Love certainly conquers all

…and is the essence of God, for His expression to us is love. Signs and miracles were meant to authenticate the authority and message of Christ and His Apostles at that time. Coming out of Pentecost, I believe people are misusing the gifts and that is why they are so emotional in their presentation of their gospel.

There is a movement that believes that the original authority of the Apostles has come back to the Church. I have not seen anyone who exercises that authority. If we love God and love people and are genuine about our faith, then yes, love covers all. We come to Christ because we love Him and want to follow Him. We desire to love Him for who He is not because we want healing or want to prosper.

Christianity is not living our best life now as some say. We are baptised into His death and resurrection, taking up our cross and following after Him. In doing so we count everything else as rubbish as Paul mentions. Essentially then, as we mature we discover who we are in Christ and do our part to honour Him and to know Him intimately and to express that amongst ourselves. I certainly have found people who use their gifting to exhibit immaturity, selfishness and pride. However can you blame them in amongst the culture that has been set in a big part of the modern church. Many masquerade as healers or prophets or apostles but should know better.

Can God heal? Absolutely! Can God do miracles? Absolutely! However, in my experience many of these people are frauds and should know it, as their prophecies do not come true and people are not being healed. Now some say the perfect has come with the canon of scripture or with the reign of Christ. However you interpret it, it is love that outweighs everything else as without it there is nothing.

Do we exhibit this at Border Church? Absolutely! We live in a family environment that cares for one another. We mature and share life together and all are given the opportunity to thrive and to be equipped for the purposes of Christ in each of our lives. We share the load and are healthier so we do not burn out. We are not weird and we present the Bible, reflecting the Father and teach the full Gospel message. Personally I have not found a church like ours and am so grateful that I came across it. We do not need a big wig or a stage or entertainment. We simply preach Christ and Him Crucified.

This is a Church that I feel comfortable inviting people to. This is a church that exemplifies the love of Christ with a sound theology. Church is a pleasure to go to and something I always look forward to.

Is sorry enough

Is sorry enough?

As a child I remember getting displays on a brand of cereal boxes of how the Australian Aboriginals hunted, lived, and looked after the country that was theirs. I learned a bit about the Aborigines as (to the credit of the cereal makers) to my way of thinking at the time the pictures and accompanying notes were very respectful and engendered a great affection in my mind for the First Inhabitants of Australia. Both my parents encouraged this interest in the “noble savage” as I later found out they were referred to! As a boy I used to practice reading tracks in the dust of our back yard in the southern Flinders Ranges, and on odd occasions when I wasn’t inside reading books, this reading tracks would nearly be all consuming. I don’t think I was very good, but at least it kept me off the street.

I have close ancestors who helped open the South Australian outback as well as in the mid Northern Territory. The stories that came down to me regarding the Aborigines were said to be true and showed that in general they were a hospitable people, ready to help and care for the new strangers who had come to their land. While some of the newcomers were generally compliant, tried to get along with the occupants of the land, and returned the hospitality of the ‘blacks’, there were those who had other ideas! These were more racist, more belligerent, and more overwhelming. They wanted “their” land and would not take “no” for an answer!

The following is a direct copy of the article Terra Nullius by Ross Edmonds as presented by Australian Society for the Study of Labour History © 2021. I copied it as I could not do a better job of writing it.

“Terra Nullius”

Following the landmark decision in 1992 of the High Court of Australia in the Mabo case, there have been many references in the media to the concept of “terra nullius”. Rarely, however, has anyone explained what it meant other than simply translating the Latin term to mean something like “land that is not inhabited”. This is not what it was understood to mean in the 18th and 19th centuries when it was used as a quasi-legal justification for dispossessing the Australian Aborigines of their land.

The British Government knew the land was occupied, and never pretended otherwise. What I will do in this article is briefly explain how the concept evolved and how it and other concepts were used during the period of European invasion and colonisation in the 18th and 19th centuries. I will be drawing largely on an article by Ernest Scott. (People may refer to the article in the Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Volume XXVI, “Taking Possession of Australia – The Doctrine of Terra Nullius” pp.I-19.) Born in England in 1867, Scott worked as a journalist and editor before becoming Professor of History at Melbourne University. He retained the post until his death in 1939.1

The article was written shortly before Scott’s death in 1939 in response to a request he received from an American Professor, Philip Jessup, asking how the concept of terra nullius had been applied in Australia. Scott explains that the interest of the Americans was not purely academic for in July 1939 the U.S. Government stated that “… once Rear Admiral Byrd has established bases during his forthcoming expedition to the Antarctic, the Government will take the stand that any attempts by foreign Powers to establish a base west of the I90th meridian would be regarded as an unfriendly act.”2 Scott comments that “Here, then, is an assertion of the doctrine of terra nullius in the present year.” What he does not point out was that Antarctica was uninhabited and, as such, was “no man’s land” in 1939, whereas Australia in 1788 was not uninhabited.

Scott says that terra nullius was used to mean “… land not under any sovereignty. It is therefore land of which a sovereign state may consider itself at liberty to take possession. … In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, Portugal, Spain, Holland, England and France took possession of such territory in Asia, Africa, America and Australasia, by performing certain symbolic acts,”3

When Columbus stepped ashore in 1492 he took the Royal Standard and called on his fellow officers to bear witness that he had taken possession (of what he didn’t know) for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabela. In 1583 Humphrey Gilbert, at Newfoundland,’ “erected the arms of England ingraven in lead and fixed upon a pillar of wood.”4This was as a means of signifying that he claimed possession for his sovereign, Queen Elizabeth I. Many other such examples could be given.

So, if terra nullius is defined as land not under any sovereignty, the next question is what is meant by the term “sovereignty”? During the invasion/colonisation of North America the English Government’s policy was that “colonists should not attempt to settle in any territory already possessed by any other Christian prince or people.” 5 Disputes inevitably arose between European countries concerning what areas “belonged” to which power, but by the end of the 17th century it was generally agreed “that effective occupation gave a valid title, but that discovery did not.”6 This then begs the question; what is effective occupation? In effect, it meant permanent occupation by Europeans.

The first known symbol of European discovery erected in Australia was that of the Dutchman, Dirk Hartog, in 1616. The Dutch, however, never made any claim to sovereignty over any part of Australia. When Cook set out on his first voyage of discovery he was instructed that if he found new lands he was to “take possession for his Majesty by setting up proper markers and inscriptions as first discoverers and possessors.”7 This Cook did in New Zealand and in Australia at various places in 1770.

This was somewhat contrary to the rules and the British Government knew that this claim would not be recognised by some European powers unless backed up by effective occupation. This it began to do in 1788 when a settlement was established at Sydney Cove. The British Government then claimed possession of all the East coast of the Australian continent and inland as far as the 135th degree of longitude that is to say, approximately the Eastern half of Australia but not including Tasmania. When a French expedition under the command of Baudin sailed in that direction in 1802, the Governor of N.S.W. sent a ship with orders to establish a settlement at Port Phillip Bay. Soon after settlements were established at Hobart and Launceston. A large part of the reason for these early settlements, initially at least, was to pre-empt any idea the French may have had about putting in a “land claim” of their own. Similar considerations of French and Dutch interest in Western Australia led to Captain Charles Fremantle being given orders to take possession of the Western half of the continent in 1829. A settlement was then established on the Swan River.8

In his article Scott says virtualIy nothing concerning the original inhabitants except for a brief comment that “Little regard was paid to their rights by any of the colonizing peoples. Generally, they considered that they were acting righteously in introducing the Christian religion to lands previously heathen.”9 Religion, like the concept of terra nullius, was used as one more justification for colonisation and, thereby, for the dispossessing the Aborigines of their land. In returning to the earlier question of what Europeans meant by the term “effective occupation”, Scott does not give us an answer. This point, however, is taken up by James MilIer in writing about the dispossession of his ancestors early last century in the Hunter Valley. MilIer says that part of the intellectual baggage brought by Europeans to Australia in the late 18th and early 19th centuries was John Locke’s proposition that “as much land as a man tills, plants, improves, cultivates, and can use the product of, so much is his property.”10 Therefore, it was argued, the Aborigines did not effectively occupy the land because they did not cultivate it, nor did they build permanent settlements. 11The Sydney Herald managed to combine elements from Locke and the Bible in 1838 when it stated that; “The British people took possession (of Australia) … and they had a perfect right to do so, under the divine authority, by which man was commanded to go forth and till the land.”12

In conclusion, I wish to comment on some lessons which can be drawn from the- above. One is the ingenuity with which societies and/or governments are able to justify, at least to themselves, actions which cause great harm to others. The historian’s task, on some occasions, is to challenge convenient beliefs even when this causes discomfort and even anger among some sections of society. Such is the case with the early history of White invasion and settlement in Australia. The history books used in schools today need to revise old thinking and make it clear that colonialism was based on conquest. It was European technological superiority which made this possible. Colonialism was based on the desire for land and wealth which was accomplished at enormous cost in human suffering and lives. The concept of terra nullius then provided some justification for what had been done.

Many people in Australia still prefer to use some of these justifications today rather than face the truth about what happened and why it happened. Despite this, attitudes are changing, as was seen in the 1992 High Court decision to recognise the principle of Native Title. Part of the tragedy is that Aborigines have been trying to make this point since 1788. For them it has been a long and bitter struggle. Maybe there are other lessons we “new Australians” can learn from the “old Australians” if we bother to listen. And hopefully it won’t take another 200 years.

References.

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. II, p.544.

Ernest Scott; “Taking Possession of Australia – The Doctrine of Terra Nullius”, Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Vol. XXVI, 1941, p.3.

ibid.,p.1.

ibid., p.3.

ibid., p.4′.

ibid., p.4.

ibid., pp.8-9.

ibid., pp.17-19.

ibid., p. 4.

Locke, John, “Of Property” in Two Treatises of Government, quoted by James Miller in Koori: A Will To Win, Angus & Robertson, 1985. p.94. John Locke (1632-1704) provided a philosophical basis for the English Whigs who came to power after the Glorious Revolution of 1688. They supported a Constitutional Monarchy under the rule of Parliament whereas their opponents, the Tories, supported an Absolutist Monarchy with a subservient Parliament. Locke’s rationalist ideas had a profound influence on European political and scientific thought in the 18th century, ultimately giving a philosophical basis to the French Revolution. His ideas on land reform in Europe were twisted by later generations to help justify the dispossession of native peoples.

This concept was not of much help to the British when they decided to invade and colonise New Zealand because the Māori had permanent settlements and did cultivate some of their land. This however didn’t stop them losing most of it.

Miller, op. cit., p.94.”

The above led to the killing of many Koori families and their dispossession from their ancestral lands and country. Massacres of the indigenous Koori’s followed on the supposed grounds of the white antagonists

It’s important to recognise that from the beginning of colonisation, Indigenous people continually resisted the violation of their right to land, and its impact on Indigenous cultures and communities. It’s estimated that at least 20,000 Aboriginal people were killed as a direct result of colonial violence during this era of Australian history. Between 2,000- 2,500 settler deaths resulted from frontier conflict during the same period.[8

God Almighty

Here is my idea of God, in a very shortened compressed version.

G-D is the ONE and ONLY Supreme Spiritual Being, Who is the Heavenly King of ALL Creation, Father of ALL Mankind, and the ONLY Glorious ONE Who is entitled to receive ALL Glory.

This wonderful Person presents Himself to All mankind in 3 possible ways, either individually or all at one time, that we should not ignore and must not misunderstand.

1. God Almighty, the Designer, Creator and Ruler of All Creation, creator of All Mankind, and the One who sits upon the Throne above heaven and earth to rule and reign as HE sees fit!

2. Yeshua, Jesus, the One and Only begotten or conceived and born Son of God, who is also God and who holds all Creation together by the strength of His Power. Then HE taught all mankind the truths of God and set himself to die for the sins of all the peoples of the world. It is said that G-D killed G-D, and it appears to be true.! (This is an email I sent a brother when he raised the subject. “In the beginning, God planned all things from the beginning to the end and everything in between. He determined that He needed a Perfect Blood Sacrifice to avail for all the sinfulness and sins of humankind. So, He, in His infinite power, wisdom and Grace, looked for a perfect sacrifice that would completely atone for the sins of God’s loved people of the world.

The only sacrifice God could find that was perfect enough was His only Son, Yeshua (Jesus).

