1 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,400 S1: Remember the October 7th attack on Israel in the three 2 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:18,520 S1: months following anti-Semitic attacks in America? Shot up? Get this 361%. 3 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,959 S1: And the hits literally keep on coming. In the United States, 70% 4 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:27,320 S1: of Jewish college students have either experienced or witnessed anti-Semitism. 5 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,560 S1: It's as if somebody gave permission to just beat up 6 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,080 S1: on Jewish people. What's behind it all? That's the question 7 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,800 S1: we're looking at today. Hey, welcome to the land and 8 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,400 S1: the book. Our host is the author of Experiencing the 9 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,479 S1: Land of the book, doctor Charlie Dyer, also a frequent 10 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:45,640 S1: Israel traveler and guide. I'm John Geiger, and Romans 116 11 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,120 S1: says the gospel is to the Jew first and also 12 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,519 S1: to the Gentiles. But how do you share the gospel 13 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,600 S1: with a Jewish person? Because of cultural, historical, and religious differences, 14 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,640 S1: it's sometimes challenging to kind of navigate a gospel conversation 15 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,470 S1: with somebody from a Jewish background. You ever wondered how 16 00:01:01,470 --> 00:01:03,390 S1: the professionals do it? 17 00:01:03,430 --> 00:01:05,750 S2: Well, to answer that question, our friends at Life in 18 00:01:05,750 --> 00:01:08,870 S2: Messiah want to mail you samples of the tracks their 19 00:01:08,870 --> 00:01:11,990 S2: staff use as they share the gospel. This will serve 20 00:01:11,990 --> 00:01:14,990 S2: a dual purpose of equipping you with methods of presenting 21 00:01:14,990 --> 00:01:18,550 S2: the gospel, while also supplying you with tracks you can 22 00:01:18,550 --> 00:01:21,830 S2: share with your Jewish friends and neighbors. Life in Messiah's 23 00:01:21,830 --> 00:01:24,669 S2: Prayer is that these tracks will help further the spread 24 00:01:24,670 --> 00:01:27,910 S2: of the gospel among the Jewish people. To receive this 25 00:01:27,910 --> 00:01:30,790 S2: helpful assortment of tracks, all you need to do is 26 00:01:30,790 --> 00:01:34,350 S2: visit Life in Messiah org and click on the radio 27 00:01:34,350 --> 00:01:39,709 S2: button for more information. That's life. Messiah. Don't miss out 28 00:01:39,709 --> 00:01:41,550 S2: on this great opportunity! 29 00:01:41,590 --> 00:01:44,150 S1: If you're new to the broadcast, this opening segment is 30 00:01:44,150 --> 00:01:47,270 S1: focused on an update of current events throughout the Middle East. 31 00:01:47,670 --> 00:01:50,790 S1: Story number one, as Israel and Hamas move toward agreement 32 00:01:50,790 --> 00:01:53,750 S1: on a 60 day cease fire, will this finally bring 33 00:01:53,790 --> 00:01:55,950 S1: an end to 22 months of conflict? 34 00:01:56,270 --> 00:01:59,100 S2: Well, you know, the answer actually depends in large measure 35 00:01:59,100 --> 00:02:02,780 S2: on political rather than military decisions yet to be made. 36 00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:06,460 S2: Hamas has been losing territory, but it has also watched 37 00:02:06,460 --> 00:02:10,419 S2: the continuing pressure being placed on Prime Minister Netanyahu by 38 00:02:10,419 --> 00:02:14,260 S2: Israelis who are demanding a deal. No matter what the cost, 39 00:02:14,260 --> 00:02:17,300 S2: that's one reason they've continued to drag their feet on 40 00:02:17,300 --> 00:02:21,100 S2: reaching any kind of agreement. Hamas also believes that Israel 41 00:02:21,100 --> 00:02:24,820 S2: was reluctant to advance further into Gaza because the remaining 42 00:02:24,820 --> 00:02:28,260 S2: area is where the hostages are located. However, this week, 43 00:02:28,260 --> 00:02:32,060 S2: Israel began moving into that area. Prime Minister Netanyahu has 44 00:02:32,060 --> 00:02:34,700 S2: been limited in the choices he can make because of 45 00:02:34,700 --> 00:02:38,980 S2: the fragile nature of his coalition. The ultra-Orthodox parties officially 46 00:02:38,980 --> 00:02:42,540 S2: left the government, leaving him with a minority in the Knesset, 47 00:02:42,740 --> 00:02:45,700 S2: and the more right wing parties in his coalition have 48 00:02:45,700 --> 00:02:48,740 S2: opposed the cease fire with Hamas. They want Israel to 49 00:02:48,780 --> 00:02:52,660 S2: push forward until Hamas is defeated militarily, even if this 50 00:02:52,660 --> 00:02:55,820 S2: could result in the death of some hostages. Many of 51 00:02:55,820 --> 00:02:59,089 S2: the decisions being made by Netanyahu have been designed to 52 00:02:59,130 --> 00:03:03,650 S2: hold this fragile coalition together, while continuing to push Hamas 53 00:03:03,690 --> 00:03:08,170 S2: toward greater flexibility in their negotiations. The current summer session 54 00:03:08,169 --> 00:03:11,410 S2: of the Knesset ends this week. They'll be in recess 55 00:03:11,410 --> 00:03:14,329 S2: until after the High Holy Days in October. Now, that 56 00:03:14,330 --> 00:03:17,730 S2: gives Netanyahu time to see if he can repair fractures 57 00:03:17,730 --> 00:03:22,130 S2: in this coalition. This includes replacing Yuli Edelstein as defense 58 00:03:22,130 --> 00:03:26,170 S2: minister and revising the proposed draft legislation to make it 59 00:03:26,169 --> 00:03:29,490 S2: more acceptable to the ultra-Orthodox. So how does all of 60 00:03:29,490 --> 00:03:33,130 S2: this impact the cease fire? Netanyahu has now become more 61 00:03:33,130 --> 00:03:36,610 S2: flexible in negotiating with Hamas, which is what's making a 62 00:03:36,610 --> 00:03:39,530 S2: cease fire at least possible. He'll try to negotiate an 63 00:03:39,530 --> 00:03:42,170 S2: end to the conflict with Hamas, even knowing he'll be 64 00:03:42,170 --> 00:03:46,770 S2: opposed by Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, which could possibly lead 65 00:03:46,770 --> 00:03:50,570 S2: them to leave the coalition. Two years ago, Netanyahu was 66 00:03:50,570 --> 00:03:54,290 S2: all but written off politically because of the October 7th attack. 67 00:03:54,530 --> 00:03:58,080 S2: But since then, he's defeated Hezbollah and Iran. And if 68 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,960 S2: he can secure the return of the remaining hostages and 69 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,000 S2: the war with Hamas, and perhaps even negotiate a peace 70 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,040 S2: treaty with Saudi Arabia to expand the Abraham Accords, he'll 71 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,600 S2: be able to head into elections from a position of strength. 72 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,040 S2: It's also possible that a change in attorney general in Israel, 73 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,640 S2: along with pressure from President Trump, could cause the criminal 74 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,920 S2: charges against him to be dropped and the trial halted. 75 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:25,320 S2: Greater pressure is being placed on Hamas to release the 76 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,760 S2: hostages and step away from its control of Gaza. And 77 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,719 S2: if Netanyahu can bring about the return of the hostages 78 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,039 S2: and end that war, even if it comes at the 79 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,480 S2: expense of his own coalition fracturing, well, he'll be ready, then, 80 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,480 S2: to dissolve the Knesset and transition into campaign mode if 81 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,440 S2: necessary come November. 82 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,000 S1: Well, Charlie, I just don't see as a cynic anything 83 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,120 S1: good coming out of a cease fire from the standpoint 84 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:52,599 S1: of Hamas ramping up and their military efforts, moving hostages 85 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,539 S1: around all those kinds of things, it just doesn't sound good. 86 00:04:55,820 --> 00:04:58,500 S2: No. From from a military standpoint, it's not a good 87 00:04:58,500 --> 00:05:01,539 S2: decision for Israel to make. It's all being done politically, 88 00:05:01,700 --> 00:05:04,779 S2: and it's basically trying to satisfy that growing element within 89 00:05:04,779 --> 00:05:07,660 S2: Israel's society that wants a deal at any price. 