1 00:00:08,090 --> 00:00:11,360 S1: A wise counselor once advised, keep the main thing, the 2 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:14,750 S1: main thing. But ironically, when it comes to Christmas, you 3 00:00:14,750 --> 00:00:18,110 S1: and I let other things obscure the profound. But what 4 00:00:18,110 --> 00:00:20,750 S1: if we got it right? Today you're invited to join 5 00:00:20,750 --> 00:00:24,590 S1: us for an adventure in rediscovering Christmas. And as part 6 00:00:24,590 --> 00:00:26,900 S1: of that adventure, we'll tell you everything you need to 7 00:00:26,930 --> 00:00:29,660 S1: know about this week's events in the Middle East, and 8 00:00:29,690 --> 00:00:32,600 S1: we'll answer a great set of Bible questions. Welcome to 9 00:00:32,630 --> 00:00:35,660 S1: the land and the book with Charlie Dyer. And I'm 10 00:00:35,659 --> 00:00:37,790 S1: John Gager. And you know, Charlie, as the end of 11 00:00:37,790 --> 00:00:40,820 S1: this year approaches, many world events have left us wondering 12 00:00:40,820 --> 00:00:44,270 S1: what God's plan is for the future, particularly when it 13 00:00:44,270 --> 00:00:47,450 S1: comes to Israel. Despite its small size, people around the 14 00:00:47,450 --> 00:00:51,110 S1: world are just intensely focused on what takes place. There 15 00:00:51,140 --> 00:00:54,200 S1: are today's headlines connected in any way at all with 16 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,470 S1: prophecies in the Bible. And how should followers of Jesus 17 00:00:57,470 --> 00:01:00,800 S1: interpret current events as we await his second coming. 18 00:01:00,830 --> 00:01:03,800 S2: Yeah, John. And to help answer those crucial questions, our 19 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,380 S2: friends at Life and Messiah urge you to check out 20 00:01:06,380 --> 00:01:11,030 S2: their book, God, Israel and Bible Prophecy with Scripture as 21 00:01:11,030 --> 00:01:13,610 S2: its foundation. This book will take you on a journey 22 00:01:13,610 --> 00:01:16,430 S2: into what God has in store for the Jewish people 23 00:01:16,430 --> 00:01:19,940 S2: and the nations. This book is for anyone who wants 24 00:01:19,940 --> 00:01:24,289 S2: to explore where modern day events fit on God's grand timeline. Now, 25 00:01:24,290 --> 00:01:26,960 S2: if that's you or someone you know, this would be 26 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:31,400 S2: a great resource or gift. Visit Life in Messiah org 27 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,860 S2: and click on the Moody Radio button to find out 28 00:01:33,860 --> 00:01:37,759 S2: how you can receive your copy of God, Israel and 29 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,750 S2: Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 30 00:01:42,110 --> 00:01:44,150 S1: Well, let's take a look at current events from the 31 00:01:44,150 --> 00:01:48,200 S1: Middle East, where a somewhat shaky ceasefire appears to still 32 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,320 S1: be holding in Lebanon, while talks are also underway to 33 00:01:51,350 --> 00:01:54,590 S1: resolve the fighting between Israel and Hamas. After more than 34 00:01:54,590 --> 00:01:57,170 S1: a year, could we finally be seeing the end of 35 00:01:57,170 --> 00:01:58,340 S1: both conflicts? 36 00:01:58,370 --> 00:02:00,350 S2: You know, I have a friend who has an expression 37 00:02:00,350 --> 00:02:04,550 S2: that fits this situation. He would say one could wish. 38 00:02:04,730 --> 00:02:07,280 S2: The idea being, it's something nice to hope for. But 39 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,340 S2: don't hold your breath. Now, the cease fire with Hezbollah 40 00:02:10,340 --> 00:02:13,580 S2: is still in place, in spite of several violations of 41 00:02:13,580 --> 00:02:18,139 S2: the agreement by Hezbollah. Israel responded militarily to those violations, 42 00:02:18,139 --> 00:02:21,560 S2: and hopefully the Lebanese army and the monitoring mechanism will 43 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,560 S2: get put in place within the 60 day time frame 44 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,500 S2: and will prove to be effective in keeping Hezbollah from 45 00:02:27,500 --> 00:02:31,790 S2: rearming and attacking. Hamas has apparently signaled a readiness for 46 00:02:31,790 --> 00:02:35,150 S2: hostage negotiations and a willingness to drop some of its 47 00:02:35,150 --> 00:02:38,419 S2: previous demands. Part of the reason for this is apparently 48 00:02:38,450 --> 00:02:43,760 S2: Hamas's realization that Iran wasn't willing to rescue Hezbollah from Israel, 49 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,100 S2: and as a result, won't be coming to the aid 50 00:02:46,100 --> 00:02:50,480 S2: of Hamas either. Negotiations with Hamas are more tentative. An 51 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,320 S2: Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo Thursday for talks, but it's 52 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,600 S2: not yet clear if this is a serious effort on 53 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,050 S2: the part of Hamas to reach an agreement or just deploy. 54 00:03:00,050 --> 00:03:02,900 S2: Some of the optimism is being driven by a statement, 55 00:03:02,900 --> 00:03:05,750 S2: actually a warning to Hamas on the part of president 56 00:03:05,750 --> 00:03:08,869 S2: elect Trump that he wants a cease fire that includes 57 00:03:08,870 --> 00:03:12,500 S2: a hostage deal in place before he assumes office, or 58 00:03:12,500 --> 00:03:15,740 S2: else there are reports Hamas might be willing to allow 59 00:03:15,770 --> 00:03:19,220 S2: Israel to maintain a temporary presence in the security corridor 60 00:03:19,220 --> 00:03:21,950 S2: between Egypt and Gaza. Now we'll have to wait and 61 00:03:21,950 --> 00:03:24,889 S2: see what happens with these negotiations. 62 00:03:25,010 --> 00:03:29,389 S1: Story number two. 14 years after the Syrian revolution against 63 00:03:29,389 --> 00:03:33,170 S1: the Assad regime, fighting has again resumed there. How serious 64 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,330 S1: is the conflict and why does it seem to have 65 00:03:35,330 --> 00:03:37,430 S1: suddenly flared up again? Yeah. 66 00:03:37,460 --> 00:03:40,280 S2: Right now the conflict appears to be serious. Now, let 67 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:43,070 S2: me try to provide a simplified explanation of what's really 68 00:03:43,070 --> 00:03:47,210 S2: a very confusing situation. Syria is controlled by Bashar al 69 00:03:47,210 --> 00:03:51,200 S2: Assad and the Ba'ath Party religiously. Assad is an Alawite, 70 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:54,050 S2: which is an offshoot of the Shiite branch of Islam, 71 00:03:54,050 --> 00:03:57,860 S2: even though most Syrians are Sunni Muslims. Back in the 72 00:03:57,860 --> 00:04:01,070 S2: early 2000, as the Arab Spring swept through the Middle East, 73 00:04:01,070 --> 00:04:04,940 S2: it included a revolt against Assad. Part of it was religious, 74 00:04:04,940 --> 00:04:08,270 S2: with the majority Sunni Arabs chafing under the rule of 75 00:04:08,270 --> 00:04:11,600 S2: the minority Alawites. The revolt opened the door for ISIS, 76 00:04:11,630 --> 00:04:15,410 S2: a Sunni Islamic group which eventually took control of northern 77 00:04:15,410 --> 00:04:19,250 S2: Iraq and a large part of Syria. Assad survived thanks 78 00:04:19,250 --> 00:04:22,190 S2: to the help of Russia and Iran and Iran's allies 79 00:04:22,190 --> 00:04:26,330 S2: like Hezbollah. The official government in Damascus remained in power 80 00:04:26,330 --> 00:04:30,380 S2: thanks to Shiite Muslims and Russia. Well, elements of ISIS 81 00:04:30,380 --> 00:04:33,739 S2: still remain, along with other Sunni Islamic groups. One of 82 00:04:33,740 --> 00:04:38,870 S2: those is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. They're abbreviated as Htz. Some 83 00:04:38,870 --> 00:04:42,109 S2: of the groups received support from Turkey, which has used 84 00:04:42,110 --> 00:04:45,530 S2: them as mercenaries in its fight against the Kurds. Two 85 00:04:45,529 --> 00:04:48,650 S2: recent events, though, changed all this equation. The first was 86 00:04:48,650 --> 00:04:52,730 S2: Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the second was Israel's conflict 87 00:04:52,730 --> 00:04:55,929 S2: with Hezbollah and Iran. This bogged down the groups who 88 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,380 S2: were supporting Assad. That is, Russia and Iran keeping them 89 00:04:59,380 --> 00:05:04,000 S2: from providing additional support, has launched a surprise attack against 90 00:05:04,029 --> 00:05:07,120 S2: Aleppo and overran the city in a matter of days. 91 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,240 S2: They took over major areas in northern Syria. And one 92 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,570 S2: real fear is that the rebels could overrun military bases 93 00:05:13,570 --> 00:05:17,740 S2: where chemical weapons are stored. Russia and Iran have provided 94 00:05:17,740 --> 00:05:20,560 S2: some air support, but they aren't able to offer any 95 00:05:20,589 --> 00:05:24,279 S2: immediate ground support. And what happens next will depend on 96 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,120 S2: how these different groups respond. Will Assad's forces be able 97 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:32,140 S2: to beat back the rebels? Will the so-called Syrian National Army, 98 00:05:32,140 --> 00:05:35,350 S2: which is backed by Turkey, be able to keep from 99 00:05:35,350 --> 00:05:38,950 S2: advancing further south? Will the Kurds be able to hold out, 100 00:05:38,950 --> 00:05:41,410 S2: or will they form an alliance with Assad to help 101 00:05:41,410 --> 00:05:45,070 S2: stop the rebels? Will Russia and Iran be stretched to 102 00:05:45,100 --> 00:05:49,479 S2: the breaking point, trying to invest more resources to support Assad? 103 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,720 S2: And how will Israel respond since every one of these groups, 104 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:56,180 S2: except for the Kurds, oppose them. This could all die 105 00:05:56,210 --> 00:05:59,150 S2: down rather quickly, or it could become another religious and 106 00:05:59,150 --> 00:06:03,440 S2: ethnic war pitting Sunnis against Shiites, Turkey against the Kurds 107 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:06,619 S2: and Arabs against Persians. But we need to watch to 108 00:06:06,620 --> 00:06:09,470 S2: see if Russia and Iran can arrange for some sort 109 00:06:09,470 --> 00:06:13,160 S2: of an agreement between Syria and Turkey to end the conflict, 110 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,740 S2: or if it's going to continue spiraling out of control. 