1 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:12,640 S1: Consider the compelling life of Sarah. She married Abraham, and 2 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,280 S1: she soon became the mother of Isaac. But the real 3 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:19,000 S1: story is her remarkable journey from doubt to faith. There 4 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,320 S1: are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,520 S1: you'll meet Sarah as you've never seen her before. As 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,160 S1: you join us now. Welcome to the land and the book. 7 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,280 S1: Our host is Middle East expert doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm 8 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:32,479 S1: John Geiger. How's your week been going, Charlie? 9 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:34,240 S2: Uh, pretty good, John. Thank you. 10 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:36,479 S1: All right. Well, I'm looking forward to, uh, turning our 11 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,360 S1: focus toward current events. But quick thought here. What does 12 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:43,200 S1: Passover mean for us as believers in Jesus? Some might 13 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:45,440 S1: remember the story from the book of Exodus, but there 14 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,160 S1: is so much more to it. Did you know that 15 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,760 S1: the Last Supper, for example, was actually a Passover meal? 16 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,680 S1: Not only did Jesus and his disciples celebrate Passover, but 17 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,000 S1: it also foreshadowed his death on the cross for our redemption. 18 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,780 S2: That's absolutely right. Passover is an amazing connecting point with 19 00:01:02,780 --> 00:01:06,220 S2: our Jewish friends, both around the world and across the street. 20 00:01:06,459 --> 00:01:09,300 S2: Jewish people have been keeping this feast for thousands of 21 00:01:09,300 --> 00:01:12,700 S2: years now. Understanding the importance of this holiday and its 22 00:01:12,700 --> 00:01:16,580 S2: history helps you better understand these precious people. And what 23 00:01:16,580 --> 00:01:20,500 S2: better way to learn than to experience a Passover Seder yourself? 24 00:01:20,780 --> 00:01:24,100 S2: If you've never celebrated Passover, our friends at Life in 25 00:01:24,100 --> 00:01:26,940 S2: Messiah would love to partner with you in hosting a 26 00:01:26,980 --> 00:01:31,100 S2: Seder experience. Every year, their staff engage churches and small 27 00:01:31,100 --> 00:01:35,140 S2: groups in an interactive Messiah in the Passover Seder, where 28 00:01:35,140 --> 00:01:38,340 S2: you can taste and see the redemption story. If you're 29 00:01:38,340 --> 00:01:41,980 S2: interested in having someone come lead a Seder in your area, 30 00:01:42,020 --> 00:01:45,300 S2: visit Life in Messiah org and click on the Moody 31 00:01:45,340 --> 00:01:48,940 S2: Radio button there to learn more. That's life in Messiah. 32 00:01:50,300 --> 00:01:52,740 S1: And now a look at current events, all based in 33 00:01:52,740 --> 00:01:56,580 S1: the Middle East, following last week's meeting between Prime Minister 34 00:01:56,580 --> 00:02:01,450 S1: Netanyahu and President Trump. What's the latest on negotiations regarding 35 00:02:01,450 --> 00:02:02,690 S1: the future of Gaza? 36 00:02:02,970 --> 00:02:06,370 S2: You know, nothing concrete was decided at that meeting. Nothing 37 00:02:06,410 --> 00:02:09,169 S2: certainly was announced after the summit, though some aspects of 38 00:02:09,169 --> 00:02:12,210 S2: the plan going forward could be announced over the next 39 00:02:12,210 --> 00:02:16,329 S2: few weeks. One idea under consideration is called Project Sunrise. 40 00:02:16,490 --> 00:02:19,050 S2: It's a plan to rebuild much of Gaza as a 41 00:02:19,050 --> 00:02:23,090 S2: luxury destination over the next 10 to 20 years. Rafah 42 00:02:23,090 --> 00:02:25,530 S2: would become the seat of government for the enclave, and 43 00:02:25,530 --> 00:02:28,769 S2: Gaza City would become a high tech hub. The U.S. 44 00:02:28,770 --> 00:02:32,690 S2: would help anchor the program by providing $60 billion. Other 45 00:02:32,690 --> 00:02:35,690 S2: countries would be asked to contribute, while Gaza could help 46 00:02:35,690 --> 00:02:39,529 S2: self-fund part of the cost as the revitalization gets underway. 47 00:02:39,850 --> 00:02:44,690 S2: But before anything can be started, three major obstacles remain. First, 48 00:02:44,730 --> 00:02:48,370 S2: Hamas needs to be disarmed. It's estimated that Hamas fighters 49 00:02:48,370 --> 00:02:53,370 S2: in Gaza still have about 60,000 Kalashnikov rifles. The U.S. 50 00:02:53,370 --> 00:02:56,450 S2: and Israel have apparently set a two month deadline to disarm. 51 00:02:56,750 --> 00:03:00,590 S2: President Trump warned of severe consequences should Hamas renege on 52 00:03:00,630 --> 00:03:04,030 S2: that commitment. The second obstacle is the establishment of an 53 00:03:04,030 --> 00:03:07,829 S2: international security force to oversee the disarmament of Hamas and 54 00:03:07,830 --> 00:03:12,310 S2: to provide for stability during reconstruction. Security forces from different 55 00:03:12,310 --> 00:03:16,990 S2: nations have been suggested, including Turkey and Pakistan. President Trump 56 00:03:16,990 --> 00:03:19,310 S2: said Israel would have a say in the composition of 57 00:03:19,310 --> 00:03:22,790 S2: the forces, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Israel is 58 00:03:22,790 --> 00:03:25,910 S2: not in favor of forces from those two countries. One 59 00:03:25,910 --> 00:03:30,230 S2: possibility is the establishment of a Palestinian force not associated 60 00:03:30,230 --> 00:03:34,390 S2: with Hamas. Several groups within Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition aren't 61 00:03:34,389 --> 00:03:37,350 S2: in favor of having the Palestinian Authority be part of 62 00:03:37,350 --> 00:03:41,270 S2: the group, unless they're willing to fulfill key commitments, demonstrating 63 00:03:41,270 --> 00:03:44,430 S2: that they have indeed changed. The final element that will 64 00:03:44,430 --> 00:03:47,230 S2: need to be put in place includes an international oversight 65 00:03:47,270 --> 00:03:50,550 S2: body to make sure the plan is followed through to completion, 66 00:03:50,550 --> 00:03:53,270 S2: and a civil government body that will take control of 67 00:03:53,310 --> 00:03:56,980 S2: Gaza from Hamas. The decisions being made over the coming 68 00:03:56,980 --> 00:03:59,940 S2: weeks will go a long way toward determining the ultimate 69 00:03:59,940 --> 00:04:04,980 S2: success or failure of the plan to rebuild and rehabilitate Gaza. 70 00:04:05,020 --> 00:04:08,700 S1: Charlie, as a tax paying citizen and an observer of history, 71 00:04:08,700 --> 00:04:11,180 S1: the skeptic in me asks, what in the world would 72 00:04:11,180 --> 00:04:15,460 S1: lead us to believe that spending $60 billion in this 73 00:04:15,460 --> 00:04:19,620 S1: will not result in more tunnels being dug, and offensive 74 00:04:19,620 --> 00:04:22,900 S1: weapons and defensive weapons being created at the expense of 75 00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:23,900 S1: the Israeli people. 76 00:04:24,339 --> 00:04:26,900 S2: Uh, two things come to mind. One is that Israel 77 00:04:26,900 --> 00:04:29,460 S2: now knows what was happening. They're not going to let 78 00:04:29,460 --> 00:04:32,500 S2: that take place. Second, when we look at President Trump's 79 00:04:32,500 --> 00:04:35,700 S2: other plans in other areas, he's always approaching this with 80 00:04:35,700 --> 00:04:38,219 S2: a business model. And I think when he's talking about 81 00:04:38,220 --> 00:04:40,539 S2: putting the money, and it's not to just sending concrete 82 00:04:40,540 --> 00:04:42,620 S2: and hope they do the right thing with it. It's 83 00:04:42,620 --> 00:04:44,500 S2: going to build Trump Towers, or it's going to build 84 00:04:44,820 --> 00:04:48,900 S2: something in Gaza that will have a tax generating ability. 85 00:04:49,060 --> 00:04:51,260 S2: So he's approaching it in a business model and that 86 00:04:51,260 --> 00:04:52,180 S2: makes more sense. 87 00:04:52,220 --> 00:04:55,360 S1: All right. Thanks for that. Word of assurance. The bribery 88 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:59,599 S1: and corruption trial of Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to move forward, 89 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,960 S1: in spite of Netanyahu's request for a pardon. What's been 90 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,480 S1: happening over the past few weeks? 