90 00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:09,860 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer is a middle East expert and our 91 00:05:09,860 --> 00:05:12,140 S1: host here on the land and the book where we're 92 00:05:12,140 --> 00:05:14,660 S1: working our way through current events, stories for the week. 93 00:05:14,700 --> 00:05:17,740 S1: Israel continues to calculate the cost of its 12 day 94 00:05:17,779 --> 00:05:20,500 S1: war with Iran. What's the total thus far? 95 00:05:20,860 --> 00:05:24,260 S2: Well, here's the good news. First, the anti-missile system developed 96 00:05:24,260 --> 00:05:26,219 S2: by Israel was put to the test and it did 97 00:05:26,220 --> 00:05:31,820 S2: pass with flying colors. The different systems successfully shot down 85% 98 00:05:31,820 --> 00:05:35,340 S2: of all ballistic missiles fired by Iran, and nearly 100% 99 00:05:35,339 --> 00:05:38,780 S2: of all drones, because the stockpile of arrow missiles was 100 00:05:38,779 --> 00:05:42,099 S2: being depleted, Israel did make a decision to allow some 101 00:05:42,140 --> 00:05:46,260 S2: Iranian missiles to get through without being intercepted. These caused 102 00:05:46,260 --> 00:05:49,380 S2: some damage at two Israeli air bases, though without hitting 103 00:05:49,380 --> 00:05:53,099 S2: any aircraft. But 15% of the Iranian missiles did make 104 00:05:53,100 --> 00:05:56,770 S2: it through, and that cost to Israel was substantial. The 105 00:05:56,770 --> 00:06:00,450 S2: preliminary estimate of damage to Israel's oil refinery in Haifa 106 00:06:00,570 --> 00:06:04,730 S2: is nearly $200 million. The damage to Soroka Hospital in 107 00:06:04,730 --> 00:06:08,570 S2: Beersheba has been placed at 260 million, and that doesn't 108 00:06:08,570 --> 00:06:11,890 S2: include the cost to replace medical equipment that was damaged. 109 00:06:12,050 --> 00:06:13,690 S2: It could take a year or more to bring that 110 00:06:13,690 --> 00:06:18,130 S2: hospital fully back online. Hundreds of residential buildings were damaged 111 00:06:18,130 --> 00:06:22,530 S2: or destroyed, leaving thousands of residents without homes. The initial 112 00:06:22,529 --> 00:06:24,970 S2: price tag to replace all the buildings that were damaged 113 00:06:24,970 --> 00:06:29,490 S2: or destroyed has been set at nearly $1.5 billion, though 114 00:06:29,490 --> 00:06:32,450 S2: the number of missiles to make it through was relatively small. 115 00:06:32,490 --> 00:06:35,369 S2: The amount of damage caused by each one was enormous, 116 00:06:35,410 --> 00:06:39,570 S2: turning entire apartment buildings into rubble. Putting it into perspective, 117 00:06:39,770 --> 00:06:42,410 S2: the cost of property damage from the 12 days of 118 00:06:42,410 --> 00:06:46,050 S2: war with Iran is estimated to be double the total 119 00:06:46,050 --> 00:06:49,210 S2: amount of damage from the October 7th attack, and the 120 00:06:49,210 --> 00:06:53,080 S2: 615 days of war between that attack and the conflict 121 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,039 S2: with Iran. So was the war with Iran worth it? 122 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,640 S2: Israeli intelligence believes Iran was within weeks of preparing nuclear 123 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,400 S2: warheads for their missiles. Had they been able to do 124 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,560 S2: that and then launched thousands of rockets, some with nuclear 125 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,760 S2: warheads at Israel, the damage would have been far, far greater, 126 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,840 S2: with possibly tens of thousands of lives lost. 127 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:15,200 S1: This is the land and the book with our host, 128 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,200 S1: Charlie Dyer. I'm John Geiger with a trick question who 129 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,760 S1: was buried in Salome's Cave, and for that matter, who 130 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:23,040 S1: was Salome? 131 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,080 S2: Yeah, this is an interesting one. For centuries, a burial 132 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,960 S2: cave in the Judean foothills has been venerated as the 133 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,680 S2: tomb of a woman named Salome, whose name was inscribed there. 134 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,520 S2: Salome is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Shlomit, 135 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,960 S2: which was a relatively common Hebrew name in the first century. 136 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,960 S2: But who was Salome or Shlomit? Well, during the Byzantine era, 137 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,360 S2: Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land identified the burial cave 138 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,640 S2: with one of two possible individuals with that name in 139 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:53,030 S2: Mark 15 and 16. Salome was one of the women who, 140 00:07:53,030 --> 00:07:56,470 S2: with Mary, stood at a distance and watched the crucifixion, 141 00:07:56,470 --> 00:07:59,030 S2: and who then brought spices to the tomb on Sunday, 142 00:07:59,390 --> 00:08:02,670 S2: and in the apocryphal Gospel of James, a second woman 143 00:08:02,670 --> 00:08:06,470 S2: named Salome is identified as a companion of the midwife 144 00:08:06,470 --> 00:08:09,590 S2: who helped Mary during childbirth, and later the name became 145 00:08:09,590 --> 00:08:13,350 S2: associated with the midwife herself. Now, unfortunately, neither of those 146 00:08:13,350 --> 00:08:18,950 S2: identifications seems likely. So who was Salome buried at this site? Well, 147 00:08:19,070 --> 00:08:21,790 S2: most likely now an archaeologist is convinced it was the 148 00:08:21,790 --> 00:08:24,990 S2: sister of King Herod the Great, who also happened to 149 00:08:24,990 --> 00:08:28,470 S2: be named Salome, or Shlomit. When Herod died, he willed 150 00:08:28,470 --> 00:08:32,069 S2: several cities to this sister, which she ruled. She lived 151 00:08:32,070 --> 00:08:34,790 S2: in Ashkelon and also owned lands in the Jordan Valley 152 00:08:34,790 --> 00:08:38,190 S2: north of Jericho. The burial cave, along with two nearby 153 00:08:38,190 --> 00:08:41,470 S2: Roman villas, are located by the road that connected those 154 00:08:41,470 --> 00:08:45,510 S2: two regions. Several centuries after the time of Christ, pilgrims 155 00:08:45,510 --> 00:08:48,390 S2: came to the Holy Land to seek out places connected 156 00:08:48,390 --> 00:08:51,420 S2: to people and events in the Bible. A burial cave 157 00:08:51,420 --> 00:08:54,660 S2: with the name Salome brought to mind two different women 158 00:08:54,660 --> 00:08:57,979 S2: with the same name, both of whom were connected with Mary, 159 00:08:57,980 --> 00:09:00,540 S2: and as a result, very likely the grave of Herod's 160 00:09:00,580 --> 00:09:04,220 S2: by now long forgotten sister ended up as a pilgrimage 161 00:09:04,220 --> 00:09:07,060 S2: site for two other ladies who shared the same name. 162 00:09:07,059 --> 00:09:09,700 S1: I can't imagine any remains or there, or any other 163 00:09:09,700 --> 00:09:10,740 S1: artifacts are there. 164 00:09:10,940 --> 00:09:13,740 S2: No, it was looted long ago, but it's rather a 165 00:09:13,740 --> 00:09:17,900 S2: spectacular location, and the name is what gave it prominence. 166 00:09:17,900 --> 00:09:20,220 S1: Interesting. Well, most of us love the taste of a 167 00:09:20,220 --> 00:09:24,140 S1: good ripe tomato. And thanks to researchers at Amazing Israel, 168 00:09:24,380 --> 00:09:28,220 S1: even tastier tomatoes might be on the horizon. Tell us 169 00:09:28,220 --> 00:09:30,500 S1: about this latest breakthrough from Israel. 170 00:09:30,780 --> 00:09:33,620 S2: Yeah. Researchers at Tel Aviv University developed a way to 171 00:09:33,660 --> 00:09:37,300 S2: edit large families of genes in crop plants, which they 172 00:09:37,300 --> 00:09:40,460 S2: tested on tomatoes. This is not the same as genetic 173 00:09:40,460 --> 00:09:45,780 S2: modification GMO, where they introduce foreign DNA into an organism. Instead, 174 00:09:45,780 --> 00:09:49,490 S2: they developed a way to use Crispr genetic editing with crops, 175 00:09:49,490 --> 00:09:53,090 S2: allowing them to investigate the functions of thousands of genes. 176 00:09:53,210 --> 00:09:57,290 S2: They developed a breakthrough solution to overcoming genetic redundancy, which 177 00:09:57,290 --> 00:10:01,530 S2: is where multiple genes share similar functions or traits. So 178 00:10:01,530 --> 00:10:03,290 S2: when you make the change in one gene, it didn't 179 00:10:03,290 --> 00:10:07,850 S2: necessarily impact the given trait. They were able to simultaneously 180 00:10:07,890 --> 00:10:11,090 S2: edit families of similar genes, and they developed a library 181 00:10:11,090 --> 00:10:16,290 S2: of 15,000 unique Crispr units tailored for tomato genome. They 182 00:10:16,290 --> 00:10:19,690 S2: ended up developing 1300 different plants and tested them for 183 00:10:19,690 --> 00:10:24,410 S2: traits like fruit size, shape, taste, nutrient size, and pest resistance. 184 00:10:24,530 --> 00:10:26,050 S2: I think we can all look forward at some point 185 00:10:26,050 --> 00:10:28,410 S2: to trying out these new varieties of tomatoes. 186 00:10:28,809 --> 00:10:31,890 S1: Thank you Charlie. And that's a look at current events. Well, 187 00:10:31,890 --> 00:10:36,050 S1: full program today, including a conversation about anti-Semitic attacks in 188 00:10:36,050 --> 00:10:39,490 S1: triple digits, your questions about the Bible being answered and 189 00:10:39,490 --> 00:10:42,930 S1: Charlie's devotional and more. All right. Here on the land 190 00:10:42,929 --> 00:10:45,490 S1: and the book. Hey, our website is the land and 191 00:10:45,490 --> 00:10:46,880 S1: the book. Dot org. 192 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:10,040 S3: Ring ring. Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring. 193 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,440 S1: The audio that you're hearing was taken from a video 194 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:17,720 S1: shot inside Hamilton Hall, the epicenter of a radical pro-hamas 195 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:22,000 S1: demonstration from Columbia students who had occupied that building back 196 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,440 S1: in April 30th, 2024. This is a springboard for a 197 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:29,680 S1: conversation you and I are about to have about shocking anti-Semitism. 198 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,320 S1: By the way, remember that October 7th attack on Israel 199 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:36,960 S1: back in 2023? Well, in the three months following anti-Semitic attacks, 200 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:42,359 S1: shot up 361%. And the hits literally keep on coming 201 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:48,540 S1: from college campuses to public demonstrations. Antisemitism is spewing deadly hate. 202 00:11:48,540 --> 00:11:52,740 S1: What's behind all the shocking anti-Semitism? This is the land 203 00:11:52,740 --> 00:11:55,420 S1: and the book I'm John Gager. Before we dive into 204 00:11:55,420 --> 00:11:59,620 S1: today's conversation, let's ponder something that could be life changing 205 00:11:59,620 --> 00:12:03,260 S1: for your Jewish friend. So you've got this Jewish friend 206 00:12:03,260 --> 00:12:06,660 S1: and you've been hanging out together, the friendships deepening, and 207 00:12:06,660 --> 00:12:09,980 S1: you can talk about spiritual things. Is it possible to 208 00:12:10,020 --> 00:12:13,699 S1: use prophecy in Scripture in a conversation? What do you think? 209 00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:16,180 S1: Roy Schwarz of Chosen People Ministries? Your answer? 210 00:12:16,300 --> 00:12:18,819 S4: Well, I would say prophecy is a great tool to 211 00:12:18,860 --> 00:12:24,380 S4: discuss Israel, to discuss current events. You know that certain things, 212 00:12:24,420 --> 00:12:27,780 S4: I mean, you need to understand it patiently and and 213 00:12:27,780 --> 00:12:31,740 S4: not do eisegesis that is projecting what's going on. But 214 00:12:31,740 --> 00:12:34,300 S4: to begin a discussion, do you think the State of 215 00:12:34,300 --> 00:12:36,620 S4: Israel has anything to do with God? Do you think 216 00:12:36,620 --> 00:12:39,660 S4: God brought about the state of Israel and then go 217 00:12:39,660 --> 00:12:44,060 S4: from there and then talk about Ezekiel and Daniel and, uh, 218 00:12:44,290 --> 00:12:47,170 S4: times of the Gentiles. You know, who knows where the 219 00:12:47,170 --> 00:12:51,050 S4: conversation will lead. But prophecy especially focused on the Old Testament. 220 00:12:51,090 --> 00:12:54,290 S4: Never mind the New Testament, just focus on the Old Testament, 221 00:12:54,330 --> 00:12:58,210 S4: the Jewish scriptures that will enable you to get into 222 00:12:58,210 --> 00:13:00,370 S4: conversations about the God of Israel. 223 00:13:00,570 --> 00:13:03,370 S1: That's Roy Schwartz with Chosen People Ministries here on the 224 00:13:03,370 --> 00:13:08,210 S1: land and the book. Doctor Eric Hogue was named president 225 00:13:08,210 --> 00:13:12,370 S1: of Colorado Christian University in 2023. Doctor Hogue is known 226 00:13:12,370 --> 00:13:16,050 S1: for his roles as a former political candidate, a practicing 227 00:13:16,090 --> 00:13:21,050 S1: theologian and pastor, and long tenured radio, television, and media professional. 228 00:13:21,370 --> 00:13:24,050 S1: He's the author of The Winning Side of The Ask, 229 00:13:24,410 --> 00:13:28,850 S1: a book dedicated to helping nonprofits design a thriving philanthropic culture. 230 00:13:29,090 --> 00:13:31,090 S1: We're glad you've taken out time to join us today 231 00:13:31,090 --> 00:13:33,010 S1: on the land and the book, Doctor Hogue. 232 00:13:33,450 --> 00:13:35,570 S5: John, it's great to spend time with you on a 233 00:13:35,570 --> 00:13:37,210 S5: on a very significant topic. 234 00:13:37,570 --> 00:13:40,090 S1: It seems to me that the most shocking thing about 235 00:13:40,090 --> 00:13:45,559 S1: today's shocking anti-Semitism is the near universal lack of shock 236 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,439 S1: by our culture in general and our media in specific. 237 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,040 S1: How could we be so uncaring as a country? 238 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:55,160 S5: You know, a great question. It may be best summed 239 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:57,440 S5: up in the fact that, you know, the frog's been 240 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:00,439 S5: in the kettle for quite some time. Nobody's been paying 241 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:05,760 S5: attention to what has been anti-Semitic themes and agendas, especially 242 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,840 S5: embedded in a lot of our universities across the country. 243 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,439 S5: And that has produced a graduate class after graduate class 244 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,840 S5: after graduate class. And so finally, an episode or a 245 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,760 S5: moment in time and that frog can no longer stand it. 246 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:20,880 S5: It is now boiling and we notice it for the 247 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,800 S5: first time. There's pain or there's shock over the revelation 248 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:27,680 S5: of how deep and how wide this goes. It's a 249 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:33,640 S5: sad state on America's higher education plateau. And in many ways, John, 250 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,320 S5: what we would consider a topic or a situation of 251 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,800 S5: common sense has become common nonsense. And we're caught off 252 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,950 S5: guard by this because we haven't been paying attention. And 253 00:14:43,230 --> 00:14:45,430 S5: out of nowhere, you know that frog is now in 254 00:14:45,430 --> 00:14:47,870 S5: boiling water, and we're beginning to feel the heat. Yeah. 255 00:14:48,190 --> 00:14:50,990 S1: What are some of the latest numbers suggesting, Doctor Hogue? 256 00:14:51,030 --> 00:14:55,070 S1: I'm guessing the trends are not moving away from violence 257 00:14:55,070 --> 00:14:57,790 S1: toward Jewish people and toward more peaceful things at all. 258 00:14:58,870 --> 00:15:00,630 S5: You know, I don't know if we fully have all 259 00:15:00,670 --> 00:15:03,510 S5: of the facts, but the trends are pretty evident. I mean, 260 00:15:03,550 --> 00:15:07,110 S5: you know, October 7th happened, and it was almost like 261 00:15:07,110 --> 00:15:11,110 S5: an unveiling of anti-Semitism across the country. And it continues. 262 00:15:11,150 --> 00:15:14,070 S5: I mean, there's probably some quieting because of a presidential 263 00:15:14,070 --> 00:15:18,750 S5: change and more attention on it, but it continues. It's evidentiary, 264 00:15:18,750 --> 00:15:23,710 S5: I believe, of the country's lack of understanding of Western civilization. 265 00:15:23,990 --> 00:15:26,710 S5: I think it's a watering down of the humanities and 266 00:15:26,710 --> 00:15:29,590 S5: the liberal arts. We no longer have critical thinking. And 267 00:15:29,590 --> 00:15:32,030 S5: I think there's some evidence that the church's voice hasn't 268 00:15:32,030 --> 00:15:35,310 S5: been strong enough. A conversation that might be controversial in 269 00:15:35,310 --> 00:15:37,670 S5: some parts, but I think the church has not been 270 00:15:37,670 --> 00:15:43,940 S5: as strong in representing the sovereign orchestration of Father God 271 00:15:43,980 --> 00:15:47,380 S5: through the Hebrew children, through the land called Israel. And 272 00:15:47,380 --> 00:15:49,860 S5: whether or not you want to talk about theological positions, 273 00:15:49,860 --> 00:15:52,580 S5: that's beside the point. It is what it is. It 274 00:15:52,580 --> 00:15:55,460 S5: is the Old Testament. And the covenant was debuted at 275 00:15:55,460 --> 00:15:57,620 S5: that time. And we now live in a new covenant, 276 00:15:57,620 --> 00:16:00,900 S5: which is founded upon the complete understanding of the old covenant. 277 00:16:00,900 --> 00:16:03,300 S5: So there's a there's a lot of variables here, John, 278 00:16:03,300 --> 00:16:05,460 S5: where we haven't been paying attention and we have not 279 00:16:05,460 --> 00:16:06,740 S5: been educating ourselves. 280 00:16:07,180 --> 00:16:09,660 S1: One article I read pointed out that young people today 281 00:16:09,660 --> 00:16:14,460 S1: study gender politics, search Yale University's courses for gender, and 282 00:16:14,460 --> 00:16:18,300 S1: you'll find 191 offerings, but are taught little about World 283 00:16:18,300 --> 00:16:22,300 S1: War two or the Holocaust. Just 16 courses. They know 284 00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:25,180 S1: almost nothing about the foundation of Israel and the history 285 00:16:25,180 --> 00:16:28,660 S1: of the Middle East. In a vacuum, they're easily misled. Well, 286 00:16:28,660 --> 00:16:31,180 S1: how much of a contributing factor do you think this 287 00:16:31,180 --> 00:16:34,260 S1: kind of imbalance is to significant? 