1 00:00:07,940 --> 00:00:12,440 S1: We were horrified when Hamas attacked Israel last October, but 2 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,770 S1: the events that followed also had an enormous impact on 3 00:00:15,770 --> 00:00:19,610 S1: Palestinian believers in the Gaza Strip. Tom Doyle has been 4 00:00:19,610 --> 00:00:22,550 S1: there many times. In just a few minutes, he brings 5 00:00:22,550 --> 00:00:25,400 S1: us the stories of brothers and sisters who are dealing 6 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,540 S1: with the literal fallout. These are amazing testimonies from inside 7 00:00:29,540 --> 00:00:32,510 S1: Gaza that we need to hear. Welcome to the land 8 00:00:32,510 --> 00:00:35,390 S1: and the book. Doctor Charlie Dyer is a guy who 9 00:00:35,390 --> 00:00:38,420 S1: spent his entire life studying, traveling, and writing about the 10 00:00:38,420 --> 00:00:41,420 S1: Middle East. I'm John Geiger, and of course, Israel has 11 00:00:41,420 --> 00:00:43,970 S1: been in the news a whole lot over this past year, 12 00:00:43,970 --> 00:00:47,600 S1: and the Bible is jam packed with end times prophecies 13 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,290 S1: about epic world events, the regathering of the Jewish people 14 00:00:51,290 --> 00:00:54,560 S1: to their homeland, and Jesus return. So it's crucial for 15 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,930 S1: us as believers, though, to have a proper understanding of 16 00:00:56,930 --> 00:01:00,230 S1: Bible prophecy. So our view of the future is shaped 17 00:01:00,230 --> 00:01:03,200 S1: by Scripture and not just today's headlines. Right, Charlie? 18 00:01:03,230 --> 00:01:05,509 S2: That's right. John. And with this in mind, our friends 19 00:01:05,510 --> 00:01:08,569 S2: at Life and Messiah have published a book titled God, 20 00:01:08,569 --> 00:01:11,990 S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy and are offering it to listeners 21 00:01:11,990 --> 00:01:14,360 S2: of the land in the book for a limited time. 22 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:18,050 S2: This informative book is focused on providing readers with deeper 23 00:01:18,050 --> 00:01:22,100 S2: understanding and greater appreciation of what God has in store 24 00:01:22,130 --> 00:01:24,950 S2: for Israel and the nations by digging into what the 25 00:01:24,950 --> 00:01:28,220 S2: scriptures say about these issues. Now, if you're interested in 26 00:01:28,220 --> 00:01:31,790 S2: learning more about what God has in store, visit Life 27 00:01:31,819 --> 00:01:35,030 S2: in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody Radio button 28 00:01:35,030 --> 00:01:38,480 S2: to find out how you can receive your copy of God, 29 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:44,180 S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. Well, another. 30 00:01:44,180 --> 00:01:46,550 S1: Week has gone by, and at least up to the 31 00:01:46,550 --> 00:01:49,880 S1: moment that we're recording this broadcast. Israel has yet to 32 00:01:49,910 --> 00:01:54,080 S1: respond to Iran's missile attack on October the 1st. Why 33 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,080 S1: has Israel taken so long to respond, many wonder. 34 00:01:57,110 --> 00:01:59,270 S2: Yeah, and it could be a be multiple reasons for 35 00:01:59,270 --> 00:02:02,060 S2: the delay. Now, one could be the US pressure on 36 00:02:02,060 --> 00:02:06,890 S2: Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities or oil production facilities. 37 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,040 S2: In fact, Blinken was just in Israel earlier this week 38 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,380 S2: and is trying to push back on Israel to not 39 00:02:12,380 --> 00:02:16,070 S2: respond too harshly. The final decision still belongs to Israel, 40 00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:19,070 S2: but it does take time to explore and plan for 41 00:02:19,070 --> 00:02:22,370 S2: all those different options. Another reason could be that it 42 00:02:22,370 --> 00:02:24,800 S2: took time for the US to send and set up 43 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,250 S2: that Thad, our terminal High Altitude area defense system to 44 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:32,540 S2: Israel with additional protection against Iranian missiles. Well, that system 45 00:02:32,540 --> 00:02:35,900 S2: is finally in place. Still another reason for Israel's delayed 46 00:02:35,900 --> 00:02:40,310 S2: response could be the leak of US intelligence documents outlining 47 00:02:40,310 --> 00:02:44,570 S2: Israel's potential attack plan. Those documents appeared on a pro-Iranian 48 00:02:44,570 --> 00:02:49,369 S2: internet site and provided information gleaned from US intelligence. This 49 00:02:49,370 --> 00:02:52,430 S2: could have caused Israel to pause and reassess its plans. 50 00:02:52,460 --> 00:02:55,430 S2: But all of these aren't the only items that might 51 00:02:55,460 --> 00:02:58,730 S2: have caused a delay. Last year's attack took place on 52 00:02:58,730 --> 00:03:02,930 S2: Simchat Torah, the final day of Sukkot. This year that 53 00:03:02,930 --> 00:03:06,680 S2: occurred on Friday. So it's possible Israel waited until this 54 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:10,520 S2: one year anniversary on the religious calendar was over. A 55 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:14,600 S2: drone attack launched by Hezbollah hit Prime Minister Netanyahu's home 56 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,420 S2: in Caesarea. Thankfully, he and his wife weren't there at 57 00:03:17,419 --> 00:03:20,690 S2: the time. But there are reports that individuals in Iran's 58 00:03:20,690 --> 00:03:24,530 S2: embassy in Beirut were involved in that attempted assassination, and 59 00:03:24,530 --> 00:03:28,310 S2: that also could have changed Israel's selection of targets in Iran. 60 00:03:28,340 --> 00:03:31,940 S2: And finally, Israel's broken up several Iranian spy rings in 61 00:03:31,940 --> 00:03:36,110 S2: their country. One carried out hundreds of tasks, including photographing 62 00:03:36,110 --> 00:03:39,890 S2: and collecting information on air bases and Israel's defense headquarters 63 00:03:39,890 --> 00:03:43,130 S2: in Tel Aviv. Another ring was working to assassinate an 64 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,460 S2: Israeli nuclear scientist and the mayor of a large city, 65 00:03:46,460 --> 00:03:51,170 S2: and also photographing key facilities and purchasing weapons. Now, shutting 66 00:03:51,170 --> 00:03:54,230 S2: down spy networks takes time, and Israel wants to make 67 00:03:54,260 --> 00:03:57,530 S2: sure they know what was collected and sent to Iran. Now, 68 00:03:57,530 --> 00:04:00,440 S2: all this to say, Israel hasn't been sitting around doing 69 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,050 S2: nothing for the past several weeks. They've they've been busy 70 00:04:03,050 --> 00:04:06,110 S2: preparing and as we might say, putting out fires to 71 00:04:06,140 --> 00:04:09,290 S2: make sure their attack is successful. They're also working out 72 00:04:09,290 --> 00:04:13,130 S2: plans to counter any expected Iranian response. But as I 73 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,500 S2: said last week, it's not a question of if Israel 74 00:04:15,500 --> 00:04:18,380 S2: will respond, but when and how. And I think we 75 00:04:18,380 --> 00:04:21,200 S2: could expect that response to happen very soon. In fact, 76 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:23,660 S2: it could even happen between the time we record this 77 00:04:23,660 --> 00:04:25,640 S2: program and the time it airs. 78 00:04:25,670 --> 00:04:29,600 S1: Charlie, any thought that the supposed leaked documents about this attack, 79 00:04:29,630 --> 00:04:33,470 S1: this is all something of a smokescreen, misdirection, spycraft on 80 00:04:33,470 --> 00:04:35,839 S1: the part of Israel? Or is that not really possible? 81 00:04:35,870 --> 00:04:39,050 S2: You know, in the spy game, anything is possible. Although 82 00:04:39,050 --> 00:04:41,450 S2: there are enough reports on this that it sounds like 83 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,910 S2: it actually was a literal leak that came out of 84 00:04:43,910 --> 00:04:47,510 S2: the US defense area offices, and the information that was 85 00:04:47,510 --> 00:04:50,300 S2: posted online did look credible. 86 00:04:50,330 --> 00:04:53,870 S1: Well, following last week's killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, 87 00:04:53,900 --> 00:04:56,609 S1: some were hoping it would open the door for negotiations 88 00:04:56,610 --> 00:05:00,089 S1: to end the conflict in Gaza and release the hostages, 89 00:05:00,089 --> 00:05:03,060 S1: what impact could his death have on the war? 90 00:05:03,150 --> 00:05:06,840 S2: On the positive side, Sinwar's death eliminated the key military 91 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:11,370 S2: leader who embodied Hamas. Israel had earlier eliminated Ismail Haniyeh, 92 00:05:11,370 --> 00:05:14,550 S2: who was the political leader of Hamas. But Sinwar was 93 00:05:14,550 --> 00:05:18,120 S2: the architect of Hamas's attack on October 7th because he 94 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,030 S2: had become both the political and military head of Hamas 95 00:05:21,029 --> 00:05:24,150 S2: following Haniya's death in August. Many thought his death would 96 00:05:24,150 --> 00:05:26,609 S2: lead to the collapse of Hamas, and they hoped the 97 00:05:26,610 --> 00:05:30,000 S2: remaining political leaders outside Gaza would then strike a deal 98 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,510 S2: with Israel and agree to return the hostages. And while 99 00:05:33,510 --> 00:05:38,220 S2: that might still be possible, I'm less optimistic. Some are concerned. 