1 00:00:07,970 --> 00:00:11,510 S1: Starting well in life seems to come naturally for many. 2 00:00:11,539 --> 00:00:15,530 S1: We're excited, enthused, ready to move out and make our mark. 3 00:00:15,530 --> 00:00:19,730 S1: But then along comes midlife and the second half. And 4 00:00:19,730 --> 00:00:23,900 S1: surprisingly few of us, even as believers, end up finishing well. Well, 5 00:00:23,900 --> 00:00:26,300 S1: in a few minutes, we'll meet an Old Testament character 6 00:00:26,300 --> 00:00:30,500 S1: with urgent insights for you and me practical, biblical help 7 00:00:30,500 --> 00:00:33,409 S1: so we can finish well in the second half. This 8 00:00:33,409 --> 00:00:36,229 S1: is the land and the book. I'm John Gager. Our 9 00:00:36,229 --> 00:00:39,740 S1: host is Israel expert doctor Charlie Dyer. Charlie, looking forward 10 00:00:39,740 --> 00:00:42,979 S1: to today's conversation. No shortage of news, as always, right? 11 00:00:43,010 --> 00:00:45,920 S2: Oh, John, the news is packed, so it's fun to 12 00:00:45,950 --> 00:00:47,330 S2: be able to talk to you when there's a lot 13 00:00:47,330 --> 00:00:48,050 S2: to talk about. 14 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,270 S1: Well, Passover will soon be upon us. One of the 15 00:00:50,270 --> 00:00:54,050 S1: traditional Passover questions is what makes this night different from 16 00:00:54,050 --> 00:00:57,590 S1: all others? Passover is an important biblical holiday that has 17 00:00:57,590 --> 00:01:01,010 S1: great meaning for Jewish people and believers in Jesus. And 18 00:01:01,010 --> 00:01:02,930 S1: this is a great question to ask. 19 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,360 S2: Absolutely. And if you want to learn more about what 20 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,899 S2: makes Passover so special, our friends at Life and Messiah 21 00:01:08,900 --> 00:01:11,750 S2: are offering to mail you a free copy of their 22 00:01:11,750 --> 00:01:15,410 S2: Messianic Passover Haggadah. The booklet will lead you through the 23 00:01:15,410 --> 00:01:19,459 S2: celebration of Passover to see the rich connections to Jesus, 24 00:01:19,459 --> 00:01:22,670 S2: our Messiah, and the Last Supper. You'll also receive a 25 00:01:22,670 --> 00:01:26,600 S2: link for an interactive Passover Seder video with the Haggadah 26 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,870 S2: and video. You can celebrate Passover this year with your 27 00:01:29,870 --> 00:01:32,990 S2: family and friends to get this free offer. Just go 28 00:01:32,990 --> 00:01:35,959 S2: to life in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody 29 00:01:35,990 --> 00:01:39,440 S2: Radio button to find out more and to request your copy. 30 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,949 S2: That's life in messiah.org. 31 00:01:42,980 --> 00:01:45,170 S1: Current events in the Middle East this week. That's what 32 00:01:45,170 --> 00:01:47,810 S1: we're all about on this segment. From threats by President 33 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,750 S1: Trump to an alternate plan by Egypt and the surrounding 34 00:01:50,780 --> 00:01:54,559 S1: Arab countries, to an apparent stalemate between Israel and Hamas, 35 00:01:54,590 --> 00:01:57,350 S1: Gaza continues to make the news during this month of 36 00:01:57,350 --> 00:02:00,930 S1: Ramadan is any resolution to the conflict on the horizon? 37 00:02:00,930 --> 00:02:04,440 S1: And who will control Gaza once the conflict is over? 38 00:02:04,470 --> 00:02:07,529 S2: Well, the issues with Hamas and Gaza are as confusing 39 00:02:07,530 --> 00:02:09,720 S2: as ever, and at times they even seem to be 40 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,530 S2: more so. Egypt's proposed plan for Gaza will seek international 41 00:02:13,530 --> 00:02:17,280 S2: donors to fund Gaza's reconstruction, while leaving the people of 42 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,490 S2: Gaza in place. But the actual funding source? Well, that 43 00:02:20,490 --> 00:02:23,880 S2: was left undefined, which is not a good sign. And 44 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,150 S2: after six months of outside control, the plan calls for 45 00:02:27,150 --> 00:02:30,270 S2: Gaza to be handed over to the Palestinian Authority. Well, 46 00:02:30,300 --> 00:02:34,620 S2: Hamas originally took over Gaza by winning legislative elections back 47 00:02:34,620 --> 00:02:37,830 S2: in 2006, so in theory, they could simply wait and 48 00:02:37,830 --> 00:02:41,220 S2: be voted back into power whenever elections are held. The 49 00:02:41,220 --> 00:02:45,690 S2: plan doesn't permanently remove Hamas. The US and Israel rejected 50 00:02:45,690 --> 00:02:48,900 S2: the plan because it doesn't address that reality. But the 51 00:02:48,900 --> 00:02:52,290 S2: foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the UK have 52 00:02:52,290 --> 00:02:55,170 S2: all come out in support of it. Right now, Israel 53 00:02:55,169 --> 00:02:58,340 S2: itself is divided on what they should do next. Many 54 00:02:58,370 --> 00:03:01,160 S2: in Israel want to continue negotiating with Hamas for the 55 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,550 S2: release of the remaining hostages. Hamas sees that as a 56 00:03:04,550 --> 00:03:07,970 S2: way for them to remain in power while re-establishing military 57 00:03:07,970 --> 00:03:11,420 S2: and political control. Others in Israel are pushing to resume 58 00:03:11,419 --> 00:03:14,330 S2: the war to, once and for all, eliminate Hamas as 59 00:03:14,330 --> 00:03:17,389 S2: a threat, even though it could lead to Hamas killing 60 00:03:17,389 --> 00:03:21,890 S2: all the remaining hostages. President Trump has repeatedly threatened Hamas, 61 00:03:21,889 --> 00:03:26,150 S2: but then a senior Trump administration official held private meetings 62 00:03:26,150 --> 00:03:30,440 S2: with a Hamas delegation in Doha. Israel was upset at 63 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,959 S2: what appeared to be the U.S. holding its own direct 64 00:03:32,990 --> 00:03:36,890 S2: talks with Hamas while keeping Israel in the dark. President 65 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:40,640 S2: Trump reaffirmed his support for Israel, smoothing over the apparent tension, 66 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,970 S2: and Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the talks a 67 00:03:43,970 --> 00:03:46,970 S2: one off situation that didn't bear fruit, and that won't 68 00:03:46,970 --> 00:03:51,500 S2: be repeated. Talks on the remaining hostages are again underway 69 00:03:51,500 --> 00:03:54,500 S2: to try and reach a 60 day truce, in exchange 70 00:03:54,500 --> 00:03:58,100 S2: for the release of ten more hostages, but Hamas appears 71 00:03:58,100 --> 00:04:01,220 S2: to be in no hurry to. Release the remaining hostages 72 00:04:01,220 --> 00:04:04,760 S2: or to agree to relinquish its control over. Gaza. 73 00:04:04,790 --> 00:04:07,400 S1: Well, from the conflict with Hamas in the South, we 74 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,310 S1: turn to. The conflict brewing within Syria to the north 75 00:04:10,310 --> 00:04:13,850 S1: following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. What's 76 00:04:13,850 --> 00:04:16,550 S1: been happening to fill the power vacuum there? Wow. 77 00:04:16,580 --> 00:04:21,140 S2: Yeah. And Syria still faces internal struggles. Last week, more 78 00:04:21,140 --> 00:04:24,980 S2: than a thousand Alawites were killed in northwest Syria. The 79 00:04:24,980 --> 00:04:28,190 S2: Alawites are the minority group from which Bashar Assad and 80 00:04:28,190 --> 00:04:31,100 S2: his father rose to power. The majority of those killed 81 00:04:31,130 --> 00:04:35,089 S2: were Alawite civilians, including women and children, many of whom 82 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,740 S2: were apparently summarily executed by fighters from the new government. Now, 83 00:04:39,740 --> 00:04:42,919 S2: this doesn't bode well for Syria's future, since the new 84 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,310 S2: government is led by jihadists who view minority groups like 85 00:04:46,310 --> 00:04:50,660 S2: the Alawites as heretics and enemies of God. Israel continues 86 00:04:50,660 --> 00:04:53,210 S2: to hold parts of Syria that it captured after the 87 00:04:53,210 --> 00:04:56,200 S2: fall of the Assad government. They want southern Syria to 88 00:04:56,230 --> 00:04:59,500 S2: be a demilitarized zone, and they promised to help support 89 00:04:59,500 --> 00:05:03,490 S2: the Druze and Circassian population in the area. Both of 90 00:05:03,490 --> 00:05:06,700 S2: those ethnic groups also live in Israel and have historically 91 00:05:06,700 --> 00:05:09,640 S2: been supportive of the Jewish state. But after the brutal 92 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,700 S2: attack on the Alawites, it appears these groups, along with 93 00:05:12,700 --> 00:05:15,160 S2: the Kurds in the east, decided it was in their 94 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,370 S2: best interest to align with the new Syrian leaders rather 95 00:05:18,370 --> 00:05:21,279 S2: than to oppose them. The fear is that any agreement 96 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,890 S2: like this could later be rescinded, though, once the new 97 00:05:23,890 --> 00:05:27,820 S2: government is firmly in power. That turmoil is a reminder 98 00:05:27,820 --> 00:05:30,910 S2: that Syria is less a country than a patchwork of 99 00:05:30,910 --> 00:05:35,860 S2: religious and ethnic groups in fluid alliances. Meanwhile, other outside 100 00:05:35,860 --> 00:05:38,589 S2: players are hoping to profit by the turmoil and extend 101 00:05:38,620 --> 00:05:42,490 S2: their influence in Syria. One outsider that's on the decline 102 00:05:42,490 --> 00:05:45,700 S2: is Iran, which lost its arc of influence that extended 103 00:05:45,700 --> 00:05:49,600 S2: from Tehran through Syria to Lebanon. They'd like to re-establish 104 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:53,620 S2: control and help rebuild Hezbollah, but the new Syrian government 105 00:05:53,620 --> 00:05:57,340 S2: is led by Sunni fundamentalists, who are deeply opposed to 106 00:05:57,370 --> 00:06:01,000 S2: Iran's Shiite influence. That leads to the other major player 107 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,700 S2: in the region, which is Turkey. Turkey helps support the 108 00:06:03,700 --> 00:06:08,680 S2: jihadists that now rule Syria, and both groups align religiously. However, 109 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,440 S2: it's unclear the extent to which the new government will 110 00:06:11,470 --> 00:06:15,550 S2: be willing to submit to Turkish control. To gain that support. 