111 00:06:15,770 --> 00:06:18,080 S1: Charlie, I'm sure there are listeners who, like me, are wondering, 112 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,450 S1: what do Russia and Iran get out of this? You 113 00:06:20,450 --> 00:06:24,560 S1: can understand Iran being Shiite, having sympathy toward, you know, 114 00:06:24,589 --> 00:06:27,350 S1: the regime there. But what's in it for Russia? 115 00:06:27,380 --> 00:06:32,630 S2: Russia's dominant freshwater port in the Mediterranean is Tartus, which 116 00:06:32,630 --> 00:06:36,739 S2: is part of Syria. And Russia has a base there. 117 00:06:36,770 --> 00:06:39,860 S2: In fact, there are reports that they've begun evacuating some 118 00:06:39,860 --> 00:06:42,349 S2: of their ships in that port out of fear that 119 00:06:42,350 --> 00:06:45,740 S2: the the rebels might end up making it that far down. Wow. 120 00:06:45,770 --> 00:06:48,500 S1: You're listening to The Land and the book from Moody Radio. 121 00:06:48,529 --> 00:06:51,740 S1: Our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, helping us understand what's happening 122 00:06:51,740 --> 00:06:55,720 S1: in the Middle East. Archaeologists believe they have identified several 123 00:06:55,720 --> 00:07:00,460 S1: items belonging to Alexander the Great in a tomb in Vergina, Greece. 124 00:07:00,490 --> 00:07:03,310 S1: How can they be certain these items actually belong to 125 00:07:03,339 --> 00:07:07,120 S1: the Alexander the Great? And were they actually found in 126 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,220 S1: the tomb of Alexander the Great? 127 00:07:09,460 --> 00:07:11,620 S2: Well, let me answer the last question first. They were 128 00:07:11,620 --> 00:07:14,710 S2: not found in the tomb of Alexander. His exact burial 129 00:07:14,710 --> 00:07:18,010 S2: spot is still unknown. What they did find were several 130 00:07:18,010 --> 00:07:21,430 S2: articles they feel certain did belong to Alexander. And they 131 00:07:21,430 --> 00:07:24,430 S2: were found in that tomb complex in Vergina. One item 132 00:07:24,430 --> 00:07:27,580 S2: is a purple and white tunic. It matches a design 133 00:07:27,580 --> 00:07:30,460 S2: on a frieze in the tomb complex, where it's shown 134 00:07:30,460 --> 00:07:33,910 S2: being worn by Alexander. The amount of purple dye required 135 00:07:33,910 --> 00:07:36,370 S2: to make the tunic would have cost a small fortune, 136 00:07:36,370 --> 00:07:39,910 S2: suggesting its owner was someone of great prominence. Near the 137 00:07:39,910 --> 00:07:43,330 S2: tunic they found a scepter, oak wreath and diadem, all 138 00:07:43,330 --> 00:07:46,810 S2: made of gold, which match articles shown on reliefs and 139 00:07:46,810 --> 00:07:51,400 S2: drawings that depict Alexander the Great. If it wasn't Alexander's tomb, 140 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,250 S2: what were these items doing there? Well, the archaeologists believe 141 00:07:54,250 --> 00:07:58,180 S2: the tomb complex belonged to Alexander's family. The three main 142 00:07:58,180 --> 00:08:02,470 S2: tombs contain the remains of Alexander's father, Philip II of Macedon, 143 00:08:02,500 --> 00:08:06,580 S2: Alexander's son, who died in his teens, and Alexander's half 144 00:08:06,580 --> 00:08:10,870 S2: brother Philip the Third, who was crowned king after Alexander's death. 145 00:08:10,900 --> 00:08:13,300 S2: The tunic and gold items were found in the tomb 146 00:08:13,300 --> 00:08:16,750 S2: belonging to Philip the Third, who likely appropriated them after 147 00:08:16,780 --> 00:08:21,070 S2: Alexander's death to give himself legitimacy as heir to the throne. 148 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:25,330 S2: This fascinating find helped identify those buried in the tombs, 149 00:08:25,330 --> 00:08:30,340 S2: and also provide some historical insight into Alexander the Great himself. 150 00:08:30,340 --> 00:08:32,260 S1: No remains of any bodies, though. 151 00:08:32,500 --> 00:08:35,650 S2: Well, there were some remains, but again, sadly nothing of 152 00:08:35,650 --> 00:08:37,030 S2: Alexander the Great yet. 153 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,120 S1: Well, electric vehicles are said to be the wave of 154 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:44,320 S1: the future, but one unintended consequence is a rising pile 155 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,369 S1: of expended batteries. A pioneering Israeli company has developed a 156 00:08:48,370 --> 00:08:52,400 S1: program to recycle the lithium and other toxic materials in 157 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,699 S1: a safe, cost effective way. Tell us about the startup 158 00:08:55,700 --> 00:09:00,920 S1: company battery and its plan to make recycling lithium batteries commonplace. 159 00:09:00,950 --> 00:09:02,990 S2: Yeah. Israel is ahead of the U.S. in terms of 160 00:09:02,990 --> 00:09:07,070 S2: battery powered bikes, scooters and cars. You know, a year ago, 20% 161 00:09:07,070 --> 00:09:10,880 S2: of all cars purchased in Israel were electric. Scooter and 162 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,900 S2: bicycle batteries last about two years. Car batteries were expected 163 00:09:14,900 --> 00:09:17,480 S2: to last 5 to 6 years, but the number of 164 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:21,020 S2: batteries needing to be replaced has increased faster than expected, 165 00:09:21,020 --> 00:09:24,229 S2: in part because some of the original batteries had defects. 166 00:09:24,230 --> 00:09:27,740 S2: And for battery, this all looks like an opportunity. They 167 00:09:27,740 --> 00:09:31,910 S2: formed the company to safely, effectively and economically recycle all 168 00:09:31,910 --> 00:09:36,080 S2: types of lithium ion batteries. Their production line captures every 169 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:39,830 S2: speck of battery dust. The recycled powder brings thousands of 170 00:09:39,830 --> 00:09:43,250 S2: dollars per ton. The plant in southern Israel was just 171 00:09:43,250 --> 00:09:47,480 S2: inaugurated this past summer and handles everything from £13 scooter 172 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:51,160 S2: batteries to half ton car batteries to two ton electric 173 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:55,450 S2: bus batteries. When recycled, each battery produces a 60% mixture 174 00:09:55,450 --> 00:09:59,559 S2: of black powder composed of nickel, manganese, cobalt, and lithium. 175 00:09:59,590 --> 00:10:04,150 S2: It also contains, by volume, 17% copper, 8% aluminum, and 176 00:10:04,150 --> 00:10:07,270 S2: all the rest is plastic, and everything is recycled except 177 00:10:07,270 --> 00:10:10,660 S2: for the plastic, which right now has little demand. Israel 178 00:10:10,660 --> 00:10:13,990 S2: has no laws governing the recycling of batteries, and battery, 179 00:10:14,020 --> 00:10:16,569 S2: wants to set the pace by showing how it can 180 00:10:16,570 --> 00:10:20,380 S2: do it safely, economically and sustainably. And that is an 181 00:10:20,380 --> 00:10:24,040 S2: innovation from amazing Israel. I think that we can all applaud. 182 00:10:24,070 --> 00:10:25,929 S1: Charlie, I want to go back to the story of 183 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:29,950 S1: Hamas and their surprising supposed willingness to negotiate. Apart from 184 00:10:29,950 --> 00:10:32,979 S1: Iran's signaling, it will not bail out Hamas, what other 185 00:10:32,980 --> 00:10:35,800 S1: factor might persuade Hamas to be a bit more conciliatory? 186 00:10:35,830 --> 00:10:38,260 S2: I think the death of their key leadership, which were 187 00:10:38,260 --> 00:10:40,990 S2: the ones who were standing firm saying, we will not negotiate, 188 00:10:40,990 --> 00:10:44,110 S2: Israel needs to pull out. And suddenly without those leaders, 189 00:10:44,110 --> 00:10:46,240 S2: it made them far more willing to negotiate. 190 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,690 S1: Interesting. We're about to join on an adventure of rediscovering 191 00:10:49,690 --> 00:10:53,080 S1: Christmas right here on the land and the book. 192 00:11:06,790 --> 00:11:07,840 UU: For some, the. 193 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,170 S1: Nativity story has become so familiar it's been robbed of 194 00:11:11,170 --> 00:11:14,770 S1: its power. For others, the biblical narrative is more like 195 00:11:14,770 --> 00:11:17,290 S1: a puzzle. The pieces are all there, but it's just 196 00:11:17,290 --> 00:11:20,560 S1: not clear how they all fit together. For example, Luke 197 00:11:20,590 --> 00:11:23,650 S1: talks about shepherds in a census, while Matthew deals with 198 00:11:23,650 --> 00:11:26,920 S1: wise men and an escape to Egypt. There's a star 199 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,860 S1: and a manger and more angels than you can count, 200 00:11:29,860 --> 00:11:31,720 S1: so it can't be hard to keep it all straight. 201 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,030 S1: But what if we could put it all together? Well, 202 00:11:34,030 --> 00:11:37,810 S1: you're invited to join us for an adventure in rediscovering Christmas. 203 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,390 S1: A welcome to the second of four segments here on 204 00:11:40,390 --> 00:11:43,300 S1: the land and the book. I'm John Gager, and let's 205 00:11:43,300 --> 00:11:45,939 S1: get creative for just a moment and think about ways 206 00:11:45,940 --> 00:11:48,400 S1: that we can reach out to our Jewish friends with 207 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,620 S1: the message of the one who was born at Christmas. 208 00:11:51,309 --> 00:11:53,740 S1: So you would like to have a conversation with your 209 00:11:53,740 --> 00:11:56,770 S1: Jewish friend, and you'd like that conversation to be centered 210 00:11:56,770 --> 00:11:59,830 S1: on Jesus and your Christian faith. But you're kind of 211 00:11:59,860 --> 00:12:02,530 S1: nervous because they might just ask a question that you 212 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:06,459 S1: cannot answer. What then, Greg Savitt, what do you say? 213 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,059 S3: Well, by your faith in Jesus, the New Testament that 214 00:12:10,059 --> 00:12:15,160 S3: has over 250 direct quotes and 880 allusions, you will 215 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:19,270 S3: know more about the Bible than they will. And if 216 00:12:19,270 --> 00:12:22,210 S3: they ask a question, go to the gospel of Google. 