So, Yeshua put Himself in the Father’s Will and hands so that all who will repent and believe may be cleansed of their sins by the Precious Blood of Yeshua and be raised to Eternal Life through His perfect resurrection.

Praise be to God! Hallelujah to glorious Yeshua! Thanks be to God’s Holy Spirit!

All the peoples of the earth are reputed as nothing.

God does His will in the army of heaven and among the nations of earth.

And no one can stop Him,

Or question what He does!

Daniel 4:35.”)

3. The Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, Who convicts us all of our sins and iniquities, who leads us to repentance, and who imparts to us God’s wisdom, His leading and guiding. This Holy Spirit of God Who comes from the Father and is sent by Yeshua (John 15:26) is also at times referred to as the Holy Spirit of Jesus.

The Bible says God is a spirit, he resides in the invisible spirit realm (heaven), heaven appears to be possibly a parallel universe which occupies a higher plane of existence than the material world we exist in. He has taken a name which he wants us to know. Hahuah (Yahweh) is the most widely recognized pronunciation of his name in English, but it is pronounced differently in many languages. His name means, “He causes to Become”, or “I will be because I will be”. (It does NOT mean “I am that I am”.)

Isaiah 42:8 NW — “I am Hahuah (Yahweh). That is my name; I give my glory to no one else, nor my praise to graven images”.

The scriptures assure us that our Creator is “the happy God”. Isaiah 62:2 “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

Isa 62:3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

Isa 62:4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

Isa 62:5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

Isa 62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

Isa 62:7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

So, for eons of time, He happily existed alone, enjoying being alive, so much so, that at some point he decided to share His life with other living beings whom he would create in his own image.

The Bible tells us that he began by bringing to life his firstborn, spirit, son. He is called his only begotten son, because after his creation Hahuah had his firstborn son work along with him to create millions of other spirit sons (angels) to inhabit the invisible spirit realm with him. Along with his father this son who would be born a man child created all other things. (Proverbs 8:22-30)

Colossians 1:15-17 NW — He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all other things, and by means of him all other things were made to exist.

God’s angelic sons share many of Hahuah’s own qualities, in fact, the Bible refers to them as godlike ones. (Psalms 8:5) Hahuah dignified them as sentient individuals by granting them free-will. No doubt, Hahuah delighted to see his spirit sons enjoying life along with him.

At some point between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 it would appear that after creating the angels, spirits etc., God began creating the physical realm. (Or perhaps this first part of Creation actually took place as the first act of verse 1). He created billions of stars and galaxies and breathtaking celestial wonders. Along with those celestial bodies he created the earth. We do not know when the earth was created, the Bible says only that; “In the beginning” God created the heavens and the earth. It does not say when “the beginning” was, it may have been millions of years ago. Or maybe not!

The earth was part of the material universe He created, and he chose to populate the earth with a new creation. Rather than spirit sons who inhabit the spirit realm, he created children of flesh and blood to inhabit the physical realm.

Genesis chapters 1 and 2 describe how God prepared the earth for habitation one step at a time, and filled it with living things, plants, animals, birds, sea life, and a myriad of living creatures. The creation of man in his image was the crown of his earthly creation. Man was an intelligent being endowed with many of God’s own attributes. And just as he had done with his spirit sons, he also gave his human children free-will.

Hahuah wanted his human children to enjoy pleasurable lives. He carefully arranged a garden paradise and filled it with things to delight their senses. He surrounded them with beautiful things to see, and hear, to touch, and taste, and to smell.

When he settled Adam and Eve in their Garden home, God told them to “multiply and become many” to fill the earth with their children, and to subdue the earth which meant that they were to gradually extend the boundaries of their garden paradise until the whole earth was a global paradise filled with their happy healthy descendants.

The ability to produce children was a unique gift to mankind which God had not given to his angelic sons. His human children would experience the joy of giving birth to their own children. Little ones who would reflect some of their own features and qualities. They would experience the pleasure of being loved unconditionally by their own sons and daughters, and to delight in watching them develop into unique individuals who would share their values.

That is the hope of every parent, and it was God’s hope for the children he brought into existence as well. It is our purpose in life. Our reason for living.

Like all parents God wanted what every parent wants, to love, and be loved by their children and to experience the pleasure of seeing them develop into caring, compassionate individuals who share their values and make good choices in life. They want children who will be kind, generous, considerate, individuals who reflect the values their parents have taught them.

Hahuah created man as an expression of his love for life and his strong desire to share life with other intelligent beings. God wanted what every parent wants, to enjoy a close, meaningful, relationship with his children, so he instilled in us a need for a personal relationship with him.

Matthew 5:3 KJV — “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Some suppress that spiritual need in themselves, but it is still there below the surface, and it manifests itself in our search for purpose in life.

We were created with endless curiosity, and thirst, for knowledge. There will never be an end to what mankind can find out about God and his creation.

Ecclesiastes 3:10-13 KJV — “I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

Ecc 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

Ecc 3:12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

Ecc 3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”

Cessationism, Continuism and works of the Faith

Cessationism, Continuism and the works of Faith

Cessationism

Cessationism is, generally speaking, a doctrine of Reformed Christianity. Prior to the Protestant Reformation, there was no such explicit doctrine, yet neither was there an expectation that most of the gifts of the Holy Spirit would persist in the Church in the day-to-day experience of Christians. Nevertheless, there were sporadic mentions of some gifts, such as speaking in tongues, and more frequently, but still unusually, of healings and miracles. It was when these miracles in the Catholic Church were used as a polemic against the post-Reformation Protestant churches that John Calvin began to develop a doctrine of cessationism, and it was primarily in the Calvinist tradition that this doctrine was developed. The argument was that as the gifts of the Spirit must have necessarily ceased at the end of the Apostolic Age, it followed that the claims of miracles and healings should be met with scepticism and could not be used by believers to determine God’s favour.[5]

As one Reformed theologian says, “John Calvin speaks of miracles as ‘seals’ added to the Word of God, and he warns that miracles must never be separated from the Word. When connected to the Word of God, miracles serve ‘to prepare us for faith, or to confirm us in faith.’ But when miracles are divorced from God’s Word, they ‘bring glory to creatures and not God.'”[6]

Although initial statements of this doctrine held that the miracles and gifts of the Spirit ended with the Apostolic Age, this was soon modified to a view that the gifts faded away over the first three centuries of the Church.[7] Writing in 1918, Benjamin Warfield, a Presbyterian theologian, reasserted the view that the gifts ceased with the death of the last of the apostles, arguing that only the apostles could confer the gifts upon other Christians.[8] With the advent of Pentecostalism, the focus of this doctrine moved away from Catholicism and towards claims of the emergence of spiritual gifts within Protestant groups.

Cessationism is the view that the “miracle gifts” of tongues and healing have ceased—that the end of the apostolic age brought about a cessation of the miracles associated with that age. Most cessationists believe that, while God can and still does perform miracles today, the Holy Spirit no longer uses individuals to perform miraculous signs.

The biblical record shows that miracles occurred during particular periods for the specific purpose of authenticating a new message from God. Moses was enabled to perform miracles to authenticate his ministry before Pharaoh (Exodus 4:1-8). Elijah was given miracles to authenticate his ministry before Ahab (1 Kings 17:1; 18:24). The apostles were given miracles to authenticate their ministry before Israel (Acts 4:10, 16).

Jesus’ ministry was also marked by miracles, which the Apostle John calls “signs” (John 2:11). John’s point is that the miracles were proofs of the authenticity of Jesus’ message.

After Jesus’ resurrection, as the Church was being established and the New Testament was being written, the apostles demonstrated “signs” such as tongues and the power to heal. “Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not” (1 Corinthians 14:22, a verse that plainly says the gift was never intended to edify the church).

The Apostle Paul predicted that the gift of tongues would cease (1 Corinthians 13:8). Here are six “proofs” that it has already ceased:

1) The apostles, through whom tongues came, were unique in the history of the church. Once their ministry was accomplished, the need for authenticating signs ceased to exist.

2) The miracle (or sign) gifts are only mentioned in the earliest epistles, such as 1 Corinthians. Later books, such as Ephesians and Romans, contain detailed passages on the gifts of the Spirit, but the miracle gifts are not mentioned, although Romans does mention the gift of prophecy. The Greek word translated “prophecy” means “speaking forth” and does not necessarily (if ever) include prediction of the future.

3) The gift of tongues was a sign to unbelieving Israel that God’s salvation was now available to other nations. See 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 and Isaiah 28:11-12.

4) Tongues was an inferior gift to prophecy (preaching). Preaching the Word of God edifies believers, whereas tongues does not. Believers are told to seek prophesying over speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:1-3).

5) History indicates that tongues did cease. Tongues are not mentioned at all by the Post-Apostolic Fathers. Other writers such as Justin Martyr, Origen, Chrysostom, and Augustine considered tongues something that happened only in the earliest days of the Church. It must be pointed out that various “branches” of the “Church” may have “lost” the gift of glossolalia, while other less organised or “important” branches may have continued with this and other gifts without this being noised abroad. The overall effect would have been that the gift/s had disappeared. Some of these “disappeared” gifts are said to have been continuing in some peoples in varying places of the Christian churches, but written and substantiated proofs of this appear to be almost non-existent.

6) There are indications that the gift of tongues [speaking in another known earthly tongue not known to the speaker] has ceased. If the gift were still available today, there would be no need for missionaries to attend language school. Missionaries would be able to travel to any country and miraculously speak any language fluently, just as the apostles were able to in Acts 2. As for the gift of healing, we see in Scripture that healing was primarily associated with the ministry of Jesus and the apostles (Luke 9:1-2). And we see that as the era of the apostles drew to a close, healing, like tongues, became less frequent. The Apostle Paul, who raised Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:9-12), did not heal Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-27), Trophimus (2 Timothy 4:20), Timothy (1 Timothy 5:23), or even himself (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). The reasons for Paul’s “failures to heal” are a) the gift was never intended to make every Christian well, but to authenticate apostleship (2 Corinthians 2:12; Hebrews 2:4); and b) the authority of the apostles had been sufficiently demonstrated. The reasons stated above are reasons cessationists believe the miraculous sign gifts have ceased. It is important to remember, though, that cessationists believe God still continues to work through the other gifts of the Spirit. According to 1 Corinthians 13:13-14:1, we would do well to “pursue love,” the greatest gift of all. If we are to desire gifts, we should desire to speak forth the Word of God, that all may be edified.

DOES CALVINISM BELIEVE IN FREE WILL?

John Calvin ascribed “free will” to all people in the sense that they act “voluntarily, and not by compulsion.” He elaborated his position by allowing “that man has choice and that it is self-determined” and that his actions stem from “his own voluntary choosing.”

Continuationism

Continuationism is a distinct theological position that arose in opposition to cessationism. “Spijkman points out that the denial of miracles is often based on a deistic dualism which sees God and the world as independent, entities. For Deists the only time God intervened in the affairs of the world was at creation, when God set in motion the laws that now govern the world. For strong cessationists the time of God’s direct intervention in world affairs is limited to the period before the closure of the canon. Since that time God is seen as working only through the structures set· in place. This is a far cry from the biblical picture of a living God, who not only upholds the world day by day through his sovereign power. but who also listens to the prayers of his people, and works all things for the good of those who love him (Rom. 8:28). “He who sees the miracles of Holy Scripture inseparably connected with the saving and redeeming activity of God knows that there can be no talk of a decrease or diminishing of the power of God unto salvation in this world…. There is not a single datum in the New Testament which makes it certain that God, in a new period of strengthening and extending of the Church in heathendom, will not confirm this message with signs, in holy resistance to the demonic influences of the kingdom of darkness.”

WHAT IS BIBLICAL CONTINUATIONISM?

Continuationism is a Christian theological belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual gifts, have continued to the present age.

[I am of the opinion that the spiritual gifts have not ceased, for to admit so suggests that God no longer has His eternal creative and sustaining power, and I am fully aware that some will disagree with me. The gifts do not convey extra-biblical revelation but complement them and assist the body of Christ in understanding existing revelation. Anything that claims to be a gift must not say anything contrary to Scripture. If it does it is from the enemy. JMP.]

THERE IS A THIRD POSSIBILITY; THE FACT THAT GOD DOES HIS WILL IN ANY MATTER AS HE SEES IS FIT, HOW HE SEES IS FIT, AND WHEN AND WHERE HE SEES FIT. AFTER ALL, HE IS GOD.

