1 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,560 S1: It was the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust. 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:16,079 S1: October 7th, 2023. What were the highest hopes for Hamas, 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,400 S1: and what did we need to know about the ideological 4 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,320 S1: mindset of terrorists like them? We'll talk about that and 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,520 S1: more on the land and the book. Welcome. Our host 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,600 S1: is Middle East expert Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Geiger 7 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,720 S1: with a full program including Bible questions and answers. And 8 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,559 S1: we'll wrap it up with an unforgettable devotional. And with 9 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:35,800 S1: that we say welcome to the land and the book 10 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,000 S1: with our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Geiger. Charlie, 11 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,279 S1: good to connect with you. See your smiling face today? 12 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:43,720 S2: Hey, John, it's always great connecting with you. And I'm 13 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:45,440 S2: looking forward to our time together. 14 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,160 S1: Hey, did you know that most Jewish people have never 15 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,319 S1: heard the gospel process? That, and every week we talk 16 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,840 S1: about Israel and the Jewish people. But it's important to 17 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:57,120 S1: remember that they, like everyone else, need to hear the 18 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:57,920 S1: good news. 19 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,270 S2: That's absolutely correct. And that's why life in Messiah, a 20 00:01:01,270 --> 00:01:04,950 S2: ministry that's been in existence for over 135 years, is 21 00:01:04,950 --> 00:01:08,350 S2: devoted to sharing the gospel with Jewish people around the world. 22 00:01:08,550 --> 00:01:11,270 S2: And now they're offering a gift to moody listeners. This 23 00:01:11,270 --> 00:01:15,429 S2: free e-book, Reaching Jewish People for Messiah, highlights the need 24 00:01:15,430 --> 00:01:18,270 S2: for the gospel among the Jewish people. It will equip 25 00:01:18,270 --> 00:01:21,350 S2: you with practical ways to share the good News with them. 26 00:01:21,709 --> 00:01:25,110 S2: To receive this free e-book, visit Life in Messiah org 27 00:01:25,270 --> 00:01:28,350 S2: and click on the Moody Radio logo. Sign up today 28 00:01:28,350 --> 00:01:31,150 S2: to get your copy. That's life in Messiah. 29 00:01:32,590 --> 00:01:34,590 S1: And now a look at current events, all based in 30 00:01:34,590 --> 00:01:39,429 S1: the Middle East, all unfolding this week following the Abraham Accords, 31 00:01:39,430 --> 00:01:42,429 S1: the cease fire between Israel and Hamas, and the peace 32 00:01:42,430 --> 00:01:45,950 S1: conference in Egypt. Some are hailing President Trump as the 33 00:01:45,950 --> 00:01:48,990 S1: King Cyrus of our time. Why are they making such 34 00:01:48,990 --> 00:01:52,470 S1: a bold comparison? And is it an accurate assessment? Or 35 00:01:52,670 --> 00:01:55,150 S1: does the hype exceed reality? 36 00:01:55,430 --> 00:01:58,740 S2: Well, the comparisons being made because President Trump has been 37 00:01:58,740 --> 00:02:02,460 S2: willing to act decisively to help Israel and the Jewish people, 38 00:02:02,460 --> 00:02:05,820 S2: while other leaders and nations have hesitated or actually stood 39 00:02:05,820 --> 00:02:09,020 S2: against Israel. He's the president who made the decision to 40 00:02:09,060 --> 00:02:12,060 S2: move the US embassy to Jerusalem. The move had been 41 00:02:12,060 --> 00:02:16,580 S2: authorized by Congress in 1995, but every president deferred the 42 00:02:16,580 --> 00:02:22,220 S2: move until Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2017, 43 00:02:22,460 --> 00:02:26,540 S2: with the embassy opening there in 2018. In 2020, President 44 00:02:26,580 --> 00:02:30,419 S2: Trump brokered the Abraham Accords, signaling an opening in relations 45 00:02:30,419 --> 00:02:34,260 S2: between four Muslim countries and Israel, with more countries likely 46 00:02:34,260 --> 00:02:37,419 S2: to follow. And now he's brokered an agreement between Israel 47 00:02:37,419 --> 00:02:40,660 S2: and Hamas that allowed the return home of all living 48 00:02:40,700 --> 00:02:45,060 S2: Israeli hostages. That resonates with Cyrus's decree allowing the Jews 49 00:02:45,060 --> 00:02:49,300 S2: to return home from Babylonian captivity. Now, is the comparison 50 00:02:49,300 --> 00:02:52,820 S2: to Cyrus accurate? Well, in several ways the answer has 51 00:02:52,820 --> 00:02:56,020 S2: to be no. Cyrus issued his decree after defeating the 52 00:02:56,020 --> 00:03:00,329 S2: Babylonian Empire. Now, apart from the one bombing run over Iran, 53 00:03:00,330 --> 00:03:03,169 S2: President Trump and the US haven't been the ones actively 54 00:03:03,210 --> 00:03:06,290 S2: fighting this war, and the nation of Israel was already 55 00:03:06,290 --> 00:03:09,170 S2: back in the land. The recent hostage deal was only 56 00:03:09,169 --> 00:03:11,850 S2: for a small number of individuals who were able to 57 00:03:11,889 --> 00:03:14,970 S2: come home. The comparison also fails to match up in 58 00:03:14,970 --> 00:03:18,769 S2: another key way. We know God chose Cyrus for his role, 59 00:03:18,770 --> 00:03:23,090 S2: even naming him by name in Isaiah 45, 170 years 60 00:03:23,090 --> 00:03:26,770 S2: before Cyrus ever appeared on the scene. President Trump was 61 00:03:26,770 --> 00:03:30,330 S2: not predicted in advance by name. Hundreds of years before 62 00:03:30,330 --> 00:03:34,570 S2: he became president. Generally, though, President Trump's support has been 63 00:03:34,570 --> 00:03:37,650 S2: good for Israel and hopefully for a season of peace 64 00:03:37,650 --> 00:03:40,330 S2: in the Middle East. He's still working to expand the 65 00:03:40,330 --> 00:03:44,410 S2: Abraham Accords, but Trump's friendship with Israel is also squeezing 66 00:03:44,410 --> 00:03:48,650 S2: Israel in ways Israel might find uncomfortable. Much of Israel's 67 00:03:48,650 --> 00:03:51,930 S2: concern over the cease fire with Hamas, which Hamas is 68 00:03:51,930 --> 00:03:55,530 S2: already violating, and it's unclear how far President Trump might 69 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,960 S2: push Israel when it comes to allowing a Palestinian state. 70 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,680 S2: You know, like Cyrus, President Trump has been a strong 71 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,080 S2: leader who has made decisions helpful to Israel. But since 72 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:08,120 S2: his term in office is limited, Israel might want to 73 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,800 S2: maintain some level of bipartisan independence so they don't become 74 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:16,000 S2: a target of some future occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. 75 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,200 S1: Charlie, react to my assessment. I just I'm uncomfortable with 76 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,640 S1: the with all these accolades about peace, peace, peace. What's 77 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,640 S1: happened is some hostages have been released and the dead 78 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,640 S1: bodies have not even yet been released. And to broaden 79 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,440 S1: out and say this is a grand peace thing for 80 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:35,280 S1: all time. That just seems like an overstatement to me. 81 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,200 S2: It is an overstatement. And sadly, when when hype like 82 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,160 S2: that is given, it sets people up to be disappointed 83 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,760 S2: when what they were expecting doesn't happen. In reality, some 84 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,240 S2: very good things have happened. But it's not the universal 85 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,800 S2: peace that many people seem to think it is. 86 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:55,180 S1: Story number two Egypt recently hosted the eighth annual Cairo 87 00:04:55,220 --> 00:04:58,820 S1: Water Week, amid a growing concern about the country's dwindling 88 00:04:58,820 --> 00:05:02,140 S1: water resources, with Egypt being known as the gift of 89 00:05:02,140 --> 00:05:05,219 S1: the Nile. Why is water such a concern there? 90 00:05:05,380 --> 00:05:07,900 S2: Yeah, it was actually Herodotus who called Egypt the gift 91 00:05:07,900 --> 00:05:11,820 S2: of the Nile. And it's been true in part because 98% 92 00:05:11,820 --> 00:05:15,980 S2: of the country's water supply originates beyond its borders. Virtually 93 00:05:15,980 --> 00:05:18,820 S2: all of it coming from the Nile River. Egypt is 94 00:05:18,820 --> 00:05:22,260 S2: facing several water related threats. The most significant is the 95 00:05:22,260 --> 00:05:27,779 S2: construction and operation of Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam. President al-Sisi 96 00:05:27,820 --> 00:05:31,180 S2: used his address at the conference to underscore the damage 97 00:05:31,180 --> 00:05:35,300 S2: caused by Ethiopia's uncoordinated release of water from the dam 98 00:05:35,300 --> 00:05:39,420 S2: during times of drought and flood. A second problem Egypt 99 00:05:39,420 --> 00:05:43,820 S2: is facing is its growing population. In the past 15 years, 100 00:05:44,020 --> 00:05:48,300 S2: Egypt has grown from 89 million people to over 118 million, 101 00:05:48,460 --> 00:05:51,740 S2: an increase of 33%. But at the same time, the 102 00:05:51,740 --> 00:05:55,969 S2: flow of water from the Nile is decreasing, and 85% 103 00:05:55,970 --> 00:06:00,370 S2: of Egypt's available water resources are used for agriculture. Cotton 104 00:06:00,370 --> 00:06:04,090 S2: is Egypt's top agricultural crop, and it requires a great 105 00:06:04,089 --> 00:06:07,410 S2: deal of water, especially with the methods of irrigation that 106 00:06:07,410 --> 00:06:10,490 S2: are used there on the sidelines of the Cairo gathering. 