100 00:05:38,250 --> 00:05:40,500 S2: Sinwar might have ordered all the hostages to be killed 101 00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:43,859 S2: following his death, though that's not known for certain. But 102 00:05:43,860 --> 00:05:47,310 S2: even more than that, Hamas's charter in its preamble says 103 00:05:47,310 --> 00:05:50,580 S2: Israel will exist and continue to exist until Islam will 104 00:05:50,580 --> 00:05:54,510 S2: obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it. Their 105 00:05:54,510 --> 00:05:57,390 S2: article seven quotes from the hadith saying the Day of 106 00:05:57,390 --> 00:06:01,409 S2: Judgment won't come until Muslims fight Jews and kill them. 107 00:06:01,410 --> 00:06:03,750 S2: And in terms of making a peace agreement or some 108 00:06:03,750 --> 00:06:06,870 S2: sort of agreement with Israel. Article 13 says there is 109 00:06:06,870 --> 00:06:11,219 S2: no solution for the Palestinian problem except by jihad. In 110 00:06:11,220 --> 00:06:14,070 S2: other words, complete opposition to Israel is part of the 111 00:06:14,070 --> 00:06:17,550 S2: very spiritual DNA of Hamas. And in light of that, 112 00:06:17,550 --> 00:06:19,830 S2: I think they're going to continue fighting and hope that 113 00:06:19,830 --> 00:06:23,310 S2: Iran or Hezbollah will wear down Israel enough to have 114 00:06:23,310 --> 00:06:25,950 S2: them finally agree to a cease fire, at which point 115 00:06:25,980 --> 00:06:29,400 S2: Hamas would hope to regather, rebuild and eventually resume their 116 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,910 S2: attacks instead of releasing the hostages. I think it's just 117 00:06:32,910 --> 00:06:35,100 S2: as likely they will kill them, or at least some 118 00:06:35,100 --> 00:06:37,800 S2: of them, to show their contempt if there's a bright 119 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,349 S2: spot in all this. It's the creative offer by the 120 00:06:40,350 --> 00:06:44,520 S2: former CEO of SodaStream to give $100,000 to anyone who 121 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:48,540 S2: helps free Israeli hostages. The deadline was midnight this past 122 00:06:48,540 --> 00:06:51,779 S2: Wednesday and sadly, no hostages have yet been released. But 123 00:06:51,779 --> 00:06:54,930 S2: he's still hopeful. And I am as well. 124 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,780 S1: You're listening to The Land and the book with our host, 125 00:06:57,779 --> 00:07:00,990 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer. We're going through a set of top 126 00:07:00,990 --> 00:07:03,690 S1: headlines from the Middle East. I'm John Gager, and thank 127 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,120 S1: you for being a part of the broadcast. Well, Charlie, 128 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,610 S1: cue the theme from Raiders of the Lost Ark as 129 00:07:08,610 --> 00:07:12,990 S1: we ride with Indiana Jones into the ancient city of Petra. Okay, 130 00:07:12,990 --> 00:07:16,770 S1: maybe not, but archaeologists in Petra recently discovered a hidden 131 00:07:16,770 --> 00:07:19,980 S1: tomb underneath the treasury. Now, I read some about this, 132 00:07:19,980 --> 00:07:22,890 S1: but what do we know so far about this discovery? 133 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,500 S2: Yeah. For those who've never been to Petra, the Treasury 134 00:07:25,500 --> 00:07:27,630 S2: is the building at the end of the narrow seek 135 00:07:27,630 --> 00:07:30,239 S2: leading into the city. It's actually the facade of a 136 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,210 S2: tomb that was carved into the cliff face. Most know 137 00:07:33,210 --> 00:07:36,240 S2: it from the Indiana Jones movie. That third Raiders of 138 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,420 S2: the Lost Ark film. And anyone who's seen the movie, well, 139 00:07:39,420 --> 00:07:42,810 S2: you need to know. After Indiana Jones walks inside, everything 140 00:07:42,810 --> 00:07:46,320 S2: you see is pure Hollywood. Jordan hasn't allowed people inside 141 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:49,530 S2: there since 1997, but I've been in it before then. 142 00:07:49,530 --> 00:07:51,630 S2: It really is just a large empty room with a 143 00:07:51,630 --> 00:07:55,710 S2: few doorways leading into other empty rooms. That is, until now. 144 00:07:55,800 --> 00:08:00,390 S2: These archaeologists unearthed a previously hidden tomb underneath the building 145 00:08:00,420 --> 00:08:03,480 S2: earlier in the year. They used ground penetrating radar and 146 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,600 S2: discovered what they suspected was a tomb underneath the entrance. 147 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:09,600 S2: And then in August, they finally received permission to excavate. 148 00:08:09,630 --> 00:08:12,180 S2: And they didn't find a hidden stash of silver or 149 00:08:12,180 --> 00:08:15,360 S2: gold or the remains of the knights guarding the Holy Grail. 150 00:08:15,390 --> 00:08:18,570 S2: But they did find the remains of 12 individuals, along 151 00:08:18,570 --> 00:08:22,020 S2: with miscellaneous grave goods and other typical artifacts that they 152 00:08:22,020 --> 00:08:25,050 S2: thought they found. One skeleton holding a ceramic cup that 153 00:08:25,050 --> 00:08:26,850 S2: actually looked like one in the movie, but it turned 154 00:08:26,850 --> 00:08:29,820 S2: out to be part of a juglet. They filmed the excavation, 155 00:08:29,820 --> 00:08:33,600 S2: which aired as part of the Discovery Channel's Expedition Unknown 156 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,080 S2: television series, and actually aired on October 9th. Now, if 157 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,570 S2: you want to see that program, you can check online 158 00:08:39,570 --> 00:08:43,140 S2: to see how you can access that episode in your area. 159 00:08:43,170 --> 00:08:46,890 S1: Well, everybody knows olive oil is definitely healthy, but the 160 00:08:46,890 --> 00:08:51,689 S1: solid waste left behind is not until now. Fen Olive, 161 00:08:51,690 --> 00:08:55,589 S1: an Israeli startup, has developed an innovative process to turn 162 00:08:55,590 --> 00:08:59,700 S1: the waste from processing olives into gluten free flour. Tell 163 00:08:59,730 --> 00:09:02,550 S1: us about this latest innovation from Amazing Israel. 164 00:09:02,580 --> 00:09:05,370 S2: Yeah, this I did find fascinating as well. After olives 165 00:09:05,370 --> 00:09:08,790 S2: are crushed and squeezed for the oil. About 85% of 166 00:09:08,790 --> 00:09:12,030 S2: the olive remains behind is pulp, which until now has 167 00:09:12,030 --> 00:09:16,589 S2: been useless. It's toxic, acidic and smelly. Within 15 minutes 168 00:09:16,590 --> 00:09:20,070 S2: of being squeezed, the waste matter starts to oxidize, leaving 169 00:09:20,070 --> 00:09:24,360 S2: what's left unfit for human or animal consumption. And that's 170 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:28,170 S2: where Fen Olive sensed an opportunity to profit by doing good. 171 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,140 S2: After several years of research, they developed and patented a 172 00:09:31,140 --> 00:09:35,370 S2: process to transform olive oil waste into olive flour. The 173 00:09:35,370 --> 00:09:38,520 S2: flour is tasty, gluten free and high fiber, and can 174 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:41,160 S2: be used as a replacement for any flour in cooking 175 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,730 S2: or baking. Their process divides the waste into three components 176 00:09:44,730 --> 00:09:48,060 S2: the pulp, which is transformed into the flour, the black 177 00:09:48,090 --> 00:09:51,300 S2: water or waste water from pressing, and the olive seeds 178 00:09:51,300 --> 00:09:54,030 S2: which can then be used for fuel. The process doesn't 179 00:09:54,030 --> 00:09:57,449 S2: use chemicals or additives, and after separation the pulp is 180 00:09:57,450 --> 00:10:00,420 S2: dried and ground into flour. The company is now in 181 00:10:00,420 --> 00:10:04,020 S2: discussion with major olive millers in Israel and Europe on 182 00:10:04,020 --> 00:10:08,490 S2: how to add the process into existing press operations. Turning 183 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:12,960 S2: olive processing waste into high quality, nutritious, low carb and 184 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:18,300 S2: low calorie flour to aid olive growers, processors and customers alike. 185 00:10:18,390 --> 00:10:22,650 S2: That definitely sounds like something we would expect from Amazing Israel. 186 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:25,170 S1: Thank you Charlie. A few weeks back, you sent an 187 00:10:25,170 --> 00:10:27,480 S1: email saying, John, you better get Ahold of Tom Doyle. 188 00:10:27,510 --> 00:10:30,150 S1: He's got reports coming out of Gaza that our listeners 189 00:10:30,179 --> 00:10:33,480 S1: need to hear, and I'm grateful for that tip. And boy, 190 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,150 S1: the conversation we're about to have with Tom will bring 191 00:10:36,150 --> 00:10:40,650 S1: you stories from believers inside Gaza, their testimonies, their stand 192 00:10:40,650 --> 00:10:43,050 S1: for Jesus as something that will encourage you. So I 193 00:10:43,050 --> 00:10:44,610 S1: hope you'll stick around, and I hope you'll share us 194 00:10:44,610 --> 00:10:46,710 S1: with a friend, by the way. Our website is The 195 00:10:46,740 --> 00:10:50,610 S1: land and the book. Org. Tom Doyle next on the 196 00:10:50,610 --> 00:11:08,160 S1: land and the book. When Hamas slaughtered more than 1100 197 00:11:08,190 --> 00:11:11,880 S1: Israelis on October the 7th, our hearts were shattered. But 198 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,550 S1: in the year that has followed the pain, the destruction 199 00:11:14,550 --> 00:11:16,890 S1: and the loss of life on both sides of the 200 00:11:16,890 --> 00:11:20,069 S1: border has been horrific. There's an untold story in all 201 00:11:20,070 --> 00:11:23,100 S1: of this. The impact of the war on believers in 202 00:11:23,100 --> 00:11:26,610 S1: Gaza will take you there. Coming up first, though, let's 203 00:11:26,610 --> 00:11:29,010 S1: pause for a creative idea on reaching out to our 204 00:11:29,010 --> 00:11:32,160 S1: Muslim friends and neighbors with the gospel of Christ right 205 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:36,089 S1: here at home. One of the things you will encounter immediately, 206 00:11:36,090 --> 00:11:39,150 S1: every time you talk with a muslim, is the issue 207 00:11:39,179 --> 00:11:42,209 S1: that Jesus in their world, is definitely not the Son 208 00:11:42,210 --> 00:11:44,040 S1: of God. So how can we possibly hope to have 209 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:48,689 S1: a conversation that doesn't get confrontational, but yet somehow conveys 210 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,260 S1: Jesus is the Son of God. Let's ask Stefano Fare, 211 00:11:52,290 --> 00:11:54,689 S1: who's with call of Hope. How do we do this? 212 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,420 S3: Well, you know, John, I'm so often asked, how do 213 00:11:57,420 --> 00:12:00,810 S3: I persuade the Muslim that Jesus is the Son of God? 214 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:04,350 S3: And I usually answer and say, we don't. We don't 215 00:12:04,350 --> 00:12:07,830 S3: persuade them. We cannot. And I think that's the most 216 00:12:07,830 --> 00:12:12,570 S3: important to learn. The only person who can persuade them 217 00:12:12,570 --> 00:12:17,010 S3: is God himself. We can talk about it. Batteries. Give 218 00:12:17,010 --> 00:12:21,240 S3: them a gospel. Gospel of John or a Gospel of Luke. 219 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:25,589 S3: Let them read and then just let the Lord do 220 00:12:25,590 --> 00:12:31,050 S3: the work. We cannot persuade. We can just testify what 221 00:12:31,050 --> 00:12:34,020 S3: we believe. But the Lord will do it. You know, 222 00:12:34,050 --> 00:12:36,060 S3: I asked a friend of mine who was a muslim. 