Question 1: When was Genesis 15:13-14 written?
It says, "Then the LORD said to him, "Know for
certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their
own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions."
If it was written before it occurred, then the verse is a prophecy that came true. It specifies the number of years, too.
Question 2: Why was the Pharaoh punished for Abram's lying?
"Since Abraham didn’t properly protect Sarah, who was the promised mother
of a new nation that would bless the whole world, God had to step in to
keep her away from Pharaoh’s bed.
... These plagues on Pharaoh and his house were not so much a punishment as a
message, but they are definitely an example of the sins of one person
causing others to suffer. Our cursed world is full of examples of
innocents suffering for the sins of others.
...God’s purpose in these plagues wasn’t to unfairly punish Pharaoh and his
court but to protect Sarah and to force Abraham to own up to the truth.
Abraham’s actions served as a poor testimony of God before this pagan
king, but God would not allow His long-range plans for sending the
Savior through Abraham and Sarah’s descendents to be foiled by Abraham’s
cowardice or Pharaoh’s lustful appetite. Pharaoh got to see that
Abraham’s God was indeed powerful, a good lesson for any pagan. Pharaoh
also saw that the God of Abraham didn’t let him get away with his lie." (http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2011/05/20/feedback-unfair-plagues)
Question 2: What is the relevancy of circumcision in the modern world? If you're not circumcised, does that mean you broke the covenant, as stated in Genesis 17?
Circumcision is apparently outdated.
"First Corinthians 7
makes it clear that if an uncircumcised man becomes a Christian, he is
not to have himself circumcised (at least not for religious reasons) (1 Corinthians 7:18).
To do so would be a bad testimony to others, as it tends to indicate
that the person believes that circumcision is a requirement of
Christianity. It is not. To claim that any work of man is required for salvation is heresy. Salvation is by grace, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Circumcision means nothing to God, since Christ’s death (see Acts 6:15; 1 Corinthians 7:19)." (http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/circumcision.html)
"However, circumcision was not merely a physical and external practice.
It symbolized something internal. God described idolatry and
disobedience as a result of an uncircumcised heart (Leviticus 26:41); he
described repentance as a circumcision of the heart (Deuteronomy 10:16;
30:6)." (http://www.gci.org/law/circumcision)
Question 3: Why did Lot's wife turn into a pillar of salt?
"Lot ran, his daughters close behind. “But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26).
She lagged behind. She turned and watched the flaming sulfur fall from
the sky, consuming everything she valued. Then it consumed her. The
Hebrew for “looked back” means more than to glance over one’s shoulder.
It means to regard, to consider, to pay attention to. The Scriptures
don’t say whether her death was a punishment for valuing her old life so
much that she hesitated in obeying, or if it was a simple consequence
of her reluctance to leave her life quickly. Either she identified too
much with the city—and joined it—or she neglected to fully obey God’s
warning and she died." (http://www.gotquestions.org/pillar-of-salt.html)
Side note: In my opinion, Sodom and Gomorrah had what was coming to them. If there were just TEN people that were righteous in God's eyes, the town would have been saved. Abraham brought it down from 50 to 10... and there weren't even 10 righteous people!? And the men wanted to rape the men who were visiting Lot, when they were given the option of sleeping with Lot's daughters (that's another problem, but anyway...)? They screwed themselves over by letting sin overwhelm them.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
Day 13-15: Job 35-42
I have two questions, and a couple of thoughts.
The first question: What is the Leviathan referenced in Job 41?
I don't have much of an answer to this except that it's some kind of creature that is referenced a couple of times within the bible. hahah, sorry to disappoint!
----
The second question: What did Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar do that was wrong enough that they needed to make offerings to God and have Job pray for them? Weren't they defending God while Job cried out against Him?
"When Job’s three friends - Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar - heard of his adversity, they came to visit him, saying they wanted to comfort him (Job 2:11). But they didn’t actually comfort him at all, when we see the way they spoke to him later on. They only criticised and accused him. All three of them were in fellowship with the devil, the accuser of the brethren.
These three men were jealous of Job, because Job was a godly man and a rich man and everything was going well for him and for his family.
Many believers are jealous of godly men, when they see their influence and ministry - and are often waiting for some calamity to hit them. We know that the devil is eager for some calamity to befall godly people. But there are believers who wait for that too, and who are secretly happy when it happens.
