1 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,799 S1: Suffering. It's the thing we run from, the thing we dread. 2 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,040 S1: But we're not alone. And we're not the first. Many 3 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:17,400 S1: of the Bible names that you know and love face 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,040 S1: suffering of all kinds. What lessons did they learn? What 5 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,440 S1: wisdom did they leave for us in Scripture? Coming up, 6 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,960 S1: a very special conversation with Johnny Tada. You'll be encouraged 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,680 S1: as we explore suffering in Scripture and suffering in your life. 8 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,559 S1: With that, we'll say welcome to the land and the book. 9 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,280 S1: Our host is an expert on Israel in the Middle East, 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,800 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Geiger, hoping your day's going well. Charlie. 11 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,120 S2: John, it's going great. Thank you for asking. 12 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:45,400 S1: Well, as believers, Charlie, there's a great need for us 13 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,800 S1: to share the gospel with the Jewish people. In fact, 14 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,479 S1: many of our listeners faithfully pray and partner with ministries 15 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:54,760 S1: that are doing just that. But what if what if 16 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,160 S1: you could personally take part in bringing the gospel to 17 00:00:58,200 --> 00:00:59,120 S1: Jewish people? 18 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:01,550 S2: Yeah, That's a great idea. And that's why our friends 19 00:01:01,550 --> 00:01:04,990 S2: at Life in Messiah love the opportunity to get believers 20 00:01:04,990 --> 00:01:10,390 S2: involved in Jewish ministry. They regularly organize outreach teams to Brooklyn, 21 00:01:10,510 --> 00:01:14,390 S2: South Florida, and even to Israel outside of times of conflict. 22 00:01:14,590 --> 00:01:17,510 S2: These ministry trips will equip you to understand how to 23 00:01:17,550 --> 00:01:20,830 S2: share the gospel with Jewish people, give you the opportunity 24 00:01:20,830 --> 00:01:25,390 S2: to share your faith, and provide tools and resources that 25 00:01:25,390 --> 00:01:27,550 S2: you can take home with you. If you want to 26 00:01:27,550 --> 00:01:31,350 S2: get hands on training and practical experience in Jewish evangelism, 27 00:01:31,590 --> 00:01:35,830 S2: you can learn more by visiting Life in Messiah and 28 00:01:35,830 --> 00:01:39,789 S2: clicking on the radio button there. That's life in Messiah. 29 00:01:41,310 --> 00:01:44,310 S1: And now a look at current events in this opening segment. 30 00:01:44,470 --> 00:01:48,230 S1: Gaza remains on the brink of more fighting. Will Israel 31 00:01:48,230 --> 00:01:51,550 S1: push further into Gaza City, and if so, how long 32 00:01:51,590 --> 00:01:54,910 S1: might this next phase of fighting last? Is a cease 33 00:01:54,950 --> 00:01:58,310 S1: fire even possible, especially in light of Israel's attack on 34 00:01:58,460 --> 00:02:02,620 S1: Hamas's leadership in Doha. Lots of complicated issues to unravel here. 35 00:02:02,940 --> 00:02:05,780 S2: It is complicated, John, but let me try to unravel 36 00:02:05,780 --> 00:02:08,900 S2: what we know, at least right now. Israel has begun 37 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:11,739 S2: its push into Gaza City, though its moves so far 38 00:02:11,780 --> 00:02:16,060 S2: have been cautious. They've leveled several high rise buildings housing 39 00:02:16,060 --> 00:02:19,900 S2: Hamas command centers after giving advance warning to allow residents 40 00:02:19,900 --> 00:02:23,540 S2: in those buildings time to escape. These attacks serve as 41 00:02:23,540 --> 00:02:27,340 S2: a warning that Israel is coming. Israel hopes they'll also 42 00:02:27,340 --> 00:02:30,820 S2: encourage civilians to flee the area to keep Hamas from 43 00:02:30,820 --> 00:02:34,180 S2: using them as human shields. The next phase of fighting 44 00:02:34,180 --> 00:02:37,340 S2: could take up to five months, Israel believes, but there's 45 00:02:37,340 --> 00:02:40,860 S2: still at least a possibility the battle might not happen. 46 00:02:41,100 --> 00:02:44,780 S2: President Trump presented a deal that would see all 48 47 00:02:44,820 --> 00:02:48,780 S2: remaining hostages released on the first day, along with hundreds 48 00:02:48,780 --> 00:02:53,860 S2: of terrorists and thousands of Palestinian Arab detainees. Under this deal, 49 00:02:53,860 --> 00:02:57,290 S2: Israel would halt its attack on Gaza City and immediately 50 00:02:57,290 --> 00:03:01,330 S2: begin negotiations to end the war, with negotiations being managed 51 00:03:01,330 --> 00:03:05,170 S2: by President Trump. Israel accepted the offer, but according to 52 00:03:05,250 --> 00:03:08,530 S2: Arab sources, Hamas was likely to reject it, at least 53 00:03:08,530 --> 00:03:12,370 S2: in that format. While they're concerned about an Israeli attack, 54 00:03:12,410 --> 00:03:15,410 S2: they believe the presence of Israeli hostages and a large 55 00:03:15,410 --> 00:03:18,850 S2: number of civilians in the area will pressure Israel to 56 00:03:18,889 --> 00:03:22,410 S2: stop short of total victory. They're also reluctant to give 57 00:03:22,410 --> 00:03:25,329 S2: up all the hostages on day one because they view 58 00:03:25,330 --> 00:03:29,130 S2: the hostages as their main bargaining chip. Now, while all 59 00:03:29,130 --> 00:03:32,250 S2: this was going on, Hamas took credit for a terrorist 60 00:03:32,250 --> 00:03:35,610 S2: attack on Israeli civilians at a bus stop just north 61 00:03:35,610 --> 00:03:40,130 S2: of Jerusalem that killed six Israelis and seriously wounded six others. 62 00:03:40,410 --> 00:03:43,370 S2: So on Tuesday, Hamas convened a meeting of its leadership 63 00:03:43,370 --> 00:03:46,530 S2: in Doha to decide how best to respond to President 64 00:03:46,530 --> 00:03:50,730 S2: Trump's proposal. Israel took advantage of that opportunity and launched 65 00:03:50,730 --> 00:03:54,330 S2: an attack on the meeting. Arab and Gulf states condemned 66 00:03:54,330 --> 00:03:59,080 S2: the strike, saying it could derail any negotiations. What happens now, 67 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,400 S2: over the next few days and weeks, could determine the 68 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,560 S2: outcome of Gaza, Hamas and the hostages. 69 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,760 S1: Well, Charlie, for somebody wondering, have the Israelis just stirred 70 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,280 S1: up yet another pot in this attack in Qatar? Your response? 71 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,919 S2: The short answer is yes, they have. But Israel speaks 72 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,360 S2: the language of the Middle East and in the language 73 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,440 S2: of the Middle East, they made a statement, and that 74 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,360 S2: is mess with us and will do whatever it takes, 75 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,800 S2: whatever the consequences are, to protect our people. 76 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,360 S1: That's Doctor Charlie Dyer. This is the land and the 77 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,520 S1: book I'm John Jaeger. Our opening segment focused on current 78 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,720 S1: events in the Middle East. Well, the world's leading association 79 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:41,919 S1: of genocide scholars declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. 80 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,400 S1: Those shocking headlines were front page news around the world. 81 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,880 S1: But what are the details behind these headlines, Charlie, that 82 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:49,960 S1: we really need to know? 83 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,240 S2: You know, those headlines were shocking and appeared at first 84 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,940 S2: glance to align the experts from the International Association of 85 00:04:56,940 --> 00:05:02,179 S2: Genocide Scholars solidly against Israel. The resolution declared that Israel's 86 00:05:02,180 --> 00:05:06,260 S2: conduct in the war meets the UN's legal definition of genocide. 87 00:05:06,500 --> 00:05:09,820 S2: But here are the details not included in the headlines. 