Holy, Holy, Holy...Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Leadership in Israel
The many Israels of history include---
The Israel of the Patriarchs
The Israel of the Kings, Priests & Temple
The Israel of the Prophets
The Israel of the Messiahs
The Israel of the Rabbis
The Israel of the Zionists
The Israel of the Politicians
Yet to come... is the Israel of God!
At one time or another, leadership in Israel has been exercised by one or another of the above, and at times, they have been in direct opposition to one another: Kings vs. Priests, Prophets vs. Priests, Messiahs vs. all of the above... The history of Israel has been a long, uninterrupted contest of leadership focused on the question: "Who (or what) shall lead us?" The answers have taken every conceivable form from Patriarch to Priest to Politician...to Idol. Each leadership has been tested and revealed to have feet of clay. Nebuchadnezzar, "mighty and of exceeding brightness" (Daniel 2:31-33), glorious in stature and raiment, had feet of clay. Isn't all leadership, finally, standing upon the clay feet of Adam?
Kings, princes, prophets, teachers, shepherds... have a long history of leading the people astray. "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule...my people love to have it so... But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away." (Jeremiah 5:23, 30-31) This same word can be found multiplied many times over, spoken to the kings, princes, teachers, shepherds... (Jeremiah 50:6, Ezekiel 14:9-11, 44:10-11, 48:11, Isaiah 56:10-12)
In whatever form, the Saul "image" is presented---President, Pastor, or Prophet---the people are drawn to the magnetic personality, the charisma, the "presence", the stature, reputation... They love the "image" and will follow it, heeding every dramatic gesture. God's word of "Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings." is answered with a "But... that is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart." (Jeremiah 18:11-12)
Here the heart of "Followship" is revealed. The People have a long history of following their own desires, thoughts, self-delusions, faulty vision, corrupted leadership. The people follow not only their own desires but every religious charlatan, political ideology, or charismatic person...whether king, priest, or peasant. When that happens, then the perfect synergy of "Leadership" and "Followship" gives Israel a perfect storm of recurring fiery judgments from their God.
The Third Problem of "leadership" has to do with the "feet of clay." Though the feet (in Daniel) are a composite of clay and iron, they cannot stand the testing of God that always comes. The glorious brightness, images finely crafted and dressed, badges, banners... all these trappings, impressive as they may appear to be, cannot replace, cover, or mask the inherent weakness of the clay feet. Such feet may for a time conceal the truth of the Person, the Community, or the Nation, but sooner or later the "spirit" will be revealed and tested. Both the clay feet and the spirit will be tested. (Deut. 13:3) Faithful in the "small" things (Luke 16:10) is helpful but not decisive or sufficiently convincing. Everybody is "happy" on a carnival cruise in the kingdom of this world, but such a cruise reveals nothing: not the captain, not the crew, not the seaworthiness of the ship, and certainly nothing about the passengers. The "Titanic" reveals everybody and everything---in body, soul, and spirit. The Bread of Adversity (Isaiah 30:20), Jacob's Trouble, the "End", the Day of the Lord... all these are testings of standing. Will any form of leadership be able to stand, or will they all "fall" before the leadership of God? Can any kind of leadership bring fresh revelation? Or will it be conventional wisdom re-packaged, "old" news rewritten with a fresh slant... namely, the same old story with a fresh face or new coat of paint?
Consider: the leadership of ancient Israel was a "pillar of fire" and a "pillar of cloud" that went before the people... What a contrast to the leadership of Jacob, born of the fear of the flesh, which sought to "appease" Esau. Thus, gifts, the flocks, women and children were arranged and divided---Jacob's strategy of leadership! Or what a contrast to the leadership in many armies: the headquarters "hooch" way behind the "front line." Fair to ask who is actually taking the fire, really exposed to risk, injury, loss of life and limb? Who has "skin" in the game...? Who is invested with their own money and not playing with OPM (in banking parlance known as Other People's Money)? Paul succinctly speaks to the situation: "You have many guides, not many fathers." (1 Cor. 4:13) Guides will give you a map, tell you where to go, perhaps even accompany you a ways, but it is not in their job description to risk their neck. In the best armies you get to be an officer by being in the "Front Line."
In Genesis (6:4, 11:4), the "mighty men" determined to "build a Tower" to heaven. They were seeking to make a Name for themselves. If there be any such thing as true leadership will it manifest these qualities? These qualities in the spirit?
Finally, if there be any such thing as true leadership does accountability to some other authority have to be operating? Are the finances published, particularly, when money comes from outside sources? In the political realm billions of dollars move here, there, and everywhere: to buy access, favor, or privilege, or...? In religion, billions of dollars are solicited, move here, there, and everywhere: to what godly purpose...?
The problem of the false leadership of King, Priest, or Teacher has been historically countered by the raising up of the Prophet. What to do when the false prophets of Jezebel and the King's Court Prophets mislead the people? The hirelings are eating at whose table?
"Lead, follow, or get out the way!" is a familiar and common expression in the military and corporate world. Is this a statement God would make? Or is this a subtle variation on the the theme of "Making kings, but not through me (Yahweh). And they shall cease for a little while from anointing kings and princes." (Hosea 8:4, 10)? Man anoints the man. God anoints the gift of His Spirit. Is not this the sense of the "anointing" that abides, teaches, causes one to know (1 John 2:20, 27)? And if the gift, Holy Spirit, and anointing are present, you have no need for a king, priest, prophet, teacher... to lead ... because in that day all shall know from the least to the greatest.
"Those who lead this people lead them astray... and those who are led by them are swallowed up." (Isaiah 9:13-16)
"But those who turn aside upon their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead away with evil doers! Peace be in Israel! (Psalm 125:5)
Leadership that is not in accordance to the Word of the Torah is not anointed by anything but the traditions of men. The Living Torah of the Word leadeth the sheep of Israel. Leadership that disposes of the Torah of the God of Israel cannot, and will not, be anointed by the God of Israel. Simply said, "He who says 'I know him,' but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4) From the simplest oath, to the gossip, to fairy tales and myths, to the rebellion... is there anything here you don't understand, or that is not covered by His Word?
What is the leadership for Israel?
"Jacob (in spite of his fear!)...Yahweh alone did lead him." (Deut. 32:9-12)
"Lead me in thy truth, and teach me. Make me to know thy ways, O Yahweh...teach me thy paths" (Psalm 25:4-5) Thus says David.
"So thou didst lead thy people, to make for thyself a glorious name. (Isaiah 63:14)
"Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold thy manna from their mouth." (Nehemiah 9:19-20)
"The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own by name and leads them out." (John 10:3, 4)
Finally...
"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou who leadest Joseph like a flock! ...shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh! Stir up thy might, and come to save us!
The Israel of the Patriarchs
The Israel of the Kings, Priests & Temple
The Israel of the Prophets
The Israel of the Messiahs
The Israel of the Rabbis
The Israel of the Zionists
The Israel of the Politicians
Yet to come... is the Israel of God!
At one time or another, leadership in Israel has been exercised by one or another of the above, and at times, they have been in direct opposition to one another: Kings vs. Priests, Prophets vs. Priests, Messiahs vs. all of the above... The history of Israel has been a long, uninterrupted contest of leadership focused on the question: "Who (or what) shall lead us?" The answers have taken every conceivable form from Patriarch to Priest to Politician...to Idol. Each leadership has been tested and revealed to have feet of clay. Nebuchadnezzar, "mighty and of exceeding brightness" (Daniel 2:31-33), glorious in stature and raiment, had feet of clay. Isn't all leadership, finally, standing upon the clay feet of Adam?
Kings, princes, prophets, teachers, shepherds... have a long history of leading the people astray. "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule...my people love to have it so... But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away." (Jeremiah 5:23, 30-31) This same word can be found multiplied many times over, spoken to the kings, princes, teachers, shepherds... (Jeremiah 50:6, Ezekiel 14:9-11, 44:10-11, 48:11, Isaiah 56:10-12)
In whatever form, the Saul "image" is presented---President, Pastor, or Prophet---the people are drawn to the magnetic personality, the charisma, the "presence", the stature, reputation... They love the "image" and will follow it, heeding every dramatic gesture. God's word of "Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings." is answered with a "But... that is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart." (Jeremiah 18:11-12)
Here the heart of "Followship" is revealed. The People have a long history of following their own desires, thoughts, self-delusions, faulty vision, corrupted leadership. The people follow not only their own desires but every religious charlatan, political ideology, or charismatic person...whether king, priest, or peasant. When that happens, then the perfect synergy of "Leadership" and "Followship" gives Israel a perfect storm of recurring fiery judgments from their God.