217 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:25,150 S3: Look it up right there on your phone, and if 218 00:12:25,150 --> 00:12:28,540 S3: you don't have an answer, I would go and research 219 00:12:28,540 --> 00:12:32,050 S3: them and find them the next day and say, I 220 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,270 S3: found the answer that you were looking for, and then 221 00:12:34,270 --> 00:12:37,960 S3: you can sit down and have a conversation. Jewish people 222 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,050 S3: will respect you more if you say, I really don't 223 00:12:41,050 --> 00:12:43,989 S3: know that. That's a great question, as opposed to you 224 00:12:44,010 --> 00:12:46,980 S3: just flying by the seat of your pants and giving 225 00:12:46,980 --> 00:12:50,040 S3: them an answer that really you don't know anything about. 226 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:53,550 S3: So it's okay to say I don't understand and to 227 00:12:53,580 --> 00:12:54,720 S3: get back to them. 228 00:12:54,750 --> 00:12:57,929 S1: Greg Savage is with Rock of Israel and joins us 229 00:12:57,929 --> 00:13:02,130 S1: with insights here on the land and the book. John 230 00:13:02,130 --> 00:13:05,100 S1: Greco is a writer who served as editor for the. 231 00:13:05,130 --> 00:13:09,000 S1: He Reads Truth Bible and New Testament theological editor for 232 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,960 S1: the NIV Cultural Background Study Bible. John and his wife, Lauren, 233 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:16,620 S1: live just south of Nashville, Tennessee, where they're kept sufficiently 234 00:13:16,620 --> 00:13:19,530 S1: busy raising their three boys. We're here today to focus 235 00:13:19,530 --> 00:13:22,859 S1: on his new devotional, Rediscovering Christmas. It's great to have 236 00:13:22,860 --> 00:13:24,959 S1: you on the land and the book, John. 237 00:13:24,990 --> 00:13:26,760 S4: It's great to be here. Thanks so much. 238 00:13:26,790 --> 00:13:29,130 S1: One of the things I loved as I spent time 239 00:13:29,130 --> 00:13:33,360 S1: with rediscovering Christmas is the sense of calm and quiet 240 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,030 S1: and comfort that just kind of wash over you as 241 00:13:36,030 --> 00:13:38,490 S1: you read. How do you account for that, John? I mean, 242 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,980 S1: it's almost an antidote to the rush and crush of 243 00:13:40,980 --> 00:13:42,689 S1: Christmas in book form. 244 00:13:43,020 --> 00:13:45,210 S4: Yeah. So as we, you know, as we're talking to 245 00:13:45,210 --> 00:13:47,220 S4: the publisher, when we were kind of making plans for 246 00:13:47,220 --> 00:13:49,679 S4: how this book might be laid out. That was one 247 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:52,620 S4: of the concerns, right? Christmas is very busy that season. 248 00:13:52,620 --> 00:13:55,199 S4: The whole season from, you know, before Thanksgiving right up 249 00:13:55,230 --> 00:13:58,470 S4: until New Year's. You know, everyone is is running around. So, 250 00:13:58,500 --> 00:14:00,059 S4: you know, there are a lot of devotionals out there. 251 00:14:00,090 --> 00:14:02,640 S4: There are a lot of advent reading plans, and they 252 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:04,890 S4: all seem, you know, they're 25 days or there's nothing 253 00:14:04,890 --> 00:14:06,420 S4: for you to do every day. It seems like one 254 00:14:06,420 --> 00:14:08,580 S4: more thing on your to do list. And so we 255 00:14:08,580 --> 00:14:11,730 S4: wanted to create a book that would help someone, you know, 256 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,760 S4: go a little bit deeper with the Christmas story, spend 257 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:18,510 S4: time with the Lord, get that personal reflection, and really 258 00:14:18,540 --> 00:14:22,920 S4: help someone dive into what was happening in that first Christmas, 259 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:27,000 S4: but not feel like it's another chore. So you're right, 260 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:28,920 S4: it is a little bit airy. There's 12. It's set 261 00:14:28,950 --> 00:14:31,830 S4: up as 12 readings. So, you know, there's 25 days 262 00:14:31,830 --> 00:14:34,680 S4: in December to Christmas. If you want to go every 263 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:36,450 S4: other day, you're going to get there. If you want 264 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:37,950 S4: to go straight through, you're going to get there. But 265 00:14:37,950 --> 00:14:39,660 S4: if you miss a day, don't worry about it. You 266 00:14:39,660 --> 00:14:41,730 S4: can go back. For a lot of people, this is 267 00:14:41,730 --> 00:14:43,560 S4: going to end up being the true 12 days of 268 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:45,840 S4: Christmas where where they're doing it, you know, once the 269 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:48,630 S4: rush is over and Christmas has happened, they're doing it from, 270 00:14:48,660 --> 00:14:52,290 S4: you know, Christmas to January 6th, epiphany. So there's kind 271 00:14:52,290 --> 00:14:53,490 S4: of a bunch of different ways you can do it. 272 00:14:53,490 --> 00:14:54,960 S4: But the idea is I don't want to put another 273 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,240 S4: thing on your back. I just want to help you 274 00:14:57,270 --> 00:15:00,330 S4: really focus on Christmas and, you know, enjoy it while 275 00:15:00,330 --> 00:15:01,050 S4: you're doing it. 276 00:15:01,260 --> 00:15:05,460 S1: You describe Rediscovering Christmas as a modern paraphrase of the 277 00:15:05,460 --> 00:15:08,880 S1: Christmas story, drawn directly from the Gospels and created to 278 00:15:08,910 --> 00:15:12,330 S1: help readers see the father's heart and details that are 279 00:15:12,330 --> 00:15:15,810 S1: all too often overlooked. Give an example of one detail 280 00:15:15,810 --> 00:15:17,760 S1: that you feel is overlooked. John. 281 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,750 S4: Yeah, so part of the book is I've retold the 282 00:15:21,750 --> 00:15:24,090 S4: Christmas story. I mean, I went back to the Hebrew 283 00:15:24,090 --> 00:15:26,190 S4: and Greek, but I wouldn't call it a translation because 284 00:15:26,190 --> 00:15:30,600 S4: I'm intentionally filling in details that that Matthew and Luke 285 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:34,350 S4: leave out. I'm also placing the Christmas story in chronological order, 286 00:15:34,350 --> 00:15:36,660 S4: because people have sometimes asked me, you know, I've had 287 00:15:36,660 --> 00:15:37,860 S4: dads come up to me and say, I want to 288 00:15:37,860 --> 00:15:39,810 S4: read the Christmas story with my family, but, you know, 289 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,150 S4: I don't know where to start or what goes where. 290 00:15:42,270 --> 00:15:44,370 S4: Where the wise men fit in with the shepherds. And 291 00:15:44,370 --> 00:15:46,410 S4: so I've kind of laid the whole thing out chronologically, 292 00:15:46,410 --> 00:15:48,750 S4: so you can read it as one story, but as 293 00:15:48,750 --> 00:15:51,000 S4: far as details go and things that people often miss. 294 00:15:51,030 --> 00:15:53,130 S4: Here's a here's a good one. So we've all heard, right. 295 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,950 S4: There was no room at the inn. But if you 296 00:15:55,950 --> 00:15:59,910 S4: actually look at the word that's often translated inn. It's 297 00:15:59,910 --> 00:16:03,420 S4: probably better translated as something like guest room. The reason 298 00:16:03,420 --> 00:16:06,300 S4: we think that is because. So Luke uses that word 299 00:16:06,300 --> 00:16:09,270 S4: in Luke two. It's the word kataluma, the Greek word kataluma. 300 00:16:09,270 --> 00:16:12,150 S4: But he describes an inn later in his gospel when 301 00:16:12,150 --> 00:16:15,150 S4: Jesus is telling the parable of the Good Samaritan and 302 00:16:15,150 --> 00:16:17,910 S4: it's not that word. So we sort of know, okay, 303 00:16:17,940 --> 00:16:19,590 S4: if he was going to really talk about an actual 304 00:16:19,770 --> 00:16:22,530 S4: commercial inn like we would think of, he wouldn't use 305 00:16:22,530 --> 00:16:26,310 S4: the word kataluma. He does use that word kataluma when 306 00:16:26,310 --> 00:16:29,220 S4: he's describing the upper room where Jesus and his disciples 307 00:16:29,220 --> 00:16:31,050 S4: had their last meal. Yes. So that gives you the 308 00:16:31,050 --> 00:16:32,520 S4: sense that it's really more of like, you know, the room, 309 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:34,500 S4: you know, at the top of the house, a guest 310 00:16:34,530 --> 00:16:37,200 S4: room for people. And so that kind of changes the 311 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,780 S4: whole story if you think about it. Because now, instead 312 00:16:39,780 --> 00:16:43,020 S4: of Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem the night she's 313 00:16:43,050 --> 00:16:45,359 S4: going to go into labor and they're struggling to find 314 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:49,140 S4: an inn, they're probably in a relative's house. And the 315 00:16:49,140 --> 00:16:51,450 S4: reason they're not in the upper room or the kataluma 316 00:16:51,450 --> 00:16:53,730 S4: is just because there are other people there. Everyone's coming 317 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:55,260 S4: to town for the census, so now they're in the 318 00:16:55,260 --> 00:16:58,710 S4: room below there. There's a manger there. Not because it's 319 00:16:58,710 --> 00:17:01,290 S4: a barn or a stable or even a cave, but 320 00:17:01,290 --> 00:17:03,570 S4: because this is the lower room in the house where 321 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:05,369 S4: on a really cold night, the animals might have been 322 00:17:05,369 --> 00:17:08,280 S4: brought in. And so there's not necessarily animals there, but 323 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:09,990 S4: the manger is there, you know, from when that is 324 00:17:09,990 --> 00:17:12,240 S4: the case. And so now it's a different picture, right. 325 00:17:12,270 --> 00:17:15,930 S4: They're in a family home. They're likely surrounded by loved ones. 326 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,180 S4: You know, God's really taking care of them as opposed 327 00:17:18,180 --> 00:17:20,520 S4: to kind of the way we always picture it, which is, 328 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:22,800 S4: you know, it's Mary and Joseph fighting against the elements. 