107 00:06:10,529 --> 00:06:14,770 S2: The Islamic Network on Water Resource Development and Management also 108 00:06:14,770 --> 00:06:18,930 S2: held its 38th annual meeting. Ministers and policymakers from 50 109 00:06:18,970 --> 00:06:23,610 S2: countries met to discuss innovative solutions for climate adaptation and 110 00:06:23,610 --> 00:06:27,970 S2: water sustainability. The gathering highlighted their growing concern over water, 111 00:06:27,970 --> 00:06:31,529 S2: especially in the Middle East. The Arab world accounts for 6% 112 00:06:31,529 --> 00:06:35,130 S2: of the global population, but it only possesses 1% of 113 00:06:35,130 --> 00:06:40,050 S2: the world's renewable freshwater resources, and persistent drought conditions are 114 00:06:40,089 --> 00:06:44,410 S2: leading to critical water shortages in several countries. When Egypt, 115 00:06:44,410 --> 00:06:47,890 S2: which has the Nile River, is struggling with water shortages, 116 00:06:48,089 --> 00:06:50,250 S2: you can imagine the impact the drought is having on 117 00:06:50,250 --> 00:06:52,240 S2: other countries in that region. 118 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:54,320 S1: This is the land and the book from Moody Radio. 119 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,719 S1: Our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, noted Old Testament scholar, Middle 120 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,160 S1: East expert, I'm John Geiger. Charlie, what's the latest news 121 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,920 S1: on the peace plan for Gaza and the return of 122 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:05,800 S1: the remaining dead hostages? 123 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,320 S2: Well, not unexpectedly, things are not going as well as 124 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:13,640 S2: many hoped. Hamas agreed to release all hostages within 72 hours, 125 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,720 S2: including the bodies of those who were dead. But thus far, 126 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,760 S2: they've only released just over half of the 28 bodies 127 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,760 S2: that were promised. Now, one reason is the extent of 128 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,800 S2: destruction in Gaza. Some of the buildings and tunnels where 129 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,480 S2: they were storing the bodies were destroyed in the fighting. 130 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,960 S2: But Hamas does seem to be making excuses rather than 131 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,320 S2: pushing to completely fulfill its commitment. And this is in 132 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,120 S2: spite of Israel providing information on where some of the 133 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:42,080 S2: bodies might be. Instead, Hamas has been working to re-establish 134 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:46,760 S2: its control over Gaza, including assassinating rivals from different clans 135 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,950 S2: and launching isolated attacks on Israeli soldiers. They've also issued 136 00:07:50,950 --> 00:07:54,870 S2: statements saying they won't disarm. The Sunni Gulf states, including 137 00:07:54,870 --> 00:07:58,630 S2: Saudi Arabia and UAE and Bahrain, have warned the US 138 00:07:58,630 --> 00:08:01,350 S2: that the peace plan is in danger of collapse, saying 139 00:08:01,390 --> 00:08:04,470 S2: that as long as Hamas retains its weapons, they won't 140 00:08:04,470 --> 00:08:07,830 S2: continue with the process. Meanwhile, Britain says its plans for 141 00:08:07,830 --> 00:08:12,670 S2: an International stabilisation Force are progressing slowly. So right now, 142 00:08:12,670 --> 00:08:15,510 S2: and probably for the next few months, the entire plan 143 00:08:15,510 --> 00:08:19,550 S2: is in flux until a strong military force is inserted 144 00:08:19,550 --> 00:08:23,350 S2: that will be able to forcibly disarm Hamas and impose peace. 145 00:08:23,550 --> 00:08:26,590 S2: Hamas will continue to try to rebuild, and until a 146 00:08:26,590 --> 00:08:30,310 S2: government is established, that will effectively rule over Gaza. Few 147 00:08:30,350 --> 00:08:33,589 S2: countries will send the funds needed to begin that rebuilding. 148 00:08:34,030 --> 00:08:37,110 S1: Charlie two follow up questions one. What leverage does Israel 149 00:08:37,110 --> 00:08:41,070 S1: have to get these bodies back? All of them. And two, 150 00:08:41,110 --> 00:08:42,189 S1: what happens if they don't? 151 00:08:42,590 --> 00:08:44,750 S2: Well, the first lever they have is the United States. 152 00:08:44,990 --> 00:08:47,670 S2: And the US is putting pressure on Hamas. But then 153 00:08:47,710 --> 00:08:51,100 S2: Israel has also attacked Hamas. And they've said, in effect, 154 00:08:51,100 --> 00:08:53,340 S2: if you don't fulfill the first part of the agreement, 155 00:08:53,340 --> 00:08:55,780 S2: then we don't consider the agreement to be there. So 156 00:08:55,900 --> 00:08:59,820 S2: they are pressuring, and I think that pressure has been effective. Now, 157 00:08:59,860 --> 00:09:02,380 S2: what's going to happen going forward? Well, I think Hamas 158 00:09:02,420 --> 00:09:05,059 S2: is going to be dragged into this kicking and screaming, 159 00:09:05,059 --> 00:09:07,500 S2: and they're going to look for every opportunity to violate 160 00:09:07,500 --> 00:09:10,860 S2: the agreement whenever possible. And that doesn't bode well for 161 00:09:10,860 --> 00:09:11,900 S2: the completion of it. 162 00:09:12,140 --> 00:09:16,660 S1: Well, imagine conducting an archaeological excavation without actually digging. That's 163 00:09:16,660 --> 00:09:20,900 S1: the hope of a new technology being developed by Israeli researchers. 164 00:09:21,059 --> 00:09:24,380 S1: Tell us about this latest addition to an archaeologists arsenal 165 00:09:24,380 --> 00:09:25,059 S1: of tools. 166 00:09:25,380 --> 00:09:27,740 S2: Well, the breakthrough was developed by a team of researchers 167 00:09:27,740 --> 00:09:32,100 S2: from Tel Aviv University. They demonstrated that cosmic radiation detectors 168 00:09:32,100 --> 00:09:36,220 S2: that measure muons, a subatomic particles produced when cosmic rays 169 00:09:36,220 --> 00:09:40,260 S2: collide with the Earth's atmosphere, can reveal hidden voids beneath 170 00:09:40,300 --> 00:09:43,020 S2: ancient sites. The result is a new way to explore 171 00:09:43,020 --> 00:09:47,300 S2: subterranean cavities and structures at those sites safely and effectively. 172 00:09:47,700 --> 00:09:50,610 S2: The technique was developed in the area known as Jeremiah's 173 00:09:50,610 --> 00:09:53,850 S2: Cistern at the City of David, using the muon detector. 174 00:09:53,890 --> 00:09:57,450 S2: The team produced a detailed image of underground features, including 175 00:09:57,490 --> 00:10:00,689 S2: tunnels and cisterns. They also combined the image with a 176 00:10:00,690 --> 00:10:03,850 S2: lidar scan to align the data and generate a detailed 177 00:10:03,850 --> 00:10:07,050 S2: 3D map of the area. They believe the technique could 178 00:10:07,050 --> 00:10:10,410 S2: save years of work and protect fragile sites, while allowing 179 00:10:10,410 --> 00:10:14,850 S2: archaeologists to discover ancient structures that would otherwise remain hidden. 180 00:10:14,890 --> 00:10:18,170 S2: It's still another way high tech tools are coming online 181 00:10:18,170 --> 00:10:21,730 S2: in Israel that will help archaeologists uncover the past. 182 00:10:21,850 --> 00:10:24,490 S1: Thank you Charlie. A great look at current events from 183 00:10:24,490 --> 00:10:27,770 S1: the Middle East. Coming up, it was the deadliest day 184 00:10:27,770 --> 00:10:32,650 S1: in Jewish history since the Holocaust. October 7th, 2023. What 185 00:10:32,650 --> 00:10:35,210 S1: was Hamas really about? What do we need to know 186 00:10:35,210 --> 00:10:38,770 S1: about the ideological mindset of terrorists like them? These are 187 00:10:38,770 --> 00:10:42,650 S1: questions we'll explore in a very unsettling, uncomfortable, but important 188 00:10:42,650 --> 00:10:45,929 S1: conversation next on the land and the book. Prepare to 189 00:10:45,929 --> 00:10:49,000 S1: be shocked as you continue with the land and the book. 190 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:07,199 S1: It was the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust. 191 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:12,359 S1: October 7th, 2023. What were the highest hopes for Hamas? 192 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,880 S1: What would have made that day a perfect ten for them? 193 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,000 S1: And what do we need to know about the ideological 194 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,960 S1: mindset of terrorists like them? Well, these are just a 195 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,319 S1: few of the questions we're about to explore next on 196 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,640 S1: the land and the book. Welcome. I'm John Gager, and 197 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:28,080 S1: before we connect with today's guest, let's switch gears for 198 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,320 S1: just a moment. It is easy to get ratcheted up 199 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,880 S1: about the evil caused by Islamic extremists. But the Bible 200 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,960 S1: says God so loved the world. So how can we 201 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,680 S1: more effectively show the love of Christ to the Muslim 202 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,600 S1: people we work with and who live in our neighborhoods? 