And let us face it, Daniel 4:34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Dan 4:36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

Dan 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgement: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.

DO HEALING MIRACLES STILL OCCUR TODAY?

Healing and other miracles are still found in the Church today, though they aren’t always dramatic and aren’t always spoken of publicly because those who experience them hold them sacred. You may want to look for miracles in your life or the lives of your family members or ancestors.

WHAT IS THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. While some Christians accept these as a definitive list of specific attributes, others understand them merely as examples of the Holy Spirit’s work through the faithful.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST MIRACLE ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?

Matthew 28:5 & 6, “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” The greatest Miracle in the Bible is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!

WHAT IS THE ONLY MIRACLE THAT IS MENTIONED IN ALL FOUR OF THE GOSPELS?

Feeding of the 5,000

The first miracle, the “Feeding of the 5,000“, is the only miracle—aside from the resurrection—recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:31–44; Luke 9:12–17; John 6:1–14).

WHAT IS A MIRACLE THAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY?

Still, there are other miracles that we tend to forget: The sun rises and sets each day; small seeds grow into mighty trees; the many components of our body work together, enabling us to breathe, run, dream, and eat.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The work of the Holy Spirit is ultimately to exalt Christ in our hearts. He forms the image of Christ in us. We owe all to God in salvation. The Father gave us the Son, the Son gave his life for us, and the Spirit gives us life and faith in Christ, and every one of those is a miracle! Jesus in His wisdom sent the Holy Spirit to help us once Jesus had risen from the dead and rose to his heavenly Father. He said before-hand John 16: Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

WHAT ARE THE NINE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The Holy Spirit produces behavior traits that are representative of Jesus. The apostle Paul referred to these characteristics as the fruit of the Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT)

WHAT WERE JESUS LAST WORDS?

To God, his Father: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

To all: “I thirst.”

To the world: “It is finished.”

To God: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

WHAT IS THE MAIN PURPOSE WHY THE HOLY SPIRIT GAVE US SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

The purpose of the spiritual gifts is to edify (build up), exhort (encourage), and comfort the church. It is generally acknowledged that Paul did not list all of the gifts of the Spirit, and many believe that there are as many gifts as there are needs in the body of Christ.

HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT INFLUENCE OUR LIVES?

The Spirit reveals God’s truth, and God’s truth renews our conscience, and so convicts the world of sin (John 16:7-11). As the Spirit educates the believer’s conscience with the things of God, the personal standard formed by the conscience begins to align with the standard of revealed truth.

HOW DO YOU EXPERIENCE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE TODAY?

If you want to be open to the Holy Spirit, it’s often useful to pray and meditate in a quiet place. You can also feel the Holy Spirit when you pray and read the Bible. When you take time to study God’s words, you show Him that you truly want to know Him and learn from Him.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The work of the Holy Spirit is to exalt Christ in our hearts. He forms the image of Christ in us. We owe all to God in salvation. The Father gave us the Son, the Son gave his life for us, and the Spirit gives us life and faith in Christ.

CAN YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHOUT BEING BAPTISED?

In other words, every Christian, by definition, has the Holy Spirit. If you want to be re-baptized out of obedience to Christ, that is one thing. But, if you are already a Christian, then there is no need for you to be baptized again in order to receive the Holy Spirit – you already have the Spirit!

HOW DOES THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CHANGE PEOPLE’S LIVES?

It is the Holy Spirit’s job to produce Christ-like character in you. This process of changing us to be more like Jesus is called sanctification. You can’t reproduce the character of Jesus on your own or by your own strength. New Year’s resolutions, willpower, and best intentions are not enough.

ARE THE HOLY GHOST AND HOLY SPIRIT THE SAME?

The English terms “Holy Ghost” and “Holy Spirit” are complete synonyms: one derives from the Old English gast (ghost) and the other from the Latin loanword spiritus. Like pneuma, they both refer to the breath, to its animating power, and to the soul. © 2000-2022 Google.

HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAK TO US?

The voice of the Spirit is described in the scriptures as being neither loud nor harsh, not a voice of thunder, neither a voice of great tumultuous noise, but rather as still and small, of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it can pierce even the very soul and cause the heart to burn. 1Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

CAN A MIRACLE HAPPEN WITHOUT FAITH?

You cannot have a miracle without faith Faith (absolute trust in Almighty God through genuine belief in the miraculous works of Jesus Christ, and by His Holy Spirit, resulting in our complete obedience to the Will of God) is always necessary for healing in the gospels – we can see this every time Jesus healed someone. Miracles strengthen faith. Therefore, the miracle has to happen first and then a person will trust and have faith. Salvation is by Grace alone, through Faith alone, by Christ alone. Unfortunately, people today require proof in order to have faith. [Read Hebrews chapters 11 and 12 and be excited at what Almighty God can do through mortal human beings].

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON YOU?

Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This power that comes from the Holy Spirit allows you to stand strong for the things of God, and above all other things, witness for Jesus!

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES?

The purpose of the Spirit is to strengthen us. Some believers mistakenly think the main purpose of the indwelling Spirit is to give us knowledge. The Spirit does give us knowledge. His two main gifts are knowledge and power. However, the principal purpose of the Holy Spirit is to endue people with power to share the gospel with others and lead them to Grace and Faith in Christ! Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF LOVE?

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON’T USE OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT). [1Corinthians 12:7 KJV But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.

[What is the point of Almighty God giving us one or more of these various heavenly spiritual gifts, if we don’t bother putting them to good use for the kingdom of God. It would be like Adam and Eve who selfishly disobeyed God and ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, so they could be “as God”. Read Genesis 3:1-24. It’s worse than shooting yourself in the foot, as the saying goes!]

(Matthew 16:24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any person will come after Me, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross daily, and follow Me.

(Mat 16:25) For whosoever will save their life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose their life for My sake shall find it.

(Mat 16:26) For what is a person profited, if they shall gain the whole world, and lose their own soul? or what shall a person give in exchange for their soul?

CHRIST GAVE HIMSELF FOR YOUR SOUL!

Christian Basics

So, “In the beginning God made the heavens (plural) and the earth (singular).” Using the biggest Optical and Radio Telescopes, we can see the multitudes of Galaxies, Gas Clouds, Nebula, the myriad upon myriad of stars of varying colours, temperatures and patterns. Intricate, stunningly beautiful, and absolutely intriguing. For the Earth to be seen in its surrounds in Space, we have to look backwards in time to the Voyager 1 Mission. When Voyager 1 had reached the planet Saturn the NASA engineers turned the sleeping Spacecraft around to look back at our home planet, Earth, to get a view of what it looks like. It was February 14, 1990, when Voyager 1 was turned back on, and about 6 billion kilometres away. The resulting composite photograph is known famously by Carl Sagan as the “Pale Blue Dot”. It shows a solitary minute article in the depths of space, completely alone, with no “partner planets”. The dot itself is less than a pixel in size. It is the Earth with all its billions of humans, and containing all the history of this one collection of animate persons plus animals, plant life, and microbial entities.

Where did these objects come from? How did they come into being? Who made them? And how were they made or built? The early chapters of the Holy Bible tell us some details and basic processes that produced the Earth, the different forms of life, and the stages of “manufacture” of the various parts. At a later date in your progression in life, you will come across different explanations/theories to suit varying people’s ideas of “Long-term Creation”, “Short-Term Creation”, “Evolution”, and various other different cultural stories and explanations. Only one “story” or explanation can be right, and we waste a lot of time trying to work out what to believe about God and Creation. Even within the first two chapters of Genesis in the Bible, Religious Ministers and Professors, Archaeologists and other Scientists have alternative theories regarding God and His Creation. It makes it hard to know what Truth is, especially when renowned “scientific specialists” cannot even agree between themselves any simple understanding of these basic beliefs. But what we DO know is that God was there doing His Will and making His plans come to fruition, one step at a time.

But do we know this? As author Murari Das says in 2022 ©,

(quote)

“People reject the concept of God due to misunderstanding what “God” means.

That may be because they haven’t been taught properly, or it may be because they are too dense to understand.

At a simple level, God is the Absolute Truth. He is the eternal origin of everything that exists,[and the sustaining energy that holds together and completes all matter and things that exist. God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth! (John 4:23, 24).]

We know that things exist, and we know that we aren’t the origin of them all. It’s too nutty to contemplate that first there was a total absence of everything, and then somehow time appeared, space appeared, natural laws appeared, matter appeared, and consequently a functioning universe appeared with complexity, interdependence, and predictability, all from nowhere for no reason.

What makes more sense is that something which is eternal is the cause and origin of everything that exists. That is a simple elementary understanding of what God means.

Some people are taught that God throws people into hell forever; that God could prevent tragedies but doesn’t; that God hates certain types of people; that God demands worship; that God gave one chance to everyone for salvation; that God needs money; that God has never been seen, and so much more.

Then they conclude that such a person doesn’t exist and dismiss all these claims as being untrue.

That’s okay, all these claims can be dismissed as untrue, but how does that affect the claim that God is the Absolute Truth and the eternal origin of all that exists? This is the starting point for understanding God. Then we can look at what God does, what He likes, why He doesn’t do what we want, what He needs etc. There’s no need to refer to accounts that are considered fictional for these details. If they are fictional they have no relevance in deciding if God exists or not. What I don’t understand is why people read what they consider fictional accounts and then use them to decide if there is an eternal origin to everything that exists.

“Everything appeared from nothing by magic, making magic the Absolute Truth. Or everything appeared from something that is eternal, making that the Absolute Truth. We cannot say that ‘nothing’ is the Absolute Truth because it’s obvious that things exist now, and if ‘nothing’ was the Absolute Truth, then all that would ever exist is nothing.

Once it is understood that God is the Absolute Truth and eternal origin of all that exists, we can reverse engineer what we know to be real and understand that it originates from God. That’s not as easy as it sounds because it’s no small thing to know what is real and what isn’t. Most people think their concept of reality is the real one, but there are many differing views of reality, many. One thing we can be sure of is that each person’s subjective interpretation of sense objects is almost certainly not reality. A popular quote is ‘Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.’ The eternal origin of all that exists simply can’t go away. God is a word used for the eternal origin of all that exists.

For critical thinkers and thoughtful people, who don’t want to take help from others, the nature and qualities of God will have to be determined by assessing what is truly real and what is imaginary. That’s the only real option available. The alternative is to say God doesn’t exist; magic is real.”

(end quote).

For instance, the first step was “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”. Genesis 1:1 We don’t know if this was an instantaneous action or whether God took His time to do a proper complete job. (I’m thinking like a man does. It’s easy to do a quick job and get a perhaps less than perfect result. It’s not so easy to take your time and do it right. “She’ll be right” is not good enough). We don’t even know what God did to create the heavens and the earth! Did He have bricks and mortar to build with? We know He didn’t. He used things much more substantial than that. What we DO know is that we have concrete proof through Archaeology, Palaeontology, and other sciences, that at some stage there definitely was a Creation process, and we have proof because we are standing on the end result!

What do you think God is made out of?

(Quote:)

“A creator God must exist outside of our universe of space, time, energy and matter. This creator God, therefore, would never have been ‘made’ at all, but has and does eternally exist outside of time. This creator God would also have to be immaterial, for all matter would have to be created by this God. There is no way that we can really know or understand what sort of ‘stuff’ this creator God consists of, or what sort of dimensions this ‘stuff’ exists within – this is something that is utterly beyond our abilities to either investigate or imagine.

Believe or disbelieve as you wish. I do think, though, that this is really the only theistic possibility that could make any sense at all.”:

(End Quote.)

So, have we thought about this enough to accept that there is a high probability of God being eternally real, proficient to create all things, and govern all things for the good of all His Creation? Are you ready to accept or reject belief in God based on what we have previously written? It is your choice!

Let’s assume that you are interested enough to at least think about the possibility of the reality of God. Shall we proceed to the next step? Let’s do it!

Now follows

Lan Dough (Lando) ©2022

Researcher Writer Biblical Antiquities at Academia.edu (2018–present)

Sarai began her life in the pagan world of Ur, in the land of the Chaldees, which was located in the area now known as Iraq. She was the half-sister, as well as the wife, of Abram, who would be called Abraham. Sarai and Abram had the same father but different mothers.