329 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,140 S4: They're all on their own. They're suffering for the Lord. 330 00:17:25,140 --> 00:17:27,810 S4: And it's I don't really think Scripture is telling us that. 331 00:17:27,810 --> 00:17:30,359 S4: I think it's actually communicating. No, no, no, God is 332 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:33,240 S4: a good father who provides. And even when it didn't 333 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,159 S4: seem like there was a way to have a relatively 334 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,699 S4: normal childbirth experience, he does it for Mary, who said willingly, 335 00:17:38,730 --> 00:17:40,860 S4: you know, be it to me, as you say, to 336 00:17:40,890 --> 00:17:44,130 S4: Angel Gabriel. And so I think that's a beautiful picture. 337 00:17:44,220 --> 00:17:47,129 S4: And we often kind of miss. And it's because of 338 00:17:47,130 --> 00:17:50,070 S4: that one little word. Right? Yeah. So that's the sort 339 00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:52,080 S4: of thing that I point out in the book, this is. 340 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,630 S1: The land and the book. I'm John Gager, and we're 341 00:17:54,630 --> 00:17:57,810 S1: talking today with John Greco, who encourages us to be 342 00:17:57,810 --> 00:18:01,379 S1: rediscovering Christmas. In reading number four, you take us to 343 00:18:01,410 --> 00:18:04,230 S1: the birth of John the Baptist, and you write, holding 344 00:18:04,230 --> 00:18:07,290 S1: their little boy in their arms, the one God who 345 00:18:07,290 --> 00:18:10,800 S1: chose to prepare the way for the Messiah. Zechariah and 346 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:15,780 S1: Elizabeth understood that Yahweh is indeed gracious, more gracious than 347 00:18:15,780 --> 00:18:18,570 S1: they could ever have imagined. Elaborate. Just a bit more 348 00:18:18,570 --> 00:18:19,170 S1: on this. 349 00:18:19,650 --> 00:18:21,899 S4: Yeah. So there's this thing that happens. We all know 350 00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:24,690 S4: the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, right? They're an older couple. 351 00:18:24,690 --> 00:18:28,200 S4: They can't have children. They're beyond childbearing age. They most 352 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,510 S4: likely have been praying for decades. And the answer seemed 353 00:18:30,510 --> 00:18:34,139 S4: to be no. And then Zechariah is in the temple 354 00:18:34,170 --> 00:18:36,540 S4: offering up incense. It's his turn to do it. His 355 00:18:36,540 --> 00:18:39,240 S4: his division was there time, and he was chosen by 356 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,790 S4: lot from the division. So he's doing this once in 357 00:18:41,820 --> 00:18:44,070 S4: a lifetime honor. He's in the temple, and an angel 358 00:18:44,070 --> 00:18:47,460 S4: appears to him. And it's Gabriel. And he says, your 359 00:18:47,460 --> 00:18:50,190 S4: prayer has been heard. Right. And it's kind of this 360 00:18:50,190 --> 00:18:52,919 S4: funny thing because there's really two prayers, right? It's pretty clear. 361 00:18:52,950 --> 00:18:56,070 S4: Gabriel is talking about his prayer for a child. But also, 362 00:18:56,100 --> 00:18:58,740 S4: you know, he was in there offering incense, praying for 363 00:18:58,740 --> 00:19:01,770 S4: Israel in the hope of Israel. And so the hope 364 00:19:01,770 --> 00:19:04,080 S4: of Israel, the hope of Zechariah and Elizabeth. It's being 365 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:07,470 S4: answered in one fell swoop with a baby. That baby 366 00:19:07,470 --> 00:19:10,590 S4: is John the Baptist. The funny thing is, is if 367 00:19:10,590 --> 00:19:15,570 S4: you go into the names Elizabeth and Zechariah, there's sort 368 00:19:15,570 --> 00:19:19,889 S4: of a a funny thing that happens where Zechariah's name 369 00:19:19,890 --> 00:19:24,750 S4: means Yahweh remembers and Elizabeth's name means my God is 370 00:19:24,750 --> 00:19:27,600 S4: an oath. So every time they speak to one another, 371 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:32,399 S4: they're being reminded that, hey, does God remember? Remember my prayer? Hey, 372 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:34,590 S4: is God going to keep his promise? He told Abraham 373 00:19:34,590 --> 00:19:37,169 S4: that you know his his children, his descendants would be 374 00:19:37,350 --> 00:19:39,510 S4: no more than the sands on the seashore. And what 375 00:19:39,510 --> 00:19:41,040 S4: about me? Am I included in that? Am I going 376 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:43,440 S4: to get to have children? And so it's kind of 377 00:19:43,470 --> 00:19:47,400 S4: this almost bittersweet reminder every time their names are spoken. 378 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:51,479 S4: And if you go into Luke where John the Baptist 379 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:55,050 S4: is born and Zechariah is praising God, he says this 380 00:19:55,050 --> 00:19:58,199 S4: thing that just kind of answers that. He says, let 381 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:00,330 S4: me read it for you. This is Luke one. So 382 00:20:00,330 --> 00:20:03,300 S4: I'll start with verse 72. Zechariah's praise of God. He 383 00:20:03,300 --> 00:20:06,150 S4: says he has dealt mercifully with our ancestors and remembered 384 00:20:06,150 --> 00:20:09,210 S4: his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our 385 00:20:09,210 --> 00:20:14,400 S4: father Abraham. So Zechariah's recognizing that God's answering these longings right. 386 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,709 S4: And then God does this thing with another name. He 387 00:20:16,710 --> 00:20:19,470 S4: tells them, right, name the child John. Well, John means 388 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:22,710 S4: Yahweh is gracious. And that's the answer to their prayers 389 00:20:22,740 --> 00:20:25,709 S4: is yes. God is more gracious than you could have imagined. Right? 390 00:20:25,740 --> 00:20:28,470 S4: So it's this beautiful picture that we often miss because 391 00:20:28,500 --> 00:20:30,120 S4: we don't necessarily go back and go, what do these 392 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:33,889 S4: names mean? But there it is, right? God answers the 393 00:20:33,890 --> 00:20:36,560 S4: longings of our hearts and oftentimes in ways better than 394 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:37,460 S4: we could have imagined. 395 00:20:37,490 --> 00:20:40,340 S1: John Greco is a writer who served as editor for 396 00:20:40,340 --> 00:20:43,820 S1: the He Reads Truth Bible and New Testament theological editor 397 00:20:43,820 --> 00:20:47,810 S1: for the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. In a reading 398 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:50,480 S1: titled The Sign of the manger, you write, the feeding 399 00:20:50,510 --> 00:20:54,590 S1: trough wasn't simply a makeshift cradle. It pointed to Jesus 400 00:20:54,590 --> 00:20:57,860 S1: purpose on earth. What do we need to know about this, John? 401 00:20:57,890 --> 00:21:00,830 S4: Yeah, so this is another one where the angel that 402 00:21:00,830 --> 00:21:04,429 S4: appears to the shepherds, right? He's very specific in the 403 00:21:04,430 --> 00:21:07,160 S4: language that's chosen. He says this will be a sign 404 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:10,040 S4: for you. You will find the baby wrapped in a manger, 405 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,980 S4: wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And 406 00:21:12,980 --> 00:21:15,530 S4: that word sign in the Bible. Signs are a big deal, right? 407 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:19,129 S4: Signs point to prophetic revelation. They point to miracles. They 408 00:21:19,130 --> 00:21:22,609 S4: point to divine uncoverings. There's kind of like a lot 409 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,850 S4: loaded in a sign. And so we should think, well, 410 00:21:25,850 --> 00:21:28,160 S4: what is this sign? What is so special? It's more 411 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:30,350 S4: than just. Oh, yeah, like you said, it's more than 412 00:21:30,350 --> 00:21:33,320 S4: a makeshift cradle. And so when you think about it, right, 413 00:21:33,350 --> 00:21:34,700 S4: what is what is a manger? A manger is a 414 00:21:34,700 --> 00:21:38,510 S4: feeding trough. It's where animals go to eat. And Jesus, 415 00:21:38,540 --> 00:21:40,370 S4: you know, when he's an adult and he's in his ministry, 416 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,520 S4: he's going to say, I'm the bread of life. You know, 417 00:21:43,550 --> 00:21:46,399 S4: you must eat of my flesh. And this is in 418 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:48,770 S4: John six. And when he tells the crowds this, they 419 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,290 S4: it says, you know, the many disciples stopped following him 420 00:21:51,290 --> 00:21:54,830 S4: because it's such teaching. But that's the reality. If we 421 00:21:54,859 --> 00:21:56,540 S4: are going to be saved, if we are going to 422 00:21:56,570 --> 00:22:00,200 S4: truly know God, we have to partake of Jesus life. 423 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,310 S4: And so it's fitting then, that when Jesus was born, 424 00:22:04,310 --> 00:22:06,800 S4: he was placed in a manger, which is where you know, 425 00:22:06,830 --> 00:22:09,020 S4: what goes into a manger, dies so that the sheep 426 00:22:09,050 --> 00:22:11,360 S4: can have life. And, you know, as Isaiah famously said, 427 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,600 S4: we all, like sheep have gone astray. We need that life. And, 428 00:22:14,630 --> 00:22:18,410 S4: you know, again, Bethlehem means house of bread. So, so 429 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,450 S4: it's all these little details are so fitting to kind 430 00:22:20,450 --> 00:22:24,440 S4: of point us forward past Christmas, to Easter, to the cross, 431 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:26,330 S4: because that really, you know, if you think about Christmas, 432 00:22:26,330 --> 00:22:29,359 S4: the good news of Christmas, it really isn't good news 433 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:32,060 S4: without Easter, right? We are in need of a savior. 434 00:22:32,090 --> 00:22:34,609 S4: We needed the cross. We need the empty tomb. And 435 00:22:34,609 --> 00:22:37,520 S4: so I always say, the best way to look at 436 00:22:37,550 --> 00:22:40,040 S4: Easter is to look through the manger and see that 437 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:41,780 S4: that was part of God's plan all along. That's what 438 00:22:41,780 --> 00:22:45,350 S4: Jesus came for. That is how he is our Savior. 