88 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:14,300 S2: Out of the 500 members of the association, only 28% 89 00:05:14,339 --> 00:05:17,340 S2: took part in the vote. And this so-called body of 90 00:05:17,339 --> 00:05:22,060 S2: experts includes artists, community scholars and others who aren't really 91 00:05:22,060 --> 00:05:27,500 S2: scholars or experts. Since that announcement was made, nearly 200 genocide, 92 00:05:27,500 --> 00:05:32,100 S2: Holocaust and legal scholars called on the association to retract 93 00:05:32,100 --> 00:05:36,500 S2: its resolution, charging them with critical errors. They said it's 94 00:05:36,500 --> 00:05:40,220 S2: essential not to water down the legal elements of genocide, 95 00:05:40,220 --> 00:05:44,700 S2: simply to advance ideological positions and bias. In addition, a 96 00:05:44,700 --> 00:05:48,860 S2: report was issued by the Begin-sadat center for Strategic Studies 97 00:05:48,860 --> 00:05:53,730 S2: and Bar-Ilan University offering a more reasoned and thorough defense 98 00:05:53,730 --> 00:05:58,170 S2: of all the charges leveled against Israel. It's titled Debunking 99 00:05:58,170 --> 00:06:04,090 S2: the Genocide Allegations, and the 310 page report demonstrates the flaws, 100 00:06:04,130 --> 00:06:09,570 S2: bias and methodological errors made by agencies, organizations and even 101 00:06:09,570 --> 00:06:13,850 S2: major media outlets who've been advocating the genocide narrative. Now, 102 00:06:13,850 --> 00:06:18,010 S2: here's my advice ignore the inflammatory headlines and take time 103 00:06:18,010 --> 00:06:22,370 S2: to read this report. It's available online as a PDF document. 104 00:06:22,370 --> 00:06:28,010 S2: Just Google debunking the genocide allegations. And remember, truth is 105 00:06:28,010 --> 00:06:30,450 S2: always the best weapon against error. 106 00:06:30,890 --> 00:06:33,530 S1: Well, the location of the Pool of Siloam has been 107 00:06:33,529 --> 00:06:36,969 S1: known for hundreds of years. Or has it? Why has 108 00:06:36,970 --> 00:06:40,450 S1: there now some debate, Charlie, on the actual location of 109 00:06:40,450 --> 00:06:42,529 S1: the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem? 110 00:06:42,810 --> 00:06:44,770 S2: Yeah, I love this. In fact, just before we went 111 00:06:44,770 --> 00:06:46,930 S2: on recording, I was actually looking at some more videos 112 00:06:46,930 --> 00:06:49,170 S2: that were taken. But like so much in the city 113 00:06:49,170 --> 00:06:52,640 S2: of David, that which was accepted as fact gets thrown 114 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:56,360 S2: into doubt when something new is uncovered. The Byzantine era. 115 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,960 S2: Pool of Siloam at the end of Hezekiah's tunnel was 116 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,560 S2: previously thought to be the location of the Pool of Siloam. Then, 117 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,800 S2: about 20 years ago, the current pool was discovered during 118 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,320 S2: construction work on a sewage line. The steps around this 119 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,520 S2: new pool, dating to the time of King Herod, suggested 120 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,200 S2: it was a massive pool, though most was still not visible. 121 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:20,240 S2: Archaeologists suggested it might have even served as a mikvah 122 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:24,360 S2: or ritual bath. Then, several years ago, archaeologists had the 123 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,880 S2: opportunity to begin excavating the rest of the area. But 124 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,520 S2: instead of finding steps all the way around a pool, 125 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,960 S2: they discovered a large dam at the very end. And 126 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:37,520 S2: based on organic material in that structure, the dam dates 127 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,600 S2: to about 100 years before the time of King Hezekiah. 128 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,400 S2: So now archaeologists are questioning if this is really the 129 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:49,280 S2: Pool of Siloam. However, Second Kings 2020 says Hezekiah made 130 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,070 S2: the pool and the tunnel by which he brought water 131 00:07:52,070 --> 00:07:54,670 S2: into the city. So the Pool of Siloam had to 132 00:07:54,670 --> 00:07:57,110 S2: be in the city and near the exit point of 133 00:07:57,110 --> 00:08:00,470 S2: Hezekiah's Tunnel, which is where the current pool that's been 134 00:08:00,470 --> 00:08:03,950 S2: uncovered is located. So how does it all fit together? Well, 135 00:08:03,950 --> 00:08:06,830 S2: it's possible they still don't know, but it's possible the 136 00:08:06,830 --> 00:08:09,870 S2: dam might have originally been a wall built across the 137 00:08:09,870 --> 00:08:13,390 S2: Central Valley to join the western hill to the original city. 138 00:08:13,750 --> 00:08:17,070 S2: It protected the city and helped collect rainwater flowing down 139 00:08:17,070 --> 00:08:20,630 S2: the Central Valley. Later, Hezekiah diverted the water from the 140 00:08:20,670 --> 00:08:24,710 S2: Gihon Spring through his tunnel into the valley and turned 141 00:08:24,710 --> 00:08:28,350 S2: the massive wall into a dam, creating the Pool of Siloam. 142 00:08:28,750 --> 00:08:31,670 S2: I'm sure all the details will get refined as the 143 00:08:31,670 --> 00:08:35,230 S2: excavations continue, and I'm really looking forward to seeing all 144 00:08:35,230 --> 00:08:37,270 S2: the progress when I'm there this November. 145 00:08:37,309 --> 00:08:38,910 S1: All right. And we'll look forward to a report from 146 00:08:38,910 --> 00:08:42,230 S1: you on that very issue. Charlie. Thank you. Diabetics are 147 00:08:42,230 --> 00:08:45,790 S1: told to avoid bread and sugar, but an Israeli startup 148 00:08:45,790 --> 00:08:48,910 S1: is working to eliminate one of those items from the list. 149 00:08:49,260 --> 00:08:52,380 S1: Tell us about the company from Amazing Israel developing low 150 00:08:52,380 --> 00:08:53,579 S1: carb bread. 151 00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:58,540 S2: Well, the company's called eat Sane Eat and was founded 152 00:08:58,540 --> 00:09:03,180 S2: in Israel in 2017 by two people an endocrinologist whose 153 00:09:03,179 --> 00:09:06,220 S2: father had diabetes and a lawyer with a background in 154 00:09:06,220 --> 00:09:10,340 S2: biology whose daughter had diabetes. The endocrinologist had a vision 155 00:09:10,340 --> 00:09:14,780 S2: for making ketogenic foods for diabetics that also tasted good, 156 00:09:14,780 --> 00:09:17,579 S2: and the Biologist's lawyer offered to help make that vision 157 00:09:17,580 --> 00:09:21,219 S2: a reality. The collaboration has evolved into a mission to 158 00:09:21,260 --> 00:09:24,980 S2: reinvent everyday foods like bread so that they will taste good, 159 00:09:24,980 --> 00:09:29,420 S2: but without the high carbohydrate count. They developed high fiber, 160 00:09:29,460 --> 00:09:34,260 S2: high protein products without any artificial additives or sweeteners. Their 161 00:09:34,260 --> 00:09:37,940 S2: bread is made from spelt, flour, nuts, seeds and plant 162 00:09:37,980 --> 00:09:42,979 S2: based protein and comes in sourdough, rustic and multi seed varieties. 163 00:09:43,179 --> 00:09:46,380 S2: The end result is bread that actually tastes like bread, 164 00:09:46,380 --> 00:09:50,170 S2: but with total carbs reduced from 30g per sandwich to 165 00:09:50,210 --> 00:09:54,290 S2: under three. Each saint is currently working on plans to 166 00:09:54,330 --> 00:09:57,610 S2: make their products available in North America in the coming year. 167 00:09:57,850 --> 00:10:01,770 S2: Now imagine bread that actually tastes like bread, but with 168 00:10:01,770 --> 00:10:05,370 S2: one fifth the carbs and a low glycemic index. That 169 00:10:05,370 --> 00:10:09,170 S2: definitely sounds like something out of amazing Israel that most 170 00:10:09,170 --> 00:10:11,650 S2: of us could sink our teeth into right about now. 171 00:10:11,929 --> 00:10:14,330 S1: Well, Charlie, I'll resist the urge to say that's the 172 00:10:14,330 --> 00:10:16,450 S1: best thing since sliced bread. 173 00:10:16,890 --> 00:10:19,010 S2: I agree with you, John. It sure does sound like 174 00:10:19,010 --> 00:10:20,610 S2: something I'm looking forward to seeing. 175 00:10:20,809 --> 00:10:23,170 S1: Charlie, we have a podcast at our website that many 176 00:10:23,170 --> 00:10:25,809 S1: people are still unaware of. Why is that such a 177 00:10:25,809 --> 00:10:26,530 S1: great tool? 178 00:10:26,929 --> 00:10:29,530 S2: Oh, the podcast allows people who may not be connected 179 00:10:29,530 --> 00:10:32,050 S2: to a local radio station, or who just didn't happen 180 00:10:32,050 --> 00:10:34,290 S2: to hear the program. Listen to it at any time. 181 00:10:34,290 --> 00:10:37,090 S2: So it's available anytime for their convenience. 182 00:10:37,090 --> 00:10:39,970 S1: And you'll find that podcast at our website. The land 183 00:10:39,970 --> 00:10:44,050 S1: and the book, that's the land and the book all 184 00:10:44,650 --> 00:10:48,040 S1: coming up, a very special conversation with Johnny Tata. You'll 185 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:51,160 S1: be encouraged as we explore suffering in Scripture and suffering 186 00:10:51,160 --> 00:11:07,959 S1: in your life. That's next. Many of the Bible names 187 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,120 S1: you know and love faced suffering of all kinds. What 188 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,040 S1: lessons did they learn? What wisdom did they leave for 189 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:18,000 S1: us in Scripture? We'll talk about it with Johnny Tata next. 190 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,600 S1: This is the land and the book. I'm John Gager 191 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,040 S1: with another quick tip for reaching out to your Jewish 192 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,520 S1: friends and neighbors on behalf of Christ. Let's listen to 193 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,880 S1: this conversation. So if you're a regular listener to the 194 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,679 S1: land in the book, you hear us encouraging you to 195 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:36,760 S1: share Yeshua Jesus with your unsaved Jewish friends. Maybe some say, 196 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:40,000 S1: isn't this really the job of my pastor, or the elders, 197 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:43,160 S1: or others who have the gift of evangelism or Jewish 198 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:48,500 S1: evangelism specifically? Greg Savage, you're a messianic believer. What's your response? 