#we have two that are nkjv

[ex-furry]

bibles from the 90s are crazy in terms of how hard they want to focus on homosexuality. like it's honestly just excessive

[indigovigilance]

The Hornet in the Beehive

The passages of the Bible that mention hornets (or, notably, just a single hornet) are talking almost exclusively about the Exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt and God guiding them to the promised land. Specifically, these verses discuss how the people already living in the promised land will be destroyed ahead of the chosen peoples’ arrival by the hornet(s).

The hornet is not who you think it is.

Read on Ao3

Exodus 23:28

The reference in verse 28 appears within this section, entitled God’s Angel to Prepare the Way:

20 “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. 22 If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. 23 My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out… 28 I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. 

From this, we may be able to take that the guardian angel sent ahead of the Chosen People to wipe out the unclean is synonymous with the hornet (in the original Hebrew, הַצִּרְעָ֖ה,  “haṣ-ṣir-‘āh” and yes it seems that the Hebrew word for hornet is pronounced Azira, or more specifically, “A-tsira,” “the-hornet”). (Why did I look at this? Because I wanted to know if the translation for hornet(s) was from a singular, plural, or group noun. Seems like it’s a group noun but I’m not certain.)

So what we have here is an angel symbolically represented as a hornet, pronounced Azira in the original language of the Bible, whose job it is to wipe out those God deems unworthy.

Do with this as you will.

Deuteronomy 7:20

This verse appears in a section entitled Driving Out the Nations

1 When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— 2 and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally (footnote: The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verse 26). Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.

20 Moreover, the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished.

Notably, “hornet” is translated in the singular in seven out of eight translations available here. The Message even capitalizes it.

Joshua 24:12

This section is entitled The Covenant Renewed at Shechem

8 “��I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.

11 “‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’

Translation choices here are getting a little tricky: nine translations use “the hornet,” and the Lexham English Bible specifically emphasizes the hornet. New Living Translation and New Century Version have both replaced “the hornet” with “terror.” A footnote available here reads: Traditionally, “the hornet” (so KJV, NKJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV) but the precise meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain (cf. NEB “panic”).

In summary

There’s a hornet (someone very powerful and very dangerous) in the beehive (Heaven), but it isn’t Crowley.

This is (in my humble opinion) some strong evidence that the intended symbolism behind Aziraphale’s name is a reference to the Hornet that goes before the people of Israel, slaying the Amorites, et cetera, to claim their land. There is some apparent parallelism between an angel clearing out the unfaithful to make way for the chosen people in the Exodus, and an angel whose major responsibility it is to bring about the Second Coming, the Day of Judgment which will also result in the wiping out of those who are found wanting.

The Final Fifteen, again

Aziraphale could not have said no. He could not have refused the Metatron and run away with Crowley. Aziraphale is the Hornet that goes before the righteous to rid the world of the unrighteous.

This was always Aziraphale’s destiny.

~~~

Author’s note: we live in interesting times. My use of the word “Israel” and surrounding language in this meta is strictly with regard to ancient Biblical texts as they are relevant to a fictional work, Good Omens. None of this should be construed as an opinion regarding current political events.

~~~

If you enjoyed this, please check out my meta index for some additional light reading!

[alwaysrememberjesus]

The Importance of Evangelism (2)

“The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Ac 2v47 NKJV

The church has only two options: evangelize or fossilize. When we fail to share our faith with those outside the church, we either end up in a holding pattern or in death throes.

The New Testament church’s growth is described in these words: “The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Not only did they influence every level of society, but their enemies said, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” (Ac 17:6 NKJV).

Question: If your church closed its doors tomorrow, would anyone other than your congregation notice the difference?

Think about those early believers. Their assignment seemed geographically impossible; most people still believed the world was flat. They had no air travel, radio, television, printing presses, internet, social media, or any other modern means at their disposal for communicating the gospel. It seemed legally impossible; they were forbidden by the government authorities to speak in Jesus’ name. And it seemed socially impossible; after all, who would really listen to a bunch of Galileans, devoid of culture and class? Yet they were witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit, and people did listen. They did so much with so little, and we seem to do so little with so much.

It’s said that if just 10 percent of the members in the average church got serious about evangelism, their church would double in one year. By the way, the word translated “witness” is the same word from which we get our English word martyr. These early believers reached the world for Christ because they were willing to lay down their lives for His cause. You must be too.

[locked-in-the-tomb]

The Fate of Paul (a Locked Tomb Theory)

"Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed." — 1 Corinthians 15:50-51, NKJV

"Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." — 2 Kings 2:11, NKJV

"She, by an entirely unique privilege, completely overcame sin by her Immaculate Conception, and as a result she was not subject to the law of remaining in the corruption of the grave, and she did not have to wait until the end of time for the redemption of her body. [...] As the first element of these demonstrations, they insist upon the fact that, out of filial love for his mother, Jesus Christ has willed that she be assumed into heaven." — Defining the Dogma of the Assumption

"Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight." — Acts 1:9, NKJV

Paul has a problem. They are immortal, but their beloved Dulcinea is dead. In spite of that, both Camilla and Palamedes fully expected to get the chance to finally meet her—in person—after completing the Grand Lysis.

"Warden—will she know who we are, in the River?" "Oh, she's not stupid," said Palamedes lightly. "In the River—beyond the River—I truly believe we will see ourselves and each other as we really are." — Nona the Ninth, Chapter 28

How can this be?

To put it simply, I believe Paul will find a way to cross the River without dying.

To use biblical terminology, they will either ascend (of their own power) or be assumed (drawn by a higher power—Dulcinea?) into "heaven," which is to say, the world beyond the River—the side that Dulcinea and Abigail and Magnus and the terrible teens have reached.

"It's a river. There are two shores. If this ends well, you'll find that out." — Dulcinea, The Unwanted Guest

It's difficult to speculate at this point how they will cross or what will happen once they do because of how little we know about the true nature of the River or the two shores, which I take to mean either "the beyond" and the world of the living or "the beyond" and the world beneath the stoma, which we also have yet to see. I suspect the nature of the afterlife will be a major part of AtN (I believe we were promised Harrow harrowing hell? or is that a fan theory?).

Regardless, Paul, to us, is a dark horse. They are a new kind of lyctor and we have yet to really see what they are capable of. We do know that Pal, having spent eight months living in the River after the events of GtN, has an intimate knowledge of the workings of the River that few necromancers have ever achieved. I suspect this knowledge will play a role in how Paul finds their way to the other side, and to Dulcinea, at last.

[eruanna1875]

New Pinned Welcome!

Hey there, folks! This is Eruanna, and welcome to my blog! My activity on here is... sporadic, to say the least (meaning I'll forget about it for weeks, then have a burst of posts I saved in my drafts for ages, lol). However, you're welcome to look around anyway!

I'm also a creative type (in... several areas, probably too many, whoops), so here's a bit of a guide to what I do:

I write! You can find me on AO3, or here on my blog (#my writing, #my fanfiction, and #my stories are all available to search through my tags, but #salt and light will probably include everything). I also talk about my stories a good bit, just sort of rambling, so you'll probably find that there too.

I draw! Pretty sure it's #my art and #notebook sketch for tags (and #salt and light). It's a mix of exactly two things: fanart and random stuff I sketched up for my own stories.

I even make music! There's not much out there yet, but I have a few demos floating around. They're in the #my music tag.

Obviously, I reblog things, because this is the reblogging site XD Sometimes I make lengthy comments, and sometimes I just add a quick react and some tags, but yeah. I reblog stuff.

I also have (a million) sideblogs, so maybe check those out? @long-live-the-gobop is my technically main blog, because I made it first, but it's specifically an AIO fan blog. I also have @saved-for-me-own-stories (other stuff related to my writing), @marching-tall-through-it-all (Tangled/TTS stuff), @the-gifts-he-has-given-me (art stuff, mostly tips but a few art posts as well), @new-tag-oc (reblogging from the deactivated ones), @tpc-tangled-au (my Tangled AU featuring all my characters), and @less-lost-than-you-realize (my OTGW sideblog).

Yeah. And that's not even a third of them.

Well, I suppose that about sums it up for types of content! Oh, and just a reminder, you'll also see quite a bit of the tag #salt and light on here, because I'm both very much a Christian and very much a creator of content that flows from that.