439 00:22:45,350 --> 00:22:47,990 S4: As the angel told those shepherds just. 440 00:22:47,990 --> 00:22:50,480 S1: Joining us, I'm John Gager and today on the land 441 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:53,060 S1: and the book, it's a visit with John Greco, who 442 00:22:53,090 --> 00:22:55,880 S1: has written Rediscovering Christmas. I want to talk about two 443 00:22:55,880 --> 00:23:00,020 S1: other characters in the Christmas story, Simeon and Anna. You 444 00:23:00,020 --> 00:23:03,620 S1: write to anyone who might have passed by Simeon or Anna. 445 00:23:03,650 --> 00:23:06,710 S1: They would have seemed of little consequence. Just two old 446 00:23:06,740 --> 00:23:10,010 S1: timers in the temple courts. But God saw them for 447 00:23:10,010 --> 00:23:13,369 S1: who they were, his friends, and they were beautiful in 448 00:23:13,369 --> 00:23:16,340 S1: his sight. What does that say to folks listening right now, John, 449 00:23:16,340 --> 00:23:19,820 S1: to this conversation who feel old and worn out and 450 00:23:19,820 --> 00:23:20,960 S1: lacking worth? 451 00:23:21,230 --> 00:23:24,350 S4: Yeah. So it's true, right? We would have looked at 452 00:23:24,350 --> 00:23:26,450 S4: Simeon and Anna and not really thought much about them. 453 00:23:26,450 --> 00:23:29,030 S4: They weren't priests, they weren't wearing all the garb and 454 00:23:29,030 --> 00:23:32,090 S4: they weren't the supposed representatives of God and all that. 455 00:23:32,090 --> 00:23:34,760 S4: They were just regular people. But they. The Bible tells 456 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,070 S4: us that they both walked with the Lord. The Holy 457 00:23:37,070 --> 00:23:40,760 S4: Spirit was upon Simeon. Anna was called a prophetess. So 458 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,160 S4: they're both, you know, they both have the spirit at 459 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,379 S4: work in their lives, and they're obeying him and they're 460 00:23:45,410 --> 00:23:49,669 S4: they're looking for the Messiah. So what's funny there is, 461 00:23:49,700 --> 00:23:52,190 S4: you know, Jesus is we sort of know the story, right? 462 00:23:52,250 --> 00:23:53,780 S4: We know Jesus is going to come to die for 463 00:23:53,780 --> 00:23:56,300 S4: our sins. He is the sacrificial lamb. One of the 464 00:23:56,300 --> 00:23:59,600 S4: jobs of the priests in the temple was to to 465 00:23:59,630 --> 00:24:02,659 S4: identify and to review and to say, this sacrifice is 466 00:24:02,660 --> 00:24:06,379 S4: approved and Jesus comes to them and they present him 467 00:24:06,380 --> 00:24:09,020 S4: as part of the dedication. And, you know, the priests 468 00:24:09,020 --> 00:24:11,090 S4: don't recognize who he is, and we can't really blame them. 469 00:24:11,090 --> 00:24:16,040 S4: Jesus looks like a normal baby, but there's no supernatural insight. However, 470 00:24:16,070 --> 00:24:19,250 S4: God reveals who Jesus is, who this little Jewish baby 471 00:24:19,250 --> 00:24:22,070 S4: that looks like a thousand others, who he is to 472 00:24:22,100 --> 00:24:24,740 S4: people you would not have expected, right? Simeon and Anna. 473 00:24:24,740 --> 00:24:26,510 S4: And that's sort of the nature of the kingdom, right? 474 00:24:26,540 --> 00:24:28,550 S4: God looks at what's going on in your heart. God 475 00:24:28,580 --> 00:24:30,169 S4: looks for who his friends are, who the people who 476 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,050 S4: are really chasing after him, and those are the people 477 00:24:33,050 --> 00:24:35,300 S4: he reveals his secrets to. Those are the people he 478 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:38,629 S4: speaks to in ways that the religious folks, the people 479 00:24:38,660 --> 00:24:40,639 S4: who seem to have it all together on the outside. 480 00:24:40,670 --> 00:24:42,920 S4: They often miss it because they're not walking in that 481 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:45,800 S4: union with God the way someone like Simeon or Anna 482 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:47,359 S4: would have. So, you know, I look at that and 483 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:49,670 S4: I say, wow, there's hope for me. Right. I'm not 484 00:24:49,670 --> 00:24:52,250 S4: anybody special. But if I keep on walking with the Lord, 485 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,710 S4: you know, I keep listening to his voice, you know, 486 00:24:54,740 --> 00:24:57,830 S4: looking for what the spirit is leading me to. I 487 00:24:57,830 --> 00:24:59,270 S4: can be part of God's story. I can be part 488 00:24:59,270 --> 00:25:00,139 S4: of God's plan. 489 00:25:00,859 --> 00:25:02,750 S1: Well, this is going to be cruel, but I'm going 490 00:25:02,780 --> 00:25:05,270 S1: to ask you to limit it to 1 or 2 sentences. 491 00:25:05,270 --> 00:25:08,090 S1: When we've turned the last page in this book, how 492 00:25:08,090 --> 00:25:10,130 S1: would you like us to be different, John? 493 00:25:11,060 --> 00:25:11,840 S5: Oh, well. 494 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:13,250 S4: What you said in the intro, you know, I really 495 00:25:13,250 --> 00:25:15,200 S4: want people to see the heart of the father. I 496 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:17,030 S4: really want to see. I want people to see that 497 00:25:17,030 --> 00:25:19,760 S4: throughout this whole story, as it is with the whole Bible, 498 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:23,120 S4: what's really there is a good God who loves us, 499 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,540 S4: who's gracious, who opens the way for us to be 500 00:25:26,540 --> 00:25:29,550 S4: with him forever, to have joy and peace and life. 501 00:25:29,550 --> 00:25:32,490 S4: And that's all there in the Christmas story, right? And 502 00:25:32,490 --> 00:25:34,230 S4: so I just that's what I hope people walk away 503 00:25:34,230 --> 00:25:35,970 S4: with a good sense of the heart of the father. 504 00:25:36,450 --> 00:25:40,410 S1: Well well done. And, John, thank you for rediscovering Christmas. 505 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:42,510 S1: There's a link to that book at our website, The 506 00:25:42,510 --> 00:25:46,170 S1: Land and the book. Org. Thanks for the visit. Hope 507 00:25:46,170 --> 00:25:47,490 S1: you have a great Christmas, John. 508 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:48,869 S4: Thank you. Merry Christmas. 509 00:25:48,900 --> 00:25:51,600 S1: Well, coming up on the program, Charlie Dyer returns to 510 00:25:51,630 --> 00:25:55,649 S1: answer your questions right here on the land and the book. 511 00:26:06,869 --> 00:26:08,910 S1: Hope your day is going well. This is the land 512 00:26:08,910 --> 00:26:12,090 S1: and the book from Moody Radio. I'm John Gager. Our host, 513 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:16,140 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer, is here to answer Bible questions, prophecy questions, 514 00:26:16,140 --> 00:26:20,369 S1: questions about Israel, the end times. Yeah, it's all good stuff. 515 00:26:20,369 --> 00:26:22,199 S1: And it's all coming your way next here on the 516 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,330 S1: land and the book. But, you know, as the end 517 00:26:24,330 --> 00:26:27,350 S1: of the year approaches, many world events have left us 518 00:26:27,350 --> 00:26:30,620 S1: wondering what is God's plan for the future? And this 519 00:26:30,619 --> 00:26:33,680 S1: is especially true when it comes to Israel, right? Despite 520 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:37,340 S1: its tiny size, people around the world are intensely focused 521 00:26:37,340 --> 00:26:40,879 S1: on what takes place in Israel. So are today's headlines 522 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:44,300 S1: connected in any way with prophecies in the Bible? How 523 00:26:44,300 --> 00:26:47,929 S1: should followers of Jesus interpret current events as we await 524 00:26:47,930 --> 00:26:49,100 S1: his second coming? 525 00:26:49,130 --> 00:26:51,709 S2: And to help answer those important questions, our friends at 526 00:26:51,740 --> 00:26:55,940 S2: Life and Messiah encourage you to check out their book, God, Israel, 527 00:26:55,940 --> 00:26:59,930 S2: and Bible Prophecy with Scripture as its foundation. This book 528 00:26:59,930 --> 00:27:02,240 S2: will take you on a journey into what God has 529 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:05,600 S2: in store for the Jewish people and the nations. The 530 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,240 S2: book is for anyone who wants to explore where modern 531 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:12,320 S2: day events fit on God's grand timeline. If that's you 532 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:15,260 S2: or someone you know, this would be a great resource 533 00:27:15,260 --> 00:27:19,250 S2: or gift. Visit Life in Messiah. Org and click on 534 00:27:19,250 --> 00:27:21,500 S2: the Moody Radio button there to find out how you 535 00:27:21,500 --> 00:27:26,090 S2: can receive your copy of God, Israel and Bible prophecy. 536 00:27:26,090 --> 00:27:29,060 S2: That's life in messiah.org. 537 00:27:29,150 --> 00:27:31,850 S1: And because our list of questions is always a long one, 538 00:27:31,850 --> 00:27:34,220 S1: we'll get right to it with this one from Nancy. 539 00:27:34,250 --> 00:27:37,040 S1: She says, what is the meaning of first Corinthians 11, 540 00:27:37,070 --> 00:27:40,490 S1: verse ten, where Paul said women ought to have authority 541 00:27:40,490 --> 00:27:43,610 S1: over their own head because of the angels. What could 542 00:27:43,609 --> 00:27:46,730 S1: angels possibly have to do with head coverings? The entire 543 00:27:46,730 --> 00:27:49,310 S1: passage seems out of date. However, I am aware that 544 00:27:49,310 --> 00:27:52,399 S1: all Scripture is God breathed and meant to train us. 545 00:27:52,430 --> 00:27:55,280 S1: Any enlightening you can offer will be helpful. 546 00:27:55,310 --> 00:27:58,369 S2: Yeah, well, within this section of First Corinthians, Paul's addressing 547 00:27:58,369 --> 00:28:01,369 S2: issues that were related to the exercise of personal liberty 548 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:05,570 S2: versus demonstration of proper respect and concern for others. In 549 00:28:05,570 --> 00:28:08,780 S2: chapter nine, he explained what his rights were as an apostle. 