203 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:47,340 S1: Here's an idea Something to think about with regard to 204 00:11:47,380 --> 00:11:50,980 S1: our outreach toward Muslims is that when they come to Christ, 205 00:11:50,980 --> 00:11:53,580 S1: it's a whole different ballgame than when you and I 206 00:11:53,580 --> 00:11:56,300 S1: in the West come to Christ. Safety is very much 207 00:11:56,340 --> 00:11:58,500 S1: front and center. Let's talk about that for a moment 208 00:11:58,500 --> 00:12:02,780 S1: with Lina Abujamra, a pediatric E.R. doctor, author of resolved 209 00:12:02,780 --> 00:12:05,540 S1: and founder of living with Power Ministries. What about the 210 00:12:05,540 --> 00:12:06,580 S1: component of safety? 211 00:12:06,860 --> 00:12:09,620 S3: It's fascinating. If we here in the United States accept 212 00:12:09,620 --> 00:12:11,740 S3: Jesus and our families not into that they might unfriend 213 00:12:11,740 --> 00:12:13,540 S3: you on Facebook. They might kind of holler out at you. 214 00:12:13,580 --> 00:12:15,660 S3: And so there's certain persecution that we all kind of 215 00:12:15,660 --> 00:12:17,900 S3: have felt. My mom came to Jesus. Her family stopped 216 00:12:17,900 --> 00:12:19,820 S3: talking to her for a while. And so that's natural. 217 00:12:19,820 --> 00:12:21,860 S3: But with a muslim, there's a chance that they might 218 00:12:21,860 --> 00:12:24,460 S3: kill you. And so the stakes are high. And yet 219 00:12:24,460 --> 00:12:27,100 S3: I find that people who have converted from Islam to 220 00:12:27,140 --> 00:12:29,860 S3: Christianity have been willing to pay that price. Now, there's 221 00:12:29,860 --> 00:12:32,740 S3: some wisdom in that. One of my experiences in the 222 00:12:32,740 --> 00:12:35,620 S3: Middle East and working with Muslims who have become Christians 223 00:12:35,620 --> 00:12:37,780 S3: and followers of Jesus in Lebanon, is that many of 224 00:12:37,780 --> 00:12:39,940 S3: them still wear the hijab. You know, you don't have 225 00:12:39,940 --> 00:12:43,100 S3: to beg for persecution when it's premature. And some of them, 226 00:12:43,100 --> 00:12:44,890 S3: their husbands, have asked them, we don't mind that you 227 00:12:44,890 --> 00:12:46,170 S3: go to church. We don't mind that you have a 228 00:12:46,170 --> 00:12:47,970 S3: new set of belief. And Lebanon, by the way, is 229 00:12:47,970 --> 00:12:49,610 S3: a bit freer than most countries in the Middle East. 230 00:12:49,610 --> 00:12:51,930 S3: But they'll say, just keep wearing the hijab. I think 231 00:12:51,929 --> 00:12:54,050 S3: that's okay. And so I think there's going to be 232 00:12:54,050 --> 00:12:57,010 S3: some persecution, a much higher level of persecution in the 233 00:12:57,050 --> 00:12:59,969 S3: Muslim and Arabic background. So be sensitive to decisions that 234 00:12:59,970 --> 00:13:02,450 S3: might not make sense to us here in the United States. 235 00:13:02,490 --> 00:13:04,250 S1: Yeah, I could see some of us saying, well, she's 236 00:13:04,250 --> 00:13:06,250 S1: born again. Why does she wear that hijab? Get rid 237 00:13:06,290 --> 00:13:06,530 S1: of that. 238 00:13:06,570 --> 00:13:09,370 S3: Yeah, yeah. We're so quick to judge. And you know 239 00:13:09,370 --> 00:13:12,250 S3: what Paul advocates for head coverings. So in some ways 240 00:13:12,250 --> 00:13:14,090 S3: they may be more on to something than we are. 241 00:13:14,090 --> 00:13:16,530 S3: But yeah look for the heart in all things. 242 00:13:16,570 --> 00:13:21,090 S1: Lina Abujamra and her website is living with powers. Check 243 00:13:21,090 --> 00:13:25,490 S1: it out for more practical advice. Well, thanks to his parents. 244 00:13:25,530 --> 00:13:27,890 S1: Justin Krohn grew up with one foot in the Jewish 245 00:13:27,890 --> 00:13:30,970 S1: world and one foot in the Christian world. So he 246 00:13:30,970 --> 00:13:35,250 S1: understands the power of building bridges of understanding between both communities. 247 00:13:35,650 --> 00:13:38,650 S1: For nearly 25 years, Justin has brought his experiences and 248 00:13:38,650 --> 00:13:42,610 S1: insights to churches and groups of all sizes. Justin is 249 00:13:42,610 --> 00:13:45,880 S1: the founding director of the Kesher project. He's also an 250 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,800 S1: adjunct professor for the Jewish Studies Department at the Moody 251 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,040 S1: Bible Institute in Chicago, and he's led more than 25 252 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,320 S1: trips to the Holy Land in May of 2021, in 253 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,559 S1: partnership with the Philos Project. He released an award winning 254 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,880 S1: documentary film that he created and produced with Todd Moorhead 255 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,640 S1: called Hope in the Holy Land. We saw it in 256 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,200 S1: the theater and loved it. He's really done a good 257 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:11,320 S1: job of delving beneath the surface of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 258 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,280 S1: And now there's a follow up docuseries called Hope in 259 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:17,000 S1: the Holy Land The Series. We're here today to talk 260 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:20,880 S1: about his newest film, October 7th, bearing witness to the massacre. 261 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,600 S1: Welcome back to the land and the book, Justin. 262 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:25,680 S4: Thank you. John, really good to be with you again. 263 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,360 S1: So as you are well aware, others have created films 264 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,880 S1: on this horrific attack. How is this production different? 265 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,320 S4: So yeah, that's always a thing for a filmmaker. You 266 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,880 S4: never want your film to be like anybody else's. So 267 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:41,480 S4: what's unique about our October 7th film? Well, we decided 268 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:45,870 S4: it was incredibly important after we saw the reaction to 269 00:14:46,070 --> 00:14:48,910 S4: the events of October 7th, where people were rewriting the 270 00:14:48,910 --> 00:14:53,590 S4: history of Gaza, essentially saying that Israel had been brutally 271 00:14:53,630 --> 00:14:57,990 S4: occupying Gaza for 75 years. As soon as I heard 272 00:14:57,990 --> 00:15:02,070 S4: that number, 75 years, I knew. Well, that's completely off. 273 00:15:02,110 --> 00:15:08,030 S4: I mean, Israel completely disengaged from Gaza in 2005. And 274 00:15:08,030 --> 00:15:11,670 S4: so there were no Israelis whatsoever, no Jews in Gaza 275 00:15:11,870 --> 00:15:15,190 S4: beginning in August of 2005. So it couldn't have been 276 00:15:15,190 --> 00:15:18,270 S4: 75 years. And so we knew that we needed to 277 00:15:18,310 --> 00:15:21,550 S4: cover the history. Let's go back and look at what 278 00:15:21,550 --> 00:15:25,750 S4: has been transpiring in Gaza. Who is Hamas? I think 279 00:15:25,750 --> 00:15:29,190 S4: a very important question. They were positioned by many as 280 00:15:29,190 --> 00:15:35,750 S4: a resistance group that was just resisting brutal oppression. Freedom fighters. 281 00:15:35,870 --> 00:15:38,710 S4: But is that really who Hamas is? And from our 282 00:15:38,710 --> 00:15:43,180 S4: understanding and our In our research and experience many times 283 00:15:43,180 --> 00:15:46,420 S4: in Israel, we knew that they were not, that they 284 00:15:46,420 --> 00:15:49,860 S4: were a terrorist organization that seeks the destruction of Israel. 285 00:15:49,860 --> 00:15:53,260 S4: So we decided we needed to extensively cover the history 286 00:15:53,500 --> 00:15:56,220 S4: leading up to the events of October 7th. 287 00:15:56,380 --> 00:16:00,460 S1: Okay, you've touched on Hamas and their ideological roots. What 288 00:16:00,460 --> 00:16:03,940 S1: is the film's conclusion about the motivations of those who 289 00:16:03,940 --> 00:16:07,260 S1: perpetrated the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust? 290 00:16:07,300 --> 00:16:12,580 S4: Well, it's very clear it's genocide. They exist to completely 291 00:16:12,780 --> 00:16:17,260 S4: destroy Israel. And it very clearly in their charter, they 292 00:16:17,300 --> 00:16:20,300 S4: want to not just destroy Israel, but they really want 293 00:16:20,340 --> 00:16:25,180 S4: to eradicate the world of the Jewish people. So they 294 00:16:25,180 --> 00:16:29,700 S4: want an Islamic radical state in place of the existing 295 00:16:29,700 --> 00:16:32,180 S4: Jewish state. When they say, from the river to the sea, 296 00:16:32,660 --> 00:16:36,220 S4: Palestine will be free. Well, what's in between the River 297 00:16:36,540 --> 00:16:40,050 S4: Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea? Well, it's the state of Israel. 298 00:16:40,570 --> 00:16:44,290 S4: And so that's their ultimate aspiration. And that aspiration is 299 00:16:44,290 --> 00:16:48,010 S4: shared by their allies like Hezbollah and the Houthis and 300 00:16:48,290 --> 00:16:52,890 S4: the Islamic regime in Iran and other radical Islamists. And 301 00:16:52,890 --> 00:16:55,930 S4: so that's their goal. That's who they are. And that's 302 00:16:55,930 --> 00:16:58,290 S4: what Israel is fighting. That's what Israel is up against. 