223 00:12:36,059 --> 00:12:38,969 S3: I said, do you believe that Jesus is the Son 224 00:12:38,970 --> 00:12:42,720 S3: of God? Yes. How did this come? He says, I 225 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:45,960 S3: don't know. It was there. The Lord gave it to me. 226 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,780 S3: I was able to accept it right away. 227 00:12:48,809 --> 00:12:51,239 S1: Only the Lord can convince their hearts. So let's not 228 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:54,450 S1: try and wrench it in and somehow argue them into heaven. 229 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,640 S1: Stefano Ferrer is with call of Hope. Thanks for that 230 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:01,650 S1: very practical advice. Few Christians today have spent as much 231 00:13:01,650 --> 00:13:05,550 S1: time meeting, loving and serving the people of Gaza as 232 00:13:05,550 --> 00:13:08,100 S1: Tom Doyle. Tom fell in love with the Middle East 233 00:13:08,100 --> 00:13:11,880 S1: on his first Bible Tour of the Holy Land in 1995. 234 00:13:11,910 --> 00:13:13,980 S1: He became an official tour guide for the State of 235 00:13:13,980 --> 00:13:18,090 S1: Israel and developed a passion for ministering to the Israeli people, 236 00:13:18,090 --> 00:13:22,260 S1: Arabs and Jews alike. Tom and his wife Joanne felt 237 00:13:22,260 --> 00:13:25,650 S1: a call from God to full time ministry there in 2001. 238 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:31,050 S1: In 2017, the Doyles launched Uncharted Ministries, which seeks to 239 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,080 S1: inspire the body of Christ to rise up and join 240 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,350 S1: the the New Great Awakening among Jews and Muslims in 241 00:13:37,350 --> 00:13:41,400 S1: the Middle East and in uncharted territories around the world. Well, 242 00:13:41,429 --> 00:13:43,710 S1: Tom and Joanne, interestingly, began working in the heart of 243 00:13:43,710 --> 00:13:48,180 S1: the Islamic world shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11th. 244 00:13:48,179 --> 00:13:51,780 S1: And they serve in places like Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, 245 00:13:51,780 --> 00:13:56,340 S1: Syria and Palestinian territories of Israel. It's great to welcome 246 00:13:56,340 --> 00:13:58,560 S1: you back to the land and the book, Tom. 247 00:13:58,590 --> 00:14:01,890 S4: Oh, it's so good to be with you, John. Thank you. Well, before. 248 00:14:01,890 --> 00:14:04,020 S1: We move into the war, introduce us to some of 249 00:14:04,020 --> 00:14:07,440 S1: your most beloved brothers and sisters in Gaza. You've been 250 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,260 S1: there many times. Who would you like us to get 251 00:14:10,260 --> 00:14:10,980 S1: to know? 252 00:14:11,070 --> 00:14:15,630 S4: Yeah, well, you know, we've worked with a church in Gaza, 253 00:14:15,660 --> 00:14:19,260 S4: the Gaza Baptist Church, that's an above ground church. And 254 00:14:19,290 --> 00:14:22,800 S4: awesome what they've been able to withstand in the midst 255 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:27,540 S4: of the wars and continual Hamas control. But our heart 256 00:14:27,570 --> 00:14:30,690 S4: really goes out to the secret church, the believers that 257 00:14:30,690 --> 00:14:33,870 S4: have come out of Islam, that have stayed in Gaza, 258 00:14:33,900 --> 00:14:37,979 S4: that are one by one, reaching other Muslims with the 259 00:14:38,010 --> 00:14:43,040 S4: gospel of Jesus. And you talk about a receptive crowd. 260 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:47,270 S4: Even during this war, one of our friends, Muhammad, tells 261 00:14:47,270 --> 00:14:50,180 S4: us that 20 to 30 people have come to faith 262 00:14:50,180 --> 00:14:53,420 S4: in Christ. Just hearing the scriptures, just listening to the 263 00:14:53,420 --> 00:14:57,110 S4: claims of Jesus, and just kind of comparing that to 264 00:14:57,140 --> 00:15:00,710 S4: what they're seeing with Hamas and the hatred that that group, 265 00:15:00,740 --> 00:15:03,560 S4: terrorist group has of their own people. And so on 266 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:07,340 S4: October 7th, John, as everybody was horrified and I always 267 00:15:07,340 --> 00:15:10,130 S4: say this, it seemed like Israel got about two hours 268 00:15:10,130 --> 00:15:14,270 S4: of sympathy and then the world just turned on them. Muhammad, 269 00:15:14,300 --> 00:15:19,190 S4: a muslim background believer who is like an apostle Paul 270 00:15:19,190 --> 00:15:25,580 S4: in Gaza, was texting and saying, we're being forced by 271 00:15:25,610 --> 00:15:30,050 S4: Hamas to watch the parade of all the people that 272 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:34,970 S4: Hamas took. And he said, the people are cheering. And 273 00:15:34,970 --> 00:15:38,450 S4: he said, But I'm standing here crying because no human 274 00:15:38,450 --> 00:15:42,940 S4: being should be treated that way. So it's horrible. We're 275 00:15:42,940 --> 00:15:46,330 S4: praying for them, and we're also praying for the believers 276 00:15:46,330 --> 00:15:50,470 S4: in Gaza as they seek to spread the message. But 277 00:15:50,470 --> 00:15:53,980 S4: think about this, John. At one point, there was a 278 00:15:53,980 --> 00:15:59,350 S4: chance for these Muslim background families to get out and leave, 279 00:15:59,350 --> 00:16:01,420 S4: and you could pay a fee for them to leave 280 00:16:01,420 --> 00:16:03,550 S4: and go to Egypt and be out of the war, 281 00:16:03,580 --> 00:16:06,280 S4: because there's continual bombings every day, and they're living in 282 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,430 S4: tents and all of that. And we were able to 283 00:16:09,430 --> 00:16:12,400 S4: get some funds to them for them to leave. We 284 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:14,920 S4: didn't hear from them for a few days. And then 285 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,170 S4: finally they got Ahold of us and they said, we 286 00:16:17,170 --> 00:16:20,770 S4: can't leave. We can't leave our people. God's called us 287 00:16:20,770 --> 00:16:23,710 S4: to stay here, no matter how difficult it is. We 288 00:16:23,710 --> 00:16:26,860 S4: may die, but we need to tell them about Jesus. 289 00:16:26,890 --> 00:16:31,000 S4: We're staying. And if you've watched some of the news, 290 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:34,390 S4: and I'm sure you have the people that are listening, 291 00:16:34,390 --> 00:16:38,710 S4: you know how immensely scary it would be for children 292 00:16:38,710 --> 00:16:41,410 S4: to be near the bombs. The Gaza Strip is not 293 00:16:41,410 --> 00:16:44,380 S4: a big area and they can't completely get away from it. 294 00:16:44,380 --> 00:16:48,670 S4: So the light of the world still shining in Gaza, 295 00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:53,230 S4: not leaving, not running away, sharing the message of Jesus. 296 00:16:53,230 --> 00:16:57,070 S4: And we're just privileged to know incredible believers like that. 297 00:16:57,100 --> 00:16:59,830 S1: This is the land and the book. I'm John Gager. 298 00:16:59,860 --> 00:17:02,710 S1: Our guest, Tom Doyle, who along with his wife Joanne, 299 00:17:02,740 --> 00:17:05,649 S1: began working in the heart of the Islamic world shortly 300 00:17:05,650 --> 00:17:08,830 S1: after the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Let me ask you, 301 00:17:08,830 --> 00:17:10,989 S1: is it even possible for you guys to minister to 302 00:17:11,020 --> 00:17:14,050 S1: Gazan believers from a distance? And if so, what does 303 00:17:14,050 --> 00:17:15,310 S1: that look like right now? 304 00:17:15,340 --> 00:17:18,609 S4: Yeah, there's actually ways to communicate on the internet. We 305 00:17:18,609 --> 00:17:21,940 S4: have to be careful. You cannot be too specific because 306 00:17:21,940 --> 00:17:24,850 S4: there's no separation. It's not like the bad guys live 307 00:17:24,850 --> 00:17:28,359 S4: over here and the good guys live here, right? They're 308 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:30,879 S4: in a refugee camp. And the refugee camp that they're 309 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,900 S4: in is the one that actually started the war with Israel. 310 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:37,300 S4: And so there's known terrorists there. And so they have 311 00:17:37,300 --> 00:17:40,630 S4: to be careful with what they say and how they communicate. 