And, because I'm a Christian, I decided it would be best to tell you where I stand from the Bible itself, so it's clear that this doesn't come from me alone but from God:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." ~ John 3:16-19 (KJV) and "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." ~ Acts 4:12 (KJV) (that one pretty much speaks for itself)

"...That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." ~ Philippians 2:10-11 (KJV) (a key word, every) "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well." ~ Psalm 139:13-14 (NKJV) and "I was cast upon You from birth. From my mother’s womb You have been my God." ~ Psalm 22:10 (NKJV) (a key phrase, from my mother's womb) "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." ~ Mark 10:6-9 (KJV) (some key phrases, man and woman, and man and wife)

Obviously, all the words and phrases are key, because it's the Word of God, but this is just to emphasize, so it's clear what my beliefs are.

I'm rooted in what God tells us, about Himself and the world He made. Thus - regardless of what the world says God is or what the world says people are (or aren't) - I'm not going to move. This is where I stand.

As I said in my previous pinned, I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm not an argumentative person by nature, and I'm not going to try and provoke things or send people hate asks or anything. Even if they think I'm a psycho for believing the things I believe.

If that's you, just know I'll be praying for you.

And, regardless of whether you agree with me or not, I hope you find something to enjoy on this here blog o' mine! I'm just here to spread a little salt on the stories we devour and light on the shadows of this world. :)

[steveezekiel]

WHEN YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD

"AND SO IT WAS, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “MY WRATH IS AROUSED AGAINST YOU AND YOUR TWO FRIENDS, FOR YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN OF ME WHAT IS RIGHT, AS MY SERVANT JOB HAS."

Job 42:7 (NKJV)

"AFTER the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I AM ANGRY WITH YOU AND YOUR TWO FRIENDS, FOR YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN ACCURATELY ABOUT ME, AS MY SERVANT JOB HAS."

Job 42:7 (NLT)

• Some who claimed to be preaching or teaching or telling others about God, have not been truthful, straightforward, and unequivocal, about it.

- Some wanted to use sweet words, partial truth, to convince others about God. If you do such a thing as a leader; a believer or a preacher or a teacher of the Word, you may find yourself to blame At the end of your journey on earth (James 3:1).

- You cannot use deceit to convince or win people's hearts to God. If that is what you are doing, God will never be part of it. A message or sermon you preach or teach that does not agree or consistent with the Bible, the Word of God, would not be backed up by God.

- The teachers of the Word of God will receive stricter Judgement, thus, you had to be circumspect about what you teach or tell others about God (James 3:1).

- The three friends of Job were sort of defending God, saying things that are not true or genuine or consistent with God's Character or attribute. God said He was angry with them because they were not being truthful about things they said about Him (Job 42:7).

• If you are deceiving people in the name of propagating the work of God, you may be shocked At the end that God Himself would disown you (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 13:25,27; 1 Corinthians 9:27).

- Many claim they are working for God, but they are working for their selfish motives (Philippians 3:18,19).

- Whatever is done in God's name with deceit or gimmickry, He would vindicate Himself and not be part of it. Those who even claimed to have performed miracles in Jesus' name, with tricks and deceits, would be disowned (Matthew 7:22,23).

- God would not tolerate, say, you have done whatever wrong you did to defend His name or work, He would not condone it and completely stare clear from such a work:

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN YOUR NAME, CAST OUT DEMONS IN YOUR NAME, AND DONE MANY WONDERS IN YOUR NAME?’ 23 AND THEN I WILL DECLARE TO THEM, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS!’ " (Matthew 7:22,23 NKJV).

- The Job's friends thought they had to say good things about God, but what they were saying was not the truth; Thus, God was not happy with them (Job 42:7).

• The so-called believers or ministers who are doing this—using deception to draw people to God—always thought the end justifies the means, but that is not true with God.

- If it was not right, or not done in the Bible way, God will not be part of it—He would not support It. Whatever is built on falsehood in the name of working for God would never stand. Only what is built on the integrity of His Word would stand.

- The means through which the work is done must be right, before the end could be justified. Both the means with which His work is done and the end matters immensely to God.

- Tell the people under your leadership the truth, If they wanted to leave let them go. Do not use sweet words and gimmicks to tie the people down in your ministry or church. Tell them and let them decides whether to stay or not.

• Some who are doing such a thing thought God will only judge what they considered as big Sins or blatant Sins; like sexual Sin, murder, and others. The Sin of lying or deception is As grievous as murder in the sight of God.

- In fact, liars would be barred from entering the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:27). Lying is one of the Sins listed in the passage that would send people to the lake that burns with brimstone (Revelation 21:8).

- Some ministers deceive people so that they can attend a meeting. Some even use the picture of a popular minister on their posters to draw crowds to their meetings or programmes. That is lack of integrity and It is against the ethics of the ministry work.

- Whether you use deception or falsehood to gather crowd or to raise money or to claim that a miracle is performed through your ministry, when it is not true; you are still in the same category or class with whoever is sinning: "THEREFORE, PUTTING AWAY LYING, “LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOUR,” FOR WE ARE MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER" (Ephesians 4:25 NKJV).

"DON'T LIE TO EACH OTHER, FOR YOU HAVE STRIPPED OFF YOUR OLD SINFUL NATURE AND ALL ITS WICKED DEEDS."

Colossians 3:9 (NLT)

• Some ministers cheat, lie, steal, commit immorality and deceive, yet justifying what they are doing; claiming they are doing it to promote God's name or do His work.

- If you repented not, you would regret at the end of your journey on earth: "BUT I [Paul] DISCIPLINE MY BODY AND BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION, LEST, WHEN I HAVE PREACHED TO OTHERS, I MYSELF SHOULD BECOME DISQUALIFIED" (1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV).

- The fear of God is said to be the beginning of wisdom by the Scripture (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).

a. The fear of God would cause you not to drag the name of Jesus Christ, God, in the mud (2 Peter 2:21,22).

b. The fear of God would cause you not to give occasions to the enemies of God to speak against Him—His name and Kingdom or work (2 Samuel 12:14).

• Note: God will not need your help, thus, do not try to help Him; lying in His name or because of His work, in order to draw people to God or impress them.

- God is enough, He would not need your support or assistance before He does whatever He intended to do.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

- Whatever is not planted in your body by God, that is working against your health, such is cursed and completely uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

- The hold is broken now As you read this piece, and the Affliction will never rise again in Jesus' name.

Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION

• Take notice of this:

IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).

a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).

b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).

c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!

[eli-kittim]

When is the end of the age?

Eli Kittim

When is the end of the age? Not where, not how, but when? The New King James Version calls this specific time period “the end of the age,” while the King James Version refers to it as “the end of the world.” Biblical scholars often ask whether the end of the age is a reference to the end of the Jewish age, which came to an end with the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D., or whether it’s an allusion to the end of human history. Given that the signs of the times coincide with this particular age, we must examine whether this is literal language, referring to first century Palestine, or figurative, pertaining to the end-times.

Since “the end of the age” is a characteristic theme of the New Testament (NT), let’s look at how Jesus explains it in the parable of the tares in Matthew 13:37-43 (NKJV emphasis added):

“He answered and said to them: ‘He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!’ “

In this parable, the constituent elements of the end of the age are highlighted, namely, the end-times, judgment day, the wicked cast into the lake of fire, and the end of human history. The key phrase that is translated as “the end of the age” comes from the Greek expression συντελείᾳ τοῦ ⸀αἰῶνος. In a similar vein, let’s see how Jesus explains the eschatological dimension of the parable of the dragnet in Matthew 13:47-50 (italics mine):

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Once again, in this parable, the end of the age (συντελείᾳ τοῦ ⸀αἰῶνος) is described as taking place at the last judgment, when the righteous will be separated from the wicked, while simultaneously placing emphasis on the end of the world, when “there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Similarly, in Matthew 24:3, the disciples ask Jesus to tell them two things, namely, when will the coming of Christ and the end of the age take place. In comparison to Matthew 24:3, the book of Acts tells us that the apostles asked Jesus if he will restore the kingdom of Israel at the end of the age (Acts 1:6). This question was asked just prior to his ascension and departure. Historically speaking, Israel was restored in the 20th century, which is one of the signs that ties in closely with Jesus’ coming and the end of the age. Jesus responds in v. 7 by saying, “it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” And v. 9 informs us that Jesus’ response is part of his farewell speech. In like manner, the last recorded words of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel (28:18-20 emphasis added) are as follows:

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age [συντελείας τοῦ ⸀αἰῶνος].”