These three men pretended that they were very sorry for Job. They wept when they saw Job and tore their robes and threw dust over their heads. They were really good actors. But secretly they were delighted, because they were jealous of him. These three preachers only knew about God. They didn’t know God personally. That’s why God couldn’t point out any of them to Satan.
...When God’s blessing and anointing are on a godly man, and someone else is jealous of him, God may allow some physical calamity to come to that man, in order to expose the other person’s wicked jealousy. Once the other man’s evil has been exposed, God will heal the sickness and restore the godly man to health.
All three of these men could not truly understand why Job suffered as he did. They could only find fault with him. That is because they were religious people like the Pharisees later on, in Jesus’ time..." (http://www.cfcindia.com/web/mainpages/word_for_the_week.php?display=11_04&year=10)
I can relate to being like Bildad, Zophar, and Eliphaz. I've felt jealous of people and what they've had. I would start to think, what's so good about them that they deserve more than me? But that's just selfish. Other people have nothing to do with my life and what God has blessed me with, so I have learned to be a little happier for other people instead of dwelling on what I (don't) have. Of course, this is still a battle every now and then...
-----------
But all in all, what came to mind while reading the chapters, and when God began to answer Job directly, is something that occurs pretty frequently in real life. I am a sensitive person. It's not just because I'm a girl, but because of who I am and how I grew up. With that in mind, I feel very intimidated around sarcastic, witty, or snappy people. Whether a mean comment is directed towards or me, I tend to recoil because I feel like they could have said it in a nicer way. I've had a couple of conversations with my friends about people who are blunt and don't censor what they feel in how they relay it to whoever, but basically the response that I've gotten is... yea, it might be mean to say it out loud or to say it bluntly, but it's the truth so you can't really do anything about it. You can't counter it because it's not as if they're stating a lie, but rather you must accept what they're saying.
In the same way, when God is talking to Job, He brings up the fact that He knows more about everything than Job. At first, it seems as if God is a cocky being who likes to talk about Himself and boast about how much better he is than humans, however, that is not the case. Job was never neglected and left alone by God. God just wanted Job to trust Him because there is no one who knows more about anything than Him nor is there anyone who loves more than Himself. In Job 40-41, God elaborates that He was there when the world was being created (because He created it), when the first humans were created, when animals hunt to eat, and when seemingly insignificant things occur, like a single ox hides from the shade by sitting under a lotus plant. God is by definition an all-knowing, all-loving, and all-feeling being... so doesn't that mean that if Job was hurting, that God was hurting an equal amount PLUS the pain of all of the other humans and creatures on the Earth? God didn't deserve being rebuked by Job, even if he did go through so much. And Job recognizes this, resulting in forgiveness from God and a blessed life until death.
Pride is one of man's greatest enemies. Pride is so easy to give into... we think we deserve something and fight to get it. Or we feel like we don't deserve punishment and we run away from it. God is the maker of justice... if we deserve punishment, then we need to recognize it like Job. It takes more of a man to be punished for something that we don't think we completely deserve than to run away from it, avoid it, or push it onto something else.
The first question: What is the Leviathan referenced in Job 41?
I don't have much of an answer to this except that it's some kind of creature that is referenced a couple of times within the bible. hahah, sorry to disappoint!
----
The second question: What did Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar do that was wrong enough that they needed to make offerings to God and have Job pray for them? Weren't they defending God while Job cried out against Him?
"When Job’s three friends - Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar - heard of his adversity, they came to visit him, saying they wanted to comfort him (Job 2:11). But they didn’t actually comfort him at all, when we see the way they spoke to him later on. They only criticised and accused him. All three of them were in fellowship with the devil, the accuser of the brethren.
These three men were jealous of Job, because Job was a godly man and a rich man and everything was going well for him and for his family.
Many believers are jealous of godly men, when they see their influence and ministry - and are often waiting for some calamity to hit them. We know that the devil is eager for some calamity to befall godly people. But there are believers who wait for that too, and who are secretly happy when it happens.
These three men pretended that they were very sorry for Job. They wept when they saw Job and tore their robes and threw dust over their heads. They were really good actors. But secretly they were delighted, because they were jealous of him. These three preachers only knew about God. They didn’t know God personally. That’s why God couldn’t point out any of them to Satan.