312 00:17:40,630 --> 00:17:44,350 S4: But just to see the faithfulness in the midst of 313 00:17:44,350 --> 00:17:49,540 S4: living like that is so inspiring to us. And you know, John, 314 00:17:49,540 --> 00:17:51,970 S4: for what you see on the news, these are people 315 00:17:51,970 --> 00:17:54,850 S4: that have been redeemed. They've come out of the false 316 00:17:54,850 --> 00:17:58,540 S4: religion of Islam, and they don't hate Israel. They wish 317 00:17:58,540 --> 00:18:01,600 S4: they could live in Israel, and they wish that Hamas 318 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:05,080 S4: would be removed so they don't have to live under 319 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:09,850 S4: their tyranny. So, um, we are truly blessed to be 320 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:14,020 S4: able to even communicate with them. And then there's Muhammad, 321 00:18:14,050 --> 00:18:17,260 S4: who is like the apostle Paul in Gaza that just 322 00:18:17,260 --> 00:18:22,810 S4: sends these incredibly beautiful prayers to us and asking how 323 00:18:22,810 --> 00:18:26,350 S4: we're doing. I mean, the last video we saw, they 324 00:18:26,350 --> 00:18:29,740 S4: have 29 people living in one tent and the rain 325 00:18:29,740 --> 00:18:33,369 S4: is coming through, and he's asking about how I'm doing. 326 00:18:33,369 --> 00:18:36,739 S4: I had a recent health situation develop where I have 327 00:18:36,740 --> 00:18:39,650 S4: cancer and I'm going through treatments at MD Anderson, and 328 00:18:39,650 --> 00:18:43,520 S4: it's aggressive and we're asking people to pray. And there's 329 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:47,390 S4: Muhammad not even talking about his situation, saying, how are 330 00:18:47,390 --> 00:18:50,810 S4: you doing, dear Tom? Praying. That's the faith of the 331 00:18:50,810 --> 00:18:54,200 S4: believers that inspire us to live for Jesus. As we 332 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,080 S4: see horrible things happening in our country that we're not 333 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,480 S4: able to change. But you know what? We can live 334 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:01,609 S4: for Christ and be salt and light in the midst 335 00:19:01,609 --> 00:19:03,680 S4: of it, just like they are in Gaza. Mm. 336 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,409 S1: Well, Tom, since you're seeing so many doctors, I'm going 337 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:08,959 S1: to ask you to play a doctor right now. All right, 338 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:12,980 S1: here's the question, doctor. Tom, what is wrong with our hearts? 339 00:19:13,010 --> 00:19:16,490 S1: Too many of us paint the entire Palestinian population with 340 00:19:16,490 --> 00:19:20,030 S1: one brush. These guys hate God's chosen people. They started 341 00:19:20,030 --> 00:19:22,970 S1: a horrible war. How can we have compassion on them? 342 00:19:22,970 --> 00:19:26,030 S1: But that's neither fair nor kind. Help us with our 343 00:19:26,030 --> 00:19:27,080 S1: heart trouble. Tom. 344 00:19:27,109 --> 00:19:30,170 S4: Yeah. I just think it's easy to take a snapshot 345 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,290 S4: of a people group and then just color them all 346 00:19:33,290 --> 00:19:36,040 S4: the same way, and, I mean, it goes back, John, 347 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:37,900 S4: to the very first time I went into the Gaza 348 00:19:37,900 --> 00:19:41,980 S4: Strip in 2001, got out of a taxi cab and 349 00:19:41,980 --> 00:19:44,770 S4: was in Gaza City. So this is like maybe two 350 00:19:44,770 --> 00:19:47,650 S4: months after nine over 11, and a muslim woman makes 351 00:19:47,650 --> 00:19:51,100 S4: a beeline for me and comes up and actually grabs 352 00:19:51,100 --> 00:19:54,100 S4: my forearm. I was shocked because they don't do that, 353 00:19:54,130 --> 00:19:57,550 S4: you know, Muslim woman touching a man. She grabs my forearm. 354 00:19:57,550 --> 00:20:00,850 S4: I said yes, and she said, you're from America, aren't you? 355 00:20:00,910 --> 00:20:02,500 S4: And I said, yes, I am. And she said, well, 356 00:20:02,500 --> 00:20:06,130 S4: I could tell by the color of your eyes. So. Oh, okay. 357 00:20:06,130 --> 00:20:10,480 S4: And she said, did you see on September 11th, when 358 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:14,440 S4: the buildings fell in America and they showed people in 359 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:18,280 S4: Gaza cheering and giving candy and celebrating. And did you 360 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,100 S4: see that? And I said, well, yes, I did. And 361 00:20:21,100 --> 00:20:24,850 S4: she said, well, not me. I was crying for those 362 00:20:24,850 --> 00:20:28,179 S4: people because they didn't deserve to die. And I'm so 363 00:20:28,180 --> 00:20:32,140 S4: sorry that happened. Please forgive us. And she tapped her 364 00:20:32,140 --> 00:20:35,470 S4: chest to motion. She's tapping her heart and she turned 365 00:20:35,470 --> 00:20:38,140 S4: on her heel and walked away. And you know what 366 00:20:38,170 --> 00:20:41,740 S4: thought went through my mind, John? I thought this. There's 367 00:20:41,740 --> 00:20:46,000 S4: human beings in Gaza. Yeah, they're not all in terrorist groups. 368 00:20:46,030 --> 00:20:48,760 S4: I mean, they don't all think that way. And of course, 369 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:52,030 S4: the believers don't either. There are some people that that 370 00:20:52,030 --> 00:20:55,060 S4: have a heart. And of course, Hamas is just swept 371 00:20:55,060 --> 00:20:59,500 S4: over Palestinians who honor them more now in Gaza because 372 00:20:59,500 --> 00:21:02,260 S4: of what they've done. But that doesn't mean there's everyone 373 00:21:02,260 --> 00:21:05,619 S4: and of course, the remnant of the church. They think 374 00:21:05,619 --> 00:21:08,200 S4: completely the opposite in Gaza. 375 00:21:08,230 --> 00:21:10,720 S1: What is it that holds the people of Gaza back 376 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,080 S1: from turning to Christ? What are the biggest hurdles spiritually, 377 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:15,910 S1: when you minister there? What are you observing? 378 00:21:15,910 --> 00:21:19,150 S4: If there is no fear of retribution, I wonder if 379 00:21:19,150 --> 00:21:23,980 S4: anybody would be a muslim there except Hamas, because they're 380 00:21:23,980 --> 00:21:27,910 S4: so thoroughly fed up with what the terrorist groups have 381 00:21:27,910 --> 00:21:32,110 S4: done and how they've controlled them. Gaza sits on a beach. 382 00:21:32,140 --> 00:21:35,409 S4: It's just miles from Ashdod and Ashkelon. This could be 383 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:40,420 S4: an incredible place for people to go and vacation. Yes. 384 00:21:40,450 --> 00:21:43,840 S4: If it wasn't an enclave for terrorism. And the people 385 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:47,950 S4: are so sick about how they have been destroyed. But 386 00:21:47,950 --> 00:21:52,540 S4: they are kept in fear. And because the Quran tells 387 00:21:52,540 --> 00:21:56,290 S4: Muslims that they must fight against Christians and Jews because 388 00:21:56,290 --> 00:22:01,000 S4: they rejected Muhammad. This has become holy to them, this war. 389 00:22:01,030 --> 00:22:05,230 S4: This is this is becoming holy by keeping this war 390 00:22:05,260 --> 00:22:09,520 S4: going on. It's an act of sacrifice for them to 391 00:22:09,550 --> 00:22:12,820 S4: please Allah. And there are so many Muslims that are 392 00:22:12,820 --> 00:22:15,460 S4: not buying it and saying, we want out. We don't 393 00:22:15,460 --> 00:22:18,820 S4: want this. We don't want the sole objective of the 394 00:22:18,820 --> 00:22:23,020 S4: Palestinian people to be wipe out Israel. And that's it. 395 00:22:23,170 --> 00:22:26,619 S4: And so it's all out of fear. John, we have 396 00:22:26,650 --> 00:22:30,010 S4: I found the truth.com. And when we first started playing 397 00:22:30,010 --> 00:22:33,909 S4: videos of former Muslims that we film coming to faith 398 00:22:33,910 --> 00:22:37,240 S4: in Christ. We were seeing about 4000 people a month 399 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:39,910 S4: watch them and we thought, okay, Lord, that's great. We 400 00:22:39,910 --> 00:22:42,730 S4: wish there were more, right? We kept praying, kept working 401 00:22:42,730 --> 00:22:47,159 S4: on things. Now, since October 7th, it's between 1 and 402 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:50,890 S4: 2 million a month. Wow. And the questions we're getting, 403 00:22:50,890 --> 00:22:53,920 S4: the people that are saying, tell me more about Jesus. 404 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:56,020 S4: What do I do? I live here, it's dangerous. Can 405 00:22:56,050 --> 00:23:00,010 S4: we communicate privately? There are so many that are thoroughly 406 00:23:00,010 --> 00:23:02,590 S4: fed up with Islam. We're never going to see them 407 00:23:02,590 --> 00:23:06,040 S4: on the news, but we just have to believe in faith. 408 00:23:06,070 --> 00:23:08,380 S4: God's going to move in their hearts and bring them 409 00:23:08,380 --> 00:23:09,490 S4: to faith in Christ. 410 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,250 S1: Tom Doyle is our guest today on the land and 411 00:23:12,250 --> 00:23:15,699 S1: the book. He's the founder of Uncharted Ministries. How about 412 00:23:15,700 --> 00:23:18,070 S1: if we pause right now and we just give you 413 00:23:18,070 --> 00:23:22,060 S1: some space to pray an unhurried prayer for the situation 414 00:23:22,060 --> 00:23:22,840 S1: in Gaza? 415 00:23:23,619 --> 00:23:29,050 S4: Lord Jesus, we know that only you can transform a 416 00:23:29,050 --> 00:23:34,080 S4: person's heart. Only you can transform an entire people group. 417 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,750 S4: And we believe, Lord, it's going to start with the 418 00:23:36,750 --> 00:23:42,119 S4: next generation. So we pray, Lord, for a great awakening 419 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:46,200 S4: in Gaza of people turning to faith in Christ, leaving Islam. 