303 00:16:58,290 --> 00:17:00,570 S1: Sometimes you hear people say, no, no, when they say, 304 00:17:00,570 --> 00:17:02,530 S1: from the river to the sea, we don't mean the 305 00:17:02,530 --> 00:17:04,850 S1: complete death of all the Jewish people. We just mean 306 00:17:04,850 --> 00:17:08,930 S1: they should be free of of their oppressive ways. Your response? 307 00:17:08,970 --> 00:17:12,250 S4: Yeah. In their language. In the Arabic language, it's from 308 00:17:12,250 --> 00:17:15,290 S4: the river to the sea. The land will be Arab. 309 00:17:15,609 --> 00:17:19,010 S4: That's what it says in their language. So listen, there's 310 00:17:19,010 --> 00:17:21,250 S4: no doubt about it. I mean, you can try to 311 00:17:21,490 --> 00:17:24,450 S4: think otherwise, but the fact of the matter is, their 312 00:17:24,450 --> 00:17:27,290 S4: goal is the eradication of the only Jewish state on 313 00:17:27,290 --> 00:17:28,490 S4: the planet, Israel. 314 00:17:28,570 --> 00:17:31,410 S1: Justin Kron is the founding director of the Kesher project, 315 00:17:31,410 --> 00:17:34,490 S1: also the producer of the new film. October 7th bearing 316 00:17:34,490 --> 00:17:38,760 S1: witness to the massacre. Learn more at October 7th, Film.com. 317 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:43,560 S1: That's the number seven October 7th film and I noticed Justin. 318 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:47,800 S1: The film includes actual footage shot by the Hamas terrorists themselves. 319 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,120 S1: What do listeners need to know about this as they 320 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:50,760 S1: watch it? 321 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,080 S4: Yeah, this is the hardest part of the film for 322 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:57,120 S4: people to see. And as producers, filmmakers, we did what 323 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,640 S4: we could to, you know, edit it in a way 324 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:01,960 S4: that it's not going to be overly graphic, but it's 325 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:05,240 S4: still graphic. I mean, you still very clearly understand what's 326 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:09,480 S4: happening behind some of these blurred images, and it's difficult, 327 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,040 S4: but I think it's very important for people to see 328 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:15,840 S4: what Hamas did, how brutal this massacre was. We've had 329 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:19,399 S4: people who've previewed the film who've told us, wow, I 330 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:23,320 S4: didn't realize how bad it actually was. And it's pure evil. 331 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:26,480 S4: I can I can tell you evil is real. And 332 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:30,320 S4: it's definitely conveyed in this film. And it it was 333 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:33,480 S4: captured by Hamas's own own video cameras. 334 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,870 S1: How difficult was it to acquire the rights to that footage. 335 00:18:37,030 --> 00:18:41,670 S4: Well, it's on YouTube. It's on telegram, it's on Hamas's channel. 336 00:18:41,670 --> 00:18:45,670 S4: So it's free domain. And so it's readily out there 337 00:18:45,670 --> 00:18:48,150 S4: if you really want to go search for it. But 338 00:18:48,190 --> 00:18:50,149 S4: we put it together so that people don't have to 339 00:18:50,150 --> 00:18:50,709 S4: do that. 340 00:18:50,950 --> 00:18:53,710 S1: I have been told that the residents of Gaza know 341 00:18:53,750 --> 00:18:57,150 S1: still to this day, comparatively little of the atrocities their 342 00:18:57,150 --> 00:19:00,150 S1: citizens committed. Is that accurate? What's your best assessment? 343 00:19:00,190 --> 00:19:02,510 S4: Yeah, I think that is accurate. We did spend some 344 00:19:02,510 --> 00:19:05,950 S4: time on our filming trip to go interview Palestinians in 345 00:19:05,950 --> 00:19:10,670 S4: the West Bank, Judea, Samaria, specifically in the town of Bethlehem. 346 00:19:11,230 --> 00:19:14,990 S4: And we asked them agree with what Hamas did on 347 00:19:14,990 --> 00:19:18,790 S4: October 7th. And they all said yes. Now, many of 348 00:19:18,790 --> 00:19:21,950 S4: them interestingly, when we asked them, well, do you believe 349 00:19:21,950 --> 00:19:25,950 S4: that they raped, you know, women and children, murdered women 350 00:19:25,950 --> 00:19:29,629 S4: and children and all but one denied it. We interviewed 351 00:19:29,670 --> 00:19:32,030 S4: ten of them all, but one denied it. But they 352 00:19:32,030 --> 00:19:34,990 S4: did agree that Hamas attacked Israel and that they were 353 00:19:35,090 --> 00:19:38,169 S4: justified in doing so. So there's there's a lot of 354 00:19:38,170 --> 00:19:43,010 S4: misinformation in the Palestinian territories, in the Palestinian society. So 355 00:19:43,410 --> 00:19:46,130 S4: I think another very important thing to note is what 356 00:19:46,130 --> 00:19:49,810 S4: we asked them, do you believe that peace is possible, 357 00:19:49,810 --> 00:19:52,210 S4: that you could exist side by side next to a 358 00:19:52,210 --> 00:19:54,689 S4: Jewish state? And they they all rejected every single one 359 00:19:54,690 --> 00:19:57,570 S4: of them said, no, absolutely not. Uh, there is no 360 00:19:57,570 --> 00:20:01,330 S4: Jewish state and there's only Palestine. And so this is 361 00:20:01,330 --> 00:20:04,969 S4: the mentality, this is the worldview of the people who 362 00:20:04,970 --> 00:20:06,369 S4: live right next door to Israel. 363 00:20:06,410 --> 00:20:09,570 S1: All right. Since we're talking mindset, um, just wander down 364 00:20:09,570 --> 00:20:11,810 S1: this road with me for a moment. Let's say you 365 00:20:11,810 --> 00:20:16,010 S1: you compiled a 32nd clip of the most atrocious things 366 00:20:16,010 --> 00:20:18,930 S1: that were done captured on film. And you said, watch 367 00:20:18,930 --> 00:20:24,369 S1: this 32nd clip, please. Would that change anything for some 368 00:20:24,369 --> 00:20:25,490 S1: of these people that you interviewed? 369 00:20:25,530 --> 00:20:28,290 S4: Well, that's a good question. I have this feeling that 370 00:20:28,290 --> 00:20:31,050 S4: they would say it's propaganda, that it's all made up, 371 00:20:31,250 --> 00:20:34,760 S4: that that didn't really happen. And this is what we're seeing. 372 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:37,520 S4: We're not just seeing this within Palestinian society. We're seeing 373 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,640 S4: this worldwide. I mean it was shocking to us how 374 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:44,719 S4: many people after October 7th denied that it even happened. 375 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,360 S4: Or they said this was all fabricated by Israel as 376 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:53,560 S4: an excuse to go commit ethnic cleansing or genocide in Gaza. 377 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,040 S4: So there is a real denial of the truth. It's 378 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:58,480 S4: people who see evil and call it good, and people 379 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:00,600 S4: who see good and call it evil. This is the 380 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:01,720 S4: world we're in right now. 381 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,320 S1: This is the land and the book. I'm John Yeager. 382 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:08,359 S1: Our conversation today with Justin Crone of the Kesher project. 383 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:12,040 S1: We're talking about his new film, October 7th, bearing witness 384 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:15,080 S1: to the massacre. More about that film at October 7th 385 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:21,240 S1: Film.com October and the number seven film. The film includes 386 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:25,400 S1: testimonies from a number of survivors. Two questions here. Justin. First, 387 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:29,120 S1: how difficult was it to get survivors to go on camera? Second, 388 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:33,550 S1: did you sense a common attitude or response from the survivors, 389 00:21:33,550 --> 00:21:35,990 S1: and if so, can you pinpoint it somehow? 390 00:21:36,310 --> 00:21:40,750 S4: Yeah. So it wasn't easy. I mean, imagine people coming 391 00:21:40,750 --> 00:21:43,030 S4: out of the Holocaust and wanting to share their story. 392 00:21:43,070 --> 00:21:46,030 S4: Seven months after it occurred, in fact, many of the 393 00:21:46,030 --> 00:21:49,150 S4: Holocaust survivors, as we know, didn't start sharing their story 394 00:21:49,150 --> 00:21:53,790 S4: until decades later. Yeah. And so many of the survivors 395 00:21:53,790 --> 00:21:56,270 S4: that we reached out to did not want to do it. 396 00:21:56,590 --> 00:21:58,950 S4: But thankfully, by the grace of God, there were a 397 00:21:58,950 --> 00:22:02,830 S4: few who did and their stories captured in the film, 398 00:22:02,830 --> 00:22:06,590 S4: and it's quite powerful. There was, uh, one of the 399 00:22:06,590 --> 00:22:10,670 S4: survivors from the Nova music Festival, uh, that I spoke 400 00:22:10,670 --> 00:22:14,030 S4: to after we did her interview and, and she said 401 00:22:14,030 --> 00:22:16,830 S4: to me that she had recently met with a Holocaust 402 00:22:16,830 --> 00:22:20,630 S4: survivor in Jerusalem at a, at an event. And she said, 403 00:22:20,630 --> 00:22:24,149 S4: we we immediately had a bond. We immediately had a connection. 