1 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,280 S1: Civil war in Syria. More than half a million Syrians 2 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:16,440 S1: are dead and 55,000 of those are children. Half of 3 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:20,480 S1: Syria's population is now uprooted from their homes, and 5.5 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:25,000 S1: million have fled to neighboring countries. But some courageous Christians 5 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,400 S1: are shining bright lights for Christ in Syria. Their stories 6 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:30,960 S1: are amazing, and Tom Doyle will share a bunch of 7 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,680 S1: them coming up. Hey, welcome to the land and the 8 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,320 S1: book with Doctor Charlie Dyer, noted Old Testament scholar, author, 9 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,800 S1: and frequent Israel traveler. I'm John Gager and you know, Charlie, 10 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,760 S1: as believers, we really do face a great need to 11 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,960 S1: share the gospel with the Jewish people. In fact, many 12 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,720 S1: of our listeners already faithfully pray and partner with ministries 13 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,920 S1: that are doing just that. But imagine what if we 14 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,840 S1: could go out personally and take part in bringing the 15 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:58,360 S1: gospel to Jewish people? 16 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:00,630 S2: Yeah, that'd be exciting. And that's why our friends at 17 00:01:00,670 --> 00:01:04,550 S2: Life and Messiah love the opportunity to get believers involved 18 00:01:04,550 --> 00:01:09,270 S2: in Jewish ministry. They regularly organize outreach teams to Brooklyn, 19 00:01:09,270 --> 00:01:13,110 S2: South Florida, and even to Israel outside the times of conflict. 20 00:01:13,270 --> 00:01:15,910 S2: These ministry trips will equip you to understand how to 21 00:01:15,910 --> 00:01:19,070 S2: share the gospel with Jewish people, give you the opportunity 22 00:01:19,069 --> 00:01:22,750 S2: to actively share your faith, and provide tools and resources 23 00:01:22,750 --> 00:01:24,750 S2: that you can take home with you. If you want 24 00:01:24,750 --> 00:01:29,190 S2: to get hands on training and practical experience in Jewish evangelism, 25 00:01:29,190 --> 00:01:32,150 S2: you can learn more by visiting Life in Messiah org 26 00:01:32,190 --> 00:01:36,030 S2: and clicking on the Moody Radio button. That's life in Messiah. 27 00:01:37,670 --> 00:01:40,350 S1: Thank you Charlie. Well, today we're pausing to review some 28 00:01:40,350 --> 00:01:43,950 S1: recent stories that you might have missed among all the headlines. 29 00:01:44,150 --> 00:01:47,229 S1: And the first story focuses on a major threat to Iran, 30 00:01:47,230 --> 00:01:50,550 S1: Iraq and Turkey. No, it's not Israel or the US. 31 00:01:50,830 --> 00:01:54,870 S1: It's drought. Charlie, why is Iran, along with these other countries, 32 00:01:54,870 --> 00:01:56,830 S1: in danger of running out of water? 33 00:01:57,070 --> 00:01:59,900 S2: You know, the reasons vary slightly from country to country, 34 00:01:59,900 --> 00:02:02,900 S2: but the crisis has been caused in large part by 35 00:02:02,900 --> 00:02:08,500 S2: a severe five year drought, along with resource mismanagement, excessive consumption, 36 00:02:08,500 --> 00:02:12,940 S2: and a lack of investment in infrastructure and conservation. Current 37 00:02:12,940 --> 00:02:17,020 S2: agricultural practices in Iran account for as much as 80% 38 00:02:17,020 --> 00:02:20,060 S2: of the water consumed. Iran has also been hard hit, 39 00:02:20,060 --> 00:02:22,980 S2: with a 40% drop in rainfall even just over the 40 00:02:22,980 --> 00:02:26,860 S2: last four months. Iran's president said Tehran might not have 41 00:02:26,860 --> 00:02:31,460 S2: any water by September or October. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu 42 00:02:31,500 --> 00:02:34,980 S2: posted a video for the Iranian people on social media, 43 00:02:35,020 --> 00:02:39,340 S2: offering to share Israeli water technology once the current regime 44 00:02:39,340 --> 00:02:42,940 S2: is deposed. He said part of Iran's problem is that money, 45 00:02:42,940 --> 00:02:45,860 S2: which should have gone into infrastructure to help solve the 46 00:02:45,860 --> 00:02:50,220 S2: water crisis and to upgrade their electrical grid and fight inflation, 47 00:02:50,419 --> 00:02:53,780 S2: was instead funneled to terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. 48 00:02:54,300 --> 00:02:58,210 S2: The cause for Iraq's water crisis are somewhat similar, like 49 00:02:58,210 --> 00:03:01,650 S2: a persistent drought and misuse of current water resources, but 50 00:03:01,650 --> 00:03:06,130 S2: their problems have been compounded by countries upstream, reducing the 51 00:03:06,130 --> 00:03:09,050 S2: flow of water into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which 52 00:03:09,090 --> 00:03:13,970 S2: supply Iraq with 70% of its water. Turkey, Iran and 53 00:03:13,970 --> 00:03:17,290 S2: Syria have built dams to divert water for their own use, 54 00:03:17,490 --> 00:03:20,690 S2: creating the most severe water shortage in Iraq over the 55 00:03:20,690 --> 00:03:24,290 S2: past 80 years. Iraq is trying to press these countries 56 00:03:24,290 --> 00:03:26,609 S2: to agree to a more just and fair share of 57 00:03:26,610 --> 00:03:29,450 S2: the water, but there's only so much they can do, 58 00:03:29,690 --> 00:03:32,250 S2: as we've already said. Iran is already facing its own 59 00:03:32,250 --> 00:03:37,210 S2: severe water shortage, and apparently so is Turkey. In southeast Turkey, 60 00:03:37,330 --> 00:03:41,410 S2: rising temperatures have accelerated the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, 61 00:03:41,410 --> 00:03:44,130 S2: and the area is now grappling with its own drought. 62 00:03:44,330 --> 00:03:47,090 S2: In the past 40 years, the country has lost half 63 00:03:47,090 --> 00:03:50,490 S2: its continuous snow and ice cover in those mountains, which 64 00:03:50,490 --> 00:03:53,970 S2: is where both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers originate. A 65 00:03:54,010 --> 00:03:57,960 S2: UN report estimates that 88% of Turkey is at risk. 66 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,080 S2: They predict a 30% drop in precipitation by the end 67 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:05,200 S2: of the century, with a corresponding ten degree rise in temperature. 68 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,200 S2: The most precious commodity in the Middle East right now 69 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,200 S2: isn't oil. It's water. 70 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,280 S1: Boy, those are stark statistics and stories. Thank you. Charlie. 71 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:17,160 S1: Israeli scientists have developed a new method to produce hydrogen 72 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:21,520 S1: that will slash production costs and adapt to fluctuating technology 73 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,880 S1: like wind and solar power. What makes this new innovation 74 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:25,680 S1: so unique? 75 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,479 S2: Well, you know, hydrogen has been suggested as a clean 76 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,880 S2: alternative to gas and oil. When burned, hydrogen combines with 77 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:36,159 S2: oxygen to produce water vapor, not harmful pollutants. The problem 78 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,640 S2: is that the energy it takes to separate water into 79 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:42,040 S2: hydrogen and oxygen is greater than the amount of hydrogen 80 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,800 S2: energy produced. And the process doesn't work well with intermittent 81 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,360 S2: energy sources like solar and wind. So you actually are 82 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,400 S2: using coal and oil and other dirty sources to produce 83 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,140 S2: a clean energy supply. That doesn't work well. And that's 84 00:04:55,140 --> 00:04:58,740 S2: where the researchers at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology 85 00:04:58,740 --> 00:05:03,419 S2: come in. They've developed a new process called decoupled water electrolysis, 86 00:05:03,620 --> 00:05:07,180 S2: that separates the production of hydrogen and oxygen into different 87 00:05:07,220 --> 00:05:11,820 S2: times or cells, which lowers risks and costs. The research, 88 00:05:11,820 --> 00:05:14,979 S2: which was recently published, shares how the new nickel based 89 00:05:14,980 --> 00:05:18,500 S2: electrode system can be ramped up to industrial scale and 90 00:05:18,500 --> 00:05:22,180 S2: used with intermittent energy sources like wind and solar. The 91 00:05:22,180 --> 00:05:25,020 S2: researchers have also developed a company called I like this 92 00:05:25,020 --> 00:05:28,820 S2: H2 Pro and are prepared to deploy the first industrial 93 00:05:28,820 --> 00:05:33,140 S2: scale system using their technology. They can currently produce green 94 00:05:33,140 --> 00:05:37,219 S2: hydrogen at under $2 per kilogram. And by the end 95 00:05:37,220 --> 00:05:39,460 S2: of the decade, they believe the cost will drop to 96 00:05:39,500 --> 00:05:43,339 S2: under $1 per kilogram. Now, by way of comparison, that's 97 00:05:43,339 --> 00:05:47,099 S2: very comparable to the so-called grey hydrogen today, that more 98 00:05:47,100 --> 00:05:51,500 S2: dirty production method. While current green hydrogen, the good kind, 99 00:05:51,540 --> 00:05:56,170 S2: cost between 450 50 and $15 per kilogram. From fuel 100 00:05:56,170 --> 00:05:59,650 S2: cells to hydrogen powered vehicles. Hydrogen seems to be a 101 00:05:59,650 --> 00:06:02,969 S2: good way forward to replace combustion engines, and this new 102 00:06:02,970 --> 00:06:07,090 S2: technology from Technion and H2 Pro might enable us to 103 00:06:07,130 --> 00:06:10,690 S2: reduce pollution without creating additional problems. 