“And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake. And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.” Genesis 20:12

In those days, genetics were purer than they are today, and intermarriage was not detrimental to the offspring of unions between relatives. Also, since people tended to spend their lives clustered together in family units, it was the natural course to choose mates from within their own tribes and families.

When Abram encountered the living God for the first time, he believed Him (Genesis 12:1–4; 15:6) and followed after Him, obeying His command to leave his home to go to a place he had never heard about, much less seen. Sarai went with him.

Their journey brought them to the area called Haran (Genesis 11:31). Abram’s father, Terah, passed away in this city, and Abram, Sarai, and their nephew Lot and their retinue continued their journey, allowing God to lead and guide them. With no housing and no modern conveniences, the journey would have been very difficult for all, especially for the women. During their journey, there was a famine in the land, prompting Abram and Sarai to go to Egypt (Genesis 12:10). When they did, Abram feared that the Egyptians would kill him because Sarai was extremely beautiful, and they would want her as a wife. So he asked Sarai to tell everyone that she was Abram’s sister—which was technically true but also meant to deceive. Sarai was taken into Pharaoh’s house, and Abram was treated well because of her. But God afflicted Pharaoh’s house, and the couple’s deceptive lie was revealed. Pharaoh returned Sarai to Abram and sent them on their way (Genesis 12). Sarai and Abram came back to the land now known as Israel, approximately 4,000 years ago. They had acquired many possessions and a great deal of wealth in their travels, so Lot and Abram agreed to split up in order that the massive herds of cattle would have adequate ground for grazing (Genesis 13:9). Unfortunately, the tension between Abraham and Lot’s shepherds increased, and they had to separate, Lot going toward the green fields around Sodom, while Abraham stayed in the less fertile lands away from Sodom and Gomorrah.

Sarai was barren, an issue of personal distress as well as cultural shame. Abram was worried that he would have no heir. But God gave Abram a vision in which He promised him a son and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15). God also promised Abram’s offspring the land of Canaan. The problem was that Sarai remained childless. Ten years after God had made His promise to Abram, Sarai, following cultural norms, suggested that Abram have a child with her servant, Hagar. The child born of that union would be counted as Sarai’s. Abram agreed, and Hagar conceived a son—Ishmael. But Hagar began to look at Sarai with contempt, and Sarai began to treat Hagar harshly, so much so that Hagar ran away. God met Hagar in the desert and encouraged her to return to Abram and Sarai, which she did (Genesis 16).

Thirteen years after Ishmael was born, God reaffirmed His covenant with Abram, this time giving him the sign of circumcision as well as changing his name. Abram, meaning “high father,” became Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude.” God also changed Sarai’s name, meaning “my princess,” to Sarah, meaning “mother of nations.” God told Abraham that He would give him a son through Sarah. This son—Isaac—would be the one with whom God would establish His covenant. God would bless Ishmael as well, but Isaac was the son of promise through whom the nations would be blessed (Genesis 17). Isaac means “he laughs.” Abraham laughed that, at 100 years old, he could have a son with Sarah, who was 90 years old and had been barren her entire life. Sarah, too, laughed at the prospect (Genesis 18:9–15).

Shortly after God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, but He rescued Abraham’s nephew Lot (Genesis 19). Abraham and Sarah journeyed toward the Negeb and sojourned in Gerar (Genesis 20:1). Abraham again asked Sarah to lie about her identity, and the king of Gerar took Sarah to be his wife. But God protected Sarah, through whom Isaac would be born. King Abimelech had no relations with her. God warned Abimelech in a dream, and the king not only sacrificed to God in repentance, but he gave gifts to Abraham and Sarah and allowed them to dwell in the land (Genesis 20).

God remained faithful to His promise to give Abraham and Sarah a son. They named him Isaac, and “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’ And she added, ‘Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age'” (Genesis 21:6–7). Though she may have previously laughed in disbelief and secrecy, now Sarah laughed with joy and wanted her situation to be known. God had been faithful to His promise and blessed her.

When Isaac was a teenager, God sought to test Abraham, and commanded him to take Isaac to Mount Moriah and there make Isaac a burnt sacrifice unto God. Isaac was the child of promise, and Abraham knew that if he killed Isaac all the promises of God could not humanly happen. But Abraham thought within himself that even if Isaac were killed, yet God could raise him up and keep the promises anyway.

Isaac saw that his father had not brought a sacrifice with him and noted this to his father. Abraham’s response was that God would provide himself with a sacrifice. When they arrived at the top of the mountain, Abraham set about making Isaac the sacrifice to God, as He had told Abraham to. Isaac had worked it out and willingly complied with God’s apparent will, but before Abraham could strike his knife into Isaac the Angel of the Lord [the eternal presence of Almighty God] told him to stop, saying that He could see that Abraham was an obedient and faithful servant. Isaac was let go and God showed a ram caught in a thicket to be used as an alternative sacrifice.

From this time Abraham was known as the “Friend of God”.

Skip forward 400 or 500 years or so and let us consider some history from the Torah (the Pentateuch), the Five Books of Moses. In Exodus chapters 7 to 10 we read of the first 9 plagues of God against Pharaoh and the Egyptians, on behalf of Moses, Aaron and the children of Israel. Each time a plague fell on Egypt, Pharaoh became harder and harder. Finally, in chapter 11 and 12 of Exodus, we read how God’s ultimatum was given to Pharaoh, who deliberately chose to not listen, but instead had his heart hardened even further by God.

Exodus 12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover.

Exo 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

Exo 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

Exo 12:24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

Exo 12:25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.

Exo 12:26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

Exo 12:27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

Exo 12:28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

The Israelites listened to what God said through Moses and Aaron, painted blood from perfect, faultless lambs slain that day on the lintels and two side posts of their dwelling. Then they were to take the body of the slain lamb inside their dwelling along with all their family members, and other folk who were more destitute than they, and be there from well before midnight until the break of dawn, eating and feasting on the sacrificed lamb.

Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

Exo 12:30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

Exo 12:31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.

Exo 12:32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

Moses

Hebrew prophet

Alternate titles: Moshe

Written by

Dewey M. Beegle

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Presented with edited modifications by Jeffrey M. Pearce, 2023

Moses and the Ten Commandments

Flourished: c.1400 BCE – c.1201 BCE

Notable Family Members: brother Aaron sister Miriam

Subjects Of Study: Judaism Ten Commandments covenant

Role In: Exodus

Moses,

Hebrew Moshe, (flourished 14th–13th century BCE), Hebrew prophet, teacher, and leader who, in the 13th century BCE (before the Common Era, or BC), delivered his people from Egyptian slavery. In the Covenant ceremony at Mt. Sinai, where the Ten Commandments were promulgated, he founded the religious community known as Israel. As the interpreter of these Covenant stipulations, he was the organizer of the community’s religious and civil traditions. In the Judaic tradition, he is revered as the greatest prophet and teacher, and Judaism has sometimes loosely been called Mosaism, or the Mosaic faith, in Western Christendom. His influence continues to be felt in the religious life, moral concerns, and social ethics of Western civilization, and therein lies his undying significance.

The historical problem

Historical views of Moses

Few historical figures have engendered such disparate interpretations as has Moses. Early Jewish and Christian traditions considered him the author of the Torah (“Law,” or “Teaching”), also called the Pentateuch (“Five Books”), comprising the first five books of the Bible, and some conservative groups still believe in Mosaic authorship.

Opposing this is the theory of the German scholar Martin Noth, who, while granting that Moses may have had something to do with the preparations for the conquest of Canaan, was very sceptical of the roles attributed to him by tradition. Although recognizing a historical core beneath the Exodus and Sinai traditions, Noth believed that two different groups experienced these events and transmitted the stories independently of each other. He contended that the biblical story tracing the Hebrews from Egypt to Canaan resulted from an editor’s weaving separate themes and traditions around a main character Moses, actually an obscure person from Moab. [These beliefs and suppositions of Martin Noth have never been properly investigated or proved. JMP].

This article, following the lead of the biblical archaeologist and historian W.F. Albright, presents a point of view that falls somewhere between these two extremes. While the essence of the biblical story (narrated between Exodus 1:8 and Deuteronomy 34:12) is accepted, it is recognized that, during the centuries of oral and written transmission, the account acquired layers of accretions. The reconstruction of the documentary sources of the Pentateuch by literary critics is considered valid, but the sources are viewed as varying versions of one series of events (see biblical literature: The Torah [Law, Pentateuch, or Five Books of Moses]). Other critical methods (studying the biblical text from the standpoint of literary form, oral tradition, style, redaction, and archaeology) are equally valid. The most accurate answer to a critical problem is therefore likely to come from the convergence of various lines of evidence. The aid of critical scholarship notwithstanding, the sources are so sketchy that the man Moses can be portrayed only in broad outline.

[On the contrary, sometimes it pays to take the notes described by the Bible as factual and true! JMP].

The date of Moses

According to the biblical account, Moses’ parents were from the tribe of Levi, one of the groups in Egypt called Hebrews. Originally the term Hebrew had nothing to do with race or ethnic origin. It derived from Habiru, a variant spelling of Ḫapiru (Apiru), a designation of a class of people who made their living by hiring themselves out for various services. The biblical Hebrews had been in Egypt for generations, but apparently they became a threat, so one of the pharaohs enslaved them. Unfortunately, the personal name of the king is not given, and scholars have disagreed as to his identity and, hence, as to the date of the events of the narrative of Moses. One theory takes literally the statement in I Kings 6:1 that the Exodus from Egypt occurred 480 years before Solomon began building the Temple in Jerusalem. This occurred in the fourth year of his reign, about 960 BCE; therefore, the Exodus would date about 1440 BCE.

This conclusion, however, is at variance with most of the biblical and archaeological evidence. The storage cities Pitḥom and Rameses, built for the pharaoh by the Hebrews, were located in the north-eastern part of the Egyptian delta, not far from Goshen, the district in which the Hebrews lived. It is implicit in the whole story that the pharaoh’s palace and capital were in the area, but Thutmose III (the pharaoh in 1440) had his capital at Thebes, far to the south, and never conducted major building operations in the delta region. Moreover, Edom and Moab, petty kingdoms in Transjordan that forced Moses to circle east of them, were not yet settled and organized. Finally, as excavations have shown, the destruction of the cities the Hebrews claimed to have captured occurred about 1250, not 1400.

Inasmuch as tradition figured about 12 generations from Moses to Solomon, the reference to 480 years is most likely an editorial comment allowing 40 years for each generation. Since an actual generation was nearer 25 years, the most probable date for the Exodus is about 1290 BCE. If this is true, then the oppressive pharaoh noted in Exodus (1:2–2:23) was Seti I (reigned 1318–04), and the pharaoh during the Exodus was Ramses II (c. 1304–c. 1237). In short, Moses was probably born in the late 14th century BCE. [These last names and dates appear to be the most accepted by the majority of Archaeologists and historical and Biblical scientists. JMP].

Years and deeds of Moses

The formative years

One of the measures taken by the Egyptians to restrict the growth of the Hebrews was to order the death of all newborn Hebrew males. According to Biblical tradition, Moses’ parents, Amram and Jochebed [whose other children were Aaron and Miriam. JMP], hid him for three months and then set him afloat on the Nile in a reed basket daubed with pitch. The child, found by the pharaoh’s daughter while bathing, was reared in the Egyptian court. While many doubt the authenticity of this tradition, the name Moses (Hebrew Moshe) is derived from Egyptian mose (“is born”) and is found in such names as Thutmose ([The God] Thoth Is Born). Originally, it is inferred, Moses’ name was longer, but the deity’s name was dropped. This could have happened when Moses returned to his people or possibly even earlier, because the shortened form Mose was very popular at that time. [A similar thing happened when Jesus was born and named Joshua (Yeshua), a very common name in His time. JMP]

Moses’ years in the court are passed over in silence, but it is evident from his accomplishments later that he had instruction in religious, civil, and military matters. Since Egypt controlled Canaan (Palestine) and part of Syria and had contacts with other nations of the Fertile Crescent, Moses undoubtedly had general knowledge of life in the ancient Near East. During his education he learned somehow that he was a Hebrew, and his sense of concern and curiosity impelled him to visit his people. According to the biblical narrative, Moses lived 120 years and was 80 when he confronted Pharaoh, but there is no indication how old he was when he went to see the Hebrews. Later Jewish and Christian tradition assumed 40-year periods for his stay in the Egyptian court, his sojourn in Midian, and his wilderness wanderings.