91 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,440 S2: Well, during his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump 92 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:11,720 S2: caused quite a stir when he said Israel's President Herzog 93 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,480 S2: told him a pardon for Netanyahu was on its way. 94 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,599 S2: Herzog's office quickly responded by saying, the only thing he 95 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:19,640 S2: had done was to explain to one of the president's 96 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:24,560 S2: representatives several weeks ago how the pardon process unfolds. The 97 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,880 S2: idea of a pardon being issued may or may not happen, 98 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,720 S2: but no deal has been made. Now, that hasn't stopped 99 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,320 S2: people on all sides of the debate from offering their 100 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:35,760 S2: own opinion of what ought to happen. Now, the most 101 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:40,640 S2: logical suggestion was almost Solomonic in its approach. It suggested 102 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,880 S2: there are three cases against Netanyahu. The first case related 103 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,120 S2: to receiving gifts from friends and supporters, and that one 104 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,200 S2: has already been presented. The judges haven't ruled yet, but 105 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,599 S2: it's done and dusted. The second case involved a supposed 106 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,900 S2: quid pro quo deal with a publisher for more favorable 107 00:05:55,900 --> 00:06:00,419 S2: news coverage in exchange for legislation favoring that news organization. 108 00:06:00,420 --> 00:06:03,580 S2: But no legislation was ever passed, and no evidence of 109 00:06:03,620 --> 00:06:07,099 S2: more favorable coverage was ever proven. And apparently, at one point, 110 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:10,020 S2: the prosecution offered to drop the charge as part of 111 00:06:10,020 --> 00:06:12,620 S2: a plea deal. The third case is the one taking 112 00:06:12,620 --> 00:06:15,460 S2: most of the time. It includes a charge of bribery, 113 00:06:15,460 --> 00:06:19,620 S2: and at one point the judges themselves suggested the evidence 114 00:06:19,620 --> 00:06:21,860 S2: might not be there. It ought to be dropped. The 115 00:06:21,860 --> 00:06:25,500 S2: Solomonic suggestion for President Herzog is that he issue pardons 116 00:06:25,500 --> 00:06:28,219 S2: for the items where the evidence has been weakest, and 117 00:06:28,220 --> 00:06:32,300 S2: the charges seem rather inconsequential. This could allow the most 118 00:06:32,300 --> 00:06:35,340 S2: serious part of the third case to remain, but speed 119 00:06:35,380 --> 00:06:38,740 S2: up the trial dramatically. Now, just because that seems to 120 00:06:38,740 --> 00:06:41,460 S2: make sense doesn't mean that's actually going to happen. But 121 00:06:41,460 --> 00:06:45,140 S2: in reality, who knows? But there's one final development. One 122 00:06:45,140 --> 00:06:48,140 S2: of the witnesses in the final case, just before it 123 00:06:48,140 --> 00:06:51,260 S2: all broke when Netanyahu came to the United States. Uh, 124 00:06:51,300 --> 00:06:55,650 S2: that individual claims the prosecution intentionally suppressed evidence that would 125 00:06:55,650 --> 00:06:59,130 S2: point to Netanyahu's innocence. That part is still in process, 126 00:06:59,130 --> 00:07:01,690 S2: but if it's true, it could potentially lead to the 127 00:07:01,690 --> 00:07:04,930 S2: collapse of the remaining charges as well. Now, after years 128 00:07:04,930 --> 00:07:08,770 S2: of mind numbing charges and leaks and delays, it's at 129 00:07:08,810 --> 00:07:12,770 S2: least possible everything could come to a conclusion rather suddenly 130 00:07:12,770 --> 00:07:14,890 S2: and hopefully relatively soon. 131 00:07:15,250 --> 00:07:17,490 S1: You're listening to The Land in the book, a broadcast 132 00:07:17,490 --> 00:07:20,170 S1: from Moody Radio with our host, Doctor Charlie Dire. I'm 133 00:07:20,170 --> 00:07:23,170 S1: John Gallagher. This is a set of stories that are 134 00:07:23,170 --> 00:07:25,130 S1: all based in the Middle East. We look at every 135 00:07:25,130 --> 00:07:28,530 S1: week in this opening segment, a scholar claims to have 136 00:07:28,530 --> 00:07:32,370 S1: discovered the earliest picture of both Jerusalem and King Hezekiah 137 00:07:32,370 --> 00:07:36,050 S1: of Judah. What exactly was uncovered? How valid are the 138 00:07:36,050 --> 00:07:38,450 S1: claims and how good did the King look? 139 00:07:39,130 --> 00:07:42,450 S2: You know, I'm usually skeptical of these clickbait headlines, but 140 00:07:42,490 --> 00:07:45,330 S2: these claims are different because his arguments are based on 141 00:07:45,330 --> 00:07:49,850 S2: solid evidence and careful reasoning. The researcher initially presented all 142 00:07:49,890 --> 00:07:52,910 S2: of his evidence at a conference in Boston, and his 143 00:07:52,910 --> 00:07:55,150 S2: research has now appeared in the fall issue of the 144 00:07:55,150 --> 00:07:57,950 S2: Journal of Near Eastern Studies, which is published by the 145 00:07:57,950 --> 00:08:01,590 S2: University of Chicago. Not a shabby place. Now here's the background. 146 00:08:01,830 --> 00:08:05,070 S2: Assyrian King Sennacherib decorated the throne room of his palace 147 00:08:05,110 --> 00:08:08,830 S2: in Nineveh with scenes showing his conquest of Phoenicia and 148 00:08:08,830 --> 00:08:12,590 S2: the Philistines and Judah. The most well-known part shows his 149 00:08:12,590 --> 00:08:15,470 S2: capture of the city of Lachish that's on display in 150 00:08:15,470 --> 00:08:18,430 S2: the British Museum. But that's only one small part of 151 00:08:18,430 --> 00:08:21,950 S2: the scenes displayed on the walls. The archaeologists sent by 152 00:08:21,950 --> 00:08:25,910 S2: the British Museum back in the 1840s uncovered 70 rooms 153 00:08:25,910 --> 00:08:29,790 S2: in the palace, containing almost two miles of wall carvings. 154 00:08:30,070 --> 00:08:32,630 S2: Many were in poor condition. They couldn't be removed, but 155 00:08:32,630 --> 00:08:34,990 S2: they made sketches of a number of them, including one 156 00:08:34,990 --> 00:08:39,550 S2: that's identified as slab 28. A slab 28, unfortunately, was 157 00:08:39,550 --> 00:08:43,429 S2: destroyed by ISIS during their occupation of Mosul in Iraq. 158 00:08:43,670 --> 00:08:46,069 S2: But the good news is that an earlier researcher had 159 00:08:46,070 --> 00:08:50,300 S2: taken a photograph of slab 28 back in 1990. The 160 00:08:50,300 --> 00:08:53,460 S2: slab shows a city on two hills with multiple gates 161 00:08:53,460 --> 00:08:56,700 S2: and corbelled battlements. On the highest portion of the walls 162 00:08:56,700 --> 00:09:00,140 S2: is a lone figure holding aloft a standard based on 163 00:09:00,140 --> 00:09:03,700 S2: the location of the slab and the details of Sennacherib's campaign. 164 00:09:03,820 --> 00:09:07,260 S2: This researcher argues that the city there is Jerusalem. He 165 00:09:07,260 --> 00:09:11,339 S2: also argues that the Assyrians associated standards with royalty, and 166 00:09:11,340 --> 00:09:14,300 S2: that's why it would be Hezekiah, and the slab itself 167 00:09:14,300 --> 00:09:18,140 S2: also shows the city was not captured by Assyria, since 168 00:09:18,140 --> 00:09:20,780 S2: Sennacherib's only boast was that he shut up Hezekiah and 169 00:09:20,780 --> 00:09:23,700 S2: Jerusalem like a bird in a cage. The drawing seems 170 00:09:23,700 --> 00:09:27,700 S2: to indeed picture Hezekiah. Now, if you're interested in this, 171 00:09:27,700 --> 00:09:29,900 S2: you can buy a copy of the article online, or 172 00:09:29,900 --> 00:09:32,500 S2: you can get a free synopsis of the article in 173 00:09:32,500 --> 00:09:36,900 S2: the current online edition of Let the Stones Speak magazine. 174 00:09:36,900 --> 00:09:39,939 S2: Just Google, let the stones speak and you'll find it. 175 00:09:40,179 --> 00:09:42,420 S2: Both articles are well worth reading. 176 00:09:42,700 --> 00:09:47,100 S1: An Israeli made device to replace traditional surgery for bladder cancer. 177 00:09:47,260 --> 00:09:50,400 S1: Tell us about this latest innovation from Amazing Israel. 178 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,080 S2: Well, Caps medical is a medical device company that grew 179 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:57,080 S2: from a collaboration between researchers at Technion's Pharma Lab and 180 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,960 S2: Rambam Medical Center's cancer lab. They developed a minimally invasive 181 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:05,719 S2: treatment for bladder cancer using non-thermal atmospheric plasma energy to 182 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:10,800 S2: selectively destroy tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. The device 183 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:14,400 S2: is called plasma shear, and it's been given Breakthrough device 184 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:18,760 S2: designation by the US Food and Drug Administration. Beyond the 185 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,440 S2: treatment of bladder cancer, they think this could also help 186 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:26,359 S2: in other solid tumors, including lung, esophageal, stomach, and prostate cancer. 187 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:29,240 S2: A new weapon in the arsenal for treating bladder cancer 188 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:31,920 S2: and eventually other tumors. That's the kind of goal that 189 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:34,440 S2: we love to see coming out of amazing Israel. 190 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,520 S1: Thank you Charlie. Fascinating. Look at those stories today. And 191 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,920 S1: coming up, a look at the life of Sarah. We 192 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,840 S1: know all about Abraham. Just a little bit less about Sarah. 193 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,520 S1: You'll meet her as you never met her before. As 194 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,740 S1: we sit down with bestselling author Angela Hunt. That's all 195 00:10:48,740 --> 00:10:51,179 S1: ahead on the land and the book. Our website, the 196 00:10:51,179 --> 00:11:10,699 S1: land and the book.org. Consider the compelling life of Sarah. 