folding of the hands to rest. And poverty will 772 00:39:58,140 --> 00:40:00,660 S2: come on you like a bandit. And scarcity like an 773 00:40:00,660 --> 00:40:04,770 S2: armed man. The combination of words he uses for sluggard 774 00:40:04,770 --> 00:40:09,750 S2: can literally be translated lazy man, and lacking sense is 775 00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:13,450 S2: literally lacking heart, with the heart representing here the seat 776 00:40:13,480 --> 00:40:17,830 S2: of knowledge, thought, and reflection. Solomon characterized the person by 777 00:40:17,830 --> 00:40:21,640 S2: observing the field that he owned. Nettles and thistles, a 778 00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:25,989 S2: common agricultural problem in Israel, had totally overgrown the grain 779 00:40:25,989 --> 00:40:29,440 S2: and vines, and the stone wall built to both mark 780 00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:32,470 S2: the field's boundaries and to keep out wild animals, was 781 00:40:32,469 --> 00:40:36,719 S2: completely broken down In agriculture, there is a great deal 782 00:40:36,719 --> 00:40:39,120 S2: of work that must be done long before the crops 783 00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:42,270 S2: can be harvested. And having worked on farms for a 784 00:40:42,270 --> 00:40:45,600 S2: few summers while growing up, I can definitely say that 785 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:48,600 S2: it is hard work. And today we have tractors and 786 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:52,590 S2: other mechanized equipment. Standing here with Solomon, we see other 787 00:40:52,590 --> 00:40:55,290 S2: farmers out in their fields chopping at the thorns and 788 00:40:55,290 --> 00:40:59,850 S2: thistles that never seem to stop sprouting, and then taking 789 00:40:59,850 --> 00:41:03,060 S2: a break from that repetitive work. They walk through the fields, 790 00:41:03,060 --> 00:41:05,520 S2: gathering up the rocks that always seem to push their 791 00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:08,730 S2: way through the soil, labouring under the load. They carry 792 00:41:08,730 --> 00:41:11,730 S2: the rocks over to repair the stone walls that always 793 00:41:11,730 --> 00:41:15,720 S2: seem to be toppling at the most inconvenient time. So 794 00:41:15,719 --> 00:41:19,140 S2: where's the farmer with the overgrown field? He's home, taking 795 00:41:19,140 --> 00:41:22,670 S2: a siesta. It's too hot under the intense summer sun. 796 00:41:22,670 --> 00:41:26,299 S2: He's too tired to head out today. Perhaps tomorrow it 797 00:41:26,300 --> 00:41:29,090 S2: will be cooler. Or perhaps there will be some clouds. 798 00:41:29,090 --> 00:41:32,660 S2: Something not very likely, though possible. Or perhaps he will 799 00:41:32,660 --> 00:41:37,190 S2: suddenly have a surge of ambition. Or perhaps. Or perhaps. 800 00:41:37,190 --> 00:41:40,640 S2: But in the meantime, he's resting over there in the shade, 801 00:41:40,640 --> 00:41:44,240 S2: hands folded together behind his head to make a nice pillow, 802 00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:47,200 S2: and Solomon, in his wisdom, looked down the road of 803 00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:51,040 S2: time and saw poverty and scarcity coming on this individual 804 00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:55,359 S2: as unexpectedly as a bandit or an armed robber. We're 805 00:41:55,360 --> 00:41:58,629 S2: taken aback by Solomon's observations, but he's not done yet. 806 00:41:58,660 --> 00:42:01,780 S2: He then shares with us his other thoughts on laziness 807 00:42:01,780 --> 00:42:05,589 S2: and its consequences, found just two chapters later in his book, 808 00:42:05,590 --> 00:42:08,980 S2: The Sluggard says there's a lion in the road, a 809 00:42:08,980 --> 00:42:12,569 S2: fierce lion roaming the streets as a door turns on 810 00:42:12,570 --> 00:42:15,839 S2: its hinges. So a sluggard turns on his bed. The 811 