199 00:11:48,620 --> 00:11:52,220 S3: Well, I definitely think you have a responsibility to do that. 200 00:11:52,300 --> 00:11:55,179 S3: If you just think it's the pastor's job or you 201 00:11:55,179 --> 00:11:58,420 S3: don't have the gift of evangelism. God's called you to 202 00:11:58,460 --> 00:12:02,100 S3: make disciples. You don't have a free pass on that. 203 00:12:02,140 --> 00:12:05,860 S3: You must witness. And how is the pastor supposed to 204 00:12:05,860 --> 00:12:09,380 S3: witness to everybody that comes in the congregation? You have 205 00:12:09,380 --> 00:12:13,780 S3: that responsibility. You have that relationship. You have the ability 206 00:12:13,780 --> 00:12:16,660 S3: to sit down with them after church and ask them questions. 207 00:12:16,660 --> 00:12:18,500 S1: But, Greg, somebody says that makes me nervous, though. I 208 00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:19,460 S1: don't feel equipped. 209 00:12:19,820 --> 00:12:21,780 S3: You know what? Would it surprise you to tell you 210 00:12:21,780 --> 00:12:24,380 S3: that I've been doing this for 24 years, and every 211 00:12:24,420 --> 00:12:27,620 S3: time before I make a phone call, or I sit 212 00:12:27,620 --> 00:12:31,180 S3: down to witness that I get butterflies in my stomach 213 00:12:31,179 --> 00:12:34,100 S3: because I never know what's going to happen. I don't 214 00:12:34,100 --> 00:12:36,660 S3: know how the conversations go. I know it's a very 215 00:12:36,660 --> 00:12:40,060 S3: serious conversation. I know I don't want to make a mistake. 216 00:12:40,100 --> 00:12:42,059 S3: You're going to feel that way. But I can promise 217 00:12:42,100 --> 00:12:45,930 S3: you the moment you start to share the gospel. There 218 00:12:45,970 --> 00:12:50,010 S3: is power for the salvation of everyone who believes. And 219 00:12:50,010 --> 00:12:52,930 S3: you won't be worried about being nervous once you jump in. 220 00:12:52,970 --> 00:12:55,970 S3: Hudson Taylor once said, sharing the gospel is like a 221 00:12:55,970 --> 00:12:59,210 S3: cold shower. You just got to jump into it, right? 222 00:12:59,370 --> 00:13:02,690 S1: Great insights there from Greg Savage with Rock of Israel. 223 00:13:04,090 --> 00:13:06,650 S1: When she was 17 years old, she dove into the 224 00:13:06,650 --> 00:13:10,410 S1: Chesapeake Bay after misjudging the shallowness of the water, and 225 00:13:10,410 --> 00:13:13,810 S1: the accident left Johnny Todd paralyzed from the shoulders down, 226 00:13:13,809 --> 00:13:17,650 S1: which was actually the start, not the end. She founded 227 00:13:17,650 --> 00:13:22,130 S1: Johnny and Friends in 1979, an organization to accelerate Christian 228 00:13:22,130 --> 00:13:26,410 S1: ministry in the disability community throughout the entire world. Johnny 229 00:13:26,450 --> 00:13:30,090 S1: married Ken in 1982. Ken Tada. She served on the 230 00:13:30,090 --> 00:13:34,250 S1: National Council on Disability under Presidents Reagan and Bush, and 231 00:13:34,250 --> 00:13:37,370 S1: the first draft of the Americans with Disabilities Act was 232 00:13:37,370 --> 00:13:40,210 S1: authored by this council. Johnny Todd is the author of 233 00:13:40,210 --> 00:13:43,840 S1: more than 40 books and as well as several children's 234 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:46,280 S1: books in that number she's heard around the world, I'm 235 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:50,280 S1: guessing every minute of every day, somewhere through her broadcast, 236 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:54,040 S1: Johnny and Friends. Hey, we love the way you love people. Johnny, 237 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:55,920 S1: thanks for sharing part of your day with us on 238 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:57,080 S1: the land and the book. 239 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:59,280 S4: Oh John, I'm so glad to be with you. And 240 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,360 S4: of course, when I'm with you, I know I am 241 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:06,240 S4: with all our friends who listen on Moody Radio. So 242 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:09,320 S4: thanks for having me on, especially on this program about 243 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:10,400 S4: the land and the book. 244 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,680 S1: You bet. Well, let's dig in. Moses had a speech 245 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,440 S1: impediment all his life. You think of all those years 246 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:20,200 S1: trying to give the Israelites clear instructions every single day 247 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:23,480 S1: for 40 years with a speech impediment. Sounds to me 248 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,240 S1: there's at least a small component of suffering in that. 249 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:27,080 S1: Your thoughts? 250 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,560 S4: Absolutely. So let's just look at Scripture real quickly, because 251 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:34,200 S4: in the first part of Exodus, Moses is afraid the 252 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,120 S4: people won't listen to him. So God gives him three 253 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:42,350 S4: miraculous signs, right? And then Moses answers, God, Odd, my lord. 254 00:14:42,350 --> 00:14:45,190 S4: I'm not eloquent either in the past or since you've 255 00:14:45,190 --> 00:14:48,869 S4: spoken to your servant. But I'm slow of speech and tongue. 256 00:14:49,270 --> 00:14:51,550 S4: And the Lord said to him, and I love this verse. 257 00:14:51,790 --> 00:14:57,310 S4: Exodus 411 Moses who has made man's mouth, who makes 258 00:14:57,310 --> 00:15:00,910 S4: him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it 259 00:15:00,910 --> 00:15:04,590 S4: not I, the Lord? Ha! What a verse! I tell 260 00:15:04,590 --> 00:15:06,750 S4: you what, John, when I read that verse when I 261 00:15:06,750 --> 00:15:10,270 S4: was first injured, it just comforted me so much to 262 00:15:10,310 --> 00:15:14,910 S4: know that it was all under God's sovereign decree. So 263 00:15:14,910 --> 00:15:18,190 S4: I felt very nicely wedged in the middle of God's will, 264 00:15:18,190 --> 00:15:21,870 S4: just knowing that I had my disability and God was 265 00:15:21,870 --> 00:15:24,750 S4: going to protect me in his sovereignty. But quickly getting 266 00:15:24,750 --> 00:15:27,790 S4: back to Moses, you got to believe that this man 267 00:15:27,790 --> 00:15:31,350 S4: was likely afraid that people just wouldn't listen to him 268 00:15:31,350 --> 00:15:34,550 S4: because of his slowness of tongue. And it's true with 269 00:15:34,550 --> 00:15:38,750 S4: any physical impairment, whether, uh, me in a wheelchair or 270 00:15:38,870 --> 00:15:42,060 S4: like Moses, you've got garbled speech, or a lisp or 271 00:15:42,300 --> 00:15:46,660 S4: a stutter or some other sort of speech impediment. Moses, 272 00:15:46,660 --> 00:15:49,060 S4: I think, may have first suffered from the prejudice of 273 00:15:49,060 --> 00:15:52,340 S4: other people, and perhaps this is why he thought that 274 00:15:52,340 --> 00:15:55,140 S4: they wouldn't listen to him. Because when you look down 275 00:15:55,140 --> 00:15:59,500 S4: upon or castigated or snubbed because of a disability, no 276 00:15:59,500 --> 00:16:03,700 S4: matter how minor it seems, even if it's stuttering, you 277 00:16:03,700 --> 00:16:08,460 S4: really do suffer a social handicap. But I like to think, John, 278 00:16:08,460 --> 00:16:13,140 S4: that Moses learned a lesson from God's response to his excuses. 279 00:16:13,420 --> 00:16:17,180 S4: Because as I just read from Exodus 411, it says 280 00:16:17,180 --> 00:16:21,580 S4: that God in his sovereignty appoints and designs physical limitations. 281 00:16:21,620 --> 00:16:24,860 S4: And I hope that encourages some of our listeners today, 282 00:16:24,860 --> 00:16:28,180 S4: because God as the creator, has ultimate control over who 283 00:16:28,180 --> 00:16:33,260 S4: has the ability to speak or hear or see or walk. Wow. 284 00:16:33,860 --> 00:16:37,700 S4: God used that disability to cause Moses to lean harder 285 00:16:37,700 --> 00:16:40,810 S4: on his sovereign Lord and what a difference it made. 286 00:16:41,370 --> 00:16:45,250 S1: Scripture tells us King Saul's grandson Mephibosheth was disabled in 287 00:16:45,250 --> 00:16:48,090 S1: both feet after being dropped as a child. He suffered 288 00:16:48,090 --> 00:16:50,450 S1: with that his whole life. Johnny, what might have that 289 00:16:50,450 --> 00:16:52,490 S1: been like without a powered wheelchair? 