It's not surprising God is so hard to find for anyone. It's not like he's here. He's rather far removed, if he's doing anything in this world.
But Israel is an interesting mark. Who are these people? Why in the world, after thousands of years, these people actuall reformed their national / racial independence? That's a crazy fact in and of itself.
The first five book of their Bible is also an interesting mark in the world. First of all, the best stories in the world are in their five books, whether they truly happened or not. Adam, Eve, the LORD, a serpent, two trees, one of Life and the other of the knowledge of good and evil, one single command "you shall not eat of the tree of knowledge or you will die", disobedience and seeing their nakedness. I mean, this is an awesome story, in and of itelf.
But there's more, Cain and Abel, two brothers, one a shepherd of sheep and another a tiller of the ground. two worshipers of God, one approved and the older's not accepted, then MURDER.
And there's more. Noah, his family, and two of each animal saved in an ark that took a hundred years to build, in a time when there had been no such thing as rain, and Noah is warning the world around him of the coming judgment of God, then the earth breaks apart and the earth floods and destroys every living thing, and then God sets a rainbow up when it is all over, promising to never destroy the earth by a flood again. Just a great story with sime primeval, really down to earth themes.
And there's more. A man named Abram was suddenly called by God to "go to a country I will show you" and promises his descendants will be greater than the sand of the sea, or stars in the sky, and he will be a father of many nations, and yet he isn't given a son until well into their old age, when his wife Sarah was incapable of having children. Then Isaac came, and God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, his only son, whom he loved, to God, and just before God tells Abraham to stop, and provides a lamb..
Then there's Jacob and Esau. Esau has the birthright by right, but is so hungry after a day of hunting that he sells it for stew from Jacob's ladel. Then as Isaac is about to bless Esau, Jacob comes in, spurred by his mother Rebecca to pretend to be Esau, and he steals the blessing, runs away from his family, finds a beautiful girl named Rachel, and on the day after his wedding, after working 7 years, wakes up to Leah, Rachel's sister. He was tricked by his father in law, Laban! Then, after leaving his father law, he wrestles with God the night before he meets Esau, who swore to kill him, and God asks this question "What is your name?" because not too long ago, he was posing as Esau.
Then Jacob has 12 children, two of which were from his beloved Rachel, the others from Leah and concubines. And he loves his son Joseph, gives him a coat of many colors, and as Jacob's most favored son, all the brother's decide to kill him, but end up for conscience sake selling him into slavery. Then Joseph goes into slavery, is bought by Potiphar, ends up being so favored by Pharaoh's official, Potiphar, that he gives Joseph dominion over all his estate. Then Potiphar's wife lusts for Joseph and tries to sleep with him. Oh, it goes on and on! Joseph goes to prison, because the keeper of the prison, tells the dream of two of Pharaoh's men, chef and cup bearer, then Pharaoh himself has two dreams that threaten to take away all his riches and glory, and hears of Joseph, upon which Joseph tells him the meaning of his dreams and what he must do, and so Pharaoh gives Joseph headship over all things except Pharaoh himself.
This isn't even touching the surface of the most incredible stories in the world. Israel has an interesting heritage, to say the least. And it can't be ignored. For instance, they were the ONLY nation to have an INVISIBLE God. There was the ark, in the most holy place, within the holy place, nested in the outer courts, and the ark was overlaid with gold, upon the lid were cherubim, covering their feet and their eyes with their wings, between the two dwelt the invisible God, who shone as LIGHT.
We haven't even gotten to the story of Moses, who was called at the burning bush scene when he was 80 years old. You know the story of the 10 plagues. Then there was Samson, David, Solomon, Job, even Esther (which is the only book in the Bible that never mentions "God." Each person is utterly unique, with an amazing story, just at face value.
What's the BIBLE all about? Do any of you know? Have you read it alone, and WANTED to know what it was talking about? Can you tell me why the seemingly pointless lists of geneaologies? Can you tell me who the Kenites were? Or the Edomites? Do you remember the great story of the Tower of Babel? Does Babel have something to do with whatever "Babylon" is? Can you tell me what Babylon is? Or why the Bible relates Babylon to Egypt?
I challenge you to read the Bible, and TRY to understand it, and PATIENTLY read through it. Otherwise, there's too much there, and there is no possible way you will ever understand, without the desire and the patience to know what it is saying to you.
Man, this is so much. I'm going to give you more, at the risk of blowing your brain up so much you might even feel some anger and resentment, that you must admit in your own minds that you do NOT understand the Bible. It is greater than you or me. Or do you think you could teach us all, explain to us all what is going on in the Bible?
Do you know what happened in the New Testament? Do you know what changed? Why was this new testament church, led by Peter and the apostles, along with Paul, not circumcising according to the law of God? What was this baptism? Why did John baptize, and then Jesus, and then the church? Are there any differences? What was the speaking in tongues? Does it have something to do with the Tower of Babel, when the languages were divided?
Do you remember Peter? Remember him boasting to love the Lord more than all the rest, and then denying the Lord three times. John was the only one at the crucifixion, along with Mary and Mary Magdalene. Peter was off weeping somewhere. All the rest had scattered.
Have you read the book of John, John's account of Jesus' life? It starts out just like Genesis, saying "In the beginning... was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word." What a profound statement. Would any of you be able to explain that? If so, could you explain the rest of the book for us? Why did Jesus perform his first miracle at a wedding, turning water into wine? Why did Nicodemus travel to speak with Jesus at night? Why is Jesus talking to a woman divorced five times at Jacob's well? Why is Jesus calling God his father all the time? Why is he referring himself as a door, as a good shepherd, as bread? Why did he feed five thousand men and their families one day, and then ditch them the following day? Can you explain these things?