420 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:50,490 S4: And we pray, father, for this next generation, that they 421 00:23:50,490 --> 00:23:55,080 S4: would get thoroughly acquainted by ministries that come alongside each 422 00:23:55,109 --> 00:23:57,540 S4: other and work in the Gaza Strip so they can 423 00:23:57,540 --> 00:24:02,100 S4: know who Jesus is. And Jesus called people to love 424 00:24:02,100 --> 00:24:05,669 S4: one another, and they are growing up on a steady 425 00:24:05,700 --> 00:24:08,909 S4: diet of hatred and a goal of wiping out a 426 00:24:08,910 --> 00:24:13,440 S4: people group. Turn their hearts. Father, we pray that believers 427 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,889 S4: would flood the Gaza Strip with the love of Jesus, 428 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:20,520 S4: and this next generation of children would grow up not 429 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:23,700 S4: dressing up as suicide bombers when they're two and three 430 00:24:23,700 --> 00:24:27,929 S4: years old, but dressing up as Bible characters, as people 431 00:24:27,930 --> 00:24:32,660 S4: that have made a difference for Christ, who have seen 432 00:24:32,690 --> 00:24:36,530 S4: amazing miracles, who have touched their whole people group, who 433 00:24:36,530 --> 00:24:39,590 S4: have gone as missionaries to some of the worst places 434 00:24:39,590 --> 00:24:42,500 S4: in the world. It starts with the children. God, would 435 00:24:42,500 --> 00:24:46,609 S4: you do a holy awakening among them so this next 436 00:24:46,609 --> 00:24:52,280 S4: generation can follow Jesus and not follow terrorism? And we pray, Lord, 437 00:24:52,310 --> 00:24:55,520 S4: that this place would be a place that the world 438 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:59,480 S4: could look at and there would be no discussion needed. 439 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,800 S4: Jesus transformed this place. Jesus invaded the Gaza Strip and 440 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,470 S4: turned it from a place that we associate with hate 441 00:25:06,500 --> 00:25:09,949 S4: to a place that we associate with love. So, father, 442 00:25:09,950 --> 00:25:13,220 S4: we just pray for your spirit to move and for 443 00:25:13,250 --> 00:25:16,850 S4: thousands to come to faith in Christ in this next generation, 444 00:25:16,850 --> 00:25:19,520 S4: to be the ones that lead the way and turn 445 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:24,260 S4: Gaza into a place of not cursing, but blessing. And 446 00:25:24,260 --> 00:25:27,920 S4: we pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. 447 00:25:27,950 --> 00:25:31,040 S1: Amen. And let's continue to pray for Gaza throughout the 448 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:34,610 S1: days and weeks ahead. Thank you, Tom Doyle. Always a 449 00:25:34,609 --> 00:25:38,359 S1: great visit. You bring the best stories and thanks for 450 00:25:38,390 --> 00:25:39,950 S1: that prayer as well. Amen. 451 00:25:39,950 --> 00:25:42,110 S4: Thank you John, my privilege. Thank you. 452 00:25:42,140 --> 00:25:44,210 S1: And we'll continue to pray for you in your own 453 00:25:44,210 --> 00:25:47,180 S1: health journey there and that whole challenge. And right now 454 00:25:47,180 --> 00:25:48,890 S1: we want to welcome you to our next segment. It's 455 00:25:48,890 --> 00:25:52,220 S1: Charlie Dyer back in the studio with Bible questions and 456 00:25:52,220 --> 00:26:03,109 S1: answers here. Next on the land and the book. Of John. 457 00:26:06,950 --> 00:26:08,840 S1: Hope your day is going well, and I hope the 458 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,389 S1: land in the book is encouraging you along your journey. 459 00:26:11,390 --> 00:26:15,169 S1: I'm John Geiger with our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, and again, 460 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:17,060 S1: we just appreciate your taking the time to spend with 461 00:26:17,060 --> 00:26:19,609 S1: us here at The Land and the book. Well, Charlie 462 00:26:19,609 --> 00:26:21,740 S1: Israel has been in the news so much this last 463 00:26:21,740 --> 00:26:24,320 S1: year and the Bible is jam packed, of course, with 464 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,740 S1: end times prophecies, epic world events, the regathering of the 465 00:26:27,740 --> 00:26:32,090 S1: Jewish people to their ancient homeland and ultimately Jesus return. 466 00:26:32,090 --> 00:26:34,190 S1: It seems to me it's crucial for us as believers 467 00:26:34,190 --> 00:26:37,340 S1: to have a proper understanding of Bible prophecy. So our 468 00:26:37,340 --> 00:26:40,250 S1: view of the future is shaped by Scripture and not 469 00:26:40,250 --> 00:26:41,810 S1: just today's headlines. Right? 470 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,060 S2: Yeah, it's definitely true. And with that in mind, our 471 00:26:44,060 --> 00:26:47,420 S2: friends at Life and Messiah have published a book titled God, 472 00:26:47,420 --> 00:26:50,390 S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy and are offering it to listeners 473 00:26:50,390 --> 00:26:52,399 S2: of the land in the book for a limited time. 474 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,639 S2: This informative book is focused on providing readers with a 475 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:59,390 S2: deeper understanding and greater appreciation of what God has in 476 00:26:59,390 --> 00:27:02,210 S2: store for Israel and the nations by digging into what 477 00:27:02,210 --> 00:27:04,970 S2: the scriptures say about these issues. Now, if you're interested 478 00:27:04,970 --> 00:27:07,879 S2: in learning more about what God has in store, visit 479 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,730 S2: Life in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody Radio 480 00:27:10,730 --> 00:27:13,490 S2: button there to find out how you can receive your 481 00:27:13,490 --> 00:27:19,669 S2: copy of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 482 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:23,390 S1: Never a shortage of questions as people open their Bibles, 483 00:27:23,390 --> 00:27:26,960 S1: open their minds, read and ponder and we're always open 484 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:28,850 S1: to your questions. By the way, you can send yours 485 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:33,590 S1: to Charlie at the land and the book@moody.edu. Let's dig in. 486 00:27:33,830 --> 00:27:36,980 S1: Here's Marilyn's question. Can you help me understand the difference 487 00:27:36,980 --> 00:27:41,330 S1: between the angel's response to Zechariah's apparent doubt in Luke 488 00:27:41,330 --> 00:27:44,990 S1: one versus the angel's response to Mary's question in the 489 00:27:45,020 --> 00:27:48,859 S1: same chapter? Why wasn't she judged for her apparent doubt? 490 00:27:48,950 --> 00:27:50,689 S2: I think the key is to look carefully at the 491 00:27:50,690 --> 00:27:54,859 S2: objections raised by both Zechariah and Mary. When Zechariah responded 492 00:27:54,859 --> 00:27:57,709 S2: to the angel's promise by saying, literally, how can I 493 00:27:57,710 --> 00:28:00,740 S2: know this? Most translations add something like how can I 494 00:28:00,740 --> 00:28:03,260 S2: know this for sure? Or how can I be certain 495 00:28:03,260 --> 00:28:06,320 S2: to give the full sense of the question? His objection 496 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,659 S2: was that both he and his wife were old. He 497 00:28:08,660 --> 00:28:11,660 S2: obviously understood the mechanics of how a wife could get pregnant, 498 00:28:11,660 --> 00:28:14,210 S2: but he felt the promise couldn't be fulfilled because of 499 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:17,990 S2: their age and past inability to conceive. So he was 500 00:28:17,990 --> 00:28:21,080 S2: doubting God's ability to do something that really God had 501 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,780 S2: shown to be possible in the past. As a priest, 502 00:28:23,810 --> 00:28:27,770 S2: he should have remembered the stories about Samson's mother, Samuel's mother, 503 00:28:27,770 --> 00:28:30,139 S2: and the child born to the Shunammite woman in the 504 00:28:30,140 --> 00:28:33,350 S2: days of Elisha in two Kings four. Now, in contrast 505 00:28:33,380 --> 00:28:36,409 S2: to the announcement made to Zachariah, the announcement to Mary 506 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:38,990 S2: was unprecedented. When the angel told her she was going 507 00:28:39,020 --> 00:28:40,850 S2: to conceive in her womb and bear a son. Her 508 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:44,660 S2: her objection was really based on biological reality. How can 509 00:28:44,690 --> 00:28:47,150 S2: this be since I'm a virgin? Up till this point 510 00:28:47,150 --> 00:28:49,970 S2: in history, no child had ever been born apart from 511 00:28:49,970 --> 00:28:52,670 S2: a man and a woman having sexual relations. So I 512 00:28:52,670 --> 00:28:55,700 S2: don't see Mary doubting God's promise as much as expressing 513 00:28:55,700 --> 00:28:58,940 S2: a lack of understanding about the process itself. Once the 514 00:28:58,940 --> 00:29:02,270 S2: angel explained how it would take place, Mary immediately displayed 515 00:29:02,270 --> 00:29:05,810 S2: a humble spirit of submission and faith. I'm the Lord's servant, 516 00:29:05,810 --> 00:29:07,670 S2: she said. May it be to me as you have 517 00:29:07,670 --> 00:29:10,370 S2: said so I see a real difference in their responses. 518 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,430 S2: Zechariah doubted God's ability to do something for him and 519 00:29:13,430 --> 00:29:16,400 S2: his wife that God had already clearly done in the past. 520 00:29:16,430 --> 00:29:19,190 S2: Mary only wondered how a woman could get pregnant apart 521 00:29:19,190 --> 00:29:22,550 S2: from having sexual relations, something that was really a physical 522 00:29:22,550 --> 00:29:26,150 S2: impossibility up till then, and her attitude following the explanation 523 00:29:26,150 --> 00:29:29,720 S2: showed her immediate acceptance and submission to what God said, 524 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:32,360 S2: even when it seemed physically impossible. 525 00:29:32,390 --> 00:29:36,230 S1: Bill takes us to the upcoming elections, saying, I've encountered 526 00:29:36,230 --> 00:29:39,980 S1: three major reasons that people use for not voting at 527 00:29:39,980 --> 00:29:43,040 S1: all for either party. One, in the end, is that 528 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:46,340 S1: you are voting for a person and both persons are evil. Second, 529 00:29:46,340 --> 00:29:48,890 S1: voting for the lesser evil is still evil, and we 530 00:29:48,890 --> 00:29:51,530 S1: should not vote for evil to support what's right. And third, 531 00:29:51,530 --> 00:29:53,120 S1: this is a new one to me. He says Christians 532 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:56,360 S1: should not vote because God, Christ is King and we 533 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:59,480 S1: are rejecting God as king by voting for a human government. 