The Third Problem of "leadership" has to do with the "feet of clay." Though the feet (in Daniel) are a composite of clay and iron, they cannot stand the testing of God that always comes. The glorious brightness, images finely crafted and dressed, badges, banners... all these trappings, impressive as they may appear to be, cannot replace, cover, or mask the inherent weakness of the clay feet. Such feet may for a time conceal the truth of the Person, the Community, or the Nation, but sooner or later the "spirit" will be revealed and tested. Both the clay feet and the spirit will be tested. (Deut. 13:3) Faithful in the "small" things (Luke 16:10) is helpful but not decisive or sufficiently convincing. Everybody is "happy" on a carnival cruise in the kingdom of this world, but such a cruise reveals nothing: not the captain, not the crew, not the seaworthiness of the ship, and certainly nothing about the passengers. The "Titanic" reveals everybody and everything---in body, soul, and spirit. The Bread of Adversity (Isaiah 30:20), Jacob's Trouble, the "End", the Day of the Lord... all these are testings of standing. Will any form of leadership be able to stand, or will they all "fall" before the leadership of God? Can any kind of leadership bring fresh revelation? Or will it be conventional wisdom re-packaged, "old" news rewritten with a fresh slant... namely, the same old story with a fresh face or new coat of paint?
Consider: the leadership of ancient Israel was a "pillar of fire" and a "pillar of cloud" that went before the people... What a contrast to the leadership of Jacob, born of the fear of the flesh, which sought to "appease" Esau. Thus, gifts, the flocks, women and children were arranged and divided---Jacob's strategy of leadership! Or what a contrast to the leadership in many armies: the headquarters "hooch" way behind the "front line." Fair to ask who is actually taking the fire, really exposed to risk, injury, loss of life and limb? Who has "skin" in the game...? Who is invested with their own money and not playing with OPM (in banking parlance known as Other People's Money)? Paul succinctly speaks to the situation: "You have many guides, not many fathers." (1 Cor. 4:13) Guides will give you a map, tell you where to go, perhaps even accompany you a ways, but it is not in their job description to risk their neck. In the best armies you get to be an officer by being in the "Front Line."
In Genesis (6:4, 11:4), the "mighty men" determined to "build a Tower" to heaven. They were seeking to make a Name for themselves. If there be any such thing as true leadership will it manifest these qualities? These qualities in the spirit?
Finally, if there be any such thing as true leadership does accountability to some other authority have to be operating? Are the finances published, particularly, when money comes from outside sources? In the political realm billions of dollars move here, there, and everywhere: to buy access, favor, or privilege, or...? In religion, billions of dollars are solicited, move here, there, and everywhere: to what godly purpose...?
The problem of the false leadership of King, Priest, or Teacher has been historically countered by the raising up of the Prophet. What to do when the false prophets of Jezebel and the King's Court Prophets mislead the people? The hirelings are eating at whose table?
"Lead, follow, or get out the way!" is a familiar and common expression in the military and corporate world. Is this a statement God would make? Or is this a subtle variation on the the theme of "Making kings, but not through me (Yahweh). And they shall cease for a little while from anointing kings and princes." (Hosea 8:4, 10)? Man anoints the man. God anoints the gift of His Spirit. Is not this the sense of the "anointing" that abides, teaches, causes one to know (1 John 2:20, 27)? And if the gift, Holy Spirit, and anointing are present, you have no need for a king, priest, prophet, teacher... to lead ... because in that day all shall know from the least to the greatest.
"Those who lead this people lead them astray... and those who are led by them are swallowed up." (Isaiah 9:13-16)
"But those who turn aside upon their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead away with evil doers! Peace be in Israel! (Psalm 125:5)
Leadership that is not in accordance to the Word of the Torah is not anointed by anything but the traditions of men. The Living Torah of the Word leadeth the sheep of Israel. Leadership that disposes of the Torah of the God of Israel cannot, and will not, be anointed by the God of Israel. Simply said, "He who says 'I know him,' but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4) From the simplest oath, to the gossip, to fairy tales and myths, to the rebellion... is there anything here you don't understand, or that is not covered by His Word?
What is the leadership for Israel?
"Jacob (in spite of his fear!)...Yahweh alone did lead him." (Deut. 32:9-12)
"Lead me in thy truth, and teach me. Make me to know thy ways, O Yahweh...teach me thy paths" (Psalm 25:4-5) Thus says David.
"So thou didst lead thy people, to make for thyself a glorious name. (Isaiah 63:14)
"Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold thy manna from their mouth." (Nehemiah 9:19-20)
"The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own by name and leads them out." (John 10:3, 4)
Finally...
"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou who leadest Joseph like a flock! ...shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh! Stir up thy might, and come to save us!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Stepping Out in Faith
I wrestled with the title of this message for a bit. It could have been titled many different things. For example:
Letting Benjamin Go; Saying Goodbye to Security; Leaving Your Comfort Zone; You get the picture. It's the idea of setting out on a new and unchartered journey to a new and possibly undiscovered, uninhabited place. It could be a lonely place, it could be tumultuous, maybe it's a place that "no man has gone before". It's a place that may be in the dark for us (or seemingly so because we can only see the Lamp at our feet and the Light at our path). Ahead of our steps it's very dark, but not really though. The place we are heading toward is actually in the brightest Light of all. It's the place where the true LIGHT dwells. It's the place that He has already set up for us, and He is just patiently waiting for us to follow HIS steps to arrive there.
I've been reading about our father and his faith. Not our Heavenly Father, but our forefather Abraham. Abraham or Abram as he was called at that time in his life, was a hero in faith. He should be our example, and I believe that his story was penned for that very reason, to encourage us in our faith. To build up our trust in the providence of Yahweh, our heavenly Father who never leaves us nor forsakes us. Abraham was the man who was called the "friend of God".
Abraham's life was not much different than ours. We would benefit greatly from studying the "father of faith".
His life was in Ur, a very civilized place in the world, with everything a man could ever want. He lived there with his family. Ur was also a place where idolatry abounded, and unfortunately Abraham's father Terah was an idolator. We never think of God using someone from an idolatrous background to do HIS work, but the call of God can come regardless of one's roots.
Look at Genesis 12:1 " and Yahweh said to Abram, " Go, get yourself out of your land, from your relatives, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you."
God had a three-fold command to Abram:
1. Leave your society
2. Leave your stability
3. Leave your security
What would God like us to see?
1. Leave your society. Abraham's country was idolatrous. There was a warning in this command for Abram as well as for us. Be careful of societal boundaries. It may mean leaving, it can sometimes be a challenge for, us but although we are "in" this society, we are not part of this society. The more like society you become, the less impact you will have for the cause of Yeshua.
This is not only a warning for young people, but for us as well.
2. Leave your stability. Abram was not only told to leave his country, but to leave his relatives as well.
It's quoted in "the Patriarchs", "leave all that life has encircled you with; leave the stability of home and friends, and that circle of people you know; leave the pattern of life and break out of it". I'm going to send you to someplace totally new and different. Break out of the norm."
This command was probably one of the most difficult things for Abram. We've all got our comfortable patterns of living. We do not easily break away from the "norm".
3. Leave your security. Lastly Abram was told to "go forth from your father's house". He was told that he not only had to leave his country, but all his relatives, and his father's house. This was a completely foreign concept. You did not leave your father's house, in fact, after you married, you actually would build on to your father's house with your new wife moving in to the family home with you. It was a foreign concept to leave your father's house. That is exactly what God asked Abram to do--- leave his security, the security of life and family. He was told in a sense to " just trust Me and come along with Me, Abram".
Ponder this story for a moment:
A little boy was his grandfather's constant companion. They would often go on short trips together- to the grocery store, sometimes to the lake to fish, or wherever the grandfather needed to go. The boy always tagged along with his grandfather, they were delightful companions. One day the grandfather said " Let's go for a ride".
The boy asked, "Where are we going?"
The grandfather left without him. When he got back, the little boy looked crestfallen and asked, " Grandfather, why did you leave me behind?" The grandfather looked at him and said, " Because you asked me where we were going. If you really wanted to go with me, it wouldn't have mattered where we were going."
The author goes on to tell us that this same thing is in the heart of the man or woman of faith. God says, " Go", or "Do", or "Be". But we say, "OK, LORD, where is the security package? What are the benefits? Where are You taking me? How long will I be there?"
So God moves on to the next person.
Continuing with Abraham: So God commanded Abram, "leave your society, stability, and leave you security. Leave it all behind Abram. " I have something much better for you.
One of the difficult things we need to be warned of, as individuals and as fellowships, is that we can fall into a pattern that is so predictacle. We know exactly what is going to happen in our comfortable conformed lives, so we never dare to risk anything for God. Never stepping out in faith...we want to see it all in front of us. As a result, our availability and capability for the Kingdom of God is greatly hindered.
We should take heed that we not fall into a pattern of security and stabilty with familiar things, thereby missing out on the possibility of moving on to greater things with God. In Genesis 12, Abram was commanded to throw away all his "securities", and become a wanderer, a pilgrim, a pioneer. Abram was to become as Charles Spurgeon once wrote, "shipwrecked on the island of God's sovereignty". This is where we want to live. Responding to God's call means finding our security in God alone.
Do we really want that? Can we really rest in that?