Most likely Moses was about 25 when he took the inspection tour among his people. There he saw the oppressive measures under which they laboured. When he found an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew, probably to death, he could control his sense of justice no longer. After checking to make sure that no one was in sight, he killed the tough Egyptian overlord. As a prince in the court, Moses was probably in excellent physical condition, and apparently he knew the latest methods of combat.

The flush of victory pulled Moses back the next day. He had removed one threat to his people and was determined to assist them again. This time, however, he found two Hebrews fighting. After parting them, he questioned the offender in an attempt to mediate the disagreement. Two questions jolted him: “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” The confidence of the self-appointed deliverer turned into fear. One of his own knew his “secret” and soon Pharaoh would, too. Realizing that he would have to flee, he went to Midian (mainly in northwest Arabia).

Moses in Midian

In noting the flight to Midian, the narrative says nothing of the difficulties involved. Like Sinuhe, the Egyptian court official whose flight in about 1960 BCE was narrated in a famous story, Moses undoubtedly had to filter through the “Wall of the Ruler,” a series of forts at the eastern border, approximately where the Suez Canal is now located. From there he made his way southeast through very desolate country. Unfortunately, the Bible does not specify the part of Midian in which Moses resided. Midian proper was east of the Gulf of Aqaba, in the northern section of Hejaz in Arabia, but there is evidence that some of the Midianite clans crossed over the Arabah (the great valley south of the Dead Sea) and settled in the eastern and southern sections of the Sinai Peninsula.

While Moses was resting at a well, according to the biblical account, seven daughters of the Midianite priest Jethro came to water their father’s flocks. Other shepherds arrived and drove the girls away in order to water their own flocks. Again, Moses showed his courage and prowess as a warrior because he took on the shepherds (perhaps with the girls’ help) and routed them. Moses stayed on with Jethro and eventually married Zipporah, one of the daughters. In assuming the responsibility for Jethro’s flocks, Moses roamed the wilderness looking for pasture.

One day at the base of a mountain, his attention was attracted by a flaming bush, but, oddly, it was not consumed. He had seen bushes brilliant with flamelike blossoms, but this phenomenon was different, and so he turned aside to investigate it. Before he could do so, he was warned to come no closer. Then he was ordered to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground.

Regardless of how one interprets the burning bush, the important fact is that Moses was conscious of an encounter with Deity. This God, who claimed to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, was calling him to deliver the Hebrews from Egypt. Although on his own he had previously been zealous to help his own people, now that he was being commissioned to deliver them he expressed doubt concerning his qualifications. The underlying reason was probably fear—he had fled from Seti I, and he did not relish confrontation with Ramses II. God reassured Moses that in the future he and the Hebrews would worship at this mountain. Then Moses asked to know the name of the Deity commissioning him. The God of the fathers had been known mostly as El Elyon (God Most High) or El Shaddai (Almighty God), but he identified himself to Moses as Yahweh and gave instructions that he was to be called by his new name from then on. As the causative form of the verb “to be,” Yahweh means He Who Creates (Brings Into Being) [or even possibly/probably “I will be what I will be” from “I will bring all things to existence”]. This revelation enabled Moses to understand the God of the Hebrews as the sovereign Lord over nature and the nations of the world.

Even after further assurances, Moses was still reluctant to accept Yahweh’s call; therefore, he pleaded for release because he was a stammerer. Yahweh acknowledged the defect but promised to help him express himself. Awed by his assignment, Moses made a final desperate plea, “Oh, my Lord, send, I pray, some other person.” Although angry at Moses, Yahweh would not yield. Moses would still be Yahweh’s representative, but his golden-tongued brother Aaron would be the spokesman. Apparently Moses was ready to play the role of God to Pharaoh providing Aaron would serve as his prophet. He returned to Jethro and requested permission to visit his people in Egypt, but he did not disclose that he had been commissioned by Yahweh.

Moses and Pharaoh

Ramses II became king as a teenager and reigned for 67 years. He aspired to defeat the Hittites and control all of Syria, but in the fifth year of his reign Ramses walked into a Hittite trap laid for him at Kadesh, on the Orontes River in Syria. By sheer determination he fought his way out, but in the light of his purpose the battle was an utter failure. Yet Ramses, like all the pharaohs, claimed to be divine; therefore, the defeat had to be interpreted as a marvellous victory in which he alone subdued the Hittites. His wounded ego expressed itself in massive building operations throughout Egypt, and before his reign ended the boast of his success literally filled acres of wall space.

It was probably only a few years after the Kadesh incident that Moses and Aaron confronted Ramses with their demand, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go.’” As a god in human form Ramses was not accustomed to taking orders from lesser gods, let alone an unknown like Yahweh. “Who is the Lord,” he inquired, “that I should heed his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover I will not let Israel go.” Thus, the stage was set for a long struggle between a distrustful ruler with an outsize ego and a prophet with a new understanding of Yahweh and his power.

Ramses increased the oppression of the Hebrews by the fiendish plan of requiring them to gather the straw binder for the bricks and still produce the same quota each day. Some of the Hebrews rebuffed Moses, and in frustration he asked Yahweh, “Why didst thou ever send me?” Moses’ doubt was allayed by Yahweh’s promise to take action against Pharaoh. Scholars differ widely concerning the narrative about the plagues. Some claim that three sources have been combined, but more recent scholarship finds only the two traditions. While granting that some of the plagues had a core of historicity, older critics tended to discount the present accounts as fantastic stories with pious decorations. A recent school of research suggests that, notwithstanding some later additions, all the plagues probably had a historical core.

The basic cause, according to one interpretation, was an unusually high flooding of the Nile. The White Nile originates in the lake region of east central Africa, known today as Uganda. The flow is fairly even throughout the year because of consistent equatorial rains. The Blue Nile, on the other hand, originates in the headwaters of the Ethiopian highlands, and it varies from a small stream to a raging torrent. At the time Moses was bargaining with Ramses, excessively heavy summer rains in Ethiopia washed powdery, carmine-red soil from the slopes of the hills. Around the Lake Tana region the blood-red torrent picked up bright red algae (known as flagellates) and their bacteria. Since there were no dams at that time, the Nile flowed blood-red all the way to the Mediterranean. It probably reached the delta region in August. Thus, this rare natural event, it is held, set in motion a series of conditions that continued until the following March.

During these months Moses used the plagues of the frogs, gnats, mosquitoes, cattle murrain, boils, hail, locusts, and thick darkness to increase the pressure on Ramses. At first the King was adamant. The Hebrews were not the only disgruntled slaves, and, if he agreed to let them go, then other groups would want the same privilege. To protect his building program, he had to suppress the slave rebellion at its outset. Yet he could not discount the effect of the plagues, and grudgingly he began to acknowledge Yahweh’s power. As an expedient attempt to restore order, he offered to let the Hebrews sacrifice in Goshen. When this failed, he suggested that they make offerings to Yahweh at the edge of the Egyptian border. Moses, however, insisted on a three-day journey into the wilderness. Pharaoh countered by allowing the Hebrew men to make the journey, but this, too, was rejected. As his final offer Pharaoh agreed to let the people go. He would keep the livestock, however, as the guarantee of their return. Moses spurned the condition, and in anger Pharaoh drove him out. After nine rounds with Pharaoh, it appeared that the deliverance of the Hebrews was no nearer, but, in contrast to his earlier periods of doubt and frustration, Moses showed no despair. Apparently he had an inner assurance that Pharaoh would not have the last word.

From Goshen to Sinai

Chapters 11–14 of Exodus comprise an exceedingly complex section, and at times the traditions have contradictory statements. The drama is more blurred than usual, and scholars vary tremendously in their interpretation of the material. One tradition notes that Pharaoh was shaken when death took his son and that he ordered the Hebrews to leave. Another source indicates that Moses used the period of mourning for the first-born son as the occasion for fleeing secretly from the country. In either case, it is clear that Pharaoh finally had his forces pursue the Hebrews. Although tradition interpreted the Hebrew text to claim that about 2,000,000 people left Egypt, interpretation by critical methods reduces the number to 15,000 or so. [However some more recent studies in the mid 20th century point out that the possible numbers of men, women and children amounted to approximately 3,000,000 to 3,500,000 souls. JMP].

The Egyptian army cornered them at the Sea of Reeds (papyrus), which barred their exit to the east. Later Jewish tradition understood the body of water to be the Red Sea, and this erroneous interpretation persists today, even in some of the most recent English translations of the Bible. Scholars disagree as to the precise location of the Reed Sea, but, since papyrus grows only in freshwater, it was most probably a shallow lake in the far north-eastern corner of Egypt. [However, since then a different route via the Red Sea has been found, and various Archaeological finds within the area have turned out to be Egyptian Chariots and associated articles submerged in the Red Sea. This route comes Southeast through the Wilderness of Shur or Way of the Wilderness and crosses the Gulf of Aqaba finger of the Red Sea at Nuweiba Beach about 64 km south of Eilat, Israel. The children of Israel would then have crossed over to Baal-Rephon (Saudi Arabia Beach). Between those two points there is a natural land “bridge” normally under water. This slopes down from both sides of the Aqaba finger to a depth of 762 metres covering the various articles mentioned above. To the north and south of this “bridge” the Sea bottom drops quickly down to a depth of 1850 metres JMP].

Hemmed in by the Egyptians, the people vented their complaints on Moses. According to one tradition, Moses shared their uneasiness, and he called to Yahweh for help. Another account claims that Moses confidently challenged them to be calm and watch for Yahweh’s deliverance. [Maybe both are correct, one following after the other JMP]. A strong east wind blew all night, creating a dry corridor through the lake and permitting the Hebrews to cross. The pursuing Egyptians were destroyed when the waters returned. The timing of this natural event gave the final answer to Pharaoh’s arrogant question, “Who is Yahweh?” Safely on the other side, Moses and his sister Miriam led the people in a victory song of praise to Yahweh (Ex. 15:1–21). The style of the poetry is similar to that of 14th-century Canaanite literature, and there is every reason to believe that the poem virtually preserves the original form of the song, with its refrain, “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; My father’s God, and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:1-2 (KJV).

The route of the Hebrews is contested by scholars, but the most likely possibility is the southern route to Jabal Musa, the traditional location of Mt. Sinai (Horeb), in the granite range at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. The journey there traversed some very desolate country, and Moses had to contend with bitter complaints about the lack of water and food. Finally, however, he brought the people to “the mountain of God,” where Yahweh had appeared to him in the burning bush.

The Covenant at Sinai of Moses

During the 14th century BCE, the Hittites of Asia Minor made a number of treaties with neighbouring rulers who came under their control. The agreement was not between equals, but between the Hittite king (the suzerain) and a subordinate ruler (the vassal). In the prologue the Hittite ruler described himself as “the great king,” the one granting the treaty. Then followed a historical survey of relationships between the Hittite suzerain and his vassal. Special attention to the kindnesses shown the underling by the overlord was intended to remind the vassal of his obligation to abide by the treaty stipulations. The basic requirement was an oath of loyalty. Since Egypt was involved with the Hittites in the international politics of the time, Moses probably learned about the Hittite treaty form during his years in the Egyptian court.

The appearance of Yahweh in a terrific storm at Mt. Sinai, narrated in chapters 19 and 20 of Exodus, was a revelatory experience for Moses, just as the burning bush had been. Somehow he realized that the Hittite treaty was an accurate analogy of the relationship between Yahweh and the Hebrews. [There is no proof anywhere of Moses following this supposed Hittite treaty example. It is shown to be in Exodus that the Almighty God Himself spoke the words regarding the treaty or Covenant with Israel to Moses and told him to convey “all these words” to the people. Yahweh had a claim upon them because he had delivered them. The only proper response to his love and care would be a pledge of obedience to his will. Some Scholars have tended to date the Ten Commandments, or Decalogue (contained in the revelation at Sinai), after the conquest of Canaan, but there is absolutely nothing in these guidelines to indicate their origin in an agricultural context. More likely they were the stipulations in the covenant ceremony at Mt. Sinai. JMP]

Because Yahweh was proclaimed the only true God, one of the first commands was appropriately a ban against all other gods. Authorities have debated whether or not this understanding was interpreted as monotheism. Most certainly it was not the philosophical monotheism of later periods, but it was a practical monotheism in that any gods recognized by other nations were under Yahweh’s control. Inasmuch as he had brought them into being and authorized their presence in his council, he was Lord over all gods and nations.