290 00:16:52,650 --> 00:16:55,410 S4: Well, I'm going to be bold enough to say that 291 00:16:55,610 --> 00:16:58,930 S4: for Mephibosheth, not having a wheelchair would have been the 292 00:16:58,930 --> 00:17:03,010 S4: least of his problems. Because Mephibosheth, as you know, was 293 00:17:03,010 --> 00:17:07,530 S4: born into a culture that belittled and mocked and thought 294 00:17:07,530 --> 00:17:11,250 S4: of people who were lame. They thought of them as outcasts. 295 00:17:11,490 --> 00:17:14,970 S4: Even in his town of Lodibar, in Hebrew it means 296 00:17:15,130 --> 00:17:18,650 S4: no pasture. And that kind of sums it up for Mephibosheth. 297 00:17:19,010 --> 00:17:22,290 S4: He was living out his days in obscurity. People like 298 00:17:22,290 --> 00:17:29,810 S4: Mephibosheth weren't considered intelligent. And Ziba, his servant, slandered Mephibosheth 299 00:17:29,850 --> 00:17:33,330 S4: to King David, claiming that this man was disloyal. Hoping 300 00:17:33,330 --> 00:17:37,530 S4: to gain his inheritance, Ziba thought Mephibosheth was stupid and 301 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,959 S4: not keeping an eye on the family business. So I 302 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,680 S4: think life must have been dreary for him. He probably 303 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,720 S4: felt lonely and despised. Not to mention having to be 304 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:50,160 S4: carried everywhere. Yes, but. And this is the best part. 305 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:56,040 S4: In Second Samuel, chapter nine, King David himself invites Mephibosheth, 306 00:17:56,119 --> 00:18:00,000 S4: the grandson of his predecessor Saul, to go ahead and 307 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,680 S4: dine at his table. This act of kindness, I think, 308 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:10,520 S4: was so incredible because David not only restores Mephibosheth ancestral lands, 309 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,720 S4: you know, getting them away from Ziba, but he grants 310 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:17,280 S4: Mephibosheth a permanent place at the royal table. 311 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,600 S1: Suffering in Scripture. That's our focus today as we visit 312 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:24,280 S1: with Johnny Tata here on the land and the book. Well, 313 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:28,560 S1: Elijah experienced burnout and depression, highlighting the vulnerability of even 314 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,359 S1: the most powerful prophets. Johnny, I wonder if we sometimes 315 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:35,480 S1: minimize the impact of emotional and psychological suffering. What have 316 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:36,240 S1: you observed? 317 00:18:36,670 --> 00:18:39,709 S4: Well, I think Elijah's story is probably the story of 318 00:18:39,710 --> 00:18:44,310 S4: many pastors who might be listening right now. They feel overwhelmed. 319 00:18:44,710 --> 00:18:49,430 S4: They can't take any more from today's culture. And like Elijah, 320 00:18:49,470 --> 00:18:52,590 S4: maybe they say, I've had enough, Lord. But I hope, 321 00:18:52,830 --> 00:18:56,830 S4: unlike Elijah, they don't say, take my life, Lord. But 322 00:18:56,830 --> 00:19:00,070 S4: here's a curious footnote, John. I mean, God used Elijah 323 00:19:00,070 --> 00:19:04,150 S4: to perform all these spectacular miracles just the day before. 324 00:19:04,830 --> 00:19:07,629 S4: I mean, Elijah had just announced the end of a drought. 325 00:19:07,790 --> 00:19:10,710 S4: He was the people's best friend. Elijah had nothing to 326 00:19:10,750 --> 00:19:14,190 S4: complain about. Why in the world would he, of all people, 327 00:19:14,390 --> 00:19:18,150 S4: want such a permanent solution, like take my life for 328 00:19:18,150 --> 00:19:21,270 S4: such a little bit of depression? But I think that's 329 00:19:21,270 --> 00:19:24,070 S4: the point and I hope some pastors are listening here. 330 00:19:24,430 --> 00:19:28,390 S4: When you are on your last legs physically, or maybe 331 00:19:28,390 --> 00:19:32,230 S4: a young man with cerebral palsy, or somebody elderly sequestered 332 00:19:32,230 --> 00:19:36,530 S4: at home from super saints to quadriplegics like me. No 333 00:19:36,570 --> 00:19:41,010 S4: one is immune from those thoughts of I've had enough, Lord, 334 00:19:41,170 --> 00:19:44,170 S4: I just can't take it anymore. And you know, John, 335 00:19:44,170 --> 00:19:47,410 S4: when I feel like that and I do, I honestly 336 00:19:47,410 --> 00:19:49,690 S4: wake up in the morning and I think I cannot 337 00:19:49,690 --> 00:19:55,010 S4: do quadriplegia one more day. But I learn a lesson 338 00:19:55,010 --> 00:20:01,570 S4: from Elijah because just as God personally ministered to that prophet, 339 00:20:01,810 --> 00:20:04,930 S4: I mean, God handed him food. God gave Elijah sleep. 340 00:20:04,970 --> 00:20:08,649 S4: God offered a listening ear, an empathetic ear. And the 341 00:20:08,650 --> 00:20:11,250 S4: record shows that the angel of the Lord touched Elijah. 342 00:20:11,410 --> 00:20:13,850 S4: And agreed that the journey was too much for them. 343 00:20:14,330 --> 00:20:17,889 S4: God ministers personally to me when I say, I've had enough, Lord, 344 00:20:17,890 --> 00:20:22,570 S4: I cannot do this. He says, Johnny, you can't do it. 345 00:20:22,770 --> 00:20:26,609 S4: Cast your burden on me, and you'll find that through 346 00:20:26,609 --> 00:20:30,530 S4: everything you'll be able to accomplish your work through Jesus Christ. 347 00:20:30,730 --> 00:20:34,160 S4: And that's a good message for any Christian leaders listening 348 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,880 S4: today that when you feel like you've had too much. 349 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:41,240 S4: Remember the example of Elijah because God ministered to him 350 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:45,160 S4: and God can minister personally to you as you cast 351 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:48,280 S4: your burden on him. Believe me, I can say that 352 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:49,480 S4: from experience. 353 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,600 S1: This is the land and the book. We're joined today 354 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:57,480 S1: by Johnny Tada and our conversation centered on suffering in Scripture. Well, 355 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:01,040 S1: Johnny Bible students are quite familiar with Paul's infamous thorn 356 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:03,679 S1: in the flesh, and he asked God three times to 357 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:07,000 S1: remove it. But Paul was never healed and we're not 358 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,720 S1: told what the thorn was. I have yet to meet 359 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,840 S1: a nice thorn, though, Johnny. What does that tell us 360 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,520 S1: about Paul's suffering and the way he responded to it? 361 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:18,560 S4: Well, I think you've hit the nail on the head. 362 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:22,600 S4: No one likes thorns. No one likes suffering. But in 363 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:27,560 S4: verse ten of Second Corinthians, chapter 12, Paul explains that 364 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:31,760 S4: that that thorn was given to him. Isn't that interesting? 365 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,869 S4: It wasn't a thorn that was stuck in his side 366 00:21:34,869 --> 00:21:38,830 S4: by Satan necessarily. The scriptures make it clear that it 367 00:21:38,830 --> 00:21:42,590 S4: was given to Him by God in order to keep 368 00:21:42,590 --> 00:21:46,910 S4: Paul from becoming conceited, because he saw so many glorious visions. 369 00:21:47,070 --> 00:21:50,190 S4: In other words, God gave him an affliction to put 370 00:21:50,190 --> 00:21:55,030 S4: a death to his pride. Wow. What a lesson for 371 00:21:55,030 --> 00:21:58,590 S4: all of us. Yes, Paul suffered, and it cost him 372 00:21:58,590 --> 00:22:03,870 S4: his pride. And again, I would agree, John. I think, uh, 373 00:22:04,150 --> 00:22:07,310 S4: being in this wheelchair and having to ask people to 374 00:22:07,630 --> 00:22:12,230 S4: empty my urine bag and do my toileting routines, having 375 00:22:12,230 --> 00:22:15,390 S4: other people give me a bed bath, God gave me 376 00:22:15,390 --> 00:22:18,910 S4: this affliction to put to death any and every bit 377 00:22:18,910 --> 00:22:22,030 S4: of pride that might be hanging around in my soul. 378 00:22:22,190 --> 00:22:25,070 S4: And I think that is something we can all identify 379 00:22:25,070 --> 00:22:29,790 S4: with because we all have afflictions, handicaps and disabilities. They 380 00:22:29,790 --> 00:22:32,899 S4: come at us in all shapes and sizes. And most 381 00:22:32,900 --> 00:22:36,699 S4: often I have found that God gives us our thorns 382 00:22:36,700 --> 00:22:45,820 S4: in the flesh, like Paul, to put to death our self-confidence, self-reliance, self-awareness, self-assuredness. 383 00:22:45,859 --> 00:22:48,580 S4: In short, he puts to death our pride. 384 00:22:49,500 --> 00:22:52,540 S1: We've mentioned a couple of names, but what Bible character 385 00:22:52,540 --> 00:22:55,060 S1: comes to your mind? Who's suffering that maybe we have 386 00:22:55,420 --> 00:22:58,139 S1: underestimated or just not really considered? 387 00:22:58,500 --> 00:23:02,979 S4: Let's see. I think Genesis chapter 32, the story of 388 00:23:02,980 --> 00:23:07,260 S4: Jacob wrestling with the Angel of the Lord at Peniel. 