550 00:28:08,810 --> 00:28:10,820 S2: But then he says, I've not used any of these 551 00:28:10,820 --> 00:28:14,450 S2: rights in verse 15. In chapter ten, he uses Israel 552 00:28:14,450 --> 00:28:17,450 S2: in the wilderness as an example before making his point 553 00:28:17,450 --> 00:28:20,300 S2: against setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 554 00:28:20,300 --> 00:28:23,540 S2: And finally he says, there everything is permissible, but not 555 00:28:23,570 --> 00:28:26,840 S2: everything is beneficial. That's in verse 23. And his point 556 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:29,330 S2: is that no one should seek his own good but 557 00:28:29,330 --> 00:28:32,210 S2: the good of others. Then in chapter 11, Paul deals 558 00:28:32,210 --> 00:28:35,690 S2: with the issue of personal freedom versus concern for and 559 00:28:35,690 --> 00:28:39,170 S2: submission to others in matters of public worship. Now, I'm 560 00:28:39,170 --> 00:28:42,530 S2: not sure we fully understand all the cultural distinctives of 561 00:28:42,530 --> 00:28:45,229 S2: first century Corinth, and I think we sometimes focus on 562 00:28:45,230 --> 00:28:48,770 S2: those details rather than the main topic being addressed. I 563 00:28:48,770 --> 00:28:51,200 S2: think the main points Paul is making are clear, though. 564 00:28:51,230 --> 00:28:53,780 S2: He begins by focusing on the reality that we are 565 00:28:53,780 --> 00:28:56,480 S2: to display proper respect for authority as a way to 566 00:28:56,510 --> 00:29:00,530 S2: honor God. Paul applies this to men, women, and Christ 567 00:29:00,530 --> 00:29:03,110 S2: in verse three. He then explains how the willingness to 568 00:29:03,140 --> 00:29:06,590 S2: demonstrate such respect is to be displayed within the gathering 569 00:29:06,620 --> 00:29:09,320 S2: of the local church. While the specifics of how we 570 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:13,190 S2: are to demonstrate respect and proper biblical submission might vary 571 00:29:13,190 --> 00:29:16,520 S2: within cultures. Two statements Paul makes seem to say, we 572 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:19,280 S2: can't simply throw out the entire section by saying it's 573 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:22,630 S2: just cultural at first. In verses eight and nine, Paul 574 00:29:22,660 --> 00:29:26,980 S2: anchors his statements in creation itself. Complementary roles for men 575 00:29:26,980 --> 00:29:30,430 S2: and women were established as part of God's creative order. 576 00:29:30,430 --> 00:29:33,580 S2: And second, in verse ten, Paul anchors his statement about 577 00:29:33,580 --> 00:29:37,060 S2: the need to demonstrate proper respect and submission in the 578 00:29:37,060 --> 00:29:40,390 S2: reality that we're being observed by the angelic order. We 579 00:29:40,390 --> 00:29:44,020 S2: only understand a small sliver of all that's involved in 580 00:29:44,020 --> 00:29:47,680 S2: God's creation of angels and in Satan's rebellion. But Paul 581 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,170 S2: wants his readers to understand that the angels are watching 582 00:29:50,170 --> 00:29:53,920 S2: the outworking of God's program for humanity, to understand the 583 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:58,480 S2: importance of obedience, submission, and respect for authority. Americans like 584 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:01,270 S2: to focus on our rights. Paul's stressing our need to 585 00:30:01,300 --> 00:30:04,780 S2: focus on our responsibilities, and that's an important lesson for 586 00:30:04,780 --> 00:30:05,830 S2: us to remember. 587 00:30:05,860 --> 00:30:09,070 S1: Gene takes us to Genesis three verse 15, where it 588 00:30:09,070 --> 00:30:13,390 S1: says that Satan will bruise the heel of Jesus. She asks, 589 00:30:13,390 --> 00:30:14,860 S1: what does that mean? 590 00:30:14,890 --> 00:30:18,220 S2: Yeah, I actually believe Genesis 315 is the first messianic 591 00:30:18,220 --> 00:30:21,100 S2: prophecy in the Bible. The seed of the woman was 592 00:30:21,100 --> 00:30:24,400 S2: ultimately Jesus and his followers, and the seed of the 593 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:28,330 S2: serpent referred to Satan and all his demonic followers. Satan 594 00:30:28,330 --> 00:30:31,570 S2: tried to strike at or crush or bruise Jesus by 595 00:30:31,570 --> 00:30:33,880 S2: killing him. He had. Herod ordered the killing of all 596 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:36,700 S2: the babies in Bethlehem. He tried to get Jesus to 597 00:30:36,730 --> 00:30:39,430 S2: sin when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, and he 598 00:30:39,430 --> 00:30:41,950 S2: entered the heart of Judas to betray Jesus in the 599 00:30:41,950 --> 00:30:45,700 S2: Garden of Gethsemane, however, Satan was only able to strike 600 00:30:45,730 --> 00:30:48,880 S2: at Jesus's heel in the sense that his plan failed 601 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:52,090 S2: when Jesus rose from the dead. In contrast, Jesus will 602 00:30:52,090 --> 00:30:54,940 S2: eventually strike at Satan's head in the sense that Satan 603 00:30:54,940 --> 00:30:56,920 S2: and his followers will be sent to the lake of 604 00:30:56,920 --> 00:31:00,340 S2: fire for eternal punishment. One last thought you might wonder 605 00:31:00,340 --> 00:31:02,560 S2: if this is what the verse actually means, or if 606 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:04,780 S2: I'm somehow reading into it. Well, I believe that's what 607 00:31:04,780 --> 00:31:08,800 S2: was intended, because later in Romans 16, verse 20, Paul 608 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:11,470 S2: alludes to this verse to encourage the believers in Rome 609 00:31:11,470 --> 00:31:14,110 S2: as he writes, The God of peace will soon crush 610 00:31:14,110 --> 00:31:16,720 S2: Satan under your feet. Paul makes it clear that the 611 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:20,020 S2: serpent being referred to as Satan, God through Jesus is 612 00:31:20,020 --> 00:31:21,940 S2: the one who's going to crush him. And in first 613 00:31:21,940 --> 00:31:24,790 S2: Corinthians six three, we're told that we will also take 614 00:31:24,790 --> 00:31:27,010 S2: part in God's judgment of the angels. 615 00:31:27,010 --> 00:31:29,560 S1: This is the land and the book from Moody Radio 616 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:33,130 S1: segment three Questions and Answers. Charlie Dyer, our host. I'm 617 00:31:33,130 --> 00:31:35,830 S1: John Gager. Patty wants to know, do you know where 618 00:31:35,830 --> 00:31:38,560 S1: I can get a list showing how the different names 619 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:42,610 S1: of God, like Jehovah Jireh and Jehovah Nissi are spelled 620 00:31:42,610 --> 00:31:45,040 S1: in both English and in Hebrew? 621 00:31:45,100 --> 00:31:47,950 S2: Well, a good source for information like this is a website. 622 00:31:47,950 --> 00:31:51,190 S2: It's called Blue Letter Bible. They have a number of 623 00:31:51,190 --> 00:31:53,680 S2: helpful tools for Bible study, including a section on the 624 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,320 S2: names of God in the Old Testament, and they even 625 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:58,510 S2: provide a link for each name that will show you 626 00:31:58,510 --> 00:32:01,120 S2: how it's written in Hebrew. Uh, this. 627 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:05,050 S1: Question from Mary in William Newell's commentary on Hebrews, he writes, 628 00:32:05,050 --> 00:32:08,800 S1: Christ did not resume the flesh and blood life that 629 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:12,910 S1: he had before dying. That life was laid down ended. 630 00:32:12,940 --> 00:32:15,640 S1: Mary says, I understand that as risen and at God's 631 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:18,920 S1: right hand, Jesus doesn't have the human weakness or fallibility 632 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:21,650 S1: that a fleshly body would have. But I thought he 633 00:32:21,650 --> 00:32:25,160 S1: kept his humanness rather than becoming a spirit I don't understand. 634 00:32:25,190 --> 00:32:26,150 S1: Thanks for your help. 635 00:32:26,180 --> 00:32:29,180 S2: Yeah, I don't believe Newell is saying that Christ's physical 636 00:32:29,180 --> 00:32:32,480 S2: body ceased to exist following his death on the cross. Rather, 637 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:34,550 S2: I believe he's trying to draw a distinction between the 638 00:32:34,550 --> 00:32:38,030 S2: physical body Jesus had prior to his crucifixion and the 639 00:32:38,030 --> 00:32:42,290 S2: resurrection body he had afterward. In first Corinthians 15, Paul says, 640 00:32:42,290 --> 00:32:46,340 S2: the resurrection body is fundamentally different from our current body. 641 00:32:46,490 --> 00:32:48,650 S2: He writes, so it will be with the resurrection of 642 00:32:48,650 --> 00:32:51,230 S2: the dead. The body that is sown is perishable. It 643 00:32:51,230 --> 00:32:54,050 S2: is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor. It's raised 644 00:32:54,050 --> 00:32:57,080 S2: in glory. It's sown in weakness. It's raised in power. 645 00:32:57,110 --> 00:33:00,590 S2: It's sown a natural body. It's raised a spiritual body. 646 00:33:00,620 --> 00:33:03,920 S2: The scriptures also make it clear that following his resurrection, 647 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:07,280 S2: Jesus wasn't just a ghost or an apparition, though his 648 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:10,400 S2: body was different. For example, he was able to disappear 649 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:13,520 S2: from two disciples in Emmaus and then later appeared to 650 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:16,490 S2: the disciples in Jerusalem. But in the same passage, when 651 00:33:16,490 --> 00:33:18,970 S2: the disciples cry out thinking he's some sort of a 652 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,969 S2: ghost or spirit. It says he showed them his hands 653 00:33:21,970 --> 00:33:25,270 S2: and his feet. Apparently demonstrating that his body still bore 654 00:33:25,270 --> 00:33:28,660 S2: the marks of the crucifixion. When they continued having doubts, 655 00:33:28,660 --> 00:33:31,660 S2: he asked for something to eat. Jesus was even more 656 00:33:31,660 --> 00:33:34,570 S2: specific when he later appeared to Thomas, and told Thomas 657 00:33:34,570 --> 00:33:37,120 S2: to touch his hands and ask Thomas to place his 658 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:40,990 S2: hand in Jesus's side to feel the marks from the crucifixion. 