If Jesus promised to be with the disciples until “the end of the age,” and if that age is a reference to first century Palestine, does this mean that Jesus is no longer with those who have long since outlived their first century counterparts? Taken as a whole, this would also essentially imply that the resurrection of the dead, the rapture, the great tribulation, the lake of fire, judgment day, and the coming of Jesus were events that all took place in Antiquity. Is that a legitimate theologoumenon that captures the eschatology of the NT?

We find an analogous concept in the Septuagint of Daniel 12:1-4 (L.C.L. Brenton translation). Daniel mentions the resurrection of the dead and the great tribulation, but in v. 4 he is commanded to “close the words, and seal the book to the time of the end; until many are taught, and knowledge is increased.” Curiously enough, “the time of the end” in Daniel is the exact same phrase that Jesus uses for “the end of the age” in the NT, namely, καιροῦ συντελείας.

As for the biblical contents, given that the exact same language is employed in all of the parallel passages, it is clear that the end of the age is a future time period that explicitly refers to judgment day, the lake of fire, the harvest, and the consummation of the ages. Obviously, it has nothing to do with the time of Antiquity. Not to mention that the parousia is said to coincide with the end of the current world, when everything will dissolve in a great conflagration (2 Pet. 3:10)!

[proclaimtheword]

Bible study notes: Gospel of John, Acts, Romans

I had finished the book of Acts yesterday evening, in about a week since I finished the Gospel according to John (I decided to skip the first three gospels for some reason, then just planned to continue on until Paul’s letters; I will come back to it before I finish the NT with Revelation). I had a lot of notes from John, mainly affirming Jesus’ authority, divinity, teaching and resurrection.

A memorable scene for me (as I typically imagine the story play out in my head while reading) is towards the end when the Risen Christ sits down, eats and talks with Peter and John, the disciple he loves, who also says to have written the book. After previously being denied three times when He was being tried, Jesus gives Peter a chance to redeem himself in an almost poetic, parallel manner:

Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

There are many important events in the gospel, but to me that was the most heartfelt and impactful. How the Lord is so good and faithful, even to us who fail Him! Truly He is God and Savior. I was even more in love with Jesus.

And indeed Peter redeems himself—in the next book, Acts, he preached Jesus everywhere, despite facing persecution from both Romans and Jews. As Jesus said to Peter, “On this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” We see the apostles laboring to get the church off the ground. They were brave and emboldened by the Spirit, and did many wonders in Jesus’ name. I truly believe the apostles’ testimony of the Risen Christ. This is the cause of our faith: the apostles testified that Jesus is the Messiah, and that He rose from the dead, and we must repent and be baptized so we may be forgiven for our sins.

Again, one of my favorite “scenes” from this is when the crowd had plotted to kill Peter and the apostles who miraculously escaped from jail with God’s help, and a council teacher named Gamaliel stands up to them and says:

[…] keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And it made me think, yes! Indeed it is the work of God. If our faith was in vain, it would not have survived and persisted for 2000 years amidst all challenges. How else could you explain that a small group of men started what pretty much was a cult that was heavily persecuted during those times, and that became a dominant global religion that it is today? Jesus told the disciples to preach and baptize “to the ends of the earth” and said, “I will be with you to the end of age.”

God is faithful! In Romans, Paul writes “If God is for us, who can be against us?” In this first book of letters he shows his incredible reasoning and oratory skills. He argues between law and grace, how salvation came first to the Jews then to the Gentiles, and both are equally saved by the same faith in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: translations, how I read and study, and keeping reverence for the Bible

I have been reading the Bible for about two weeks now. I use NKJV personal size by Thomas Nelson, and I absolutely love it. It’s large print, easy to read, leather copy cover, big and sturdy to hold which makes reading that much more enjoyable. I like my bible clean, I don’t make any marks, and I take good care of it, not only because it cost me money, but also I believe there is a way to study and show respect for the Bible. One thing I realized is that I don’t need to make too many highlights or notes simultaneously. Sometimes the busyness makes you think you’re understanding when you’re actually not, so it’s better to simply read and enjoy and reflect on the text. I can always deep dive a second time. This is how I feel I can go through the Bible quite easily. At this rate I might finish the NT in less than two weeks.

[albertfinch]

RELEASE YOUR NET

 "You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing...And, He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him." -  Psalm 145:16, 19 NKJV.

You can trust the Lord God.

LAUNCH INTO THE DEEP

In Luke 5, we read the story of Simon Peter fishing. He had been up all night fishing and had caught nothing. NOTHING! He, a professional fisherman, had worked all night for nothing.  His friends were into fishing. He lived in a fishing village. If anyone could make a catch, surely it was Peter. But he fished all night in vain.

We can easily relate to Peter. We have been up all night fishing unsuccessfully – the loneliness continues, the rebellious child has not returned home, the bills keep piling higher....and, you know how to fish! Your heart feels sick.

Jesus arrives on the scene. He is not known for being a professional fisherman. He was a carpenter's son from landlocked Nazareth.  Jesus did not own a boat. Had He ever cast a net?  Yet He has the audacity to tell the fisherman two things to do – "launch into the deep and let the nets down for a catch" - (Luke 5:4).

Might He be saying the same to you? Launch into the deep. Let your net down.

What is this deep?

What is the net you need to lay down?

THE MIGHTY LION OF JUDAH

Jesus is here at oneness in us. He was, He is, and He will be trustworthy. You can trust Him with the deep things – the wounds and disappointments in your past, the fears and uncertainties in your present, the heart desires and hopes for your future. Dare you launch into the deep?

DROP YOUR NETS - IT'S FISHING SEASON

And the nets?

The secure nets – the default actions and reactions,

 the personal traditions and habits,

the independent way of thinking – these nets need to be dropped.

Letting down our nets releases another wave of insecurity or fear.

Sometimes layer after layer of nets must be released until we get to the secure place of TRUST.

Peter reminded Jesus that they had been fishing unsuccessfully all night long. Then he makes the all-important statement, "...at Your word I will let down the net" (Luke 5:5). And as the story ends, they caught a great number of fish, so many that their nets were breaking from the tremendous catch.

Simon Peter heard the clear directive given by Jesus. He immediately responded in spite of his own experience with fishing. He then pulled in a massive, astonishing load of fish. Peter's desire was abundantly fulfilled.

It is fishing season.  Trust God in the deep. Release your net to Jesus. Listen. Hear. Obey. And, you will be astonished as you realize the desires of your heart.

Confess and meditate the following in Jesus' mighty name:

I will trust in the Lord, and He will give the desires of my heart which includes a passion to help others with their spiritual needs. (Psalm 37:3-4).

I will not lean on my own understanding. I will come to understand my Christ identity so I can bear fruit that remains for His Kingdom as I trust God to direct my steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I will walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16)

I will abide in the love of Jesus and remain in His love. (John 15:10)

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[grungeyemochristian]

Condemning Christian ?

I see a lot of times where people who confess to being Christians, coming after people for their sins and telling them if they don't repent right now they'll burn in hell, but friends this will not help bring the lost to Jesus, in fact it will push them away, Im sure by now we're all aware of what the bible (scripture, God's word) says about certain sins and I agree with God and what He says, whether thats popular in todays world or not. But I also know people seem to forget Matthew 7:1-5 which says "1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; Mark 4:24; Luke 6:38and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3Luke 6:41And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." or in romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" This is to say that everyone including christians who read our bibles everyday, pray all day, strive to walk in love all day everyday, still mess up there is no one, except God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit who are perfect, people are flawed from the day sin entered the world (as you can find in the book of genesis) and yes it is true there are christians who focus only on two sins, but then disregard the others, people talking bad about others behind their backs, gossiping, drinking to get drunk, lying, gossiping, so many other things that are sins but are normalized in todays society, does that make them okay? Nope! heck even swearing is a sin because thats using unwholesome speech, but thats also one of the more normalized sins in today’s society.