288 00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:37,780 S5: I mean, we've had distilled wisdom because we have not 289 00:16:37,780 --> 00:16:41,210 S5: focused on history. Well, I'll give you an example. Recently, 290 00:16:41,210 --> 00:16:44,370 S5: I think it was last week. Abraham Lincoln's anniversary of 291 00:16:44,370 --> 00:16:48,450 S5: his assassination reached 160 years. We heard nothing about that, 292 00:16:48,690 --> 00:16:53,290 S5: nothing about that significant in our country's history, significant in 293 00:16:53,290 --> 00:16:57,490 S5: the current conversation of of racism and die today in 294 00:16:57,490 --> 00:16:59,690 S5: our country. And yet nobody brought that up. I mean, 295 00:16:59,690 --> 00:17:01,770 S5: just one small article that I read in the Wall 296 00:17:01,770 --> 00:17:06,330 S5: Street Journal, the loss of the humanities, the loss of 297 00:17:06,330 --> 00:17:11,050 S5: the liberal arts in higher education has skated for about 298 00:17:11,050 --> 00:17:14,330 S5: 30 to 35 years. And what we have done is 299 00:17:14,369 --> 00:17:19,290 S5: we have turned the humanities into a agenda where lies 300 00:17:19,290 --> 00:17:22,290 S5: have been truth about, and truths have been lied about. 301 00:17:22,530 --> 00:17:26,610 S5: And so we're in an educational awakening even in K 302 00:17:26,609 --> 00:17:29,570 S5: through 12. Definitely. So in higher ed. And I even 303 00:17:29,570 --> 00:17:32,850 S5: would say in the church itself, we need to wake 304 00:17:32,850 --> 00:17:38,360 S5: up and understand the Abrahamic advantage of Israel, the Abrahamic 305 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:42,479 S5: advantage that our country looked to Israel, looked to the 306 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:47,159 S5: Old Testament to understand law, to understand justice, and to 307 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:52,359 S5: understand the form of inalienable rights given to every human being. 308 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:54,520 S5: The imago day that's been lost. 309 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:57,120 S1: Okay, I can hear someone saying, well, Doctor Hogue, that's 310 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:00,760 S1: just that's just you're shoving your religious take on history. 311 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,120 S1: It really didn't happen that way. How do you respond? 312 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:08,360 S5: Well, ultimately, it I can probably respond with quotes from, uh, 313 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:12,879 S5: Harry Truman, Theodore Roosevelt, John Adams letter to Thomas Jefferson, 314 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,000 S5: John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, George W Bush. And I 315 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:19,159 S5: didn't toe the party line there, John. Our country has 316 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:22,760 S5: hearkened back not only to the geopolitics of Israel, but 317 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:26,720 S5: to the foundation of Israel. Now, obviously, there are numerous 318 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:31,040 S5: theological threads as to how heavy Israel should play into 319 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:34,280 S5: the church today. Not my discussion for the moment in time, 320 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:38,790 S5: but we all know if you want to understand Yahweh, 321 00:18:38,910 --> 00:18:44,470 S5: if you want to understand the complete, specific revelation, the Bible, 322 00:18:44,950 --> 00:18:47,590 S5: the Bible has the Old Testament. The Bible has the 323 00:18:47,590 --> 00:18:52,790 S5: New Testament. Yes, Jesus is now the covenant that grabs 324 00:18:52,790 --> 00:18:57,710 S5: us all. But we understand Jesus by understanding the foundation 325 00:18:58,109 --> 00:19:02,390 S5: of the Old Testament and the origins of God's revelation 326 00:19:02,390 --> 00:19:05,670 S5: of himself through the Hebrew people. So if you want 327 00:19:05,710 --> 00:19:09,270 S5: to call that religious, and some may find but I 328 00:19:09,310 --> 00:19:12,670 S5: call it historical and I call it foundational for my faith. 329 00:19:12,869 --> 00:19:17,670 S1: What's behind the shocking anti-Semitism erupting across America? That's our 330 00:19:17,670 --> 00:19:22,350 S1: conversation today with Doctor Eric Hogue, president of Colorado Christian University. 331 00:19:22,550 --> 00:19:25,510 S1: Some would say, look, I'll grant you that things are happening, 332 00:19:25,510 --> 00:19:27,990 S1: but isn't it a bit of overkill to call what's 333 00:19:27,990 --> 00:19:32,470 S1: happening today on on college campuses indoctrination? Your assessment? 334 00:19:32,910 --> 00:19:34,670 S5: Well, first of all, you know, a lot of people 335 00:19:34,670 --> 00:19:37,489 S5: toss it even to the religious circles, will you? At 336 00:19:37,490 --> 00:19:42,010 S5: Colorado Christian University you are indoctrinating, and I'm quick to agree. 337 00:19:42,050 --> 00:19:44,010 S5: I'll say, you know what? You know that when you enter, 338 00:19:44,010 --> 00:19:46,530 S5: you know that when you come to Colorado Christian University, 339 00:19:46,530 --> 00:19:51,490 S5: there is a evangelical, Christian conservative type of education that 340 00:19:51,490 --> 00:19:54,570 S5: you are entering. So this indoctrination, if you want to 341 00:19:54,570 --> 00:19:58,090 S5: call it such, is announced. You're choosing to study in 342 00:19:58,090 --> 00:20:04,409 S5: a Christ centered higher education platform and pathway and educational journey. 343 00:20:05,210 --> 00:20:08,490 S5: The other side, I think has shaded this. They have 344 00:20:08,490 --> 00:20:14,330 S5: shaded it in agendas such as CRT, racism, Dei, obviously 345 00:20:14,330 --> 00:20:18,650 S5: anti-Semitism covered in many areas there are excused and they 346 00:20:18,650 --> 00:20:22,890 S5: have hidden this inside of the halls of very isolated 347 00:20:23,210 --> 00:20:28,530 S5: Ivy League schools. So the agenda has been populated and 348 00:20:28,530 --> 00:20:31,570 S5: it has been seated, and it has been a part 349 00:20:31,570 --> 00:20:34,919 S5: of the curriculum for a number of years. That is 350 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:38,800 S5: indoctrination because nobody ever said, hey, I want to go 351 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:42,720 S5: to Columbia so that I can study to become an anti-Semite. 352 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,280 S5: But people have said, I want to go to Colorado 353 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:49,520 S5: Christian University so I can study as an evangelical Christian, 354 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:53,880 S5: two different sides of one coin, but one evidentiary because 355 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:55,800 S5: one side is face up and honest. 356 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,280 S1: Yeah. In March 18th, 2025 report from the New York 357 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:04,080 S1: Post details a 16 page underground manual to help budding 358 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:08,159 S1: criminal anarchists at Columbia inflict maximum damage. The list and 359 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:11,880 S1: I quote includes smashing stuff can be very quick. With 360 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,120 S1: an efficient sledgehammer in your hand, you can cause quite 361 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:17,190 S1: a bit of damage. Smashing windows often only takes 1 362 00:21:17,190 --> 00:21:21,440 S1: or 2 swings when using sledgehammers. Get some safety gloves. 363 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,120 S1: You don't want to get cut, and you don't want 364 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,359 S1: to leave your blood on the side either to avoid 365 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:30,000 S1: being tracked down. Face covering is key. Cash is king 366 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:34,070 S1: when buying equipment, whether it's spray paint or sledgehammers. Don't 367 00:21:34,070 --> 00:21:37,790 S1: leave a paper or digital trail. My goodness, this happening 368 00:21:37,830 --> 00:21:39,150 S1: on American campuses? 369 00:21:39,550 --> 00:21:43,149 S5: Yes. And being excused and being funded and being called 370 00:21:43,150 --> 00:21:49,189 S5: education and recruitment to such enrollment factors with clubs and uh, 371 00:21:49,350 --> 00:21:53,110 S5: and sidebar curriculum. It has been going on. Hence, back 372 00:21:53,109 --> 00:21:55,230 S5: to your first question. You know, all of a sudden 373 00:21:55,230 --> 00:21:58,110 S5: we're shocked by this. We shouldn't be. We just weren't 374 00:21:58,109 --> 00:22:01,710 S5: paying attention. And, uh, and because we weren't paying attention, 375 00:22:01,750 --> 00:22:04,630 S5: it now has released itself on the populace. Now we 376 00:22:04,630 --> 00:22:07,949 S5: can all have disagreements on geopolitics, you know, am I 377 00:22:07,990 --> 00:22:11,870 S5: saying that I agree with everything that the Israeli government does? No, 378 00:22:12,150 --> 00:22:14,750 S5: I don't agree with everything our government does. Right? Am 379 00:22:14,750 --> 00:22:18,750 S5: I saying that I agree with everything that the judiciary 380 00:22:18,750 --> 00:22:22,150 S5: system in Israel does? Nope. Nor do I agree with 381 00:22:22,350 --> 00:22:25,750 S5: what our Supreme Court justices may rule in certain categories 382 00:22:25,750 --> 00:22:27,869 S5: as it relates to a good example here might be 383 00:22:27,910 --> 00:22:31,420 S5: abortion in life on the womb. Disagreement is Agreement is different. 