404 00:22:24,150 --> 00:22:26,550 S4: I said, yeah, I'm not surprised that you did because 405 00:22:26,550 --> 00:22:31,190 S4: you both went through similar, you know, type experiences. But 406 00:22:31,300 --> 00:22:34,300 S4: I mean, some of the circumstances were different, right? But 407 00:22:34,820 --> 00:22:39,500 S4: the motivation behind those who wanted to kill you was 408 00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:44,260 S4: the same. And what was the motivation? It was you're Jewish, 409 00:22:44,740 --> 00:22:48,580 S4: and they don't believe that Jews have the right to live. 410 00:22:49,100 --> 00:22:52,940 S4: And so that type of connection, that type of reality 411 00:22:53,380 --> 00:22:55,380 S4: is really what we're dealing with here. And I think 412 00:22:55,380 --> 00:22:58,380 S4: that's how we can really sum this up is this 413 00:22:58,380 --> 00:23:02,980 S4: is anti-Semitism. This is Jewish hatred that motivated the events 414 00:23:03,140 --> 00:23:04,260 S4: of October 7th. 415 00:23:04,980 --> 00:23:07,900 S1: When you finished your last interview, what was your own 416 00:23:07,900 --> 00:23:09,140 S1: reaction to what you heard? 417 00:23:10,940 --> 00:23:16,660 S4: Listen, um, this whole thing really was very, very overwhelming. Yeah. 418 00:23:16,700 --> 00:23:20,100 S4: It's hard to describe what it's like to be talking 419 00:23:20,140 --> 00:23:23,020 S4: to people who went through one of the most brutal 420 00:23:23,020 --> 00:23:28,700 S4: massacres in modern history. To be standing in places where 421 00:23:28,940 --> 00:23:33,649 S4: such barbarism occurred. It's very, very hard to reconcile. 422 00:23:33,810 --> 00:23:37,530 S1: I reckon it or liken it to, uh. I have 423 00:23:37,530 --> 00:23:40,610 S1: an emotional puking after a while. I mean, it's just 424 00:23:40,770 --> 00:23:43,130 S1: we were over there a few months after the attack. 425 00:23:43,250 --> 00:23:46,570 S1: Stood in some of these burned out communities, homes where 426 00:23:46,570 --> 00:23:50,250 S1: people had been killed and and raped and the sense 427 00:23:50,250 --> 00:23:55,210 S1: of darkness and pervasive evil. You get through the day. 428 00:23:55,930 --> 00:23:58,570 S1: But I had trouble sleeping at night. Yeah. What about. 429 00:23:58,570 --> 00:24:03,730 S4: You? Same. Definitely very surreal. Really hard to put together 430 00:24:03,730 --> 00:24:09,050 S4: in your mind how such evil can exist and all 431 00:24:09,050 --> 00:24:12,290 S4: you can do. For me, as a follower of of Jesus, 432 00:24:12,290 --> 00:24:15,490 S4: all I can do is say only God. Yeah, only 433 00:24:15,530 --> 00:24:18,929 S4: God can fix this. And so there's that prayer. There's 434 00:24:18,930 --> 00:24:22,690 S4: that hope that, uh, hearts would turn to him, that 435 00:24:22,690 --> 00:24:28,050 S4: there would be a real spiritual awakening and transformation. Because 436 00:24:28,090 --> 00:24:31,600 S4: there is no other means out of this but the 437 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:32,360 S4: power of God. 438 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:35,280 S1: Well, you've already touched on, I think, a partial answer 439 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:39,960 S1: to my next question. What do you want Christians to know, think, feel, do? 440 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:41,680 S1: Having watched this film. 441 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:45,480 S4: I want them to weep with those who weep, to 442 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:48,520 S4: mourn with those who mourn. I mean, the subtitle is 443 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:53,000 S4: Bearing Witness right to the massacre, to really enter into 444 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:56,160 S4: that pain and enter into the trauma, which is an 445 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:59,840 S4: ongoing trauma for the people of Israel. There's this war 446 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:04,119 S4: of annihilation. This is really, again, people ask, you know, 447 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:08,040 S4: what's unique about October 7th? I mean, there are certain 448 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:11,480 S4: circumstances that are unique, but it's still the same war. 449 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:15,280 S4: I mean, the battle for the eradication for Israel is 450 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,960 S4: this has been going on now for decades. And so 451 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:20,680 S4: I think it's important to be clear on that and 452 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:24,280 S4: that at its core, it's a very spiritual war. And 453 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,880 S4: so this is where we need to continue to put 454 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:31,590 S4: our knees in prayer that God would intervene in the 455 00:25:31,590 --> 00:25:32,630 S4: hearts of men. 456 00:25:33,230 --> 00:25:35,630 S1: As you watch it, you'll probably feel like I did. 457 00:25:35,630 --> 00:25:38,950 S1: Like you're there, sitting in the chair with Todd, hearing 458 00:25:38,950 --> 00:25:43,629 S1: these testimonies, hearing these stories firsthand. An amazing film. October 7th, 459 00:25:43,670 --> 00:25:46,950 S1: bearing witness to the massacre. Learn more at October 7th. 460 00:25:46,990 --> 00:25:50,870 S1: That's the number seven October 7th film. Thank you Justin. 461 00:25:50,869 --> 00:25:51,590 S5: Thank you John. 462 00:25:52,109 --> 00:25:54,389 S1: Jerry Peterman is back in the studio with Bible questions 463 00:25:54,390 --> 00:26:08,869 S1: and answers next. One thing is certain if you love 464 00:26:08,869 --> 00:26:11,389 S1: the word, you're going to have questions about the word 465 00:26:11,390 --> 00:26:14,630 S1: as you study the word. I'm John Yeager. This is 466 00:26:14,630 --> 00:26:17,070 S1: the land and the book. And this segment is what 467 00:26:17,070 --> 00:26:19,910 S1: that thought is all about. Let's say hi to Doctor 468 00:26:19,910 --> 00:26:23,550 S1: Gerald Peterman on the Moody Faculty, a great friend and 469 00:26:23,550 --> 00:26:25,670 S1: somebody who loves answering your questions. Right? 470 00:26:25,710 --> 00:26:27,340 S6: Yes I do. It's a lot of fun. 471 00:26:27,580 --> 00:26:30,540 S1: And it shows every time when we have this conversation. 472 00:26:30,540 --> 00:26:33,700 S1: Some great questions coming down the pike. But first, you 473 00:26:33,700 --> 00:26:36,580 S1: ever think about the fact that most Jewish people have 474 00:26:36,580 --> 00:26:39,780 S1: never heard the gospel? It's true. Most of them. And 475 00:26:39,780 --> 00:26:42,660 S1: each week we talk about Israel and the Jewish people. 476 00:26:42,660 --> 00:26:46,380 S1: And it's so important to remember that they, like everyone else, 477 00:26:46,420 --> 00:26:50,020 S1: need to hear the good news. Well, life in Messiah, 478 00:26:50,220 --> 00:26:53,940 S1: a ministry that's been in existence for more than 135 years, 479 00:26:54,140 --> 00:26:57,020 S1: is devoted to sharing the gospel with Jewish people around 480 00:26:57,020 --> 00:27:00,540 S1: the world. And now they're offering a gift to moody listeners. 481 00:27:00,740 --> 00:27:04,979 S1: This free e-book, Reaching Jewish People from Messiah, highlights the 482 00:27:04,980 --> 00:27:08,020 S1: need for the gospel among the Jewish people and will 483 00:27:08,020 --> 00:27:10,700 S1: equip you with practical ways to share the good News 484 00:27:10,700 --> 00:27:14,380 S1: with them. To receive this free e-book, It's Easy, visit 485 00:27:14,380 --> 00:27:18,540 S1: Life in Messiah. Click on the Moody Radio logo and 486 00:27:18,540 --> 00:27:21,620 S1: sign up today to get your copy. Again, that's life 487 00:27:21,619 --> 00:27:26,370 S1: in Messiah. Click on that Moody Radio logo and sign 488 00:27:26,369 --> 00:27:28,450 S1: up today to get your copy. You're going to love it. 489 00:27:29,010 --> 00:27:31,570 S1: All right, time to dig into a big, thick stack 490 00:27:31,570 --> 00:27:33,330 S1: of questions. We'll get through as many of them as 491 00:27:33,330 --> 00:27:36,489 S1: we can today. Up first is Jerome, who takes us 492 00:27:36,490 --> 00:27:39,730 S1: to Romans 12 verse three, which states, for I say, 493 00:27:39,770 --> 00:27:42,090 S1: through the grace given unto me, to every man that 494 00:27:42,090 --> 00:27:44,649 S1: is among you, not to think of himself more highly 495 00:27:44,650 --> 00:27:48,050 S1: than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according 496 00:27:48,050 --> 00:27:51,090 S1: as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. 497 00:27:51,170 --> 00:27:52,770 S1: So the question has to do with the last part 498 00:27:52,770 --> 00:27:55,810 S1: of this verse, which states, according As God has dealt 499 00:27:55,850 --> 00:27:57,970 S1: to every man the measure of faith. Please tell me 500 00:27:57,970 --> 00:28:01,170 S1: who Paul is speaking about when he states, every man, 501 00:28:01,170 --> 00:28:04,490 S1: literally every man in the world, the lost or just believers, 502 00:28:04,490 --> 00:28:05,169 S1: help me out. 503 00:28:05,369 --> 00:28:09,450 S6: Jerome, thanks so much for the question. In Romans we 504 00:28:09,450 --> 00:28:14,730 S6: have Paul addressing Christians. That is, he writes to those 505 00:28:14,730 --> 00:28:18,690 S6: beloved by God in Rome who are called saints. That's 506 00:28:18,690 --> 00:28:23,090 S6: Romans one verse seven. Now Jerome is asking about chapter 12, 507 00:28:23,390 --> 00:28:26,590 S6: verse three. Let's read on after that. What do we 508 00:28:26,590 --> 00:28:31,629 S6: have in four, five and six? We have examples of 509 00:28:31,950 --> 00:28:34,470 S6: the measure of faith that is the body of Christ 510 00:28:34,470 --> 00:28:37,270 S6: and different gifts. Some have the gift of prophecy, some 511 00:28:37,270 --> 00:28:41,110 S6: have the gift of teaching. And so I take it lastly, 512 00:28:41,430 --> 00:28:46,150 S6: that these measures of faith are our spiritual gifts. It's 513 00:28:46,150 --> 00:28:49,710 S6: just a different word for a spiritual gift, and every 514 00:28:49,710 --> 00:28:53,110 S6: Christian has one. Thanks be to God by the work 515 00:28:53,110 --> 00:28:53,870 S6: of the Holy Spirit. 