What I'm saying is we need to focus more on our relationship with God, and praying for those who are in sin, praying for those who are intentionally hateful or rude to us, or unintentionally hateful or rude to us, we are to walk in love and be the example of the love of Christ Jesus, and screaming at people, telling them they're going to hell, isn't an example of these things, it's showing what not to be. Jesus is my Lord and savior and it is my hope I can eventually be like Him, but the best way fro me or you to do that is to spend more time in prayer, in the word, and even if your prayer is just telling Him thank you, and thanking Him for the things you have, and for who He is, and how good He is, you're still doing right

God is the one and only we need care about above all things, and to grow in Him, and our relationships with Him we must turn off or limit the world like through social media or television, and spend time in His word, in worship, or prayer. there are so many ways we can glorify God, even by helping people we're glorifying God, because when we do that we're being the hands and feet of Jesus, but make sure you're doing that to be actually helping, not just for views on a tiktok video, remember, scripture tells us Matthew 6:3 NKJV

3But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing

[feedingtheflockministry]

2 Ways to Shipwreck Your Faith

By Jennifer Waddle

“This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck.” - (1 Timothy 1:18-19 NKJV)

To experience an actual shipwreck would be one of the scariest experiences a person could go through. When we hear of cruise ships being stranded at sea, starting to sink, or having mechanical issues, we hold our breaths until people are safely rescued.

The apostle Paul knew the experience of shipwreck probably better than anyone.

“Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea…” (2 Corinthians 11:25 NIV)

Three times he was shipwrecked! And yet, he survived to tell the story.

While most of us can only imagine such an ordeal, I’m afraid others of us may end up going through something just as terrible—the shipwreck of faith.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

(Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV)

There is an interesting line, in 1 Timothy 1:20, that mentions a couple of men by the names of Hymenaeus and Alexander—men to whom Paul “handed over to Satan.” Now, I don’t know about you, but I never want to be “handed over” to Satan! The context of the passage is that Paul recognized two grave things that these men had allowed to happen—two things that basically shipwrecked their faith. When Paul warned Timothy to "fight the good fight with faith and a good conscience,” he was outlining two necessary things for the Christian walk. Unfortunately, Hymenaeus and Alexander had rejected these and been expelled from Paul’s leadership in order that they would learn a hard lesson.

Following the example of these men, here are 2 ways to shipwreck your faith:

1. Reject

In a world where everyone is encouraged to embrace “whatever feels right,” there is an extreme danger of being mislead toward ideas that are contrary to the Scriptures. These ideas plague our culture, our homes, and even our churches. Eventually, they may lead a person to outright reject faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” (Luke 10:16 NKJV)

Belief and the acceptance of Jesus as the only true God is foundational to the Christian faith. Any other ideas that try to distort this truth are ideas that can lead to shipwreck. It is crucial to our faith that we trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross and not try to add or take away from it.

2. Ignore

When our conscience becomes hardened to the point that we no longer hear or heed the voice of the Holy Spirit, our faith becomes like a splintered ship, tossed against the rocky shore, useless and abandoned.

The Holy Spirit’s role is “God in us.” When we enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, His Spirit comes to reside. He guards, guides, and directs us in the way we should go. Without His navigation, our faith will surely be shipwrecked. It is of utmost importance that we remain in step with Him and listen to His still, small voice.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 NKJV)

Paul’s charge to Timothy was to remain strong in the battle, steady on the open seas, and faithful in the Lord. He knew that temptations would come—temptations to reject and ignore the only God and Savior, thereby risking the shipwreck of his faith.

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. (1Timothy 4:10 NKJV)

[mrlnsfrt]

Strong Female Character

Do you like simple straightforward stories?

Stories with a clear hero who never does anything wrong and a clear villain who never does anything good?

I have met many people who are only familiar with the children’s version of the Bible characters. We often refer to these characters as Bible heroes. They are strong, wise, and always obedient. They talk to God and God talks to them and they always know exactly what to do. They are never afraid, they never experience anxiety, and God gives them victories over everything that stands in their way.

These heroes are often portrayed as strong and brave men.

Many are surprised to discover that the great majority of biblical characters are flawed human beings whose lives are much more similar to ours than we would like to admit. Many often overlook the women of the Bible. They see them as minor characters whose stories are not worth telling and whose names are not worthy to be remembered.

In this post, I will explore Genesis 38 and the story of Tamar. She is the first woman mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, that portion of Matthew 1 you often skip. Just a heads up, this story is anything but straightforward and deals with mature themes. There’s a reason kids’ Bibles don’t include the story of Tamar. But if you are interested in tackling a challenging biblical text and discovering a fascinating character, I invite you to continue to read this post.

Wrong Story?

At first glance, a story about Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar immediately after the sale of Joseph and his arrival in the Egyptian house of Potiphar seems completely out of place. But a closer look at this story reveals that it is exactly where it needs to be since it is thematically connected with Genesis 37 and 39.

Going down?

It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. - Genesis 38:1 ESV (bold mine)

I quoted from the English Standard Version because it more accurately translates the original text. This may seem like a small detail but it ties this story in with the next chapter, Genesis 39 that begins with Joseph having been taken down to Egypt. The text does not tell us the reason for Judah leaving his brothers, but it could be that he is feeling guilty about selling his brother Joseph to the Midianites and Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:28 more on my post Betrayed by Family)

“At that time” correlates with the previous incident and suggests that the present episode should be interpreted in light of it. That Judah “went down” (from yārad) is a veiled allusion to the descent of Joseph into Egypt (37:25, 35; 39:1; cf. 12:10; 46:3–4), meaning that both sons have left their father’s house, though under vastly different circumstances. Ironically, Joseph’s case was instigated by Judah’s brainstorm. Judah in the Joseph narrative is an active participant whose choices, for good or for ill, make ripples in the lives of others. - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 713–714.

When we combine the events of Genesis 37 and 38 we notice that Jacob’s family was being torn apart by hatred and overall disregard for the will of God.

Judah’s sons

2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. 3 So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him. - Genesis 38:2-5 NKJV

Judah’s progeny looks promising since he had three sons. This places him in good company since other notable patriarchs who produced three sons include Noah, and Terah (Adam has three sons named in the Bible but I wonder if he had more that were not named). Judah named his first son, Er, but the other two were named by his wife. Perhaps this indicates the preference for the firstborn as was typical in the local culture. There is also some debate regarding the identity of Shua. Was Shua the name of the father or the daughter? The text is not clear and it has been translated both ways.

Judah chooses Tamar

Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. - Genesis 38:6 NKJV

Interestingly Judah decides to choose the wife for his firstborn. Some interpret this to mean that Judah is becoming more concerned about his legacy and is perhaps returning to God. However, the biblical text does not identify Tamar’s background. Jewish Tradition reports that Tamar was originally a Gentile but, like Ruth, had converted to the God of Israel. (Doukhan, Jacques. Genesis. Nampa, Idaho, Pacific Press Publishing Association ; [Hagerstown, Maryland, 2016.)

Tamar’s ethnicity is undisclosed, but commentators often assume a Canaanite lineage since the text does not indicate an Israelite connection. Conversely, one could argue that the identification of Judah’s wife as a Canaanitess (v. 2) means that the silence of the text for Tamar’s ethnicity implies that she was Israelite.If she were of Canaanite background, matters were turning from bad to worse, since another generation would have married outside the Abraham family (e.g., Ishmael, Esau; also Simeon, 46:10). Joseph, too, will marry an Egyptian (“Asenath”), but the event is somewhat mitigated by his circumstances; she is a gift from Pharaoh (41:45). The text tends to veil his foreign marriage under the act of naming “Manasseh” and “Ephraim,” whose meaning revealed the mind-set of Joseph (41:50–52; 46:20). - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 715–716.

Er was not a nice person

7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him. - Genesis 38:7 NKJV

Many wonder what exactly was the “evil” committed by Er, but the text does not tell us. There is likely a connection with divine judgment warnings found in texts like Exodus 22:23-24 that include the language “your wives will become widows.” The phrase, “evil in the eyes of the Lord,” is a popular Deuteronomic phrase that describes many different unlawful behaviors, especially idolatry (e.g., Deut 4:25; 17:2; Judg 2:11; 1 Sam 15:19; 2 Sam 12:9; esp. 1, 2 Kings). “To put to death” often describes God’s judgment or capital punishment by human agency (e.g., Exod 4:24; Num 35:19, 21). (K. A. Mathews, 716.)

It is worth noting that this is the first time in the Bible where the text explicitly states that God killed someone.