Or explain this: Why does the book with the greatest stories ever, suddenly EXPLODE when Jesus arrives telling parable after parable after parable? What is it with God and stories? "A sower went out to sow his seed" "the kindgom of heaven is like a mustard seed" "there was once a son who asked for his inheritance" "a king's son was getting married, so he invited all his friends" "there was once a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus, with sores on his body which the dogs licked" "there was once a pharisee who prayed "I thank you God I am not like other men" and another man who would not so much as lift his eyes to heaven saying "God be merciful to me a sinner" Or what about Jesus' sermon, starting out, saying, "Happy is the man.. happy is the man.. happy is the man.." 9 times. Why does Jesus perform the greatest stories of all? Healing the sick, lame, blind, deaf, mute, demon possessed, raising the dead. And he doesn't just heal them.. many persons are healed in their own particular way. Then this Jesus dies and rises from the dead? This is the greatest character I have ever heard of, let alone the spiritual implications.
I tell you, men who LOVE this book and have GIVEN THEIR LIVES to studying it, will testify "I havent scratched the surface of the ocean."
Who thought up all this stuff? Was it men? How could this book, written over more than a thousand years, come together as it does? How could kings and peasants and shepherds and fisherman and pharisees contribute their works over such a length of time, and it actually make sense? There are over 40 authors of the Bible, 66 books. It is archaeologically accurate, historically reliable, so much that it is now trusted as a reliable document!
Who thouht up the story of Paul? The garments of those who murdered the first NT martyr was laid at his feet. He breathed threats to the church, was zealous for the law, put Christians into prison. Suddenly, he's saying things like "For me, to live is Christ, to die is gain" What? "I count all things dung that I may know Christ" What? "I suffered shipwreck, fastings, thirsts, nakedness, peril, scourgings, lashes 40 minus 1 4 different times, was stoned, and carried the message of a crucified king to the ends of his world. What, the man who was zealous for the law and hated this new movement instigated by Jesus himself, hated Christ, hated Christians, because of their dismantling of the law of God, and then suddenly he says "the law profits me nothing"!? There is no explanation for the change of this man's character, except that on his way to Damascus, he was struck by light, blinded, and called by the Lord himself.
And here, we are just touching on stories. We haven't considered the book's theological content. We haven't touched on the kingdom of God, or federal headship, or salvation and its nature of faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone. We haven't touched on the calling of God, or the hope of eternal life, or baptism. We haven't touched the exegesis of the books of the Bible, whether the book of Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, 1 John, James, Jude, or Revelation. I haven't etched into your minds the reign of Christ, or the Great White Throne judgment, or the New Heavens and New Earth, or the New Jerusalem, or the Tree of Life, or the River of the Water of Life, or the foliage of the Tree that heals the nations. We haven't even begun to explain all these stories previously mentioned and what they have to do with God's work of redemption. I haven't told you that God chose Israel and no other nation, that God chose Jacob and not Esau, that God chose Abraham, God loved Jacob, and David, and Abel. WHY? Can you say? What is God doing?
"the natural man cannot understand the things of God"
On a similar note, I'm guessing john or many of you who are so stoked on your power to suppress the truth, have never read "the case for christ" or josh mcdowell's "evidence demands a verdict" or Ravi Zacharias' "Can Man Live Without God?" Might as well construct your own belief system. But, you're no different than us all. You will come to your own conclusions, and no one will really believe you, because your beliefs will have no authority or power. Maybe it's time to let God speak. Quiet up and listen, for the first time in your life. His word is hidden in the most perplexing book in the world.
And just to prove the greatness of this book, if you cannot tell already. Do you think it's coicidence that the GREATEST religions in the world (meaning, most populated) ALL BASE THEMSELVES ON A PORTION OF THE BIBLE? There's Christianity, then Catholicism, then the Cults, and Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, then there's Islam and Judaism. The only competing religions are Buddhism and the multifarious Hinduism, and those religions happen to thrive where there is the least Christian influence. Just so happens.
I have said this before, I will say it again. If there is a God, it can be no other than the God of the Bible. There is no other God that even competes. Now it is just a matter of how we will interpret God to be according, not to religions, but according to the Bible itself. Be careful, because the book is living and active. It can't be read without stirring waters. And if you seriously challenge the Bible, then meet it, read it, TRY to understand it, and we'll see who wins.
I've said so much already, I'm happy if you read it all. I will give anyone and everyone the last word, except for the purpose of clarification.
But I will tell you what the point of the Bible is, Christ lived, died, and rose on the third day. And it is arguably so.
Heh. I am bewildered at my post. It must have some connection with the most amazing thunder and lightning storm I have ever seen.
Edited by heirofgrace (08/03/09 11:02 AM)
|
Threaded
Previous
Index
Next
Spores for European Microscopy 
Unfolding Nature: Being in the Implicate Order 
North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits & Cultivation Supplies 
Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds
jonnyjonjonjon 
LivioDoubleFang 
Edit 
Reply 
I never asked for that. I could have just as easily gotten alzheimers and died a "normal" death in a nursing home like my grandfather. But I guess some "bodies" have to be at the end of the line.
1 2 3 all )
FreakQlibrium
Frog
Sclorch
Xibalba
truekimbo2
zetek
Swami