111 00:06:15,550 --> 00:06:18,279 S2: And of course, Israel is watching all of these shifting 112 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:20,349 S2: alliances very closely. 113 00:06:20,380 --> 00:06:22,810 S1: You're listening to the Land and the book with our host, 114 00:06:22,810 --> 00:06:26,589 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Gager. We're looking at current events. Charlie, 115 00:06:26,589 --> 00:06:29,770 S1: you mentioned Iran and they're hurting economically, but it still 116 00:06:29,770 --> 00:06:32,920 S1: remains a threat as it moves forward with apparent plans 117 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,729 S1: to develop nuclear weapons. Can the US force Iran to 118 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,730 S1: the negotiating table, or is the only hope a military 119 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,219 S1: strike against Iran's nuclear facilities? 120 00:06:42,250 --> 00:06:44,320 S2: You know, for several weeks, it looked as if Israel, 121 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,590 S2: with possible help from the US, was preparing to attack 122 00:06:47,620 --> 00:06:50,980 S2: Iran's nuclear sites. In fact, Israel and the US recently 123 00:06:50,980 --> 00:06:54,370 S2: conducted a joint exercise between their two air forces to 124 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:59,830 S2: promote quote. Operational coordination hinting at preparation for such an attack. 125 00:06:59,860 --> 00:07:03,339 S2: President Trump offered to negotiate a new nuclear treaty, but 126 00:07:03,339 --> 00:07:06,400 S2: Iran's president rejected it. In fact, he said, we will 127 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:10,450 S2: not negotiate with the US. Period. Well, then last week, 128 00:07:10,450 --> 00:07:13,510 S2: everything seemed to get turned on its head. President Trump 129 00:07:13,510 --> 00:07:17,230 S2: again announced he's seeking negotiations with Iran for a nuclear deal, 130 00:07:17,230 --> 00:07:20,980 S2: and news reports came out suggesting Iran had approached the 131 00:07:20,980 --> 00:07:25,900 S2: US through Switzerland, telegraphing its interest in such talks. Israel 132 00:07:25,930 --> 00:07:28,750 S2: signaled it was open to a diplomatic solution if it 133 00:07:28,750 --> 00:07:32,710 S2: can produce an agreement to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. 134 00:07:32,740 --> 00:07:37,600 S2: But by midweek, Iran once again strongly rejected any negotiations. 135 00:07:37,630 --> 00:07:41,350 S2: So what's it all mean? Well, Iran's economy is collapsing, 136 00:07:41,350 --> 00:07:44,530 S2: so it's possible they're interested in a deal to keep 137 00:07:44,530 --> 00:07:47,650 S2: the Islamic government from being overthrown by their own people, 138 00:07:47,650 --> 00:07:51,610 S2: and just want to keep the negotiations Quiet, but at 139 00:07:51,610 --> 00:07:54,190 S2: the same time, it's also possible. This is nothing more 140 00:07:54,220 --> 00:07:57,430 S2: than a delaying tactic to keep Israel and the US 141 00:07:57,430 --> 00:08:01,240 S2: from attacking while they continue racing forward with the development 142 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:05,080 S2: of nuclear weapons. Now, hopefully our government won't allow Iran 143 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:07,870 S2: to play the kind of games they played before. The 144 00:08:07,870 --> 00:08:12,280 S2: maximum economic pressure now being placed on Iran suggests Trump 145 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,130 S2: is serious, and there will either be an agreement or 146 00:08:15,130 --> 00:08:16,060 S2: an attack. 147 00:08:16,210 --> 00:08:19,810 S1: A recent report said that the construction industry is responsible 148 00:08:19,810 --> 00:08:23,650 S1: for nearly 40% of global carbon pollution, especially through its 149 00:08:23,650 --> 00:08:27,700 S1: reliance on materials like concrete. Researchers at Israel's Technion are 150 00:08:27,700 --> 00:08:31,390 S1: developing new ways to cut down on construction pollution while 151 00:08:31,420 --> 00:08:35,290 S1: building more sustainable structures. Tell us about this latest innovation, 152 00:08:35,290 --> 00:08:36,910 S1: Charlie from Amazing Israel. 153 00:08:36,940 --> 00:08:40,060 S2: Yeah, I found this fascinating, John. The researchers from Technion 154 00:08:40,059 --> 00:08:44,079 S2: have developed a material made from sand and bacteria that 155 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,830 S2: can extend the lifespan of buildings and reduce maintenance needs 156 00:08:47,830 --> 00:08:51,790 S2: while also cutting, waste and lowering the environmental impact of 157 00:08:51,790 --> 00:08:57,100 S2: the construction. The key is cyanobacteria, which is blue green algae, 158 00:08:57,100 --> 00:09:02,410 S2: which uses photosynthesis to produce calcium carbonate. When added to 159 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:06,369 S2: a sand based mixture, the algae creates a curable material 160 00:09:06,370 --> 00:09:11,260 S2: that strengthens itself while absorbing carbon dioxide. The method uses 161 00:09:11,260 --> 00:09:15,130 S2: what they describe as additive Co fabrication, which is a 162 00:09:15,130 --> 00:09:18,280 S2: process that layers the sand and bacteria and builds it 163 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:22,059 S2: up using advanced tools to create the structure. The technique 164 00:09:22,059 --> 00:09:26,589 S2: reduces pollution and captures and stores carbon dioxide, and it's 165 00:09:26,590 --> 00:09:30,459 S2: adaptable to different climates around the world. Apparently, the material 166 00:09:30,460 --> 00:09:33,670 S2: will also be able to repair small cracks on its own, 167 00:09:33,670 --> 00:09:37,660 S2: extending the lifespan of structures. The process was presented in 168 00:09:37,660 --> 00:09:41,170 S2: a journal article out of Cambridge University Press. Now imagine 169 00:09:41,170 --> 00:09:45,670 S2: John using a building material that captures carbon self-repairs cracks 170 00:09:45,790 --> 00:09:48,850 S2: and helps extend the life of the structure. That definitely 171 00:09:48,850 --> 00:09:51,670 S2: sounds like something being developed in amazing Israel. 172 00:09:51,700 --> 00:09:54,220 S1: Well, that is amazing. Thank you Charlie. Well, time for 173 00:09:54,220 --> 00:09:57,069 S1: one last update. What's the latest on the swarm of 174 00:09:57,070 --> 00:10:00,550 S1: earthquakes that we heard struck the Greek island of Santorini, 175 00:10:00,580 --> 00:10:02,650 S1: starting back in late January? 176 00:10:02,650 --> 00:10:05,350 S2: Well, the good news is that the seismic activity appears 177 00:10:05,350 --> 00:10:08,950 S2: to be subsiding. Inspection of buildings confirms they withstood the 178 00:10:08,950 --> 00:10:12,100 S2: earthquakes and are safe. The state of emergency was lifted 179 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:15,580 S2: and schools were finally reopened last week, though heightened safety 180 00:10:15,580 --> 00:10:20,350 S2: measures are in place. More than 20,000 earthquakes were recorded 181 00:10:20,350 --> 00:10:23,110 S2: during the six week period. At least right now, the 182 00:10:23,110 --> 00:10:26,290 S2: danger of that swarm leading to the big one appears 183 00:10:26,290 --> 00:10:28,480 S2: to be over, which is good news for an island 184 00:10:28,510 --> 00:10:31,809 S2: that depends so heavily on income from tourism. 185 00:10:31,809 --> 00:10:33,670 S1: Well, that's a look at current events in this first 186 00:10:33,670 --> 00:10:36,790 S1: of four segments on the broadcast. Straight ahead, a conversation 187 00:10:36,790 --> 00:10:39,579 S1: about how to finish well in the second half of life. 188 00:10:39,580 --> 00:10:42,820 S1: Segment three. That's questions and answers. You'll love what's going 189 00:10:42,820 --> 00:10:45,760 S1: on there. And finally, segment four, it's a devotional from 190 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:47,890 S1: our host Charlie Dyer. So there's a lot to listen 191 00:10:47,890 --> 00:10:50,920 S1: for today. But up next, it's how to finish. Well 192 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,560 S1: in the second half of life right here on Moody 193 00:10:53,590 --> 00:11:11,410 S1: Radio's The Land and the book. Starting well in life 194 00:11:11,410 --> 00:11:14,950 S1: seems to come naturally for many. We're excited, enthused, and 195 00:11:14,950 --> 00:11:17,860 S1: ready to move out and make our mark. But then 196 00:11:17,860 --> 00:11:21,250 S1: along comes, well, middle age and and then the second half. 197 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,429 S1: And and surprisingly few of us, even as believers, end 198 00:11:24,460 --> 00:11:27,190 S1: up finishing. Well, what if I told you there's an 199 00:11:27,190 --> 00:11:30,760 S1: Old Testament character who might just have some urgent insights 200 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:34,150 S1: for you and me? Wouldn't you want to know his secrets? Boy, 201 00:11:34,150 --> 00:11:36,940 S1: I sure do. Hey, welcome to segment two of The 202 00:11:36,940 --> 00:11:39,970 S1: Land and the book. I'm John Gager, excited to be 203 00:11:39,970 --> 00:11:45,160 S1: exploring this important conversation. How to finish well in life. First, though, 204 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:48,780 S1: this idea about sharing Christ in a winsome way with 205 00:11:48,780 --> 00:11:51,840 S1: a Jewish friend who needs to hear. So you really 206 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,200 S1: want to love your Jewish relative or neighbor or coworker 207 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:59,280 S1: or friend, whatever. And you brought up the subject. You're 208 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:03,000 S1: nervous about it. Of Yeshua as Messiah and boom, you 209 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,690 S1: got shut down and in a hurry. What's your next response? 