104 00:06:10,730 --> 00:06:13,089 S1: You're listening to The Land and the book from Moody 105 00:06:13,089 --> 00:06:16,770 S1: Radio with our host, Charlie Dyer. I'm John Yeager. Interesting 106 00:06:16,770 --> 00:06:19,650 S1: stories today that might have been missed as we plow 107 00:06:19,650 --> 00:06:22,930 S1: through the headlines week after week. A small copper coin 108 00:06:22,930 --> 00:06:26,890 S1: was discovered by archaeologists in Jerusalem that offers new insight 109 00:06:26,890 --> 00:06:30,010 S1: into the final months of the Roman siege of Jerusalem 110 00:06:30,250 --> 00:06:33,650 S1: in AD 70. What was so special about this particular 111 00:06:33,690 --> 00:06:34,930 S1: small coin, Charlie? 112 00:06:35,170 --> 00:06:37,850 S2: Well, this coin shows how a tiny discovery can provide 113 00:06:37,850 --> 00:06:41,210 S2: a unique insight into key historical events. The coin was 114 00:06:41,210 --> 00:06:44,890 S2: discovered in July during excavations along the southwest corner of 115 00:06:44,890 --> 00:06:48,410 S2: the Temple Mount. It's a small bronze coin, and on 116 00:06:48,410 --> 00:06:52,760 S2: the reverse side was the date year four, referring to 117 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,640 S2: the fourth year of the revolt against Rome. The revolt 118 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:59,240 S2: lasted from A.D. 66 to A.D. 70, and during that 119 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,479 S2: time the leaders began minting their own coins. This coin 120 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,480 S2: dates to the final year of the revolt. On the 121 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,400 S2: same side as the date were a palm frond or lulav, 122 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:12,120 S2: and and two etrogs, both used during Sukkot festival. But 123 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,560 S2: it's what they found on the other side that was startling. 124 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:18,240 S2: On coins minted earlier in the revolt, the obverse side 125 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:22,040 S2: had the phrase for the Freedom of Zion inscribed on it, 126 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,040 S2: but on this coin probably struck in the final months 127 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,560 S2: of the revolt. As the Roman forces closed in on 128 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:31,160 S2: the city, the inscription was changed. It now said, for 129 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,600 S2: the redemption of Zion. Now that change is small, but 130 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,640 S2: it's very significant and reflected the reality in the city 131 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,280 S2: that the apparent end was drawing near. The phrase turned 132 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,320 S2: from their efforts to free their land from Roman occupation 133 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:48,600 S2: to now looking desperately toward heaven for divine intervention. I 134 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,320 S2: wonder if they were hoping that God would do for 135 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,830 S2: them what he had done for Jerusalem in the days 136 00:07:52,830 --> 00:07:55,390 S2: of Isaiah and King Hezekiah. You know, when he struck 137 00:07:55,390 --> 00:08:00,230 S2: down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers to break the siege? Or maybe 138 00:08:00,270 --> 00:08:02,670 S2: it was intended to voice the prayer found in Isaiah 139 00:08:02,670 --> 00:08:05,550 S2: 64 one, oh, that you would rend the heavens and 140 00:08:05,550 --> 00:08:08,870 S2: come down, that the mountains would tremble before you. Well, 141 00:08:08,870 --> 00:08:11,790 S2: whatever it was, their wish went unanswered, and within a 142 00:08:11,790 --> 00:08:14,910 S2: few months of the coin being minted, the city fell. 143 00:08:14,950 --> 00:08:18,110 S2: Now that subtle change in wording signaled a change from 144 00:08:18,110 --> 00:08:23,710 S2: the confident expectation they had earlier to desperate supplication. And sadly, 145 00:08:23,710 --> 00:08:28,070 S2: Jesus had already predicted Jerusalem's fall nearly 40 years earlier. 146 00:08:28,550 --> 00:08:31,670 S1: We've probably all heard the excuse in school the dog 147 00:08:31,710 --> 00:08:35,550 S1: ate my homework. Well, that pales in comparison to a 148 00:08:35,550 --> 00:08:40,550 S1: story circulating in Iraq. The rats ate our cash reserves. Charlie, 149 00:08:40,550 --> 00:08:43,590 S1: inquiring minds want to know. Did the rats eat all 150 00:08:43,590 --> 00:08:45,069 S1: of Iraq's cash? 151 00:08:45,270 --> 00:08:47,990 S2: Yeah. I like this story, John. You know, having been 152 00:08:47,990 --> 00:08:51,540 S2: to Iraq and had a couple of those dinars before. Uh, 153 00:08:51,540 --> 00:08:54,860 S2: this was surprising to me, but first, the spoiler alert. No, 154 00:08:54,860 --> 00:08:57,860 S2: they did not. But the truth doesn't always get in 155 00:08:57,860 --> 00:09:00,620 S2: the way of a good story. So here are the details. 156 00:09:00,780 --> 00:09:03,340 S2: The Iraqi currency, as I said, is called the dinar. 157 00:09:03,540 --> 00:09:07,820 S2: It currently trades at about 1300 dinars to $1. The 158 00:09:07,820 --> 00:09:12,340 S2: story that's circulating is that 62 trillion Iraqi dinars, the 159 00:09:12,340 --> 00:09:16,380 S2: country's financial reserves were reportedly eaten by mice and rats, 160 00:09:16,700 --> 00:09:20,420 S2: and that works out to about 47 billion USD. According 161 00:09:20,460 --> 00:09:22,260 S2: to the account, there was a breach in the money 162 00:09:22,300 --> 00:09:25,020 S2: storage facility that allowed the rodents to come in and 163 00:09:25,020 --> 00:09:27,740 S2: eat the cash. Now, mice and rats have been known 164 00:09:27,740 --> 00:09:31,220 S2: to eat money, but not that much money. The largest 165 00:09:31,220 --> 00:09:35,100 S2: Iraqi dinar banknote is 50,000 dinars. So I used my 166 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:41,300 S2: handy calculator and it would take something like 1,340,050,000 dinar 167 00:09:41,300 --> 00:09:44,260 S2: notes to get to 67 trillion dinars. And of course, 168 00:09:44,260 --> 00:09:47,100 S2: not every note was in the largest denomination. So that's 169 00:09:47,100 --> 00:09:51,410 S2: one giant pile of paper money. Iraq's chief financial adviser 170 00:09:51,410 --> 00:09:54,010 S2: tried to quash the rumors. He called them illogical and 171 00:09:54,010 --> 00:09:56,929 S2: completely far from the truth. And he's probably right. But 172 00:09:56,929 --> 00:09:59,370 S2: I wouldn't put it past some two legged rats in 173 00:09:59,370 --> 00:10:02,330 S2: the government, raiding the treasury and siphoning off some of 174 00:10:02,330 --> 00:10:05,730 S2: the cash reserves. Still, the idea in this story that 175 00:10:05,730 --> 00:10:10,090 S2: the rats ate Iraq's cash. That's more likely an illustration 176 00:10:10,090 --> 00:10:13,689 S2: of the fake news now making the rounds in Iraq today. 177 00:10:13,929 --> 00:10:16,250 S1: Thank you. Charlie. And that's a look at some interesting 178 00:10:16,250 --> 00:10:19,010 S1: stories that you might have missed among all the headlines. 179 00:10:19,210 --> 00:10:23,010 S1: Coming up, a conversation with Tom Doyle, stories from Syria. 180 00:10:23,050 --> 00:10:25,450 S1: You've heard about the civil war in Syria, but more 181 00:10:25,450 --> 00:10:28,770 S1: than a half a million Syrians are now dead, 55,000 182 00:10:28,770 --> 00:10:32,890 S1: of those children, half of Syria's population now uprooted from 183 00:10:32,890 --> 00:10:36,650 S1: their homes. Among all of that tragedy, some courageous Christians 184 00:10:36,650 --> 00:10:39,290 S1: are shining bright lights for Christ in Syria. You're going 185 00:10:39,330 --> 00:10:42,090 S1: to hear those stories. This isn't a downer conversation. It's 186 00:10:42,090 --> 00:10:45,490 S1: an amazing, amazing moment. And you'll enjoy that as you 187 00:10:45,490 --> 00:10:47,600 S1: stick with us on the land and the book. Hey, 188 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:50,080 S1: we encourage you to check out our podcast. You'll find 189 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:52,320 S1: it at the website. The land and the book. All 190 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:57,120 S1: the land and the book org. Tom Doyle is next. 191 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:15,360 S1: Civil war in Syria. More than half a million Syrians 192 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,840 S1: are dead. 55,000 of those are children. Half of the 193 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:23,059 S1: entire Syrian population have been uprooted from their homes. 5.5 194 00:11:23,059 --> 00:11:26,960 S1: million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries. 70% of the 195 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:30,690 S1: electrical infrastructure has been damaged due to the war. 1 196 00:11:30,690 --> 00:11:33,479 S1: in 3 schools are in ruins or have been commandeered 197 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:38,280 S1: by armed groups. 