534 00:29:59,510 --> 00:30:02,000 S1: This is based, they say, in first Samuel eight. What 535 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:02,750 S1: do you say? 536 00:30:02,780 --> 00:30:06,680 S2: Well, I think his response to the individuals demonstrates great wisdom. 537 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:09,650 S2: But the key difference between Bible times and today is 538 00:30:09,650 --> 00:30:11,570 S2: that in both the Old and New Testament, people really 539 00:30:11,570 --> 00:30:13,460 S2: didn't have a say in who was in charge. They 540 00:30:13,460 --> 00:30:16,340 S2: didn't vote for a king or for the Roman emperor, 541 00:30:16,340 --> 00:30:18,470 S2: but they could rest in the knowledge that God set 542 00:30:18,500 --> 00:30:21,950 S2: up and took down kings, and their responsibility was to 543 00:30:21,980 --> 00:30:25,970 S2: obey those in authority. So when Paul wrote Romans 13 one, 544 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,210 S2: you obey those in authority. Nero was the emperor. However, 545 00:30:29,210 --> 00:30:31,430 S2: since God put us under the authority of a government 546 00:30:31,430 --> 00:30:33,740 S2: that allows us to have a say in who can lead, 547 00:30:33,740 --> 00:30:36,950 S2: I believe participating in the election process is part of 548 00:30:36,950 --> 00:30:40,910 S2: placing ourselves in obedience to the authority over us. Christ 549 00:30:40,910 --> 00:30:42,830 S2: was King of kings at the time of Nero. Yet 550 00:30:42,830 --> 00:30:45,680 S2: Paul still said in Romans 13, be subject to the 551 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:49,850 S2: governing authorities. The authorities that existed had been established by God. 552 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:53,840 S2: To deliberately choose not to participate by voting, in one sense, 553 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:56,840 S2: is rebelling against the system of government to which were 554 00:30:56,840 --> 00:31:00,320 S2: to be in obedience. Rulers, both in Bible times and today. 555 00:31:00,350 --> 00:31:03,470 S2: They're not always believers. They they weren't then. They aren't today. 556 00:31:03,620 --> 00:31:05,960 S2: In many cases. And yet we're to pray for them. 557 00:31:05,990 --> 00:31:08,510 S2: First Timothy two. We're to submit to them as long 558 00:31:08,510 --> 00:31:11,360 S2: as they don't demand that we disobey God. In acts 559 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:14,180 S2: chapter four, it says that in the system of government 560 00:31:14,180 --> 00:31:16,640 S2: God has provided for us. I believe one way to 561 00:31:16,670 --> 00:31:19,190 S2: obey God is to vote for the person or party 562 00:31:19,190 --> 00:31:23,030 S2: most aligned with his values. No system is perfect, but 563 00:31:23,030 --> 00:31:25,490 S2: choosing not to vote is simply being unwilling to take 564 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:29,360 S2: time to carefully and prayerfully seek God's will in the matter. 565 00:31:29,540 --> 00:31:32,180 S2: The bottom line is that I believe you're right on target. 566 00:31:32,210 --> 00:31:34,430 S2: We do have the freedom in our country to choose 567 00:31:34,430 --> 00:31:36,800 S2: not to vote, but those who choose to do so 568 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:39,830 S2: also need to understand they're choosing to accept the results 569 00:31:39,830 --> 00:31:43,070 S2: of that choice. Personally, I never tell someone whom they 570 00:31:43,070 --> 00:31:45,140 S2: need to vote for, but I do encourage them to 571 00:31:45,170 --> 00:31:47,300 S2: know what the issues are that are at stake in 572 00:31:47,300 --> 00:31:50,180 S2: any election, and then to seek God's wisdom to do 573 00:31:50,210 --> 00:31:51,080 S2: what's best. 574 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:54,500 S1: Norm says, I thought one of your recent guests answers 575 00:31:54,500 --> 00:31:58,670 S1: was inaccurate. He suggested a prophetic sign Is Israel coming 576 00:31:58,670 --> 00:32:01,459 S1: back to the land in 1948? But this was a 577 00:32:01,460 --> 00:32:04,850 S1: political result of Zionism. The Bible says that the Messiah 578 00:32:04,850 --> 00:32:07,640 S1: is to regather Israel. Can you clarify, please? 579 00:32:07,670 --> 00:32:10,580 S2: Yeah, actually, I think both positions are correct. Now let 580 00:32:10,580 --> 00:32:13,490 S2: me explain. It's true that at his return, Jesus will 581 00:32:13,490 --> 00:32:15,710 S2: gather the nation and bring them back to the land. 582 00:32:15,710 --> 00:32:19,220 S2: And that's mentioned in passages like Jeremiah chapter 30. Jeremiah 583 00:32:19,220 --> 00:32:23,510 S2: chapter 31. Ezekiel 36 mentions it. Jesus himself said it 584 00:32:23,510 --> 00:32:27,290 S2: in Matthew 24, verses 30 and 31. But it's also 585 00:32:27,290 --> 00:32:30,020 S2: true that Israel are certainly a part of the nation 586 00:32:30,020 --> 00:32:32,720 S2: has to be in the land before the start of 587 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:35,570 S2: the seven year tribulation period. They need to be there 588 00:32:35,570 --> 00:32:37,940 S2: so the Antichrist can confirm a covenant with them for 589 00:32:37,940 --> 00:32:40,640 S2: seven years. And so the temple can be rebuilt and 590 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:44,900 S2: then defiled. That's mentioned in Daniel 927 and in second 591 00:32:44,900 --> 00:32:49,130 S2: Thessalonians two, and in revelation 11. In Matthew 24, Jesus 592 00:32:49,130 --> 00:32:52,070 S2: describes that defilement of the temple and says, let those 593 00:32:52,070 --> 00:32:54,410 S2: who are in Judea then flee. Will they have to 594 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:56,810 S2: be in Judea if they're going to flee from that point? 595 00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:59,090 S2: I think the best passage that helps me know all 596 00:32:59,090 --> 00:33:02,750 S2: these things together is Ezekiel 38 and 39, that invasion 597 00:33:02,750 --> 00:33:05,840 S2: of Gog and Magog in 38. It says the invasion 598 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:08,600 S2: takes place following the return of the nation to the land. 599 00:33:08,630 --> 00:33:11,210 S2: He says in future years, God will invade a land 600 00:33:11,210 --> 00:33:14,000 S2: that's recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many 601 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,700 S2: nations to the mountains of Israel. But at the end 602 00:33:16,700 --> 00:33:19,120 S2: of the passage, once the war has happened, once God 603 00:33:19,150 --> 00:33:21,490 S2: has defeated the enemy, God says a key result of 604 00:33:21,490 --> 00:33:23,740 S2: the battle is the return of Israel to the land. 605 00:33:23,770 --> 00:33:26,980 S2: So in chapter 39 he says, therefore, this is what 606 00:33:26,980 --> 00:33:29,410 S2: the sovereign Lord says, I will now bring Jacob back 607 00:33:29,410 --> 00:33:32,770 S2: from captivity and have compassion on all the people of Israel. 608 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:35,620 S2: So they're there before the battle. But one of the 609 00:33:35,620 --> 00:33:37,660 S2: results of the battle is that God brings them back, 610 00:33:37,660 --> 00:33:39,850 S2: which tells me that there has to be a remnant 611 00:33:39,850 --> 00:33:42,580 S2: in Israel prior to the start of the fulfillment of 612 00:33:42,580 --> 00:33:44,170 S2: those end time prophecies. 613 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:46,300 S1: You're listening to the land and the book with our host, 614 00:33:46,300 --> 00:33:49,030 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer, and your questions are welcome at the 615 00:33:49,030 --> 00:33:53,620 S1: land and the book@moody.edu. Dale asks, is it possible that 616 00:33:53,620 --> 00:33:57,130 S1: the events described in Ezekiel 38 and 39 are the 617 00:33:57,160 --> 00:33:59,230 S1: same as the battle of Armageddon? 618 00:33:59,260 --> 00:34:01,900 S2: Yeah. Isn't it interesting, John, that suddenly our questions just 619 00:34:01,900 --> 00:34:03,730 S2: tend to come in on the same subject and we 620 00:34:03,730 --> 00:34:05,290 S2: present them in the order they come in, but in 621 00:34:05,290 --> 00:34:07,420 S2: this case, two different people, but two different questions on 622 00:34:07,450 --> 00:34:10,390 S2: that passage. Well, I don't see the Battle of Gog 623 00:34:10,450 --> 00:34:14,830 S2: Magog and the Battle of Armageddon being the same event, uh, 624 00:34:14,860 --> 00:34:17,970 S2: the Battle of Magog in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is 625 00:34:17,969 --> 00:34:20,280 S2: said to occur when Israel's in the land in peace 626 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:22,500 S2: and safety. In fact, he says, in the very beginning, 627 00:34:22,530 --> 00:34:24,630 S2: he will invade a land that's recovered from war, whose 628 00:34:24,630 --> 00:34:27,210 S2: people were gathered from many nations. And now all of 629 00:34:27,210 --> 00:34:30,120 S2: them live in safety. And the man says, I'm going 630 00:34:30,150 --> 00:34:33,810 S2: to attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people. Well, that's true 631 00:34:33,810 --> 00:34:36,719 S2: for Israel during the first half of the coming tribulation period, 632 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:39,480 S2: but not for the second half. And that's important, because 633 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:42,239 S2: the gathering at Armageddon prior to the battle of the 634 00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:45,390 S2: seven year period is in revelation 16. It's one of 635 00:34:45,390 --> 00:34:48,240 S2: the last bowls of judgment right toward the end of 636 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:51,210 S2: the tribulation period. The difference in timing tells me that 637 00:34:51,210 --> 00:34:53,819 S2: the battles take place at different times. So the battle 638 00:34:53,820 --> 00:34:55,890 S2: of Gog Magog happens when Israel is back in the 639 00:34:55,890 --> 00:34:59,070 S2: land at peace. The gathering at Armageddon takes place at 640 00:34:59,070 --> 00:35:02,160 S2: the end of the tribulation, just before Christ's return, which 641 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:05,279 S2: is a time when Israel has been experiencing incredible difficulty 642 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:08,609 S2: and troubles, according to what Jesus said in Matthew 24. 