210 00:12:06,690 --> 00:12:07,949 S1: What should it be? How do you how do you 211 00:12:07,950 --> 00:12:10,890 S1: show the love of Jesus in that context? That's a 212 00:12:10,890 --> 00:12:13,470 S1: question for Justin Crone of Chosen People Ministries. What do 213 00:12:13,470 --> 00:12:13,860 S1: you think? 214 00:12:13,890 --> 00:12:18,630 S3: Yeah, I think it's show understanding. Understand that. Yeah, I 215 00:12:18,630 --> 00:12:21,689 S3: understand that this is hard for you, and I understand 216 00:12:21,690 --> 00:12:25,020 S3: that this would would not be a popular decision for 217 00:12:25,020 --> 00:12:28,380 S3: you to make. But I think the risk I think 218 00:12:28,380 --> 00:12:32,459 S3: the benefits might be worth it. So check them out, 219 00:12:32,490 --> 00:12:36,990 S3: give them a chance. Let Jesus speak for Jesus and 220 00:12:36,990 --> 00:12:41,189 S3: try to not let your your ancestors, your friends, your 221 00:12:41,190 --> 00:12:44,100 S3: family do that for you. But do your own study. 222 00:12:44,130 --> 00:12:46,950 S3: Do your own investigation and come to your own conclusion. 223 00:12:46,980 --> 00:12:49,050 S1: I notice you didn't just lay over and die. You 224 00:12:49,050 --> 00:12:53,460 S1: did kind of pursue the issue of Jesus, or you're suggesting. 225 00:12:53,490 --> 00:12:56,940 S3: That, well, and that's because Jesus is ultimately the one 226 00:12:56,940 --> 00:12:59,910 S3: that we want them to understand. He's the stumbling block. 227 00:12:59,970 --> 00:13:02,040 S1: Despite their so-called explosion. 228 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:04,590 S3: And I think it's always the right thing to do 229 00:13:04,620 --> 00:13:08,100 S3: as well, to remind them if you have the opportunity, 230 00:13:08,100 --> 00:13:10,410 S3: that Jesus is one of theirs. 231 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:14,010 S1: Justin Kron is with Chosen People Ministries, joining us today 232 00:13:14,010 --> 00:13:18,600 S1: on The land and the book. Doctor Bob Moeller is 233 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,750 S1: a marriage counselor who, along with his wife Cheryl, founded 234 00:13:21,750 --> 00:13:24,990 S1: For Keeps Ministries. Bob has written a number of really 235 00:13:24,990 --> 00:13:28,410 S1: great marriage books, including The Marriage Miracle and The Six 236 00:13:28,410 --> 00:13:32,370 S1: Hearts of Intimacy. Maybe you've seen his television program marriage 237 00:13:32,370 --> 00:13:35,939 S1: for better, for worse. Bob speaks across the country and 238 00:13:35,940 --> 00:13:39,420 S1: has also taught internationally. He's been a pastor and it's 239 00:13:39,420 --> 00:13:41,670 S1: an honor to visit with him today. Welcome back, Bob, 240 00:13:41,670 --> 00:13:42,780 S1: to the land of the book. 241 00:13:42,809 --> 00:13:44,550 S4: Thank you. John. It's a great honor. 242 00:13:44,580 --> 00:13:47,460 S1: You know, there is a remarkable statement about a remarkable 243 00:13:47,460 --> 00:13:51,300 S1: character in the book of Genesis, chapter five verse 22 says, quote, 244 00:13:51,330 --> 00:13:55,230 S1: Enoch walked faithfully with God. Then he was no more, 245 00:13:55,230 --> 00:13:58,140 S1: because God took him away. Give us a bit more 246 00:13:58,140 --> 00:14:00,630 S1: of a sketch about Enoch and this curious statement about 247 00:14:00,630 --> 00:14:02,520 S1: God taking him away. 248 00:14:02,550 --> 00:14:06,929 S4: Well, Enoch is one of two people in the Bible 249 00:14:06,929 --> 00:14:10,470 S4: that never tasted death. The other is Elijah, who was 250 00:14:10,470 --> 00:14:14,190 S4: taken up in a chariot of fire. But Enoch, the 251 00:14:14,190 --> 00:14:19,410 S4: seventh generation. From Adam, it says he walked faithfully with God, 252 00:14:19,410 --> 00:14:22,470 S4: and then suddenly he was no more. God took him. 253 00:14:22,470 --> 00:14:25,560 S4: And so there was something about his life that was 254 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,950 S4: so close, so intimate, that God just simply took him 255 00:14:28,950 --> 00:14:31,200 S4: from this life to the next. In a moment. 256 00:14:31,230 --> 00:14:34,830 S1: In decades of counseling with couples and individuals, you've observed 257 00:14:34,830 --> 00:14:37,770 S1: that not all of us may finish life as well 258 00:14:37,770 --> 00:14:40,380 S1: as Enoch did. Now, why is that? I mean, conventional 259 00:14:40,380 --> 00:14:43,740 S1: thought says, you get older, you get wiser, right? 260 00:14:43,770 --> 00:14:47,520 S4: Well, that is would seem to be logical, but actually, 261 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,120 S4: according to Scripture, the opposite is true. Joe Aldridge, the 262 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:54,990 S4: late Joe Aldridge, did a study of the great characters 263 00:14:54,990 --> 00:14:58,110 S4: of the Bible who fell, if you will, into some 264 00:14:58,110 --> 00:15:03,150 S4: serious mistake. Moses striking the rock. Um, David, of course, 265 00:15:03,150 --> 00:15:08,190 S4: and his involvement with Bathsheba. Uh, two thirds I read 266 00:15:08,220 --> 00:15:12,630 S4: of the great figures of the Bible did not necessarily 267 00:15:12,630 --> 00:15:15,540 S4: finish well, speaking of these Old Testament characters. 268 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:18,720 S1: He's a popular author and conference speaker and a truly 269 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,080 S1: gifted marriage counselor. We're honored to have doctor Bob Mohler 270 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:24,930 S1: with us today on the land and the book. Yeah, 271 00:15:24,930 --> 00:15:27,090 S1: I'll never forget you're sharing that with me, Bob. We 272 00:15:27,090 --> 00:15:29,070 S1: were having lunch together, and you said, you know, John, 273 00:15:29,100 --> 00:15:31,290 S1: most of the great men in the Bible who failed, 274 00:15:31,290 --> 00:15:34,410 S1: failed in the second half of life. I just found 275 00:15:34,410 --> 00:15:36,540 S1: that chilling to the point. Like I say, I've never 276 00:15:36,540 --> 00:15:40,410 S1: forgotten it. And yet it seems like we do forget that. 277 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:42,000 S1: I mean, how could it be otherwise when there are 278 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:45,210 S1: so many people, believers included, who fail in the second 279 00:15:45,210 --> 00:15:46,290 S1: half of life? 280 00:15:46,380 --> 00:15:50,490 S4: Well, John, there's three reasons that we can fail in 281 00:15:50,490 --> 00:15:54,690 S4: the second half of life. One is complacency, the other 282 00:15:54,690 --> 00:15:59,100 S4: is discouragement and unbelief. And the third is pride and arrogance. 283 00:15:59,310 --> 00:16:03,840 S4: And unfortunately, those don't necessarily go away. They may even 284 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:07,680 S4: become stronger temptations in the second half of life. Someone 285 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:11,100 S4: has said life can be divided into three stages. It's 286 00:16:11,100 --> 00:16:15,750 S4: passion in our youth, it's prejudice in our middle years, 287 00:16:15,750 --> 00:16:18,960 S4: and pride is the temptation of the older. 288 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,950 S1: You have identified three snares that we need to watch 289 00:16:22,950 --> 00:16:26,220 S1: out for. Snare number one would be complacency. How could 290 00:16:26,220 --> 00:16:29,100 S1: that possibly be a snare for a good hearted Christ 291 00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:32,190 S1: follower starting out doing well now hitting middle age? 292 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:38,910 S4: Well, John, complacency can be among life's most dangerous snares. 293 00:16:39,030 --> 00:16:42,840 S4: It can be defined as becoming self-satisfied with our spiritual 294 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:46,950 S4: progress and deciding we are good enough. And that's the 295 00:16:46,950 --> 00:16:49,470 S4: last part of it. We have to watch out. Hey, 296 00:16:49,470 --> 00:16:51,900 S4: where we've gotten, where we've grown, to what we know 297 00:16:51,900 --> 00:16:55,410 S4: now about the faith and whatever. That's good enough. It's 298 00:16:55,410 --> 00:16:59,490 S4: dangerous in that complacency isn't like a heart attack that 299 00:16:59,490 --> 00:17:04,410 S4: grabs you. It's more like developing cholesterol over decades. It's 300 00:17:04,410 --> 00:17:05,460 S4: a slow process. 301 00:17:05,910 --> 00:17:10,230 S1: Snare number two discouragement and unbelief. How can either of 302 00:17:10,230 --> 00:17:13,110 S1: those prevent us from finishing well in life? 303 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,920 S4: Well, let me define discouragement. It can be defined as 304 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:21,540 S4: the loss of courage, enthusiasm, and faith in God that 305 00:17:21,540 --> 00:17:26,820 S4: develops as the result of overwhelming and disappointing life circumstances. 306 00:17:26,850 --> 00:17:30,510 S4: In other words, it was Pastor Cole who used to 307 00:17:30,510 --> 00:17:34,140 S4: be on the Moody Radio Network. He's gone to be 308 00:17:34,140 --> 00:17:38,250 S4: with Jesus, but I remember hearing him saying, Discouragement is 309 00:17:38,250 --> 00:17:43,710 S4: the greatest temptation, particularly among pastors. It can take out 310 00:17:43,710 --> 00:17:47,760 S4: Christian workers and missionaries who simply become discouraged because life 311 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:49,530 S4: has simply become too difficult. 