70% of healthcare workers have fled the conflict. 198 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,280 S1: Less than half the hospitals still fully functional. Well, today's 199 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,480 S1: guest has firsthand knowledge of Syria, has a team on 200 00:11:45,580 --> 00:11:48,179 S1: the ground acting as the hands and feet of Christ. 201 00:11:48,340 --> 00:11:50,660 S1: And before we get to some amazing stories of help 202 00:11:50,660 --> 00:11:53,740 S1: and hope, let's get creative with ideas on loving our 203 00:11:53,740 --> 00:11:57,780 S1: Muslim friends right here at home. Well, the moment has 204 00:11:57,780 --> 00:12:00,620 S1: finally come. You have. You have developed this friendship with 205 00:12:00,620 --> 00:12:03,660 S1: your Muslim friend and you're having them over for dinner. 206 00:12:03,860 --> 00:12:06,900 S1: What do you serve or not serve? With a question 207 00:12:06,900 --> 00:12:10,380 S1: about menus, here's Stefano Ferrer with call of Hope us. 208 00:12:10,700 --> 00:12:14,740 S3: Well, I would always serve what I like. You know, 209 00:12:14,780 --> 00:12:18,580 S3: I would serve them what I really think is a 210 00:12:18,580 --> 00:12:22,540 S3: very good dinner. But I would not go for pork schnitzel, 211 00:12:22,580 --> 00:12:25,980 S3: that's for sure. You know, I mean, just don't do that. 212 00:12:25,980 --> 00:12:30,220 S3: Just avoid pork. Uh, just avoid things. You know, they 213 00:12:30,220 --> 00:12:31,260 S3: don't eat. 214 00:12:31,300 --> 00:12:33,860 S1: Anything other than pork. That's a major. No, no. 215 00:12:34,260 --> 00:12:39,939 S3: Well, everything, you know, liver, uh, all these things, even 216 00:12:39,940 --> 00:12:42,220 S3: if it is beef or so. I would never go 217 00:12:42,220 --> 00:12:45,050 S3: for that. Okay, uh, try it with fish. Try it 218 00:12:45,050 --> 00:12:47,810 S3: with chicken. Then they also know it's not pork. 219 00:12:48,330 --> 00:12:50,569 S1: All right, so maybe chicken and fish are the safest. 220 00:12:50,650 --> 00:12:51,569 S3: Absolutely. 221 00:12:51,610 --> 00:12:54,090 S1: Okay, that's what's on the menu for your dinner with 222 00:12:54,090 --> 00:12:57,290 S1: that Muslim friend. Call of hopes Stefano Ferrer joins us 223 00:12:57,290 --> 00:13:00,010 S1: here on the land and the book. Always very practical. 224 00:13:00,010 --> 00:13:05,210 S1: Thank you. Few Christians today have spent as much time meeting, 225 00:13:05,250 --> 00:13:08,010 S1: loving and serving the people of the Middle East as 226 00:13:08,010 --> 00:13:11,130 S1: Tom Doyle. Tom and his wife Joanne began working in 227 00:13:11,130 --> 00:13:14,170 S1: the heart of the Islamic world shortly after the terrorist 228 00:13:14,170 --> 00:13:19,970 S1: attacks of September 11th. In 2017, the Doyle's launched Uncharted Ministries, 229 00:13:19,970 --> 00:13:22,650 S1: which seeks to inspire the body of Christ to rise 230 00:13:22,650 --> 00:13:25,970 S1: up and join the new Great Awakening among Jews and 231 00:13:25,970 --> 00:13:29,490 S1: Muslims in the Middle East and in uncharted territories around 232 00:13:29,490 --> 00:13:34,050 S1: the world. The Doyle serve in places like Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, 233 00:13:34,090 --> 00:13:38,530 S1: the Palestinian territories of Israel and Syria. Tom, you'll quickly 234 00:13:38,570 --> 00:13:40,610 S1: find out if you don't know already, is a master 235 00:13:40,610 --> 00:13:44,920 S1: storyteller with several books highlighting God's miraculous work among the 236 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,440 S1: Muslim people. We are honored to welcome back to the 237 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,720 S1: land of the book, the guest we've had on more 238 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:51,480 S1: than any other Tom Doyle. 239 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,080 S4: Is that right, John? Boy that's great. 240 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,760 S1: We've counted this as our 20th conversation with you. 241 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,280 S4: Oh, every one of them a privilege. Thank you. 242 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,359 S1: Well, it was in Syria, on the road to Damascus, 243 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,199 S1: that Paul encountered the blazing light and heard the voice 244 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,320 S1: of Jesus himself. By contrast, Tom, you know better than 245 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:12,160 S1: most how dark the darkness in Syria right now really is. 246 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:13,439 S1: Paint a picture for us. 247 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:16,840 S4: Well, just imagine this, John, that a civil war for 248 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:20,080 S4: a decade, and then it ends up that the government 249 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,920 S4: that takes over the country is essentially the Islamic State, 250 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,440 S4: the feared Islamic State. That was all throughout the Middle East. 251 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,160 S4: And so we knew what was going to happen because 252 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,400 S4: Bashar Assad was an Alawite. They were going to go 253 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:36,400 S4: after the Alawites. And since they were Sunni Muslim fanatics, 254 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,120 S4: they were going to go after the church. And that's 255 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:43,430 S4: exactly what's happening right now. So it's not uncommon for 256 00:14:43,430 --> 00:14:47,230 S4: our team, the Uncharted Syrian team, to see piles of 257 00:14:47,230 --> 00:14:51,350 S4: bodies on the side of the street. And this is normal. 258 00:14:51,350 --> 00:14:54,550 S4: This is becoming normal. So there's a lot of killing, 259 00:14:54,870 --> 00:14:56,630 S4: a lot of things going on. And you know how 260 00:14:56,630 --> 00:15:00,310 S4: it is, John. The news moves away after about two 261 00:15:00,310 --> 00:15:02,870 S4: weeks of a crisis and they forget what's going on. 262 00:15:03,110 --> 00:15:06,470 S4: But it's still really difficult for the believers in Syria. 263 00:15:06,510 --> 00:15:08,590 S1: I don't think you can top that as an image. 264 00:15:08,590 --> 00:15:11,030 S1: Piles of dead bodies on the streets, anything else that 265 00:15:11,030 --> 00:15:14,310 S1: might strike us as shocking if we could fly every 266 00:15:14,310 --> 00:15:16,430 S1: listener over to Syria right now? 267 00:15:17,110 --> 00:15:20,190 S4: Well, I think what would be shocking is just how 268 00:15:20,190 --> 00:15:23,710 S4: vibrant the church is. There's a secret church there. We 269 00:15:23,710 --> 00:15:26,830 S4: were talking to our leaders and we asked them, how 270 00:15:26,830 --> 00:15:29,950 S4: many Muslims would you say Sunni Muslims came to faith 271 00:15:29,950 --> 00:15:32,310 S4: in Christ last year? And they said, well, we know 272 00:15:32,350 --> 00:15:36,790 S4: of at least 200 plus. We said 200. Is this 273 00:15:36,790 --> 00:15:39,430 S4: including children? They said, oh, no children. That's a whole 274 00:15:39,430 --> 00:15:43,140 S4: nother story. This is 200 adults that we know of 275 00:15:43,180 --> 00:15:46,660 S4: that are being discipled now. And so there's this hunger. John, 276 00:15:46,660 --> 00:15:49,780 S4: it's like you said in the beginning, this great awakening. 277 00:15:49,780 --> 00:15:53,580 S4: And they're seeing the contrast between Jesus and radical Islam. 278 00:15:53,860 --> 00:15:56,700 S4: And there's no comparing that. Jesus is going to win 279 00:15:56,700 --> 00:15:57,460 S4: every time. 280 00:15:57,740 --> 00:15:59,740 S1: Today on the land and the book, we're getting an 281 00:15:59,740 --> 00:16:03,300 S1: update on Syria. Our guest is Tom Doyle, founder of 282 00:16:03,300 --> 00:16:07,100 S1: Uncharted Ministries. You've written, I believe, that Jesus is raising 283 00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:10,780 S1: up modern day heroes of the faith. Though their names 284 00:16:10,780 --> 00:16:13,980 S1: may never be printed in a book, heaven knows them well. 285 00:16:14,020 --> 00:16:15,660 S1: Tell us about one of those heroes, Tom. 286 00:16:15,980 --> 00:16:20,739 S4: Oh, boy. You know, years ago, our team leader gave 287 00:16:21,180 --> 00:16:24,380 S4: the whole team the option to just leave the country. 288 00:16:24,420 --> 00:16:28,300 S4: It was so dangerous. And many of them have small children. 289 00:16:28,300 --> 00:16:31,220 S4: And so they said just. He said, please pray. Ameer 290 00:16:31,220 --> 00:16:33,900 S4: said pray this week, if God calls you to leave Syria, 291 00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:37,100 S4: then it's time to go for your family. There's no judgment. 292 00:16:37,420 --> 00:16:40,530 S4: If God calls you to leave, To stay here. Come 293 00:16:40,530 --> 00:16:43,730 S4: back here next week. Same time at this place. And 294 00:16:43,730 --> 00:16:47,370 S4: it was a secret location. So, Amir, as he was 295 00:16:47,370 --> 00:16:50,850 S4: turning the doorknob, he thought, a week later, I wonder 296 00:16:50,850 --> 00:16:52,970 S4: if anyone's going to be in here. We had ten 297 00:16:52,970 --> 00:16:55,770 S4: leaders at that time, John. He opened the door and 298 00:16:55,770 --> 00:16:59,250 S4: there were 25 leaders. The ten had gone out and 299 00:16:59,250 --> 00:17:02,370 S4: recruited 15 more. And they said, we're staying. We brought 300 00:17:02,370 --> 00:17:04,770 S4: more that are going to work together with us, and 301 00:17:04,770 --> 00:17:07,450 S4: we're going to stay here until Jesus takes us out 302 00:17:07,450 --> 00:17:08,609 S4: or he returns. 