516 00:28:53,910 --> 00:28:58,470 S1: Okay, hope that's helpful. Jerome Sean admits, I'm a contrarian 517 00:28:58,470 --> 00:29:01,870 S1: by nature. I like that starting point, he says. So 518 00:29:01,870 --> 00:29:04,350 S1: when I hear many Christian preachers and teachers talking about 519 00:29:04,350 --> 00:29:06,630 S1: how they think we're in the last days and giving 520 00:29:06,630 --> 00:29:09,630 S1: reasons to back it up, it makes me naturally want 521 00:29:09,630 --> 00:29:11,750 S1: to try to be a good Berean and look at 522 00:29:11,750 --> 00:29:14,750 S1: it differently now. Maybe the Lord comes before I finish 523 00:29:14,750 --> 00:29:17,550 S1: this email or a million years from now, but I'd 524 00:29:17,550 --> 00:29:20,070 S1: much rather speculate on how wonderful it's going to be 525 00:29:20,070 --> 00:29:22,780 S1: in heaven. I think lots of Christian teachers feel like 526 00:29:22,780 --> 00:29:25,260 S1: they have to be heard and give an opinion on everything. 527 00:29:25,300 --> 00:29:26,580 S1: Your thoughts please. 528 00:29:26,620 --> 00:29:30,260 S6: Well, I really support Sean in his desire to be 529 00:29:30,260 --> 00:29:35,140 S6: a Berean. Listeners, remember acts 1711. The Bereans received the 530 00:29:35,140 --> 00:29:39,740 S6: word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to make 531 00:29:39,780 --> 00:29:43,180 S6: sure these things were so. So I really appreciate that. Now, 532 00:29:43,180 --> 00:29:47,140 S6: about the last days, about the last days. First, we 533 00:29:47,300 --> 00:29:50,860 S6: should always be ready. We should always be faithful. We 534 00:29:50,860 --> 00:29:54,420 S6: should always be obedient. We should always be anticipating what 535 00:29:54,420 --> 00:29:58,540 S6: did our Lord Jesus say? Matthew 24. You do not 536 00:29:58,540 --> 00:30:00,580 S6: know the day and time the Son of Man is coming. 537 00:30:00,580 --> 00:30:03,740 S6: He will come at a day and time you don't expect. 538 00:30:03,740 --> 00:30:07,940 S6: That means you have to be on alert. Not not scared, 539 00:30:07,940 --> 00:30:12,980 S6: but delightfully anticipating that he's going to come. But secondly, 540 00:30:13,180 --> 00:30:15,940 S6: I take it that we have been in the last 541 00:30:15,940 --> 00:30:19,740 S6: days since the first century. Why would I say that? Well, first, 542 00:30:19,740 --> 00:30:23,729 S6: John says this. First John 218 says this children, it 543 00:30:23,730 --> 00:30:25,810 S6: is the last hour. And as you have heard, that 544 00:30:25,810 --> 00:30:31,090 S6: Antichrist is coming. So now many antichrists have come. Therefore 545 00:30:31,090 --> 00:30:34,050 S6: we know that it's the last hour. And Paul says 546 00:30:34,050 --> 00:30:38,530 S6: to Timothy. Second Timothy, chapter three. But understand this in 547 00:30:38,530 --> 00:30:41,770 S6: the last days there will come times of difficulty. People 548 00:30:41,770 --> 00:30:44,530 S6: will be lovers of self, lovers of money. Proud, arrogant. 549 00:30:44,890 --> 00:30:46,650 S6: I'm not going to go through the whole list. We 550 00:30:46,690 --> 00:30:48,690 S6: come near the end of the list and it's a 551 00:30:48,730 --> 00:30:52,130 S6: long one. And Paul says to Timothy, avoid such people. 552 00:30:52,770 --> 00:30:56,570 S6: He can't. Timothy cannot avoid people in living in 2025. 553 00:30:56,650 --> 00:30:59,130 S6: He can only avoid people in his time period. So, 554 00:30:59,130 --> 00:31:02,610 S6: in other words, the last days were Timothy's time period 555 00:31:02,610 --> 00:31:04,410 S6: with all sorts of evil going on. 556 00:31:04,450 --> 00:31:06,930 S1: All right, that's a good perspective. Thank you for that. Hey, 557 00:31:06,930 --> 00:31:08,810 S1: would you like to connect with us? Get your question 558 00:31:08,810 --> 00:31:11,690 S1: to Doctor Peterman and maybe hear it on a future broadcast. 559 00:31:11,690 --> 00:31:14,770 S1: It's easy. Just send an email to the land and 560 00:31:14,810 --> 00:31:21,400 S1: the book at. That's the land and the book at Moody's. 561 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:26,080 S1: Nick says my question is about high places in the 562 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,840 S1: Old Testament. You do see a lot of that. Uh, 563 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,960 S1: he says, were these high places altars to false gods 564 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:37,720 S1: or inappropriate unsanctioned altars to Yahweh? In Second Chronicles 15 565 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:41,360 S1: eight it says that Asa removed all the detestable idols 566 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:45,080 S1: from all the land. And in Second Chronicles 19, verse three, 567 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:49,080 S1: it says that Jehoshaphat destroyed the Ashtoreth out of the land. 568 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:52,360 S1: So this leads me to believe they were inappropriate altars 569 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:55,120 S1: not in the temple to the one true God of Israel. 570 00:31:55,160 --> 00:31:56,480 S1: What say you? 571 00:31:57,480 --> 00:31:59,520 S6: I think Nick is moving toward a good answer to 572 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:02,440 S6: his question. I think it's, uh, more like a both and. 573 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:08,400 S6: So we encounter this reference to high places in numbers 33, 574 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,880 S6: verse 52, where the Lord says to his people, you 575 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:14,240 S6: shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land before 576 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:18,070 S6: you destroy all their figured stones. That's an idol. I'll 577 00:32:18,110 --> 00:32:21,390 S6: destroy all their mental images again. That's an idol. And 578 00:32:21,390 --> 00:32:24,950 S6: demolish all their high places. Because this is where you're 579 00:32:24,950 --> 00:32:27,470 S6: going to find all those idols. So here we have 580 00:32:27,470 --> 00:32:30,750 S6: a clear indication that the high place is the place 581 00:32:30,750 --> 00:32:33,870 S6: where the Canaanites, the pagans, are going for their kind 582 00:32:33,870 --> 00:32:38,390 S6: of worship. But sadly, quite sadly, after Israel comes into 583 00:32:38,390 --> 00:32:42,430 S6: the land, they start mixing their worship of Yahweh in 584 00:32:42,470 --> 00:32:44,950 S6: with a Canaanite kind of worship. And so we come 585 00:32:44,950 --> 00:32:48,950 S6: to First Kings chapter three, verse two, and there we 586 00:32:48,990 --> 00:32:53,510 S6: find the people were sacrificing at the high places, because 587 00:32:53,550 --> 00:32:56,670 S6: no house had yet been built for the name of 588 00:32:56,670 --> 00:32:59,830 S6: the Lord. That is, the people are giving sacrifices to 589 00:32:59,870 --> 00:33:02,430 S6: the Lord at the high places. But this is this 590 00:33:02,430 --> 00:33:05,470 S6: is still not appropriate, because if you're reading your Old Testament, 591 00:33:05,470 --> 00:33:08,590 S6: which I hope you're doing on a regular basis in Exodus, 592 00:33:08,910 --> 00:33:12,390 S6: you know, God gave the tabernacle, and the tabernacle was 593 00:33:12,390 --> 00:33:15,270 S6: brought into the land. Here's where you're supposed to be going, 594 00:33:15,310 --> 00:33:18,140 S6: not to the high places. So the high place is 595 00:33:18,140 --> 00:33:21,700 S6: a pagan place, and Israel mixes the high places in 596 00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:22,660 S6: with their own religion. 597 00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:23,940 S1: Bottom line, it was wrong. 598 00:33:24,140 --> 00:33:25,900 S6: It's wrong and wrong. Yes. 599 00:33:26,420 --> 00:33:29,060 S1: Donna says, I've recently been reading the Bible using a 600 00:33:29,060 --> 00:33:32,180 S1: chronological method, and I really don't understand why the Book 601 00:33:32,180 --> 00:33:36,140 S1: of Job is placed between Genesis 11 and 12. I 602 00:33:36,180 --> 00:33:38,900 S1: looked up the names of job's first three friends, and 603 00:33:38,900 --> 00:33:41,460 S1: the only one that shows elsewhere in the Bible is 604 00:33:41,460 --> 00:33:44,580 S1: the first Eliphaz the Temanite. But if Teman is a 605 00:33:44,580 --> 00:33:47,340 S1: descendant of Abraham, as we see in the genealogy of 606 00:33:47,340 --> 00:33:52,300 S1: Genesis 36, why is he plugged into Genesis before Abraham? 607 00:33:52,460 --> 00:33:55,780 S1: And if Eliphaz, father of Teman, is a different person, 608 00:33:55,780 --> 00:33:59,020 S1: how do they connect job with Genesis 11 through 12? 609 00:33:59,060 --> 00:34:00,739 S6: Wow! Thank you so much. A lot of depth in 610 00:34:00,780 --> 00:34:04,860 S6: that question. It's a little bit tough. I think chronological 611 00:34:04,860 --> 00:34:08,820 S6: Bibles can be very helpful, but the chronology is sometimes 612 00:34:08,820 --> 00:34:12,500 S6: difficult to figure out. Now what's the time period for job? 613 00:34:13,219 --> 00:34:18,570 S6: Long time ago. Job is probably something around 2400 BC, 614 00:34:18,730 --> 00:34:22,529 S6: maybe 2100 BC. And what's the time period of Abraham? 