312 00:17:49,770 --> 00:17:53,159 S1: Well, we're talking today with doctor Bob Moeller, longtime guest 313 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,400 S1: of Moody Radio and a longtime guest at our dinner 314 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,679 S1: table in years past. We wish they were still in 315 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,140 S1: the area where we live, but our focus is how 316 00:18:01,140 --> 00:18:05,430 S1: to finish well in life. Insights from Enoch. Another snare 317 00:18:05,460 --> 00:18:07,859 S1: would be pride and arrogance. What do we need to 318 00:18:07,890 --> 00:18:08,730 S1: know here, Bob? 319 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:13,380 S4: Well, pride is the unjustified confidence in ourselves and the 320 00:18:13,380 --> 00:18:17,310 S4: unjustified lack of trust in God. In other words, the 321 00:18:17,310 --> 00:18:20,130 S4: devil will do this. If he cannot crush us with 322 00:18:20,130 --> 00:18:24,209 S4: our circumstances, he can do equal harm in the other direction. 323 00:18:24,210 --> 00:18:27,869 S4: He's seen the blessing of our lives and the prosperity, 324 00:18:27,869 --> 00:18:30,330 S4: and maybe the good things that have come to us. 325 00:18:30,330 --> 00:18:34,530 S4: And in some way we subtly believe that's because of me, 326 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:36,730 S4: rather than that's because of God. 327 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:38,890 S1: Well, give us an example of a Bible character. Let's 328 00:18:38,890 --> 00:18:42,460 S1: go back to complacency. Don't you think in some way 329 00:18:42,460 --> 00:18:45,820 S1: that maybe King David was complacent as he's strutting about 330 00:18:45,820 --> 00:18:49,149 S1: his palace roof and happens to notice Bathsheba complacent in 331 00:18:49,150 --> 00:18:50,290 S1: a lot of different ways? 332 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,649 S4: Yes. At that time, the kingdom was finally at peace. 333 00:18:53,650 --> 00:18:56,740 S4: Saul was no longer a threat. He did not have 334 00:18:56,740 --> 00:18:59,170 S4: to move from place to place. And the Bible says, 335 00:18:59,170 --> 00:19:02,619 S4: in the springtime when kings go off to war, which 336 00:19:02,619 --> 00:19:06,340 S4: means that's where he belonged with his troops. David, we find, 337 00:19:06,369 --> 00:19:10,960 S4: is staying behind, and he's strutting around on his rooftop. Yes, 338 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:15,430 S4: he's become complacent about the role that God had for him, 339 00:19:15,430 --> 00:19:19,119 S4: and at that point became settled with good enough. And 340 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,430 S4: that's when Satan sprung his trap. 341 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,760 S1: We look at biblical examples of discouragement and unbelief. One 342 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:26,770 S1: comes to my mind anyway, and that would be John 343 00:19:26,770 --> 00:19:31,420 S1: the Baptist. Here he is in prison unjustly, and he 344 00:19:31,420 --> 00:19:33,879 S1: started out so boldly. You know, behold the Lamb of 345 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,229 S1: God who takes away the sins of the world, and 346 00:19:36,260 --> 00:19:38,480 S1: then he is kind of reduced to asking, are you 347 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,150 S1: the one or not? You know what's going on here? 348 00:19:41,150 --> 00:19:44,900 S1: That to me sounds like discouragement and unbelief. Your thoughts? 349 00:19:44,930 --> 00:19:49,580 S4: Well, I think so. He was human and open to 350 00:19:49,609 --> 00:19:52,250 S4: the same temptations we are. You know, he had probably 351 00:19:52,250 --> 00:19:56,270 S4: spent too many days in a jail cell, had probably 352 00:19:56,270 --> 00:19:59,540 S4: watched too many men go to their execution by the wicked. 353 00:19:59,570 --> 00:20:03,800 S4: Herod had not been able to be in contact with 354 00:20:04,070 --> 00:20:08,960 S4: Jesus and the other disciples for many, many days. You know, isolation, John, 355 00:20:08,990 --> 00:20:13,970 S4: affliction that can begin to set in a certain amount 356 00:20:13,970 --> 00:20:18,470 S4: of discouragement. And, you know, Elijah, Jonah, two other people 357 00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:22,070 S4: Elijah prayed after his great victory on Mount Carmel that 358 00:20:22,070 --> 00:20:23,120 S4: he might die. 359 00:20:23,180 --> 00:20:25,820 S1: Discouragement and unbelief. That would be a second snare. Let's 360 00:20:25,820 --> 00:20:28,609 S1: go to that third one again. Pride and arrogance. It 361 00:20:28,609 --> 00:20:30,530 S1: seems to me an Old Testament example, and we should 362 00:20:30,530 --> 00:20:33,080 S1: probably have a New Testament example too. But an Old 363 00:20:33,109 --> 00:20:36,210 S1: Testament example would be Solomon. All that wealth and all 364 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:39,750 S1: that wisdom, his initial request. And then all those women, 365 00:20:39,750 --> 00:20:42,300 S1: I'm sure they were quite beautiful. Boy, pride and arrogance 366 00:20:42,300 --> 00:20:43,830 S1: apparently got the best of him. 367 00:20:43,859 --> 00:20:46,709 S4: Yes. You know, there's the old joke that one of 368 00:20:46,710 --> 00:20:49,920 S4: the wives complained to him that she wasn't getting enough attention, 369 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:52,030 S4: and he goes, oh, sweetheart, don't you know you're 1 370 00:20:52,030 --> 00:20:56,670 S4: in 1000 to me? So, yes, he became arrogant. He 371 00:20:56,670 --> 00:21:01,230 S4: violated God's clear commands not to take foreign wives, not 372 00:21:01,230 --> 00:21:04,679 S4: to take a number of horses from Egypt. And whatever. 373 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:09,060 S4: He did things despite his wisdom. Wisdom does not necessarily 374 00:21:09,060 --> 00:21:13,410 S4: guarantee obedience. Wisdom will tell you what we should do, 375 00:21:13,410 --> 00:21:17,040 S4: but it is surrender and yieldedness that makes us do 376 00:21:17,070 --> 00:21:19,860 S4: what we should do instead of ignore or disobey it. 377 00:21:19,890 --> 00:21:23,010 S4: And Solomon in his life went on. His heart was 378 00:21:23,010 --> 00:21:26,400 S4: led astray, but he can't say he wasn't warned. Yeah, 379 00:21:26,430 --> 00:21:28,770 S4: the Word of God had told him not to do so. 380 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,260 S1: What about a New Testament example of pride and arrogance? 381 00:21:31,260 --> 00:21:32,400 S1: What comes to mind? 382 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:37,490 S4: Well, you could look at Ananias and Sapphira. Yeah. Two 383 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,609 S4: from what we can read from the the book of acts, 384 00:21:40,609 --> 00:21:45,140 S4: legitimate disciples of Christ, believers, they were not on the outside. 385 00:21:45,140 --> 00:21:47,750 S4: They were on the inside. And yet the desire to 386 00:21:47,750 --> 00:21:51,710 S4: be recognized the way Barnabas was recognized. You see, just 387 00:21:51,710 --> 00:21:54,590 S4: before this story, it says, Barnabas sold a field and 388 00:21:54,590 --> 00:21:57,560 S4: laid it at the feet of the disciples in an honest, 389 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:00,440 S4: generous manner. They look at that and go, wow, he's 390 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,750 S4: getting a lot of praise. He's getting a lot of 391 00:22:02,750 --> 00:22:06,230 S4: publicity for that, a lot of buzz on the internet. 392 00:22:06,260 --> 00:22:09,500 S4: Why don't we do the same? But we'll keep something back. Yeah. 393 00:22:09,530 --> 00:22:10,760 S4: Pride and arrogance. 394 00:22:10,790 --> 00:22:13,280 S1: You're listening to The Land and the book from Moody Radio. 395 00:22:13,310 --> 00:22:16,280 S1: I'm John Gager. Doctor Bob Moeller is a marriage expert 396 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,580 S1: and founder of For Keeps Ministries. You've got two great 397 00:22:19,580 --> 00:22:24,320 S1: insights I'd like to explore. The first is to finish well. Remember, 398 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:28,040 S1: this world is not our home. Expand on that. 399 00:22:28,070 --> 00:22:31,940 S4: Well, many times we expect God to create Creator, provide 400 00:22:31,940 --> 00:22:34,550 S4: heaven on earth for us once we become a believer. 401 00:22:34,550 --> 00:22:37,670 S4: But the fact of the matter is, Jesus promised this 402 00:22:37,700 --> 00:22:42,740 S4: in this world you will have tribulation. John 1633 and 403 00:22:42,740 --> 00:22:45,920 S4: we need to remember that no, this world is not 404 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:50,270 S4: our home. And so to finish well, we have to 405 00:22:50,270 --> 00:22:54,620 S4: realize we're not home yet, and we need to walk 406 00:22:54,619 --> 00:22:58,760 S4: with the same faithfulness and the same sense of obedience, 407 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:02,930 S4: of surrender that maybe we understood early in our Christian life, 408 00:23:03,230 --> 00:23:06,560 S4: all the way to the very end. We need to, maybe, 409 00:23:06,590 --> 00:23:10,640 S4: as revelation tells us, do the things you did at first. 410 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:14,869 S4: If we want to maintain that closeness with God. Remember, 411 00:23:14,869 --> 00:23:17,870 S4: heaven is our home. Earth is not in sight. 