303 00:17:08,850 --> 00:17:11,330 S1: Now, that sounds good. And it is. But how does 304 00:17:11,330 --> 00:17:14,130 S1: that team of 25 or 50, or whatever it is 305 00:17:14,130 --> 00:17:16,969 S1: now deal with the emotional toll that they encounter in 306 00:17:16,970 --> 00:17:19,210 S1: this kind of ministry? I mean, again, you're talking about 307 00:17:19,210 --> 00:17:20,490 S1: bodies on the sidewalk. 308 00:17:20,530 --> 00:17:24,250 S4: Yeah, it's a lot. We meet with them, we visually 309 00:17:24,250 --> 00:17:27,850 S4: meet with them online, and we actually have a counselor 310 00:17:27,850 --> 00:17:31,290 S4: on our staff, and we just talk through those things 311 00:17:31,290 --> 00:17:34,330 S4: because they are dealing with things that just. I guess 312 00:17:34,330 --> 00:17:36,169 S4: the only way we can relate is it looks like 313 00:17:36,170 --> 00:17:39,200 S4: something out of a horror movie. And and so it's 314 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:43,200 S4: just so evil, so dark that we need to get 315 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:46,119 S4: them out of the country. But for the last several months, 316 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:49,400 S4: that hasn't been an option. And, uh, pray with them 317 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,840 S4: continually get their names out to other believers that will 318 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:57,840 S4: lift them up. And, um, it's definitely difficult, but there's 319 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:01,560 S4: so many Jesus miracle stories. It keeps them running just 320 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:05,440 S4: when they can't take it anymore. God does a great miracle. 321 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:09,000 S4: And so this just revives them and they keep going. 322 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:14,399 S1: Tom Doyle and his wife Joanne serve in places like Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, 323 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:18,520 S1: the Palestinian territories of Israel and Syria. Tom joins us 324 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,719 S1: today on the land and the book for a timely 325 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,920 S1: update on Syria. I'm curious, how does that that whole 326 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:25,960 S1: situation in Syria and the fact that you have all 327 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:29,359 S1: this firsthand knowledge impact your own prayer life, and maybe 328 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:30,760 S1: how should it impact ours? 329 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,920 S4: Yeah, well, you know what? It impacts us in that 330 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,160 S4: we wake up in the middle of the night because 331 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:39,550 S4: it's eight hours later there and we know their day 332 00:18:39,590 --> 00:18:43,110 S4: has already started. So. Oftentimes many in our team wake 333 00:18:43,109 --> 00:18:45,310 S4: up at three in the morning. It's just like the 334 00:18:45,310 --> 00:18:48,990 S4: lights are on. And immediately we're called to prayer because 335 00:18:48,990 --> 00:18:52,790 S4: we know there's such deep, dark things happening. But yet 336 00:18:52,790 --> 00:18:56,070 S4: these stories of victory. John, can I just tell one 337 00:18:56,109 --> 00:18:59,710 S4: about a little boy? And so remember, Bashar Assad was 338 00:18:59,710 --> 00:19:04,310 S4: an Alawite, and now this is Htz. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham 339 00:19:04,310 --> 00:19:10,629 S4: means the defenders of the Levant, which is that whole area, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel. 340 00:19:10,630 --> 00:19:12,510 S4: They believe they're going to take that all over, but 341 00:19:12,510 --> 00:19:17,230 S4: it's really just ISIS rebranded ISIS 2.0. So what they're 342 00:19:17,230 --> 00:19:19,990 S4: doing is they were going door to door in an 343 00:19:19,990 --> 00:19:24,550 S4: Alawite area, kicking the doors in, shooting the families. Well, 344 00:19:24,550 --> 00:19:28,590 S4: about halfway down this street is an Alawite family, but 345 00:19:28,590 --> 00:19:30,950 S4: all of them have come to faith in Christ. They're 346 00:19:30,950 --> 00:19:34,350 S4: born again believers now. They were Alawite. Now they follow 347 00:19:34,350 --> 00:19:37,889 S4: Jesus and they can hear the gunshots. John, they're getting 348 00:19:37,890 --> 00:19:41,169 S4: closer and closer. Door to door. Finally, they're right at 349 00:19:41,170 --> 00:19:44,250 S4: the next door. The little five year old boy, Rami, 350 00:19:44,490 --> 00:19:47,290 S4: says to his mom and dad and brothers and sisters 351 00:19:47,290 --> 00:19:50,770 S4: as they're on their faces on the floor. He said, 352 00:19:50,770 --> 00:19:53,209 S4: Mommy and Daddy, we don't have to worry. They said, 353 00:19:53,210 --> 00:19:54,730 S4: we don't have to worry. He said, no, we don't 354 00:19:54,730 --> 00:19:58,209 S4: have to worry. Jesus is taking care of us. He 355 00:19:58,210 --> 00:20:01,170 S4: loves us so much. He'll stop these from coming to 356 00:20:01,170 --> 00:20:04,730 S4: our house. And so they're praying, okay, Lord do that. 357 00:20:04,770 --> 00:20:07,970 S4: And do you know, they heard the footsteps and they 358 00:20:08,010 --> 00:20:10,889 S4: walked right past the door and went on to the 359 00:20:10,890 --> 00:20:14,050 S4: next house. So I don't know if this is the 360 00:20:14,050 --> 00:20:18,730 S4: next young apostle Paul or what, but what faith for 361 00:20:18,730 --> 00:20:22,050 S4: a five year old and God, listen to that prayer. 362 00:20:22,650 --> 00:20:25,770 S1: What do you think most Americans, believers in particular here, 363 00:20:25,810 --> 00:20:28,650 S1: just don't quite get about Syria? And what do we 364 00:20:28,650 --> 00:20:29,450 S1: need to know? 365 00:20:29,890 --> 00:20:33,210 S4: Yeah, well, I think years ago there was such a 366 00:20:33,250 --> 00:20:38,600 S4: hatred for America in Syria. But that has changed. They've 367 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:41,840 S4: gone through a horrible civil war. They've seen Islam crumbling 368 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,359 S4: before them. They've seen how deep and dark these terrorist 369 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:48,960 S4: groups are. Muslims killing Muslims, and they are reaching out. 370 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:53,560 S4: They're also reaching out to Israel saying, we need help. 371 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:56,960 S4: And so it's not like what you would think. Of course, 372 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:00,800 S4: the terrorists, they think we're the Great Satan and Israel 373 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,240 S4: is the little Satan. But when it comes to the 374 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:07,280 S4: regular people in Syria, they want help and they would 375 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,760 S4: love for America to come to their rescue. They've had 376 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:14,720 S4: enough of Islamic terrorism and they're desperate for something different. 377 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:17,719 S4: So I think one thing that is shocking, there's a 378 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:20,399 S4: vibrant body of Christ there. So when we see a 379 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,800 S4: picture about Syria, don't just think about terrorism and the 380 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:26,080 S4: war and all the bad things. Think about your brothers 381 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,120 S4: and sisters that are trapped there and they need your prayers. 382 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,840 S1: This is the land and the book. I'm John Gager 383 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,550 S1: and with all the talk about Iran and Gaza and Israel, 384 00:21:35,550 --> 00:21:37,590 S1: Syria has kind of slipped off the grid of many 385 00:21:37,590 --> 00:21:41,390 S1: news sources in America. But Tom Doyle of Uncharted Ministries 386 00:21:41,390 --> 00:21:44,750 S1: is bringing us up to date. Your latest report observes 387 00:21:44,750 --> 00:21:47,670 S1: dozens and dozens of Alawites and Sunni Muslims are accepting 388 00:21:47,670 --> 00:21:51,230 S1: Christ in the middle of all this horror. Any other 389 00:21:51,230 --> 00:21:52,510 S1: stories you might be able to share? 390 00:21:53,350 --> 00:21:56,230 S4: Oh, boy. Well, you know, I was just thinking about 391 00:21:56,230 --> 00:21:59,470 S4: a young lady that came to faith in Christ, and 392 00:21:59,470 --> 00:22:03,750 S4: she was sadly, uh, raped by a man, and she 393 00:22:03,750 --> 00:22:07,910 S4: was going to get an abortion. She's Muslim. And it 394 00:22:07,910 --> 00:22:09,510 S4: ends up that some of her team, some of the 395 00:22:09,510 --> 00:22:13,030 S4: believer women happened to meet her, and she was just 396 00:22:13,030 --> 00:22:16,310 S4: sharing her life, and she had nothing. She didn't have 397 00:22:16,310 --> 00:22:20,710 S4: food or anything. And and John, they were privileged to 398 00:22:20,750 --> 00:22:23,590 S4: lead her to faith in Christ. She kept the baby. 399 00:22:23,750 --> 00:22:26,990 S4: She's been discipled. And we just saw a video of 400 00:22:26,990 --> 00:22:31,270 S4: her leading a children's ministry with about 200 kids in 401 00:22:31,380 --> 00:22:35,060 S4: the room and she's singing and dancing. You would never 402 00:22:35,060 --> 00:22:38,060 S4: believe this was the same woman that was down and 403 00:22:38,060 --> 00:22:41,140 S4: out and desperate. That's what Jesus does. That's how he 404 00:22:41,140 --> 00:22:43,620 S4: transforms and redirects lives. 