...When God’s blessing and anointing are on a godly man, and someone else is jealous of him, God may allow some physical calamity to come to that man, in order to expose the other person’s wicked jealousy. Once the other man’s evil has been exposed, God will heal the sickness and restore the godly man to health.
All three of these men could not truly understand why Job suffered as he did. They could only find fault with him. That is because they were religious people like the Pharisees later on, in Jesus’ time..." (http://www.cfcindia.com/web/mainpages/word_for_the_week.php?display=11_04&year=10)
I can relate to being like Bildad, Zophar, and Eliphaz. I've felt jealous of people and what they've had. I would start to think, what's so good about them that they deserve more than me? But that's just selfish. Other people have nothing to do with my life and what God has blessed me with, so I have learned to be a little happier for other people instead of dwelling on what I (don't) have. Of course, this is still a battle every now and then...
-----------
But all in all, what came to mind while reading the chapters, and when God began to answer Job directly, is something that occurs pretty frequently in real life. I am a sensitive person. It's not just because I'm a girl, but because of who I am and how I grew up. With that in mind, I feel very intimidated around sarcastic, witty, or snappy people. Whether a mean comment is directed towards or me, I tend to recoil because I feel like they could have said it in a nicer way. I've had a couple of conversations with my friends about people who are blunt and don't censor what they feel in how they relay it to whoever, but basically the response that I've gotten is... yea, it might be mean to say it out loud or to say it bluntly, but it's the truth so you can't really do anything about it. You can't counter it because it's not as if they're stating a lie, but rather you must accept what they're saying.
In the same way, when God is talking to Job, He brings up the fact that He knows more about everything than Job. At first, it seems as if God is a cocky being who likes to talk about Himself and boast about how much better he is than humans, however, that is not the case. Job was never neglected and left alone by God. God just wanted Job to trust Him because there is no one who knows more about anything than Him nor is there anyone who loves more than Himself. In Job 40-41, God elaborates that He was there when the world was being created (because He created it), when the first humans were created, when animals hunt to eat, and when seemingly insignificant things occur, like a single ox hides from the shade by sitting under a lotus plant. God is by definition an all-knowing, all-loving, and all-feeling being... so doesn't that mean that if Job was hurting, that God was hurting an equal amount PLUS the pain of all of the other humans and creatures on the Earth? God didn't deserve being rebuked by Job, even if he did go through so much. And Job recognizes this, resulting in forgiveness from God and a blessed life until death.
Pride is one of man's greatest enemies. Pride is so easy to give into... we think we deserve something and fight to get it. Or we feel like we don't deserve punishment and we run away from it. God is the maker of justice... if we deserve punishment, then we need to recognize it like Job. It takes more of a man to be punished for something that we don't think we completely deserve than to run away from it, avoid it, or push it onto something else.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Day 12: Job 32-34
Especially lately, with that video about the racist British woman on the tram on youtube, and Donner's exposure of the corruption and racism within the LAPD, the idea of a world without prejudice and discrimination seems... pretty laughable. Hate is incredibly ugly, but it's unavoidable. People judge you, one way or another.
Job 34:17-19 says, "Will you condemn the just and mighty One? 18 Is he not the One who says to kings, 'You are worthless,' and to nobles, 'You are wicked,' 19 who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?"
Kings and Queens, or in the modern era, CEOs, Presidents, and world leaders do not mean anything to God. The world may put them on a pedestal, but to God each of us are just as valuable to Him. I like the idea of that. It isn't true that God doesn't judge you. God does judge you, but not based on who you are and what you've done or with whom you're associated. God judges you based on your heart, and you can't ask for more than that, can you?
Job 34:17-19 says, "Will you condemn the just and mighty One? 18 Is he not the One who says to kings, 'You are worthless,' and to nobles, 'You are wicked,' 19 who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?"
Kings and Queens, or in the modern era, CEOs, Presidents, and world leaders do not mean anything to God. The world may put them on a pedestal, but to God each of us are just as valuable to Him. I like the idea of that. It isn't true that God doesn't judge you. God does judge you, but not based on who you are and what you've done or with whom you're associated. God judges you based on your heart, and you can't ask for more than that, can you?
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Day 11: Job 29-31
I'm having a hard time looking through Job, so I found outside help from http://www.calvaryfullerton.org/Bstudy/18%20Job/2003/18Job%2029-31.htm. This is copied and pasted, except for the NIV verse that was inserted for Job 30:11.