412 00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:21,590 S1: Number two, to finish well, don't waste your sorrows. What 413 00:23:21,590 --> 00:23:22,730 S1: are you really saying here? 414 00:23:22,910 --> 00:23:27,230 S4: Well, we are going to face discouragement. We are going 415 00:23:27,260 --> 00:23:30,530 S4: to face despair at times to the point of giving up. 416 00:23:30,530 --> 00:23:35,420 S4: But remember second Corinthians 417 for our light and momentary 417 00:23:35,420 --> 00:23:38,930 S4: troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory 418 00:23:38,930 --> 00:23:43,219 S4: that far outweighs them all. Realize that whatever you're going 419 00:23:43,220 --> 00:23:48,530 S4: through suffering, difficulty, despair, it is preparing you for the 420 00:23:48,530 --> 00:23:52,700 S4: glory of heaven. God is shaping us. He is molding us. 421 00:23:52,700 --> 00:23:55,820 S4: He is preparing us to see him face to face. 422 00:23:55,850 --> 00:23:58,550 S1: Talk to the listener who feels discouraged. Now they're wondering, 423 00:23:58,550 --> 00:24:01,010 S1: is it too late for me? Look, I've already blown 424 00:24:01,010 --> 00:24:02,929 S1: it in the second half of life, I know that. 425 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:05,780 S1: Is there any hope for me? What's the road back? 426 00:24:05,780 --> 00:24:08,840 S4: Well, yes, there's hope. And I'd even point to another 427 00:24:08,869 --> 00:24:13,520 S4: Old Testament example. Samson, who made some very serious mistakes 428 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:16,910 S4: and ended up blind and grinding grain, you know, like 429 00:24:16,910 --> 00:24:21,020 S4: a pack mule or whatever. But he repented, and as 430 00:24:21,020 --> 00:24:24,230 S4: a result, the grace of God restored his strength. And 431 00:24:24,230 --> 00:24:27,410 S4: this is so wonderful, isn't it, John? He's listed in 432 00:24:27,410 --> 00:24:30,890 S4: the Hall of Faith in Hebrews that this man who 433 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,979 S4: made such a train wreck of his life is lifted 434 00:24:33,980 --> 00:24:37,100 S4: up as an example for us to follow. Living proof. 435 00:24:37,130 --> 00:24:40,010 S4: You can pick up where you are today and finish well. 436 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,440 S1: Bob, would you pray for that listener who is right 437 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:46,160 S1: in those shoes, wearing those painful shoes of feeling like 438 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,350 S1: they've blown it in the second half, or maybe even 439 00:24:48,350 --> 00:24:51,919 S1: before the second half, and they need some encouragement. 440 00:24:51,950 --> 00:24:55,670 S4: Thank you, Lord, that you never, ever give up on us. 441 00:24:55,700 --> 00:24:59,030 S4: Thank you that you continue to woo us back, to 442 00:24:59,060 --> 00:25:02,030 S4: draw us back to where we belong, even when we 443 00:25:02,060 --> 00:25:06,290 S4: wander astray. We are at times like the one sheep 444 00:25:06,290 --> 00:25:10,100 S4: that's lost. But we belong to your flock. And you 445 00:25:10,100 --> 00:25:12,949 S4: go looking for us and you bring us back. And 446 00:25:12,950 --> 00:25:16,190 S4: that may be late in our lives. But Lord, let 447 00:25:16,190 --> 00:25:20,060 S4: the end, as the book of Ecclesiastes says, the end 448 00:25:20,060 --> 00:25:23,420 S4: of something is better than its beginning. And let us 449 00:25:23,420 --> 00:25:26,990 S4: all believe that's true in this day walk as Enoch 450 00:25:26,990 --> 00:25:30,140 S4: walked so that when we are taken from this life, 451 00:25:30,140 --> 00:25:33,320 S4: either by death or the return of Christ, really nothing 452 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:36,140 S4: will have changed. We will have been walking with you. 453 00:25:36,170 --> 00:25:39,350 S4: Only now we will see you. I even so, come quickly, 454 00:25:39,350 --> 00:25:41,060 S4: Lord Jesus. Amen. 455 00:25:41,090 --> 00:25:44,660 S1: Amen. What a great conversation, doctor Bob Mueller. How to 456 00:25:44,690 --> 00:25:48,530 S1: finish well in life. Insights from Enoch. Thanks for your time, Bob. 457 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:49,460 S4: You're welcome. 458 00:25:49,460 --> 00:25:51,440 S1: And there's more to come on the program. I'm looking 459 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,260 S1: forward to questions and answers from Scripture. Next on the 460 00:25:54,260 --> 00:25:55,580 S1: land and the book. 461 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:03,139 S4: Of. 462 00:26:06,770 --> 00:26:13,310 S1: 66 books, 1189 chapters. That's your Bible. And if you 463 00:26:13,310 --> 00:26:16,160 S1: had just one question for every chapter, well, that would 464 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:20,750 S1: mean you're asking nearly 1200 questions. Now multiply that times 465 00:26:20,750 --> 00:26:23,389 S1: the number of listeners we have. And well, now you 466 00:26:23,390 --> 00:26:26,119 S1: know why we have this Q&A session every single week. 467 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:29,120 S1: Bible questions your questions at the heart of this segment. 468 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:31,370 S1: Before we dig in, though, just a quick thought here. 469 00:26:31,369 --> 00:26:34,730 S1: What does Passover mean for us as believers in Jesus? 470 00:26:34,730 --> 00:26:37,070 S1: Some might remember the story from the book of Exodus, 471 00:26:37,070 --> 00:26:39,590 S1: but there's so much more to it. Did you know 472 00:26:39,590 --> 00:26:42,650 S1: that the Last Supper was actually a Passover meal? Not 473 00:26:42,650 --> 00:26:45,830 S1: only did Jesus and his disciples celebrate Passover, it also 474 00:26:45,830 --> 00:26:49,310 S1: foreshadowed his death on the cross for our redemption. Jewish 475 00:26:49,310 --> 00:26:52,310 S1: people have been observing the feast of Passover for thousands 476 00:26:52,310 --> 00:26:55,280 S1: of years, and understanding the history and importance of this 477 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,129 S1: holiday will help you better connect with your Jewish friends 478 00:26:58,130 --> 00:27:01,070 S1: and neighbors. And what better way is there to learn 479 00:27:01,070 --> 00:27:06,140 S1: about Passover than to experience a Passover Seder yourself? Awesome! 480 00:27:06,140 --> 00:27:08,600 S1: If you've never celebrated Passover, you need to do that. 481 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:10,580 S1: And our friends at Life and Messiah would love to 482 00:27:10,609 --> 00:27:14,210 S1: partner with you in hosting a Seder experience. Every year, 483 00:27:14,210 --> 00:27:17,930 S1: their staff engage churches and small groups in an interactive 484 00:27:17,930 --> 00:27:21,710 S1: Messiah in the Passover Seder, allowing participants to taste and 485 00:27:21,710 --> 00:27:24,080 S1: and to see the redemption story just right in front 486 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:26,240 S1: of them. If you're interested in having somebody come to 487 00:27:26,270 --> 00:27:28,970 S1: lead a Seder in your area, visit Life in Messiah. 488 00:27:29,270 --> 00:27:31,760 S1: Org and click on the Moody Radio button there to 489 00:27:31,790 --> 00:27:35,300 S1: learn more. That's life in messiah.org. Let's say hi to 490 00:27:35,330 --> 00:27:39,290 S1: Jerry Peterman, Doctor Gerald Peterman of the Moody Bible Institute faculty. 491 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:40,790 S1: We love connecting with you, brother. 492 00:27:40,820 --> 00:27:42,590 S5: Oh, thank you. And I love it too. 493 00:27:42,619 --> 00:27:45,080 S1: Yeah. It shows. I mean, I love just the way 494 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:49,430 S1: you react to all these questions. Starting with Babette. She says, earlier, 495 00:27:49,430 --> 00:27:53,330 S1: I heard the latest news of moving Palestinians out of Palestine. 496 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:56,840 S1: How does this align with the Bible and God's ultimate plan? 497 00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:59,300 S1: Would you give this some thought here on the program? 498 00:27:59,330 --> 00:28:01,399 S5: Oh, yes. It's a good question. I'm not going to 499 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,310 S5: comment on the politics of it. Let's just go to 500 00:28:04,340 --> 00:28:08,570 S5: what Scripture says when we're in Exodus 2331. It says, 501 00:28:08,570 --> 00:28:10,820 S5: and I will set your border from the Red sea 502 00:28:10,850 --> 00:28:12,980 S5: to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness 503 00:28:13,010 --> 00:28:16,159 S5: to the Euphrates. For I will give the inhabitants of 504 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:18,740 S5: the land into your hand. You shall drive them out 505 00:28:18,740 --> 00:28:22,250 S5: before you. That's the ESV. So the Gaza Strip, or 506 00:28:22,250 --> 00:28:27,280 S5: where the Palestinians are mostly that is Israelite territory. That's 507 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:30,610 S5: not US territory that is Israelite territory. And I would 508 00:28:30,609 --> 00:28:33,520 S5: say what happens to it belongs to Israel. 509 00:28:33,550 --> 00:28:37,090 S1: All right. Mary asks. At the time of Satan's rebellion, 510 00:28:37,090 --> 00:28:42,490 S1: many angels followed him and became fallen. Can angels now sin? 511 00:28:42,490 --> 00:28:45,400 S1: If not, how could Satan have sinned and brought many 512 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:48,580 S1: fallen angels into his rebellion? I heard that angels cannot 513 00:28:48,580 --> 00:28:51,610 S1: sin but wish they could. And I'm trying to understand 514 00:28:51,610 --> 00:28:54,580 S1: the concept of redemption and forgiveness and how they see 515 00:28:54,610 --> 00:28:57,550 S1: God giving to repentant believers. So what are your thoughts 516 00:28:57,550 --> 00:28:58,330 S1: about all this? 517 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:00,670 S5: Well, thanks. Thanks for the many questions. I'll try to 518 00:29:00,700 --> 00:29:02,800 S5: cut to the chase here as to whether or not 519 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,980 S5: angels can sin. The answer is yes they can. And 520 00:29:05,980 --> 00:29:09,400 S5: we know this from Second Peter chapter two, which says, 521 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:13,570 S5: For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, 522 00:29:13,780 --> 00:29:16,060 S5: and that's the typical word for sin we find in 523 00:29:16,060 --> 00:29:19,060 S5: the New Testament. The implication is that fallen angels can 524 00:29:19,060 --> 00:29:21,700 S5: continue to sin. And as a matter of fact, Jude 525 00:29:21,730 --> 00:29:25,510 S5: six says something similar to this, and