197 00:11:10,980 --> 00:11:14,460 S1: She married Abraham at the age of 39, never having 198 00:11:14,460 --> 00:11:17,660 S1: met him before, and she soon became the mother of Isaac. 199 00:11:17,900 --> 00:11:21,060 S1: But the real story is her remarkable journey from doubt 200 00:11:21,100 --> 00:11:24,500 S1: to faith. You'll meet Sarah as you've never seen her before. 201 00:11:24,540 --> 00:11:27,940 S1: Next from Moody Radio. This is the land and the book. 202 00:11:27,940 --> 00:11:31,100 S1: I'm John Gager, and before our conversation about the life 203 00:11:31,100 --> 00:11:33,580 S1: of Sarah begins, let's think about the life of a 204 00:11:33,580 --> 00:11:36,420 S1: Jewish friend or neighbor that you know. How can you 205 00:11:36,420 --> 00:11:40,540 S1: show the love of Jesus to them more creatively? So 206 00:11:40,540 --> 00:11:44,020 S1: you know how you came to Jesus. You've got a testimony. 207 00:11:44,020 --> 00:11:46,530 S1: That's what we call that. How do you share that 208 00:11:46,530 --> 00:11:49,970 S1: with a Jewish friend and do so respectfully and yet boldly? 209 00:11:49,970 --> 00:11:52,610 S1: Gregg Savitt is with Rock of Israel. What do you think, Greg? 210 00:11:52,970 --> 00:11:55,290 S3: You just need to be straight up John and just 211 00:11:55,290 --> 00:11:57,890 S3: share it. Just what God did for you. How you 212 00:11:57,929 --> 00:12:01,850 S3: come to faith. What has God done to your heart? And, um, 213 00:12:01,890 --> 00:12:04,250 S3: just be honest with them. I just want to share 214 00:12:04,250 --> 00:12:08,209 S3: with you one time I was like, 24 years old. Yeah. 215 00:12:08,490 --> 00:12:11,730 S3: And this man came up to me and he said, 216 00:12:11,730 --> 00:12:15,370 S3: I have Jesus Christ in my heart. And I thought, 217 00:12:15,650 --> 00:12:20,010 S3: that's mashugana. That's crazy. But later on that night, I 218 00:12:20,010 --> 00:12:23,170 S3: was like, how amazing would it be if God lived 219 00:12:23,170 --> 00:12:26,130 S3: in me? So there was a guy that shared his testimony, 220 00:12:26,170 --> 00:12:29,089 S3: probably didn't even know how much it impacted me, but 221 00:12:29,090 --> 00:12:32,250 S3: just the idea that God wasn't a million miles away, 222 00:12:32,250 --> 00:12:34,730 S3: that he could actually live in my heart. 223 00:12:34,929 --> 00:12:37,969 S1: So the idea was totally foreign. His language was sort 224 00:12:38,010 --> 00:12:41,050 S1: of weird, but God still used that as a seed. 225 00:12:41,090 --> 00:12:43,970 S3: Exactly. That's why, you know, I wouldn't worry too much 226 00:12:44,350 --> 00:12:46,270 S3: What you have to say or how you're going to 227 00:12:46,309 --> 00:12:48,350 S3: say it. I wouldn't go back and say, well, what 228 00:12:48,350 --> 00:12:50,950 S3: did Greg Savage say in this interview? Just share it. 229 00:12:51,150 --> 00:12:53,350 S3: The Holy Spirit will give you the words. And even 230 00:12:53,350 --> 00:12:56,870 S3: if it kind of sounds like maybe it's not really 231 00:12:57,030 --> 00:13:00,990 S3: the best way to share. You never know. I've had 232 00:13:00,990 --> 00:13:04,670 S3: visits sometimes, John, where I have witnessed somebody for an 233 00:13:04,670 --> 00:13:07,230 S3: hour and it was like he was talking past me. 234 00:13:07,270 --> 00:13:10,630 S3: It was like nobody was listening. He wasn't listening. And like, 235 00:13:10,670 --> 00:13:12,470 S3: you know, five years later, he wrote me a letter 236 00:13:12,470 --> 00:13:13,949 S3: that he's a believer in Jesus. 237 00:13:13,990 --> 00:13:14,590 S1: Amazing. 238 00:13:14,710 --> 00:13:18,190 S3: So just share. I mean, don't worry about it. Just 239 00:13:18,190 --> 00:13:19,910 S3: go out there and share the gospel. 240 00:13:19,910 --> 00:13:20,910 S1: Just do it. 241 00:13:21,150 --> 00:13:23,230 S3: As Nike would say. Just do it. 242 00:13:23,270 --> 00:13:27,790 S1: Greg Savage on the land and the book. Angela Hunt 243 00:13:27,790 --> 00:13:29,870 S1: is a New York Times best selling author of more 244 00:13:29,870 --> 00:13:36,110 S1: than 160 books, with 5.5 million copies sold worldwide. She 245 00:13:36,110 --> 00:13:40,270 S1: holds doctorates in biblical studies and theology, and has been 246 00:13:40,270 --> 00:13:43,579 S1: honored with many awards for her book writing. Angela and 247 00:13:43,580 --> 00:13:46,260 S1: her husband make their home in Florida with mastiffs and 248 00:13:46,260 --> 00:13:51,260 S1: chickens and grandkids. Her newest releases are focused today Rescued Heart, 249 00:13:51,260 --> 00:13:53,380 S1: welcome to the land and the book. Angie. 250 00:13:54,220 --> 00:13:55,620 S4: Oh, thank you so much. 251 00:13:56,059 --> 00:13:59,620 S1: Well, marriage can be difficult enough, but the evidence suggests 252 00:13:59,620 --> 00:14:02,460 S1: Sarah was not born into a family that shared any 253 00:14:02,460 --> 00:14:06,459 S1: of Abraham's beliefs in the unseen God, Jehovah. Sure, that 254 00:14:06,460 --> 00:14:09,020 S1: must have made for quite an adjustment in their relationship. 255 00:14:09,059 --> 00:14:09,740 S1: What do you think? 256 00:14:09,980 --> 00:14:15,619 S4: Yes, Sarah was from ur and Laban and all of Torah. 257 00:14:15,660 --> 00:14:19,740 S4: All of those folks. When he left ur originally they 258 00:14:19,740 --> 00:14:23,820 S4: stopped in a town called Haran and they all stayed 259 00:14:23,860 --> 00:14:27,739 S4: there except for Sarah and Abram. And then they continued 260 00:14:27,740 --> 00:14:33,380 S4: on to Canaan. Laban joined him later, but Sarah was 261 00:14:33,380 --> 00:14:37,100 S4: raised in Haran. And so it was, you know, it 262 00:14:37,100 --> 00:14:40,380 S4: was a pagan city. It was a pagan area. And 263 00:14:40,380 --> 00:14:45,840 S4: so when she married Abraham, she doubtless was worshipping the 264 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:48,760 S4: idols of the town, and so she had to come 265 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:52,760 S4: to faith in Adonai, which she did not know. 266 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,840 S1: So what evidence do we have for Sarah's conversion, if 267 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,360 S1: you will? Or do we not really know if she 268 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,560 S1: came to love Yahweh, as did her husband? 269 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:04,800 S4: Well, somebody chided me in a review the other day, 270 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,920 S4: and they said this book portrays her as doubtful. And Sarah, 271 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,640 S4: she was a woman of great faith. And I thought, yeah, 272 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:17,239 S4: after Isaac's birth when she was 90, because remember when 273 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,880 S4: Adonai in flesh, which I believe was a theophany. So 274 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,520 S4: it was Jesus himself. He had dinner with Abraham and said, 275 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,720 S4: A year from now you will have a son from Sarah. 276 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,360 S4: And Sarah overheard that, and she laughed at the idea. 277 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:35,239 S4: And I thought, no, she did not have such great faith, 278 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,680 S4: probably throughout most of her marriage, because she was 90 279 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:43,820 S4: when Isaac was born. And as far as supplemental material, 280 00:15:43,860 --> 00:15:48,140 S4: you know, the Bible tells us really very little about Sarah. 281 00:15:48,180 --> 00:15:51,020 S4: And I think that's the only time in the scriptures 282 00:15:51,020 --> 00:15:55,940 S4: she even speaks is when she says, oh, I didn't laugh. Um, 283 00:15:56,300 --> 00:16:00,380 S4: so I found this book called The Book of Jasher. 284 00:16:00,660 --> 00:16:04,260 S4: And it does not claim to be inspired scripture, but 285 00:16:04,260 --> 00:16:07,100 S4: it is a very old book. It was originally written 286 00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:09,900 S4: in Hebrew, and I'm sure the version we have today 287 00:16:10,260 --> 00:16:14,020 S4: is not word for word what was written? It's mentioned 288 00:16:14,020 --> 00:16:18,020 S4: twice in the Bible. So you know the people later? Yes. 289 00:16:18,060 --> 00:16:22,380 S4: The Hebrews. And so I used that. And I've had 290 00:16:22,380 --> 00:16:25,060 S4: people chide me for that too. She used this book. 291 00:16:25,100 --> 00:16:28,580 S4: That's not scripture. Well, it was my choice. I either 292 00:16:28,580 --> 00:16:31,460 S4: could use the book of Jasher, or I could make 293 00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:35,020 S4: every bit of it up from my imagination. And personally, 294 00:16:35,020 --> 00:16:40,210 S4: I prefer using what exists already. And it's pretty fascinating. 295 00:16:40,250 --> 00:16:44,170 S1: Yeah, I think so too. Sarah faces many difficult situations 296 00:16:44,170 --> 00:16:48,330 S1: in her journey, including barrenness in a culture that deeply 297 00:16:48,330 --> 00:16:51,450 S1: valued fertility. How did you approach writing about her emotional 298 00:16:51,450 --> 00:16:52,810 S1: struggles during this time? 299 00:16:53,490 --> 00:16:56,250 S4: Ah, well, it was easy for me because my husband 300 00:16:56,250 --> 00:16:59,369 S4: and I went through it ourselves. When we got married, 301 00:16:59,370 --> 00:17:02,810 S4: my husband was, well, I think almost 30. And so 302 00:17:02,850 --> 00:17:05,770 S4: we wanted to have a family right away. And the 303 00:17:05,770 --> 00:17:09,810 S4: babies did not come. So we got on an adoption 304 00:17:09,810 --> 00:17:15,010 S4: list and waited for three years before the Lord literally 305 00:17:15,050 --> 00:17:18,330 S4: sent our kids to us via a miracle. Some friends 306 00:17:18,330 --> 00:17:21,530 S4: of mine from college had gone to be missionaries in Korea, 307 00:17:21,530 --> 00:17:24,570 S4: and they found a baby on their doorstep and called 308 00:17:24,570 --> 00:17:27,370 S4: us of all their friends and said, do you know 309 00:17:27,369 --> 00:17:34,090 S4: anybody who wants to adopt a baby? I mean, I'm digressing, but, um, anyway, 310 00:17:34,290 --> 00:17:38,109 S4: I knew what it felt like when we were waiting, 311 00:17:38,270 --> 00:17:41,030 S4: I couldn't go to my friend's baby shower. I tried 312 00:17:41,030 --> 00:17:45,110 S4: once and somebody tapped me sympathetically on the shoulder, and 313 00:17:45,109 --> 00:17:47,350 S4: I spent the rest of the night crying in the bathroom. 