"Job 30:1 whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
What people think. I think it’s one of the hardest things in life to separate yourself from what others think of you. It seems that we each have people in our lives that we long to have approve of us. It’s not that we ought to feel this way, but truthfully we often do. What Job is expressing is very, very real for most of us. We long to have “important” people fawn over us. About the lowest humiliation we can think of is to have people we consider to be stupid ridiculing us. God’s hope is that we become more concerned about what He thinks of us than what people do." (http://www.calvaryfullerton.org/Bstudy/18%20Job/2003/18Job%2029-31.htm)
"Job 30:1 whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
People not fit to hang out with Job’s sheep dogs.
Job 30:11 Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me
(Job 30:11 [NIV]) Now that God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me, they throw off restraint in my presence.
Job 30:14 in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
What a long way Job has come. He used to be honored by the greatest of people. Now he’s scorned and ridiculed by the lowest of people.
What people think. I think it’s one of the hardest things in life to separate yourself from what others think of you. It seems that we each have people in our lives that we long to have approve of us. It’s not that we ought to feel this way, but truthfully we often do. What Job is expressing is very, very real for most of us. We long to have “important” people fawn over us. About the lowest humiliation we can think of is to have people we consider to be stupid ridiculing us. God’s hope is that we become more concerned about what He thinks of us than what people do." (http://www.calvaryfullerton.org/Bstudy/18%20Job/2003/18Job%2029-31.htm)
It's funny how I was recently discussing the same topic on my personal blog... I have a hard time dealing with people's opinions of myself. It's always been a problem of mine, and it's gotten me into a lot of trouble in the past. I guess peoples' opinions would pale in comparison to God's opinion if I really understand the value and depth of His love for me. To know that Job struggled with this makes me feel like he is more of a real human than a character in a book. It gives me some hope that I will overcome these trials one day too.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Day 10: Job 24-28
I don't find anything too significant about Job 24-28. Job's just being stubborn and saying he won't spread lies about God, but he won't admit that his friends are right. Maybe I'll take a deeper look at it another time.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Day 9: Job 21-23
Justice isn't always served on Earth.
Undeserving people have good things happen to them, even though they say "14... to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. 15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'"
But is it justice that people crave, or revenge? If it's justice, then justice will be served at the gates of heaven. If it's not justice, it's not really your concern. Wanting something less for people merely because you don't have as much (or don't think they deserve it) is selfish, undesirable, and pointless.
Instead, trust that God will know what to do when the time comes... for you, and others.
Undeserving people have good things happen to them, even though they say "14... to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. 15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'"
But is it justice that people crave, or revenge? If it's justice, then justice will be served at the gates of heaven. If it's not justice, it's not really your concern. Wanting something less for people merely because you don't have as much (or don't think they deserve it) is selfish, undesirable, and pointless.
Instead, trust that God will know what to do when the time comes... for you, and others.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Day 8: Job 17-20
Job continues to go back and forth about God with his friends.
In Job 19:22, Job says,
21 “Have pity on me, my friends, have pity,
for the hand of God has struck me.
22 Why do you pursue me as God does?
Will you never get enough of my flesh?
At least he acknowledges that in his hardship, even though he's angry and resentful and discouraged, God has never let go of him.
That's the biggest message for a Christian. Once you lay down your life in front of God, God will never let you go. Some might argue, well, maybe you want God to let you go. I say: there's no place in the heavens and the earth that you'll find to be a better place without God. And if you truly desire to be without God, then you have to wonder if you ever laid down your life for God in the first place, or consider that you just don't know what's best for you in the long run.
In Job 19:22, Job says,
21 “Have pity on me, my friends, have pity,
for the hand of God has struck me.
22 Why do you pursue me as God does?
Will you never get enough of my flesh?
At least he acknowledges that in his hardship, even though he's angry and resentful and discouraged, God has never let go of him.
That's the biggest message for a Christian. Once you lay down your life in front of God, God will never let you go. Some might argue, well, maybe you want God to let you go. I say: there's no place in the heavens and the earth that you'll find to be a better place without God. And if you truly desire to be without God, then you have to wonder if you ever laid down your life for God in the first place, or consider that you just don't know what's best for you in the long run.
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