the angels, who 526 00:29:25,510 --> 00:29:28,120 S5: did not stay within their own position or authority but 527 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:32,050 S5: left their proper dwelling. He has kept in eternal chains 528 00:29:32,050 --> 00:29:35,890 S5: under gloomy darkness until the judgment. So as for the 529 00:29:35,890 --> 00:29:39,520 S5: longing of angels to try to understand redemption. Oh, we 530 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:42,370 S5: can talk about that, too. That's in first Peter one, 531 00:29:42,370 --> 00:29:45,760 S5: verses 10 to 12. Peter talks briefly about the Old 532 00:29:45,790 --> 00:29:49,510 S5: Testament prophets, who pondered and inquired carefully into the coming 533 00:29:49,540 --> 00:29:52,630 S5: of Christ. And then verse 12 says, it was revealed 534 00:29:52,630 --> 00:29:55,390 S5: to them, that is the prophets, that they were not 535 00:29:55,390 --> 00:29:58,480 S5: serving themselves but you in the things that have now 536 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:00,880 S5: been announced to you through those who preach the good 537 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:03,730 S5: news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven 538 00:30:03,730 --> 00:30:09,040 S5: things into which angels long to look. So in God's 539 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:13,420 S5: great mercy and redemption, it is we, people who spread 540 00:30:13,420 --> 00:30:16,330 S5: the message of redemption. The angels are not spreading it. 541 00:30:16,330 --> 00:30:19,990 S5: And now the last question Mary asks, why did God 542 00:30:19,990 --> 00:30:23,290 S5: create Satan? Well, I think her answer she begins to 543 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:26,260 S5: give this is for God's glory is in the right direction. 544 00:30:26,260 --> 00:30:29,020 S5: But beyond that, I think the creation of the devil 545 00:30:29,020 --> 00:30:31,450 S5: is a mystery. I'll leave that up to God. 546 00:30:31,450 --> 00:30:34,330 S1: Well, let me ask you, our angels in heaven right now, 547 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:37,570 S1: capable of sinning and becoming fallen angels. 548 00:30:37,570 --> 00:30:40,150 S5: Well, I don't think there's a text that speaks to 549 00:30:40,180 --> 00:30:43,180 S5: this directly, but I suspect the answer is no. I 550 00:30:43,180 --> 00:30:46,030 S5: suspect that this fall where the devil took a third 551 00:30:46,030 --> 00:30:49,480 S5: of them with him, was a one time event, so 552 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:53,380 S5: that they can now sin. But the holy angels are 553 00:30:53,380 --> 00:30:57,400 S5: kept in holiness because they're called holy angels several times 554 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:00,190 S5: in Scripture. I think that's a permanent situation for them. 555 00:31:00,220 --> 00:31:05,890 S1: Okay. First Samuel 15 records Saul's incomplete obedience in not 556 00:31:05,890 --> 00:31:09,160 S1: destroying King Agag as well as the best of the 557 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:12,190 S1: sheep and the cattle of the Amalekites. Now, if Samuel 558 00:31:12,190 --> 00:31:15,670 S1: destroyed Agag and the rest of the people had been destroyed, 559 00:31:15,670 --> 00:31:18,430 S1: how did Haman come about? I mean, did Agag have 560 00:31:18,430 --> 00:31:20,140 S1: a son who hadn't been destroyed so that he could 561 00:31:20,140 --> 00:31:21,730 S1: have offspring. Any thoughts? 562 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:24,310 S5: Oh, that's a great question. I don't think there's enough 563 00:31:24,310 --> 00:31:26,830 S5: evidence in the Bible to know the answer with certainty. 564 00:31:26,830 --> 00:31:29,620 S5: But in the book of Esther, chapter three, this is 565 00:31:29,620 --> 00:31:33,670 S5: what we read. After these things, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman 566 00:31:33,700 --> 00:31:37,540 S5: the Agagite, the son of Hamadan, and advanced him and 567 00:31:37,540 --> 00:31:39,910 S5: set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 568 00:31:39,910 --> 00:31:42,550 S5: So there is some evidence that the label agagite got 569 00:31:42,550 --> 00:31:46,120 S5: used symbolically about someone who was an enemy of Israel. 570 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:47,920 S5: But I don't think that's the usage here. I think 571 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:51,190 S5: Haman is a literal descendant. So the question is where 572 00:31:51,190 --> 00:31:53,830 S5: did he come from? Here's what I suspect. I suspect 573 00:31:53,830 --> 00:31:57,459 S5: that since Saul was so incredibly sloppy in caring for 574 00:31:57,460 --> 00:32:01,780 S5: the Lord's will and not totally annihilating the Amalekites, that 575 00:32:01,780 --> 00:32:04,690 S5: someone did escape, as you suggest. And then there's some 576 00:32:04,690 --> 00:32:07,840 S5: descendants that come from Agag, and one of them escaped 577 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:09,490 S5: and shows up decades later. 578 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,280 S1: You know, to the story and the character of Haman, 579 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:14,920 S1: who plays such a central role in the book of Esther. 580 00:32:14,950 --> 00:32:18,610 S1: You know, you have to wonder about Haman's Heyman's appointment 581 00:32:18,610 --> 00:32:21,670 S1: to such a high role. Is this just sort of 582 00:32:21,700 --> 00:32:25,330 S1: the way the odds kind of fell out? Is this 583 00:32:25,510 --> 00:32:28,870 S1: a divine appointment so God could show his deliverance? Or 584 00:32:28,900 --> 00:32:31,690 S1: is this Satan at work, actively attempting to do what 585 00:32:31,690 --> 00:32:33,370 S1: he can to stamp out the Jewish people? What do 586 00:32:33,370 --> 00:32:33,760 S1: you think? 587 00:32:33,790 --> 00:32:36,640 S5: Oh, yes. Okay. I think the answers are yes, yes 588 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:40,090 S5: and yes. I see the devil at work and bringing 589 00:32:40,090 --> 00:32:43,510 S5: Heyman into this position. I see God sovereignly working through 590 00:32:43,510 --> 00:32:47,320 S5: the devil's work to then bring out this miraculous rescue 591 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:50,530 S5: of his people. I think we can affirm both things 592 00:32:50,530 --> 00:32:53,710 S5: to be true at the same time that Satan does 593 00:32:53,710 --> 00:32:56,500 S5: his work, God does his work, and they're kind of 594 00:32:56,530 --> 00:32:58,030 S5: curiously related. 595 00:32:58,060 --> 00:33:00,460 S1: Isn't it true that there is sort of a spiritual 596 00:33:00,460 --> 00:33:03,160 S1: counterfeiting that goes on in the heavens all the time? 597 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:06,490 S5: All the time? There's a spiritual counterfeiting going on? Yes. 598 00:33:06,490 --> 00:33:08,980 S5: From 3000 years ago to today. 599 00:33:09,070 --> 00:33:10,600 S1: Count on it. If you know if God says, this 600 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:12,970 S1: is good, we have an enemy who says this is bad. 601 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:13,510 S5: Right. 602 00:33:13,750 --> 00:33:16,330 S1: It's just an ongoing chess match, right? 603 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:19,630 S5: Yeah. But we can be confident that God sees all 604 00:33:19,630 --> 00:33:21,340 S5: the pieces all at once. 605 00:33:21,670 --> 00:33:23,290 S1: And more importantly, that he wins. Right. 606 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:24,400 S5: Right. Right. 607 00:33:24,430 --> 00:33:26,680 S1: This is the land and the book from Moody Radio, 608 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:30,790 S1: doctor Gerald Peterman of Moody Bible Institute faculty answering your questions. 609 00:33:30,790 --> 00:33:33,490 S1: How do those questions come to us? You ask by email. 610 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:36,100 S1: All right. And you use this address and we'd love 611 00:33:36,100 --> 00:33:41,080 S1: to hear from you. The land and the book@moody.edu. What 612 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:43,210 S1: happens when somebody emails you? I mean, does it take 613 00:33:43,210 --> 00:33:44,650 S1: a month to get an answer? 614 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:46,780 S5: Uh, 3 to 4 days, maybe a week if I 615 00:33:46,780 --> 00:33:49,510 S5: have a bad week. Maybe one day if I find 616 00:33:49,510 --> 00:33:52,330 S5: the question really exciting. It kind of depends on what 617 00:33:52,330 --> 00:33:54,430 S5: else is happening in life. So I try to get 618 00:33:54,460 --> 00:33:55,570 S5: on it as fast as I can. 619 00:33:55,570 --> 00:33:58,630 S1: And you email these people back directly, right? Right. That's great. 620 00:33:58,630 --> 00:34:01,090 S1: And then of course, we like to use your question 621 00:34:01,090 --> 00:34:03,250 S1: in a future broadcast of the land and the book. 622 00:34:03,250 --> 00:34:05,680 S1: So that's what happens when you email us at The 623 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:10,870 S1: Land and the book@moody.edu. This listener wants to know Jerry 624 00:34:10,900 --> 00:34:15,279 S1: is turning Gaza into a spa for billionaires. Part of 625 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:16,090 S1: God's plan. 626 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:20,739 S5: Again, I've heard rumors about the politics of turning Gaza 627 00:34:20,739 --> 00:34:24,160 S5: into another French Riviera. Let's not talk about what the 628 00:34:24,160 --> 00:34:26,440 S5: president is doing. Let's just go again, back to our 629 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:29,200 S5: Old Testament. What do we find there? We find in 630 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:33,009 S5: Exodus 23 that this area, from the Red sea to 631 00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:36,430 S5: the sea of the Philistines, to the wilderness of the Euphrates, 632 00:34:36,430 --> 00:34:41,020 S5: that whole area belongs to Israel. So if Israel wants 633 00:34:41,020 --> 00:34:43,150 S5: to turn Gaza into a strip of billionaires, let them 634 00:34:43,150 --> 00:34:45,520 S5: do it. All right. I don't think that's our call. 635 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:47,259 S5: I think that's their call. 636 00:34:47,290 --> 00:34:50,440 S1: Yeah, well, I want to swing our focus toward Israel itself. 