314 00:17:47,630 --> 00:17:51,990 S4: I mean, I knew that ache and that hunger. And 315 00:17:52,230 --> 00:17:54,869 S4: of course, Sarah waited a lot longer than I did. 316 00:17:54,910 --> 00:17:58,469 S4: And then she went through menopause. So, I mean, it 317 00:17:58,470 --> 00:18:02,750 S4: was really tough, but that makes Isaac's birth so much 318 00:18:02,790 --> 00:18:04,230 S4: more of a miracle. 319 00:18:04,270 --> 00:18:07,910 S1: Yeah. The life of the matriarch we know as Sarah. 320 00:18:08,150 --> 00:18:11,629 S1: That's today's conversation on the land and the book. I'm 321 00:18:11,630 --> 00:18:15,030 S1: John Gager, joined by Angela Hunte, who's written Rescued Heart, 322 00:18:15,230 --> 00:18:18,270 S1: a book centered on the life of Sarah. We read 323 00:18:18,270 --> 00:18:21,670 S1: in Genesis that on at least two occasions, Abraham lied 324 00:18:21,670 --> 00:18:25,550 S1: about Sarah being his wife because of her great beauty. 325 00:18:25,710 --> 00:18:28,310 S1: Based on your study, would you say that for Sarah, 326 00:18:28,350 --> 00:18:31,990 S1: her beauty was, ironically, more of a problem than a blessing? 327 00:18:32,030 --> 00:18:33,230 S1: Why or why not? 328 00:18:34,190 --> 00:18:37,619 S4: Well, I think it was tough. In fact, in the book, 329 00:18:37,619 --> 00:18:41,420 S4: once she hits like 12 or 13, I had her 330 00:18:41,420 --> 00:18:46,420 S4: father require her to wear a veil in public because 331 00:18:46,420 --> 00:18:50,860 S4: she was so stunningly beautiful and it was a cosmopolitan city. 332 00:18:51,260 --> 00:18:53,820 S4: Nimrod was the king of her, and he had the 333 00:18:53,820 --> 00:18:58,100 S4: right as king to take any woman he wanted. And 334 00:18:58,100 --> 00:19:02,900 S4: so her father, who was the king's vizier, his right 335 00:19:02,940 --> 00:19:07,940 S4: hand man, knew of Nimrod's appetites, and so he required 336 00:19:07,940 --> 00:19:10,980 S4: her to wear a veil whenever she went out. To 337 00:19:11,020 --> 00:19:14,300 S4: protect her, because he wanted her to marry somebody that 338 00:19:14,300 --> 00:19:17,820 S4: was not Nimrod. But I think sari, she kind of 339 00:19:17,859 --> 00:19:21,580 S4: got tired. I mean, she was literally abducted by two 340 00:19:21,580 --> 00:19:25,100 S4: different kings because of her beauty. And I think she 341 00:19:25,100 --> 00:19:27,780 S4: just got tired of it. In fact, I wrote a 342 00:19:27,820 --> 00:19:32,139 S4: series once and I called it Dangerous Beauty. And it 343 00:19:32,140 --> 00:19:37,320 S4: featured Bathsheba, Esther and Delilah, and all three of those 344 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:41,840 S4: women had their very lives threatened because they were beautiful. 345 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,440 S4: I mean, beauty isn't all it's cracked up to be. 346 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,439 S1: Yeah. Take us to the scene where Sarah is told 347 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,280 S1: she's going to become pregnant. Her reaction to the news, 348 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:52,920 S1: she laughs. Now, obviously, we know that people in their 349 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,480 S1: 90s don't get pregnant. She knew that too. But beyond that, 350 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:00,960 S1: is this laughter just a purely natural response, a nervous response? 351 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,880 S1: Or do you think she was actually scoffing at God's messenger? 352 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:08,240 S4: I think it was probably a combination of all, because 353 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:12,880 S4: years before that, God had told Abraham that he would 354 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:14,880 S4: have a son, and he said, well, I know I 355 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:16,840 S4: have Ishmael. And he said, no, you're going to have 356 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:20,800 S4: a son through Sarah. So Sarah knew. In fact, at 357 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:23,800 S4: the name change, remember when God said, you are no 358 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:28,120 S4: longer Sarai, you're no longer Abram, you're Abraham and Sarah 359 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:32,080 S4: because you'll be the mother and father of multitudes. So 360 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:36,139 S4: she even knew that before Adonai. In flesh is the 361 00:20:36,140 --> 00:20:38,740 S4: way I term it in the book, um, before he 362 00:20:38,740 --> 00:20:41,020 S4: appeared and said, within the year you're going to have 363 00:20:41,020 --> 00:20:45,060 S4: this baby. And I think she was just kind of like, ah, 364 00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:48,300 S4: that thing again. You know, that promise again. And she 365 00:20:48,300 --> 00:20:53,379 S4: was way postmenopausal. And in the book of Jasher, it 366 00:20:53,380 --> 00:20:58,020 S4: says that she sort of got renewed. The Lord renewed 367 00:20:58,020 --> 00:21:01,060 S4: her body, and she not only gave birth, she was 368 00:21:01,060 --> 00:21:05,940 S4: able to nurse Isaac herself. So it was another miracle. 369 00:21:06,260 --> 00:21:09,420 S1: Angela Hunt joins us today on the Land and the book. 370 00:21:09,580 --> 00:21:12,500 S1: She's done a remarkable study on the life of Sarah 371 00:21:12,500 --> 00:21:16,739 S1: and crafted that story that we know now as Rescued Heart. Uh, 372 00:21:16,740 --> 00:21:20,459 S1: what quality of Sarah's do you think you would most 373 00:21:20,460 --> 00:21:23,619 S1: like for yourself? What did she have that you wished 374 00:21:23,660 --> 00:21:24,619 S1: you had more of? 375 00:21:25,300 --> 00:21:29,820 S4: Well, I think her final stage of faith, because she 376 00:21:29,820 --> 00:21:32,060 S4: didn't have it through most of the book. And that 377 00:21:32,060 --> 00:21:35,290 S4: was evidenced by the way she laughed. But I just 378 00:21:35,290 --> 00:21:38,450 S4: think she was very human and she understood things. And 379 00:21:38,450 --> 00:21:43,810 S4: then she took quiet steps to rectify situations. Scripture says 380 00:21:43,810 --> 00:21:46,530 S4: that she sent Hagar and Isaac away, and a lot 381 00:21:46,530 --> 00:21:49,330 S4: of us give her a bad rap for that. But 382 00:21:49,330 --> 00:21:52,650 S4: the book of Jasher, in fact, Jewish tradition says that 383 00:21:53,010 --> 00:21:59,370 S4: Ishmael was actually threatening little baby Isaac. They were many 384 00:21:59,369 --> 00:22:04,170 S4: years apart. I think Ishmael was like 17 when Isaac 385 00:22:04,170 --> 00:22:08,810 S4: was three. And, um, there's a scene in the book 386 00:22:08,810 --> 00:22:12,290 S4: of Jasher which I put into my book, where Sarah 387 00:22:12,290 --> 00:22:15,050 S4: comes around the corner and little Isaac is sitting there 388 00:22:15,050 --> 00:22:18,450 S4: on the ground, and Ishmael has drawn his bow and 389 00:22:18,450 --> 00:22:21,250 S4: is pointing an arrow at him. And that's when she 390 00:22:21,250 --> 00:22:24,090 S4: freaks out and says, okay, they've got to go. 391 00:22:24,130 --> 00:22:24,530 S1: Yeah. 392 00:22:24,570 --> 00:22:28,850 S4: So I just think she was a realist. I think 393 00:22:28,890 --> 00:22:31,630 S4: too many times we think poorly of her ever, because 394 00:22:31,630 --> 00:22:35,030 S4: we aren't given the entire story. But in the end, 395 00:22:35,070 --> 00:22:38,230 S4: she had great faith. And in the end, you know, 396 00:22:38,270 --> 00:22:41,910 S4: I kind of painted her. You know, we all know 397 00:22:41,950 --> 00:22:45,869 S4: Christians who know in their heads, they believe in their heads, 398 00:22:46,109 --> 00:22:49,429 S4: but they don't quite accept Christ as the Lord of 399 00:22:49,470 --> 00:22:52,470 S4: their lives. He's not reigning over their hearts and emotions. 400 00:22:52,710 --> 00:22:55,710 S4: And I really don't think she reached that stage until 401 00:22:55,710 --> 00:23:00,270 S4: the very end, when she saw that Abraham had taken 402 00:23:00,270 --> 00:23:05,550 S4: Isaac to the mountain and God redeemed him and spared him. 403 00:23:05,550 --> 00:23:09,150 S4: So that was the culmination, I think, of her faith. 404 00:23:09,350 --> 00:23:11,670 S1: Hey, thanks for joining us today on the land and 405 00:23:11,670 --> 00:23:15,150 S1: the book. Hope you're enjoying our conversation with Angela Hunt, 406 00:23:15,190 --> 00:23:18,750 S1: who's written Rescued Heart first in a new series about 407 00:23:18,750 --> 00:23:23,190 S1: the matriarchs of Scripture. Any other surprises that came your 408 00:23:23,190 --> 00:23:25,670 S1: way as you researched anything that made you say, now 409 00:23:25,670 --> 00:23:28,510 S1: why doesn't this maybe get just a bit more attention? 