643 00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:11,610 S2: I personally think the battle of Armageddon is really a 644 00:35:11,610 --> 00:35:14,580 S2: gathering at Armageddon, or a campaign at Armageddon rather than 645 00:35:14,610 --> 00:35:17,430 S2: the final battle, because the battle doesn't actually take place 646 00:35:17,430 --> 00:35:19,739 S2: until right at the time of Christ's return. 647 00:35:19,770 --> 00:35:22,590 S1: Ghani has a question for us. In my personal study 648 00:35:22,590 --> 00:35:25,170 S1: of the life of Paul, I came across what seems 649 00:35:25,170 --> 00:35:27,989 S1: to be a contradiction in the Bible concerning the time 650 00:35:27,989 --> 00:35:30,120 S1: of his conversion on the way to Damascus. Can you 651 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:32,580 S1: help me out here? Acts nine verse seven says that 652 00:35:32,580 --> 00:35:35,580 S1: those who were with Paul heard a voice but saw 653 00:35:35,610 --> 00:35:38,610 S1: no one. But in chapter 22, verse nine, it says, 654 00:35:38,610 --> 00:35:40,950 S1: they saw the light, but they did not hear the 655 00:35:40,950 --> 00:35:43,830 S1: voice of him who spoke with Paul. What's going on? 656 00:35:43,860 --> 00:35:46,200 S2: Yeah, I actually remember this coming up during my second 657 00:35:46,230 --> 00:35:48,810 S2: year in Greek in Bible College, which takes me back 658 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:51,509 S2: a long time. Uh, while in English those verses do 659 00:35:51,540 --> 00:35:54,540 S2: appear to contradict, in Greek they don't. The Greek word 660 00:35:54,540 --> 00:35:57,090 S2: for hearing in both is acuo, which can have a 661 00:35:57,090 --> 00:35:59,219 S2: range of meaning when it's followed by a word in 662 00:35:59,219 --> 00:36:01,830 S2: the accusative case, which is what it is in chapter nine. 663 00:36:01,830 --> 00:36:04,440 S2: It refers to the extent of hearing that is. In 664 00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:07,950 S2: this verse Paul says they actually heard something being spoken, 665 00:36:07,950 --> 00:36:10,109 S2: but when it was followed by a word in the 666 00:36:10,110 --> 00:36:13,080 S2: genitive case, as in chapter 22, it's referring to the 667 00:36:13,110 --> 00:36:15,450 S2: meaning of the sound. That is, those who are traveling 668 00:36:15,450 --> 00:36:18,480 S2: with Paul didn't understand what was being said, even though 669 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:21,540 S2: they did hear something. So both statements are correct in 670 00:36:21,540 --> 00:36:24,270 S2: the way a quote uses each one within its context. 671 00:36:24,270 --> 00:36:26,520 S2: And I think the NIV, the New American Standard, and 672 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:30,569 S2: the ESV all try to convey that sense in their translations. 673 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:33,600 S1: I have loved these questions today, especially those that point 674 00:36:33,630 --> 00:36:36,270 S1: us toward the future. And your question is welcome again 675 00:36:36,270 --> 00:36:39,720 S1: at the land and the book@moody.edu. Hey, when was the 676 00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:42,239 S1: last time you visited our website? Lots of cool stuff 677 00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:46,710 S1: there and you'll find us at The Land and the book.org. 678 00:36:46,739 --> 00:37:02,759 S1: I'm looking forward to Charlie Dyer's devotional. It's next. When 679 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:06,870 S1: you're in a desert. Water is liquid gold. Nothing is 680 00:37:06,870 --> 00:37:10,529 S1: more important or precious than water. Charlie, you have spent 681 00:37:10,530 --> 00:37:14,339 S1: enough time in Israel's deserts to know firsthand the importance 682 00:37:14,340 --> 00:37:15,480 S1: of water, I presume? 683 00:37:15,510 --> 00:37:18,840 S2: Absolutely. And I've seen people who didn't have enough water 684 00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:20,640 S2: and got into trouble as a result. 685 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:22,890 S1: And yet, water in the desert is the focus of 686 00:37:22,890 --> 00:37:24,299 S1: your devotional coming up, right? 687 00:37:24,330 --> 00:37:25,319 S2: Absolutely. 688 00:37:25,350 --> 00:37:28,710 S1: All right. We're looking forward to that conversation. His devotional 689 00:37:28,710 --> 00:37:32,370 S1: following this Holy Land experience. Let's check out this testimony. 690 00:37:36,330 --> 00:37:39,090 S5: Hi, my name is Judy and this is my Holy 691 00:37:39,120 --> 00:37:42,870 S5: Land experience. One of the things that has impressed me 692 00:37:42,870 --> 00:37:48,210 S5: as we tour around Israel is the many people groups 693 00:37:48,210 --> 00:37:51,630 S5: who are here. Some of them are visiting from other countries. 694 00:37:51,630 --> 00:37:55,620 S5: Some of them are indigenous to this area. But I 695 00:37:55,620 --> 00:37:59,700 S5: see that many tribes and many tongues, and it's happening 696 00:37:59,700 --> 00:38:02,850 S5: right here, right in front of our very eyes, and 697 00:38:02,850 --> 00:38:06,450 S5: I can imagine it happening in the New Jerusalem. 698 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:09,090 S6: Hi, my name is Mary and this is my Holy 699 00:38:09,090 --> 00:38:12,360 S6: Land experience, a trip that I've looked forward to for 700 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:16,469 S6: a long time, and now it is a reality. And 701 00:38:16,469 --> 00:38:20,220 S6: what I am experiencing is the Bible coming alive in 702 00:38:20,219 --> 00:38:23,609 S6: front of my eyes, seeing all of those things that 703 00:38:23,610 --> 00:38:26,910 S6: we read about in the Bible and hearing about them 704 00:38:26,910 --> 00:38:30,090 S6: and Charlie telling us about them. And the history has 705 00:38:30,090 --> 00:38:31,680 S6: just been completely amazing. 706 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:36,510 S1: Water in the desert. Where are we going today, Charlie? 707 00:38:36,540 --> 00:38:39,060 S2: Well, we're going to head to job chapter 38 and 708 00:38:39,060 --> 00:38:41,850 S2: Isaiah 35, and I'm going to try and put those 709 00:38:41,850 --> 00:38:45,150 S2: two passages together. But right now, as our bus pulls 710 00:38:45,150 --> 00:38:47,970 S2: into the parking lot here at Qumran, I first want 711 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:50,190 S2: to give you a chance to use the restrooms. We'll 712 00:38:50,219 --> 00:38:52,439 S2: then meet over by the entrance and walk out onto 713 00:38:52,440 --> 00:38:55,050 S2: the site. And be sure to bring your headset along 714 00:38:55,050 --> 00:38:59,100 S2: because the site could be crowded. Okay, we've all done 715 00:38:59,100 --> 00:39:01,890 S2: so follow me out onto the site. Now I'm going 716 00:39:01,920 --> 00:39:04,680 S2: to take you on an abbreviated tour of Qumran. We're 717 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:06,780 S2: skipping most of the ruins and heading out to the 718 00:39:06,780 --> 00:39:10,410 S2: covered area there in the distance. What makes Qumran special 719 00:39:10,440 --> 00:39:13,740 S2: are the ancient scrolls discovered here, the Dead Sea Scrolls. 720 00:39:13,739 --> 00:39:16,739 S2: But those scrolls aren't here now. They're in Jerusalem. And 721 00:39:16,739 --> 00:39:19,650 S2: had they not been discovered here, this site would never 722 00:39:19,650 --> 00:39:23,220 S2: have become a national park. The site itself is actually 723 00:39:23,219 --> 00:39:26,370 S2: something of a disappointment, though the discovery made here is 724 00:39:26,370 --> 00:39:30,149 S2: one of the most significant in the past 100 years. Okay, 725 00:39:30,180 --> 00:39:32,700 S2: we're now out at the overlook. Just across the way 726 00:39:32,700 --> 00:39:35,670 S2: is the most iconic photo you will see from Qumran 727 00:39:35,700 --> 00:39:38,759 S2: Cave four. The different caves in this area are numbered 728 00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:41,370 S2: based on the order in which the scrolls were discovered. 729 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:45,630 S2: This cave contained the largest number of scrolls and fragments found. 730 00:39:45,630 --> 00:39:49,529 S2: In fact, over 75% of the Dead Sea Scrolls and 731 00:39:49,530 --> 00:39:54,480 S2: scroll fragments collected so far were found in this one cave. Now, 732 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:56,850 S2: on most trips, I'll share briefly about the history of 733 00:39:56,880 --> 00:40:00,270 S2: Qumran and the Essenes, and then turn everyone loose, and 734 00:40:00,270 --> 00:40:02,460 S2: some of you can explore the rest of the site, 735 00:40:02,460 --> 00:40:05,070 S2: while others can shop in the store, and others can 736 00:40:05,070 --> 00:40:07,350 S2: go to the snack area and purchase a soda or 737 00:40:07,350 --> 00:40:10,440 S2: ice cream. But before we scatter, let me point out 738 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:14,339 S2: one other detail. Qumran has no natural water supply like 739 00:40:14,340 --> 00:40:17,190 S2: a stream or a well. It existed because of the 740 00:40:17,190 --> 00:40:20,580 S2: rainfall that fell up in the mountains and rushed down 741 00:40:20,580 --> 00:40:22,860 S2: the cliffs just in front of you. If you look 742 00:40:22,860 --> 00:40:25,230 S2: carefully at the cliffs, you can trace a line down 743 00:40:25,230 --> 00:40:28,469 S2: where the rocks change color. If there's a heavy rain 744 00:40:28,469 --> 00:40:31,350 S2: up in the hills, the water rushes into the canyons 745 00:40:31,350 --> 00:40:35,520 S2: in the wilderness and eventually becomes a roaring waterfall, cascading 746 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:38,130 S2: down the face of the cliff and through the gorge 747 00:40:38,130 --> 00:40:41,129 S2: just below. On the way to the Dead Sea. The 748 00:40:41,130 --> 00:40:44,130 