615 00:34:22,850 --> 00:34:27,650 S6: It's something around 2100 BC, maybe 1900 BC. So long 616 00:34:27,650 --> 00:34:31,210 S6: before our grandparents were born and they might have overlapped 617 00:34:31,210 --> 00:34:36,250 S6: in their time period. Now, what about Eliphaz, the Temanite? Um, 618 00:34:36,450 --> 00:34:40,770 S6: I don't include Eliphaz the Temanite as a descendant of Esau. 619 00:34:41,530 --> 00:34:45,730 S6: If we go to the genealogy of Genesis 36, we 620 00:34:45,730 --> 00:34:49,689 S6: read this. These are the names of Esau's sons. Eliphaz, 621 00:34:49,730 --> 00:34:53,330 S6: the son of Ada, the wife of Esau. Reuel, the 622 00:34:53,330 --> 00:34:56,210 S6: son of azimuth, the wife of Esau. The sons of 623 00:34:56,210 --> 00:35:00,610 S6: Eliphaz were Teman. All right. What about this Teiman? Here 624 00:35:00,610 --> 00:35:05,009 S6: we have teiman, a particular character, a particular man. When 625 00:35:05,010 --> 00:35:07,690 S6: we come to job's friends, I'm going to go a 626 00:35:07,690 --> 00:35:11,850 S6: totally different direction. That is Eliphaz. The daemonites a different guy. 627 00:35:12,290 --> 00:35:16,270 S6: He comes from a region of Edom called Teman. In 628 00:35:16,270 --> 00:35:19,390 S6: other words, it's a location. Teman is his hometown. The 629 00:35:19,469 --> 00:35:23,390 S6: ammonites are those from this place. Uh. Teman is known 630 00:35:23,390 --> 00:35:28,270 S6: for its wise men. Read Jeremiah 49 seven concerning Edom. 631 00:35:28,590 --> 00:35:31,710 S6: Thus says the Lord of hosts is wisdom. No more 632 00:35:31,710 --> 00:35:36,469 S6: in Teman has perished from the prudent. So I hope 633 00:35:36,469 --> 00:35:41,070 S6: this helps. We have two different eliphaz who sound very similar, 634 00:35:41,070 --> 00:35:42,350 S6: but they're two different characters. 635 00:35:42,430 --> 00:35:45,509 S1: All right, that's very confusing and helpful for your clarification there. 636 00:35:45,510 --> 00:35:50,029 S1: Thank you. Lynn's question in job. Do you know where Elihu, 637 00:35:50,150 --> 00:35:53,549 S1: the fourth person who speaks, comes from? Apparently God is 638 00:35:53,550 --> 00:35:56,229 S1: not displeased with what he says, and I've actually found 639 00:35:56,230 --> 00:35:58,910 S1: some wisdom in his words. He's a bit of a mystery. 640 00:35:58,910 --> 00:36:01,870 S1: Can you help me with this second job question here? 641 00:36:02,310 --> 00:36:03,870 S6: It is a bit of a mystery if we go 642 00:36:03,870 --> 00:36:08,710 S6: to job 32, where we come into the history. This character, Elihu, 643 00:36:08,750 --> 00:36:12,670 S6: is called the son of Backereel, the Beausite. Now, who 644 00:36:12,710 --> 00:36:15,620 S6: are the booze ites? Right. They are descendants of Neha's 645 00:36:15,660 --> 00:36:20,060 S6: brother Abraham, right? So he has a son called uz. 646 00:36:20,100 --> 00:36:23,300 S6: A son called booze. So this Elihu is a descendant 647 00:36:23,420 --> 00:36:26,859 S6: of this booze that we meet in this genealogy. What 648 00:36:26,860 --> 00:36:32,259 S6: about what Elihu says? God doesn't rebuke him because Elihu 649 00:36:32,300 --> 00:36:36,259 S6: doesn't say job sinned. And we know from reading the 650 00:36:36,260 --> 00:36:39,859 S6: book that it wasn't job's sin that brought his problems. Rather, 651 00:36:39,900 --> 00:36:44,739 S6: Elihu says, job, you're self-righteous. And that's exactly how the 652 00:36:44,739 --> 00:36:48,020 S6: Lord condemns job. So Elihu is commended because he comes 653 00:36:48,020 --> 00:36:50,780 S6: very close to God's position on the subject of job 654 00:36:50,780 --> 00:36:51,540 S6: and his sin. 655 00:36:51,660 --> 00:36:53,100 S1: And that's a look at some of the questions that 656 00:36:53,100 --> 00:36:55,739 S1: have come in. Yours is welcome when you email us 657 00:36:55,780 --> 00:36:59,980 S1: at the Land and the Book at Moody's. Don't go away. 658 00:37:00,180 --> 00:37:16,250 S1: Charlie Dyer is back next. Welcome back to the land 659 00:37:16,250 --> 00:37:19,210 S1: and the book segment for hey, we love the story 660 00:37:19,210 --> 00:37:22,050 S1: of David and Goliath, no matter how old or young 661 00:37:22,050 --> 00:37:25,609 S1: we are, but we rarely think through the geography. The 662 00:37:25,610 --> 00:37:28,049 S1: fact is that battle took place in a valley, not 663 00:37:28,130 --> 00:37:31,650 S1: on a mountain. Tell us about this devotional series we're into. Charlie. 664 00:37:32,010 --> 00:37:34,569 S2: Oh, John, this is my series called Great Confessions of 665 00:37:34,570 --> 00:37:37,650 S2: the Bible, and David's confession before Goliath is one of 666 00:37:37,650 --> 00:37:39,050 S2: my favorites of all. 667 00:37:39,050 --> 00:37:41,290 S1: And we'll look forward to hearing that after we listen 668 00:37:41,290 --> 00:37:44,570 S1: to this testimony from an Israel traveler. They've been there, 669 00:37:44,610 --> 00:37:47,170 S1: been greatly impressed, and have this to share with you 670 00:37:47,170 --> 00:37:47,650 S1: and me. 671 00:37:51,850 --> 00:37:56,010 S7: I'm Alan Zachary from Crawfordsville, Indiana. Um, we were standing 672 00:37:56,010 --> 00:37:59,450 S7: on top of the herodium, and the thing that really 673 00:37:59,450 --> 00:38:02,009 S7: stood out to me in this trip is you get 674 00:38:02,010 --> 00:38:05,089 S7: a real perspective of the land of Israel from one 675 00:38:05,090 --> 00:38:08,410 S7: end to the other. I did not have that perspective before. 676 00:38:08,650 --> 00:38:11,000 S7: When we hear about the West Bank or we hear 677 00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:15,279 S7: about the Gaza Strip or or the occupied territories. They 678 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:18,759 S7: were just words before, but now I have that perspective 679 00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:21,759 S7: of really knowing what the land is all about. And 680 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:23,280 S7: I really want to thank you for that. 681 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:27,400 S8: Hi, I'm Laronda from Crawfordsville, Indiana, and before coming over 682 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:30,040 S8: to Israel, I asked a number of our friends if 683 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:32,239 S8: they had anything specifically that they wanted me to pray 684 00:38:32,239 --> 00:38:35,040 S8: for them today at the Wailing Wall. And so today, 685 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:36,880 S8: it was just a real privilege to be able to 686 00:38:36,920 --> 00:38:40,680 S8: approach the wall and write the names down that I 687 00:38:40,719 --> 00:38:43,399 S8: had been requested to pray for, and then just take 688 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:46,640 S8: them and squeeze them into those cracks and hang on 689 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:48,799 S8: to that original part of the wall, and just go 690 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:51,640 S8: before the Lord and ask him to intercede on the 691 00:38:51,640 --> 00:38:53,640 S8: behalf of my friends and loved ones back at home. 692 00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:56,279 S8: And then I learned even afterwards that even when those 693 00:38:56,280 --> 00:38:58,440 S8: little pieces of paper fill up the cracks and they 694 00:38:58,480 --> 00:39:01,280 S8: wash them out, that those papers are not just trashed, 695 00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:03,560 S8: that they're taken and actually buried on the Mount of Olives. 696 00:39:03,800 --> 00:39:05,520 S8: And that was a real blessing for me today. 697 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:11,950 S1: We're headed for First Samuel chapter 17, in Charlie's devotional. 698 00:39:11,950 --> 00:39:13,710 S1: And with that, I'll turn things over to Charlie. 699 00:39:13,950 --> 00:39:16,950 S2: Thanks, John. Well, today's devotional is a continuation of this 700 00:39:16,950 --> 00:39:19,630 S2: eight part series that I have called Great Confessions of 701 00:39:19,630 --> 00:39:23,230 S2: the Bible. The focus is on memorable lines spoken at 702 00:39:23,230 --> 00:39:25,870 S2: key points in history by some of the great heroes 703 00:39:25,870 --> 00:39:28,830 S2: of the faith. And today's great confession does take us 704 00:39:28,830 --> 00:39:31,589 S2: to the low foothills of Judah, an area known in 705 00:39:31,630 --> 00:39:34,630 S2: Hebrew as the Shfela. Now, I need to start by saying, 706 00:39:34,630 --> 00:39:37,150 S2: you'll think I've lost my mind as you follow me 707 00:39:37,150 --> 00:39:39,870 S2: off the bus. First, take your time as we climb 708 00:39:39,870 --> 00:39:43,270 S2: over the guardrail next to the road. Now follow the 709 00:39:43,270 --> 00:39:45,950 S2: path I'm making as I tramp down all the weeds 710 00:39:45,950 --> 00:39:49,590 S2: and bushes. Okay, I think this is definitely the most 711 00:39:49,590 --> 00:39:53,549 S2: unusual spot you've seen on our trip. Not scenic, mind you, 712 00:39:53,550 --> 00:39:57,390 S2: just different. Maybe junky is a better word. But we're 713 00:39:57,390 --> 00:40:00,510 S2: here because. Plus or minus a few hundred yards, we're 714 00:40:00,510 --> 00:40:02,910 S2: standing at the exact spot where one of the most 715 00:40:02,910 --> 00:40:08,379 S2: amazing battles and confessions in Bible history took place. But first, 716 00:40:08,380 --> 00:40:10,940 S2: let me set the stage. Look back at the bus. 717 00:40:10,940 --> 00:40:12,860 S2: You see that hill right behind it, just on the 718 00:40:12,860 --> 00:40:17,300 S2: other side of the road. That's Soko. Now look down 719 00:40:17,300 --> 00:40:20,540 S2: the valley. You see that partially bald mountain out in 720 00:40:20,540 --> 00:40:23,620 S2: the distance? It's about three miles away. And it's the 721 00:40:23,620 --> 00:40:27,060 S2: site of ancient Azekah. Just on the other side of 722 00:40:27,100 --> 00:40:30,100 S2: that mountain is the Philistine Plain. In fact, if we 723 00:40:30,100 --> 00:40:33,220 S2: had x ray vision and could see through that mountain, 724 00:40:33,219 --> 00:40:36,219 S2: we could see the Philistine city of Gath. It's just 725 00:40:36,219 --> 00:40:39,739 S2: ten miles from where we're now standing. Now turn around 726 00:40:39,739 --> 00:40:41,979 S2: and look back at me and see this ditch just 727 00:40:41,980 --> 00:40:45,180 S2: behind me. It's from the brook that once ran through 728 00:40:45,180 --> 00:40:48,460 S2: this rather narrow valley. It's dried up right now, but 729 00:40:48,460 --> 00:40:51,140 S2: you can see where it once was. The road through 730 00:40:51,140 --> 00:40:54,339 S2: this valley crossed the stream right here, curving past the 731 00:40:54,340 --> 00:40:57,859 S2: small hill just on the other side, before climbing a 732 00:40:57,860 --> 00:41:00,980 S2: ridge up into the hill country. Follow that road and 733 00:41:00,980 --> 00:41:05,540 S2: you'll eventually arrive at Bethlehem, about 15 miles away. All 734 00:41:05,540 --> 00:41:09,009 S2: these details are important, and here's why. The writer of 735 00:41:09,010 --> 00:41:12,609 S2: First Samuel 17 begins by describing the preparations for a 736 00:41:12,610 --> 00:41:16,450 S2: major battle between Israel and the Philistines. The Philistines were 737 00:41:16,450 --> 00:41:19,450 S2: pushing their way into the foothills of Israel. If they're 738 00:41:19,450 --> 00:41:22,969 S2: not stopped, the heartland of the country itself could be threatened. 