405 00:22:44,100 --> 00:22:45,900 S1: Well, based on what you know, you know, we heard 406 00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:48,420 S1: from our own media that maybe this was a time 407 00:22:48,460 --> 00:22:51,899 S1: of hopeful transition in Syria. Is Syria generally heading in 408 00:22:51,940 --> 00:22:55,780 S1: an upward direction or a downward direction? I'm sensing downward, 409 00:22:55,780 --> 00:22:58,220 S1: but I'll let you be the expert and tell us 410 00:22:58,220 --> 00:22:58,939 S1: what and why. 411 00:22:59,619 --> 00:23:02,260 S4: I think a lot of people in Syria in the 412 00:23:02,300 --> 00:23:07,540 S4: nose say that the leaders are are wolves in sheep's clothing, 413 00:23:07,540 --> 00:23:10,379 S4: and they don't trust them. They say one thing and 414 00:23:10,380 --> 00:23:14,180 S4: then they do the opposite the next day. And so really, 415 00:23:14,220 --> 00:23:17,380 S4: it's it's a miracle that all of the leaders we 416 00:23:17,380 --> 00:23:21,060 S4: work with are alive. In fact, whenever we communicate with them, 417 00:23:21,420 --> 00:23:24,340 S4: you know, they bought a graveyard to bury each other 418 00:23:24,340 --> 00:23:28,100 S4: when they go to be with Jesus because they're former Muslims, 419 00:23:28,100 --> 00:23:30,770 S4: former Alawites, the former Druze. They don't have a place 420 00:23:30,770 --> 00:23:33,850 S4: to be buried. And so we always start with this. 421 00:23:33,890 --> 00:23:37,490 S4: Is the graveyard still empty? Yes, the graveyard still empty. 422 00:23:37,530 --> 00:23:40,690 S4: It's a miracle because they are leading people to faith 423 00:23:40,690 --> 00:23:43,170 S4: in Christ. They're up on the list of people that 424 00:23:43,170 --> 00:23:46,850 S4: are being watched. So anyway, yeah, we just pray for 425 00:23:46,850 --> 00:23:49,850 S4: them and walk by their side every day as best 426 00:23:49,850 --> 00:23:53,370 S4: as we can. And God is using them and the 427 00:23:53,369 --> 00:23:57,050 S4: country as far as politically not headed in the right direction, 428 00:23:57,050 --> 00:23:59,450 S4: but spiritually, I think there's going to be a new 429 00:23:59,450 --> 00:24:01,330 S4: Syria in the next few years. 430 00:24:01,930 --> 00:24:04,370 S1: Hey, what resources do you have available at your website, 431 00:24:04,410 --> 00:24:08,210 S1: Uncharted Ministries, that might help our listeners pray better? 432 00:24:08,570 --> 00:24:12,129 S4: Yeah. You bet. We have, uh, we have books. We have, uh, 433 00:24:12,130 --> 00:24:16,050 S4: different podcasts, and we have a podcast now, Uncharted Ministries, 434 00:24:16,050 --> 00:24:18,770 S4: with Tom and Joanne Doyle. We have that. We have 435 00:24:18,770 --> 00:24:22,850 S4: no longer nomads. And then the big blockbuster for us 436 00:24:22,850 --> 00:24:25,729 S4: that catalogs Muslims that have come to faith in Christ 437 00:24:25,730 --> 00:24:30,520 S4: is I found the truth. Com I found the com. John. 438 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:34,760 S4: It's a miracle. But there's 3.5 million people on that 439 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:40,080 S4: site checking out videos and we're getting everyday Muslims sending 440 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:42,880 S4: in notes. I came to faith in Christ. I live 441 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:47,200 S4: in Indonesia, I live in Iran, and it's a revolution 442 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:50,560 S4: out there. And they are tracking with their stories, many 443 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:53,719 S4: of them, John. They're in places that are so remote, 444 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,720 S4: they think they're the first Muslim ever to come to 445 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:59,440 S4: faith in Christ. And then they get on this website 446 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,480 S4: and go, oh my word, look at this. And so 447 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,480 S4: that's a real powerhouse for us. And we're just privileged. 448 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:06,880 S4: God's blessed it so much. 449 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:11,480 S1: Well, we're going to link you to Tom's website, Uncharted Ministries, 450 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:13,640 S1: when you visit us at The Land and the book, 451 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:18,160 S1: I strongly encourage you to check out all the resources there. Boy, 452 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,800 S1: those testimonies he's talking about are incredibly powerful. You want 453 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:24,720 S1: to check out Uncharted Ministries when you link up with 454 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,590 S1: the land and the book? Org. Tom, our 20th conversation 455 00:25:28,590 --> 00:25:31,429 S1: has been awesome like the previous 19. I want to 456 00:25:31,430 --> 00:25:32,030 S1: thank you. 457 00:25:32,710 --> 00:25:34,630 S4: Okay, so there'll be a 21st. 458 00:25:34,950 --> 00:25:35,670 S1: Lord willing. 459 00:25:36,830 --> 00:25:39,350 S4: That's great. Hey, next time we have to get Joanne 460 00:25:39,350 --> 00:25:42,790 S4: on some of these women's stories that she's in contact with. Wow. 461 00:25:43,150 --> 00:25:46,790 S4: They really are spiritual gatekeepers of their families, and they're 462 00:25:46,790 --> 00:25:47,630 S4: making a difference. 463 00:25:47,630 --> 00:25:49,750 S1: And we're going to have her on, too. Thank you, Tom, 464 00:25:49,910 --> 00:25:52,270 S1: and thank you for sticking with us on the program. 465 00:25:52,310 --> 00:25:55,790 S1: We're Gerald Peterman is next with Bible questions and answers. 466 00:26:06,869 --> 00:26:09,470 S1: You could be anywhere listening to just about anything right now. 467 00:26:09,470 --> 00:26:12,110 S1: But here you are with us, listening to The Land 468 00:26:12,109 --> 00:26:14,990 S1: and the book. Whether you're listening on a radio station 469 00:26:14,990 --> 00:26:18,110 S1: or podcast, however you found us, we're glad you're here. 470 00:26:18,109 --> 00:26:20,469 S1: By the way, if you're not taking advantage of that podcast, 471 00:26:20,510 --> 00:26:23,550 S1: you should be. It's available at our website. The land 472 00:26:23,550 --> 00:26:28,020 S1: and the book. All the land and the book. Doctor 473 00:26:28,020 --> 00:26:30,700 S1: Gerald Peterman is the one who answers your questions, by 474 00:26:30,700 --> 00:26:33,340 S1: the way. We're going to welcome him in just a moment. First, though, 475 00:26:33,340 --> 00:26:35,740 S1: I'm thinking about the fact that as believers, there's a 476 00:26:35,740 --> 00:26:38,460 S1: great need for us to share the gospel with Jewish people. 477 00:26:38,460 --> 00:26:42,060 S1: In fact, many of our listeners faithfully pray and partner 478 00:26:42,060 --> 00:26:44,940 S1: with ministries that are doing just that. Hey, but what 479 00:26:44,940 --> 00:26:48,500 S1: if you could personally take part and bring the gospel 480 00:26:48,540 --> 00:26:51,420 S1: to Jewish people yourself? Well, our friends at Life in 481 00:26:51,420 --> 00:26:55,740 S1: Messiah love the opportunity to get believers involved in Jewish ministry, 482 00:26:56,020 --> 00:27:00,179 S1: and they regularly organize outreach teams to Brooklyn, to South Florida, 483 00:27:00,380 --> 00:27:03,860 S1: even to Israel outside of times of conflict. And these 484 00:27:03,859 --> 00:27:07,020 S1: ministry trips will really equip you to understand how to 485 00:27:07,060 --> 00:27:09,419 S1: share the gospel with Jewish people. They'll give you the 486 00:27:09,420 --> 00:27:13,020 S1: opportunity to actively share your faith and provide tools and 487 00:27:13,020 --> 00:27:15,380 S1: resources that you can take home with you. You want 488 00:27:15,380 --> 00:27:19,340 S1: to get hands on training practical experience in Jewish evangelism. 489 00:27:19,580 --> 00:27:21,700 S1: This is a great way to do it. Learn more 490 00:27:21,780 --> 00:27:25,330 S1: by visiting Life in Messiah org and click on the 491 00:27:25,330 --> 00:27:31,130 S1: Moody Radio button. That's life in messiah.org. Doctor Gerald Peterman, 492 00:27:31,130 --> 00:27:33,050 S1: welcome to the land and the book. Good to see 493 00:27:33,050 --> 00:27:34,129 S1: your smiling face. 494 00:27:34,490 --> 00:27:37,410 S5: It's good for my smiling face to be seen I think. 495 00:27:38,930 --> 00:27:40,690 S1: Hey our email address I want to get that out 496 00:27:40,690 --> 00:27:43,570 S1: right up front for your question to get to Doctor 497 00:27:43,570 --> 00:27:50,250 S1: Peterman is the land and the book@moody.edu. That's the land 498 00:27:50,250 --> 00:27:53,970 S1: and the book at Moody Edu. The honor for today's 499 00:27:53,970 --> 00:27:58,290 S1: first question goes to Cathy, who asks, after the millennium, 500 00:27:58,290 --> 00:28:00,450 S1: when the believers are all with the Lord, what does 501 00:28:00,450 --> 00:28:03,610 S1: the Holy Spirit do? Seems like the believers then would 502 00:28:03,609 --> 00:28:05,530 S1: not need him, at least in the same way as 503 00:28:05,530 --> 00:28:06,369 S1: we did before. 504 00:28:06,850 --> 00:28:09,369 S5: This is one thing I like about listeners. They ask 505 00:28:09,369 --> 00:28:10,570 S5: things I'd never thought about. 506 00:28:10,609 --> 00:28:11,090 S1: Before. 