637 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:53,710 S1: Since you've brought that up, you have been to Israel before. 638 00:34:53,710 --> 00:34:56,080 S1: And I'm just kind of curious, as a Bible teacher, 639 00:34:56,140 --> 00:34:59,739 S1: as a Bible student, as a Bible preacher and teacher, 640 00:34:59,739 --> 00:35:03,730 S1: what was your favorite site in Israel and why? 641 00:35:03,820 --> 00:35:06,910 S5: Oh, well, thanks for that. It was my first time 642 00:35:06,910 --> 00:35:09,759 S5: going to Israel. Okay, we're on the bus. We pull 643 00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:12,610 S5: up this slope and we park the bus and the 644 00:35:12,610 --> 00:35:16,600 S5: guide says, I'm going to show you the Judean wilderness. 645 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:19,870 S5: And we climb up a slope, and then we see 646 00:35:19,870 --> 00:35:24,340 S5: the Judean wilderness. And I wept because I'm thinking, here 647 00:35:24,340 --> 00:35:28,300 S5: is where my lord, over the course of 40 days 648 00:35:28,300 --> 00:35:31,989 S5: was tempted by the enemy and fasted, and he came 649 00:35:31,989 --> 00:35:35,620 S5: forth victorious. And if you've seen the Judean wilderness, it 650 00:35:35,620 --> 00:35:38,470 S5: is so stark. Yes, it is so unforgiving. It looks 651 00:35:38,469 --> 00:35:40,810 S5: like a horrible place to spend your days. 652 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:44,140 S1: Yeah. I mean, it is so rugged. I mean, from 653 00:35:44,140 --> 00:35:46,870 S1: a distance, the overlook, it's like, uh, it looks like 654 00:35:46,870 --> 00:35:50,110 S1: they might be nice, soft, sandy hills. They're not. They're hard. 655 00:35:50,140 --> 00:35:51,190 S5: Anything but. 656 00:35:51,190 --> 00:35:53,350 S1: And there's just, like, no shade to be found. 657 00:35:53,380 --> 00:35:56,380 S5: Right. And almost no vegetation. Yeah. 658 00:35:56,650 --> 00:35:58,210 S1: All right. How about a second sight? If I had 659 00:35:58,210 --> 00:35:59,830 S1: to force you into it, what would be a second 660 00:35:59,830 --> 00:36:00,490 S1: favorite sight? 661 00:36:00,730 --> 00:36:05,200 S5: Oh, yes. My second favorite sight is the garden tomb. Mhm. 662 00:36:05,230 --> 00:36:08,740 S5: The garden tomb. And why was it the garden tomb? Well, 663 00:36:08,770 --> 00:36:13,090 S5: because we had the Lord's Supper in the Garden Tomb. 664 00:36:13,140 --> 00:36:16,319 S5: our group together. And I'm just thinking about again our 665 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:19,440 S5: Lord coming back to life, giving his life for us. 666 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:22,980 S5: And then we partake of that life in the Lord's Supper. 667 00:36:22,980 --> 00:36:26,490 S5: And we sang songs and we worshiped. It was so sweet. 668 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:29,370 S1: Well, tourism to Israel is finally cranking up again. If 669 00:36:29,370 --> 00:36:31,620 S1: you're thinking about it, now's a good time to check 670 00:36:31,620 --> 00:36:33,420 S1: it out. And right now is a good time to 671 00:36:33,450 --> 00:36:36,870 S1: also funnel your question to us, your Bible question. That is, 672 00:36:36,900 --> 00:36:41,819 S1: email us at the land and the book@moody.edu. That's the 673 00:36:41,820 --> 00:36:46,890 S1: land and the book@moody.edu. Don't go away. Charlie Dyer's devotional 674 00:36:46,890 --> 00:37:02,640 S1: is next right here. Thank you for your company here 675 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:04,980 S1: at the land and the book. We appreciate you sticking 676 00:37:04,980 --> 00:37:07,800 S1: around for this fourth and final segment. I'm John Geiger. 677 00:37:07,830 --> 00:37:10,379 S1: Our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, about to lead us in 678 00:37:10,380 --> 00:37:13,500 S1: a devotional. This is a continuing series you've got going on, Charlie. 679 00:37:13,500 --> 00:37:14,879 S1: Bring us up to speed. 680 00:37:14,969 --> 00:37:17,910 S2: Ah, well thanks, John. It's an 11 part series on 681 00:37:17,910 --> 00:37:21,000 S2: inscriptions that relate it to the Bible. So I'm looking 682 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:21,900 S2: forward to continuing. 683 00:37:21,930 --> 00:37:24,960 S1: Okay. And we're headed for Isaiah chapter ten today. A 684 00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:27,900 S1: bit more about that after we hear from this traveler 685 00:37:27,900 --> 00:37:31,020 S1: to Israel who wanted to present this experience that they 686 00:37:31,020 --> 00:37:32,700 S1: had to you and me. 687 00:37:36,660 --> 00:37:39,390 S6: I'm Gail, and it's been a lifelong dream of mine 688 00:37:39,390 --> 00:37:42,240 S6: to come to Israel, and I was blessed to come 689 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:48,630 S6: in 2012 and doubly blessed to be back in 2014 690 00:37:48,630 --> 00:37:51,780 S6: to where this is really being cemented in my head. 691 00:37:52,050 --> 00:37:56,129 S6: This is a trip that makes the Bible come alive. 692 00:37:56,160 --> 00:38:00,720 S6: It's nothing that you're just reading by faith. There's so 693 00:38:00,719 --> 00:38:05,100 S6: much evidence that the Bible is true, and we are 694 00:38:05,100 --> 00:38:09,210 S6: able to even see exactly where things happened. What I 695 00:38:09,210 --> 00:38:12,300 S6: love the most about Israel is the Sea of Galilee. 696 00:38:12,330 --> 00:38:15,600 S6: I love to be where Jesus walked on the water. 697 00:38:15,630 --> 00:38:17,310 S6: The boat ride that we take on the Sea of 698 00:38:17,310 --> 00:38:22,500 S6: Galilee is awesome. And to see Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida 699 00:38:23,010 --> 00:38:26,790 S6: is just amazing. To see the places where Jesus did 700 00:38:26,790 --> 00:38:31,200 S6: his miracles. And if you want the opportunity for the 701 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:33,540 S6: Bible to come alive for you, this is the trip 702 00:38:33,540 --> 00:38:34,290 S6: for you. 703 00:38:35,969 --> 00:38:39,510 S1: Isaiah chapter ten is our Bible text. Charlie, who's our 704 00:38:39,510 --> 00:38:43,500 S1: focus in this continuing devotional series? 11 inscriptions. 705 00:38:43,500 --> 00:38:46,200 S2: It is Sennacherib. You know, we're almost at the halfway 706 00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:49,200 S2: point in our 11 week series that I've called 11 707 00:38:49,230 --> 00:38:52,379 S2: inscriptions to the Bible. In this series, we're looking at 708 00:38:52,380 --> 00:38:56,550 S2: written inscriptions uncovered by archaeologists that give us new insight 709 00:38:56,550 --> 00:39:00,090 S2: into our understanding of the Bible. And today, I'll let 710 00:39:00,090 --> 00:39:03,090 S2: you choose our location. Would you like to visit the 711 00:39:03,090 --> 00:39:05,760 S2: British Museum where we were last week, or would you 712 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:08,610 S2: like to go to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem or 713 00:39:08,610 --> 00:39:11,850 S2: the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West Asia 714 00:39:11,850 --> 00:39:15,180 S2: and North Africa at the University of Chicago. Now, it 715 00:39:15,180 --> 00:39:17,940 S2: doesn't matter which one you choose, because we'll be looking 716 00:39:17,940 --> 00:39:21,990 S2: at virtually the same inscription in each place. It's exciting 717 00:39:21,989 --> 00:39:26,370 S2: when archaeologists find an ancient inscription, but imagine discovering three 718 00:39:26,370 --> 00:39:30,390 S2: copies of the same inscription, an inscription written by King 719 00:39:30,390 --> 00:39:34,680 S2: Sennacherib of Assyria, a king identified by name in the Bible, 720 00:39:34,710 --> 00:39:37,500 S2: a king some scholars think is actually the one who 721 00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:40,410 S2: built the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of 722 00:39:40,410 --> 00:39:44,459 S2: the Ancient World, and this inscription describes his building projects 723 00:39:44,460 --> 00:39:48,750 S2: and his attack against King Hezekiah of Judah. All three 724 00:39:48,750 --> 00:39:53,220 S2: of the six sided clay prisms discovered are about 15in tall, 725 00:39:53,219 --> 00:39:57,719 S2: and they're virtually identical. Each concludes with Sennacherib describing his 726 00:39:57,719 --> 00:40:01,799 S2: building projects, including his new palace, which he described as 727 00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:06,089 S2: an unrivaled palace that was a wonder for all peoples, 728 00:40:06,090 --> 00:40:09,130 S2: something that's where the idea of the Seven Wonders of 729 00:40:09,130 --> 00:40:12,670 S2: the world actually got its start. We can't prove that 730 00:40:12,670 --> 00:40:15,400 S2: it was Sennacherib who built the Hanging Gardens. But we 731 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:17,860 S2: do know that Sennacherib was indeed one of the most 732 00:40:17,860 --> 00:40:21,520 S2: impressive kings who ever lived, certainly up till the time 733 00:40:21,550 --> 00:40:25,810 S2: of King Nebuchadnezzar. These three prisms record eight straight years 734 00:40:25,810 --> 00:40:29,380 S2: of conquest, eight years of bending the surrounding nations to 735 00:40:29,410 --> 00:40:32,410 S2: the will and might of the Assyrians, led, of course, 736 00:40:32,410 --> 00:40:36,310 S2: by Sennacherib. And in year three of the account, Sennacherib 737 00:40:36,310 --> 00:40:40,509 S2: encounters Hezekiah. As to Hezekiah the Judahite, he did not 738 00:40:40,510 --> 00:40:43,540 S2: submit to my yoke. I laid siege to 46 of 739 00:40:43,540 --> 00:40:47,230 S2: his strong cities, walled forts, and the countless small villages 740 00:40:47,230 --> 00:40:50,080 S2: in their vicinity, and conquered them by means of earth 741 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:53,890 S2: ramps and battering rams, combined with an attack by foot soldiers. 