410 00:23:29,310 --> 00:23:32,530 S4: Oh wow. There were so many things. One thing that 411 00:23:32,530 --> 00:23:38,530 S4: surprised me was I had always wondered how Abraham knew 412 00:23:38,530 --> 00:23:41,890 S4: about Adonai. How did he know about God? He was 413 00:23:41,890 --> 00:23:45,410 S4: from earth. It was a thoroughly pagan city. But the 414 00:23:45,410 --> 00:23:49,690 S4: Book of Jasher explains that he was sent away as 415 00:23:49,690 --> 00:23:51,810 S4: a baby. His life was threatened, and he was sent 416 00:23:51,810 --> 00:23:57,210 S4: away to live with Noah and Shem. And they taught 417 00:23:57,210 --> 00:24:01,609 S4: him all about Adonai, about God. And I was a 418 00:24:01,609 --> 00:24:04,290 S4: little skeptical. And I did a search of the timeline. 419 00:24:04,290 --> 00:24:10,850 S4: And yes, Noah's lifespan overlapped with Abraham's by 50 or 420 00:24:10,850 --> 00:24:15,570 S4: 60 years. So it's quite conceivable that that's true. They 421 00:24:15,570 --> 00:24:18,490 S4: had established a house of study today we would call 422 00:24:18,490 --> 00:24:22,410 S4: it a yeshiva. And that's where Abraham learned about God, 423 00:24:22,890 --> 00:24:23,650 S4: the true God. 424 00:24:23,690 --> 00:24:26,649 S1: Interesting. Fast forward to the moment that we are all 425 00:24:26,690 --> 00:24:29,800 S1: reunited in heaven and you have the opportunity to sit 426 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:33,239 S1: down with Sarah and just talk. What's your what's your 427 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:34,520 S1: number one question for her? 428 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:40,240 S4: Did I get it right? Please say I got it right. 429 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:46,840 S1: Well, how does correctly understanding Sarah's life and times set 430 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,600 S1: us up to better appreciate the rest of the matriarchs 431 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:50,440 S1: in Scripture? 432 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:56,080 S4: Uh, well, every one of those wives struggled with beauty. 433 00:24:56,080 --> 00:25:00,080 S4: Believe it or not, Rebecca had the same problem because 434 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:04,480 S4: it was Abimelech who took her into his harem. And, uh, 435 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:07,439 S4: then Rachel and Leah. Of course you've got the problem 436 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,000 S4: with one of them is drop dead gorgeous, and the 437 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:15,040 S4: other one looks pale in comparison. And, uh, so beauty 438 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:19,159 S4: was really a problem in all their lives and caused 439 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:22,440 S4: a lot of strife in their relationships. Imagine that. 440 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,840 S1: Yeah, well, these are great insights. And you'll walk away 441 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,700 S1: with a whole lot more as you spend time with 442 00:25:28,700 --> 00:25:31,939 S1: Angela Hunt's book Rescued Heart, first in the new series 443 00:25:31,940 --> 00:25:34,580 S1: about the matriarchs of Scripture, we've got a link to 444 00:25:34,619 --> 00:25:38,900 S1: that at our website. The land and the book. Angela, 445 00:25:38,900 --> 00:25:40,780 S1: thank you so much for your time for sharing these 446 00:25:40,780 --> 00:25:44,619 S1: insights with us. Very, very rich and we appreciate the conversation. 447 00:25:44,820 --> 00:25:47,219 S4: Thank you so much. I enjoyed it. 448 00:25:47,260 --> 00:25:49,540 S1: Hey, no need to run away. We've got another segment 449 00:25:49,540 --> 00:25:52,540 S1: coming your way. Uh, some answers to your Bible questions 450 00:25:52,540 --> 00:25:55,540 S1: with Gerald Peterman. Next on the land and the book. 451 00:26:06,980 --> 00:26:11,300 S1: Classic TV commercial said inquiring minds want to know. Well, 452 00:26:11,300 --> 00:26:13,780 S1: that's certainly true. When we open our copies of the 453 00:26:13,780 --> 00:26:16,700 S1: Scripture and we wrestle with the stuff that's expressed there. 454 00:26:16,900 --> 00:26:19,659 S1: We do want to know why was this said? What's 455 00:26:19,660 --> 00:26:22,020 S1: behind this? What are we to do with that? That's 456 00:26:22,020 --> 00:26:24,500 S1: what this segment is all about on the land and 457 00:26:24,500 --> 00:26:27,250 S1: the book. I'm John Yeager, looking forward to getting to 458 00:26:27,290 --> 00:26:30,929 S1: some questions with our Bible expert, Doctor Gerald Peterman. First, though, 459 00:26:30,970 --> 00:26:34,570 S1: what does Passover mean for us as believers in Jesus? 460 00:26:34,970 --> 00:26:37,010 S1: Some might remember the story from the book of Exodus, 461 00:26:37,010 --> 00:26:39,449 S1: but there is so much more to it. Did you 462 00:26:39,450 --> 00:26:42,530 S1: know that the Last Supper was a Passover meal? Not 463 00:26:42,530 --> 00:26:45,810 S1: only did Jesus and his disciples celebrate Passover, but it 464 00:26:45,810 --> 00:26:49,730 S1: also foreshadowed his death on the cross for our redemption. Passover. 465 00:26:49,730 --> 00:26:53,129 S1: Just an amazing connection point with our Jewish friends around 466 00:26:53,130 --> 00:26:56,410 S1: the world and across the street. Because Jewish people have 467 00:26:56,410 --> 00:26:59,970 S1: been keeping this feast for thousands of years and understanding 468 00:26:59,970 --> 00:27:02,930 S1: the importance of this holiday, its history helps you and 469 00:27:02,930 --> 00:27:06,290 S1: me better understand our wonderful Jewish friends. And what better 470 00:27:06,290 --> 00:27:10,330 S1: way to learn than to experience a Passover Seder yourself 471 00:27:10,530 --> 00:27:13,570 S1: if you've never celebrated Passover? Our friends at Life and 472 00:27:13,570 --> 00:27:17,129 S1: Messiah would love to partner with you in hosting a 473 00:27:17,170 --> 00:27:20,170 S1: Seder experience. You can't beat it. Every year, their staff 474 00:27:20,170 --> 00:27:23,890 S1: engage churches and small groups in an interactive Messiah in 475 00:27:23,890 --> 00:27:26,989 S1: the Passover Seder, where you can taste and see the 476 00:27:26,990 --> 00:27:30,510 S1: redemption story. If you're interested in having somebody come lead 477 00:27:30,510 --> 00:27:34,470 S1: a Seder in your area, visit Life in Messiah and 478 00:27:34,470 --> 00:27:37,150 S1: click on the radio button to learn more. That's life 479 00:27:37,350 --> 00:27:42,189 S1: in Messiah. Hello, doctor. Gerald Peterman. Doctor Peterman, how in 480 00:27:42,190 --> 00:27:43,030 S1: the world are you? 481 00:27:43,070 --> 00:27:45,109 S5: I'm great. Great. Thanks for asking. 482 00:27:45,109 --> 00:27:46,669 S1: You're looking forward to this next semester. 483 00:27:46,710 --> 00:27:49,750 S5: Mhm. Always do okay. Hanging out with Moody students is 484 00:27:49,750 --> 00:27:50,229 S5: so fun. 485 00:27:50,230 --> 00:27:52,230 S1: Well I'm looking forward to your answers to the questions 486 00:27:52,230 --> 00:27:54,270 S1: that have come in from our listeners. Like this one 487 00:27:54,270 --> 00:27:57,909 S1: from Joan. She says when Jesus was hanging on the cross, 488 00:27:58,109 --> 00:28:00,670 S1: he took time to speak to his mother, telling her 489 00:28:00,670 --> 00:28:03,909 S1: that John was now her son. He spoke to John, 490 00:28:03,910 --> 00:28:07,350 S1: telling him that Mary was now his mother. Why didn't 491 00:28:07,350 --> 00:28:10,030 S1: any of Jesus half brothers take care of Mary? Was 492 00:28:10,030 --> 00:28:12,149 S1: it because Jesus was the oldest son? What's going on? 493 00:28:12,470 --> 00:28:16,310 S5: Oh, I think it's quite natural that Joan would ask this, 494 00:28:16,790 --> 00:28:19,510 S5: but thanks be to God. In John's gospel, we are 495 00:28:19,510 --> 00:28:22,150 S5: told things that were not told in any other gospel, 496 00:28:22,150 --> 00:28:25,010 S5: and one of them is these words from the cross. 497 00:28:25,010 --> 00:28:28,450 S5: Only in John do we have Jesus speaking to his 498 00:28:28,450 --> 00:28:31,130 S5: mom from the cross. Only in John do we learn 499 00:28:31,330 --> 00:28:36,410 S5: John chapter seven, that during Jesus's ministry his brothers weren't 500 00:28:36,410 --> 00:28:40,570 S5: believing in him and also only in John. We hear 501 00:28:40,570 --> 00:28:45,610 S5: that during Jesus's ministry, the Jewish leadership had already decided 502 00:28:45,610 --> 00:28:48,130 S5: that if anyone confesses him as the Christ, they should 503 00:28:48,130 --> 00:28:51,730 S5: be put out of the synagogue. That is a horrible 504 00:28:51,730 --> 00:28:53,770 S5: thing to happen to you. You lose your community, you 505 00:28:53,770 --> 00:28:55,850 S5: might lose your job, you might lose your life. And 506 00:28:55,850 --> 00:28:59,970 S5: so when we come to the cross, Jesus is expressing 507 00:29:00,010 --> 00:29:03,410 S5: love for his mother while he's going through tremendous pain, 508 00:29:04,130 --> 00:29:07,170 S5: since she believes in him and her other sons don't. 509 00:29:07,210 --> 00:29:08,490 S5: Who's going to take care of her? 510 00:29:08,530 --> 00:29:09,370 S6: Yeah, yeah. 511 00:29:09,610 --> 00:29:14,490 S5: So Jesus passes her to John. John, this is your mother. 512 00:29:14,490 --> 00:29:18,050 S5: My mother? This is your family now. And so this 513 00:29:18,050 --> 00:29:20,930 S5: is an incredible act of love at the moment of 514 00:29:20,930 --> 00:29:21,530 S5: his death. 515 00:29:21,690 --> 00:29:25,000 S1: So it's the it's the point being, the other siblings 516 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:26,040 S1: are non-believers. 517 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:27,760 S5: The other siblings are non-believers. 518 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:28,160 S6: Yeah. 519 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:29,960 S1: That causes Jesus to do this. 520 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:32,720 S5: Mary living with them could be an outcast. 