507 00:28:11,330 --> 00:28:13,250 S5: So I had to. I had to dig into this one. 508 00:28:13,250 --> 00:28:16,970 S5: And so I've searched and I've not found any verses 509 00:28:16,970 --> 00:28:20,370 S5: that address this specifically. But you know me, I'm going 510 00:28:20,410 --> 00:28:24,350 S5: to come at it kind of indirectly. Sure. So Paul 511 00:28:24,350 --> 00:28:29,350 S5: says in first Corinthians 212, we have not received the 512 00:28:29,350 --> 00:28:32,550 S5: spirit of the world, but the spirit who is from God, 513 00:28:32,830 --> 00:28:36,550 S5: that we might understand the things freely given to us 514 00:28:36,550 --> 00:28:40,870 S5: by God. And then in revelation 22, we find that 515 00:28:40,870 --> 00:28:44,070 S5: in the New Jerusalem there will be nothing accursed, but 516 00:28:44,070 --> 00:28:46,670 S5: there will be the throne of God and the lamb. 517 00:28:46,670 --> 00:28:50,030 S5: And we will see his face, and his name will 518 00:28:50,030 --> 00:28:53,190 S5: be on our foreheads, and there'd be no more night. 519 00:28:53,790 --> 00:28:55,989 S5: They will not need the lamp of a son. The 520 00:28:55,990 --> 00:28:57,750 S5: Lord will be their light. And I like this part. 521 00:28:57,790 --> 00:29:03,870 S5: They will reign. That is, that's exercising rulership, you know, 522 00:29:04,070 --> 00:29:06,709 S5: forever and ever. So what will the Holy Spirit do 523 00:29:06,750 --> 00:29:10,630 S5: in the millennium? I think he will empower us to serve, 524 00:29:10,990 --> 00:29:17,790 S5: to enjoy, to worship, and to comprehend at ever increasing 525 00:29:17,790 --> 00:29:21,270 S5: levels the great blessings that God gives us for eternity. 526 00:29:21,950 --> 00:29:24,740 S1: Well, thank you for sharing that answer, Kathy. Appreciate the 527 00:29:24,780 --> 00:29:29,100 S1: interesting question there. John wants to know about Hebrews six 528 00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:32,100 S1: and ten. And he says, I was a believer and 529 00:29:32,100 --> 00:29:36,820 S1: very blatantly and publicly. I apostasized for ten years by 530 00:29:36,820 --> 00:29:39,220 S1: God's grace and mercy through His Spirit, he has brought 531 00:29:39,220 --> 00:29:42,660 S1: me back to repentance. But I still struggle with these 532 00:29:42,660 --> 00:29:46,700 S1: passages thinking that I've disqualified myself. I was a believer. 533 00:29:46,700 --> 00:29:49,220 S1: I became an enemy of the cross. And now I'm 534 00:29:49,220 --> 00:29:52,220 S1: a believer again. Can you please help me work through this? 535 00:29:52,260 --> 00:29:54,740 S5: I'm so glad that John brings this, because I am 536 00:29:54,740 --> 00:29:57,980 S5: sure he is not the only one going through this struggle. 537 00:29:58,020 --> 00:30:00,380 S5: I'm just sure of it. Now, on the one hand, 538 00:30:00,420 --> 00:30:04,420 S5: Hebrews is a wonderful book with really rich teaching, but 539 00:30:04,420 --> 00:30:08,420 S5: on the other hand, sometimes its warnings are quite frightening. 540 00:30:09,020 --> 00:30:13,860 S5: So to summarize Hebrews six, it says it's impossible for 541 00:30:13,860 --> 00:30:18,860 S5: those once enlightened who fall away to be renewed to repentance. 542 00:30:18,900 --> 00:30:23,730 S5: That's scary. Then later. Hebrews ten, we have another difficult warning. 543 00:30:23,730 --> 00:30:26,490 S5: It says in verse 26, if we go on sinning 544 00:30:26,490 --> 00:30:30,010 S5: deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no 545 00:30:30,010 --> 00:30:34,490 S5: longer remains a sacrifice for sins but the fearful expectation 546 00:30:34,490 --> 00:30:39,290 S5: of judgment. Now we come to John's question. I think 547 00:30:39,290 --> 00:30:45,250 S5: Hebrews six talks about a practical impossibility. Once someone has 548 00:30:45,250 --> 00:30:48,930 S5: been taught and has learned and been preached to and 549 00:30:48,970 --> 00:30:51,610 S5: has heard about Christ over and over and over again, 550 00:30:51,650 --> 00:30:55,890 S5: it is practically impossible if they fall away to bring 551 00:30:55,890 --> 00:30:58,130 S5: them back, because what can you tell them that they 552 00:30:58,130 --> 00:31:03,890 S5: don't already know? Nothing. But speaking of nothing, nothing is 553 00:31:03,890 --> 00:31:07,850 S5: impossible with God. Luke chapter one. And in John's life 554 00:31:08,010 --> 00:31:11,130 S5: he has come back from that lack of repentance to 555 00:31:11,170 --> 00:31:15,810 S5: believing again. And then there's Hebrews ten. It talks about 556 00:31:15,810 --> 00:31:21,000 S5: those who sin deliberately after receiving a knowledge of the truth, 557 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:25,360 S5: and there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 558 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:29,680 S5: 1026 talks about those who sin deliberately after receiving a 559 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:32,120 S5: knowledge of the truth. Now what is the sin? I 560 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:35,240 S5: take it it's not driving too fast or tax evasion. 561 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:38,120 S5: I take it that the sin is specific. This is 562 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:42,160 S5: the sin of rejecting Messiah Jesus and John is not 563 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:46,120 S5: in that place anymore. So they're both very scary passages, 564 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:48,640 S5: but I don't think they apply to our brother. Let's 565 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:53,800 S5: remember this yesterday's faith was good for yesterday. Only God 566 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:57,320 S5: knows tomorrow. What matters is our trust today. 567 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:00,360 S1: I'm just wondering, you know about that Hebrew six passage. 568 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:03,160 S1: Those who go on sinning deliberately. At what point have 569 00:32:03,160 --> 00:32:06,080 S1: we crossed a line? I mean, David himself says, keep 570 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:10,200 S1: your servant also from willful sins. And the truth of 571 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:13,120 S1: the matter is, we do sin willfully. We do so 572 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:16,000 S1: at what point have we crossed a line and are 573 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:18,120 S1: we in serious trouble? I guess is what I'm wondering. 574 00:32:18,190 --> 00:32:20,950 S5: Yes. Well, when we come to Hebrews ten, I think 575 00:32:20,950 --> 00:32:25,430 S5: we're talking about a specific kind of sin, not just 576 00:32:25,430 --> 00:32:31,590 S5: deliberately sending any kind, but a specific kind. In other words, not. Oh, yes. 577 00:32:31,710 --> 00:32:35,030 S5: I spoke harshly again. No, that's not it. I take 578 00:32:35,030 --> 00:32:38,470 S5: it that this is rejecting Messiah Jesus. 579 00:32:38,590 --> 00:32:39,790 S1: That's a whale of a different story. 580 00:32:39,830 --> 00:32:42,350 S6: That is a whale of a different story. Yes. 581 00:32:43,470 --> 00:32:46,590 S1: Roberta wonders in Israel, is it illegal to share the 582 00:32:46,630 --> 00:32:51,910 S1: gospel openly, whether it's person to person or passing out literature? Specifically, 583 00:32:51,910 --> 00:32:55,270 S1: can you be prosecuted or sent to jail? I've heard 584 00:32:55,270 --> 00:32:58,670 S1: this being stated as fact from numerous leaders in my church. 585 00:32:58,910 --> 00:33:01,430 S1: If it's not illegal, how should I go about correcting 586 00:33:01,430 --> 00:33:03,070 S1: the false impression that it is? 587 00:33:03,110 --> 00:33:07,590 S5: Well, the short answer is no. Sharing the gospel in 588 00:33:07,590 --> 00:33:11,709 S5: Israel is not illegal. When Israel was established as a 589 00:33:11,710 --> 00:33:17,500 S5: state in 1948, this was part of their Charter, if 590 00:33:17,500 --> 00:33:21,100 S5: you will, that there's a guarantee of freedom of religion, 591 00:33:21,100 --> 00:33:26,460 S5: freedom of conscience, freedom of language, education and culture. And 592 00:33:26,460 --> 00:33:32,580 S5: that Israel will safeguard the holy places of all religions 593 00:33:32,940 --> 00:33:36,500 S5: based on Israel's charter from 1948. No, it's not illegal. 594 00:33:36,500 --> 00:33:38,460 S5: But wait, wait, there are a couple of exceptions to 595 00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:43,940 S5: that from a 1977 law. First, you must not proselytize 596 00:33:43,940 --> 00:33:47,780 S5: someone younger than 18. That person cannot convert without the 597 00:33:47,780 --> 00:33:50,940 S5: permission of both parents. Okay. And when you proselytize, you 598 00:33:50,940 --> 00:33:54,580 S5: can't give anyone an incitement of money or blessings and say, oh, 599 00:33:54,620 --> 00:33:56,700 S5: if you become a Christian, I'll give you $100, right? 600 00:33:56,740 --> 00:34:00,380 S5: That's illegal. But no, sharing the gospel is not illegal 601 00:34:00,700 --> 00:34:04,900 S5: has led many people to believe that sharing the gospel 602 00:34:04,900 --> 00:34:10,500 S5: is illegal. Is some ultra-Orthodox Jewish people, if they encounter 603 00:34:10,500 --> 00:34:14,739 S5: Christians sharing their faith, will say it's illegal and then 604 00:34:14,739 --> 00:34:17,170 S5: threaten you. It's not. 605 00:34:17,489 --> 00:34:19,890 S1: This is the land and the book. Doctor Gerald Peterman 606 00:34:19,930 --> 00:34:22,770 S1: of our Moody Bible Institute faculty in the chair, as always, 607 00:34:22,969 --> 00:34:25,649 S1: answering questions that have come in via email. You can 608 00:34:25,650 --> 00:34:28,210 S1: get yours to him when you write the land and 609 00:34:28,210 --> 00:34:33,090 S1: the book at Moody's, the land and the book at Moody's. 610 00:34:34,850 --> 00:34:37,330 S1: Barrett writes, I understand the Bible is the Word of God, 611 00:34:37,330 --> 00:34:39,490 S1: but I'm wondering if you all know of a sound, 612 00:34:39,489 --> 00:34:42,730 S1: reliable book that gives a good overview of Old Testament 613 00:34:42,730 --> 00:34:45,129 S1: history all the way up to Christ in a more 614 00:34:45,130 --> 00:34:48,049 S1: linear fashion than than how the Bible is assembled. 