Another early command has been taken to mean a ban on making images of other gods, but originally the prohibition applied to representations of Yahweh himself. Worship in the ancient world was unthinkable without some idol or image; therefore, the uniqueness of Moses’ restriction is all the more evident. Yahweh is the unimaginable Deity who cannot be represented in material forms. Since Yahweh had revealed the meaning of his name to Moses, it was fitting that the Decalogue should also prohibit any magical or unethical use of his name. Undoubtedly the ideas underlying the other commands came from the religious culture of his day, but they were raised to a significantly higher level because of the holy, righteous character of Yahweh. Moses realized that, if the Covenant people were to have a stable, just society, they would have to emulate their God. Concern for his creatures would mean respect for them as persons. Murder, adultery, theft, lying, and covetousness would never be legitimate because they lead to chaos and breakdown of the community. Moreover, inasmuch as Yahweh had been concerned to protect the powerless Hebrews in Egypt, they in turn would have to guarantee justice for the orphans, widows, resident aliens, and any other disadvantaged persons under their jurisdiction.

On confirmation of the Covenant, Moses and the people faced the task of living by the stipulations. This called for interpretations of the commands, and so Moses began issuing ordinances for specific situations. Many of these he drew from the case law of his day, but insight as to their selection and application probably came in the “tent of meeting” (a simple sanctuary tent pitched outside the camp), where Yahweh spoke to Moses “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Breaches of the Covenant necessitated means of atonement, which in turn meant provision of a priesthood to function at sacrifices and in worship. In short, the rudiments of the whole Hebrew cult, according to tradition, originated at Sinai. At Jethro’s suggestion Moses instituted a system of judges and hearings to regulate the civil aspects of the community. It was at Sinai, perhaps, where the people were organized into 12 tribes.

One of Moses’ most remarkable characteristics was his concern for the Hebrews, in spite of their stubborn, rebellious ways. When they reverted to worshipping a golden calf, Yahweh was ready to disown them and begin anew with Moses and his descendants. Moses rejected the offer, however, and later, when pleading for the forgiveness of the people, he even asked to have his own name blotted out of Yahweh’s book of remembrance if the Lord would not forgive them.

From Sinai to Transjordan

After leaving Mt. Sinai, Moses faced increasing resistance and frustration, according to the narrative in the book of Numbers. Apparently his virility did not diminish during these years because he took a Cushite woman as his second wife. But Miriam, with the support of Aaron, opposed the marriage. At Kadesh-Barnea the pessimistic majority report of the spies who had been sent out to reconnoitre thwarted Moses’ desire to march north and conquer the land of Canaan. When he urged the people to reconsider their action they almost stoned him. But here again, according to tradition

[the Bible Numbers 13:16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

Num 13:17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:

Num 13:18 And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

Num 13:19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;

Num 13:20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes.

Num 13:21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.

Num 13:22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoran in Egypt.)

Num 13:23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

Num 13:24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.

Report of the Spies

Num 13:25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

Num 13:26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

Num 13:27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

Num 13:28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

Num 13:29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

Num 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Num 13:31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Num 13:32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

Num 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

The People Rebel

Num 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

Num 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

Num 14:3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

Num 14:4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

Num 14:5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

Num 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

Num 14:7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

Num 14:8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

Num 14:9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Num 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

Num 14:11 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

Num 14:12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.

God’s attitude and motivation towards the unbelieving and rebellious people was to show them Grace and Mercy if they changed their mind for good and repented of their sinfulness and their sins. However, if they refused to change their ways, He chose to discipline them with judgment and/or punishment according to the level of their sins.]

[(AN UNBELIEVING AND REBELLIOUS PEOPLE

What in any other nation would have been described as a panic of fear, was, in the case of Israel, a panic of unbelief, which deserved the reproachful expostulation of Jehovah in Num_14:11. The transition is easy from unbelief to open rebellion against God, as expressed in the words, “Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” The connection between the fearful and unbelieving is very close, Rev_21:8. On the other hand, we have the exhortation of 2Pe_1:5 (A.V.), “Add to your faith virtue (or courage),” as exemplified in the language of Joshua and Caleb. But their words of faith and encouragement only elicited hatred and murder.

Compare Num_14:10 with Gen_4:4 and Heb_11:4. God’s two stalwart witnesses did not minimize the strength or the numbers of the foe, but magnified the mighty power pledged to fulfill the ancient covenant with Abraham: “The Lord is with us; fear them not.” He cannot fail the trustful soul!)]

Moses interceded for the people with Yahweh, who threatened to destroy them and raise up another and greater nation. In one instance, however, tradition recalled that Moses’ anger overrode his compassion. At Meribah, probably in the area of Kadesh-Barnea, Moses addressed the complaining people as rebels and struck a rock twice in anger, whereupon water flowed forth for the thirsty people. He had been angry before in defence of Yahweh’s name, honour, and cause, but this time his anger stemmed from utter frustration with his contentious people. Although tradition [again the Bible] interpreted this lapse as the reason why Yahweh would not permit Moses to enter Canaan, the remarkable fact is that Moses was able to bear up under such continuous pressure.

In Transjordan the new states of Edom and Moab, vassals of the Midianites, rejected Moses’ request for passage. He wisely circled east of them and moved north to conquer Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. Moses permitted some of the tribes to settle in Transjordan, a decision that evoked opposition from the Moabites and their Midianite overlords. They hired the Syrian diviner Balaam to put a curse on the Hebrews, but instead he pronounced a blessing. Some scholars interpret this as proof that Balaam was a convert to Yahwism. If this was indeed the case, he must have reverted later on, because the biblical tradition implies that Balaam incited his former employers to weaken the Hebrews by religious seduction. Moses responded to the enmity of the Midianites with a successful holy war against them not long before his death.

As his last official act Moses renewed the Sinai Covenant with those who had survived the wilderness wanderings. From his camp in the Jordan Valley, Moses climbed to a vantage point on Mt. Pisgah. There he viewed the land of promise. The Hebrews never saw him again, and the circumstances of his death and burial remain shrouded in mystery. Tradition claimed that Yahweh buried him in the valley opposite Beth-Peor, the shrine of the people’s apostasy.

Moses the man

Although time undoubtedly enhanced the portrait of Moses, a basic picture emerges from the sources. Five times the narratives claim that Moses kept written records (Ex. 17:14; 24:4; 34:27–28; Num. 33:2; and Deut. 31:9, 24–26). Even with a generous interpretation of the extent of these writings, they do not amount to more than a fifth of the total Pentateuch; therefore, the traditional claim of Mosaic authorship of the whole Pentateuch is untenable [according to the writer]. Moses formulated the Decalogue, mediated the Covenant, and began the process of rendering and codifying supplemental interpretations of the Covenant stipulations. Undoubtedly he kept some records, and they served as the core of the growing corpus of law and tradition. In a general sense, therefore, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible can be described as Mosaic. Without him there would have been no Israel and no collection known as Torah.

Moses was a gifted, well-trained person, but his true greatness was probably due to his personal experience of and relationship with Yahweh. This former stammering murderer understood his preservation and destiny as coming from the grace of a merciful Lord who had given him another chance. Moses had an understanding spirit and a forgiving heart because he knew how much Yahweh had forgiven him. He was truly humble because he recognized that his gifts and strength came from Yahweh. [As the Bible says in Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) Meek means “Strength under Control” see notes following].

Because of the uniqueness of his situation, Moses had to function in a number of roles. As Yahweh’s agent in the deliverance of the Hebrews, he was their prophet and leader. As mediator of the Covenant, he was the founder of the community. As interpreter of the Covenant, he was an organizer and legislator. As intercessor for the people, he was their priest. Moses had a special combination of gifts and graces that made it impossible to replace him. Although his successor, Joshua, and the priest Eleazar, the son of Aaron, tried to do so, together they did not measure up to him. Later prophets were great men who spoke out of the spirit that Moses had, but they were not called to function in so many roles. As tradition claimed, he was indeed the greatest of the prophets, and, as history shows, few, if any, of humanity’s great personalities outrank him in influence.

Dewey M. Beegle

Meekness isn’t something I heard a lot about growing up. I knew it was in some teachings that Jesus gave on a mountain, but it’s one of those things that you skim over when you read the Bible, because it’s weird.

A bunch of meek people gaining control of the Earth? Sounds like a sci-fi movie about monks and global domination. It’s easy to write that off as something God can explain later in Heaven…And yet, Jesus took time in His limited earthly ministry to talk about it. He wanted us to know about it on this side of eternity. Obviously from the context we can see that meekness is something that God desires and shows favor on, but what does it mean to be meek?

The image of a smiling pushover comes to mind, like an inflatable punching bag I swung at as a kid, but that can’t be right. Jesus was the ultimate example of meek (Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.), and He’s the exact opposite of a pushover.

Moses, too, was described as incomparably meek. We read about it in Numbers 12. Moses is leading the nation of Israel and his older siblings launch a verbal attack against him, laced with envy, regarding his Cushite wife. During the encounter we see a stillness from Moses, in which he doesn’t defend himself.

Instead, God defends him with a mighty show of force. He calls out both siblings, Aaron and Miriam, and makes them answer for their words. First, he declares how faithful and above reproach Moses has been. How he alone was given the privilege to hear from God directly. Then He questions why they weren’t afraid to speak out against such a godly man who had done nothing wrong. Finally, God enacts a consequence and mutates Miriam’s flesh to the appearance of being chewed up and deformed. Yikes.

Is that not terrifying? Imagine standing nearby and witnessing that. How gut wrenching would that be for Aaron or Miriam? You can feel the shame and horror that would have settled after the sin. But instead of a smug grin on his face for being vindicated, Moses begs God to heal Miriam.

We see that Moses wasn’t concerned about defending himself let alone launching a counter attack on his siblings. He was slow to anger, leaning into a trust and deference of God. And rather than gloat about the justice that was eventually served, he cried out for the interest of another. Please heal her.

What it Means to be Meek © 2022 Jeffrey M. Pearce.

Meekness is a controlled strength that puts everything in the hands of God. It is founded on a trust of the Lord, and it always denies self. We see it grow alongside humility and wisdom in that it seeks another person’s interest at the expense of its own, and it is pure, peaceable, gentle, and open to reason (James 3:13&17 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

Jas 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Jas 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. ).

This should not, however, be confused with cowardice or weakness. It’s not being afraid to stand up to someone; rather it’s having the courage to trust God for justice. We see this in David’s life before he was made king. Several times he had the strength and power to take the throne for his own and yet he rejected self. He quieted the whisperings of flesh that say “Why should you tolerate this? He should pay for this!” and chose instead to trust the Lord his God with quiet submission (1 Sam 26:10-11 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

1Sa 26:11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. ). How counter cultural is that in today’s world? We have an entire online world that roars against that attitude.

A Spiritual Inheritance

Then there’s the bit about them inheriting the earth? Jesus has a habit of saying things that make you scratch your head. I have sympathy for the Apostles because I have the Holy Spirit, years of studying His Word, and many years of spiritual experience, and I’m still confused by what He (Jesus) says sometimes. My current understanding is this: there is a sense in which the meek have already inherited the earth. The Bible says that all things are ours in Christ, and Paul declared that he has nothing and yet he has everything. You take swipes at a meek man, and he takes it in stride. You have no power over such a person. They are content and satisfied on this side of eternity. In that way they have inherited the earth.

But there are future expectations too. In the day when tears will be wiped away there will be a purification of the soul. Quite literally everyone in Heaven on the new earth will be meek. To be otherwise would be inconsistent with righteousness.

Where does that leave us? In a position of hope and certainty. One New Testament Scholar, D.A. Carson, says it this way, “With this eternal perspective in view he (a Christian) can afford to be meek”. Can you afford to be meek today? Do you trust God in a way that you know all things will be made right in the end? Are you free to suffer wrong and lean into the Lord? Is your idea of meekness your ability to control your strength, your temper, and your calmness through the infilling of the Holy Spirit as Moses appears to have done?

Out of all the displeasure and disobedience of the Children of Israel over the 40 or so years in the deserts and wilderness, Moses only ever lost his anger once. He was not a perfect man, as we are not perfect people. Ultimately he lost his temper, as we would have done ten times before, and he paid for his disobedience with not entering the promised land, dying in an unmarked grave with no one to show respect and honour. Much later this saved followers of Almighty God turning to the tomb of Moses and worshipping him in an idolotrous way! Refer to Exodus 20.