384 00:22:31,660 --> 00:22:35,820 S5: Disagreement and debate is allowed. It's encouraged that that is 385 00:22:35,820 --> 00:22:42,540 S5: critical thinking. Breaking windows. Covering your face. Anarchy. Secret agendas. 386 00:22:42,540 --> 00:22:48,300 S5: Secret groups. Blood on the sidewalk. Not intelligent and ultimately 387 00:22:48,300 --> 00:22:53,060 S5: a revelation of deep hatred, deep emotions and convictions that 388 00:22:53,060 --> 00:22:57,460 S5: do not come from a core understanding of freedom and 389 00:22:57,500 --> 00:22:58,460 S5: free speech. 390 00:22:58,780 --> 00:23:01,260 S1: There's an encouraging story in all of this, very specific 391 00:23:01,260 --> 00:23:04,419 S1: to Colorado Christian University. Talk about a healing moment that 392 00:23:04,420 --> 00:23:07,300 S1: took place with doctor Don Sweden, your predecessor. 393 00:23:08,100 --> 00:23:10,899 S5: Well, I tell you what, doctor, Sweden has been a 394 00:23:10,940 --> 00:23:13,260 S5: just a brother of mine for a number of years. 395 00:23:13,619 --> 00:23:16,540 S5: And there's so many things that Doctor Sweden has been 396 00:23:16,540 --> 00:23:20,820 S5: involved in that have helped CCU advance its understanding of Israel. 397 00:23:20,859 --> 00:23:24,859 S5: After October 7th, uh, there was a conversation. Doctor, Sweden 398 00:23:24,859 --> 00:23:27,300 S5: president at the time, simply said, we need to do 399 00:23:27,300 --> 00:23:31,490 S5: something for the Israeli and Jewish communities in and around 400 00:23:31,490 --> 00:23:37,129 S5: the Denver area. So on campus, we organized a kosher dinner, invited, 401 00:23:37,130 --> 00:23:42,050 S5: I think, 20 to 25 synagogues and rabbis and, uh, 402 00:23:42,050 --> 00:23:44,810 S5: and members who were a part of of those synagogues 403 00:23:44,810 --> 00:23:48,930 S5: to dinner. We sold out the Donnithorne great Hall on campus, 404 00:23:48,930 --> 00:23:52,650 S5: served a great meal, handed the agenda over to our 405 00:23:52,650 --> 00:23:56,850 S5: Jewish brothers and sisters, allowed them to speak from the stage. 406 00:23:56,850 --> 00:23:59,649 S5: We had a couple of students speak from the stage, 407 00:23:59,650 --> 00:24:03,170 S5: Doctor Sweeting and myself honored to speak to the community. 408 00:24:03,609 --> 00:24:07,130 S5: And at the end, we raised $1 million with people 409 00:24:07,130 --> 00:24:10,770 S5: in the room and people outside of the room for relief. 410 00:24:10,770 --> 00:24:15,250 S5: After the terrorist attacks of Hamas in Israel on October 7th. 411 00:24:15,810 --> 00:24:19,130 S5: That lit a match, a good match, a light and 412 00:24:19,130 --> 00:24:22,130 S5: a dark place that to this day people are calling 413 00:24:22,130 --> 00:24:27,170 S5: and saying, what happened there? What happened there is what 414 00:24:27,170 --> 00:24:31,640 S5: should happen on every higher education campus in America in 415 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:36,280 S5: a relationship with the Judeo-Christian, I would say not of 416 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:40,160 S5: Israel and America, and it's history. That's what should have happened, 417 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:45,000 S5: because evil is evil. Terrorism is terrorism, and Hamas is 418 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:49,560 S5: an organization of terrorism. And if you can't understand that, 419 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:52,240 S5: then once again, we go to common nonsense and not 420 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:57,360 S5: common sense. Hopefully there'll be more episodes of common sense 421 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,399 S5: versus ridiculous nonsense across the country. 422 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,119 S1: And that act was noticed all the way over in Israel, 423 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:04,359 S1: in the highest halls. 424 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:09,280 S5: Yes. Yeah. Doctor Sweeting received a handwritten letter, handwritten John, 425 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:14,080 S5: from Benjamin Netanyahu thanking Doctor Sweeting, thanking the leadership here 426 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:17,320 S5: at Colorado Christian University, and stating that he would love 427 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,120 S5: to visit sometime, but pretty much occupied with what's going 428 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:24,000 S5: on in his own country. But that sentiment speaks volumes. 429 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:28,270 S5: Here we are, nestled ten miles outside of Denver and 430 00:25:28,270 --> 00:25:33,550 S5: 300 people get together. And Benjamin Netanyahu notices an event 431 00:25:33,950 --> 00:25:35,830 S5: where somebody stood with Israel. 432 00:25:36,109 --> 00:25:38,390 S1: Well, a great conversation and a great story to end 433 00:25:38,390 --> 00:25:40,750 S1: it with. Thank you so much, Doctor Eric Hogue, president 434 00:25:40,750 --> 00:25:45,310 S1: of Colorado Christian University, sharing insights on shocking anti-Semitism. We 435 00:25:45,310 --> 00:25:46,310 S1: appreciate your time. 436 00:25:46,710 --> 00:25:49,270 S5: John, thank you so much. Lords, blessings on you today, 437 00:25:49,270 --> 00:25:49,790 S5: my friend. 438 00:25:49,790 --> 00:25:52,110 S1: Thank you sir. And don't go away because we've got 439 00:25:52,109 --> 00:25:54,990 S1: your Bible questions coming up next on the land and 440 00:25:54,990 --> 00:26:10,330 S1: the book. Said Francis Bacon a prudent question is one 441 00:26:10,330 --> 00:26:13,430 S1: half of wisdom. Well, we hope this next segment generates 442 00:26:13,470 --> 00:26:16,150 S1: a bit of wisdom for you as you listen to us. 443 00:26:16,150 --> 00:26:19,030 S1: This is the land and the book. I'm John Gager, 444 00:26:19,030 --> 00:26:22,310 S1: joined by our Bible expert, Doctor Gerald Peterman, professor of 445 00:26:22,310 --> 00:26:26,540 S1: Bible at the Moody Bible Institute. You know, Romans 116 says, 446 00:26:26,540 --> 00:26:28,939 S1: the gospel is to the Jew first and also to 447 00:26:28,940 --> 00:26:31,220 S1: the Gentile. But how do you share the gospel with 448 00:26:31,220 --> 00:26:35,100 S1: a Jewish person? Because of cultural, historical, and religious differences, 449 00:26:35,100 --> 00:26:38,859 S1: it's sometimes challenging to navigate a gospel conversation with someone 450 00:26:38,859 --> 00:26:42,500 S1: from a Jewish background. You ever wondered how the professionals 451 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:43,060 S1: do it? 452 00:26:43,380 --> 00:26:46,820 S6: To answer this question, our friends at Life and Messiah 453 00:26:46,820 --> 00:26:49,979 S6: want to mail you samples of the tracks their staff 454 00:26:50,020 --> 00:26:52,820 S6: use as they share the gospel. This will serve a 455 00:26:52,820 --> 00:26:57,460 S6: dual purpose of equipping you with methods of presenting the gospel, 456 00:26:57,460 --> 00:27:00,620 S6: and also supplying you with tracks you can share with 457 00:27:00,619 --> 00:27:04,260 S6: your Jewish friends and neighbors. Life in Messiah's Prayer is 458 00:27:04,260 --> 00:27:06,340 S6: that these tracks will help further the spread of the 459 00:27:06,380 --> 00:27:10,100 S6: gospel among the Jewish people. To receive this helpful assortment 460 00:27:10,100 --> 00:27:12,939 S6: of tracks. All you need to do is visit lifeline 461 00:27:14,780 --> 00:27:18,740 S6: and click on the radio button. For more information. That's 462 00:27:18,780 --> 00:27:23,419 S6: life in Messiah. Don't miss out on this great opportunity. 463 00:27:23,420 --> 00:27:25,690 S1: And before we get to our first question, let me 464 00:27:25,690 --> 00:27:27,770 S1: get to the question that might be most important of 465 00:27:27,770 --> 00:27:30,810 S1: all yours. As you listen. You haven't asked it yet, 466 00:27:30,850 --> 00:27:33,409 S1: but you could. It would get right to Doctor Gerald 467 00:27:33,410 --> 00:27:37,330 S1: Peterman's inbox. And that inbox is reached with an email. 468 00:27:37,490 --> 00:27:42,690 S1: The land and the book at Moody's. That's the land 469 00:27:42,690 --> 00:27:46,090 S1: and the book at Moody's. How long does it take 470 00:27:46,090 --> 00:27:48,370 S1: to get an answer? If somebody shoots a question off 471 00:27:48,369 --> 00:27:48,730 S1: to you. 472 00:27:48,930 --> 00:27:50,410 S6: Something like two days to a week. 473 00:27:50,450 --> 00:27:53,090 S1: Okay, two days to a week, uh, it's pretty speedy. 474 00:27:53,130 --> 00:27:56,330 S1: Get that question to the land and the book at Moody's. 475 00:27:57,450 --> 00:28:00,369 S1: And now it's time to let Sean ask his question. 476 00:28:00,410 --> 00:28:02,890 S1: He says we read in various accounts that Jesus was 477 00:28:02,890 --> 00:28:06,730 S1: able to escape angry crowds. In John eight it says 478 00:28:06,770 --> 00:28:09,410 S1: that this they picked up stones to stone him. But 479 00:28:09,410 --> 00:28:13,330 S1: Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. What 480 00:28:13,330 --> 00:28:16,050 S1: did he actually do? Was he like Frodo in Lord 481 00:28:16,050 --> 00:28:19,010 S1: of the rings and just simply disappear somehow? Or was 482 00:28:19,010 --> 00:28:22,410 S1: it like Star Trek? Beam me up, Scotty. What does 483 00:28:22,410 --> 00:28:24,949 S1: it mean that he hid hit himself, especially since he 484 00:28:24,950 --> 00:28:28,990 S1: was surrounded by angry religious leaders who were all holding rocks. 