Letting Benjamin Go; Saying Goodbye to Security; Leaving Your Comfort Zone; You get the picture. It's the idea of setting out on a new and unchartered journey to a new and possibly undiscovered, uninhabited place. It could be a lonely place, it could be tumultuous, maybe it's a place that "no man has gone before". It's a place that may be in the dark for us (or seemingly so because we can only see the Lamp at our feet and the Light at our path). Ahead of our steps it's very dark, but not really though. The place we are heading toward is actually in the brightest Light of all. It's the place where the true LIGHT dwells. It's the place that He has already set up for us, and He is just patiently waiting for us to follow HIS steps to arrive there.
I've been reading about our father and his faith. Not our Heavenly Father, but our forefather Abraham. Abraham or Abram as he was called at that time in his life, was a hero in faith. He should be our example, and I believe that his story was penned for that very reason, to encourage us in our faith. To build up our trust in the providence of Yahweh, our heavenly Father who never leaves us nor forsakes us. Abraham was the man who was called the "friend of God".
Abraham's life was not much different than ours. We would benefit greatly from studying the "father of faith".
His life was in Ur, a very civilized place in the world, with everything a man could ever want. He lived there with his family. Ur was also a place where idolatry abounded, and unfortunately Abraham's father Terah was an idolator. We never think of God using someone from an idolatrous background to do HIS work, but the call of God can come regardless of one's roots.
Look at Genesis 12:1 " and Yahweh said to Abram, " Go, get yourself out of your land, from your relatives, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you."
God had a three-fold command to Abram:
1. Leave your society
2. Leave your stability
3. Leave your security
What would God like us to see?
1. Leave your society. Abraham's country was idolatrous. There was a warning in this command for Abram as well as for us. Be careful of societal boundaries. It may mean leaving, it can sometimes be a challenge for, us but although we are "in" this society, we are not part of this society. The more like society you become, the less impact you will have for the cause of Yeshua.
This is not only a warning for young people, but for us as well.
2. Leave your stability. Abram was not only told to leave his country, but to leave his relatives as well.
It's quoted in "the Patriarchs", "leave all that life has encircled you with; leave the stability of home and friends, and that circle of people you know; leave the pattern of life and break out of it". I'm going to send you to someplace totally new and different. Break out of the norm."
This command was probably one of the most difficult things for Abram. We've all got our comfortable patterns of living. We do not easily break away from the "norm".
3. Leave your security. Lastly Abram was told to "go forth from your father's house". He was told that he not only had to leave his country, but all his relatives, and his father's house. This was a completely foreign concept. You did not leave your father's house, in fact, after you married, you actually would build on to your father's house with your new wife moving in to the family home with you. It was a foreign concept to leave your father's house. That is exactly what God asked Abram to do--- leave his security, the security of life and family. He was told in a sense to " just trust Me and come along with Me, Abram".
Ponder this story for a moment:
A little boy was his grandfather's constant companion. They would often go on short trips together- to the grocery store, sometimes to the lake to fish, or wherever the grandfather needed to go. The boy always tagged along with his grandfather, they were delightful companions. One day the grandfather said " Let's go for a ride".
The boy asked, "Where are we going?"
The grandfather left without him. When he got back, the little boy looked crestfallen and asked, " Grandfather, why did you leave me behind?" The grandfather looked at him and said, " Because you asked me where we were going. If you really wanted to go with me, it wouldn't have mattered where we were going."
The author goes on to tell us that this same thing is in the heart of the man or woman of faith. God says, " Go", or "Do", or "Be". But we say, "OK, LORD, where is the security package? What are the benefits? Where are You taking me? How long will I be there?"
So God moves on to the next person.
Continuing with Abraham: So God commanded Abram, "leave your society, stability, and leave you security. Leave it all behind Abram. " I have something much better for you.
One of the difficult things we need to be warned of, as individuals and as fellowships, is that we can fall into a pattern that is so predictacle. We know exactly what is going to happen in our comfortable conformed lives, so we never dare to risk anything for God. Never stepping out in faith...we want to see it all in front of us. As a result, our availability and capability for the Kingdom of God is greatly hindered.
We should take heed that we not fall into a pattern of security and stabilty with familiar things, thereby missing out on the possibility of moving on to greater things with God. In Genesis 12, Abram was commanded to throw away all his "securities", and become a wanderer, a pilgrim, a pioneer. Abram was to become as Charles Spurgeon once wrote, "shipwrecked on the island of God's sovereignty". This is where we want to live. Responding to God's call means finding our security in God alone.
Do we really want that? Can we really rest in that?
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
God Would Do That!!
Many are the "religous" assertions concerning what God would or wouldn't do...Perhaps it would be helpful and profitable for you to consider the following:
Now Yahweh said to Abram, "Go from your country and your father's house to the land that I will show you..." (Gen. 12:1)
God would do That!!
Yahweh said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them up in the sun before Yahweh that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel". (Num. 25:4)
God would do That!!
And Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job?...behold all that he has is in your power...only upon himself do not put your hand." (Job 1:8-12)
God would do That!!
...and when they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah...and God smote him there...and he died there beside the ark of God. ( 2 Samuel 6:1-7)
God would do That!!
Thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun"... nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned Yahweh the child that is born to you shall die...and Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David and it became sick...on the seventh day the child died. (2 Samuel 12:11-18)
God would do That!!
For Yahweh has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets, and covered your heads the seers. (Isaiah 29:10)
God would do That!!
And you son of man..."lie upon your left side and I will lay the punishment of the house of Israel upon you...you shall bear their punishment. For I assign to you a number of days, three hundred ninety days...so long shall you bear the punishment of the house of Israel...and you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the punishment for the house of Judah...forty days I assign to you...and you shall make bread and eat it as a barley cake baking it in their sight on human dung." (Ezek. 4:1-12)
God would do That!!
When Yahweh first spoke through Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, "Go take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry, for the land commits great harlotry by forsaking Yahweh." (Hosea 1:2)
God would do That!!
Thus says Yahweh of hosts...the wise men shall be put to shame...lo they have rejected the Word of Yahweh...therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors becuase from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from priest to prophet everyone deals falsely." (Jer. 8:4-12)
God would do That!!
So then He has mercy upon whomever He wills and He hardens the heart of whomever He wills. (Romans 9:18)
God would do That!!
GOD DID DO THAT!!!
Posted by Yael
Now Yahweh said to Abram, "Go from your country and your father's house to the land that I will show you..." (Gen. 12:1)
God would do That!!
Yahweh said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them up in the sun before Yahweh that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel". (Num. 25:4)
God would do That!!
And Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job?...behold all that he has is in your power...only upon himself do not put your hand." (Job 1:8-12)
God would do That!!
...and when they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah...and God smote him there...and he died there beside the ark of God. ( 2 Samuel 6:1-7)
God would do That!!
Thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun"... nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned Yahweh the child that is born to you shall die...and Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David and it became sick...on the seventh day the child died. (2 Samuel 12:11-18)
God would do That!!
For Yahweh has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets, and covered your heads the seers. (Isaiah 29:10)
God would do That!!
And you son of man..."lie upon your left side and I will lay the punishment of the house of Israel upon you...you shall bear their punishment. For I assign to you a number of days, three hundred ninety days...so long shall you bear the punishment of the house of Israel...and you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the punishment for the house of Judah...forty days I assign to you...and you shall make bread and eat it as a barley cake baking it in their sight on human dung." (Ezek. 4:1-12)
God would do That!!
When Yahweh first spoke through Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, "Go take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry, for the land commits great harlotry by forsaking Yahweh." (Hosea 1:2)
God would do That!!
Thus says Yahweh of hosts...the wise men shall be put to shame...lo they have rejected the Word of Yahweh...therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors becuase from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from priest to prophet everyone deals falsely." (Jer. 8:4-12)
God would do That!!
So then He has mercy upon whomever He wills and He hardens the heart of whomever He wills. (Romans 9:18)
God would do That!!
GOD DID DO THAT!!!
Posted by Yael
Monday, December 6, 2010
What's A Grape To Do???
"Whine" in Your Future!!
Golda: Gertrude, who's that Guy with the "cutters"?
Gertrude: Stop hollering...your screaming in my ear!
Gail: No problem, girls...we are just hanging out here in the sun...Ahhhhhhh...
Gigi: I'll just pull some leaves down over us... He'll never notice us. And the cart is almost full anyway. Relax, girls. Gladys and Grace you keep a lookout both ways.
[Ginger and Gloria never see the skillful, swift hand. No one feels the snip. Not until their bunch is in the harvest tub rolling down the vineyard aisle.]
Golda (screeches): Help, I am upside down in the tub!
Gertrude: Shhhhh.... We're all OK. Hey girls, it could be worse... we're not bruised, were not on the ground getting run over... Shhhhh Greta, it really wasn't Gladys' and Grace's fault.
Golda (panicking): I hear something! What's that hum? Don't you hear it? What's happening?
Gail: Relax, Golda. No problem. It's just a conveyor belt. Smoooooth ride... See, this isn't so bad!!