“Deuteronomy 34:4 And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.

Deu 34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

Deu 34:6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-Peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.”

How reliable is the Bible?

How Reliable is the Bible - in general

Studied Apologetics for a semester

Here are the primary indications of the Bible’s legitimacy:

Christian Manuscripts
1. Old Testament Reliability:
  1. Dead Sea Scrolls (400–300 B.C.) – the Dead Sea Scrolls were a collection of 981 texts discovered at Qumran + includes manuscripts from all books of the Old Testament except Esther
  2. Septuagint (300 – 100 B.C.) – oldest known translation of the Hebrew bible. The name is derived from 70 Jewish scholars who did the translation.
  3. Affirmation from the New Testament – there are currently over 5800 + Greek manuscripts / 10000+ Latin Manuscripts / 9000+ manuscripts in other languages (Syriac, Slavic, Ethiopian, Armenian) / Early church father’s quotes can reconstruct most of the New Testament.
  4. Early Church Father Quotes – “… as I possessed all the existing works of the Fathers of the second and third centuries, I commenced to search, and up to this time I have found the entire New Testament, except eleven verses.” – Sir David Dalrymple
Non-christian Manuscripts
1. Babylonian Talmud – “On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged.. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, “He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy” – (Baraitha Bab. Sanhedrin 43a)
2. Annals 15.44 – Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome … – Tacitus (Roman Historian)
3. The Death of Peregrine, 11–13 – The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day – the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account. You see, these misguided creatures start with the general conviction that they are immortal for all time, which explains the contempt of death and voluntary self-devotion which are so common among them; and then it was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws. All this they take quite on trust, with the result that they despise all worldly goods alike, regarding them merely as common property. – Lucian (Greek Satirist)
Archaeology
1. The Tel Dan Stele (900 – 850 BC)
  1. A stele found in Tel Dan talks of King David’s victories
  2. Discovered in 1993 in an excavation led by Dr. Avraham Biran
2. The Meesha Stele (846 BC)
  1. Records Meesha, the King of Moab, fighting against Israel – mentions Omri, David, and YHWH
3. Silver Amulet Scrolls (700 – 650 BC)
  1. The Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24 – 25) is written on them “May YHWH bless you and keep you; May YHWH cause his face to shine upon you and grant you Peace”
4. Hezekiah’s Tunnel
  1. Referenced in 2 Kings 20:20 and 2 Chronicles 32
5. Ossuary of Caiaphas – the bones of the family of Caiaphas – inscribed “Joseph son of Caiaphas”

Further indications:

Prophecies
1. Messianic Prophecies
  1. Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)
  2. Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23) as a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:18; Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16), of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:23, 33; Hebrews7:14), and of the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Matthew 1:1)
  3. Herod killing the infants (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18)
  4. Taken to Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-15)
  5. Heralded by the messenger of the Lord (John the Baptist) (Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1-3)
  6. Anointed by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16-17)
  7. Performed miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 9:35)
  8. Cleansed the Temple (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 21:12-13)
  9. Ministered in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:12-16)
  10. Entered Jerusalem as a king on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:4-9)
  11. First presented Himself as King 173,880 days from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25; Matthew 21:4-11)
  12. Rejected by Jews (Psalm 118:22; 1 Peter 2:7)
  13. Died a humiliating death (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53) involving: rejection (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:10-11; 7:5,48), betrayal by a friend (Psalm 41:9; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:18), sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-15), silence before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-14), being mocked (Psalm 22: 7-8; Matthew 27:31), beaten (Isaiah 52:14; Matthew 27:26), spit upon (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 27:30), piercing His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Matthew 27:31), being crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38), praying for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34), piercing His side (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34), given gall and vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34, Luke 23:36), no broken bones (Psalm 34:20; John 19:32-36), buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60), casting lots for His garments (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24).
  14. Rose from the dead! (Psalm 16:10; Mark 16:6; Acts 2:31)
  15. Ascended into Heaven (Psalm 68:18; Acts 1:9)
  16. Sat down at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3)
2. Non-messianic prophecies:
  1. The Succession of Great World Kingdoms (Daniel 2:37-42). Even negative critics agree that Daniel foretold the governments in order of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Cyrus King of Persia (Isaiah 44:28-45:1). Since Isaiah lived between about 740 and 690 BC and Cyrus did not make his proclamation for Israel to return from exile until about 536 (Ezra 1), there would have been no human way for him to know what Cyrus would be named or what Cyrus would do.
  2. Israel to Be Returned to Its Land A Second Time (Isaiah 11:11-12). The first time God reclaimed a people was from Egypt through the Exodus; the second time is from the Babylonian Exile (Isaiah 51:9-11).
  3. The Closing of the Golden Gate (Ezekiel 44:2-3). The Golden Gate is the eastern gate of Jerusalem, through which Christ made his triumphal entry on Palm Sunday before the crucifixion (Matthew 21). Ezekiel predicted its closing and in 1543 Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent closed the gate and walled it up, not knowing he was fulfilling prophecy. It remains sealed to this day exactly as the Bible predicted.
  4. The Destruction of Tyre (Ezekiel 26:3-14). The prophecy was partly fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city and left it in ruins. Alexander the Great later attacked the seemingly impregnable Island of Tyre by taking the stones, dust, and timber from the ruined mainland city to build a causeway to the Island. This prophecy is comparable to saying that Chicago will be destroyed and never rebuilt.
  5. The Doom of Edom (Petra) (Jeremiah 49:15-17). Given the virtually impregnable nature of the ancient city carved out of rock and protected by a narrow passageway, this was an incredible prediction. Yet, in 636 AD it was conquered by Muslims and today stands deserted but for tourists.
  6. Destruction of Jerusalem (Mark 13:1-2). Fulfilled literally when the Romans completely destroyed Jerusalem and the temple buildings. According to historian and eyewitness Josephus, some of the stones were 37 feet long, 12 feet high and 18 feet wide. Stones were even pried apart to collect the gold leaf that melted from the roof when the temple was set on fire.
Lack of contradictions
1. The Bible comprises of 66 books written by > 40 people with different backgrounds over a period of about 1600 years. Yet, they are all coherent.

Communicating with God

Anonymous

I will tell you a story… One day a construction supervisor from 6th floor of a building was calling a worker working on the ground floor. Because of construction noise, the worker on the ground floor could not hear his supervisor calling. Then to draw the attention of the worker, the supervisor threw a $10 note down, which fell right in front of the worker. The worker picked up the $10 note, put it in his pocket & started his work… Again to draw the attention of the worker, the supervisor now threw a $50 note. The worker picked up the $50 note, put it in his pocket & continued doing his job…

Now the supervisor picked a small stone & threw it on the worker to draw his attention. The stone hit the worker exactly on his head. This time the worker looked up & the supervisor communicated with him.

This story relates to our life in a similar manner: Our God wants to communicate with us, but we are busy doing our work. God gives us small gifts & we happily keep it. Then God gives us bigger amounts/gifts & and we take it for granted without even acknowledging or thanking God. We just say we are LUCKY! Then when we are hit with what we call ‘problems’, we look up & communicate with God. So every time you get a gift or get saved by His divine grace……acknowledge His blessings, and don’t wait till you are hit by a problem to communicate with God….

A Loose Cannon

A What?

What is the origin of the phrase loose cannon?

This term originates from the cannons on board wooden sailing warships, which were lashed down with ropes to avoid damage and injury from their recoil when fired. A loose cannon was one with ineffective restraints (e.g., broken ropes). Without these restraints, a “loose cannon” would roll dangerously around the ship’s deck, damaging other cannon, ships fittings, and sailors.

Is a loose cannon bad?

A loose cannon is also defined as “a dangerously uncontrollable person or thing.”

loose cannon

(idiomatic, by extension) An uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to their own team, faction, political party, religious organisation, etc.

I once heard a man call Jesus “a loose cannon”, comparing Him to a dangerous large firearm that had broken loose from its safety ropes in a wooden gunship, and was careening around the firing deck causing all sorts of damage and mayhem. The inference was that Jesus caused all sorts of damage amongst the people of His nation and culture, to the detriment of the whole Jewish Nation at that time, by the way in which He spoke and taught.

Shall we look at the facts and see if this is so?

1. Was Jesus doing his own thing to upset the leaders of the nation and their followers?

Right from the word go, at about His twelfth birthday, Jesus was determined to be about His Father’s business, and appears to have confounded all those who heard Him.

Luke 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they [his parent’s] found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

Luk 2:47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Luk 2:48 And when they [his parents] saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

Luk 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that you sought me? Don’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business?

Luk 2:50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

2. Was He deliberately causing damage amongst the religious hierarchy by saying things that were dangerous and at variance with sound, safe Doctrine and Theology?

John 4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

Joh 4:32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

Joh 4:33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.

Joh 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Joh 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

Joh 4:37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

Joh 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

3. Did Jesus at any time say that He had come to break the Laws of God, leave doing the Laws of God, and to teach others that this was correct?

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4. What two Laws were considered by Jesus to be the greatest one’s?

The Great Commandment

Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all?

Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as [much as] thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Mar 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

Mar 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Mar 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

And why did they not dare to ask Him any further questions? Because what Jesus said was the TRUTH, and everyone knew it! No loose cannon here, it would appear!

However, shortly after being baptised in the Jordan River with God thundering from heaven “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!”, and the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus like a gentle Dove (Mat 3:13 – 17), then Jesus was tempted by the Devil in the wilderness, He began His ministry, called the first disciples, went to a mountain and multitudes gathered to hear Him, and He preached to His disciples what is commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount (Mat 4:1-25). And there is a lot in it! In particular is the part known as The Beatitudes.

The Sermon on the Mount

Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The poor in spirit are people who do not think of themselves more highly than they ought to think, the humble, the downcast, the downtrodden. God’s kingdom belongs to them! They are not the hierarchy, the law givers, those who “teach” others or dictate what others will believe, the people who push others around.

Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Those who grieve and are concerned over what they have down wrongfully in the past, those who have transgressed God’s laws, directives and special instructions. God will comfort them. He will NOT comfort those people who think that they deserve to be patronised by God and honoured by Him.

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. A meek person is one who has power or strength under control. They, of necessity, keep their natural and spiritual strengths and abilities under complete control so that they do not hinder the work of Jesus the Messiah and His Holy Spirit. Their reward is to “inherit the earth”, Satan and His cohorts will be removed and the kingdom of God on earth will increase.

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. To be hungry and thirsty for food and water is truly debilitating, but to hunger and thirst after righteousness, and to be absolutely sick with wanting to know God’s Truths is all engrossing. Someone unaware of God’s spiritual provision need not be concerned. “The Lord is at hand… Do NOT be anxious about anything” (Philipians 4:5,6) is a statement in the New Testament which has as much a bearing as in the Old Testament. The Lord God is always near, and we are not to be anxious about anything, for we SHALL be filled to overflowing (Luke 6:37, 38).

Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. If one is to obtain mercy, he/she must first be merciful, showing abundant compassion, true love and kindness.

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. One who is pure in heart is without malice, treachery, or evil intent; honest; sincere; guileless and without hypocrisy.

Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. A peacemaker is a person who helps others solve a conflict and reach a peaceful solution. Copyright © 2023 Vocabulary.com

Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. How did Jesus react to persecution and being reviled?

Jesus him

Jesus Himself went into hiding when necessary (Matt 4:12; John 8:59; Matt 12:14-15; John 7:1) “because His time was not yet come” (John 7:30; 8:20; 10:39). But these times were only a postponement from His suffering and death. However, when necessary, Jesus deliberately confronted the religious leaders who were arraigned against Him.

Jesus then continues to preach with;- Salt and Light Mat 5:13 – Mat 5:16

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law Mat 5:17 – Mat 5:20

Anger Mat 5:21 – Mat 5:26

Lust Mat 5:27 – Mat 5:30

Divorce Mat 5:31 – Mat 5:32

Oaths Mat 5:33 – Mat 5:37

Retaliation Mat 5:38 – Mat 5:42

Love Your Enemies Mat 5:43 – Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. To be perfect in love in this context means to be complete, entire and whole in benevolent love towards both our friends, relatives, and enemies, that is, wanting the very best for them, no matter what. God does this Himself. He sends the rain on the just and unjust, and causes the sun to shine on good and bad (Mat 5:43-48).