485 00:28:29,710 --> 00:28:32,629 S6: I really appreciate this question, and I've thought about it, 486 00:28:32,630 --> 00:28:35,150 S6: and I've pondered it, and I'm hesitant to give only 487 00:28:35,150 --> 00:28:38,950 S6: one answer since it's hard to know. Jesus did escape 488 00:28:38,950 --> 00:28:41,550 S6: a few times. We read about this in Luke four. 489 00:28:42,070 --> 00:28:46,030 S6: He's in the synagogue. He gives a message and it says, 490 00:28:46,030 --> 00:28:48,870 S6: they rose up and drove him out of the town 491 00:28:48,870 --> 00:28:51,030 S6: and brought him to the brow of the hill on 492 00:28:51,030 --> 00:28:54,150 S6: which the town was built, so that they could throw 493 00:28:54,190 --> 00:28:57,510 S6: him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he 494 00:28:57,510 --> 00:29:02,390 S6: went away. So neither Luke four nor John eight says 495 00:29:02,390 --> 00:29:05,510 S6: these events were miraculous. But on the other hand, in 496 00:29:05,510 --> 00:29:08,830 S6: both cases we have crowds, we have buildings. We have 497 00:29:08,870 --> 00:29:12,310 S6: almost certainly disciples around him. So we could imagine that 498 00:29:12,310 --> 00:29:15,910 S6: Jesus would be smart. He'd be thoughtful. He'd be clever, 499 00:29:15,950 --> 00:29:20,510 S6: perhaps even quick, and just get out of the way. Yeah. Um. 500 00:29:20,550 --> 00:29:24,780 S6: Is it miraculous? Alice. Um, I'm not sure if it's miraculous, 501 00:29:24,780 --> 00:29:27,060 S6: but here's one other thing I want to point out. 502 00:29:27,060 --> 00:29:31,340 S6: That is, it's only in John's gospel where we find 503 00:29:31,340 --> 00:29:36,700 S6: that Jesus is hidden or Jesus hides himself. It happens 504 00:29:36,700 --> 00:29:38,220 S6: at the end of chapter eight. It happens at the 505 00:29:38,220 --> 00:29:43,580 S6: end of chapter 12, because the crowd is hostile or 506 00:29:43,580 --> 00:29:48,340 S6: because the crowd is unbelieving. And I think about times 507 00:29:48,340 --> 00:29:52,380 S6: when we're reading the Psalms where the psalmist says, in persecution, 508 00:29:52,380 --> 00:29:55,340 S6: when people misunderstand me, when people speak bad about me, 509 00:29:55,380 --> 00:29:59,620 S6: you will hide me in your hiding place. You will 510 00:29:59,620 --> 00:30:01,740 S6: take care of me. You will. You will hide me 511 00:30:01,740 --> 00:30:04,620 S6: in your hand. And I wonder if this isn't what 512 00:30:04,700 --> 00:30:08,180 S6: God the Father is doing with Jesus to protect him 513 00:30:08,180 --> 00:30:10,740 S6: from death at the wrong moment, right? He's not going 514 00:30:10,740 --> 00:30:12,300 S6: to die until he gets to the cross. He's not 515 00:30:12,300 --> 00:30:14,380 S6: going to be stoned to death by a crowd. I 516 00:30:14,380 --> 00:30:17,820 S6: wonder if this isn't the father protecting him and hiding him. 517 00:30:17,820 --> 00:30:20,219 S1: Yeah, I mean that reference also in Psalm 27, he 518 00:30:20,220 --> 00:30:22,290 S1: will hide me in the secret place of his tent. 519 00:30:22,330 --> 00:30:23,250 S6: Exactly. 520 00:30:23,290 --> 00:30:25,450 S1: Well, interesting question, Sean. Thank you for that. Here's one 521 00:30:25,450 --> 00:30:30,330 S1: from Mark. He says, Hebrews 927 and Psalm 3115 indicate 522 00:30:30,330 --> 00:30:33,530 S1: that the time of our death is predetermined by God. 523 00:30:33,530 --> 00:30:37,810 S1: No one can supersede the sovereignty of God. Yet acts 524 00:30:37,810 --> 00:30:40,970 S1: of the human will, such as reckless living and suicide, 525 00:30:41,170 --> 00:30:43,570 S1: can hasten the day of death. Does this mean that 526 00:30:43,570 --> 00:30:47,850 S1: these verses are just generalities and not hard declarations? Can 527 00:30:47,890 --> 00:30:50,370 S1: this be viewed as under the umbrella of the permissive 528 00:30:50,370 --> 00:30:53,290 S1: will of God, but not the perfect will of God? 529 00:30:53,730 --> 00:30:57,410 S6: Well, no doubt, reckless living and suicide can hasten the 530 00:30:57,410 --> 00:31:00,530 S6: day of death. And no doubt we cannot escape the 531 00:31:00,530 --> 00:31:03,650 S6: sovereignty of God. And I don't want to, but I'm 532 00:31:03,650 --> 00:31:06,370 S6: reading these two verses a little bit differently than Mark's 533 00:31:06,370 --> 00:31:09,930 S6: reading them. We come to Hebrews nine and it talks 534 00:31:09,930 --> 00:31:13,890 S6: about the many, many animal sacrifices that had to be 535 00:31:13,890 --> 00:31:18,410 S6: repeatedly made during the Old Testament period, in contrast to 536 00:31:18,450 --> 00:31:22,240 S6: those our Lord Jesus dies as a sacrifice for us 537 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:26,640 S6: only once. Then in the verse in question, it says 538 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:29,520 S6: it's appointed for man to die once, and after that 539 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:33,400 S6: comes judgment. What is pre-destined here is once not the 540 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:36,720 S6: day of the death. What's pre-destined is there'll be one death. 541 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:41,440 S6: No reincarnation. And after this comes judgment. I think similarly 542 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:45,520 S6: in Psalm 31. My times are in your hand. That is, 543 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:51,040 S6: God is sovereign. God is in control. I'm constantly trusting him. 544 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:54,719 S6: I don't take it. This means God is predetermined the 545 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,200 S6: day of my death. Neither one of these two passages 546 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:02,000 S6: uses very important predestination language like we find in Romans eight. God, 547 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:05,680 S6: about whom he foreknew, he predestined to be conformed to 548 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:07,880 S6: the image of his son. Not one of the two 549 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:10,760 S6: uses that so. And I take it this is just 550 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:13,800 S6: God's general sovereignty, if you will. 551 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:17,360 S1: Okay. All right. This is an anonymous question. When the 552 00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:21,430 S1: Bible says wives must submit to their husbands. Does submit 553 00:32:21,430 --> 00:32:24,630 S1: mean obey? Is that the same as obedience? 554 00:32:24,950 --> 00:32:28,270 S6: I really appreciate this question and I totally understand why 555 00:32:28,270 --> 00:32:32,550 S6: it would be anonymous. The short answer is no. Submission 556 00:32:32,550 --> 00:32:35,070 S6: and obedience are not the same thing. How do we 557 00:32:35,110 --> 00:32:37,350 S6: know that? How do we know that? Well, let's go 558 00:32:37,350 --> 00:32:42,430 S6: to say Romans 13. In Romans 13, Paul says, be 559 00:32:42,430 --> 00:32:45,350 S6: in submission to the governing authorities. Who are the governing 560 00:32:45,350 --> 00:32:47,430 S6: authorities in the ancient world? Romans are one of the 561 00:32:47,430 --> 00:32:50,430 S6: governing authorities. The Sanhedrin is one of the governing authorities. 562 00:32:50,630 --> 00:32:53,550 S6: But now let's skip to acts two and X4 and x5. 563 00:32:53,550 --> 00:32:58,270 S6: What happens there? The early apostles Peter, John, they get 564 00:32:58,270 --> 00:33:02,630 S6: brought in, they get beaten. They get told x4 and x5. 565 00:33:02,630 --> 00:33:07,390 S6: Stop preaching in Jesus name. Right? And their response is, 566 00:33:08,110 --> 00:33:11,310 S6: here's how I'm reading it. They recognize the authority of 567 00:33:11,310 --> 00:33:14,070 S6: the Sanhedrin, and then they say we will obey God 568 00:33:14,430 --> 00:33:17,420 S6: rather than man. And thanks be to God. That's what 569 00:33:17,420 --> 00:33:21,100 S6: they do. So submission is an attitude and a perspective 570 00:33:21,100 --> 00:33:25,100 S6: where you recognize someone as an authority figure, the husband. 571 00:33:25,100 --> 00:33:27,820 S6: But submission has always got to be done by the 572 00:33:27,820 --> 00:33:31,740 S6: guidance of the spirit with wisdom. We never obey abuse 573 00:33:31,740 --> 00:33:34,740 S6: of authorities, right? And we never obey authorities that tell 574 00:33:34,740 --> 00:33:37,460 S6: us to do something wrong or evil. I hope that's 575 00:33:37,460 --> 00:33:38,460 S6: a helpful answer. 576 00:33:38,820 --> 00:33:41,620 S1: Hey, your question is welcome in this conversation. You can 577 00:33:41,660 --> 00:33:44,060 S1: email it to us at the land and the book 578 00:33:44,260 --> 00:33:48,940 S1: at Moody's. That's the land and the book at Moody's. 579 00:33:49,820 --> 00:33:54,300 S1: Another anonymous question about Rahab's reason for hiding the spies 580 00:33:54,540 --> 00:33:57,100 S1: and lying to the King's men. This person says it 581 00:33:57,100 --> 00:34:00,060 S1: seems to be out of fear of what God would do. 582 00:34:00,220 --> 00:34:04,260 S1: Why are this woman's actions honored as faith hiding and lying? 583 00:34:04,500 --> 00:34:08,380 S6: Mm. Yes. Right, right. Okay. The verses that we're addressing 584 00:34:08,380 --> 00:34:13,180 S6: here are really two Joshua chapter two, several verses there, 585 00:34:13,300 --> 00:34:17,850 S6: and also Hebrews 11, verse 31. In Hebrews it says, 586 00:34:17,850 --> 00:34:22,050 S6: by faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those 587 00:34:22,050 --> 00:34:26,370 S6: who were disobedient, because she gave a friendly welcome to 588 00:34:26,370 --> 00:34:30,890 S6: the spies. Was she motivated by fear? I think fear 589 00:34:30,890 --> 00:34:33,410 S6: is part of the motivation, and I think we ought 590 00:34:33,410 --> 00:34:37,009 S6: to admit that sometimes fear can be a godly motivation. 