00:42:15,840 --> 00:42:18,780 S2: sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He's too lazy 812 00:42:18,780 --> 00:42:21,450 S2: to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is 813 00:42:21,450 --> 00:42:24,420 S2: wiser in his own eyes than seven men, who answered 814 00:42:24,420 --> 00:42:27,810 S2: discreetly as we cock our heads to the side, trying 815 00:42:27,810 --> 00:42:32,250 S2: to decipher Solomon's cryptic observations, he smiles and shares the 816 00:42:32,250 --> 00:42:35,759 S2: point of each comparison. First, he says, the sluggard will 817 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:39,180 S2: make up the wildest excuses to keep from working. There 818 00:42:39,180 --> 00:42:42,120 S2: are indeed lions in the land. Remember, my father David 819 00:42:42,120 --> 00:42:44,850 S2: fought one when he was watching the sheep in the wilderness, 820 00:42:44,850 --> 00:42:48,390 S2: but they are few and far between. It seems the 821 00:42:48,390 --> 00:42:52,740 S2: sluggard will work harder inventing excuses than he will actually working. 822 00:42:53,130 --> 00:42:55,319 S2: But how about your comparison to a door turning on 823 00:42:55,320 --> 00:42:59,239 S2: its hinges? What do you mean? There? Well, smiling Solomon 824 00:42:59,239 --> 00:43:03,020 S2: pantomimes turning from one side to another. About the only 825 00:43:03,020 --> 00:43:06,260 S2: exercise the sluggard seems to get is rolling over in bed. 826 00:43:06,290 --> 00:43:09,380 S2: I'm using an exaggeration, but I think you get the point. 827 00:43:09,380 --> 00:43:14,120 S2: The sluggard does as little work as possible. Okay, but 828 00:43:14,120 --> 00:43:16,759 S2: what do you mean when you said he buries his 829 00:43:16,760 --> 00:43:18,680 S2: hand in the dish and is too weary to bring 830 00:43:18,680 --> 00:43:22,609 S2: it to his mouth? Well, Solomon says you first need 831 00:43:22,610 --> 00:43:25,150 S2: to remember that we don't have those fancy utensils you 832 00:43:25,150 --> 00:43:28,420 S2: use for eating food. We use our fingers like forks, 833 00:43:28,420 --> 00:43:31,629 S2: sometimes with a piece of pita to serve as a scoop. 834 00:43:31,630 --> 00:43:34,120 S2: The common pan is placed before us, and we dip 835 00:43:34,120 --> 00:43:36,549 S2: in to scoop out some rice, or perhaps a piece 836 00:43:36,550 --> 00:43:39,970 S2: of meat or vegetable. Again, I'm using exaggeration to show 837 00:43:39,969 --> 00:43:43,120 S2: that even the task of eating seems like it just 838 00:43:43,120 --> 00:43:46,299 S2: takes too much effort to the sluggard, let alone growing 839 00:43:46,300 --> 00:43:49,770 S2: the crops or preparing the meal. But then you ended 840 00:43:49,770 --> 00:43:51,900 S2: by saying the sluggard is wiser in his own eyes 841 00:43:51,900 --> 00:43:55,500 S2: than seven, who can give a discreet answer. Help us here, 842 00:43:55,500 --> 00:43:59,040 S2: Solomon chuckles. Well, the one thing the sluggard possesses in 843 00:43:59,040 --> 00:44:04,080 S2: abundance is conceit sevens, a number that represents completeness. Place 844 00:44:04,080 --> 00:44:07,770 S2: the sluggard against seven individuals who can explain why diligence 845 00:44:07,770 --> 00:44:10,680 S2: and hard work are important, and the sluggard will believe 846 00:44:10,680 --> 00:44:13,640 S2: his approach to life. Rest. Take it easy. Have a 847 00:44:13,640 --> 00:44:16,730 S2: good time is a far wiser way to live than 848 00:44:16,730 --> 00:44:19,310 S2: to do all the toil and hard work, and it 849 00:44:19,310 --> 00:44:22,339 S2: does seem to make life more enjoyable all the way 850 00:44:22,340 --> 00:44:26,090 S2: up till harvest time and the famine that follows. But 851 00:44:26,090 --> 00:44:28,640 S2: we say goodbye to Solomon as he turns for home. 852 00:44:28,640 --> 00:44:32,120 S2: But what does all this have to do with us today? Sadly, 853 00:44:32,120 --> 00:44:35,030 S2: a great deal. There is a philosophy today that says 854 00:44:35,030 --> 00:44:38,509 S2: it's foolish to work long