Gina, Ginny, & Gabby: I don't know about this... I want to be back on the vine... I don't think this is what it seems... There's a sign up ahead... Gertrude can you see what it says?
Gertrude: Well, ladies... Ummmm, it says "Please remove all jewelry."
[Dead Silence except for hummmm, hummmm...]
Gertrude: Well, I hate to tell you this ladies, but there's another sign up ahead.
Gila, Gwen, Gina, Ginny, Gabby, & Greta: I knew it...!! I knew it...!! This can't be good!!
[Loud-SPEAKER]: "It's conversion time...time to make a decision... All wine grapes to the right... All raisin grapes to the left... Time to make a decision... All wine grapes to the right... All raisin grapes to the left...
[Silence in the Bunch]
Chorus of voices: Which way do we go? What do we do? How do I get off... I want to go back! This ain't fair! I don't like this! We are gonna get crushed! We are all going to die!!
Gertrude: If you want to save your skin, you've got to go left into the hot, drying sun and become a raisin.
Gertrude: As for me, I choose to go right, into the Hand of the Master Vintner.
*
**
Many Months later... at Chateau Groom
**
Gertrude the Grape, Vintage 2010 (reflecting on her journey of becoming wine...):
So many things I didn't understand, and so many things that were rather terrifying, certainly surprising after the tender care of life in the vineyard. The sun, the good soil, the rains... You knew exactly the best conditions... You knew exactly the right time for the harvest. But none of us knew that the only way to make wine was for the grape, me, to be crushed! While moving down that conveyor belt to the crusher, I was tempted to go left and become a raisin! Were You rejoicing or grieving over each grape going to the crusher? It was so lonely as a single grape, but now I understand You couldn't make Wine from one grape, no matter how plump and sweet! We went into the crusher as single grapes, and came out, the juice, all flowing together to become Your Wine. Strange how the grapes that chose to be raisins always remain single. We lost our "skins", but the best parts all flowed together into your Vats to become Wine.
***
The Master WineMaker: The Year 2010 is a wonderful Vintage, Gertrude. So let the Feasting begin...!!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Wedding Ring
Precious and Holy Shabbat
How lovely and sacred you are
You are my treasure
A gift from my Beloved
The symbol of His Love
The sign of His promise
Sweet sweet Shabbat
You are the ring upon my heart
The smell of your challah
The joy of your wine
Bringing peace to my spirit
Giving rest to my soul
Precious and Holy Shabbat
May we never ever part
Ya'el
Types & Shadows
"Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts..." (Ezekiel 14:3) The making of primitive idols was about fashioning a material by the hand of man. Simple and direct material representation. In this day, the imagination, the image-making capacity of the soul, creates an "idol" which finds lodging in the soul of the man. And then the image, born of the imagination, is exalted in the heart and spirit of the man. This is the more advanced form of idolatry which occurs when the demon is taken into the spirit/heart of the man. "For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." (Luke 16:15) "He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts..." (Luke 1:51) This present age is more wicked in the imaginations of the heart than any previous time---it is an age characterized by the proliferation of idols.
As Isaiah declares: "These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations." (66:3) All politics today is obsessively concerned with "image" making. Any connection to the reality of the politician is purely coincidental! What are the seven abominations in the heart of the person in Proverbs 26:24-25? What is in the golden cup full of abominations that the great harlot holds in Revelation 17:4? Are not these "spirits"?
"Woe to the rebellious children," says Yahweh, "...who set out to go down to Egypt...to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh, and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!"
Consider the shadows of the flowers and the candles which are cast on the wall behind: they do render a facsimile of the real thing, but they are not real flowers... Would it be a stretch to say people have come to believe in the religious shadows that their so-called "light" has cast on the "Light" of God, the uppermost candle of the hanukkiah? For if you will observe carefully, you will see that each of the lower candles has generated a shadow, a total of three "images" of the upper candle. If there were eight candles, they each would project an image: all of them would be false shadows, types, of the real candle. Such is the case in this religious age: each "light" projects a shadow or type of faith which the "believers" hold as the reality of God, His ways, His truth, His plan... Is there any reality or truth to these images and imaginations of men? We are forced to give them some credence because the true "believers" are willing to kill others, even their own children, on behalf of their image or shadow. A Jewish Apostle of the 1st century dismisses all these images, including the religious ones, as shadows of the reality of God. Made into idols, these imaginations of the soulish mind beguile people into believing that the "lie of the shadow" is the reality of God. Projected light from the "created candles" of man can never reveal God. They can only become idols of the most darkening age.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Employment Opportunity
Help Wanted
Divine Enterprises Ltd., LLC, Inc. seeks 12 good Men/Women for
Exciting, Rewarding Work in a fast-paced environment.
Multiple Challenges, long hours, no 401K
Must be detail oriented, and good at "follow the Leader."
Bi-lingual Hebrew/English a Plus.
Extensive travel may be required.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Send detailed Resume of relevant experience
with salary requirements to Yael, Employment Coordinator,
P.O. 8514, Jerusalem 91084 Israel. No calls accepted
Detailed Job Description after First Day on the Job!
(People in their right mind need not apply...!)
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
What To Do: The "Christmas Gifts"?
At one time or another we have all received "gifts" that have left us in a quandry. The dilemma arises because one person in the "gift-giving" relation does not view the "gift" as a gift, however well meaning the giver may be. The "gift" is only a gift if both persons, the giver and the recipient, view it as such. Gift-giving that has an agenda is not a gift; gift-giving that is self-serving of one's self-image is not a gift; gift-giving that is obligatory, a more expensive version of the "card for card...", is not gift-giving. So the confusion of Christmas gifts is compounded.
If the Christ of your Christmas is not viewed as a "gift" what are the "giver" and the "getter" to do? If one has the power or influence I suppose one could pass a law requiring the manger scene, with accompanying choir of angles, be prominently displayed in the town square: kind of a Christian version for America of the "loyalty oath" being proposed in Israel's Knesset for the "strangers" in the midst of the Jewish majority. But what kind of blessing is this kind of "gift"? Even given perhaps you really do need that sweater that Aunt Jane knitted!
Most people today are able to discern the coercion, subtle though it may be, that lurks behind some gift-giving. All motivations are similarly revealed for what they truly are about...sooner or later.
The spirit behind much gift-giving may come as an "angel of light", but the wolf in sheep's clothing will surely be revealed. Gifts come in all sorts of wrapping, in all sorts of forms, and in all sorts of spirits. There are gifts in the material/physical world, gifts in the realm of the soul (the endless holiday music!!), and gifts in the realm of the spirit. Something may appear to be a gift in one of these realms, but upon closer examination, is not a gift in the other remaining realms. A true gift is a "true" gift in all three realms: the physical/material world, the world of the soul, and in the realm of the spirit. If the "gift" is not a gift in any one of these three realms, it is not a gift, it is not a blessing, and it has no "Life."
So what to do?
You can construct your own list, as have I over the years, of solutions to this annual dilemma. Here are a few of the one's I have adopted: return the gift to the place of purchase, get a refund, and give the proceeds to your favorite charity. But of course, that is not always possible. Return the gift to the giver with a note of explanation...e.g. your "taste" has changed. But of course, that hand-made scarf with accompanying "Christmas Note" from.....makes that impossible. Give it to the "Salvation Army"... Or simply stick "it" in a back corner of a seldom visited closet or up to the attic I trudge with that troublous article...and then feel awful, awful... Burn it in the holiday fireplaces, or pitch it in the dumpster! Sometimes the item is so blatantly offensive to either the flesh, the soul, or the spirit: my answer to the "what to do" is swift and merciless!
Or one can receive the "gift" and then agonize endlessly over what to do and how to respond... Have you ever given a "gift" in pay back? Like maybe you got a chunk of coal in your stocking, and you get back by giving a "heater" with that chunk of coal inside burning brightly: get the metaphor?
The personalized gifts are perhaps the most difficult: the embroidered "Christmas" tie with your name in mistletoe green has to go to the dumpster. Re-gifting? Too many chances of being found out!! Or perhaps "An Extreme Total Makeover? I adopted this solution to an original piece of metal sculpture: the extreme makeover resulted in a Hanukkah menorah.
Perhaps it is time for the "givers" to take a hard look at themselves, amend their ways, and save all of us "receivers" a lot of grief. But perhaps I am avoiding the question of "What to do...?" by passing the buck back to the givers?
Maybe I just need to take the responsibility of deciding and acting on who and what I allow to come into my life?
If the Christ of your Christmas is not viewed as a "gift" what are the "giver" and the "getter" to do? If one has the power or influence I suppose one could pass a law requiring the manger scene, with accompanying choir of angles, be prominently displayed in the town square: kind of a Christian version for America of the "loyalty oath" being proposed in Israel's Knesset for the "strangers" in the midst of the Jewish majority. But what kind of blessing is this kind of "gift"? Even given perhaps you really do need that sweater that Aunt Jane knitted!
Most people today are able to discern the coercion, subtle though it may be, that lurks behind some gift-giving. All motivations are similarly revealed for what they truly are about...sooner or later.