591 00:34:37,050 --> 00:34:40,890 S6: Not always, but sometimes fear can be a godly motivation. 592 00:34:40,890 --> 00:34:44,250 S6: What does our Lord Jesus say? He says Matthew 1028 593 00:34:44,690 --> 00:34:47,490 S6: do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot 594 00:34:47,489 --> 00:34:50,650 S6: kill the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both 595 00:34:50,650 --> 00:34:56,610 S6: soul and body in hell. In Joshua two, Rahab says, 596 00:34:56,610 --> 00:34:59,850 S6: I have heard about this God, how he parted the 597 00:34:59,850 --> 00:35:04,049 S6: Red sea for you. So she's making this fantastic confession 598 00:35:04,050 --> 00:35:07,770 S6: about his power. He is not like any other god 599 00:35:07,770 --> 00:35:11,649 S6: she's ever heard about, and she wants to be on 600 00:35:11,650 --> 00:35:14,410 S6: his side, if you will. So I think that is 601 00:35:14,510 --> 00:35:17,670 S6: a godly confession. I think it's a wonderful confession on 602 00:35:17,670 --> 00:35:18,630 S6: her part. Yeah. 603 00:35:19,350 --> 00:35:22,030 S1: One more question from Carlene, who takes us to second 604 00:35:22,030 --> 00:35:26,589 S1: Samuel 12, verse 25. God says David's son Solomon is 605 00:35:26,590 --> 00:35:30,430 S1: to be named Jedidiah. So why is he always called Solomon? 606 00:35:30,830 --> 00:35:33,830 S6: Right. Why give a name and not use it? I 607 00:35:33,870 --> 00:35:36,149 S6: had never thought about this question, so I'm so glad 608 00:35:36,150 --> 00:35:39,910 S6: that Carlene has asked it. Let's read two Samuel 12 609 00:35:39,950 --> 00:35:44,910 S6: verses 24 and 25. It says, Then David comforted his 610 00:35:44,910 --> 00:35:49,390 S6: wife Bathsheba, and went to her and lay with her. 611 00:35:49,390 --> 00:35:53,149 S6: And she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. 612 00:35:53,150 --> 00:35:58,670 S6: And the Lord loved him. That's the child. Him. And 613 00:35:58,670 --> 00:36:02,150 S6: sent a message by the prophet Nathan. So he called 614 00:36:02,150 --> 00:36:05,990 S6: his name Jedidiah because of the Lord. I take it 615 00:36:05,989 --> 00:36:09,270 S6: King David gives the name Solomon, and that becomes the 616 00:36:09,270 --> 00:36:12,870 S6: official name, the one that's always used. But you might 617 00:36:12,940 --> 00:36:17,380 S6: wonder to yourself, how does David come to marry Bathsheba? 618 00:36:17,420 --> 00:36:21,379 S6: Because he killed her husband. What about their baby? Will 619 00:36:21,380 --> 00:36:25,980 S6: this baby be approved by God? Short answer is yes. Yes. 620 00:36:26,219 --> 00:36:28,660 S6: And with this name, it shows us. And it shows 621 00:36:28,660 --> 00:36:32,460 S6: David that God loves this child, even though that name 622 00:36:32,580 --> 00:36:34,860 S6: never gets used. It is a precious name. 623 00:36:34,900 --> 00:36:37,180 S1: Boy, what a neat detail. Thank you for uncovering that 624 00:36:37,180 --> 00:36:39,339 S1: for us. Appreciate that. And we thank you for your 625 00:36:39,340 --> 00:36:42,339 S1: questions too. If you didn't hear yours well, it's either 626 00:36:42,340 --> 00:36:44,900 S1: coming or you didn't ask it. So it's not in 627 00:36:44,900 --> 00:36:46,779 S1: the queue, but you can fix that with a quick 628 00:36:46,780 --> 00:36:51,459 S1: email to the land. And the book at our last 629 00:36:51,460 --> 00:36:54,100 S1: segment is coming up. Next is Charlie Dyer's devotional. Stay 630 00:36:54,100 --> 00:37:09,180 S1: with us right here. When many of us think of 631 00:37:09,180 --> 00:37:12,930 S1: Isaiah chapter nine, we think of that famous Christmas text 632 00:37:13,170 --> 00:37:16,690 S1: in verse six unto us a child is born, unto 633 00:37:16,690 --> 00:37:18,890 S1: us a son is given. But there's much more to 634 00:37:18,930 --> 00:37:22,010 S1: this chapter. As we're about to discover. Charlie, where exactly 635 00:37:22,010 --> 00:37:22,970 S1: are we headed today? 636 00:37:23,330 --> 00:37:25,850 S2: Believe it or not, we're heading to Mount Arbel, overlooking 637 00:37:25,850 --> 00:37:28,410 S2: the Sea of Galilee, to look at Isaiah nine. 638 00:37:28,450 --> 00:37:30,690 S1: All right. I'm looking forward to that vista after we 639 00:37:30,730 --> 00:37:32,690 S1: hear a testimony from someone who has also been to 640 00:37:32,730 --> 00:37:34,610 S1: Israel and recalls this. 641 00:37:38,969 --> 00:37:42,410 S7: I was calling just to give my perspective on Israel. 642 00:37:42,489 --> 00:37:46,250 S7: I have been a wonderful study of the history in 643 00:37:46,250 --> 00:37:49,490 S7: the Bible, and when I actually went to the Holy 644 00:37:49,489 --> 00:37:53,290 S7: Land and experienced it, I do have to say that 645 00:37:53,290 --> 00:37:55,450 S7: not only did it come off the pages of the 646 00:37:55,450 --> 00:37:59,250 S7: Word of God, but also it's just a wonderful eye 647 00:37:59,250 --> 00:38:04,129 S7: opening experience for anyone, and certainly, uh, lends more light 648 00:38:04,450 --> 00:38:10,210 S7: to the area, to the understanding, um, of the Jewish people. 649 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:13,160 S8: I just want to make a comment on how the 650 00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:17,080 S8: Bible becomes alive when you go to Israel. Um, I've 651 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:21,160 S8: been there about 20 or 30 some years ago, and 652 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:24,920 S8: I never really realized how to read the Bible until 653 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:28,680 S8: I went to Israel. And it just the words jumped 654 00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:32,120 S8: off the pages when I started beginning to read the 655 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:37,640 S8: Bible all over again, anew. Going to Israel. I love Israel, 656 00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:38,960 S8: I want to go back. 657 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:43,239 S9: By now it is good to go to Israel. It 658 00:38:43,239 --> 00:38:48,000 S9: does bring the Bible alive. As you visit all the 659 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:52,239 S9: areas that your guide takes you to. It opens up 660 00:38:52,239 --> 00:38:56,879 S9: your eyes. I believe that if God is wanting you 661 00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:58,880 S9: to go, you should go. 662 00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:03,600 S1: All right. Galilee of the Nations is what you've titled 663 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:06,080 S1: today's devotional, Charlie. I'm looking forward to hearing it. 664 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:08,600 S2: Well, thanks. One of my favorite moments on a trip 665 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:11,470 S2: to Israel comes as we approach the Sea of Galilee 666 00:39:11,469 --> 00:39:14,790 S2: for the very first time. We've driven through Nazareth, and 667 00:39:14,790 --> 00:39:18,870 S2: I've been talking non-stop about Nazareth and Galilee and Cana 668 00:39:18,870 --> 00:39:21,910 S2: and olive trees, and Saladin's battle with the Crusaders and 669 00:39:21,910 --> 00:39:25,190 S2: James Michener's novel of the source. Whatever comes to mind. 670 00:39:25,230 --> 00:39:27,589 S2: But I'm watching while I'm doing all that for one 671 00:39:27,590 --> 00:39:31,030 S2: particular spot. And when we reach it, I stop whatever 672 00:39:31,030 --> 00:39:32,830 S2: I'm talking about and tell our group to be on 673 00:39:32,830 --> 00:39:35,670 S2: the lookout, because the Sea of Galilee is just about 674 00:39:35,670 --> 00:39:38,350 S2: to come into view. They're about to see it for 675 00:39:38,350 --> 00:39:41,070 S2: the very first time. This body of water that played 676 00:39:41,070 --> 00:39:44,589 S2: such a major role in Jesus's ministry. And then the 677 00:39:44,630 --> 00:39:48,590 S2: sea comes into view and it's so small. The response 678 00:39:48,590 --> 00:39:52,469 S2: from the bus is rather underwhelming. For some reason, we've 679 00:39:52,469 --> 00:39:55,230 S2: come to expect a large body of water. After all, 680 00:39:55,230 --> 00:39:58,230 S2: we grew up calling it the Sea of Galilee, but 681 00:39:58,230 --> 00:40:01,670 S2: in reality it's just a lake and a relatively small 682 00:40:01,670 --> 00:40:05,390 S2: lake at that. How small is the Sea of Galilee? Well, 683 00:40:05,390 --> 00:40:08,420 S2: Mark Twain compared it to Lake Tahoe on the California 684 00:40:08,420 --> 00:40:12,380 S2: Nevada border, but Twain was off by a factor of three. 685 00:40:12,420 --> 00:40:15,220 S2: That is, Lake Tahoe is actually three times the size 686 00:40:15,219 --> 00:40:18,420 S2: of the Sea of Galilee in terms of surface area. Now, 687 00:40:18,420 --> 00:40:22,219 S2: here are some comparisons. We could fit 150 seas of 688 00:40:22,219 --> 00:40:27,380 S2: Galilee into Lake Erie and 350 into Lake Michigan. The 689 00:40:27,420 --> 00:40:30,859 S2: Sea of Galilee is the size of Lake Ouachita in Arkansas, 690 00:40:31,180 --> 00:40:34,700 S2: or Seneca Lake in New York, or Lake Winnipesaukee in 691 00:40:34,700 --> 00:40:38,299 S2: New Hampshire. Our final stop on this day brings us 692 00:40:38,300 --> 00:40:42,299 S2: to a spectacular overlook called Mount Arbel, and here the 693 00:40:42,300 --> 00:40:46,300 S2: smallness of the lake becomes even clearer. From this cliff 694 00:40:46,340 --> 00:40:50,140 S2: side perch, we can view almost the entire Sea of Galilee. 