615 00:34:48,210 --> 00:34:51,009 S5: Oh yes, we all need other good books to help 616 00:34:51,010 --> 00:34:53,810 S5: us with the one good book. So let me give 617 00:34:53,810 --> 00:34:56,089 S5: you a couple of options I have used in my 618 00:34:56,090 --> 00:35:01,290 S5: Sunday School class. Encountering the Old Testament by Bill Arnold, 619 00:35:01,290 --> 00:35:05,169 S5: published by Baker. It's in a new edition from 2024. 620 00:35:05,570 --> 00:35:09,450 S5: Lots of color photos, charts, timelines. I found it to 621 00:35:09,450 --> 00:35:14,130 S5: be very helpful. Another is A Kingdom of Priests by 622 00:35:14,130 --> 00:35:18,350 S5: Eugene Merrill. Detailed historical account of people from the Old Testament, 623 00:35:18,350 --> 00:35:22,830 S5: second edition, also Baker, 2008. And so my response is 624 00:35:22,830 --> 00:35:23,790 S5: happy reading. 625 00:35:24,469 --> 00:35:28,390 S1: Jeff wants to know, do angels have physical bodies? Genesis 626 00:35:28,390 --> 00:35:31,670 S1: six two says, the sons of God saw the beautiful 627 00:35:31,670 --> 00:35:34,710 S1: women and took any they wanted his wives. But on 628 00:35:34,710 --> 00:35:37,110 S1: the other hand, Jesus himself tells us in Luke 24 629 00:35:37,150 --> 00:35:39,989 S1: verse 39, see my hands and my feet that it 630 00:35:39,989 --> 00:35:43,509 S1: is I myself touch me and see. For a spirit 631 00:35:43,510 --> 00:35:45,950 S1: does not have flesh and bones, as you see that 632 00:35:45,950 --> 00:35:46,590 S1: I have. 633 00:35:46,630 --> 00:35:49,589 S5: Yeah. Good job Jeff, you're beginning to answer your own question. 634 00:35:49,910 --> 00:35:53,110 S5: The answer is no. Angels do not have physical bodies. 635 00:35:53,310 --> 00:35:57,710 S5: And that in Genesis six two, we're not talking about angels. 636 00:35:58,310 --> 00:36:00,670 S5: The sons of God is an expression which can talk 637 00:36:00,670 --> 00:36:03,630 S5: about angels in the book of job, but not outside 638 00:36:03,630 --> 00:36:06,190 S5: that book. I take it that the sons of God 639 00:36:06,190 --> 00:36:11,510 S5: in Genesis six are the descendants of Seth, the righteous people, 640 00:36:12,110 --> 00:36:17,740 S5: so we don't have angels wedding women to produce giants. 641 00:36:18,020 --> 00:36:19,980 S5: That's not happening in Genesis six. 642 00:36:20,500 --> 00:36:22,779 S1: You can get your question to us anytime if you'll 643 00:36:22,820 --> 00:36:25,460 S1: email us at. The land and the book at Moody's 644 00:36:26,660 --> 00:36:28,420 S1: takes a couple of days for you to get an answer. 645 00:36:28,420 --> 00:36:30,819 S1: But it's always coming your way. And we look forward 646 00:36:30,820 --> 00:36:33,980 S1: to featuring your question in an upcoming broadcast. Again, the 647 00:36:33,980 --> 00:36:37,339 S1: land and the book at Moody's. That's how you connect 648 00:36:37,340 --> 00:36:39,900 S1: with Doctor Gerald Peterman. And we've got one more segment 649 00:36:39,900 --> 00:36:42,620 S1: on the broadcast. It's Charlie's devotional. I hope you don't 650 00:36:42,620 --> 00:36:44,180 S1: miss it, and I hope you'll share us with a friend. 651 00:36:44,180 --> 00:36:46,420 S1: Let them know about our podcast, will you? It's at 652 00:36:46,420 --> 00:36:50,580 S1: our website. The land and the book. The land and 653 00:36:50,580 --> 00:37:06,819 S1: the book. Welcome back to the land and the book. 654 00:37:06,820 --> 00:37:08,739 S1: I'm John Gieger. And when you and I hear the 655 00:37:08,739 --> 00:37:12,810 S1: word pilgrim, we typically think of the holiday called Thanksgiving. 656 00:37:13,130 --> 00:37:16,210 S1: It's turkey, it's football. And if we think about pilgrims, 657 00:37:16,210 --> 00:37:18,770 S1: we're probably thinking of the ones that had buckles on 658 00:37:18,810 --> 00:37:23,009 S1: their shoes and and were very conservative theologically. And and 659 00:37:23,050 --> 00:37:25,529 S1: on it goes. Charlie, that's not what you have in 660 00:37:25,530 --> 00:37:29,450 S1: mind with today's devotional that you've titled The Grateful Pilgrim. Right? 661 00:37:29,690 --> 00:37:32,009 S2: That's exactly right, John. We're going to be heading to 662 00:37:32,050 --> 00:37:33,290 S2: Israel to meet this pilgrim. 663 00:37:33,330 --> 00:37:35,890 S1: All right. A different kind of pilgrim. And Charlie's perspective 664 00:37:35,890 --> 00:37:38,890 S1: is next after this Holy Land experience. 665 00:37:42,969 --> 00:37:45,969 S7: Hi, my name is Debbie, and I went to Israel 666 00:37:45,969 --> 00:37:49,410 S7: in 1998, and what I found when I went to 667 00:37:49,450 --> 00:37:54,810 S7: Israel is I was expecting this going home experience, but 668 00:37:54,810 --> 00:37:58,690 S7: it wasn't that for me. What happened was, is that 669 00:37:58,690 --> 00:38:01,969 S7: all these wonderful parables and stories that I had learned 670 00:38:01,969 --> 00:38:05,290 S7: about in Scripture came to life, and there were questions 671 00:38:05,290 --> 00:38:08,370 S7: that were answered for me as an American living in 672 00:38:08,370 --> 00:38:10,960 S7: this country that could never have been answered unless I 673 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:15,920 S7: was there actually seeing the landscape, most specifically the Sea 674 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:20,480 S7: of Galilee. The story of the disciples screaming for fear 675 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:22,000 S7: when they were in the boat in the middle of 676 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:24,200 S7: a storm, in the middle of the night. The questions 677 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:27,319 S7: were answered for me. Why were they so terrified? And 678 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:29,160 S7: when you see the Sea of Galilee at night, you 679 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:33,160 S7: understand very clearly, and you understand why it was such 680 00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:35,640 S7: a magnificent story, and there was so much to learn 681 00:38:35,640 --> 00:38:39,680 S7: from that. I highly recommend going to Israel. It's a 682 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:43,040 S7: wonderful experience, and it does draw you closer and nearer 683 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:45,200 S7: to God than you could ever possibly imagine. 684 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:50,359 S1: Sure appreciate that Holy Land experience. And Charlie, with that, 685 00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:51,680 S1: we're going to turn it over to you for your 686 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:52,920 S1: look at Psalm 84. 687 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:55,520 S2: Ah, thanks. You know, every week on the program, we 688 00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:58,399 S2: begin this final segment with, just like we did a 689 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:02,560 S2: Holy Land experience, a testimony from someone who's visited Israel. 690 00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:04,799 S2: And if you've listened for any length of time, you 691 00:39:04,800 --> 00:39:08,480 S2: might have noticed several recurring themes. The trip made the 692 00:39:08,480 --> 00:39:12,430 S2: Bible come alive. I felt like I'd come home. I 693 00:39:12,469 --> 00:39:15,509 S2: sensed a closeness to God there. The time in the 694 00:39:15,510 --> 00:39:18,630 S2: land helped me grow spiritually. Now, those who've been to 695 00:39:18,670 --> 00:39:21,790 S2: Israel struggle to put their thoughts and emotions into words. 696 00:39:22,030 --> 00:39:25,230 S2: The trip makes a profound spiritual impact that they find 697 00:39:25,270 --> 00:39:28,870 S2: hard to describe. And perhaps that's why God placed Psalm 698 00:39:28,870 --> 00:39:33,110 S2: 84 into Israel's inspired songbook. This is the song of 699 00:39:33,110 --> 00:39:36,070 S2: the Grateful Pilgrim, a song that seeks to put into 700 00:39:36,110 --> 00:39:39,790 S2: words the spiritual impact of such a visit. So let's 701 00:39:39,790 --> 00:39:42,590 S2: sit down with the anonymous writer to hear his Holy 702 00:39:42,590 --> 00:39:45,870 S2: Land experience. We don't know where the psalmist was from, 703 00:39:45,910 --> 00:39:47,790 S2: though we can assume he was from somewhere in the 704 00:39:47,790 --> 00:39:50,910 S2: land of Israel. But we definitely know where he wanted 705 00:39:50,910 --> 00:39:53,750 S2: to go. He had his heart set on visiting the 706 00:39:53,750 --> 00:39:56,910 S2: Temple in Jerusalem. Perhaps he was traveling there for one 707 00:39:56,910 --> 00:40:00,950 S2: of the three annual pilgrimages. But whatever the specific reason, 708 00:40:00,950 --> 00:40:04,109 S2: his soul longed and even yearned for the courts of 709 00:40:04,110 --> 00:40:06,910 S2: the Lord. But what is it about this trip that 710 00:40:06,910 --> 00:40:11,460 S2: has so profoundly impacted the Pilgrim. Well, he instinctively knows 711 00:40:11,460 --> 00:40:14,260 S2: the journey's connected in a special way to the God 712 00:40:14,260 --> 00:40:17,500 S2: he loves. It's not just the beautiful temple buildings that 713 00:40:17,500 --> 00:40:20,980 S2: draw him to Jerusalem. In fact, he doesn't describe it 714 00:40:20,980 --> 00:40:23,940 S2: as the house of God. Instead, the word he uses 715 00:40:23,940 --> 00:40:27,460 S2: is the plural form of tent or tabernacle. It's not 716 00:40:27,460 --> 00:40:31,260 S2: the buildings, but the God who tabernacles there that makes 717 00:40:31,260 --> 00:40:34,420 S2: the trip so special. The writer searches for ways to 718 00:40:34,460 --> 00:40:38,339 S2: describe his intense desire to visit this place so closely 719 00:40:38,340 --> 00:40:41,420 S2: connected to God. He thinks about those who are privileged 720 00:40:41,420 --> 00:40:44,219 S2: to spend time at the temple, from the tiniest of 721 00:40:44,219 --> 00:40:47,980 S2: sparrows nesting high in the courtyard rafters, to the priests 722 00:40:47,980 --> 00:40:51,060 S2: ministering at the altar. All who dwell in God's house, 723 00:40:51,060 --> 00:40:54,940 S2: he says, are blessed. Beginning in verse five, the psalmist 724 00:40:54,940 --> 00:40:58,100 S2: focuses on the blessing reserved for the pilgrim in whose 725 00:40:58,100 --> 00:41:01,780 S2: heart are the highways? The highways he has in mind 726 00:41:01,780 --> 00:41:04,299 S2: are those that lead to Zion. And it's here where 727 00:41:04,300 --> 00:41:08,170 S2: the writer provides his most vivid illustration of the impact 728 00:41:08,170 --> 00:41:11,930 S2: the trip has on the pilgrims life. And yet, sadly, 729 00:41:11,930 --> 00:41:15,250 S2: most readers miss what he's saying. So let's slow down 730 00:41:15,250 --> 00:41:19,330 S2: and look carefully at his description of the journey. Passing 731 00:41:19,330 --> 00:41:22,049 S2: through the valley of Baca, they make it a spring. 