The spirit behind much gift-giving may come as an "angel of light", but the wolf in sheep's clothing will surely be revealed. Gifts come in all sorts of wrapping, in all sorts of forms, and in all sorts of spirits. There are gifts in the material/physical world, gifts in the realm of the soul (the endless holiday music!!), and gifts in the realm of the spirit. Something may appear to be a gift in one of these realms, but upon closer examination, is not a gift in the other remaining realms. A true gift is a "true" gift in all three realms: the physical/material world, the world of the soul, and in the realm of the spirit. If the "gift" is not a gift in any one of these three realms, it is not a gift, it is not a blessing, and it has no "Life."
So what to do?
You can construct your own list, as have I over the years, of solutions to this annual dilemma. Here are a few of the one's I have adopted: return the gift to the place of purchase, get a refund, and give the proceeds to your favorite charity. But of course, that is not always possible. Return the gift to the giver with a note of explanation...e.g. your "taste" has changed. But of course, that hand-made scarf with accompanying "Christmas Note" from.....makes that impossible. Give it to the "Salvation Army"... Or simply stick "it" in a back corner of a seldom visited closet or up to the attic I trudge with that troublous article...and then feel awful, awful... Burn it in the holiday fireplaces, or pitch it in the dumpster! Sometimes the item is so blatantly offensive to either the flesh, the soul, or the spirit: my answer to the "what to do" is swift and merciless!
Or one can receive the "gift" and then agonize endlessly over what to do and how to respond... Have you ever given a "gift" in pay back? Like maybe you got a chunk of coal in your stocking, and you get back by giving a "heater" with that chunk of coal inside burning brightly: get the metaphor?
The personalized gifts are perhaps the most difficult: the embroidered "Christmas" tie with your name in mistletoe green has to go to the dumpster. Re-gifting? Too many chances of being found out!! Or perhaps "An Extreme Total Makeover? I adopted this solution to an original piece of metal sculpture: the extreme makeover resulted in a Hanukkah menorah.
Perhaps it is time for the "givers" to take a hard look at themselves, amend their ways, and save all of us "receivers" a lot of grief. But perhaps I am avoiding the question of "What to do...?" by passing the buck back to the givers?
Maybe I just need to take the responsibility of deciding and acting on who and what I allow to come into my life?
Friday, November 26, 2010
The Legacy of Jacob "Israel"
Let's look at our family tree...our real inheritance. Perhaps the revelation of who we really are will bring us to real repentance.
"O Yahweh, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to thee shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: 'Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.' " Who is Jeremiah (16:19) speaking to? Clearly, in the preceding verses the "fishers" and "hunters" are sent to find and bring back the whole of Israel.
Hosea words of indictment are addressed to the grandson of Jacob, that is Ephraim the son of Joseph. That indictment goes on and on verse after verse... And perhaps it is not too early in the recitation to suggest the possibility that these words of Yahweh apply to us... Similarly, using virtually an exact quotation from Hosea, the seventh and last letter to "the Churches" in the book of Revelation declares: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." In Hosea (12:8) Ephraim says, "Ah, but I am rich, I have gained wealth for myself"; but all his riches can never offset the guilt he has incurred." Does the "tiger" change his stripes? Has the legacy of Jacob "Israel" been passed on down in the inheritance? From Abraham to Isaac to Jacob "Israel" to Jeroboam "Israel" to us?
4:1 No faithfulness, or kindness, no knowledge of God
4:2 They break all bounds, murder follows murder
4:6 Forgotten Torah
4:12 Spirit of harlotry
4:16 "Israel" (Ephraim) is a stubborn heifer
4:17 "Ephraim" is joined to idols
4:18 Drunkards (in spirit as well as body and soul?)
4:19 A Wind (Prince of the Power of the Air) has wrapped them in its wings
5:5 Pride in "Israel"
5:7 Borne alien children
5:11 Goes after vanity
5:13 Goes to the "world's powers" symbolized by Egypt and Assyria
6:4 Love that doesn't last---heat of sun on the dew---poof, the love evaporates
7:8 "Ephraim" mixes with people
7:11 "Ephraim" like a dove, silly without sense
7:13 Strayed and rebellious, speaking lies against me (Yahweh)
7:14 Gash themselves (cutting), devise evil
8:4 Make leaders, kings, princes but not through me (Yahweh) and without my knowledge
8:7 Sow to Prince of Power of the Air and reap whirlwind
8:9 A wild ass (to Assyria), hiring lovers
8:10 Hiring allies
8:11 Multiplying altars for sinning
8:13 Returns to Egypt
9:3 Not in Land of Yahweh, gone to Egypt, eating unclean foods, the "dainties" of Assyria
for their hunger only; not eating in the house of Yahweh, his food
9:9 Sin of Gibeah: homosexuality (see Judges 19:22)
9:15 Sin of Gilgal: every evil (see Judges 15:33, 1 Sam. 11:15, 13:8-11); Yahweh begins to hate them...
10:3 King...no king: double-mindedness
10:4 Empty oaths, vows, commitments... mere words
10:13 Eaten fruit of lies: trusted in chariots, armies, weapons, and skills
11:5 Return to Egypt (the land of fleshly satisfaction); Assyria shall be king (rule the spiritual)
11:11 "Ephraim" has encompassed me with lies
12:1 "Ephraim" herds the wind, pursues the east wind (desert); makes a bargain w/Assyria
12:2 Yahweh will punish Jacob according to his ways; Ephraim included?
12:7 "Ephraim": a trader with false balances, unequal weights and measures...
12:8 "Ephraim": Ah, but I am rich, I have gained wealth for myself...
12:12 Jacob "fled"...did (hard) service for a "wife" and "herded sheep"; does it apply today?
13:9 I will destroy you, O Israel: clearly not the old Jacob!!
13:12 The iniquity of Ephraim: no distinction between grandson and grandfather!
According to Paul "all Israel" will be saved when the fullness of the nations, the "wild" branches, are grafted back into the Olive Tree of Israel. But before "the rest of Israel" will be saved, perhaps the "East wind of Yahweh, out of the wilderness will dry the fountains, parch the springs, and strip the treasury of 'riches'... (Hosea 13:15)
"Samaria" shall bear her guilt---are we Samaria?---because she has rebelled against her God. Samaria's lineage is clearly traceable back to Jacob; Jeroboam's sin is Jacob's sin. Is not Jacob's "Israel" also Ephraim's "Israel"?
Many claim to be "Israel": will all "Israel" acknowledge the full legacy and inheritance which they have received from Jacob their father: the sin as well as the promises? Especially, the "Ephraimites"?
The much-used, churchy, catch-all phrase "to be born again" in Hosea receives Yahweh's light: "The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up, his sin is kept in store. The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son; for now he does not present himself at the mouth of the womb." (13:12-13, 14:1-2) "Return, O Israel, to Yahweh your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to Yahweh; say to him "Take away all iniquity..." Ephraim needs to be born again, but because of the above stored-up "sin", which the Laodicean letter confirms, he is likely to be a Jacob-come-lately to birth. Likely requiring the reality of "Jacob's Trouble!"
Ephraim needs to be born again, "again"!
"O Yahweh, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to thee shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: 'Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.' " Who is Jeremiah (16:19) speaking to? Clearly, in the preceding verses the "fishers" and "hunters" are sent to find and bring back the whole of Israel.
Hosea words of indictment are addressed to the grandson of Jacob, that is Ephraim the son of Joseph. That indictment goes on and on verse after verse... And perhaps it is not too early in the recitation to suggest the possibility that these words of Yahweh apply to us... Similarly, using virtually an exact quotation from Hosea, the seventh and last letter to "the Churches" in the book of Revelation declares: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." In Hosea (12:8) Ephraim says, "Ah, but I am rich, I have gained wealth for myself"; but all his riches can never offset the guilt he has incurred." Does the "tiger" change his stripes? Has the legacy of Jacob "Israel" been passed on down in the inheritance? From Abraham to Isaac to Jacob "Israel" to Jeroboam "Israel" to us?
4:1 No faithfulness, or kindness, no knowledge of God
4:2 They break all bounds, murder follows murder
4:6 Forgotten Torah
4:12 Spirit of harlotry
4:16 "Israel" (Ephraim) is a stubborn heifer
4:17 "Ephraim" is joined to idols
4:18 Drunkards (in spirit as well as body and soul?)