389 00:23:07,420 --> 00:23:10,540 S4: I think all of our listeners will know from that 390 00:23:10,540 --> 00:23:15,020 S4: story that Jacob walked away from that struggle with the Lord. 391 00:23:15,260 --> 00:23:19,060 S4: He walked away with a very painful limp. And that 392 00:23:19,100 --> 00:23:22,740 S4: wrestling match altered Jacob for sure. He he was no 393 00:23:22,740 --> 00:23:27,220 S4: longer known as a deceiver and a conniver. But no. 394 00:23:27,220 --> 00:23:30,090 S4: After that wrestling match with the Lord, he became the 395 00:23:30,090 --> 00:23:34,050 S4: father of the 12 tribes of Israel. But to be sure, 396 00:23:34,290 --> 00:23:38,210 S4: throughout the rest of Jacob's life, he leaned heavily on 397 00:23:38,250 --> 00:23:43,369 S4: that staff, and that staff was a constant reminder of 398 00:23:43,530 --> 00:23:47,330 S4: how God met him and how God had used him 399 00:23:47,490 --> 00:23:52,410 S4: to create the line of David, King David, and then, 400 00:23:52,410 --> 00:23:56,410 S4: of course, the messianic line which led to our Lord 401 00:23:56,410 --> 00:24:00,850 S4: Jesus Christ. So I look at that staff that Jacob 402 00:24:00,850 --> 00:24:04,490 S4: leaned on, and I look at my wheelchair that I 403 00:24:04,530 --> 00:24:08,290 S4: have to lean on God in. And again, these things 404 00:24:08,290 --> 00:24:12,490 S4: come into our lives so that we might recognize the 405 00:24:12,490 --> 00:24:16,130 S4: times where God has met us, wrestled with us, and 406 00:24:16,130 --> 00:24:19,609 S4: we've come away different people learning to lean harder on 407 00:24:19,609 --> 00:24:22,410 S4: our God. And I'll just say one more thing. I 408 00:24:22,410 --> 00:24:25,770 S4: think real quickly in the book of Ruth. Naomi. There 409 00:24:25,770 --> 00:24:30,320 S4: she is, an aged widow. She faced a starvation in Moab. 410 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:33,520 S4: She lost her sons. She lost her husband and at 411 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,119 S4: least one daughter in law. Oh, I bet there are 412 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:40,120 S4: some listeners who identify with Naomi. Yet. In Ruth chapter four, 413 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:45,000 S4: verse 16, she is lauded as the grandmother of King David. 414 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:47,800 S4: So our friends listening, hold on. If you're that aged 415 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:51,399 S4: widow and you feel like you've lost so much, don't 416 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:54,879 S4: be concerned because you are a child of the king 417 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:57,800 S4: and you're going to have a seat at the king's table, 418 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:01,000 S4: and one day he is going to repay you for 419 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,040 S4: that light and momentary affliction which is accruing for you 420 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:08,920 S4: an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs those deep 421 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:18,880 S4: times of loneliness and frustration. So all of these people Paul, Naomi, Jacob, Joseph, 422 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:22,880 S4: Elijah and and Moses, all of them at one time 423 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:26,879 S4: or another, had affliction in their lives. But the main 424 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:29,510 S4: lesson is from them all is that they learn to 425 00:25:29,550 --> 00:25:33,350 S4: lean more heavily on God and His grace. And it's 426 00:25:33,350 --> 00:25:35,870 S4: a great lesson for me and of course, our friends 427 00:25:35,869 --> 00:25:37,350 S4: who are tuned in today. 428 00:25:37,630 --> 00:25:40,310 S1: While we have taken quite a journey through Scripture suffering 429 00:25:40,310 --> 00:25:43,510 S1: in Scripture, uh, along with Johnny Tada, thank you for 430 00:25:43,510 --> 00:25:46,470 S1: those insights. Appreciate you taking the time, Johnny. 431 00:25:46,630 --> 00:25:48,629 S4: Absolutely, John. Anytime. 432 00:25:48,830 --> 00:25:51,109 S1: Up next, our friend Gerald Peterman is in the studio 433 00:25:51,109 --> 00:25:54,150 S1: to answer some Bible questions. Stick around for more on 434 00:25:54,150 --> 00:26:07,790 S1: the land and the book. If you have an ounce 435 00:26:07,790 --> 00:26:11,110 S1: of imagination inside your soul, you got to love what's 436 00:26:11,109 --> 00:26:14,270 S1: coming next. It's questions and answers here on the land 437 00:26:14,270 --> 00:26:16,869 S1: and the book. I'm John Yeager and joining us in 438 00:26:16,869 --> 00:26:20,670 S1: the studio, Doctor Gerald Peterman. If you've got imagination, man, 439 00:26:20,710 --> 00:26:22,910 S1: it really makes a difference when you're reading the Bible. Right? 440 00:26:22,910 --> 00:26:25,830 S5: It's really helpful. We need to engage our whole selves 441 00:26:25,869 --> 00:26:28,740 S5: when we're reading, you know, our intellect, our imagination, how 442 00:26:28,740 --> 00:26:30,260 S5: we're feeling. Yeah, indeed. 443 00:26:30,340 --> 00:26:33,220 S1: And when we use that imagination, though, it often results 444 00:26:33,220 --> 00:26:34,420 S1: in questions, does it not? 445 00:26:34,460 --> 00:26:37,060 S5: Yeah, I like that too. It does result in questions. 446 00:26:37,060 --> 00:26:39,820 S1: And those questions and their answers are what this segment 447 00:26:39,820 --> 00:26:42,620 S1: is about. First, a quick reminder that as believers, there 448 00:26:42,619 --> 00:26:44,820 S1: is a great need for us to share the gospel 449 00:26:44,820 --> 00:26:48,340 S1: with the Jewish people. In fact, many of our listeners 450 00:26:48,340 --> 00:26:51,699 S1: are faithfully praying for partnering with ministries that are doing 451 00:26:51,700 --> 00:26:55,899 S1: just that. But what if you could personally take part 452 00:26:55,900 --> 00:26:58,859 S1: in bringing the gospel to Jewish people? Well, our friends 453 00:26:58,859 --> 00:27:01,980 S1: at Life and Messiah love this opportunity to get believers 454 00:27:01,980 --> 00:27:06,379 S1: involved in Jewish ministry, and they regularly organize outreach teams 455 00:27:06,380 --> 00:27:10,020 S1: to Brooklyn, New York, South Florida, even to Israel outside 456 00:27:10,020 --> 00:27:12,900 S1: at times of conflict. And these ministry trips will equip 457 00:27:12,900 --> 00:27:16,220 S1: you to understand how to share the gospel with Jewish people, 458 00:27:16,220 --> 00:27:20,020 S1: give you the opportunity to actively share your faith, provide 459 00:27:20,060 --> 00:27:22,300 S1: tools and resources that you can take home with you 460 00:27:22,300 --> 00:27:24,260 S1: to keep it going. So if you want to get 461 00:27:24,300 --> 00:27:28,530 S1: hands on training. You want practical experience in Jewish evangelism? 462 00:27:28,530 --> 00:27:33,090 S1: This is your ticket. Learn more by visiting life.in. Org 463 00:27:33,730 --> 00:27:37,050 S1: and click on the Moody Radio button. That's life in Messiah. 464 00:27:38,609 --> 00:27:41,090 S1: All right, let's turn to our first question of the day, 465 00:27:41,090 --> 00:27:44,010 S1: this one from Susan. And it's an interesting one. She 466 00:27:44,010 --> 00:27:48,210 S1: takes us to Ecclesiastes 321, which says, who knows that 467 00:27:48,210 --> 00:27:51,729 S1: the spirit of the sons of mankind ascends upward, and 468 00:27:51,730 --> 00:27:55,370 S1: the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth. Jerry, 469 00:27:55,410 --> 00:27:57,770 S1: does this verse imply that animals have a spirit or 470 00:27:57,810 --> 00:28:01,210 S1: a soul, and is their spirit or soul eternal? Will 471 00:28:01,250 --> 00:28:04,770 S1: animals that die be resurrected? Will our beloved pets be 472 00:28:04,770 --> 00:28:06,609 S1: in heaven? There's a lot of questions going on here. 473 00:28:06,650 --> 00:28:10,410 S5: Yes, well, I think these questions just naturally arise when 474 00:28:10,410 --> 00:28:14,209 S5: we've seen all the lovely, wonderful animals God put in 475 00:28:14,210 --> 00:28:15,930 S5: our world. What's going to happen to them? Right. I 476 00:28:15,930 --> 00:28:17,689 S5: think this is the kind of things we ask. So 477 00:28:17,690 --> 00:28:20,649 S5: I'm going to take these questions in reverse order. Will 478 00:28:20,690 --> 00:28:24,429 S5: animals that die be resurrected? Will our beloved pets be 479 00:28:24,430 --> 00:28:27,669 S5: in heaven? I don't know. Yeah. I don't see anything 480 00:28:27,670 --> 00:28:29,949 S5: in the Bible to give me a clear answer. Talking 481 00:28:29,950 --> 00:28:33,070 S5: about the new heaven and the new earth, Isaiah 65 says, 482 00:28:33,350 --> 00:28:35,670 S5: the wolf and the lamb will graze together, so they'll 483 00:28:35,710 --> 00:28:37,669 S5: be animals. But I don't know if they're going to 484 00:28:37,670 --> 00:28:41,270 S5: be ours. Okay, but the first question, the first question 485 00:28:41,270 --> 00:28:45,910 S5: is very interesting. So let's go to Ecclesiastes three. I'm 486 00:28:45,950 --> 00:28:48,870 S5: going to read from the Legacy Standard Bible, and I'm 487 00:28:48,910 --> 00:28:51,630 S5: going to add in a little bit of Hebrew. So 488 00:28:51,670 --> 00:28:53,590 S5: y'all are going to be fine. Just stay with me. 489 00:28:53,750 --> 00:28:58,350 S5: Right here we are 319 for the fate of the 490 00:28:58,350 --> 00:29:01,469 S5: sons of men. And the fate of beasts is the 491 00:29:01,470 --> 00:29:04,670 S5: same for each of them. As one dies, so dies 492 00:29:04,670 --> 00:29:08,590 S5: the other. And they all have the same breath. Ruach. 