Giving to the Needy Mat 6:1 – Mat 6:4

The Lord’s Prayer Mat 6:5 – Mat 6:15

Fasting Mat 6:16 – Mat 6:18

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven Mat 6:19 – Mat 6:24

Do Not Be Anxious Mat 6:25 – Mat 6:34

Judging Others Mat 7:1 – Mat 7:6

Ask, and It Will Be Given Mat 7:7 – Mat 7:11

The Golden Rule, and the Wide and Narrow Gates Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit Mat 7:15 – Mat 7:20

I Never Knew You Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. – Mat 7:23

Build Your House on the Rock Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The Authority of Jesus

Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

In those days in the synagogues (and even today in Hebrew schools and yeshiva’s) teachers of scholars would advise that Rabbi such and such taught or thought this and that, while Rabbi so and so thought or taught so and so or such and so! There were, and are, no definitive instructions regarding the meanings, usage and collective understandings of the Torah (the five books of Moses) and Tanakh (the original Old Testament) wording, ideas, merits and motivations.

Jesus was quite different. He did not use the deferential wordings and suggestions of the Rabbi’s, but spoke with authority and understanding, and used the ideas and words of God. He had, and has, authority, and everyone who had/has an open ear could/does hear Him.

You will have to decide if Jesus is a loose cannon. If you have read all the forgoing verses, descriptions, and words, it should be abundantly clear where Jesus stands in regard to this conversation. But to help you discern what may or may not be the truth, let me ask you two questions.

1.) Once Jesus had finished preaching the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, what was the result of His preaching upon those people gathered there?

2.) After Jesus preached He walked from place to place healing the sick miraculously. Why did He not preach His message immediately?

(Answers to jp.tabiblia@gmail.com, referencing “A loose cannon”).

So, is Jesus a loose cannon? Only you can decide for yourself whether He is such a one in your personal spiritual and religious life.

Evidence for Christ

Evidence that Jesus is the Son of God

It’s curious to ask for evidence that Jesus is God, but exclude the Bible. Many documents in various genres contain the best evidence that Jesus is the Son of God. We call that compilation the Bible. By excluding it, you’re excluding the very documents whose purpose is to answer your question.

But we can still proceed.

If Jesus is truly the Son of God, then this question is bigger than documents. The question of who is God should affect everything. Therefore, if Jesus is the Son of God, we should find evidence all over the place.

And we do.

Jesus doesn’t behave like a mere mortal. To be sure, He ate, drank, slept, walked, and breathed as we do. But He commanded far greater results than any human in history.

Jesus worked for three and a half years. He never wrote a book, never held public office, never led armies to war.

Yet those three and half years turned the world upside down. Their effects still ripple out to this day, growing more powerful with every passing year.

Christianity is the largest worldview on Earth, with between 2–3 billion followers. It grows by hundreds of thousands every day. Even the Washington Post, a publication generally not inclined toward religion, can’t deny the numbers:

Today, the Christian community in Latin America and Africa, alone, account for 1 billion people.

Over the past 100 years, Christians grew from less than 10 percent of Africa’s population to its nearly 500 million today. One out of four Christians in the world presently is an Africa, and the Pew Research Center estimates that will grow to 40 percent by 2030.

Asia is also experiencing growth as world Christianity’s center has moved not only South, but also East. In the last century, Christianity grew at twice the rate of population in that continent. Asia’s Christian population of 350 million is projected to grow to 460 million by 2025.

The global religious wildcard is China. Even today, demographers estimate that more Christian believers are found worshipping in China on any given Sunday than in the United States.

—https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/05/20/think-christianity-is-dying-no-christianity-is-shifting-dramatically/

Think Christianity is dying? No, Christianity is shifting dramatically

By Wes Granberg-Michaelson

May 20, 2015 at 9:38 a.m. EDT

While Christianity may be on the decline in the United States, the world is becoming more religious, not less. While rising numbers of “nones” — those who claim no religious affiliation when asked — claim the attention of religious pundits, the world tells a different story. Religious convictions are growing and shifting geographically in several dramatic ways.

The center of Christianity has shifted from Europe to the global South.

The religious landscape is particularly changing for the world’s Christians. A century ago, 80 percent lived in North America and Europe, compared with just 40 percent today.

In 1980, more Christians were found in the global South than the North for the first time in 1,000 years. Today, the Christian community in Latin America and Africa, alone, account for 1 billion people.

The global religious wildcard is China. Even today, demographers estimate that more Christian believers are found worshipping in China on any given Sunday than in the United States. Future trends, while difficult to predict because so much is below the religious radar, could dramatically drive down the world’s religious “nones.”

In Latin America, the massive Christian population is becoming more Pentecostal or Charismatic.

The growth of Pentecostalism in Latin America is estimated to be at three times the rate of Catholic growth. Non-Catholic believers now account for 2 percent of Latin America’s 550 million Christians.

Today, Brazil not only has more Catholics than any other country, but also more Pentecostals, reflecting Pentecostalism’s astonishing global growth. Tracing its roots to the Azusa Street revival in 1910, and comprising 5 percent of Christians in 1970, today one of four Christians is Pentecostal or Charismatic. Or think of it this way: one out of 12 people alive today has a Pentecostal form of Christian faith.

Global migration matters.

Such global trends are being experienced locally through migration. About 214 million people have moved from one country to another as migrants and refugees, or are in that process.

Those capturing today’s headlines are Africans clinging to precarious vessels trying to cross the Mediterranean, or the hundreds of thousands uprooted in Syria and the Middle East. But the striking religious factor is that overall, about 105 million who have migrated are Christians — a significantly higher percentage than their 33 percent of the world’s population.

Sociologists report that the process of migration typically increases the intensity of religious faith — whatever its form — of those persons crossing borders of nations and cultures. Fresh spiritual vitality in both North America and Europe is being fuelled by the process of global migration.

Immigration shapes the U.S. religious landscape.

In the United States, about 43 million residents were born in another country, and immigrated here. Of these, about 74 percent adhere to the Christian faith, while 5 percent are Muslim, 4 percent Buddhist and 3 percent Hindu. Of those presently migrating into this country, that proportion remains high — about 60 percent. The religious impact of immigration on U.S. society is typically overlooked in the debates over immigration reform, and the presence of about 11 million immigrants without acceptable legal documentation.

Yet, the reality is that patterns of immigration since the 1965 Hart-Cellar Immigration and Naturalisation Act, and continuing to this day, are having a decisive impact on the Christian community in the United States. A vast majority of Hispanics in the United States are Catholic, and immigrants are sustaining the demographic presence of U.S. Catholicism, accounting for 70 percent of Catholic growth since 1960. They also provide fresh spiritual enthusiasm. Demographers estimate that 54 percent of Hispanic Catholics practice charismatic forms of worship found in Pentecostal churches. Among Catholic millennial’s, over half are now Hispanic.

There are three times more Protestant Hispanics in the United States than Episcopalians.

Immigration has transformed Protestantism in America. Some of President Obama’s strongest advocates for immigration reform are found in more evangelical and Pentecostal leaning Hispanic groups, as well as the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops.

Asian and African immigrants who bring their faith with them across oceans likewise are also reshaping America’s religious landscape, and especially the Christian community. The Philippines follows Mexico as the country sending most immigrants to the United States, and those are overwhelmingly Catholic. The influence of Korean Christians is felt throughout both mainline and evangelical Protestantism. Fuller Seminary, in Pasadena, Calif., a center of moderate evangelical scholarship and training, counts about 1,000 Asian and Asian Americans among its 5,000 students.

While African immigration is less numerical, its growth has been exponential, from 35,355 African immigrants in 1960 to 1.5 million 50 years later. Many carry their devotion to forms of Christian faith that are transforming sub-Saharan Africa. For instance, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, started not by missionaries but as an indigenous church in Nigeria, has grown to 5 million members in 147 countries, including 720 congregations in the United States. North of Dallas, it has built a worship pavilion holding 10,000 at the cost of $15.5 million.

While Chicago has 590,000 foreign-born residents in its city limits, 984,000 are found in its suburbs, with a majority forming places of Christian worship or joining multicultural congregations, if they find welcome. At the Vineyard church in Columbus, Ohio, 28 percent of its 9,000 members come from 147 countries other than the United States.

The United States cannot ignore the impact of immigration on religious patterns.

The growth of religious practice in the world is being experienced through patterns of immigration to the United States, patterns that should become a central feature of the debate over immigration reform.

I am mystified, for example, by political conservatives who cry for the resurgence of religious values in this country, and then support the deportation of those actually growing the nation’s religious vitality. And I am disappointed with political liberals, who, like I, support comprehensive immigration reform, but can seem deaf and dumb to the religious life of immigrants themselves, who often combine their unapologetic faith with commitments to social solidarity, welfare and reform of the broken immigration system.

The history of immigration to this country has been a story of unintended consequences which have tested our commitment to religious and cultural pluralism. The religious impact of immigration, largely unnoticed in hotly contested rhetoric around political reform, offers the potential, once again, to enrich our society in ways we have not yet imagined.

Wes Granberg-Michaelson, whose most recent book is “From Times Square to Timbuktu: The Post-Christian West Meets the Non-Western Church,” served for 17 years as general secretary of the Reformed Church in America. (© 2015 Washington Post/Wes Granberg-Michaelson).

Why are those numbers important?

It’s simple: if Jesus is God, then we should expect Him to be supernaturally effective. We should expect Him to know things about human nature, persuasion, truth, and power dynamics than anyone else. We should expect Jesus to accomplish far more with far less.

And this is exactly what we find.

These millions of Christians scattered across the globe are not united by any human leader, any single denomination, any single political agenda, or any other thing that unites other groups. The only common denominator is that every one of these Christians follows Jesus.

Jesus is the most successful leader, teacher, social reformer, and world revolutionary that has ever lived.

And He did it all in three and a half years.

If God truly took on flesh and lived among us, that’s exactly the kind of supernatural effectiveness you would look for.

Again, if Jesus is the Son of God, then there should be evidence everywhere. And indeed there is! There is so much more evidence we can explore:

Universally applicable teaching. If Jesus is God, then His teaching should work in every culture, in every age. And it does. Jesus’ words transform every culture they touch.
Endlessly captivating. If Jesus is God, then He should be able to captivate our imaginations and stir our emotions like none other. And indeed, this is exactly what is reported about how the crowds reacted to Jesus. This captivation continues through today, as Jesus is the most studied person in history, with more books written about Him, more songs sung about Him, more movies made about Him, more art created about Him, and more lives changed through Him than anyone else in history.
Immune from destruction. If Jesus is God, then we should expect His teaching and His movement to outlast all challengers. This is indeed what we find. Through 2,000 years of attacks, challenges, oppression, slavery, persecution, and torment, Christianity not only survives but thrives today. It tends to grow strongest when the greatest attacks are levelled against it. No force has ever been able to conquer or suppress Christianity. It just keeps growing.
A force for good. If Jesus is God, then His followers should be a force for good, if He claims to love this world. And indeed, this is what we find. To be sure, there have been the occasional conqueror or hateful politician who tried to attach Jesus to their cause. But violence and hate contradict Jesus’ command to love. Throughout the world and history, the vast majority of Christians have been agents of love, kindness and good in their communities. Consider the plagues that swept through the Roman Empire. It was the Christians who stayed behind to care for the dying and sick while all others fled. Christians cared even for their enemies, risking their lives for others because Jesus sacrificed His life for them.
Eternal significance. If Jesus is God, then His words should be relevant to every person who ever lives. And indeed, they are. He offers life eternal and joy never-ending to anyone who asks. He is not willing for a single person to perish, but rather sacrificed Himself so that the door is open to all who choose to enter.
Immediately accessible. If Jesus is God, then He should be available to everyone. And indeed, He is. He invites everyone to taste and see that the Lord is good. He fills every follower with His own Spirit so that they can experience him personally and directly.
Personally powerful. If Jesus is God, then he should be able to intercede supernaturally in the lives of his followers and indeed, this is exactly what we are delighted to find. The stories of Jesus answering prayer, performing miracles, and giving divine guidance are legion. Ask any Christian who regularly intercedes for others in prayer and we can tell you story after story after story of God accomplishing what only God can do

Is the pattern revealing itself yet?

If Jesus is the Son of God, there should be evidence abundant.

And indeed, there is.