4:19 A Wind (Prince of the Power of the Air) has wrapped them in its wings
5:5 Pride in "Israel"
5:7 Borne alien children
5:11 Goes after vanity
5:13 Goes to the "world's powers" symbolized by Egypt and Assyria
6:4 Love that doesn't last---heat of sun on the dew---poof, the love evaporates
7:8 "Ephraim" mixes with people
7:11 "Ephraim" like a dove, silly without sense
7:13 Strayed and rebellious, speaking lies against me (Yahweh)
7:14 Gash themselves (cutting), devise evil
8:4 Make leaders, kings, princes but not through me (Yahweh) and without my knowledge
8:7 Sow to Prince of Power of the Air and reap whirlwind
8:9 A wild ass (to Assyria), hiring lovers
8:10 Hiring allies
8:11 Multiplying altars for sinning
8:13 Returns to Egypt
9:3 Not in Land of Yahweh, gone to Egypt, eating unclean foods, the "dainties" of Assyria
for their hunger only; not eating in the house of Yahweh, his food
9:9 Sin of Gibeah: homosexuality (see Judges 19:22)
9:15 Sin of Gilgal: every evil (see Judges 15:33, 1 Sam. 11:15, 13:8-11); Yahweh begins to hate them...
10:3 King...no king: double-mindedness
10:4 Empty oaths, vows, commitments... mere words
10:13 Eaten fruit of lies: trusted in chariots, armies, weapons, and skills
11:5 Return to Egypt (the land of fleshly satisfaction); Assyria shall be king (rule the spiritual)
11:11 "Ephraim" has encompassed me with lies
12:1 "Ephraim" herds the wind, pursues the east wind (desert); makes a bargain w/Assyria
12:2 Yahweh will punish Jacob according to his ways; Ephraim included?
12:7 "Ephraim": a trader with false balances, unequal weights and measures...
12:8 "Ephraim": Ah, but I am rich, I have gained wealth for myself...
12:12 Jacob "fled"...did (hard) service for a "wife" and "herded sheep"; does it apply today?
13:9 I will destroy you, O Israel: clearly not the old Jacob!!
13:12 The iniquity of Ephraim: no distinction between grandson and grandfather!
According to Paul "all Israel" will be saved when the fullness of the nations, the "wild" branches, are grafted back into the Olive Tree of Israel. But before "the rest of Israel" will be saved, perhaps the "East wind of Yahweh, out of the wilderness will dry the fountains, parch the springs, and strip the treasury of 'riches'... (Hosea 13:15)
"Samaria" shall bear her guilt---are we Samaria?---because she has rebelled against her God. Samaria's lineage is clearly traceable back to Jacob; Jeroboam's sin is Jacob's sin. Is not Jacob's "Israel" also Ephraim's "Israel"?
Many claim to be "Israel": will all "Israel" acknowledge the full legacy and inheritance which they have received from Jacob their father: the sin as well as the promises? Especially, the "Ephraimites"?
The much-used, churchy, catch-all phrase "to be born again" in Hosea receives Yahweh's light: "The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up, his sin is kept in store. The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son; for now he does not present himself at the mouth of the womb." (13:12-13, 14:1-2) "Return, O Israel, to Yahweh your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to Yahweh; say to him "Take away all iniquity..." Ephraim needs to be born again, but because of the above stored-up "sin", which the Laodicean letter confirms, he is likely to be a Jacob-come-lately to birth. Likely requiring the reality of "Jacob's Trouble!"
Ephraim needs to be born again, "again"!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
How to Find Mr. Right...or Ms. Right!!
Is not the search for a "mate" one of the most anxiety-producing priorities of the human soul? From television series to executive boardrooms to the bathroom and the bedroom closet, "the quest" occupies a considerable portion of our personal energy budgets. Here are a few suggestions, perhaps they should be called "The Ten Suggestions" on how not to meet and marry that special person:
1) Book a cabin on a "Singles" cruise ship to the Bahamas
2) Go to a singles Bar
3) Have a search plan for your "Soul-mate" and really strive to reach your goal
4) Write your favorite Celebrity Actor-Columnist-Guru and get some advice
5) Hang out with the "In-Crowd"!
6) Post a photo/profile on Facebook
7) Have your palm-fortune read, and of course consult your horoscope
8) Sign-up with an on-line dating service
9) Vacation at a "dude" spa-ranch, hike the Appalachian Trail...
10) Pickup a date at your best friend's wedding
11) Perfect the tale of your life (the juicier the details so much the better) and get a TV interview with "Phil"... whichever Phil fills the bill
12) Listen to all your friends' tales of success and... well, by now you get the general drift of...
I was once described as "a keeper" by a sister of a woman I was dating (like in reel this fish in...he's keeper, or perhaps she meant shoot this "buck"...?). A few years back it was the fad to rate men and women on a scale of one to ten. A 10 was a trophy catch!! And always it seemed the Trophy 10 Men and Women were in short supply and never gave a "nerd" a second look!
So what are men and women of "faith" to do in such a world? Before you "start your engines" perhaps the following checklist would be helpful and profitable in moving toward the hope of a Yahweh prepared and selected partner/spouse.
1) What Tree is she eating from: The Tree of Life or the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?
2) Where is he planted: in the garden of the world or in Yahweh's Garden/Kingdom?
3) Is his Life and the Tree bearing fruit every month?
4) How will she do in the "day" of Adversity? Drought? Darkness? Is she "sappy and green"?
5) Is he a "choice vine" of Yahweh and would you choose him?
6) Is she rooted in Yahweh and drawing water from a live spring?
7) Is his/her fruit sweet to your taste? Will you be content to abide/sit in his shade?
8) Who is he abiding in, resting in, trusting in? Is she a Proverbs 31 woman?
9) What are her desires? Who is her delight?
10) Does he have a wisdom and understanding of Yahweh's teaching, instructions, His ways?
Might these be considered as "The Ten Questions" of Yahweh's revelation, perhaps even His Ten Commandments of matchmaking?
"So Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which Yahweh God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh..." Is this not the perfect matchmaking that Yahweh offers to all who would have His ways, without the running to and fro with all its striving and anxiety? Is not His match perfect in spirit first (because He has brought it about in His own Spirit!), then fitted in soul and in the physical/flesh? Adam, in his deep sleep, never knew his rib and been taken, and then secretly fashioned into Eve, but when Yahweh brought her to him, he immediately recognized her. He didn't recognize her as a "soul-mate", but as an ezer ka-negdo (face to face) mate in the Spirit of Yahweh from His Kingdom Realm---then all the rest in the soul and physical were ordered rightly.
So you think you can improve on His Way and His Creation?
1) Book a cabin on a "Singles" cruise ship to the Bahamas
2) Go to a singles Bar
3) Have a search plan for your "Soul-mate" and really strive to reach your goal
4) Write your favorite Celebrity Actor-Columnist-Guru and get some advice
5) Hang out with the "In-Crowd"!
6) Post a photo/profile on Facebook
7) Have your palm-fortune read, and of course consult your horoscope
8) Sign-up with an on-line dating service
9) Vacation at a "dude" spa-ranch, hike the Appalachian Trail...
10) Pickup a date at your best friend's wedding
11) Perfect the tale of your life (the juicier the details so much the better) and get a TV interview with "Phil"... whichever Phil fills the bill
12) Listen to all your friends' tales of success and... well, by now you get the general drift of...
I was once described as "a keeper" by a sister of a woman I was dating (like in reel this fish in...he's keeper, or perhaps she meant shoot this "buck"...?). A few years back it was the fad to rate men and women on a scale of one to ten. A 10 was a trophy catch!! And always it seemed the Trophy 10 Men and Women were in short supply and never gave a "nerd" a second look!
So what are men and women of "faith" to do in such a world? Before you "start your engines" perhaps the following checklist would be helpful and profitable in moving toward the hope of a Yahweh prepared and selected partner/spouse.
1) What Tree is she eating from: The Tree of Life or the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?
2) Where is he planted: in the garden of the world or in Yahweh's Garden/Kingdom?
3) Is his Life and the Tree bearing fruit every month?
4) How will she do in the "day" of Adversity? Drought? Darkness? Is she "sappy and green"?
5) Is he a "choice vine" of Yahweh and would you choose him?
6) Is she rooted in Yahweh and drawing water from a live spring?
7) Is his/her fruit sweet to your taste? Will you be content to abide/sit in his shade?
8) Who is he abiding in, resting in, trusting in? Is she a Proverbs 31 woman?
9) What are her desires? Who is her delight?
10) Does he have a wisdom and understanding of Yahweh's teaching, instructions, His ways?
Might these be considered as "The Ten Questions" of Yahweh's revelation, perhaps even His Ten Commandments of matchmaking?
"So Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which Yahweh God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh..." Is this not the perfect matchmaking that Yahweh offers to all who would have His ways, without the running to and fro with all its striving and anxiety? Is not His match perfect in spirit first (because He has brought it about in His own Spirit!), then fitted in soul and in the physical/flesh? Adam, in his deep sleep, never knew his rib and been taken, and then secretly fashioned into Eve, but when Yahweh brought her to him, he immediately recognized her. He didn't recognize her as a "soul-mate", but as an ezer ka-negdo (face to face) mate in the Spirit of Yahweh from His Kingdom Realm---then all the rest in the soul and physical were ordered rightly.
So you think you can improve on His Way and His Creation?
Friday, November 12, 2010
Bread Crumbs: Follow the Trail...