732 00:41:22,650 --> 00:41:25,650 S2: But where's the valley of Baca? And how can pilgrims 733 00:41:25,650 --> 00:41:29,170 S2: turn it into a spring? There's no specific valley in 734 00:41:29,170 --> 00:41:32,529 S2: the Bible named Baca used as a noun. The word 735 00:41:32,570 --> 00:41:35,770 S2: baca referred to the balsam trees, the trees that produced 736 00:41:35,770 --> 00:41:39,290 S2: the balm of Gilead mentioned in the Bible. The balsam 737 00:41:39,290 --> 00:41:42,810 S2: trees would weep or drip a resinous gum that was 738 00:41:42,810 --> 00:41:46,210 S2: collected and used to produce the healing balm. But when 739 00:41:46,210 --> 00:41:49,170 S2: used as a verb, the word baca meant to weep, 740 00:41:49,170 --> 00:41:52,250 S2: to wail, or to lament. It's possible the tree got 741 00:41:52,250 --> 00:41:56,170 S2: its name from the resinous gum that wept from the branches. 742 00:41:56,610 --> 00:42:00,450 S2: Rather than identifying a specific physical location on his journey, 743 00:42:00,690 --> 00:42:04,049 S2: I believe the psalmist is describing the emotional impact of 744 00:42:04,050 --> 00:42:08,719 S2: this pilgrimage, The journey to Jerusalem took his sadness and sorrow, 745 00:42:08,960 --> 00:42:12,120 S2: represented by the Valley of Weeping, and replaced it with 746 00:42:12,120 --> 00:42:15,400 S2: a spring of water is a symbol of life, abundance 747 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:19,239 S2: and ultimately joy. Lest we miss the point, he immediately 748 00:42:19,239 --> 00:42:22,359 S2: adds that the early rain also covers it with blessing. 749 00:42:22,920 --> 00:42:25,319 S2: The early rain was part of the blessing promised by 750 00:42:25,320 --> 00:42:29,680 S2: God to Israel in Deuteronomy 11. God sends his showers 751 00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:32,200 S2: of blessing on the pilgrim as he makes his way 752 00:42:32,200 --> 00:42:36,320 S2: to God's house in Jerusalem. The journey to Jerusalem was 753 00:42:36,320 --> 00:42:39,840 S2: physically exhausting. It was for the Old Testament pilgrims, and 754 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:43,040 S2: it still is for travelers today. But rather than growing 755 00:42:43,080 --> 00:42:46,600 S2: weary on the journey, they go from strength to strength. 756 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:51,480 S2: They discover an unknown, unexpected, sustaining power that keeps them 757 00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:55,279 S2: strong as they journey to appear before God in Zion. 758 00:42:55,719 --> 00:42:58,879 S2: The journey also had a spiritual impact on the pilgrim, 759 00:42:58,880 --> 00:43:01,440 S2: and the psalm ends with his prayer to God, whom 760 00:43:01,440 --> 00:43:04,580 S2: he addresses as the God of the armies of heaven. 761 00:43:04,900 --> 00:43:07,900 S2: The Lord God of Hosts, while he asks God to 762 00:43:07,940 --> 00:43:11,460 S2: protect the king, whom he describes as Israel's shield and 763 00:43:11,460 --> 00:43:15,860 S2: as God's anointed. He later acknowledges that ultimately God is 764 00:43:15,860 --> 00:43:20,100 S2: Israel's sun and shield. The journey has reaffirmed the pilgrims 765 00:43:20,100 --> 00:43:23,700 S2: trust in his God. How significant is the impact of 766 00:43:23,700 --> 00:43:27,100 S2: this journey on the Pilgrim? A day in your courts 767 00:43:27,140 --> 00:43:30,899 S2: is better than a thousand outside. I tell people that 768 00:43:30,900 --> 00:43:32,819 S2: a two week trip to Israel is like a year 769 00:43:32,820 --> 00:43:35,700 S2: in Bible college or seminary, but it turns out I've 770 00:43:35,700 --> 00:43:39,340 S2: been underselling the impact of the trip. A single day 771 00:43:39,540 --> 00:43:42,739 S2: is worth three years anywhere else. At least that's how 772 00:43:42,739 --> 00:43:45,940 S2: the psalmist describes it. But how can that be true? 773 00:43:46,380 --> 00:43:48,660 S2: The psalmist seems to provide his answer as he draws 774 00:43:48,660 --> 00:43:51,580 S2: his song to a close. I actually like the King 775 00:43:51,580 --> 00:43:54,700 S2: James translation of the next phrase. I had rather be 776 00:43:54,700 --> 00:43:56,940 S2: a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to 777 00:43:56,980 --> 00:44:00,980 S2: dwell in the tents of wickedness. The humblest position serving 778 00:44:00,980 --> 00:44:05,010 S2: God in Jerusalem was far more desirable than time spent 779 00:44:05,010 --> 00:44:08,770 S2: in the greatest so-called pleasure palaces on Earth. You know 780 00:44:08,770 --> 00:44:12,810 S2: what happens in Vegas might supposedly stay in Vegas, but 781 00:44:12,810 --> 00:44:16,930 S2: what happens to a person in Jerusalem impacts that person forever. 782 00:44:17,210 --> 00:44:20,009 S2: This is true because the God we encountered during our 783 00:44:20,010 --> 00:44:23,770 S2: pilgrimage is a God who gives grace and glory, and 784 00:44:23,770 --> 00:44:27,090 S2: a God who doesn't withhold any good thing from those 785 00:44:27,090 --> 00:44:30,250 S2: who walk uprightly. It's time to say goodbye to our 786 00:44:30,250 --> 00:44:33,569 S2: special guest today in our Holy Land experience. But as 787 00:44:33,570 --> 00:44:35,930 S2: he gets ready to walk out the studio, he turns 788 00:44:35,930 --> 00:44:39,890 S2: back and speaks into the microphone one last time. What 789 00:44:39,890 --> 00:44:42,609 S2: did my pilgrimage do for me? It gave me new 790 00:44:42,610 --> 00:44:45,089 S2: insight into the God I love, and it helped me 791 00:44:45,090 --> 00:44:48,930 S2: understand life more clearly from his perspective. I started my 792 00:44:48,930 --> 00:44:51,850 S2: journey carrying a heavy load of care and pain, but 793 00:44:51,850 --> 00:44:54,730 S2: along the way, God replaced my tears of sorrow with 794 00:44:54,730 --> 00:44:59,290 S2: tears of joy. He provided physical strength and spiritual blessing. 795 00:44:59,570 --> 00:45:03,200 S2: During my journey, I came to understand what is truly significant, 796 00:45:03,200 --> 00:45:07,480 S2: valuable and lasting in life. I knew God was omnipotent, 797 00:45:07,480 --> 00:45:10,160 S2: but I discovered he was my shield. I knew he 798 00:45:10,160 --> 00:45:13,279 S2: was omnipresent, but I discovered he had chosen to work 799 00:45:13,280 --> 00:45:16,640 S2: in a special way in this unique part of the world. 800 00:45:17,040 --> 00:45:19,799 S2: I knew he was omniscient, but I discovered I was 801 00:45:19,800 --> 00:45:22,200 S2: able to look on his face and learn more about 802 00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:25,080 S2: him as I walked through the land where he revealed 803 00:45:25,080 --> 00:45:28,920 S2: so much about himself. God didn't change during the trip, 804 00:45:29,239 --> 00:45:32,560 S2: but I did, and I'll never be the same again. 805 00:45:33,239 --> 00:45:37,080 S1: The Grateful pilgrim. A look at Psalm 84. Thank you Charlie. 806 00:45:37,080 --> 00:45:40,520 S1: Always appreciate those devotionals. Maybe this is one that you'd 807 00:45:40,520 --> 00:45:43,040 S1: like to hear again. You can do that easily at 808 00:45:43,040 --> 00:45:46,400 S1: our website. The land and the book. Or better yet, 809 00:45:46,520 --> 00:45:49,160 S1: you can share the entire program with a friend. Our 810 00:45:49,160 --> 00:45:52,400 S1: podcast is right there at the website, The Land and 811 00:45:52,440 --> 00:45:56,279 S1: the book. Now you'll note that the program title is 812 00:45:56,280 --> 00:45:59,440 S1: chosen very specifically. It's the land and the book in 813 00:45:59,440 --> 00:46:02,230 S1: the book, of course, being the Bible itself, you cannot 814 00:46:02,230 --> 00:46:04,790 S1: help but go through that book, study that book without 815 00:46:04,790 --> 00:46:07,630 S1: bumping into a question or 2 or 3. And you 816 00:46:07,630 --> 00:46:11,069 S1: need to know that those questions of yours are absolutely welcome. 817 00:46:11,430 --> 00:46:13,509 S1: We have an entire segment that we devote to that 818 00:46:13,510 --> 00:46:16,230 S1: every week. If you were listening earlier, you heard it. Well, 819 00:46:16,230 --> 00:46:18,509 S1: Gerald Peterman will be glad to answer your question as 820 00:46:18,510 --> 00:46:22,150 S1: you email it to the land and the book at Moody's. 821 00:46:23,350 --> 00:46:26,430 S1: Let me slow that down the land and the book 822 00:46:26,670 --> 00:46:29,870 S1: at Moody's dot Edu. If you'd like to keep track 823 00:46:29,870 --> 00:46:32,230 S1: of what's going on, the guests we've got coming or 824 00:46:32,270 --> 00:46:34,750 S1: programs we've had in the past, that's all available to 825 00:46:34,750 --> 00:46:37,190 S1: you in a tab that you can quickly access at 826 00:46:37,230 --> 00:46:41,390 S1: the land and the book.org, our website again, the land 827 00:46:41,390 --> 00:46:44,629 S1: and the book.org. Thanks so much for hanging out with 828 00:46:44,630 --> 00:46:47,310 S1: us today. On behalf of our host, Charlie Dyer, our producer, 829 00:46:47,310 --> 00:46:50,670 S1: Dan Anderson, I'm John Gager and the land and the 830 00:46:50,670 --> 00:46:53,469 S1: book is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of 831 00:46:53,469 --> 00:46:54,870 S1: Moody Bible Institute.