659 00:33:41,230 --> 00:33:45,220 S2: Jesus possessed an actual physical body, though he was resurrected 660 00:33:45,220 --> 00:33:48,190 S2: and glorified. I don't believe we can fully understand what 661 00:33:48,220 --> 00:33:51,190 S2: a resurrection body is like, which is why Paul focused 662 00:33:51,190 --> 00:33:54,250 S2: on that in first Corinthians 15. It's a real, tangible 663 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:57,550 S2: body that's recognizable, and yet it's also different than the 664 00:33:57,550 --> 00:34:00,760 S2: physical body we have today. I think we'll definitely be 665 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:04,120 S2: amazed when we receive our resurrection bodies, and I know 666 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:06,370 S2: they will be similar to the one Jesus received in 667 00:34:06,370 --> 00:34:09,279 S2: his resurrection. And frankly, I can't wait. 668 00:34:09,310 --> 00:34:13,510 S1: Todd wonders, could you please explain Isaiah 42 verses 18 669 00:34:13,540 --> 00:34:16,340 S1: through 20? To me, I'm struggling to know who it 670 00:34:16,340 --> 00:34:17,270 S1: refers to. 671 00:34:17,300 --> 00:34:19,940 S2: Yeah, I see these verses referring to the nation of Israel, 672 00:34:19,940 --> 00:34:23,510 S2: especially the people who ended up in Babylonian exile because 673 00:34:23,510 --> 00:34:26,330 S2: of their disobedience. Going back to the announcement of that 674 00:34:26,330 --> 00:34:30,350 S2: exile back in chapter 39 of Isaiah. This chapter introduces 675 00:34:30,350 --> 00:34:34,220 S2: us to the first of four servant songs. That's chapters 676 00:34:34,219 --> 00:34:38,000 S2: 42 and 49 and 50. And then in 53, as 677 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:41,090 S2: each song builds, the ultimate servant Israel, that is, the 678 00:34:41,090 --> 00:34:44,630 S2: Messiah fulfills everything that the original servant Israel, that is 679 00:34:44,630 --> 00:34:48,080 S2: the nation had failed to accomplish. He becomes the light 680 00:34:48,110 --> 00:34:50,690 S2: to the Gentiles, but he also died to bring the 681 00:34:50,690 --> 00:34:52,820 S2: people of Israel back to God. And he actually mentions 682 00:34:52,820 --> 00:34:56,150 S2: that in chapter 49, verses five and six. Now, within 683 00:34:56,150 --> 00:34:59,330 S2: this larger context, God points out why this new servant, 684 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:03,080 S2: whom he identifies as Israel in 49 three is needed. 685 00:35:03,110 --> 00:35:06,080 S2: Though the nation was originally called to be God's servant, 686 00:35:06,110 --> 00:35:08,630 S2: to take the light of God's word to the Gentiles, 687 00:35:08,630 --> 00:35:12,140 S2: the people had become deaf and blind themselves. I see 688 00:35:12,140 --> 00:35:16,170 S2: the servant songs as an ever narrowing funnel. In the beginning, 689 00:35:16,170 --> 00:35:19,230 S2: the people and this individual are both identified as God's 690 00:35:19,230 --> 00:35:22,620 S2: servant Israel. But the original Israel, the nation had failed, 691 00:35:22,650 --> 00:35:25,259 S2: had become deaf and blind to God himself, and had 692 00:35:25,260 --> 00:35:27,989 S2: ended up themselves needing to be brought back to God. 693 00:35:28,020 --> 00:35:31,739 S2: As Isaiah continues, it becomes clear that the ultimate servant, Israel, 694 00:35:31,739 --> 00:35:34,650 S2: is the Messiah, Jesus, who will be rejected by the 695 00:35:34,650 --> 00:35:37,020 S2: people and put to death. But his death is what 696 00:35:37,020 --> 00:35:40,710 S2: will provide atonement for both Israel and the Gentiles. As 697 00:35:40,710 --> 00:35:43,980 S2: Isaiah 53 says, he was despised and rejected by men, 698 00:35:44,010 --> 00:35:46,800 S2: a man of sorrow and familiar with suffering, like one 699 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:49,350 S2: from whom men hide their faces. He was despised, and 700 00:35:49,350 --> 00:35:52,470 S2: we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities 701 00:35:52,469 --> 00:35:55,799 S2: and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, 702 00:35:55,830 --> 00:35:58,500 S2: smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for 703 00:35:58,500 --> 00:36:02,100 S2: our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment 704 00:36:02,100 --> 00:36:04,710 S2: that brought us peace was upon him, and by his 705 00:36:04,710 --> 00:36:07,799 S2: wounds we are healed. So really, as you start with 706 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:10,950 S2: Isaiah 42 and go to Isaiah 53, you see this 707 00:36:10,950 --> 00:36:14,340 S2: servant who starts out like Israel but becomes everything Israel. 708 00:36:14,370 --> 00:36:17,820 S2: The nation had failed to be. And ultimately dies to 709 00:36:17,850 --> 00:36:20,550 S2: provide Israel and the nations salvation. 710 00:36:20,580 --> 00:36:22,830 S1: Well, we've been all over the map here. Old Testament, 711 00:36:22,860 --> 00:36:26,790 S1: New Testament, deep questions, historical questions. And was one of 712 00:36:26,790 --> 00:36:29,460 S1: them your questions? If not, you need to send it 713 00:36:29,460 --> 00:36:32,040 S1: to us. You can do that easily at the land 714 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:36,180 S1: and the book@moody.edu. Give us a few days to get 715 00:36:36,180 --> 00:36:37,980 S1: an answer to you and then hang on for a 716 00:36:37,980 --> 00:36:40,830 S1: few weeks or months as we get it on the broadcast. 717 00:36:40,830 --> 00:36:44,460 S1: Coming up, Charlie Dyer's devotional. I love these devotionals and 718 00:36:44,460 --> 00:36:46,500 S1: so many of you have already said you do, so 719 00:36:46,500 --> 00:37:03,420 S1: stick around for more. Everybody loves a great story, particularly 720 00:37:03,420 --> 00:37:07,050 S1: a story about somebody who's gone from rags to riches. Well, 721 00:37:07,050 --> 00:37:09,930 S1: it's not rags to riches, but it's pit to palace. 722 00:37:09,930 --> 00:37:12,150 S1: As we look at the life of Joseph and your 723 00:37:12,150 --> 00:37:15,509 S1: devotional coming up, Charlie. Interesting life Joseph led, wasn't it? 724 00:37:15,540 --> 00:37:18,779 S2: Absolutely. One of the real heroes of the faith, especially 725 00:37:18,810 --> 00:37:20,460 S2: at that point in the Bible's history. 726 00:37:20,489 --> 00:37:23,280 S1: Yeah, I'm looking forward to that devotional after this Holy 727 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:25,860 S1: Land experience, a testimony you and I should listen to 728 00:37:25,890 --> 00:37:26,850 S1: right now. 729 00:37:30,780 --> 00:37:34,560 S6: I'm Doris Bailey from Vail, Colorado, and I am so 730 00:37:34,560 --> 00:37:38,009 S6: privileged to have been here. I was in Israel probably 43, 731 00:37:38,040 --> 00:37:42,120 S6: 44 years ago, and my goodness, it's the traffic was 732 00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:44,820 S6: bad then. You ought to see it now. And it's 733 00:37:44,820 --> 00:37:48,150 S6: worth every traffic jam you'll ever be in. I think 734 00:37:48,180 --> 00:37:50,340 S6: that being with a group from the church is a 735 00:37:50,340 --> 00:37:54,450 S6: new experience for me, and I have been overwhelmed with 736 00:37:54,450 --> 00:37:58,560 S6: the people in this group. There just hasn't been a complainer. 737 00:37:58,590 --> 00:38:02,790 S6: There hasn't been a problem. I think that Christians being 738 00:38:02,790 --> 00:38:07,290 S6: with Christians has just been a profound experience for me 739 00:38:07,290 --> 00:38:12,090 S6: on this trip, and then thinking about the people of 740 00:38:12,090 --> 00:38:18,930 S6: the time of Jesus, I just cannot fathom and understand 741 00:38:18,930 --> 00:38:24,540 S6: and comprehend that I can now see where Jesus walked 742 00:38:24,540 --> 00:38:27,840 S6: and I have been staggered by the experience. And thanks 743 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:31,230 S6: to everyone that was with me, because you shared your 744 00:38:31,230 --> 00:38:34,770 S6: lives with me, and I love every one of them. 745 00:38:36,840 --> 00:38:38,940 S1: All right, let's go to the story of Joseph. I'm 746 00:38:38,940 --> 00:38:40,799 S1: looking forward to this. Charlie, take it away. 747 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:42,960 S2: Thanks, John. And I got to start by saying, what 748 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:45,270 S2: was the worst day of your life? You know, a 749 00:38:45,270 --> 00:38:47,879 S2: day that was the pits. I suppose we all have 750 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:51,150 S2: those days we'd like to forget. For me, one of 751 00:38:51,150 --> 00:38:53,910 S2: the finalists for the worst day of my life was 752 00:38:53,910 --> 00:38:57,029 S2: in the early 1980s. I think mentally I blotted out 753 00:38:57,030 --> 00:38:59,879 S2: the exact date, but I remember the day well. I 754 00:38:59,880 --> 00:39:02,910 S2: had just failed the German exam required for my doctoral 755 00:39:02,910 --> 00:39:06,540 S2: program for the second time. I remember going home in 756 00:39:06,540 --> 00:39:09,029 S2: a funk and saying to my wife, that's it, we're 757 00:39:09,030 --> 00:39:13,080 S2: out of here. Thankfully, she didn't share that sentiment and 758 00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:16,170 S2: cooler heads prevailed. I took a different approach to learning 759 00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:19,500 S2: theological German and passed the test on the next attempt. 760 00:39:19,500 --> 00:39:22,740 S2: But I still remember that day. And it was the pits. 761 00:39:22,770 --> 00:39:25,380 S2: In a wild twist of fate, one of the best 762 00:39:25,380 --> 00:39:28,529 S2: days of my life took place about four years later. Thankfully, 763 00:39:28,530 --> 00:39:30,870 S2: there are a number of best days I can remember 764 00:39:30,870 --> 00:39:33,899 S2: from coming to faith to getting married. But the day 765 00:39:33,900 --> 00:39:36,270 S2: I have in mind, here is the day I finally 766 00:39:36,270 --> 00:39:39,120 S2: got to visit the ancient city of Babylon. That was 767 00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:41,670 S2: the subject of my master's thesis. And here I was, 768 00:39:41,670 --> 00:39:45,870 S2: walking the actual street traversed by Daniel and standing in 769 00:39:45,870 --> 00:39:51,239 S2: the remains of King Nebuchadnezzar's throne room. That day was unforgettable. 770 00:39:51,239 --> 00:39:53,730 S2: In the space of just a few years, I went 771 00:39:53,730 --> 00:39:57,330 S2: from the pits to standing in that palace. But reading 772 00:39:57,330 --> 00:39:59,759 S2: the Bible I learned I wasn't alone in such wild 773 00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:04,560 S2: swings and circumstances. In fact, over 3800 years before my experience, 774 00:40:04,590 --> 00:40:09,090 S2: Abraham's great grandson had a very similar experience. And yet, 775 00:40:09,090 --> 00:40:11,759 S2: for young Joseph, the journey from a pit to a 776 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:15,180 S2: palace took more than just a few years. But I'm 777 00:40:15,180 --> 00:40:17,310 S2: getting ahead of myself, so follow me. As we trace 778 00:40:17,310 --> 00:40:20,730 S2: Joseph's wild roller coaster ride that sent him into the 779 00:40:20,730 --> 00:40:24,569 S2: depths before rocketing him up to the heights. Our first 780 00:40:24,570 --> 00:40:27,570 S2: stop on this journey is near the ancient town of Dothan. 