In the World, the conventional wisdom is "follow the money, follow the Green...! Where's the Bread?" Whole populations emigrate, couples marry, technologies are adopted, businesses are justified or fail...all in quest of the money honey pot. An adequate "provision" in this age is a trophy paycheck, a trophy house, a trophy wife/husband, and, of course, the "perfect family." Many know such a package is way beyond their aspirations or capabilities, so they settle for a "good" facsimile of the above. Best to avoid such people, because they have given up on their dream, if they ever had one, and you can be assured, sooner or later, they will try to persuade you to give up on your dream...or at the minimum they will hint you are a bit peculiar or delusional or self-deceived...
Yahweh's economy, along with His Ways, are different. His ways are not our ways. The bread of Yahweh's Kingdom is easily discerned by those who have eyes to see. Yet one loaf or a few fishes generally are interpreted as completely inadequate to feed twelve or three thousand... Quite easily the statement follows: we have no "Bread!!"; and then comes the Question--- "Why do I/we have no bread?..."
Here is Yahweh's response: 1) Why are you talking about "no bread"? 2) Why don't you "see" or understand? 3) Why are your hearts hardened, stubborn, rebellious...? 4) Why having eyes do you not "see"? Why having ears do you not "hear"? 5) Do you not "remember" (five loaves for five thousand, seven loaves for four thousand...)? 6) Why do you not "understand"?
When "the leaven" of a different "spirit" guides us, we quite naturally insist on "seeing" with eyes of the flesh, and these eyes always insist on seeing "the Bread"!! No see...no believe...no sign...no believe... This disposition comes from a"spiritual leaven" that rejects Yahweh's provision and the faith that believes His Promises to His Children. Faith is believing in that which is not seen with the physical or fleshly eyes... Those who insist on "seeing" with those fleshly eyes a "provision" will never see His Provision.
Perhaps your faith is not adequate to face spiritual powers, or is riddled with doubts, or is insistent on "seeing"... The man who sought healing for his son saw the inadequacy of his faith and cried out, "I believe, help my unbelief!"
The Canaanite woman seeks out God for healing for her daughter. She has absolutely no standing within the "children of Israel." She is reminded that "the bread" is for Israel and it is not to be given to "the dogs"; by clear implication she is a dog! But she sees even the crumbs of bread falling from God's Table as being sufficient: "Yes, Lord...yet even the dogs eat the crumbs from their master's table." Her faith is acknowledged and commended. She "saw" God in the "crumbs"!
"And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh, and distribute to all Israel, both men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins." (1 Chron. 16:2-3) From the King's Table came a loaf of bread for all Israel.
Can you "see" the crumbs? Do the crumbs reveal the possibility or existence of the loaf? Are you seeing and perhaps settling for the crumbs...? Can you see perhaps a slice from off the loaf and do you want it? Can you see a loaf for you from the Kings Table as one of the men and women of "all Israel"?
So you will either see "the bread" of the world, or you will see the Bread from Yahweh's Table, and that Bread, even if it be "crumbs" will be filling and satisfying. Following the trail of the "Bread Crumbs" is the way to go... better yet follow the Baker... and of course, make sure he is not Pharaoh's baker!!
Yahweh's economy, along with His Ways, are different. His ways are not our ways. The bread of Yahweh's Kingdom is easily discerned by those who have eyes to see. Yet one loaf or a few fishes generally are interpreted as completely inadequate to feed twelve or three thousand... Quite easily the statement follows: we have no "Bread!!"; and then comes the Question--- "Why do I/we have no bread?..."
Here is Yahweh's response: 1) Why are you talking about "no bread"? 2) Why don't you "see" or understand? 3) Why are your hearts hardened, stubborn, rebellious...? 4) Why having eyes do you not "see"? Why having ears do you not "hear"? 5) Do you not "remember" (five loaves for five thousand, seven loaves for four thousand...)? 6) Why do you not "understand"?
When "the leaven" of a different "spirit" guides us, we quite naturally insist on "seeing" with eyes of the flesh, and these eyes always insist on seeing "the Bread"!! No see...no believe...no sign...no believe... This disposition comes from a"spiritual leaven" that rejects Yahweh's provision and the faith that believes His Promises to His Children. Faith is believing in that which is not seen with the physical or fleshly eyes... Those who insist on "seeing" with those fleshly eyes a "provision" will never see His Provision.
Perhaps your faith is not adequate to face spiritual powers, or is riddled with doubts, or is insistent on "seeing"... The man who sought healing for his son saw the inadequacy of his faith and cried out, "I believe, help my unbelief!"
The Canaanite woman seeks out God for healing for her daughter. She has absolutely no standing within the "children of Israel." She is reminded that "the bread" is for Israel and it is not to be given to "the dogs"; by clear implication she is a dog! But she sees even the crumbs of bread falling from God's Table as being sufficient: "Yes, Lord...yet even the dogs eat the crumbs from their master's table." Her faith is acknowledged and commended. She "saw" God in the "crumbs"!
"And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh, and distribute to all Israel, both men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins." (1 Chron. 16:2-3) From the King's Table came a loaf of bread for all Israel.
Can you "see" the crumbs? Do the crumbs reveal the possibility or existence of the loaf? Are you seeing and perhaps settling for the crumbs...? Can you see perhaps a slice from off the loaf and do you want it? Can you see a loaf for you from the Kings Table as one of the men and women of "all Israel"?
So you will either see "the bread" of the world, or you will see the Bread from Yahweh's Table, and that Bread, even if it be "crumbs" will be filling and satisfying. Following the trail of the "Bread Crumbs" is the way to go... better yet follow the Baker... and of course, make sure he is not Pharaoh's baker!!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Ephraim's Got Alzheimer's: The Divine Plague of Memory!
Yahweh Smashing!
"I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand." (Deut. 32:39)
"Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see...and hear...and understand...and then turn and be healed." (Isaiah 6:9-13)
"There is no remembrance of former things nor any remembrance of later things yet to happen... (Eccles. 1:11)
Yahweh Explaining: The Disease and the Diagnosis
"This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you says Yahweh, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies." (Jeremiah 13:25)
"For you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge... Yet the harvest will flee away in a day of grief and incurable pain." (Isaiah 17:10)
"My people have been lost sheep; ...led astray...they have forgotten their fold." (Jeremiah 50:6)
"Your pain is incurable... I have done these things to you." (Jeremiah 30:11-15)
"Samaria (Ephraim/House of Israel)...her wound is incurable. (Micah 1:5-9)
Yahweh's Divine Plague: Ephraim has Alzheimer's!
Upon the greater part of the People of Israel has come divine wounding, pain, discipline, punishment, disease, and dispersion... Blows that have obliterated all memory and all remembrance and all function. Ephraim has descended into darkness: a vegetable, not a fruit---good only for slicing, dicing, or juicing... A cabbage-patch doll!!
"Therefore justice is far from us (Ephraim/House of Israel), and righteousness does not overtake us; we look for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope...like those who have no eyes; we stumble..." (Isaiah 59:9-10; Rev. 3:17)
Yahweh's Prognosis:
"Remember these things O Jacob... I formed you, you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me." (Isaiah 44:21)
"For he remembered his holy promise and Abraham his servant." (Psalm 105:42)
"Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my heart yearns for him." (Jeremiah 31:20)
"How can I give you up, O Ephraim! How can I hand you over, O Israel... my compassion grows warm and tender." (Hosea 11:8)
"Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death?" (Hosea 13:14)
Yahweh's Cure:
"For I will restore health to you and your wound I will heal says Yahweh." (Jeremiah 30:17)
"When Yahweh binds up the hurt of his people and heals the wound inflicted by His blow." (Isaiah 30:26)
"Be not wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." (Proverbs 3:7)
"What are these feeble Jews doing...? Will they revive the burned stones... the heap of rubbish...?" (Nehemiah 4:1-2)
Yahweh's Restoration of All Israel:
"For behold I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create... I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people." (Isaiah 65:17-19)
Who are You? What are You?
Is there in you an Awakening---the shaking off of the gloom and darkness? Is there awaking even a tiny seed of memory, buried in the earth and dead in the past, of who and what you are? Is the long sleep of your Ephraimite Alzheimer's being broken?
"I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand." (Deut. 32:39)
"Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see...and hear...and understand...and then turn and be healed." (Isaiah 6:9-13)
"There is no remembrance of former things nor any remembrance of later things yet to happen... (Eccles. 1:11)
Yahweh Explaining: The Disease and the Diagnosis
"This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you says Yahweh, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies." (Jeremiah 13:25)
"For you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge... Yet the harvest will flee away in a day of grief and incurable pain." (Isaiah 17:10)
"My people have been lost sheep; ...led astray...they have forgotten their fold." (Jeremiah 50:6)
"Your pain is incurable... I have done these things to you." (Jeremiah 30:11-15)
"Samaria (Ephraim/House of Israel)...her wound is incurable. (Micah 1:5-9)
Yahweh's Divine Plague: Ephraim has Alzheimer's!