S2: Essenes who lived here diverted some of that water into 749 00:40:44,130 --> 00:40:47,580 S2: Qumran to fill their cisterns and reservoirs, and that's where 750 00:40:47,580 --> 00:40:50,489 S2: they received the water that sustained them through the rest 751 00:40:50,489 --> 00:40:53,100 S2: of the year. Now, standing here right now, it's hard 752 00:40:53,100 --> 00:40:56,730 S2: to imagine that a community, even a relatively small community, 753 00:40:56,760 --> 00:41:00,630 S2: could survive from such infrequent floods. But a number of 754 00:41:00,630 --> 00:41:02,669 S2: years ago, I was here when just such a flood 755 00:41:02,670 --> 00:41:06,299 S2: took place. In fact, the water washed across the road 756 00:41:06,300 --> 00:41:09,330 S2: below and trapped us here for two hours, but I 757 00:41:09,330 --> 00:41:11,790 S2: didn't mind at all. The water pouring over the side 758 00:41:11,790 --> 00:41:15,629 S2: and down the cliff face was absolutely majestic. It was 759 00:41:15,630 --> 00:41:18,180 S2: dark brown from all the dirt being carried along by 760 00:41:18,180 --> 00:41:20,640 S2: the force of the current. That was one of my 761 00:41:20,670 --> 00:41:24,300 S2: aha moments in Israel, because it shined a spotlight on 762 00:41:24,300 --> 00:41:27,390 S2: several passages from the Bible. And while we're here, let 763 00:41:27,390 --> 00:41:29,880 S2: me share some of those with you. The first comes 764 00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:32,460 S2: from the Book of Job. Job and his friends engaged 765 00:41:32,460 --> 00:41:36,239 S2: in a protracted debate over the cause for job's misfortune. 766 00:41:36,239 --> 00:41:39,930 S2: In job six, job said his friends were as undependable 767 00:41:39,930 --> 00:41:43,380 S2: as the desert wadis that overflow with water in the winter, 768 00:41:43,380 --> 00:41:45,990 S2: but that ceased to flow in the dry season and 769 00:41:45,989 --> 00:41:49,170 S2: in the heat vanish from their channels. They were around 770 00:41:49,170 --> 00:41:51,840 S2: when things were going well, but when things got tough, 771 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:55,050 S2: their help vanished, like the water in those wadis that 772 00:41:55,050 --> 00:41:58,350 S2: stopped flowing in the summer. The cycle of debate between 773 00:41:58,350 --> 00:42:01,890 S2: job and his friends ends when God himself shows up 774 00:42:01,890 --> 00:42:05,040 S2: to question job, and God asked a series of questions 775 00:42:05,040 --> 00:42:08,860 S2: to demonstrate the job. That job also didn't understand how 776 00:42:08,890 --> 00:42:12,219 S2: life really works. God asked, who cuts a channel for 777 00:42:12,219 --> 00:42:14,950 S2: the torrents of rain and a path for the thunderstorm 778 00:42:14,950 --> 00:42:17,950 S2: to water? A land where no man lives, a desert 779 00:42:17,950 --> 00:42:21,190 S2: with no one in it, to satisfy a desolate wasteland 780 00:42:21,190 --> 00:42:24,730 S2: and make it sprout with grass. Why did God design 781 00:42:24,730 --> 00:42:28,120 S2: a system that sends torrents of rain down channels in 782 00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:32,500 S2: deserted regions? God provides water to cause grass to sprout 783 00:42:32,500 --> 00:42:36,070 S2: in areas where even humans don't live. And God asked 784 00:42:36,070 --> 00:42:39,040 S2: job to explain why he designed it that way, which 785 00:42:39,070 --> 00:42:42,530 S2: of course, job wasn't able to do. More than a 786 00:42:42,530 --> 00:42:45,730 S2: thousand years after the time of job, the prophet Isaiah 787 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:49,029 S2: used the same imagery of streams in the desert to 788 00:42:49,060 --> 00:42:53,410 S2: picture God's coming, deliverance, redemption, and blessing for his people. 789 00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:56,680 S2: Here's part of how he describes it in Isaiah 35. 790 00:42:56,710 --> 00:42:59,860 S2: The desert and the parched land will be glad. The 791 00:42:59,860 --> 00:43:03,160 S2: wilderness will rejoice and blossom like the crocus. It will 792 00:43:03,190 --> 00:43:07,870 S2: burst into bloom. It will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. Then, 793 00:43:07,870 --> 00:43:10,660 S2: picking up in verses six and seven, he adds, water 794 00:43:10,660 --> 00:43:14,110 S2: will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 795 00:43:14,140 --> 00:43:17,410 S2: The scorched land will become a pool. The thirsty ground, 796 00:43:17,410 --> 00:43:21,760 S2: bubbling springs in the haunts where jackals once lay. Grass 797 00:43:21,760 --> 00:43:25,899 S2: and reeds and papyrus will grow. God's promised deliverance will 798 00:43:25,900 --> 00:43:29,530 S2: be as dramatic as a roaring wall of water sweeping 799 00:43:29,530 --> 00:43:33,279 S2: through the wilderness, turning the dead barren ground into a 800 00:43:33,280 --> 00:43:37,629 S2: carpet of green. Watching the normally barren cliffs above Qumran 801 00:43:37,630 --> 00:43:42,939 S2: turn almost instantly into a roaring waterfall was impressive. Not actually. 802 00:43:42,940 --> 00:43:45,700 S2: It was awe inspiring. If you want to see what 803 00:43:45,700 --> 00:43:48,219 S2: I mean, go to our land in the Book Facebook 804 00:43:48,219 --> 00:43:51,640 S2: page and watch the short video I'll post there, which 805 00:43:51,640 --> 00:43:54,760 S2: I took on that day. In other trips, I saw 806 00:43:54,760 --> 00:43:57,910 S2: the impact those storms had on the wilderness itself. I 807 00:43:57,910 --> 00:44:01,930 S2: have photos of red, yellow and white flowers dotting hillsides 808 00:44:01,930 --> 00:44:05,980 S2: carpeted in fresh green grass. I watched shepherds lead their 809 00:44:05,980 --> 00:44:09,279 S2: flocks and herds to graze on hillsides that, just a 810 00:44:09,280 --> 00:44:12,730 S2: few weeks before, seemed to be covered in nothing but rock. 811 00:44:12,760 --> 00:44:16,060 S2: God's presence shone in his ability to bring rain to 812 00:44:16,090 --> 00:44:19,960 S2: even the most barren of locations in Israel's wilderness was 813 00:44:19,960 --> 00:44:22,840 S2: a visible object lesson to the people of the land 814 00:44:22,840 --> 00:44:26,080 S2: from the time of job and throughout the Old Testament. 815 00:44:26,110 --> 00:44:29,020 S2: The God who could bring about streams in the desert 816 00:44:29,020 --> 00:44:32,560 S2: was the God who also promised to strengthen the feeble hands, 817 00:44:32,560 --> 00:44:35,169 S2: steady the knees that give way, and say to those 818 00:44:35,170 --> 00:44:39,040 S2: with fearful hearts, be strong, and do not fear. Isaiah's 819 00:44:39,040 --> 00:44:42,220 S2: message of hope from the streams in the desert was 820 00:44:42,219 --> 00:44:45,759 S2: that God will come to save you. Well, it's time 821 00:44:45,760 --> 00:44:47,950 S2: to head back into the store to grab a snack. 822 00:44:47,980 --> 00:44:50,020 S2: You can also shop, but be sure to use the 823 00:44:50,020 --> 00:44:53,230 S2: restrooms one last time before we head south for our 824 00:44:53,230 --> 00:44:56,620 S2: long drive to the hotel. Before we leave though, what 825 00:44:56,620 --> 00:44:59,230 S2: lessons can you take with you from your time here? 826 00:44:59,260 --> 00:45:04,720 S2: Looking at the barren cliffs above Qumran. Let me suggest two. First, 827 00:45:04,719 --> 00:45:08,620 S2: remember from job that we don't always understand God's ways. 828 00:45:08,650 --> 00:45:12,040 S2: Job felt abandoned by his friends and by his God. 829 00:45:12,070 --> 00:45:15,610 S2: He had no clue about the cosmic battle between God 830 00:45:15,610 --> 00:45:19,600 S2: and Satan taking place over his life. He felt forsaken 831 00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:23,020 S2: by God. Though God told Satan, job was the prime 832 00:45:23,020 --> 00:45:26,680 S2: example of a person who was blameless and upright. God 833 00:45:26,710 --> 00:45:30,580 S2: had to remind job that job didn't understand how everything 834 00:45:30,580 --> 00:45:33,790 S2: in the world fit together, but that God did. Those 835 00:45:33,790 --> 00:45:37,480 S2: cliffs above us are reminders that we might face obstacles 836 00:45:37,480 --> 00:45:40,360 S2: that seem powerful and daunting. But we have a God 837 00:45:40,360 --> 00:45:43,300 S2: who's infinitely greater and who loves us with a love 838 00:45:43,300 --> 00:45:47,109 S2: that will keep us through the desert times in our lives. 839 00:45:47,140 --> 00:45:50,920 S2: He understands even when we don't. And then second, remember 840 00:45:50,920 --> 00:45:53,500 S2: from Isaiah that in the proper time God will send 841 00:45:53,530 --> 00:45:56,860 S2: his streams in the desert. He can replace barrenness with 842 00:45:56,860 --> 00:46:00,430 S2: blessing and discouragement with deliverance. You might not see it 843 00:46:00,430 --> 00:46:02,680 S2: right now, but I can assure you that there are 844 00:46:02,680 --> 00:46:05,680 S2: times when a section of that cliff will be obscured 845 00:46:05,680 --> 00:46:09,400 S2: by a cascading river of water. The timing belongs to God, 846 00:46:09,430 --> 00:46:12,220 S2: but he will come, just as he said in Isaiah 847 00:46:12,250 --> 00:46:16,960 S2: 35 verse four. Whatever your current struggles, whatever spiritual drought 848 00:46:16,960 --> 00:46:20,650 S2: you might be experiencing, keep looking up, be strong, do 849 00:46:20,650 --> 00:46:23,320 S2: not fear, and then watch for God to bring his 850 00:46:23,320 --> 00:46:27,280 S2: time of spiritual refreshing just for you. 851 00:46:27,460 --> 00:46:30,670 S1: Well, I love that reminder that hope is there. Thank 852 00:46:30,700 --> 00:46:33,969 S1: you Charlie. Great devotional as always, and the entire program 853 00:46:33,969 --> 00:46:36,219 S1: is yours to listen to at our website, The Land 854 00:46:36,219 --> 00:46:39,250 S1: and the book org. Head to our Facebook page to 855 00:46:39,280 --> 00:46:42,580 S1: check out that waterfall video Charlie's talking about as well. 856 00:46:42,610 --> 00:46:45,370 S1: That'll do it for our program today. I'm John Gager 857 00:46:45,370 --> 00:46:48,370 S1: for our producer, Dan Anderson. Our host, Charlie Dyer. Have 858 00:46:48,370 --> 00:46:50,560 S1: a great day. Thanks for listening to The Land and 859 00:46:50,560 --> 00:46:53,530 S1: the book, a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of 860 00:46:53,530 --> 00:46:55,180 S1: Moody Bible Institute.