781 00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:31,410 S2: Dothan's visited by very few tourists today, but that's because 782 00:40:31,410 --> 00:40:34,410 S2: the road to Dothan from the Jezreel Valley runs through 783 00:40:34,410 --> 00:40:37,650 S2: the modern Arab town of Jenin. Let's just say Janine 784 00:40:37,650 --> 00:40:39,900 S2: is one of those towns you don't want to visit 785 00:40:39,900 --> 00:40:42,720 S2: if you value the windshield of your car or bus. 786 00:40:42,719 --> 00:40:45,810 S2: And that's a shame, because the road that passes by 787 00:40:45,810 --> 00:40:48,150 S2: is one of the three main routes south from the 788 00:40:48,150 --> 00:40:51,930 S2: Jezreel Valley. The more direct road passes by Megiddo, but 789 00:40:51,930 --> 00:40:56,040 S2: the Dothan Pass was a well-known roadway for ancient travelers. 790 00:40:56,070 --> 00:40:58,350 S2: As we stand here, we see a group of ten 791 00:40:58,350 --> 00:41:01,950 S2: men watching over flocks of sheep and goats nearby. They're 792 00:41:01,950 --> 00:41:04,259 S2: looking toward the South, and they seem to be arguing 793 00:41:04,260 --> 00:41:09,150 S2: over a lone figure in the distance, walking their direction. Oh, no. 794 00:41:09,150 --> 00:41:12,600 S2: It's daddy's little spy coming to check up on us. 795 00:41:12,630 --> 00:41:16,500 S2: I could spot that fancy robe he's wearing anywhere. What's 796 00:41:16,500 --> 00:41:18,930 S2: he doing up here? I think it's time we taught 797 00:41:18,930 --> 00:41:23,250 S2: him a lesson. 17 year old Joseph was too far 798 00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:26,310 S2: away to hear the angry words being spoken by his brothers. 799 00:41:26,310 --> 00:41:28,440 S2: He was on a mission from his father to check 800 00:41:28,469 --> 00:41:32,040 S2: up on his family, and even finding them hadn't been easy. 801 00:41:32,070 --> 00:41:35,460 S2: He started out from his father's tent near Hebron, and 802 00:41:35,460 --> 00:41:38,400 S2: had been told his brothers were grazing near Shechem, over 803 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:42,120 S2: 50 miles away. But on arriving there, he discovered his 804 00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:46,170 S2: brothers had moved from Shechem to Dothan, another 18 miles. 805 00:41:46,170 --> 00:41:48,900 S2: And because they were so far from home, several of 806 00:41:48,900 --> 00:41:51,299 S2: the brothers decided this might be a good time to 807 00:41:51,330 --> 00:41:54,570 S2: get rid of young Joseph. You know the story. The 808 00:41:54,570 --> 00:41:57,450 S2: brothers ganged up on Joseph, tore off his robe and 809 00:41:57,450 --> 00:42:01,020 S2: threw him into a nearby cistern, spotting a caravan of 810 00:42:01,020 --> 00:42:04,529 S2: Midianite merchants traveling south along the roadway on their way 811 00:42:04,530 --> 00:42:07,620 S2: to Egypt, the brothers decided to sell Joseph as a 812 00:42:07,620 --> 00:42:11,310 S2: slave to at least make a little financial profit off 813 00:42:11,340 --> 00:42:15,450 S2: their evil deed. They sold Joseph for 20 shekels of silver. 814 00:42:15,480 --> 00:42:18,630 S2: Each of the ten brothers netting a profit of two shekels, 815 00:42:18,630 --> 00:42:22,560 S2: the rough equivalent of two days wages from his father's 816 00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:25,530 S2: favored son, to being mugged by his brothers and thrown 817 00:42:25,530 --> 00:42:28,290 S2: into a pit, to being bought as a slave and 818 00:42:28,290 --> 00:42:31,739 S2: carried off to Egypt. Joseph's life ended up in the 819 00:42:31,739 --> 00:42:35,550 S2: pits and kept getting worse. You know what happened next? 820 00:42:35,580 --> 00:42:39,810 S2: Joseph ended up as a slave in Potiphar's house. God 821 00:42:39,810 --> 00:42:43,560 S2: was with Joseph and he found favor in Potiphar's eyes. Unfortunately, 822 00:42:43,560 --> 00:42:46,710 S2: he was also eyed by Potiphar's wife, who made Joseph 823 00:42:46,710 --> 00:42:50,250 S2: an offer she was sure he couldn't refuse. Come to 824 00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:54,780 S2: bed with me. Joseph's refusal infuriated her, and when he 825 00:42:54,780 --> 00:42:59,009 S2: literally fled sexual immorality with her still holding his cloak, 826 00:42:59,040 --> 00:43:02,549 S2: she charged him with attempted rape. The pit that Joseph 827 00:43:02,550 --> 00:43:05,150 S2: was in seemed to get even deeper. He went from 828 00:43:05,150 --> 00:43:07,730 S2: being a slave to being thrown into a cell in 829 00:43:07,730 --> 00:43:11,510 S2: the royal prison once again. Though Joseph's faithfulness seemed to 830 00:43:11,540 --> 00:43:14,719 S2: offer a ray of hope, Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker were 831 00:43:14,719 --> 00:43:18,020 S2: both thrown into prison, and while there each had a dream. 832 00:43:18,020 --> 00:43:21,770 S2: Joseph interpreted both dreams, and they came true. Just as 833 00:43:21,770 --> 00:43:25,100 S2: he predicted. The cupbearer was restored to his position in 834 00:43:25,100 --> 00:43:29,299 S2: three days, and Joseph had one request remember me, show 835 00:43:29,300 --> 00:43:32,360 S2: me kindness, and remember me to Pharaoh. But the prison 836 00:43:32,390 --> 00:43:37,190 S2: door slammed shut for another two years. The cupbearer forgot. 837 00:43:37,219 --> 00:43:40,489 S2: Now put yourself in Joseph's place. We might say our 838 00:43:40,489 --> 00:43:42,350 S2: life is the pits. If we have a bad day 839 00:43:42,380 --> 00:43:45,860 S2: or a bad few days. Joseph's time in the pit 840 00:43:45,860 --> 00:43:48,680 S2: and as a slave, and then falsely charged and sent 841 00:43:48,680 --> 00:43:53,450 S2: to prison lasted 13 years. That's enough to make anyone 842 00:43:53,450 --> 00:43:57,650 S2: become cynical and jaded, but not Joseph. Pharaoh had a 843 00:43:57,650 --> 00:44:00,979 S2: dream and it jogged the Cupbearers memory. Joseph was brought 844 00:44:00,980 --> 00:44:03,500 S2: from the prison to the palace to interpret the dream. 845 00:44:03,500 --> 00:44:06,710 S2: And as they say, the rest is history. Now, at 846 00:44:06,710 --> 00:44:09,470 S2: the still young age of 30, Joseph was placed in 847 00:44:09,469 --> 00:44:12,140 S2: charge of the whole land of Egypt. He helped store 848 00:44:12,140 --> 00:44:15,140 S2: up grain during the seven years of plenty to bring 849 00:44:15,140 --> 00:44:18,259 S2: Egypt through the following seven years of famine, and when 850 00:44:18,260 --> 00:44:21,109 S2: the years of famine gripped the land, including the land 851 00:44:21,110 --> 00:44:24,739 S2: of Canaan, where Joseph's family still was living, the aged 852 00:44:24,739 --> 00:44:28,489 S2: patriarch Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain 853 00:44:28,489 --> 00:44:32,180 S2: from a human perspective. Joseph had to understand the irony 854 00:44:32,210 --> 00:44:35,510 S2: of this situation. The brothers who had wanted to enslave, 855 00:44:35,540 --> 00:44:39,590 S2: even kill him, were now begging for bread. He literally 856 00:44:39,590 --> 00:44:43,009 S2: had the power of life or death over them. Joseph 857 00:44:43,010 --> 00:44:45,500 S2: finally revealed to his brothers who he was, and in 858 00:44:45,500 --> 00:44:49,640 S2: a bit of understated elegance, Moses recorded what happened next. 859 00:44:49,820 --> 00:44:52,250 S2: But his brothers were not able to answer him because 860 00:44:52,250 --> 00:44:56,150 S2: they were terrified at his presence. Joseph then explained the 861 00:44:56,150 --> 00:44:59,660 S2: larger issues in play. Do not be distressed and do 862 00:44:59,660 --> 00:45:02,420 S2: not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because 863 00:45:02,420 --> 00:45:04,790 S2: it was to save lives that God sent me ahead 864 00:45:04,790 --> 00:45:09,410 S2: of you. Later, following the death of Jacob, Joseph reaffirmed 865 00:45:09,410 --> 00:45:13,100 S2: his understanding of God's master plan as the brothers bowed 866 00:45:13,100 --> 00:45:17,750 S2: before Joseph, saying, we are your slaves. He answered, don't 867 00:45:17,750 --> 00:45:20,540 S2: be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You 868 00:45:20,540 --> 00:45:23,750 S2: intended to harm me, but God intended it for good 869 00:45:23,750 --> 00:45:27,170 S2: to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of 870 00:45:27,170 --> 00:45:30,830 S2: many lives. Well, it's time to quietly slip away from 871 00:45:30,830 --> 00:45:33,799 S2: the palace and head on home. But what lesson can 872 00:45:33,830 --> 00:45:36,530 S2: we carry along with us as we watch Joseph go 873 00:45:36,530 --> 00:45:39,980 S2: from the pits to the palace? I think it's this. 874 00:45:39,980 --> 00:45:43,610 S2: We all experience highs and lows in life, and sometimes 875 00:45:43,610 --> 00:45:46,580 S2: those struggles are caused by others. But rather than getting 876 00:45:46,610 --> 00:45:50,450 S2: angry or becoming depressed or seeking revenge, God has a 877 00:45:50,450 --> 00:45:55,190 S2: better response. First face life. Realistically, there are people who 878 00:45:55,190 --> 00:45:58,580 S2: will mistreat you, disrespect you, even try to harm you. 879 00:45:58,580 --> 00:46:01,820 S2: But look beyond those circumstances and focus on the God 880 00:46:01,820 --> 00:46:04,520 S2: of the universe. And as you do, respond in a 881 00:46:04,520 --> 00:46:07,790 S2: way that pleases and honors him, even if nothing seems 882 00:46:07,790 --> 00:46:11,180 S2: to change in your life. Joseph kept his focus on God, 883 00:46:11,180 --> 00:46:14,239 S2: and he consciously chose to always do what was pleasing 884 00:46:14,270 --> 00:46:16,820 S2: to God, even when it looked as if his actions 885 00:46:16,820 --> 00:46:20,090 S2: were in vain. You do your part and then trust 886 00:46:20,090 --> 00:46:23,750 S2: God to do his part at just the right time. Remember, 887 00:46:23,750 --> 00:46:25,850 S2: he's the one who can take you from the pits 888 00:46:25,850 --> 00:46:27,049 S2: to the palace. 889 00:46:27,080 --> 00:46:31,730 S1: Thank you. Charlie. Face life realistically. Focus on God and 890 00:46:31,730 --> 00:46:34,339 S1: leave the results to him. Great advice and a great 891 00:46:34,340 --> 00:46:37,670 S1: story as well from Genesis. I appreciate that devotional and 892 00:46:37,670 --> 00:46:40,549 S1: appreciate you hanging with us today for the entire broadcast. 893 00:46:40,550 --> 00:46:42,710 S1: You can hear it all again at The Land and 894 00:46:42,710 --> 00:46:46,850 S1: the book.org, and we hope you'll be with us next time. 895 00:46:46,850 --> 00:46:49,700 S1: I'm John Gager for Charlie Dyer and Dan Anderson. The 896 00:46:49,700 --> 00:46:52,580 S1: land and the book is a production of Moody Radio, 897 00:46:52,610 --> 00:46:55,040 S1: a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.