493 00:29:09,070 --> 00:29:11,310 S5: So there's no advantage for a man over beast. For 494 00:29:11,310 --> 00:29:14,270 S5: all his vanity. All go to the same place. All 495 00:29:14,270 --> 00:29:17,030 S5: come from the dust. All return to the dust. Who 496 00:29:17,030 --> 00:29:21,830 S5: knows that the breath ruach of man ascends upward. And 497 00:29:21,830 --> 00:29:25,500 S5: the mark of the beast descends downward, is the question. 498 00:29:25,500 --> 00:29:26,940 S5: That is, we don't know. 499 00:29:26,980 --> 00:29:27,540 S1: Right. 500 00:29:27,580 --> 00:29:31,500 S5: From just pure observance. Only God will know the answer. 501 00:29:31,540 --> 00:29:35,220 S5: But from just purely observing, we don't know. So I 502 00:29:35,260 --> 00:29:40,260 S5: conclude there's no eternal spirit or soul. There's a temporary breath. 503 00:29:40,380 --> 00:29:42,820 S5: And it seems that both humans and animals have it. 504 00:29:42,980 --> 00:29:45,940 S5: And it seems from the perspective of the writer, their 505 00:29:45,940 --> 00:29:49,380 S5: end is the same. Yeah. Thankfully, we know better. 506 00:29:49,420 --> 00:29:51,700 S1: I think of two people who I've read before who 507 00:29:51,700 --> 00:29:54,500 S1: addressed this issue. One of them, Randy Alcorn, in his 508 00:29:54,580 --> 00:29:58,780 S1: large book on heaven. And again, nobody's dogmatic, and he 509 00:29:58,780 --> 00:30:01,940 S1: doesn't encourage anybody to be dogmatic about it. He says 510 00:30:01,940 --> 00:30:05,620 S1: it's consistent with God's character that in this act of 511 00:30:05,620 --> 00:30:09,460 S1: restoring the earth, it could be that he restores our 512 00:30:09,460 --> 00:30:10,260 S1: pets as well. 513 00:30:10,300 --> 00:30:13,140 S5: I absolutely, absolutely agree with that, because he's loving and 514 00:30:13,140 --> 00:30:16,780 S5: he's kind and he's powerful and he's creative. Just as 515 00:30:16,780 --> 00:30:20,500 S5: if you will. Imaginative as we are. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. 516 00:30:20,850 --> 00:30:23,530 S1: And former Moody Radio pastor Donald Cole, when asked the 517 00:30:23,530 --> 00:30:26,450 S1: same question, once, said, I don't know when you get 518 00:30:26,450 --> 00:30:29,970 S1: to heaven, call out your pet's name. If he answers, 519 00:30:29,970 --> 00:30:33,330 S1: then the answer is yes. All right, well, let's move 520 00:30:33,330 --> 00:30:35,969 S1: on to another question, this one from a listener who 521 00:30:35,970 --> 00:30:40,690 S1: says many women have lost babies through miscarriages, stillbirths and abortions. 522 00:30:41,010 --> 00:30:44,050 S1: Will their babies be in heaven? And if so, will 523 00:30:44,090 --> 00:30:45,050 S1: they be grown up? 524 00:30:45,530 --> 00:30:47,690 S5: Well, this is a very important question, and I know 525 00:30:47,690 --> 00:30:50,530 S5: it's also a painful and a sensitive one for those 526 00:30:50,530 --> 00:30:56,850 S5: who've experienced miscarriages. I think these babies are in heaven, 527 00:30:56,850 --> 00:31:00,370 S5: but I don't know if they grow up. Here's where 528 00:31:00,370 --> 00:31:03,970 S5: I'm going in the Old Testament. Psalm 139, David talks 529 00:31:03,970 --> 00:31:08,530 S5: about himself before he's born. For you formed my inward parts. 530 00:31:08,570 --> 00:31:11,370 S5: You knitted me together in my mother's womb, I praise you. 531 00:31:11,370 --> 00:31:14,450 S5: I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. My frame was not hidden 532 00:31:14,450 --> 00:31:17,330 S5: from you when I was being made in secret. Your 533 00:31:17,330 --> 00:31:22,320 S5: eyes saw my unformed substance. In your book were written 534 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:25,920 S5: every one of my days. That is based on what 535 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:29,640 S5: David is saying here. We know that the unborn child 536 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:34,440 S5: is known by God. Is a human being in the 537 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:35,400 S5: image of God? 538 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:35,920 S1: Yes. 539 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:42,520 S5: So now let's fast forward. Second Samuel, when David's infant 540 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:44,840 S5: son dies, you know the one he had with Bathsheba. 541 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:48,120 S5: His servants were surprised that David gets up from fasting 542 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:51,680 S5: and weeping. Once the child is dead and David answers, 543 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,800 S5: while the child was still alive, I fasted and I wept, 544 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:57,560 S5: for I said, who knows? The Lord may be gracious 545 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:00,160 S5: to me. The child might live. But now he's died. 546 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:03,920 S5: Why should I fast? Can I bring him back? I 547 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:07,680 S5: will go to him. He will not return to me. 548 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:13,440 S5: So where is David going? Is David saying, I'm just 549 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:15,239 S5: going to the grave and we're going to be in 550 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:18,950 S5: the grave together? I think not. No, I think as 551 00:32:18,950 --> 00:32:22,550 S5: Psalm 23 says, I will dwell in the house of 552 00:32:22,550 --> 00:32:26,470 S5: the Lord forever. David knows this is his destiny, and 553 00:32:26,470 --> 00:32:29,310 S5: he knows that's the destiny of his child as well. 554 00:32:29,630 --> 00:32:35,510 S5: So I think every child that's been lost will be saved. 555 00:32:36,230 --> 00:32:38,630 S1: There's another lovely thought, and I think it's a Davidic psalm. 556 00:32:38,670 --> 00:32:41,470 S1: It says, I shall be satisfied when I awake with 557 00:32:41,470 --> 00:32:42,230 S1: your likeness. 558 00:32:42,270 --> 00:32:42,870 S5: Right. 559 00:32:42,910 --> 00:32:44,790 S1: So there's got to be more to it than the grave. 560 00:32:44,830 --> 00:32:45,270 S5: Right, right. 561 00:32:45,270 --> 00:32:48,790 S1: And they understood that in the Old Testament. Yeah. Gary says, 562 00:32:48,790 --> 00:32:52,470 S1: all throughout Scripture, God provided marriage between one man and 563 00:32:52,470 --> 00:32:56,270 S1: one woman. For example, it says in Genesis 224, therefore 564 00:32:56,270 --> 00:32:58,630 S1: a man shall leave his father and his mother and 565 00:32:58,630 --> 00:33:01,870 S1: hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 566 00:33:02,190 --> 00:33:06,590 S1: But it seems that God allowed many Old Testament kings, David, Solomon, 567 00:33:06,590 --> 00:33:09,950 S1: and others to have hundreds of wives and concubines and 568 00:33:09,950 --> 00:33:13,750 S1: even have children with them. How could God have allowed that? 569 00:33:13,990 --> 00:33:16,990 S5: Well, this issue is on the mind of many of 570 00:33:17,140 --> 00:33:21,500 S5: our listeners and I understand why. Let's make very clear, 571 00:33:21,500 --> 00:33:25,340 S5: based on the Old Testament. Genesis two is not good 572 00:33:25,340 --> 00:33:28,180 S5: for a man to be alone. I'll make him a helper. 573 00:33:28,220 --> 00:33:34,380 S5: Note the singular right. Deuteronomy 17 the directions about kingship. 574 00:33:34,380 --> 00:33:39,780 S5: The king shall not multiply wives to himself. Implication is 575 00:33:40,140 --> 00:33:44,260 S5: one is God's design. Malachi two God says he hates 576 00:33:44,260 --> 00:33:49,340 S5: divorce and talks about a man and his covenant wife. 577 00:33:49,580 --> 00:33:54,420 S5: Note the singular it's always been God's design one man, 578 00:33:54,420 --> 00:34:00,020 S5: one woman. So why would God allow this multiple wives? Well, 579 00:34:00,020 --> 00:34:02,219 S5: I don't know of text of scripture that speaks to 580 00:34:02,220 --> 00:34:05,260 S5: it directly. Here's the conclusion I reach in the Old 581 00:34:05,300 --> 00:34:10,540 S5: Testament period God is out to address idolatry. Are you 582 00:34:10,540 --> 00:34:15,020 S5: trusting the one and only God, or are you having 583 00:34:15,020 --> 00:34:17,450 S5: that one and only God mixed in with your panoply 584 00:34:17,450 --> 00:34:21,170 S5: of gods. This is his focus. Rather than focusing on 585 00:34:21,450 --> 00:34:24,529 S5: the one of marriage, he's focusing on the oneness of 586 00:34:24,530 --> 00:34:28,090 S5: God and that theological oneness there is only one God. 587 00:34:28,090 --> 00:34:32,330 S5: To trust has to be the undergirding for the marriage oneness. 588 00:34:32,410 --> 00:34:34,450 S5: So he's working on something a little bit more important, 589 00:34:34,450 --> 00:34:37,410 S5: although I think monogamy is important. 590 00:34:37,850 --> 00:34:40,330 S1: Well, maybe as you're listening to these questions, one pops 591 00:34:40,330 --> 00:34:43,330 S1: into your head a passage you've been studying, a verse 592 00:34:43,330 --> 00:34:46,090 S1: you've mulled over, and you'd like to get that question 593 00:34:46,090 --> 00:34:48,210 S1: to us how do you do it? It's an email, 594 00:34:48,210 --> 00:34:51,930 S1: and you write to the land and the book at Moody, 595 00:34:52,850 --> 00:34:58,250 S1: to the land and the book at Moody. Jake says, 596 00:34:58,250 --> 00:35:01,130 S1: I'm reading all four Gospels and the words of Jesus 597 00:35:01,130 --> 00:35:03,770 S1: from the cross, and I was struck by how different 598 00:35:03,770 --> 00:35:06,410 S1: they are. But here's the question why do you think that? 599 00:35:06,410 --> 00:35:09,969 S1: It's only in John's gospel that Jesus talks to his 600 00:35:09,969 --> 00:35:11,609 S1: mom from the cross? 