Levirate Marriage?

8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also. - Genesis 38:8-10 NKJV

Deuteronomy 25:5–10 provides the details of the practice, which is illustrated in the Judah-Tamar episode (cf. Luke 20:28). The purpose for this practice was to “produce [qûm] offspring” in the name of the deceased (cf. Deut 25:5, 7, lit., “to establish the brother’s name”). Levirate Marriage is also discussed in the book of Ruth, for more on that read my post Love is… (Part 4)

In accordance with the custom of levirate marriage (“brother-in-law”), Judah instructs Onan to have sexual relations with his deceased brother’s widow, Tamar. Onan, however, refused to impregnate Tamar, ejaculating on the ground (coitus interruptus).

Onan did not want to impregnate Tamar because he did not want to reduce his share of the family inheritance. He stood first in line after the death of Er, and producing a son by his brother’s widow would mean the loss of his new status as heir. His behavior possibly indicates that the men in Judah’s household had struggled for supremacy, as we have found it commonly in the households of the patriarchs Isaac and Jacob. This family travesty results in the kindled anger of the Lord against Onan (v. 10). (K. A. Mathews, 716–717.)

Some use this text to say that using any kind of birth control is sinful, others take it even a step further to say that masturbation is a sin. Interestingly people have taken the name of Onan and turned it into a verb, Onanism which Merriam-Webster defines as 1. masturbation, 2. coitus interruptus, and 3. self-gratification. I am not going to discuss whether or not I think masturbation or using birth control is sinful, but I do want to clarify that I believe this application of these texts is unwarranted. The Messiah was to come from the seed of Judah, therefore Onan’s deliberate refusal to give his brother an heir threatens the entire plan of salvation. Onan’s selfishness impacts many more people than he could ever imagine. Onan, like his brother Er, had the opportunity to be a member of the family line that ultimately led to not only to King David but ultimately the Messiah, the Savior of the World.

Onan had no way of knowing God’s plans for Judah’s family at this point in history, but do we likewise minimize the importance we play in God’s plan to bless those around us?

Does our selfishness cause those around us to miss out on blessings God wants to give them?

To focus on Onan’s specific behavior and say it is wrong is to miss the big picture. There are many ways that our selfish behavior can negatively impact those around us and generations to come, I would not limit Onan’s sin to simply the things indicated by the definition of onanism.

Tamar must be the problem

Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. - Genesis 38:11 NKJV

Is the Bible misogynistic?

Does the Bible prop up the patriarchy to the detriment of women everywhere?

If the Bible was pro-male and anti-female, it would have skipped this story altogether. The text here is not prescribing Judah’s behavior, but rather describing his behavior. As a man of his time, Judah assumed the problem must be Tamar and not his sons. But are not all parents tempted to think similarly? Blame the teacher, blame the other child, it’s anyone’s fault but my child’s, much less my own. It would take humility and maturity for Judah to grasp what was really going on. It was easier to blame Tamar and “protect” his last remaining son Shelah.

Judah protects his sole remaining heir by sending Tamar home to her father’s house (cp. Lev 22:13). By relegating her to the life of a “widow” (ʾalmānâ), for whom special protections are necessary (e.g., Exod 22:22[21]; Deut 24:17–21), Judah puts her future at jeopardy with no husband or potential son to care for her (Job 24:21; Ps 94:6; Isa 10:12; Mark 12:40). He does so under the pretense of Shelah’s adolescence, but he has no intention of subjecting his son to Tamar’s string of misfortune. “For he thought” translates the verbal root ʾāmar, “to say,” indicating interior dialogue, that is, he said to himself (e.g., 1 Sam 18:17). This is the narrative’s way of explaining to the reader Judah’s motivation for his peculiar behavior. He appears oblivious to the reasons for his sons’ deaths. - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 717.

Desperate Measures

 12 Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. - Genesis 38:12 -14NKJV

Tamar’s desperate condition leads her to embrace desperate measures. Shelah is grown and Judah did not fulfill his promise to give him to Tamar. Judah should have taken Tamar under his wings to provide for her, but instead, he sent her back to her father’s house. Because she was supposed to marry Shelah she is not free to marry anyone else. Tamar is trapped with no viable options.

After the proper period of mourning had ended, Judah returned to his daily activities, including the shearing of his flocks. The timing of Judah’s trip to Timnah with his Canaanite friend at a crucial moment suggests that this trip could be a part of the comforting process. Sheep shearing was an occasion for partying (Genesis 31:19; 1 Sam 25:2-37; 2 Sam 13:23-28) and was even associated in Canaanite religion with the rituals of sacred prostitution (Hosea 4:13-14). (Doukhan, Jacques. Genesis. Nampa, Idaho, Pacific Press Publishing Association ; [Hagerstown, Maryland, 2016. p424)

Change of Clothing

Remember that apparel is an important signal of social status, especially in the narrative of Joseph (see Joseph part 1 and part 2).

Tamar takes off her widow’s garment which distinctively indicates that she has lost a husband (2 Samuel 14:2) and instead covers herself with a veil which suggests that she is promised to a husband (Genesis 24:65; 29:21-25). (ibid) After all, she was promised to Shelah who is now grown and able to marry.

A woman’s veil was not the garment of a harlot but of a betrothed woman (see Genesis 24:65; 29:21–25). Assyrian law forbid an unmarried woman from wearing a veil. The irony of the veil was that it not only hid her identity but it also could have signaled that she had been given in pledge to another, namely, Shelah. - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 718.

Dr. Jacques Doukhan adds that according to Assyrian law, only sacred prostitutes had to be veiled in public; regular prostitutes were forbidden to wear a veil. (Ancient Near East Texts Relating to the Old Testament. 3rd ed. Edited by J.B. Pritchard, Princeton: Princeton University Press 1969, 183 #40) This means that by involving himself with a veiled woman Judah was not only simply “satisfying his sexual frustration due to the loss of his wife” but he is also involving himself in a Canaanite cult. (Doukhan, Jacques. Genesis. Nampa, Idaho, Pacific Press Publishing Association ; [Hagerstown, Maryland, 2016. p425)

Location, location, location

It was Tamar’s location on the road that suggested her business (cf. Jer 3:2; Ezek 16:25) and not necessarily her outfit. She stationed herself alone at the entrance to the town to ensure that she would encounter travelers (cf. Prov 8:3; 9:14; 2 Kgs 23:8). (K. A. Mathews, 718.) This description of Tamar’s behavior reveals the depths of her humiliation. She set aside her widowhood for the demeaning status of a prostitute. The widow who has been mistreated by the men of her family uses the sinful desires of her father-in-law to turn the tables on him.

Watch the eyes

she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. - Genesis 38:14 ESV (bold mine)

So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. - Genesis 38:14 NKJV (bold mine)

She chose “Enaim” (ʿênayim), meaning “eyes,” to spring her trap. Some translations translate it as “an open place” is not a bad translation, but you miss something, a certain play on words. Its location is unknown, identified only as “on the road to Timnah” from Adullam (but this place could be Enam in the territory of Judah, see Joshua 15:34).

“Enaim” may have one of a number of potential wordplays when we remember that she veiled her identity, leaving exposed only her eyes, and the importance in the narrative of visual effects signaling sexual relationships (notice the usage of the word “saw,” vv. 2, 14, 15).

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. - Genesis 38:2 NKJV (bold mine)

So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. - Genesis 38:14 NKJV (bold mine)

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. - Genesis 38:15 NKJV (bold mine)

A Harlot?

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. - Genesis 38:15 NKJV

The word used there is the usual term identifying a harlot (Genesis 34:31), although the root usage (zānâ) can include other forbidden heterosexual relations (Numbers 25:1; Judges 19:2). This seems like a small detail but keep this in mind as we continue to study this story.

An embarrassing sequence of events

16 Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law.

So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

17 And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.”

So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”

18 Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”

So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. - Genesis 38:16-18 NKJV 

The biblical text is clear, Judah unwittingly had sexual relations with his “daughter-in-law,” fooled by her appearance (v. 16). His act transgressed sexual prohibitions stated later in levitical law (Leviticus 18:15; 20:12). He probably thought no one would know what he did. How could Judah have known that his “secret sin” would be read by people thousands of years later?