Upon the greater part of the People of Israel has come divine wounding, pain, discipline, punishment, disease, and dispersion... Blows that have obliterated all memory and all remembrance and all function. Ephraim has descended into darkness: a vegetable, not a fruit---good only for slicing, dicing, or juicing... A cabbage-patch doll!!
"Therefore justice is far from us (Ephraim/House of Israel), and righteousness does not overtake us; we look for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope...like those who have no eyes; we stumble..." (Isaiah 59:9-10; Rev. 3:17)
Yahweh's Prognosis:
"Remember these things O Jacob... I formed you, you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me." (Isaiah 44:21)
"For he remembered his holy promise and Abraham his servant." (Psalm 105:42)
"Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my heart yearns for him." (Jeremiah 31:20)
"How can I give you up, O Ephraim! How can I hand you over, O Israel... my compassion grows warm and tender." (Hosea 11:8)
"Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death?" (Hosea 13:14)
Yahweh's Cure:
"For I will restore health to you and your wound I will heal says Yahweh." (Jeremiah 30:17)
"When Yahweh binds up the hurt of his people and heals the wound inflicted by His blow." (Isaiah 30:26)
"Be not wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." (Proverbs 3:7)
"What are these feeble Jews doing...? Will they revive the burned stones... the heap of rubbish...?" (Nehemiah 4:1-2)
Yahweh's Restoration of All Israel:
"For behold I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create... I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people." (Isaiah 65:17-19)
Who are You? What are You?
Is there in you an Awakening---the shaking off of the gloom and darkness? Is there awaking even a tiny seed of memory, buried in the earth and dead in the past, of who and what you are? Is the long sleep of your Ephraimite Alzheimer's being broken?
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Borderlands: Between Two Kingdoms---Yours and Israel
No servant can serve two masters; for he will either hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. (Luke 16:13)
None except Caleb and Joshua...for they have wholly followed Yahweh. (Number 32:11)
But whenever the judge died, they turned back and behaved worse than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them, and bowing down to them; they did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. (Judges 2:19)
Of the half-tribe of Manasseh... who were expressly named to come and make David king...to help David with singleness of purpose. (1 Chron. 12:31-33)
It takes no great exercise of the imagination to project what it would be like to live astride a picket fence...! Certainly painful and impossible to move without feeling the prick of the pickets in a most tender place. The obvious solution: move to one side of the fence or the other. But as our legs shrink or shorten---perhaps the fence is growing higher and higher as well?---"the move" becomes more difficult and painful. But of course, there are always those who work hard at maintaining their delusion of being "able to straddle the fence" and live in two kingdoms simultaneously: their "kingdom" Monday to Friday, God's "kingdom" on the sabbath... your "kingdom" in the world most times, and "Israel" in the leftover times: The Borderlands!!
At the border crossings between Israel and Palestinian/Jordanian/Syrian... areas, there is, more or less, "a no man's land or zone", a strip of land in which you are neither in Israel nor Jordan. A person can't live there at all, and likely if they dawdle or delay in crossing that "Borderland" they will be shot at from one side or the other. You have to be in one or the other of the "kingdoms". You not allowed to have one foot in Israel and one foot in Jordan.
The solution: Purify your hearts, ye double-minded men! (James 4:8) Other translations render the verse: "wavering individuals with divided interests".
And make your yes simply "yes", and your no a decisive "no".
None except Caleb and Joshua...for they have wholly followed Yahweh. (Number 32:11)
But whenever the judge died, they turned back and behaved worse than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them, and bowing down to them; they did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. (Judges 2:19)
Of the half-tribe of Manasseh... who were expressly named to come and make David king...to help David with singleness of purpose. (1 Chron. 12:31-33)
It takes no great exercise of the imagination to project what it would be like to live astride a picket fence...! Certainly painful and impossible to move without feeling the prick of the pickets in a most tender place. The obvious solution: move to one side of the fence or the other. But as our legs shrink or shorten---perhaps the fence is growing higher and higher as well?---"the move" becomes more difficult and painful. But of course, there are always those who work hard at maintaining their delusion of being "able to straddle the fence" and live in two kingdoms simultaneously: their "kingdom" Monday to Friday, God's "kingdom" on the sabbath... your "kingdom" in the world most times, and "Israel" in the leftover times: The Borderlands!!
At the border crossings between Israel and Palestinian/Jordanian/Syrian... areas, there is, more or less, "a no man's land or zone", a strip of land in which you are neither in Israel nor Jordan. A person can't live there at all, and likely if they dawdle or delay in crossing that "Borderland" they will be shot at from one side or the other. You have to be in one or the other of the "kingdoms". You not allowed to have one foot in Israel and one foot in Jordan.
The solution: Purify your hearts, ye double-minded men! (James 4:8) Other translations render the verse: "wavering individuals with divided interests".
And make your yes simply "yes", and your no a decisive "no".
Monday, October 4, 2010
God Wouldn't Do That!!!
Many are the "religious" assertions concerning what God would or would not do... Perhaps it would be helpful and profitable for you to consider the following:
When Yahweh first spoke through Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, "Go take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry... (Hosea 1:2)
God wouldn't do That!!!
"Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (Genesis 22:1-2)
God wouldn't do That!!!
Then two harlots came to the king (Solomon). One said..."the living child is mine, and the dead child is yours." And the king said, "Bring me a sword. Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other." (1 Kings 3:16, 22, 29)
God wouldn't do That!!!
And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh... For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life...everythin that is on the earth shall die. He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the ground... (Genesis 6:13, 17, 7:23)
God wouldn't do That!!!
There let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children... (Ezra 10:3)
God wouldn't do That!!!
She (Judah) saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce; yet her false sister Judah did not fear... (Jeremiath 3:8)
God wouldn't do That!!!
Thus says Yahweh: "Where is your mother's bill of divorce, with which I put her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was put away." (Isaiah 50:1)
God wouldn't do That!!!
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery... and they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Torah Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?" "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. Woman...has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you; go , and do not sin again." (John 8:3-11)
God wouldn't do That!!!
And they carried the Ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was on the hill; And Uzzah and Ahio were driving the new cart with the Ark of God and when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the Ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah; And God smote him there because he put forth his hand to the Ark; And he died there beside the Ark of God. (2 Samuel 6:3-7)
God wouldn't do That!!!
Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job...?" And Satan answered Yahweh and said, "Skin for skin, and all that a man has he would give for his life! But stretch out your hand please and strike his bone and flesh---if he would not curse you to your face!" And Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold he is in your power, only spare his life." And Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh and smote Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!" But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Indeed, should we accept only good from God, and not accept evil...?" (Job 2:3-10)
God wouldn't do That!!!
If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other disliked, and they have borne him children...he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the disliked, by giving him a double portion of all that he has... Now the sone of Jacob were twelve. The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's first-born), Simeon, Levi, Judah... The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but because he polluted his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright...yet the birthright belonged to Joseph) (Deut. 21:15-17, Genesis 35:22, 1 Chron. 5:1-2) Replacement Theology??? Isaac replaces Ishmael, Jacob replaces Esau...
God wouldn't do That!!!
When Yahweh first spoke through Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, "Go take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry... (Hosea 1:2)
God wouldn't do That!!!
"Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (Genesis 22:1-2)
God wouldn't do That!!!
Then two harlots came to the king (Solomon). One said..."the living child is mine, and the dead child is yours." And the king said, "Bring me a sword. Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other." (1 Kings 3:16, 22, 29)
God wouldn't do That!!!
And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh... For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life...everythin that is on the earth shall die. He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the ground... (Genesis 6:13, 17, 7:23)
God wouldn't do That!!!
There let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children... (Ezra 10:3)
God wouldn't do That!!!
She (Judah) saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce; yet her false sister Judah did not fear... (Jeremiath 3:8)
God wouldn't do That!!!
Thus says Yahweh: "Where is your mother's bill of divorce, with which I put her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was put away." (Isaiah 50:1)
God wouldn't do That!!!
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery... and they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Torah Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?" "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. Woman...has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you; go , and do not sin again." (John 8:3-11)
God wouldn't do That!!!
And they carried the Ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was on the hill; And Uzzah and Ahio were driving the new cart with the Ark of God and when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the Ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah; And God smote him there because he put forth his hand to the Ark; And he died there beside the Ark of God. (2 Samuel 6:3-7)
God wouldn't do That!!!
Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job...?" And Satan answered Yahweh and said, "Skin for skin, and all that a man has he would give for his life! But stretch out your hand please and strike his bone and flesh---if he would not curse you to your face!" And Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold he is in your power, only spare his life." And Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh and smote Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!" But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Indeed, should we accept only good from God, and not accept evil...?" (Job 2:3-10)
God wouldn't do That!!!
If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other disliked, and they have borne him children...he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the disliked, by giving him a double portion of all that he has... Now the sone of Jacob were twelve. The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's first-born), Simeon, Levi, Judah... The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but because he polluted his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright...yet the birthright belonged to Joseph) (Deut. 21:15-17, Genesis 35:22, 1 Chron. 5:1-2) Replacement Theology??? Isaac replaces Ishmael, Jacob replaces Esau...
God wouldn't do That!!!
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