742 00:40:53,920 --> 00:40:59,500 S2: I drove out over 200,150 people, young and old, male 743 00:40:59,500 --> 00:41:03,790 S2: and female horses, mules, donkeys, camels, big and small cattle 744 00:41:03,820 --> 00:41:08,129 S2: beyond counting, and considered them booty and Hezekiah. I made 745 00:41:08,130 --> 00:41:11,969 S2: a prisoner in Jerusalem, his royal residence, like a bird 746 00:41:11,969 --> 00:41:16,620 S2: in a cage. Sounds like a rather impressive victory, doesn't it? Well, 747 00:41:16,620 --> 00:41:20,189 S2: let's look at the rest of the story. Sennacherib did 748 00:41:20,190 --> 00:41:24,150 S2: indeed attack, and in many ways devastate the kingdom of Judah. 749 00:41:24,180 --> 00:41:28,739 S2: The Bible takes an unflinching look at this devastation. Isaiah 750 00:41:28,739 --> 00:41:32,850 S2: 36 one gives a summary of the Assyrian campaign. Now 751 00:41:32,850 --> 00:41:36,510 S2: it came about in the 14th year of King Hezekiah. Sennacherib, 752 00:41:36,510 --> 00:41:39,450 S2: king of Assyria, came up against all the fortified cities 753 00:41:39,450 --> 00:41:43,830 S2: of Judah and seized them. Sennacherib said he captured 46 754 00:41:43,830 --> 00:41:47,279 S2: strong walled fortresses, and the Bible says he captured all 755 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:51,180 S2: the fortified cities. The only remaining city in both accounts 756 00:41:51,180 --> 00:41:55,710 S2: was Jerusalem, the capital. Sennacherib said he surrounded Hezekiah there 757 00:41:55,710 --> 00:41:58,380 S2: and hemmed him in like a bird in a cage. 758 00:41:58,410 --> 00:42:02,730 S2: The account in Isaiah 36 continues with Sennacherib's forces coming 759 00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:06,569 S2: to the very walls of Jerusalem to taunt Hezekiah and 760 00:42:06,570 --> 00:42:10,469 S2: call on the people to surrender or die. On the surface, 761 00:42:10,469 --> 00:42:13,469 S2: the two accounts paint a very similar picture, but with 762 00:42:13,469 --> 00:42:17,399 S2: two major exceptions. Sennacherib failed to tell us why he 763 00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:21,120 S2: didn't capture Jerusalem and why he let Hezekiah remain on 764 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:24,960 S2: the throne after rebelling. The Bible fills in those details 765 00:42:24,960 --> 00:42:28,530 S2: in several passages, but I want to focus on Isaiah ten. 766 00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:31,380 S2: There the prophet begins by telling the people of Judah 767 00:42:31,380 --> 00:42:34,740 S2: why the Assyrians were coming. God himself had raised up 768 00:42:34,739 --> 00:42:37,080 S2: the Assyrians to judge the people of Judah for their 769 00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:41,399 S2: sin and rebellion. In describing the Assyrian army. God said, 770 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:44,490 S2: I send it against a godless nation and commission it 771 00:42:44,489 --> 00:42:47,220 S2: against the people of my fury to capture booty and 772 00:42:47,219 --> 00:42:50,010 S2: to seize plunder and to trample them down like mud 773 00:42:50,010 --> 00:42:53,759 S2: in the streets. But Isaiah quickly adds that the Assyrians 774 00:42:53,760 --> 00:42:56,910 S2: misunderstood the reality that they were nothing more than an 775 00:42:56,910 --> 00:43:01,080 S2: instrument of judgment in God's hands. They thought they were 776 00:43:01,080 --> 00:43:04,080 S2: doing so well because they were stronger, smarter, and more 777 00:43:04,080 --> 00:43:08,310 S2: powerful than anyone else. Isaiah described a serious, prideful boast 778 00:43:08,310 --> 00:43:10,859 S2: this way. By the power of my hand and by 779 00:43:10,860 --> 00:43:14,580 S2: my wisdom, I did this. God then announced what he 780 00:43:14,580 --> 00:43:17,370 S2: planned to do to the king of Assyria and his army. 781 00:43:17,400 --> 00:43:20,190 S2: Therefore the Lord, the God of hosts, will send a 782 00:43:20,190 --> 00:43:24,000 S2: wasting disease among his stout warriors, and under his glory 783 00:43:24,030 --> 00:43:26,970 S2: a fire will be kindled like a burning flame, and 784 00:43:26,969 --> 00:43:29,310 S2: the light of Israel will become a fire, and his 785 00:43:29,310 --> 00:43:31,890 S2: holy one a flame. And it will burn and devour 786 00:43:31,890 --> 00:43:35,700 S2: his thorns and his briars in a single day. The 787 00:43:35,700 --> 00:43:39,029 S2: image is poetic, but the picture is clear. The king 788 00:43:39,060 --> 00:43:42,030 S2: of Assyria thought he was the tallest tree in the forest, 789 00:43:42,030 --> 00:43:44,969 S2: but God was about to light a fire of judgment 790 00:43:44,969 --> 00:43:48,120 S2: that would destroy the Assyrian army in a single day. 791 00:43:48,150 --> 00:43:52,620 S2: What Isaiah predicted in chapter ten actually happened. Isaiah described 792 00:43:52,620 --> 00:43:55,950 S2: it this way in chapter 37. Then the angel of 793 00:43:55,950 --> 00:43:59,580 S2: the Lord went out and struck 185,000 in the camp 794 00:43:59,580 --> 00:44:03,049 S2: of the Assyrians. And when men arose early in the morning, Behold, 795 00:44:03,050 --> 00:44:05,930 S2: all of these were dead. So Sennacherib, king of Assyria, 796 00:44:05,960 --> 00:44:09,890 S2: departed and returned home and lived in Nineveh. The bulk 797 00:44:09,890 --> 00:44:13,640 S2: of King Sennacherib's invading army were destroyed in a single 798 00:44:13,640 --> 00:44:16,820 S2: night by the angel of the Lord. Hezekiah and the 799 00:44:16,820 --> 00:44:20,930 S2: people of Jerusalem were spared. But wait. That part wasn't 800 00:44:20,930 --> 00:44:24,650 S2: included in Sennacherib's account. So how do we know it's true? 801 00:44:24,680 --> 00:44:27,590 S2: We can clearly see the truth of the statement by 802 00:44:27,590 --> 00:44:31,430 S2: reading between the lines in Sennacherib's own account. Sennacherib goes 803 00:44:31,430 --> 00:44:33,469 S2: out of his way to describe all the nations and 804 00:44:33,469 --> 00:44:37,069 S2: kings he subdued, killed or chased into exile. But when 805 00:44:37,070 --> 00:44:40,310 S2: he comes to Hezekiah, whom he says had rebelled against him, 806 00:44:40,310 --> 00:44:42,680 S2: the most he can say is that he cornered him 807 00:44:42,680 --> 00:44:45,350 S2: in his city like a bird in a cage. And 808 00:44:45,350 --> 00:44:48,110 S2: that's all he could say, because once the battle was over, 809 00:44:48,110 --> 00:44:52,130 S2: Hezekiah was still on his throne. Like the original Rocky movie. 810 00:44:52,160 --> 00:44:55,100 S2: Hezekiah went the distance with the champion of the world, 811 00:44:55,100 --> 00:44:58,310 S2: and when it was over, he was still standing. As 812 00:44:58,310 --> 00:45:00,920 S2: we turned to leave the museum, what lesson ought we 813 00:45:00,950 --> 00:45:04,760 S2: to take away from Sennacherib's account of his invasion of Judah? 814 00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:08,180 S2: Maybe it's this. It's all too easy for us to 815 00:45:08,210 --> 00:45:12,110 S2: buy into the world's estimation of what's important and what's not, 816 00:45:12,140 --> 00:45:15,410 S2: of what's powerful and what's weak, of what's permanent and 817 00:45:15,410 --> 00:45:19,850 S2: what's temporary. Sennacherib began his inscription by describing himself as 818 00:45:19,850 --> 00:45:23,360 S2: Sennacherib the great king, the mighty king, king of the world, 819 00:45:23,360 --> 00:45:26,810 S2: king of Assyria, king of the four quarters. And in 820 00:45:26,810 --> 00:45:30,230 S2: most people's eyes, that's exactly what he was. But Isaiah 821 00:45:30,230 --> 00:45:32,989 S2: reminded the people this king was nothing more than a 822 00:45:32,989 --> 00:45:36,739 S2: temporary tool in God's hands, and therefore he had no 823 00:45:36,739 --> 00:45:40,040 S2: reason or right to boast. Is the ax to boast 824 00:45:40,040 --> 00:45:43,160 S2: over the one who chops with it? Isaiah asks, and 825 00:45:43,160 --> 00:45:45,979 S2: the answer, of course, was no. God was the one 826 00:45:45,980 --> 00:45:49,700 S2: wielding the ax. God was in control. What's the biggest 827 00:45:49,700 --> 00:45:53,180 S2: threat or problem you're facing today? Now, which is bigger? 828 00:45:53,180 --> 00:45:57,620 S2: That problem or God? The Sennacherib prism is a reminder 829 00:45:57,620 --> 00:46:00,710 S2: to all of us that God is really in control, 830 00:46:00,739 --> 00:46:04,640 S2: no matter who might say otherwise. You can count on it. Now, 831 00:46:04,640 --> 00:46:07,070 S2: if you'd like to see photos of all three Sennacherib 832 00:46:07,070 --> 00:46:11,000 S2: inscriptions on display in the British Museum, the Israel Museum 833 00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:14,000 S2: and the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West 834 00:46:14,000 --> 00:46:17,120 S2: Asia and North Africa there at the University of Chicago. 835 00:46:17,150 --> 00:46:18,890 S2: Be sure to head over to our land in the 836 00:46:18,920 --> 00:46:22,190 S2: book Facebook page where I'll post those pictures. 837 00:46:22,219 --> 00:46:25,670 S1: Very, very cool. Thank you, Charlie, for that research. And 838 00:46:25,670 --> 00:46:27,290 S1: when you think about it, every one of us is 839 00:46:27,290 --> 00:46:31,279 S1: just a temporary tool in God's hands, for good or ill. 840 00:46:31,310 --> 00:46:34,489 S1: Appreciate that reminder. Hey, you're always welcome to visit our 841 00:46:34,489 --> 00:46:38,600 S1: website as well. The land and the book. Org and again, 842 00:46:38,600 --> 00:46:41,390 S1: keep in mind that Facebook page that Charlie has mentioned. 843 00:46:41,420 --> 00:46:44,240 S1: Our time is gone, but we've got another jam packed 844 00:46:44,239 --> 00:46:47,060 S1: program all planned out for you next week. Hope you'll 845 00:46:47,060 --> 00:46:49,970 S1: join us then. I'm John Gager for Charlie Dyer. The 846 00:46:49,969 --> 00:46:52,610 S1: land and the book is a production of Moody Radio, 847 00:46:52,640 --> 00:46:55,040 S1: a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.