521 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:33,200 S6: Yeah. 522 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:36,480 S1: Act of love. Thank you. Mike says, from listening to you, 523 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:38,440 S1: I get the feeling that you do not believe in 524 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:42,840 S1: the rapture. I've never heard you explicitly state your opinion, 525 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:45,360 S1: but you have made comments which lead me to believe this. 526 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:47,640 S1: All right, Doctor Peterman, your response? 527 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,440 S5: Well, I'm sorry to hear this question because I believe 528 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:53,280 S5: in a literal rapture and it happens before the Great 529 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:55,960 S5: Tribulation period that is coming. The tribulation period is going 530 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:58,840 S5: to be something that's never happened before. Jesus describes it. 531 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:01,960 S5: Matthew 24. There will be a great tribulation, such as 532 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,440 S5: has not been from the beginning of time, and never 533 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,680 S5: will be again in revelation 310. What is our Lord 534 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:12,520 S5: Jesus say? He says he will keep his church from 535 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:16,600 S5: the tribulation that is coming upon the whole world. And 536 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:20,200 S5: that's not those who believe in him. That's trials for 537 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:23,820 S5: people who aren't his people. Another reason I believe in 538 00:30:23,820 --> 00:30:28,820 S5: the rapture is that church occurs some 19 or 20 539 00:30:28,860 --> 00:30:32,260 S5: times in revelation 1 to 3, and then not again 540 00:30:32,260 --> 00:30:36,060 S5: until we get to revelation 22. What happens in between there? Yeah, 541 00:30:36,100 --> 00:30:40,300 S5: that's the great tribulation. The church is not present for 542 00:30:40,300 --> 00:30:44,140 S5: the tribulation. The classic passage for the rapture is, of course, 543 00:30:44,180 --> 00:30:48,660 S5: first Thessalonians. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven 544 00:30:48,660 --> 00:30:51,540 S5: with a cry of command, with the voice of the archangel, 545 00:30:51,860 --> 00:30:53,740 S5: and with the sound of the trumpet, and the dead 546 00:30:53,740 --> 00:30:56,700 S5: in Christ will rise first, and then we who are alive, 547 00:30:56,700 --> 00:31:00,020 S5: who are left, will be caught up together with them 548 00:31:00,020 --> 00:31:01,900 S5: in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 549 00:31:01,940 --> 00:31:05,820 S5: That's rapture. I believe in the rapture. 550 00:31:05,860 --> 00:31:06,500 S6: Yeah, very. 551 00:31:06,500 --> 00:31:09,500 S1: Clearly stated in Scripture. You can get your question to 552 00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:12,020 S1: us if you'll email us at the land and the 553 00:31:12,060 --> 00:31:19,060 S1: book at the land and the book at Moody's. Give 554 00:31:19,100 --> 00:31:21,170 S1: Doctor Peterman a few days, maybe up to a week, 555 00:31:21,170 --> 00:31:22,290 S1: maybe to get an answer. Yep. 556 00:31:22,330 --> 00:31:22,690 S5: Yep. 557 00:31:22,890 --> 00:31:25,490 S1: Depending on his schedule. I mean, these students, they've got 558 00:31:25,490 --> 00:31:28,330 S1: their tests and assignments, and they got their own needs, right? Right. 559 00:31:28,370 --> 00:31:30,890 S1: Got to keep everybody happy. Yep, yep. But usually it 560 00:31:30,890 --> 00:31:32,730 S1: only takes a couple days. And you'll get a personalized 561 00:31:32,730 --> 00:31:35,850 S1: response to your question at the land. And the book 562 00:31:36,010 --> 00:31:41,490 S1: at Phyllis takes us to Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy five. 563 00:31:41,770 --> 00:31:44,930 S1: The first commandment God says to have no other gods 564 00:31:44,930 --> 00:31:48,650 S1: before him. She asks, are there other gods? Are there 565 00:31:48,650 --> 00:31:52,610 S1: physically other godlike entities? Or does it just mean things 566 00:31:52,610 --> 00:31:55,130 S1: that we make more important than God? 567 00:31:55,170 --> 00:31:58,730 S5: Ah, that's a great question. When these commandments come to Israel, 568 00:31:59,130 --> 00:32:02,730 S5: Israel is just about to enter the Promised Land. And 569 00:32:02,730 --> 00:32:05,770 S5: what's happening in the Promised Land? Well, they are worshiping 570 00:32:05,770 --> 00:32:09,370 S5: Baal and Molech and all sorts of other Canaanite deities, 571 00:32:09,610 --> 00:32:14,570 S5: which are the manifestation of demons and some sort of 572 00:32:14,610 --> 00:32:18,390 S5: made up human form. So this is why Scripture says, 573 00:32:18,990 --> 00:32:22,910 S5: have no other gods because these gods are dangerous. What 574 00:32:22,910 --> 00:32:26,310 S5: does Paul say? First Corinthians eight five. There are many 575 00:32:26,470 --> 00:32:29,670 S5: so-called gods in heaven and on earth, just as there 576 00:32:29,670 --> 00:32:31,990 S5: are many gods and many lords. But later in first 577 00:32:31,990 --> 00:32:35,630 S5: Corinthians ten, what do I say then? Food offered to idols. 578 00:32:35,630 --> 00:32:38,670 S5: Is anything or that an idol is anything? No. But 579 00:32:38,710 --> 00:32:43,870 S5: what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. 580 00:32:43,870 --> 00:32:49,590 S5: What lies behind false gods? A demonic or satanic power? 581 00:32:50,030 --> 00:32:52,630 S5: To get to the second part of Phyllis's question, does 582 00:32:52,630 --> 00:32:54,830 S5: the command to have no other gods before him mean 583 00:32:54,830 --> 00:32:58,310 S5: not having things that are more important to us than God? Yes, 584 00:32:58,310 --> 00:33:01,110 S5: it means that too. How do we know that? Because 585 00:33:01,110 --> 00:33:05,150 S5: Paul will say in Colossians three five that greed is idolatry. 586 00:33:05,910 --> 00:33:09,070 S5: How can that be the case? Because many times, whether 587 00:33:09,070 --> 00:33:11,710 S5: we know it or not, our hearts turn money into 588 00:33:11,750 --> 00:33:12,350 S5: an idol. 589 00:33:12,390 --> 00:33:14,230 S1: Yeah, or other things as well. 590 00:33:14,230 --> 00:33:18,050 S5: Oh, yeah, our spouse, our job, our physical strength, our 591 00:33:18,050 --> 00:33:20,530 S5: intellectual capability, and lots of things that we can turn 592 00:33:20,530 --> 00:33:20,890 S5: into an. 593 00:33:20,890 --> 00:33:21,650 S6: Idol for sure. 594 00:33:22,410 --> 00:33:26,730 S1: Marlene asks, would the prophets of the Bible be considered mystics? 595 00:33:26,850 --> 00:33:29,010 S1: And if a Christian said they had a vision in 596 00:33:29,010 --> 00:33:32,810 S1: our times, is that considered mysticism? I've always thought as 597 00:33:32,810 --> 00:33:35,770 S1: a Christian, mysticism was something to stay away from. And 598 00:33:35,770 --> 00:33:38,730 S1: then I'm reading in Scripture about God in us, Jesus 599 00:33:38,730 --> 00:33:42,050 S1: in us, the Holy Spirit in us, guiding and helping us, 600 00:33:42,090 --> 00:33:44,210 S1: and wondering, how does this all fit together? 601 00:33:44,770 --> 00:33:46,330 S5: I think we're beginning to get an answer to the 602 00:33:46,330 --> 00:33:49,170 S5: question just from the question itself. I don't mean to 603 00:33:49,170 --> 00:33:51,050 S5: be difficult, but it kind of depends on what we 604 00:33:51,050 --> 00:33:54,690 S5: mean by mystic. If by mystic, we mean we want 605 00:33:54,690 --> 00:33:59,170 S5: to have a personal, intimate relationship with God, we want 606 00:33:59,170 --> 00:34:01,770 S5: to hear the Holy Spirit, we want to follow Jesus, 607 00:34:01,770 --> 00:34:06,250 S5: then maybe all be mystics. Indeed. Sure, if by mystic 608 00:34:06,250 --> 00:34:09,730 S5: we mean something like talking about magic or relating to 609 00:34:09,770 --> 00:34:13,330 S5: magic powers, or delving into secret dark arts, I'm thinking 610 00:34:13,330 --> 00:34:14,770 S5: we do not want to be mystics there. 611 00:34:14,810 --> 00:34:14,969 S6: Or. 612 00:34:14,969 --> 00:34:18,880 S1: Somehow assigning unusual or supernatural spiritual insights to ourselves. 613 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:19,320 S6: Right. 614 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:21,000 S1: Our flesh apart from anything of the race? 615 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:23,279 S5: Yeah, exactly. And there are lots of different ways we 616 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:26,640 S5: can go that are negative about mystic. So it depends 617 00:34:26,640 --> 00:34:29,440 S5: on how you define it. Um, although I'm sorry I'm 618 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:30,120 S5: being difficult. 619 00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:30,640 S6: Yeah. No, I. 620 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:33,000 S1: Don't think you're being difficult. I think you're being very specific. 621 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:38,160 S1: And importantly. So the land and the book, that is 622 00:34:38,160 --> 00:34:41,239 S1: your connection point for your question. The land and the 623 00:34:41,239 --> 00:34:46,200 S1: book at Moody's, an anonymous email comes to us saying, 624 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:48,920 S1: I have autism and I'm blind. I've got lots of 625 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:52,520 S1: anxiety and anger problems as well. I'm dating a special 626 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:56,800 S1: needs girlfriend with autism, hearing impairment, and possible brain injury 627 00:34:56,800 --> 00:34:59,960 S1: as well. I tried to get along, but sometimes she 628 00:34:59,960 --> 00:35:02,960 S1: gets a little upset at me. I'm often angry or upset. 