By the way, if someone were to temper with the Bible, or if it is simply a regular book authored by humans, why mention embarrassing accounts of the patriarchs of the faith? Why not omit these stories and only mention stories that make the patriarchs look good? These terrible stories, in my mind, serve as further evidence that the Bible is no ordinary book. But the story is not over yet…

This story brings to the forefront several of the themes of the story of Jacob (and Joseph).

Deception involving clothing.

Genesis 27:15 Jacob wears Esau’s clothing

Genesis 37:31-33 Joseph’s tunic was taken by his brothers dipped in blood and sent to their father.

Deception involving a young goat.

Genesis 27:16 Rebecca places skins of the kids of the goats on Jacob’s hands and neck.

Genesis 37:31 Joseph’s coat was dipped in the blood of a kid of the goats and then sent to his father.

As the story of Jacob and Joseph progresses we see those who deceive others end up being deceived by others. There are more themes and Matthews does a great job in pointing them out. Here are some things he mentions.

The recurring terms “know” (yādaʿ, vv. 9, 16, 26) and “recognize” (nākar, vv. 25–26) bring this motif to the forefront.

Judah wrongly ascribed to Tamar the reason for his sons’ deaths (v. 11), not knowing that the Lord had punished them (vv. 7, 10).

Judah does not understand why Tamar required the particular personal items for a pledge (v. 18).

Judah’s failure to “know” (yādaʿ, v. 16) her identity but his recognition (“recognize,” nākar, v. 25) of his pledge echoes Jacob’s ignorance of what became of Joseph, a ruse fostered by Judah and the brothers (37:32–33).

Judah’s lack of knowledge anticipates the motif of recognition in Joseph’s court, for the brothers failed to “recognize” (42:8) and “know” (42:23) Joseph’s identity.

That Judah was unaware of her identity recalls Laban’s deception of Jacob by giving him Leah (29:23–25) and the immorality of Lot’s daughters, who tricked him during a drunken stupor, catching him unaware (lōʾ yādaʿ, 19:33, 35).

That the text comments “[Judah] did not sleep [lit., “know,” yādaʿ] with her again” (v. 26) at the conclusion of his embarrassing confession provides a subtle allusion to his gullibility.

In addition to the brothers and Jacob collectively, Judah’s lack of knowledge provides a foil for the wisdom of Joseph, who is the interpreter of dreams par excellence and whose knowledge and insight gain him the upper hand over his siblings.

His brothers meanwhile are dim-witted like Esau, unsuspecting of their host’s identity and his knowledge of their conversations.  (K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 719–720.)

A business transaction?

The interaction between Judah and Tamar is so cold. It makes me so uncomfortable that they treat this encounter as a simple business transaction. After all, this is all it seems to be to them, at least to Judah. Judah is so oblivious he does not realize he is about to commit the sins of adultery and incest. Tamar is still betrothed to Shelah (Deuteronomy 22:23-24) and she is also Judah’s daughter-in-law (Leviticus 18:15).

Whereas Judah has lost his lucidity and self-control, Tamar behaves as a shrewd businesswoman and is in full control of the situation. - Doukhan, Jacques, 425.

Tamar plays out her role by asking for the appropriate payment, “What will you give me?” Matthews points out that this may be a play on the failures of Onan and Judah, the former who did not “give his semen” (v. 9) and the latter’s son to whom “she had not been given” (v. 14). (K. A. Mathews, 720.)

Tamar was probably aware that Judah would not have been prepared for this transaction and would not be able to pay cash. Considering her past experiences with Judah she required an immediate guarantee in the form of objects that would prove his identity. She took the equivalent of his driver’s license, his major credit cards, and his passport.

Foolishly he yields his personal identifying credentials used in official transactions. The ancient cylinder “seal” (ḥôtām/ḥôtemet) was typically made of engraved stone that was rolled across soft clay and on pottery handles, leaving an authoritative and authenticating imprint (e.g., Exod 28:11; 1 Kgs 21:8). - K. A. Mathews, 720.

The signet was attached to a rope, which was worn around the neck. The “staff” (מַטֶּה mateh) was a stick representing the authority of the owner (Numbers 17:3). The same Hebrew word also means tribe (Numbers 2:7,12) The holder of the mateh would represent the tribe, as its leader; thus the mateh became the ensign of royalty, the scepter (Ezekiel 19:11,14), with a messianic connotation (Psalm 110:2). In this story Judah’s staff may be an allusion to the messianic destiny associated tot he tribe of Judah (Genesis 24:17; Numbers 24:27) (Doukhan, Jacques, 425.)

She conceived by him

Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”

So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. - Genesis 38:18 NKJV

The fact that Tamar became pregnant by that first and only act of intimacy (Genesis 38:26b) is one of many subtle indicators that divine providence superintended the events leading to her impregnation.

Are you okay with this interpretation? Are you okay with God’s will being accomplished in this manner? Is it okay for God’s will to come through even when deception and adultery are involved?

I am not saying it was God’s will for this to happen. But is it okay for God to work through the messy lives of sinful human beings in order to bring about great blessings for all of humanity?

Are we okay with this story being in the Bible? Does it make you uncomfortable or does it give you hope and peace?

This story is not about going out there an committing adultery or behaving like a prostitute. This is not a story that encourages deception as a means of gaining advantage. This story is about God in His infinite mercy using incredibly flawed human beings to bring about blessings and restoration.

But there is more to this story, we are not done yet.

Back to life as usual

So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. - Genesis 38:19 NKJV

Tamar goes back home and changes back to her usual outfit and no one is aware of what she did. Want to make this story even more uncomfortable. Place yourself in Tamar’s shoes. You go back home, you put on your widow’s garments. Along with your garments comes a reminder of your lot in life, a hopeless widow. You are betrothed to a young man who will probably never marry you. You can’t marry anyone else. You are doomed to live out your days in your father’s house, forgotten, ignored, forsaken. Would you be praying to God that you became pregnant by your father-in-law? Would you be praying to God that He blesses your deception? If you were God, would you answer that prayer? Would you bless Tamar’s plan, the deception of Judah, one of the patriarchs of the children of Israel? Would you choose the man who had power and freedom, or would you choose to help the helpless widow?

Not a simple story. This mess is what God has to work with. We know that Tamar conceived by Judah (Genesis 38:18), but she does not know that right away. She had one shot, and it will likely be a while until she finds out whether it worked or not. Even if she does become pregnant, what will happen after that?

Where is the harlot?

20 And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?”

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.”

22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.” - Genesis 38:20-22 NKJV

Judah is probably embarrassed by what happened so he sends his friend, the Adullamite, who seems to be more comfortable with the task. It is worthwhile to note that the word used for “harlot” in Genesis 38:21 is not the same word used in Genesis 38:15. Genesis 38:15 used the word זָנָה zana or prostitute, whereas Genesis 38:21 uses the word קְדֵשָׁה qdesa or temple prostitute. One way of looking at this is that Judah sees a prostitute, but his friend perhaps feels awkward asking around about the prostitute while he has a young goat with him. Maybe it would be more culturally appropriate to ask about a temple prostitute because now he looks like a religious man as opposed to a random guy visiting their town asking around about a prostitute.

Side note, the popularity of temple prostitutes in pagan worship could be one of the main reasons why God did not have female priests.

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.” Indeed there never was a prostitute of any kind there, only a wronged woman trying to take justice into her own hands.

Lest we be shamed

Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.” - Genesis 38:23 NKJV

Judah is afraid word will get out that he was outwitted, by a prostitute. Judah is embarrassed that he was bested by a woman and is now trying to do damage control. Maybe if he just forgets the whole thing and just sweeps this matter under the rug everything will go on as normal. Judah is likely hoping no one recognized him, hoping his friend won’t tell anyone and that he will never encounter that woman again. And perhaps that is a possibility if Judah learns his lesson, humbles himself, and repents for his past sins.

Tamar played the harlot

And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.”

So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” - Genesis 38:24 NKJV

Clearly, Judah had not released Tamar to marry another, which later was an option provided in Deuteronomy 25:5–10. Since she was to live as a widow in her father’s house (Genesis 38:11), implying that she was to abstain from sexual contact, the community concluded what was evident on the face of it: she had become pregnant by harlotry. 