601 00:35:11,650 --> 00:35:15,189 S5: Oh, I love this question. Thanks so much, Jake. There 602 00:35:15,230 --> 00:35:17,430 S5: is an answer, but we have to search John carefully 603 00:35:18,270 --> 00:35:22,910 S5: from the cross. Jesus says to his mom, behold your son. 604 00:35:22,950 --> 00:35:25,750 S5: Speaking of the beloved disciple, he says to the beloved disciple, 605 00:35:25,790 --> 00:35:29,270 S5: behold your mom. What do we know? From John 1727? 606 00:35:29,310 --> 00:35:32,710 S5: The beloved disciple then takes her into his household. Why 607 00:35:32,750 --> 00:35:36,109 S5: does she need that? Because only in John's gospel do 608 00:35:36,110 --> 00:35:39,990 S5: we know John chapter seven, that Jesus's brothers aren't believing 609 00:35:39,989 --> 00:35:42,670 S5: in him. That's going to make it hard for her. 610 00:35:42,710 --> 00:35:46,710 S5: Almost certainly Joseph has died. It's only in John's gospel 611 00:35:46,710 --> 00:35:49,550 S5: that we know that the one who believes in Jesus 612 00:35:49,550 --> 00:35:51,830 S5: as Messiah will be put out of the synagogue. Now, 613 00:35:51,830 --> 00:35:55,230 S5: being put out of the synagogue is socially very difficult. 614 00:35:55,950 --> 00:35:59,910 S5: So what's going to happen to beloved Mary if she's 615 00:35:59,910 --> 00:36:04,430 S5: trusting Messiah? Jesus in her family? Isn't she's vulnerable? Yeah. 616 00:36:04,469 --> 00:36:08,110 S5: She needs a new family. So this is why John 617 00:36:08,270 --> 00:36:12,430 S5: is the only one who tells us in. It's amazing 618 00:36:12,430 --> 00:36:16,060 S5: how in so much agony and pain. Yes, Jesus can 619 00:36:16,060 --> 00:36:17,299 S5: express such love. 620 00:36:17,300 --> 00:36:20,420 S1: Something so tangible and practical like that. Caring for someone's 621 00:36:20,420 --> 00:36:21,100 S1: human needs. 622 00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:21,580 S5: Indeed. 623 00:36:21,860 --> 00:36:25,940 S1: Thank you. Gerry. Doctor Gerald Peterman, welcoming your questions. And 624 00:36:25,940 --> 00:36:28,140 S1: if you have yet to get yours to us, it's 625 00:36:28,140 --> 00:36:30,500 S1: easy with a quick email to the land and the 626 00:36:30,540 --> 00:36:37,220 S1: book at Moody's. The land and the book at Moody's. Well, 627 00:36:37,219 --> 00:36:39,859 S1: don't go away because for many people, our fourth and 628 00:36:39,860 --> 00:36:42,700 S1: final segment is their favorite. It's a devotional. Our host, 629 00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:45,339 S1: Charlie Dyer, takes us to a passage in Scripture. A 630 00:36:45,340 --> 00:36:47,859 S1: place in the Holy Land puts the two together. You'll 631 00:36:47,860 --> 00:37:03,580 S1: never forget either. Again. That's next. They are the bane 632 00:37:03,620 --> 00:37:07,980 S1: of outdoor living. They spoil picnics and they annoy animals 633 00:37:07,980 --> 00:37:12,489 S1: and humans alike. I'm talking about flies. Welcome back to 634 00:37:12,530 --> 00:37:15,610 S1: the land and the book Charlie Flies are at the 635 00:37:15,610 --> 00:37:17,410 S1: heart of today's devotional. I'm curious. 636 00:37:17,810 --> 00:37:20,850 S2: They indeed are. Whoever knew flies were so biblical. 637 00:37:20,890 --> 00:37:23,850 S1: Yeah, well, we'll find out how biblical as we hear 638 00:37:23,850 --> 00:37:27,130 S1: Charlie's devotional. But first, we wanted to share this testimony 639 00:37:27,130 --> 00:37:29,050 S1: with you from somebody who's been to the Holy Land 640 00:37:29,050 --> 00:37:30,890 S1: and has a thought for you and me. 641 00:37:35,130 --> 00:37:38,530 S6: I'm Mack Mcquiston, and I've been to Israel three times before, 642 00:37:38,530 --> 00:37:40,609 S6: but never have I been on a tour like the 643 00:37:40,610 --> 00:37:43,890 S6: one we've just been on with Charlie Dyer. We have 644 00:37:43,890 --> 00:37:46,810 S6: been blessed immensely with the sights we've seen, but what 645 00:37:46,810 --> 00:37:51,770 S6: has been so exciting for me is to hear Scripture 646 00:37:51,770 --> 00:37:54,730 S6: come alive in a new way in my own personal life, 647 00:37:55,010 --> 00:37:57,609 S6: and I think this one site that really impressed me 648 00:37:57,610 --> 00:38:01,330 S6: the most was going to the church of the Nations 649 00:38:01,530 --> 00:38:05,410 S6: and having an opportunity to kneel at the stone place 650 00:38:05,410 --> 00:38:09,649 S6: where Jesus knelt before he went to be crucified, and 651 00:38:09,650 --> 00:38:12,359 S6: to have His Holy Spirit and his presence touched me 652 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:15,520 S6: in an amazing way. It has been well worth my 653 00:38:15,520 --> 00:38:17,360 S6: time being here on this trip. 654 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:20,600 S5: The thing that amazed me the most was just going 655 00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:21,680 S5: through the history of all that. 656 00:38:21,680 --> 00:38:25,080 S7: God did in this land, and you just realize that 657 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:27,920 S7: this is a little tiny strip of land. But God 658 00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:30,400 S7: did it all right here. This is where Christ walked 659 00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:33,320 S7: and the amazing things that he did. You can see 660 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:37,560 S7: why all the world is so much against this little 661 00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:40,640 S7: strip of land called Israel. And that in itself just 662 00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:43,560 S7: amazed me when you realize the amount of history that 663 00:38:43,560 --> 00:38:46,000 S7: changed all of our lives. And it's just this little 664 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:46,880 S7: tiny strip. 665 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:51,759 S1: Charlie, I'm looking forward to your devotional. You've got me 666 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:53,960 S1: rather curious. We're talking about flies. 667 00:38:54,680 --> 00:38:58,080 S2: Well, just over 70 years ago, William Golding published his 668 00:38:58,080 --> 00:39:01,719 S2: disturbing novel Lord of the flies. The novel explores the 669 00:39:01,719 --> 00:39:05,319 S2: thin veneer that separates civil society from savagery and how 670 00:39:05,320 --> 00:39:08,440 S2: quickly that veneer can peel away. He tells his story 671 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:11,109 S2: through the lives of a group of boys stranded on 672 00:39:11,110 --> 00:39:13,989 S2: an island. One key element of his story, which gives 673 00:39:13,989 --> 00:39:16,350 S2: the book its title, is A pig's head that the 674 00:39:16,350 --> 00:39:18,950 S2: boys mount on a pole as an offering to an 675 00:39:18,950 --> 00:39:22,150 S2: imagined beast. But those who know the Bible know there's 676 00:39:22,150 --> 00:39:26,030 S2: also an important underlying biblical thread that runs through the book. 677 00:39:26,310 --> 00:39:28,989 S2: Like the Bible, the book explores the question of whether 678 00:39:28,989 --> 00:39:33,189 S2: humanity is fundamentally good or fundamentally evil. And both come 679 00:39:33,190 --> 00:39:37,390 S2: to similar conclusions. Even the book's title, Lord of the flies, 680 00:39:37,510 --> 00:39:41,149 S2: ultimately comes from the Bible. It's the English translation of 681 00:39:41,150 --> 00:39:44,430 S2: the Hebrew word Beelzebub, which is found in both the 682 00:39:44,430 --> 00:39:47,750 S2: Old and New Testaments. But to understand the real meaning 683 00:39:47,750 --> 00:39:49,989 S2: of that word, we need to travel to the city 684 00:39:49,989 --> 00:39:53,469 S2: of Samaria, the capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel. 685 00:39:53,910 --> 00:39:57,230 S2: The year is 852 B.C., and we're standing in the 686 00:39:57,230 --> 00:40:01,549 S2: palace of King Ahaziah of Israel. The hushed whispers and 687 00:40:01,590 --> 00:40:04,990 S2: furtive glances of the palace servants quickly signal that all 688 00:40:04,989 --> 00:40:07,750 S2: is not well. In fact, the mood in the palace 689 00:40:07,790 --> 00:40:11,380 S2: is grim and oppressive. The man on the throne possesses 690 00:40:11,380 --> 00:40:15,259 S2: all the spiritual wickedness of his late father, King Ahab, 691 00:40:15,500 --> 00:40:19,860 S2: without any of his administrative skill. His mother, Queen Jezebel, 692 00:40:19,860 --> 00:40:23,700 S2: is still alive, and he has inherited her passionate devotion 693 00:40:23,700 --> 00:40:26,700 S2: to the god Baal. Simply put, the land of Israel 694 00:40:26,700 --> 00:40:30,819 S2: is under the control of an incompetent idolater. Actions do 695 00:40:30,820 --> 00:40:34,100 S2: have consequences, and it didn't take long for those consequences 696 00:40:34,100 --> 00:40:37,460 S2: to show up. King Ahaziah had ruled as co-regent with 697 00:40:37,460 --> 00:40:39,660 S2: his father for a year, and then just about a 698 00:40:39,660 --> 00:40:42,540 S2: year ago, his father died, and he took sole possession 699 00:40:42,540 --> 00:40:45,340 S2: of the reins of power. And how has this last 700 00:40:45,340 --> 00:40:48,939 S2: year gone? Well, according to Second Kings one. The year 701 00:40:48,980 --> 00:40:53,180 S2: saw Moab rebelled against Israel. That statement doesn't mean much 702 00:40:53,180 --> 00:40:56,620 S2: to us, but it spoke volumes to those living in Israel. 