739 00:41:23,290 --> 00:41:26,489 S2: The writer describes the advance this way. Now the Philistines 740 00:41:26,489 --> 00:41:29,450 S2: gathered their armies for battle, and they were gathered at Socoh, 741 00:41:29,489 --> 00:41:32,609 S2: which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and 742 00:41:32,610 --> 00:41:37,930 S2: Azekah in FSD. Tamim Socho. That's right behind you, just 743 00:41:37,930 --> 00:41:41,290 S2: a few hundred yards away. That's the front lines of 744 00:41:41,290 --> 00:41:44,410 S2: the Philistine army. From there, all the way back to 745 00:41:44,450 --> 00:41:47,570 S2: Azekah in the distance, picture that side of the valley 746 00:41:47,570 --> 00:41:52,969 S2: carpeted with philistine tents. FSD means boundary of blood, and 747 00:41:52,969 --> 00:41:56,569 S2: suggests this location had seen its share of conflict in 748 00:41:56,570 --> 00:42:00,650 S2: the ongoing struggle between the two nations. The next verse 749 00:42:00,650 --> 00:42:04,489 S2: gives Israel's response to the Philistine aggression, and Saul and 750 00:42:04,489 --> 00:42:06,600 S2: the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the 751 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:08,960 S2: valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to 752 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:12,080 S2: encounter the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on the mountain 753 00:42:12,080 --> 00:42:14,640 S2: on one side, while Israel stood on the mountain on 754 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:17,840 S2: the other side, with the valley between them. If the 755 00:42:17,840 --> 00:42:21,600 S2: Philistines were on Socoh right behind you, then the Israelites 756 00:42:21,600 --> 00:42:24,640 S2: were on the hill just behind me, and were standing 757 00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:27,839 S2: in the valley between them. Israel has its back to 758 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:31,839 S2: the wall. If the Philistines break through here, Bethlehem and 759 00:42:31,840 --> 00:42:34,960 S2: the other towns in the hill country are threatened. We 760 00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:38,240 S2: know what happens next. Goliath comes out to challenge Israel 761 00:42:38,239 --> 00:42:41,640 S2: to a duel among champions. The tallest warrior from the 762 00:42:41,640 --> 00:42:44,560 S2: army of the Philistines challenges Israel to send out its 763 00:42:44,560 --> 00:42:48,719 S2: best warrior to fight. All eyes turn to look at Saul, 764 00:42:48,760 --> 00:42:51,160 S2: who stood a head taller than everyone else in the 765 00:42:51,160 --> 00:42:54,520 S2: army of Israel. But when Saul and all Israel heard 766 00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:58,040 S2: the words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 767 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:02,560 S2: Who could stand against Goliath? The answer arrives with David, 768 00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:05,859 S2: a young shepherd from Bethlehem, sent by his father to 769 00:43:05,900 --> 00:43:08,780 S2: check on his brothers. David arrived to hear the boast 770 00:43:08,780 --> 00:43:13,020 S2: of Goliath, but David wasn't impressed. What will be done 771 00:43:13,020 --> 00:43:15,459 S2: for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away 772 00:43:15,460 --> 00:43:19,780 S2: the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine 773 00:43:19,780 --> 00:43:22,379 S2: that he should taunt the armies of the living God? 774 00:43:23,340 --> 00:43:26,860 S2: In desperation, Saul ends up selecting this shepherd to stand 775 00:43:26,860 --> 00:43:30,700 S2: against Goliath. Saul offers his own royal armor, but David 776 00:43:30,700 --> 00:43:34,780 S2: politely refuses. He's much more comfortable choosing the weapons he's 777 00:43:34,780 --> 00:43:38,980 S2: skillfully practiced while watching over his father's flock. He took 778 00:43:38,980 --> 00:43:41,860 S2: his stick in his hand and chose for himself five 779 00:43:41,860 --> 00:43:44,339 S2: smooth stones from the brook and put them in the 780 00:43:44,340 --> 00:43:47,180 S2: shepherd's bag, which he had, and his sling was in 781 00:43:47,180 --> 00:43:51,100 S2: his hand, and he approached the Philistine. David gathered his 782 00:43:51,100 --> 00:43:55,460 S2: stones and crossed the brook right here. When Goliath saw 783 00:43:55,500 --> 00:43:58,620 S2: David climb up out of the brook, he was incredulous. 784 00:43:58,820 --> 00:44:01,940 S2: He looked down on David with contempt and sneered. Am 785 00:44:01,940 --> 00:44:04,330 S2: I a dog that you come at me with sticks. 786 00:44:04,810 --> 00:44:07,290 S2: He cursed David and threatened to tear him to pieces 787 00:44:07,290 --> 00:44:10,009 S2: and feed him to the buzzards. And that's when we 788 00:44:10,050 --> 00:44:14,649 S2: hear David's great confession. Listen carefully to his words. You 789 00:44:14,690 --> 00:44:17,490 S2: come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, 790 00:44:17,489 --> 00:44:19,049 S2: but I come to you in the name of the 791 00:44:19,050 --> 00:44:21,930 S2: Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, 792 00:44:21,930 --> 00:44:24,850 S2: whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver 793 00:44:24,850 --> 00:44:27,170 S2: you up into my hands, and I will strike you 794 00:44:27,170 --> 00:44:29,770 S2: down and remove your head from you. And I will 795 00:44:29,770 --> 00:44:32,170 S2: give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines 796 00:44:32,170 --> 00:44:34,450 S2: this day to the birds of the sky and the 797 00:44:34,450 --> 00:44:36,890 S2: wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may 798 00:44:36,890 --> 00:44:39,169 S2: know that there is a God in Israel, and that 799 00:44:39,170 --> 00:44:41,529 S2: all this assembly may know that the Lord does not 800 00:44:41,530 --> 00:44:44,770 S2: deliver by sword or by spear, for the battle is 801 00:44:44,770 --> 00:44:47,529 S2: the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. 802 00:44:48,290 --> 00:44:53,250 S2: David wasn't naive. He clearly saw Goliath's height and his weapons. 803 00:44:53,570 --> 00:44:56,969 S2: But David viewed Goliath not from a human perspective, but 804 00:44:56,969 --> 00:45:01,450 S2: from God's perspective. Goliath was bigger than David, but he 805 00:45:01,560 --> 00:45:04,040 S2: was no match for the God who was the ultimate 806 00:45:04,040 --> 00:45:07,239 S2: commander in chief of Israel's army. If I had to 807 00:45:07,239 --> 00:45:12,640 S2: choose one word to describe David's confession, it would be confidence. 808 00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:15,879 S2: He knew the God he served, and he was confident 809 00:45:15,880 --> 00:45:19,920 S2: in God's ability to deliver. This wasn't a contest between 810 00:45:19,920 --> 00:45:23,879 S2: David and Goliath. It was a contest between God and Goliath. 811 00:45:24,200 --> 00:45:27,680 S2: And David knew he was on the winning side. So 812 00:45:27,880 --> 00:45:31,879 S2: what giants are you facing today? What is it that 813 00:45:31,880 --> 00:45:36,360 S2: has you quaking in your boots, dreading the confrontation? Whatever 814 00:45:36,360 --> 00:45:39,919 S2: it is, just remind yourself of this. Your giants might 815 00:45:39,920 --> 00:45:44,200 S2: be bigger, stronger, more powerful than you. But they're no 816 00:45:44,200 --> 00:45:48,799 S2: match for the God you serve. Remember, the battle is 817 00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:52,040 S2: the Lord's, and he's the one who will deliver. 818 00:45:52,560 --> 00:45:55,240 S1: Thank you. Charlie. Sure appreciate the way you've really riveted 819 00:45:55,239 --> 00:45:58,719 S1: that story into our hearts, particularly with the geography. They're 820 00:45:58,719 --> 00:46:02,830 S1: helping us understand just how desperate the Israelites really were. 821 00:46:02,870 --> 00:46:05,109 S1: Had they had they lost with the Philistine cities just 822 00:46:05,110 --> 00:46:06,190 S1: behind them? Right. 823 00:46:06,230 --> 00:46:08,470 S2: It was their final stand. And if they lost here, 824 00:46:08,790 --> 00:46:10,549 S2: the rest of the hill country could have been taken 825 00:46:10,550 --> 00:46:11,509 S2: by the Philistines. 826 00:46:11,870 --> 00:46:14,110 S1: Hey, we love it when you drop us an email. 827 00:46:14,150 --> 00:46:16,069 S1: Love to hear what you're thinking about the program, how 828 00:46:16,070 --> 00:46:18,630 S1: it's benefiting you, helping you. Maybe as you teach a 829 00:46:18,630 --> 00:46:21,190 S1: Sunday school class or prepare for a sermon, or maybe 830 00:46:21,230 --> 00:46:23,950 S1: just have a conversation with a friend. You can email 831 00:46:23,950 --> 00:46:29,150 S1: us directly at The Land and the book at That's 832 00:46:29,150 --> 00:46:34,390 S1: the Land and the book at. That's the same email 833 00:46:34,390 --> 00:46:36,270 S1: address you use, by the way, when you want to 834 00:46:36,270 --> 00:46:39,469 S1: get a Bible question to Doctor Gerald Peterman, the land 835 00:46:39,469 --> 00:46:43,790 S1: and the book at Moody's want to say thank you 836 00:46:43,790 --> 00:46:46,710 S1: to our producer, Dan Anderson. Our host, Charlie Dyer. I'm 837 00:46:46,710 --> 00:46:49,430 S1: John Yeager. The land and the book comes to you 838 00:46:49,430 --> 00:46:52,190 S1: as a production of Moody Radio and a ministry of 839 00:46:52,190 --> 00:46:54,510 S1: Moody Bible Institute. Have a great day.