629 00:35:03,280 --> 00:35:04,960 S1: Is there any way you can help me by encouraging 630 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:09,600 S1: me through Bible verses and scriptures? Especially with the anger, anxiety, 631 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:13,520 S1: along with improving and growing in our boyfriend girlfriend relationship? 632 00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:17,819 S5: Oh wow. Our brother is in a really tough place. 633 00:35:18,219 --> 00:35:20,780 S5: Let me mention three things I urge you to pray 634 00:35:20,780 --> 00:35:25,020 S5: every day. Paul's prayer in Ephesians three. It's in verses 635 00:35:25,020 --> 00:35:29,980 S5: 14 to 19 that you might know the love of God, 636 00:35:29,980 --> 00:35:33,780 S5: which is the love beyond comprehension, and that will fill 637 00:35:33,820 --> 00:35:36,820 S5: us many times. It sounds like this is your experience. 638 00:35:36,820 --> 00:35:39,500 S5: This is my experience when I'm running on empty, when 639 00:35:39,500 --> 00:35:43,340 S5: I'm trusting myself, when I'm not understanding and experiencing the 640 00:35:43,340 --> 00:35:46,540 S5: love of God, I get anxious, I get angry, I 641 00:35:46,580 --> 00:35:50,100 S5: get angry with myself. I get angry with others. So first, 642 00:35:50,100 --> 00:35:53,540 S5: pray for yourself that you would know the love of God. Second, 643 00:35:53,739 --> 00:35:56,860 S5: pray for your girlfriend too, so that she would be 644 00:35:56,860 --> 00:36:01,860 S5: filled up and not have to find encouragement just from you, 645 00:36:01,860 --> 00:36:04,460 S5: or find approval just from you that she would find 646 00:36:04,460 --> 00:36:08,740 S5: it from God. And then thirdly, you mentioned being angry 647 00:36:08,739 --> 00:36:12,820 S5: and upset. I totally get that. Let's go outside the garden. 648 00:36:12,969 --> 00:36:16,810 S5: What does our Lord God ask? Cain? Why are you angry? 649 00:36:16,850 --> 00:36:17,370 S6: Yeah. 650 00:36:17,410 --> 00:36:21,850 S5: Let's go outside Nineveh. What does our Lord God ask? Jonah? 651 00:36:22,010 --> 00:36:24,450 S5: Is it good for you to be angry? So here 652 00:36:24,450 --> 00:36:27,170 S5: are two questions from the mouth of God we ought 653 00:36:27,170 --> 00:36:30,290 S5: to be asking ourselves. So I encourage our brother, pray 654 00:36:30,290 --> 00:36:33,490 S5: over these questions in your own heart and see what 655 00:36:33,489 --> 00:36:36,529 S5: answer God will give you to help you deal with 656 00:36:36,530 --> 00:36:38,130 S5: your frustration and your anger. 657 00:36:38,170 --> 00:36:41,490 S1: That's Doctor Gerald Peterman of Moody Bible Institute faculty answering 658 00:36:41,489 --> 00:36:44,490 S1: your questions here. And they're always welcome at the land 659 00:36:44,489 --> 00:36:49,210 S1: and the book at Moody. Charlie Dyer is next right here. 660 00:37:03,969 --> 00:37:07,690 S1: Where would we be without wheat? Think about that for 661 00:37:07,690 --> 00:37:11,570 S1: a moment. Maybe you enjoy Wheat Thins or Wheaties cereal. 662 00:37:11,570 --> 00:37:14,950 S1: The breakfast of champions. What about shredded wheat wheats? A 663 00:37:14,950 --> 00:37:17,950 S1: big deal in our diet. And we're not the first. 664 00:37:18,230 --> 00:37:21,030 S1: And it's at the heart of a devotional Charlie brings us. Next. 665 00:37:21,030 --> 00:37:24,550 S1: Welcome back to the land and the book. I'm John Gieger, 666 00:37:24,550 --> 00:37:27,029 S1: our host, Charlie Dyer. The title of this series we're 667 00:37:27,030 --> 00:37:28,630 S1: in with your devotions, Charlie, is. 668 00:37:28,950 --> 00:37:31,270 S2: Uh, the seven Species of the land. We're starting it 669 00:37:31,270 --> 00:37:32,510 S2: today with wheat. 670 00:37:32,510 --> 00:37:34,510 S1: Okay, I kind of look forward to that. First, though, 671 00:37:34,550 --> 00:37:37,190 S1: let's listen to this Holy Land experience. 672 00:37:41,190 --> 00:37:44,030 S7: Hi, my name is Maureen and I'm from Carmel, Indiana, 673 00:37:44,030 --> 00:37:47,030 S7: and this is my Holy Land experience. Um, I went 674 00:37:47,030 --> 00:37:51,230 S7: to Israel on a missionary internship back in 1982, and 675 00:37:51,230 --> 00:37:53,910 S7: I worked on a kibbutz for six weeks. And while 676 00:37:53,910 --> 00:37:57,509 S7: I was there, a family on the kibbutz adopted me, 677 00:37:57,510 --> 00:37:59,470 S7: and I became kind of a part of their family 678 00:37:59,469 --> 00:38:01,790 S7: while I was there. And they had a little boy. 679 00:38:01,790 --> 00:38:05,550 S7: His name was Ron. And, um, one day he fell 680 00:38:05,710 --> 00:38:11,810 S7: and he hurt himself. And when he got up, he yelled, ABBA, ABBA, ABBA, ABBA, ABBA. 681 00:38:12,090 --> 00:38:14,330 S7: And as a young believer, I was very young in 682 00:38:14,330 --> 00:38:16,489 S7: Christ at the time, and I had come from a 683 00:38:16,489 --> 00:38:19,450 S7: broken home where I didn't have a loving father. And 684 00:38:19,450 --> 00:38:22,850 S7: so now when I pray, I always pray. ABBA, ABBA, ABBA, 685 00:38:22,890 --> 00:38:23,690 S7: hear my prayer. 686 00:38:25,650 --> 00:38:28,609 S1: Charlie, I did not have my Wheaties for breakfast, but 687 00:38:28,610 --> 00:38:31,609 S1: I will, with all attentiveness. Listen to your devotional. 688 00:38:32,130 --> 00:38:35,650 S2: Thanks, John. Well, in Deuteronomy eight, Moses summarized the bounty 689 00:38:35,650 --> 00:38:38,170 S2: of the land into which Israel was about to enter. 690 00:38:38,370 --> 00:38:40,890 S2: It was a land of wheat and barley, vines and 691 00:38:40,890 --> 00:38:44,930 S2: fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil, and honey. And though the 692 00:38:44,930 --> 00:38:49,090 S2: land also contained other produce like almonds, capers, sycamore, figs, 693 00:38:49,090 --> 00:38:52,609 S2: and lentils, the seven crops listed in Deuteronomy eight were 694 00:38:52,610 --> 00:38:56,130 S2: the main ones Israel would find over the next few weeks. 695 00:38:56,130 --> 00:38:57,770 S2: I want to take us on a series of field 696 00:38:57,810 --> 00:39:00,890 S2: trips through the Bible to see the role each crop 697 00:39:00,890 --> 00:39:04,370 S2: played in Israel's history. We begin today with the first 698 00:39:04,370 --> 00:39:07,810 S2: crop listed, which is wheat. Our journey could take us 699 00:39:07,810 --> 00:39:11,640 S2: almost anywhere in Israel, From Dan to Beersheba. Gideon was 700 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:14,520 S2: threshing wheat in the Jezreel Valley when God appeared to 701 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:17,600 S2: him and the people of Beit Shemesh were harvesting wheat 702 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:20,080 S2: in the valley when they saw the Ark of the 703 00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:23,799 S2: covenant returning from the Philistines. Isaac sowed wheat near the 704 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:27,359 S2: land of the Philistines and reaped a hundredfold, definitely a 705 00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:31,480 S2: bumper crop. When Samuel gathered Israel to Gilgal, near Jericho, 706 00:39:31,480 --> 00:39:34,600 S2: for his farewell speech. It was the time of wheat harvest. 707 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:38,719 S2: Solomon actually exported wheat from Israel to the land of tyre. 708 00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:42,799 S2: In short, wheat was the most important grain grown in Israel, 709 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:45,160 S2: and it could be grown throughout most of the land. 710 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:47,920 S2: But while we could travel many places in Israel to 711 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:50,359 S2: talk about wheat, I want us to walk up on 712 00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:54,280 S2: the Temple Mount because today we're visiting the threshing floor 713 00:39:54,280 --> 00:39:58,840 S2: of Ornan, the Jebusite, who's also named Araunah. But before 714 00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:01,480 S2: we begin our visit, let's watch the process of wheat 715 00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:05,160 S2: being harvested. Once the wheat has ripened in late May 716 00:40:05,200 --> 00:40:08,700 S2: or early June, the reapers are sent into the field, 717 00:40:08,700 --> 00:40:11,700 S2: these workers grab fistfuls of wheat stalks and cut them 718 00:40:11,700 --> 00:40:14,460 S2: off at the base with a sharp sickle. They then 719 00:40:14,460 --> 00:40:17,700 S2: twist these handfuls of stalks into sheaves and drop them 720 00:40:17,700 --> 00:40:20,540 S2: onto the ground. Once all the stalks in the field 721 00:40:20,540 --> 00:40:23,100 S2: have been cut, the workers go back to gather up 722 00:40:23,100 --> 00:40:25,980 S2: the sheaves and carry them to the threshing floor. The 723 00:40:25,980 --> 00:40:28,299 S2: threshing floor is really nothing more than an area of 724 00:40:28,300 --> 00:40:32,620 S2: exposed bedrock or hard packed soil. Once the stalks are gathered, 725 00:40:32,620 --> 00:40:35,940 S2: the grain is separated from the straw by a threshing sledge, 726 00:40:36,180 --> 00:40:39,820 S2: a flat sled with sharp rocks or iron teeth embedded 727 00:40:39,820 --> 00:40:43,380 S2: in the bottom. As the sled is dragged across the sheaves, 728 00:40:43,420 --> 00:40:46,739 S2: the rocks or iron teeth cut into the pile, separating 729 00:40:46,739 --> 00:40:49,500 S2: the heads of grain from the straw. The straw is 730 00:40:49,500 --> 00:40:52,219 S2: then taken away, leaving the heads of wheat along with 731 00:40:52,260 --> 00:40:55,980 S2: husks and bits of straw on the threshing floor. In 732 00:40:55,980 --> 00:40:59,700 S2: the afternoon, once the strong breeze blows in from the Mediterranean, 733 00:40:59,739 --> 00:41:03,060 S2: the workers grab large wooden forks and toss the pile 734 00:41:03,060 --> 00:41:06,220 S2: into the air. The lightweight straw and chaff are blown 735 00:41:06,219 --> 00:41:08,690 S2: to the edge of the threshing floor, while the heavier 736 00:41:08,730 --> 00:41:12,330 S2: grains of wheat fall back onto the ground. This winnowing 737 00:41:12,330 --> 00:41:15,290 S2: process separates the wheat from the chaff, and once the 738 00:41:15,290 --> 00:41:18,410 S2: wheat has been separated, it's gathered and stored in large 739 00:41:18,410 --> 00:41:22,450 S2: clay jars. But what does this harvesting, threshing, and winnowing 740 00:41:22,489 --> 00:41:25,010 S2: of wheat have to do with the Temple Mount or 741 00:41:25,010 --> 00:41:28,730 S2: with us? The answer is found in First Chronicles 21. 