and hard. Books abound, telling 855 00:44:38,510 --> 00:44:42,140 S2: people they can and should enjoy life without working hard. 856 00:44:42,140 --> 00:44:46,190 S2: That personal fulfillment and happiness are the real goals, and 857 00:44:46,190 --> 00:44:48,770 S2: that work should never be allowed to get in the way. 858 00:44:48,770 --> 00:44:51,350 S2: And it seems very well until the money given to 859 00:44:51,350 --> 00:44:54,980 S2: you by your parents, or by well-meaning and sympathetic friends, 860 00:44:54,980 --> 00:44:58,340 S2: or from wherever you get it, runs out. And that's 861 00:44:58,340 --> 00:45:01,810 S2: why the wisdom of Proverbs is so important. Work and 862 00:45:01,810 --> 00:45:05,109 S2: material possessions are never to become our God. But at 863 00:45:05,110 --> 00:45:08,110 S2: the same time, God designed us to do work. It's 864 00:45:08,110 --> 00:45:11,140 S2: part of his original creation for humanity. In the Garden 865 00:45:11,170 --> 00:45:14,560 S2: of Eden last week, we learned the importance of reaching 866 00:45:14,560 --> 00:45:16,870 S2: out to help those who are poor through no fault 867 00:45:16,870 --> 00:45:19,719 S2: of their own. This week we see the opposite side 868 00:45:19,719 --> 00:45:22,569 S2: of the equation. We need to be very reluctant to 869 00:45:22,590 --> 00:45:27,120 S2: encourage or support those who deliberately choose a lifestyle of laziness, 870 00:45:27,120 --> 00:45:31,620 S2: expecting others to support them when they're unwilling to support themselves. 871 00:45:31,650 --> 00:45:34,469 S2: In essence, they want to enjoy a good time while 872 00:45:34,469 --> 00:45:37,439 S2: demanding that you pay for it. And that's another form 873 00:45:37,440 --> 00:45:41,040 S2: of theft. Paul applied this very wisdom of Solomon when 874 00:45:41,040 --> 00:45:43,560 S2: he wrote to the church at Ephesus. He balanced the 875 00:45:43,560 --> 00:45:46,560 S2: importance of helping those in need with the importance of 876 00:45:46,560 --> 00:45:49,400 S2: being a giver rather than a taker in our relationship 877 00:45:49,400 --> 00:45:52,640 S2: to others. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, 878 00:45:52,640 --> 00:45:56,180 S2: but must work doing something useful with his own hands 879 00:45:56,180 --> 00:45:58,970 S2: that he may have something to share with those in need. 880 00:45:58,969 --> 00:46:01,550 S2: As those who claim to love God, let's follow his 881 00:46:01,550 --> 00:46:05,270 S2: wise advice for life. Avoid the lazy days of summer 882 00:46:05,270 --> 00:46:08,240 S2: and be diligent in all you do, not necessarily to 883 00:46:08,239 --> 00:46:11,690 S2: amass riches for yourself, but so you have sufficient to 884 00:46:11,690 --> 00:46:14,450 S2: share with those who are in genuine need. That's a 885 00:46:14,450 --> 00:46:16,340 S2: wise way to live life. 886 00:46:16,340 --> 00:46:19,969 S1: And that's a wise, wise devotional. Thank you Charlie. You know, 887 00:46:19,969 --> 00:46:22,250 S1: if you appreciate the land and the book, we've got 888 00:46:22,250 --> 00:46:24,620 S1: two favors to ask of you. One, tell a friend 889 00:46:24,620 --> 00:46:27,020 S1: about us. Maybe point them to our podcast at the 890 00:46:27,020 --> 00:46:30,170 S1: Land and the book org. Second thing you could do 891 00:46:30,170 --> 00:46:32,359 S1: is if you listen to this broadcast over the air, 892 00:46:32,390 --> 00:46:35,440 S1: thank the management at the station for giving air time 893 00:46:35,440 --> 00:46:38,980 S1: to our program. A quick email, a postcard or just 894 00:46:38,980 --> 00:46:41,830 S1: a letter or just all really appreciated. Thank you for 895 00:46:41,830 --> 00:46:44,650 S1: doing that. And on behalf of Charlie Dyer, our host, 896 00:46:44,650 --> 00:46:48,070 S1: our producer, Dan Anderson, I'm John Geiger, inviting you back 897 00:46:48,070 --> 00:46:51,069 S1: next week for another edition of The Land and the book, 898 00:46:51,100 --> 00:46:55,060 S1: a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.