703 00:40:56,980 --> 00:41:00,060 S2: The empire built by Omri and Ahab is starting to 704 00:41:00,100 --> 00:41:02,899 S2: come apart at the seams. More than that, the rise 705 00:41:02,900 --> 00:41:05,420 S2: of Moab to the east of the Dead Sea brought 706 00:41:05,460 --> 00:41:08,049 S2: new threats against the Tribe of Reuben, one of the 707 00:41:08,050 --> 00:41:11,330 S2: ten tribes that formed the northern Kingdom of Israel. The 708 00:41:11,330 --> 00:41:14,689 S2: trade routes, farmland and grazing area in that region were 709 00:41:14,690 --> 00:41:18,690 S2: all sources of income for Samaria, and all were now threatened. 710 00:41:19,090 --> 00:41:23,170 S2: Perhaps that's why Ahaziah so vexed and agitated this morning. 711 00:41:23,450 --> 00:41:27,250 S2: He scarcely acknowledges our presence as he rushes past, shouting 712 00:41:27,250 --> 00:41:30,650 S2: at all the servants. Who's causing all that noise? We 713 00:41:30,730 --> 00:41:33,649 S2: cock our heads and finally hear a muffled sound coming 714 00:41:33,650 --> 00:41:36,649 S2: from outside. We barely noticed it before, but it has 715 00:41:36,650 --> 00:41:40,049 S2: suddenly become the focal point of the king's anger. He 716 00:41:40,050 --> 00:41:43,009 S2: rushes to the nearby window and pushes hard against the 717 00:41:43,010 --> 00:41:46,770 S2: wooden latticework, leaning forward while trying to peer down to 718 00:41:46,810 --> 00:41:49,610 S2: the street below. And that's when we hear the crack 719 00:41:49,610 --> 00:41:53,050 S2: of wood giving way, followed by the screams of the king. 720 00:41:53,530 --> 00:41:56,010 S2: The wood from the latticework broke when the king pushed 721 00:41:56,010 --> 00:41:59,529 S2: against it. No doubt, years of exposure to the elements 722 00:41:59,530 --> 00:42:02,970 S2: had caused the wood to rot, though it still looked strong. 723 00:42:02,969 --> 00:42:05,410 S2: The weight of the king leaning against it caused it 724 00:42:05,560 --> 00:42:08,760 S2: to snap, and before he could react, the king tumbled 725 00:42:08,760 --> 00:42:12,440 S2: through the opening and down onto the street below. Servants 726 00:42:12,440 --> 00:42:15,360 S2: hurried outside, picked up the king, and rushed him back 727 00:42:15,360 --> 00:42:19,120 S2: inside the palace. He's bleeding from several cuts and appears 728 00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:21,879 S2: to have broken at least one of his arms, but 729 00:42:21,880 --> 00:42:24,440 S2: it's the bleeding from his ears and his heart distended 730 00:42:24,440 --> 00:42:27,839 S2: stomach that are the real cause for concern. This could 731 00:42:27,840 --> 00:42:31,759 S2: be serious. Ahaziah is still conscious, but in great pain. 732 00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:35,640 S2: He calls for several messengers and issues an urgent command. 733 00:42:36,080 --> 00:42:40,000 S2: Go and consult Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, to 734 00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:43,360 S2: see if I will recover from this injury. There it is. 735 00:42:43,400 --> 00:42:47,520 S2: Baal Zebub, literally Lord of the flies. So was the 736 00:42:47,520 --> 00:42:50,600 S2: Philistine god of Ekron really called Lord of the flies? 737 00:42:51,040 --> 00:42:53,799 S2: Probably not. This is a case where the writer of 738 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:56,920 S2: the Bible makes a play on words. The god of 739 00:42:56,920 --> 00:43:01,720 S2: Ekron was likely Beelzebul Baal the prince. But by changing 740 00:43:01,719 --> 00:43:05,700 S2: the second word from Zebul to Zebub bail. The prince 741 00:43:05,700 --> 00:43:09,060 S2: became Baal, or Lord of the flies, a god of 742 00:43:09,060 --> 00:43:12,500 S2: nothing but decay and corruption. Or, as a friend of 743 00:43:12,500 --> 00:43:15,740 S2: mine says when describing the stench of corruption that seems 744 00:43:15,739 --> 00:43:19,980 S2: to follow the decisions made by some bad leaders. 10,000 745 00:43:20,020 --> 00:43:24,259 S2: flies can't be wrong. But why did Ahaziah send messengers 746 00:43:24,260 --> 00:43:27,900 S2: to Ekron, a city of the Philistines, 45 miles to 747 00:43:27,940 --> 00:43:31,100 S2: the south? After all, his mom had imported Baal worship 748 00:43:31,100 --> 00:43:34,259 S2: from Sidon to the north of Israel. Well, it seems 749 00:43:34,260 --> 00:43:37,540 S2: that Ahaziah truly believed in Baal and wanted to consult 750 00:43:37,540 --> 00:43:40,740 S2: Baal at a location where he thought Baal was more established, 751 00:43:40,739 --> 00:43:44,779 S2: more clearly understood, and perhaps more powerful. The Philistines and 752 00:43:44,780 --> 00:43:48,580 S2: the Phoenicians both worshiped Baal, but the distance from Samaria 753 00:43:48,580 --> 00:43:52,140 S2: to Ekron, the northernmost city of the Philistines, was about 754 00:43:52,140 --> 00:43:55,500 S2: half the distance to his mother's hometown of Sidon. To 755 00:43:55,540 --> 00:43:58,260 S2: think of it in today's terms, Ekron was the nearest 756 00:43:58,260 --> 00:44:02,580 S2: location of an authorized Baal dealership, and the seriousness of 757 00:44:02,580 --> 00:44:05,489 S2: his wounds, told him that time was of the essence. 758 00:44:05,770 --> 00:44:07,770 S2: The king likely assumed it would take up to two 759 00:44:07,770 --> 00:44:10,330 S2: days to receive an answer. The rest of this day, 760 00:44:10,330 --> 00:44:14,050 S2: for the messengers to travel the 45 miles to Ekron 761 00:44:14,050 --> 00:44:16,970 S2: and consult Baal, and at least another day to receive 762 00:44:16,969 --> 00:44:20,450 S2: the answer and return home. So imagine his surprise when, 763 00:44:20,450 --> 00:44:23,850 S2: just a short time later, the messengers returned. Why have 764 00:44:23,850 --> 00:44:26,410 S2: you come back? The king asked. A man came to 765 00:44:26,450 --> 00:44:29,129 S2: meet us, they replied. And he said to us, go 766 00:44:29,130 --> 00:44:31,650 S2: back to the king who sent you, and tell him, 767 00:44:31,650 --> 00:44:35,250 S2: this is what the Lord Yahweh says. Is it because 768 00:44:35,250 --> 00:44:37,690 S2: there is no God in Israel that you are sending 769 00:44:37,690 --> 00:44:42,009 S2: men to consult Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore 770 00:44:42,010 --> 00:44:44,650 S2: you will not leave your bed you are lying on. 771 00:44:44,690 --> 00:44:48,969 S2: You will certainly die. And guess what? After a dramatic 772 00:44:48,969 --> 00:44:52,370 S2: face to face encounter with Elijah the prophet, that's exactly 773 00:44:52,370 --> 00:44:55,770 S2: what happened. Or as the Bible so succinctly puts it. 774 00:44:56,050 --> 00:44:58,250 S2: So he died according to the word of the Lord 775 00:44:58,250 --> 00:45:03,520 S2: that Elijah had spoken. Ahaziah's short reign ended with his stunning, 776 00:45:03,560 --> 00:45:07,399 S2: unexpected death. And it happened because he foolishly put his 777 00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:10,879 S2: trust in Baal, the Lord of the flies, rather than 778 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:14,319 S2: seeking the true God of Israel. So what lesson can 779 00:45:14,320 --> 00:45:17,720 S2: we possibly learn from this gruesome encounter with the Lord 780 00:45:17,719 --> 00:45:20,200 S2: of the flies? Believe it or not, I see one 781 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:23,759 S2: very important lesson for everyone listening. We all need to 782 00:45:23,800 --> 00:45:26,160 S2: look carefully to make sure we have made the true 783 00:45:26,160 --> 00:45:29,520 S2: God of the Bible, the God of our life. Isaiah 784 00:45:29,520 --> 00:45:32,520 S2: thought Baal the Prince was his God, but he learned 785 00:45:32,520 --> 00:45:35,319 S2: only too late that this so-called god was nothing more 786 00:45:35,360 --> 00:45:39,440 S2: than the Lord of the flies, the one associated with death, decay, 787 00:45:39,440 --> 00:45:42,839 S2: and corruption. Baal might not be worshiped today, but other 788 00:45:42,840 --> 00:45:46,360 S2: gods have arisen to take his place. The gods of materialism, 789 00:45:46,360 --> 00:45:50,160 S2: or wealth or success or power. And some pursue those 790 00:45:50,160 --> 00:45:54,120 S2: gods the way Ahaziah pursued Baal. The story of Ahaziah 791 00:45:54,120 --> 00:45:58,600 S2: reminds us that life is short, that actions have consequences, 792 00:45:58,800 --> 00:46:01,750 S2: and that the God we choose to serve does make 793 00:46:01,750 --> 00:46:05,750 S2: a difference. So make sure you choose wisely. 794 00:46:06,150 --> 00:46:09,390 S1: Thank you Charlie. Great advice, great perspective there. Lord of 795 00:46:09,390 --> 00:46:12,430 S1: the flies. You can hear it all again at our website. 796 00:46:12,469 --> 00:46:16,310 S1: The land and the water, the land and the book. 797 00:46:16,390 --> 00:46:19,430 S1: All while you're at the website, you can also find 798 00:46:19,430 --> 00:46:23,630 S1: out about past programs, future programs, today's guest, and more. Again, 799 00:46:23,670 --> 00:46:27,790 S1: we're at the land and the book. If you've got 800 00:46:27,790 --> 00:46:29,910 S1: a question you'd like to get to us about a 801 00:46:29,910 --> 00:46:32,629 S1: passage in the Bible, maybe something you've read that really 802 00:46:32,630 --> 00:46:35,070 S1: makes you wonder, scratch your head. Send us an email 803 00:46:35,070 --> 00:46:38,190 S1: by all means at The Land and the Book at Moody. 804 00:46:39,590 --> 00:46:44,070 S1: That's the land and the book at Moody. Dot, thanks 805 00:46:44,070 --> 00:46:46,350 S1: so much for hanging out with us today. Our producer 806 00:46:46,350 --> 00:46:49,509 S1: is Dan Anderson, our host, Charlie Dyer. I'm John Gieger. 807 00:46:49,790 --> 00:46:52,430 S1: The land and the book is a production of Moody Radio, 808 00:46:52,630 --> 00:46:54,870 S1: a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.