If Tamar is Judah’s daughter-in-law, why is she living with her father and not with him? If she is under his authority why is he not providing for her? Should not Judah provide her with a home, food, and a husband? He is neglecting his responsibilities to care for her but he seems all too eager to punish her for her sin. Judah wants Tamar to be burned. That is a very cruel punishment and a terrible way to die, but perhaps he hopes to establish his honor and free his youngest son to marry someone else.

Most striking is the call for Tamar’s burning, which is rare in Mosaic law as a form of capital punishment; it is reserved for the heinous sex crimes of a man’s marriage to his mother-in-law and the promiscuous daughter of a priest (Lev 20:14; 21:9; contrast stoning in Deut 21:21, 24). Burning the body was an act of severe degradation (2 Kgs 23:16; Amos 2:1). The Code of Hammurapi (§§110, 157) provides for the burning of culprits in the cases of a religious transgressor and a sexual offender. Perhaps the essential idea behind death by fire for sexual offenses was purging the offense from the community (e.g., Josh 6:24; burned after stoning, 7:15, 25). - K. A. Mathews, 723.

But while Judah is playing checkers, Tamar is playing 3-D chess.

Recognize this?

When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.” - Genesis 38:25 NKJV

Although Judah and the men of the city appear to have complete power over Tamar’s fate, by her knowledge she maintains power over the bamboozled men. ( K. A. Mathews, 723.)

Tamar does not make a direct charge but permits Judah to draw the obvious conclusion. The language of the verse recalls the brothers’ request of their father regarding the identity of the torn robe (Genesis 37:32): “sent” and “recognize.” The theme of “recognition” recurs here (see Betrayed by Family).

More righteous than I

So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again. - Genesis 38:26 NKJV

Checkmate.

Tamar, the victim, the weak, the powerless, the person with no options or resources has come out victorious.

Judah also recognizes his sin and seems to grow from the experience.

 That the text adds that he did not have sexual relations with Tamar again showed that the patriarch had repented of his behavior.  Although the sexual encounter was wrong, Judah was not satisfied with acknowledging the obvious. He no longer is ignorant of his circumstances or their broader importance Judah’s insight into his guilt and the understanding of the reason that lay behind it points ahead to the character transformation the patriarch will fully undergo. Unlike Reuben and his brothers, Judah perceives the more important underlying issues of their actions, bringing about favorable results (Genesis 42:2; 44:18–34). As Noble summarizes, “Judah shows a remarkable ability to bring the heart of the matter clearly into view, and thereby to enable his present circumstances to be seen from a new perspective.” - K. A. Mathews, 723–724.

A friend of mine and fellow pastor J. Harold Alomia shared something with me that I had never considered. Here’s my paraphrase of what he shared.

In some ways, Tamar is like Christ. She has to become something in order to get something by that was hers to begin with and has to undergo the abuse pertaining to her sacrifice of playing something she’s not.

What do you think? It sure gave me some food for thought.

Tamar’s legacy

27 Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah. - Genesis 38:27-30 NKJV

That Tamar had twins reminds us of the birth of Jacob and Esau, even using the exact words of Genesis 25:24. The peculiar circumstances of their birth revealed that the younger superseded the elder. These details of Tamar’s delivery become important to determining the chosen successor to Jacob’s position. The narrative implies that Judah is the successor in the sense that his descendants will rule over their sibling tribes (Genesis 49:8, 10; 1 Chronicles 5:2). The children’s birth conveys the same rivalry that marked the chosen line in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Want to know what became of Perez?

18 Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; 19 Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; 20 Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; 21 Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; 22 Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David. - Ruth 4:18-22 NKJV

Matthew 1:3 mentions Tamar and Perez in the genealogy of Jesus. Tamar is the first woman to be mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. Interestingly Jesus’ genealogy excludes the great matriarchs Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah. Yet Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah, are mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy. Perhaps it is because all of these women had highly irregular and even suspicious marital relationships and in many ways foreshadowed Mary, the mother of Jesus, who also had a similarly suspicious case, being pregnant while unmarried to her husband. There is a theme here that we also see in the story of Joseph, where the suspicion of evil will be turned into good and will lead to deliverance (Genesis 50:20).

Just as God delivered Tamar through Judah’s dubious relation with her, God also delivered Joseph, and ultimately, the land through Judah’s sale of Joseph, and ultimately the entire world through the betrayal of Jesus.

God can bring good out of tragedies.

I am not saying that God wishes for tragedies, but rather that there is hope even in the midst of tragedies.

Whatever mess you are in, come to God and let him bless you and bring you out of it, regardless of what you may have done in the past.

Don’t count yourself out just because your life is messy. Don’t count yourself out because you have made mistakes. Don’t count yourself out because you have been wronged by those in power and those who should know better.

God can do mighty things in your life and through you. you have no idea the positive impact your life can have on the lives of those around you.

Tamar is a strong female character, not because she is perfect or has superpowers, but because in her weakness she refused to give up hope. Tamar is a strong person because in her weakness God’s strength was made manifest.

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2 Corinthians 12:3b

[writesaboutdragons]

365 Promises of God

Day 300 – We Are Being Transformed Into The Same Image

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2Co 3:18 NKJV)

Read: 2 Corinthians 3

A few years back I picked up a 3D printer and began printing toys and gadgets to use around the house. I was skeptical when I heard about a device that could print ANYTHING in 3D. I was wondering what kind of ink it used. But it doesn’t use ink. It melts plastic and squirts the melted plastic onto a sticky bed that becomes the stand for your object, and when it cools, it’s… well, it’s either a plastic replica, or a pile of plastic spaghetti, and you try again.

 I was impressed with the amazing concept of taking a drawing, converting it to a 3D picture, and then printing it in plastic. I printed custom guitar picks and even some puzzle boxes. I printed some clamps and jigs to repair items around the house, like a food processor.

Recently I discovered that engineering has taken this to the next level. For a VERY expensive charge, you can buy a device that will scan a 3D object you place in its range of vision, and without much more in the way of instruction, it can produce an exact copy of that item, in plastic. If you are willing to wait long enough, that is. My 3D printer takes hours to print a tiny brick the size of a matchbox car. I’ve printed items as large as a can of coke, and it’s literally taken DAYS. And that’s if it comes out right the first time. If it doesn’t, you have to start the printer again, and wait ANOTHER couple days.

In fact, the struggle was so painful, my kids bought me a T-shirt that said, “I’m sorry I was late – I had to watch my 3D Printer.” And that’s so true – because, if you are watching closely, you might be able to stop it from messing up that valuable two-day-long job.

I’ve learned some lessons from that experience that apply to this promise today. First, God is transforming us into the likeness of his Son, and this is a process that takes a very long time. You and I would never have the patience to WAIT so long to get a replica of anything, but GOD is willing to WAIT.

Second, that printer required HEAT. A HOT bed that caused the bottom layer to stick where it was supposed to. A nozzle as hot as your broiler to melt the plastic and allow it to apply to the work. God’s transformation also requires heat. You can expect that if you are being transformed into Christ’s likeness, that you are going to spend some time in the fire. Don’t be surprised when God applies some heat to your life. Just stick where you are planted and allow him to change you.

Third, 3D printing requires you to WATCH, in case a flaw or mistake occurs, and you needed to adjust the temperature, or apply a tool to help hold the work back to the heated bed until the replica surrendered to the heat and stuck there. God is always watching, dear Christian, and he cares very much how you turn out. He’s invested decades, perhaps, in crafting you, and you aren’t finished yet. Don’t be surprised if God puts people in your life that influence you to stay the course, to keep the faith. It’s what all of us Christians are called to do for one another, you know. We are called to encourage one another in the faith, and sometimes that’s going to be met with resistance, as our friend and fellow-laborer might desire to get out of the heat.

In our reading today, we find the Apostle Paul beginning with an admonishment that he doesn’t need a recommendation from them to allow him to speak to them of heavenly things. He has been given authority by Christ to preach to them, because they are his love letter to God. He reminds them of how Moses beheld God on the mountain, and then covered his face with a veil, because even that reflected glory of God’s presence was too piercing for the Israelites to look at.

And Moses had ministered to them on tablets of stone the message of the Law, which brings forth death. How much more glorious would be the ministrations and glory of the Spirit, providing grace and life, written on the tablets of hearts?