742 00:41:28,770 --> 00:41:32,210 S2: The chapter begins with David making a foolish mistake, either 743 00:41:32,210 --> 00:41:34,810 S2: from pride in how great he had become, or from 744 00:41:34,810 --> 00:41:38,210 S2: a lack of trust in God's ability to protect the nation. 745 00:41:38,410 --> 00:41:41,250 S2: David decided to take a census of all the fighting 746 00:41:41,250 --> 00:41:45,370 S2: men in Israel. His rash act displeased God, who brought 747 00:41:45,370 --> 00:41:48,569 S2: judgment on Israel. As a result, a plague sent from 748 00:41:48,570 --> 00:41:52,130 S2: God decimated the very army David had sought to number 749 00:41:52,610 --> 00:41:55,290 S2: after David confessed his sin. The angel of the Lord 750 00:41:55,330 --> 00:41:57,970 S2: had the prophet Gad tell him to build an altar 751 00:41:57,969 --> 00:42:01,090 S2: to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan, the Jebusite. 752 00:42:01,410 --> 00:42:04,130 S2: This incident took place in late May or early June 753 00:42:04,130 --> 00:42:08,710 S2: because Ornan was threshing wheat when David arrived. David requested 754 00:42:08,710 --> 00:42:13,190 S2: the threshing floor and Ornan willingly obliged. Take it, he said, 755 00:42:13,190 --> 00:42:16,430 S2: let my lord the king do whatever pleases him. We 756 00:42:16,469 --> 00:42:19,350 S2: don't know if Unwin's generosity was prompted by a genuine 757 00:42:19,350 --> 00:42:21,830 S2: love for David, or by the fact that he was 758 00:42:21,830 --> 00:42:25,390 S2: a non-israelite, now living in the city. David had captured 759 00:42:25,390 --> 00:42:28,750 S2: and made into his capital. In either case, Ornan was 760 00:42:28,750 --> 00:42:33,270 S2: willing to suffer financial loss to help David. David's response 761 00:42:33,270 --> 00:42:36,430 S2: must have shocked him. No, I insist on paying the 762 00:42:36,430 --> 00:42:39,469 S2: full price. I will not take for the Lord what 763 00:42:39,469 --> 00:42:43,750 S2: is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing. 764 00:42:44,190 --> 00:42:46,630 S2: David was not about to make one of his subjects 765 00:42:46,670 --> 00:42:50,150 S2: pay for his mistake. The compiler of First Chronicles reports 766 00:42:50,150 --> 00:42:53,870 S2: that David paid 600 shekels of gold for the site. 767 00:42:54,350 --> 00:42:57,310 S2: So how much did David pay? Well, that's actually difficult 768 00:42:57,310 --> 00:43:00,190 S2: to answer. A shekel weighs just under a half ounce, 769 00:43:00,190 --> 00:43:03,310 S2: so 600 shekels of gold would be the equivalent of 770 00:43:03,310 --> 00:43:07,450 S2: just under 300oz of gold. At the end of 2025, 771 00:43:07,489 --> 00:43:11,210 S2: the price of gold had reached about $3,800 an ounce, 772 00:43:11,210 --> 00:43:14,170 S2: though it was bouncing around, meaning though David would have 773 00:43:14,170 --> 00:43:17,890 S2: paid nearly 2.3 million for the property. That's a lot 774 00:43:17,930 --> 00:43:20,969 S2: of money, but it's even more astounding if we calculate 775 00:43:20,969 --> 00:43:23,890 S2: the value of gold in David's day. We don't know 776 00:43:23,890 --> 00:43:26,250 S2: what the going wage was in his day, but a 777 00:43:26,250 --> 00:43:29,370 S2: thousand years later, the average worker was paid a silver 778 00:43:29,370 --> 00:43:32,930 S2: denarius for a day's wages. A shekel weighed slightly more 779 00:43:32,930 --> 00:43:36,210 S2: than a denarius, and it took 15 shekels of silver 780 00:43:36,210 --> 00:43:39,210 S2: to equal one shekel of gold. Now, using those figures 781 00:43:39,210 --> 00:43:43,210 S2: as rough approximations, David paid the equivalent of what an 782 00:43:43,210 --> 00:43:47,450 S2: average person would earn after working for 30 years. One 783 00:43:47,450 --> 00:43:50,850 S2: thing's for sure that's a lot of money. There's an 784 00:43:50,850 --> 00:43:54,450 S2: apparent discrepancy in the purchase price. While one Chronicles 21 785 00:43:54,450 --> 00:43:58,690 S2: says David paid 600 shekels of gold. Second Samuel 24 786 00:43:58,690 --> 00:44:01,969 S2: says David paid 50 shekels of silver for the property. 787 00:44:02,370 --> 00:44:05,440 S2: That's quite a difference, but a careful reading of both 788 00:44:05,440 --> 00:44:09,640 S2: passages shows how they can be harmonized. Second Samuel 24 789 00:44:09,640 --> 00:44:13,000 S2: says David paid 50 shekels of silver, nearly two months 790 00:44:13,040 --> 00:44:16,239 S2: wages for the threshing floor, and the oxen, which he 791 00:44:16,239 --> 00:44:20,040 S2: used as a sacrifice. First Chronicles 21 says David paid 792 00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:23,759 S2: 600 shekels of gold for the site. The threshing floor 793 00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:27,040 S2: was just a small part of the area. Evidently David 794 00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:30,600 S2: also purchased all the land that surrounded the threshing floor. 795 00:44:30,920 --> 00:44:33,920 S2: This likely included all of Ornans wheat fields, since the 796 00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:36,879 S2: threshing floor would have been located near the area where 797 00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:40,800 S2: the wheat was grown. But why is David's purchase so important? 798 00:44:41,400 --> 00:44:44,279 S2: The answer is found in two additional passages of scripture. 799 00:44:44,680 --> 00:44:48,000 S2: In Second Chronicles three one, we're told that Solomon began 800 00:44:48,000 --> 00:44:50,520 S2: to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on 801 00:44:50,560 --> 00:44:53,240 S2: Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father 802 00:44:53,239 --> 00:44:56,200 S2: David at the place that David had prepared on the 803 00:44:56,200 --> 00:45:00,040 S2: threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. The land purchased by 804 00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:03,180 S2: David is the area where Solomon later built the temple. 805 00:45:03,420 --> 00:45:06,700 S2: That's why we've come here today. And the site is 806 00:45:06,700 --> 00:45:10,980 S2: also identified there as Mount Moriah. Sound familiar? Well, in 807 00:45:10,980 --> 00:45:14,339 S2: Genesis 22, that's the spot where God commanded Abraham to 808 00:45:14,380 --> 00:45:18,100 S2: go to offer his son Isaac. God's temple was ultimately 809 00:45:18,100 --> 00:45:20,660 S2: built on the very spot where the angel of the 810 00:45:20,660 --> 00:45:24,299 S2: Lord had appeared twice, once to Abraham and once to David, 811 00:45:24,580 --> 00:45:28,379 S2: and where both men had offered sacrifices to God. So 812 00:45:28,380 --> 00:45:30,859 S2: what lesson can we take away from our visit to 813 00:45:30,940 --> 00:45:34,060 S2: Mount Moriah and our walk through the wheat fields and 814 00:45:34,060 --> 00:45:38,340 S2: threshing floor of Ornan, the Jebusite? Perhaps it's this true 815 00:45:38,380 --> 00:45:42,540 S2: worship demands that we place God above all else. For Abraham, 816 00:45:42,540 --> 00:45:45,620 S2: it was the willingness to offer his only son. For David, 817 00:45:45,620 --> 00:45:49,379 S2: it was his insistence on personally paying full price for 818 00:45:49,380 --> 00:45:53,300 S2: the threshing floor and surrounding land worship. At its core 819 00:45:53,300 --> 00:45:57,580 S2: is worship, acknowledging the worth and supreme authority of the 820 00:45:57,620 --> 00:46:00,410 S2: God we claim to love. Now, I had a professor 821 00:46:00,410 --> 00:46:03,690 S2: in college who said it best. The saying didn't originate 822 00:46:03,690 --> 00:46:07,370 S2: with him, but his Scottish brogue certainly made it memorable 823 00:46:07,370 --> 00:46:08,489 S2: when he preached. 824 00:46:08,850 --> 00:46:12,610 S8: If he's not Lord of all, then he's not Lord 825 00:46:12,610 --> 00:46:13,410 S8: at all. 826 00:46:14,330 --> 00:46:18,050 S2: David interrupted the wheat harvest and bought the threshing floor 827 00:46:18,050 --> 00:46:21,290 S2: so he could offer sacrifices there to his God. So 828 00:46:21,330 --> 00:46:25,730 S2: what might God be asking you to sacrifice? Whatever it is, 829 00:46:25,890 --> 00:46:29,610 S2: use it as an opportunity to demonstrate your absolute love 830 00:46:29,810 --> 00:46:32,210 S2: and total devotion to him. 831 00:46:32,650 --> 00:46:35,649 S1: If he's not Lord of all, he's not Lord at all. Boy, 832 00:46:35,690 --> 00:46:39,410 S1: powerful insights there, Charlie. Appreciate your work on that devotional. 833 00:46:39,570 --> 00:46:41,330 S1: Want to say thank you to the team at this 834 00:46:41,330 --> 00:46:44,210 S1: station for carving out airtime for the land and the book. 835 00:46:44,570 --> 00:46:46,810 S1: Our time is gone. But for our host, Charlie Dyer, 836 00:46:46,850 --> 00:46:50,290 S1: our producer, Dan Anderson, I'm John Gager the land and 837 00:46:50,290 --> 00:46:53,049 S1: the book is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry 838 00:46:53,050 --> 00:46:54,690 S1: of Moody Bible Institute.