695 00:40:50,140 --> 00:40:52,980 S2: And we now realize clearly that it's just a small 696 00:40:52,980 --> 00:40:57,020 S2: freshwater lake. And as if that's not discouraging enough, I 697 00:40:57,020 --> 00:40:58,940 S2: then point out all the places in the life of 698 00:40:58,940 --> 00:41:03,020 S2: Jesus situated along its shore, and we discover that most 699 00:41:03,020 --> 00:41:07,050 S2: of Jesus's ministry took place in a small triangle along 700 00:41:07,050 --> 00:41:10,490 S2: the very northern tip of the lake. It's sometimes called 701 00:41:10,489 --> 00:41:14,609 S2: the Evangelical Triangle. The area where the euangelion, the good 702 00:41:14,610 --> 00:41:18,210 S2: news was proclaimed. The points of this triangle are formed 703 00:41:18,210 --> 00:41:21,169 S2: by the three cities in which the gospel writers said 704 00:41:21,170 --> 00:41:26,250 S2: Jesus did most of his miracles Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum. 705 00:41:26,730 --> 00:41:29,250 S2: And that's when it hits us. If we had been 706 00:41:29,250 --> 00:41:31,770 S2: in charge, this is not where we would have sent 707 00:41:31,810 --> 00:41:37,729 S2: God's son. It's too small, too remote, too insignificant. We 708 00:41:37,730 --> 00:41:40,730 S2: would have selected Rome, the central city of the world 709 00:41:40,730 --> 00:41:43,330 S2: at that time. Or if we wanted the events to 710 00:41:43,370 --> 00:41:47,009 S2: take place in the Promised Land, we would have chosen Jerusalem, 711 00:41:47,010 --> 00:41:51,209 S2: where the magnificent temple of God stood. Or at least Judea, 712 00:41:51,250 --> 00:41:54,650 S2: the region around Jerusalem connected with the cities of biblical 713 00:41:54,650 --> 00:41:58,969 S2: significance like Bethlehem and Hebron and Beersheba. But God sent 714 00:41:58,969 --> 00:42:01,650 S2: Jesus to an out of the way corner of the 715 00:42:01,650 --> 00:42:05,880 S2: Roman Empire, to the district of Galilee, a region looked 716 00:42:05,880 --> 00:42:08,839 S2: down on by the religious and political elite, and to 717 00:42:08,880 --> 00:42:12,359 S2: an obscure corner of a small lake in that region. 718 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:15,879 S2: What was God thinking? We don't have to wonder very long, 719 00:42:15,880 --> 00:42:19,840 S2: because God himself tells us why he did this. Right 720 00:42:19,840 --> 00:42:23,719 S2: after Jesus's 40 day temptation in the wilderness, Matthew says 721 00:42:23,719 --> 00:42:26,600 S2: the following. Now when Jesus heard that John had been 722 00:42:26,600 --> 00:42:30,400 S2: taken into custody, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, 723 00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:33,160 S2: he came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the 724 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:36,719 S2: sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was 725 00:42:36,719 --> 00:42:41,160 S2: to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet. Matthew 726 00:42:41,200 --> 00:42:44,200 S2: then quotes Isaiah nine, verses one and two. But there 727 00:42:44,200 --> 00:42:46,560 S2: will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. 728 00:42:46,640 --> 00:42:49,359 S2: In earlier times he treated the land of Zebulon and 729 00:42:49,360 --> 00:42:52,200 S2: the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on he 730 00:42:52,200 --> 00:42:54,920 S2: shall make it glorious by the way of the sea, 731 00:42:54,960 --> 00:42:58,800 S2: on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 732 00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:01,719 S2: The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. 733 00:43:01,760 --> 00:43:04,040 S2: Those who live in a dark land, the light will 734 00:43:04,180 --> 00:43:07,419 S2: shine on them. Jesus had to go to the land 735 00:43:07,420 --> 00:43:11,580 S2: of Zebulun and Naphtali because God told Isaiah the prophet, 736 00:43:11,580 --> 00:43:15,260 S2: that's the area he would make glorious. Now, most people 737 00:43:15,260 --> 00:43:17,700 S2: don't know what area was promised to the tribes of 738 00:43:17,700 --> 00:43:20,859 S2: Zebulun and Naphtali. So take a second and look at 739 00:43:20,860 --> 00:43:23,219 S2: the maps in the back of your Bible. Or if 740 00:43:23,219 --> 00:43:26,940 S2: you're using an electronic Bible, then Google both names and 741 00:43:26,940 --> 00:43:30,180 S2: here's what you'll find. The region around Nazareth was the 742 00:43:30,180 --> 00:43:33,859 S2: area given to the tribe of Zebulon, and the northwest 743 00:43:33,860 --> 00:43:36,260 S2: corner of the Sea of Galilee belonged to the tribe 744 00:43:36,260 --> 00:43:40,220 S2: of Naphtali. Jesus went to the very area where God 745 00:43:40,219 --> 00:43:44,299 S2: promised that his light would shine. Isaiah actually tells us 746 00:43:44,300 --> 00:43:47,660 S2: quite a bit about this predicted ministry. He says God 747 00:43:47,660 --> 00:43:50,940 S2: had originally treated the area with contempt, that it was 748 00:43:50,940 --> 00:43:54,260 S2: called Galilee of the Gentiles, and by that he meant 749 00:43:54,260 --> 00:43:57,180 S2: the area had come under God's judgment, to the point 750 00:43:57,180 --> 00:44:01,299 S2: where God allowed the Gentiles to dominate and control the region. 751 00:44:01,660 --> 00:44:04,170 S2: In Isaiah's day, it was taken over and controlled by 752 00:44:04,170 --> 00:44:07,930 S2: the Assyrians. In Jesus's day it was the Romans, but 753 00:44:07,930 --> 00:44:11,330 S2: it was Galilee of, or controlled by, or belonging to 754 00:44:11,370 --> 00:44:16,690 S2: the Gentiles. Foreigners controlled the fate of God's people. Isaiah 755 00:44:16,730 --> 00:44:20,730 S2: also identifies Galilee with the Jordan River and the sea. 756 00:44:21,090 --> 00:44:23,530 S2: Most have never really thought about this, but what sea 757 00:44:23,570 --> 00:44:26,290 S2: did God have in mind? We usually think of the 758 00:44:26,290 --> 00:44:30,170 S2: Mediterranean Sea, but Isaiah connects this sea with the Jordan 759 00:44:30,170 --> 00:44:34,410 S2: River and the tribal allotment of Zebulun and Naphtali. And 760 00:44:34,410 --> 00:44:37,529 S2: what sea is in that area? You've got it. The 761 00:44:37,570 --> 00:44:41,090 S2: Sea of Galilee. Isaiah predicted it was the place God 762 00:44:41,090 --> 00:44:44,730 S2: would make glorious, by shining the light of his glory 763 00:44:44,730 --> 00:44:48,170 S2: in an area that had for too long only known darkness. 764 00:44:48,810 --> 00:44:51,250 S2: Now look back down at the lake and focus on 765 00:44:51,250 --> 00:44:55,170 S2: that tiny triangle of land where Jesus did so many 766 00:44:55,170 --> 00:44:58,890 S2: of his miracles. What lessons can we take away from 767 00:44:58,890 --> 00:45:02,600 S2: this perch overlooking a small lake in an out of 768 00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:07,480 S2: the way area of Galilee. How about this? No ministry 769 00:45:07,480 --> 00:45:11,280 S2: for God is ever insignificant. If God is in it, 770 00:45:11,760 --> 00:45:14,880 S2: all too often we're guilty of using the wrong yardstick 771 00:45:14,920 --> 00:45:19,640 S2: to measure importance. We focus on size and budget and 772 00:45:19,640 --> 00:45:23,640 S2: numbers and location. We assume that if something is bigger 773 00:45:23,640 --> 00:45:28,080 S2: and flashier and more prominent than, it must be more significant. 774 00:45:28,520 --> 00:45:31,680 S2: But looking down at this small lake in Galilee and 775 00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:36,040 S2: remembering Isaiah's prophecy reminds us that God chose this most 776 00:45:36,040 --> 00:45:40,360 S2: insignificant area to do some of his most significant work. 777 00:45:40,840 --> 00:45:44,120 S2: Jesus fed the multitudes here. He poured his life into 778 00:45:44,160 --> 00:45:47,000 S2: just 12, and one of those washed out. Yet it 779 00:45:47,000 --> 00:45:51,359 S2: was that small group that ultimately turned the world upside down. 780 00:45:51,880 --> 00:45:56,080 S2: So what are you doing for God today? Whatever it is, 781 00:45:56,080 --> 00:45:58,680 S2: I want you to walk off this overlook with one 782 00:45:58,680 --> 00:46:03,069 S2: key thought. whatever your ministry is for God, if he 783 00:46:03,070 --> 00:46:07,590 S2: is in it, then it is not insignificant. Just ask 784 00:46:07,590 --> 00:46:10,790 S2: that small group of fishermen standing down there along the 785 00:46:10,790 --> 00:46:13,230 S2: shore of this tiny lake. 786 00:46:13,670 --> 00:46:15,870 S1: Thank you Charlie. Great perspective. And like you say, it 787 00:46:15,870 --> 00:46:20,350 S1: is a very tiny triangle. Those three very prominent cities. Well, 788 00:46:20,390 --> 00:46:23,310 S1: a lot of people listen to this broadcast and they 789 00:46:23,310 --> 00:46:26,870 S1: have never visited our website. Why don't you correct that today? 790 00:46:27,030 --> 00:46:31,069 S1: Head to the land and the bookstores because you'll find 791 00:46:31,070 --> 00:46:35,750 S1: information about our guests, past programs, future programs, access to 792 00:46:35,790 --> 00:46:38,390 S1: links for books that Charlie and I have written, and 793 00:46:38,390 --> 00:46:41,030 S1: a whole lot more. Again, the website is the land 794 00:46:41,030 --> 00:46:46,029 S1: and the book the land and the book. Well, our 795 00:46:46,030 --> 00:46:48,390 S1: time has gone, but we thank you for investing part 796 00:46:48,390 --> 00:46:50,910 S1: of your day with us. The land and the book 797 00:46:50,910 --> 00:46:53,750 S1: is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody 798 00:46:53,750 --> 00:46:54,830 S1: Bible Institute.