He ends this chapter with the promise that they ARE being transformed into Christ’s likeness, and this isn’t a transformation written in ink, or in plastic, but in love and grace and by the Spirit. And you know, dear Christian, that this promise isn’t just to them, but to me and you, too.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for this beautiful promise that you have the patience to wait, love enough to watch, and attention enough to provide people in my life to keep me where I need to be, plugged in and yielded to your loving transformation. May I be a willing servant, today. Amen

[shammah8]

You need others

“Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.” Ecc 4:12 NKJV

Ken Blanchard said, “None of us is as smart as all of us.” As much as we would like to think that we know it all, if we’re honest, each of us is painfully aware that we have blind spots and areas of inexperience. You have had experiences others haven’t had; they have had experiences you haven’t had, and when you get together, you harness your joint experience and knowledge. Jesus sent the seventy disciples out in groups of two. Why? (1) For support. “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.” (2) For enlightenment. Playwright Ben Jonson said, “He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.” (3) For accountability. The pastor of a megachurch introduced the man who traveled with him to his audience, saying, “I am vulnerable to temptation, and he is my safeguard.” You could have heard a pin drop in the crowd! Sometimes you need comfort, and other times you need correction. It takes humility to acknowledge that, and emotional security to put it in place. Until you realize that others can help you live a fuller and better life than you could live on your own, you’re tying your own hands and limiting your potential. As long as your goal is to get ahead of others rather than work with them, your future will be shortchanged. Good thinkers comprehend the power of shared thinking. They understand that when they treasure the thoughts and ideas of others, they receive the compounding results of shared thinking and achieve more than they ever could on their own. The truth is, you need others.

[steveezekiel]

HAVING GOD'S PRESENCE WITH YOU 1

12 Then Moses said to the LORD, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’

13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”

14 AND HE SAID, “MY PRESENCE WILL GO WITH YOU, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.”

15 THEN HE [Moses] SAID TO HIM [God], “IF YOUR PRESENCE DOES NOT GO WITH US, DO NOT BRING US UP FROM HERE.

16 FOR HOW THEN WILL IT BE KNOWN THAT YOUR PEOPLE AND I HAVE FOUND GRACE IN YOUR SIGHT, EXCEPT YOU GO WITH US? SO WE SHALL BE SEPARATE, YOUR PEOPLE AND I, FROM ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.”

Exodus 33:12–16 (NKJV)

• If someone would be a vessel of God with honour, and would be at the cutting edge all the days of his or her life; such would have to be someone who has the presence of God with him or her.

- Moses said If God's presence would not go with them, in their journey in the wilderness, He should not take them further than where they were:

"AND MOSES SAID TO THE LORD, IF YOUR PRESENCE DOES NOT GO WITH ME, DO NOT CARRY US UP FROM HERE!" (Exodus 33:15 Amplified Bible, Contemporary Edition).

- The presence of God in the life of a Believer or a Minister makes the difference. What separates a True Believer and a nominal Christian or a fleshly rule Christian, is the presence of God: SO WE SHALL BE SEPARATE, YOUR PEOPLE AND I, FROM ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH” (Exodus 33:16 NKJV).

- For you to carry the presence of God, or for the presence of God to be with you, you had to be in His presence.

- The text of this teaching was the conversation between Moses and God, and it happened when he, Moses, was in the presence of God.

- Whenever Moses went to the tabernacle, God usually spoke with him face to face:

9 AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN MOSES ENTERED THE TABERNACLE, THAT THE PILLAR OF CLOUD DESCENDED AND STOOD AT THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE, AND THE LORD TALKED WITH MOSES. 11 SO THE LORD SPOKE TO MOSES FACE TO FACE, AS A MAN SPEAKS TO HIS FRIEND. AND HE WOULD RETURN TO THE CAMP, BUT HIS SERVANT JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN, A YOUNG MAN, DID NOT DEPART FROM THE TABERNACLE" (Exodus 33:9,11 NKJV).

- Being in the presence of God does mean to be with God in a secluded or solitary place; It is much more than that. It thus means to commune and fellowship with God always. You go about your daily life with the consciousness of having God with you, engaging in conversation with Him: In your car, your work place, your house, or wherever you are.

• You get the presence of God:

I. When you are always in the attitude or mood of prayer. You can be doing whatever you are doing with praying in the Holy Spirit, in tongues, under your breath.

- It is in the place of prayer, communion with God, that you attract the presence of God—the Glory and the power of God.

- It was being tarried in the place of prayer—staying in the presence of God, or staying with Him, for an extended period of time—that changed the countenance of Moses.

HE was with the LORD forty days and forty nights (Exodus 34:28-30).

- Your prayer life has to be sound If you want His presence in your life. Fasting and prayer had to be part of your life for the generating of God's power.

- Two things are to be noted when we talk about praying.

a. Heartfelt prayer is a major type of prayer needed for the presence of God.

It is about telling God whatever in your heart, those things which you could not share with someone else, or things that others may not understand when you share it with them.

YOU pour it out to God when you come to Him.

b. The communion or fellowshipping or intimacy with God. You would want to ask and converse with God about issues, even things that might not be your personal issues.

c. You would also want to supplicate, plead and intercede for others whilst you are with God.

- Note: the points mentioned here above are the cores of being a Believer in Christ Jesus.

- If your Christianity had not gotten to this level, the level of being intimate with God and having communion with Him, you are still shallow and immature.

- The actual growth of whoever professed to be a Believer is in being able to engage in conversational prayer with God and having a strong communion or fellowship with Him.

- Congregational prayer is good, and being able to pray together with your family, spouse and children, is all right; but If the aspect of meeting with God one on one is missing, you cannot have the full understanding of God and the hidden things of the Kingdom would not be made known to you.

- The actual growth of a Believer is in the heartfelt prayer and the communion that such is having with God.

- If the ministry of Moses and that of Jesus Christ were observed, one would deduced that they both always departed from the crowd, to stay with God, seeking Him and fellowshipping with Him (Exodus 24:12-15; 33:9-11; Mark 1:35; Luke 4:42,43; 5:16; 6:12; 9:28,29).

- The secret of their successes in their assignments could not be far from their usual fellowship with God the Father.

TO BE CONTINUED

• You will not fail in the mighty name of Jesus.

- Should there be any contrary thing in your system that is working against your health and wellness, such is rebuked and rooted out completely.

Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION

• Take notice of this:

IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).

a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).

b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).

c. Ask that your name be written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!

[euclids5thpostulate]

Matthew chapter 6 has some of my favorite passages in the bible, and this is one of them.

Matthew 6:26 (Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?) [NKJV] is beautifully succinct verse, for the reasons OP mentions above. I would like to draw attention to the whole passage, because I've always found it helpful. Thus says the Lord:

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I just wanted to add the rest of the passage because I've struggled with 6:26 in the past. Very clearly across the world those of great faith suffer, go hungry, go thirsty, have their homes and families ripped away from them, and on the surface 6:26 can feel like it disregards that. When I read 6:26 with the rest of the passage it becomes no less valuable but, for me, a little easier to understand.

Christ says not that there are no worldly sufferings, nor that the Lord will erase those sufferings for those of great faith. Christ simply reminds us that our heavenly Father in His glory knows that we need all these things. Christ reminds us that the Lord is always with us. He reminds us that we have a place in the Lord's view, just as all things have their places. The sparrows, the lilies.

He reminds us that our Father in heaven knows us, considers us, and will look out for us. Christ reminds us that the Lord will be with us tomorrow, that we will have His guidance then just as we do now. He reminds us that our duty as the living body of Christ is not to concern ourselves with the tomorrows, but instead to seek His righteousness today. The Lord, in His wisdom, will provide. We simply need to be His tools upon the Earth.

Thanks for sharing OP!! I just wanted to throw my two cents in :)

when Christ said not to be anxious because God provides for our needs, He didn't use the example of ants. they work hard and strive to save resources for the coming days. no, He used sparrows as an example. they do not sow nor reap, nor gather into barns. in short, they don't worry about what they're going to eat or if their needs are going to be met. they already know their Creator will feed them--yes, they're fed, even in the stormiest weather. and so Christ says, you are more valuable than birds. you are made in His image, you have been redeemed by His blood, and you have been adopted into His kingdom. why then do you worry? He says, seek first the kingdom of God, and these things will be added to you.

pursue Christ, love the brethren (including your family), be faithful to the daily tasks He has given to you. don't worry about the necessities, because He will provide them. not He might provide them, He will provide them for you. He has promised it. therefore, do not be anxious.