PODCAST
Marines, Abraham and a Mountain
December 16th, 2013
Deuteronomy 13
Having had two U.S. Marines in my household, I’ve experienced their distinctive mode of operation. The Corps’ motto: “Semper Fidelis” (Always Faithful) reminds Marines they are to stay true to their mission, fellow Marines, and country. They are disciplined to trust, honor, and obey those in authority, often in seemingly impossible situations.
In Genesis 22, God points to Abraham who obeyed Him as he ascended the mountain, carried wood for the fire, the knife, and Isaac his only son. Raising his knife toward Isaac in sacrificial obedience to God he heard the Lord say: “Do not lay a hand on the boy . . . Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (v. 12) so the Lord provided the replacement sacrifice. “Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide” (v. 14a).
Obedience is a key part of our relationship with God–just as it was with Abraham. Daily assurance comes from knowing that indeed the Lord will provide.
Author: Nancy R. Henry
December 16th, 2013 at 9:53 am
Explain to me again, how Deut. 13:9-10 is to be followed today.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Ray, from what I’ve see, the system administrators do not necessarily respond to the responses. If you don’t mind, I’ll try to do some research and prayer on that issue.
I “want” to believe with all my heart, mind, and soul that God is more loving than our interpretations reveal and have diligently searched the scriptures regarding many issues. However, this is not one of which I have pondered. At first thought, it was before the time of our Savior, but that doesn’t answer the issue. So many things in the Old Testament “sound” cruel, but a deeper analysis reveals that God is acting on the prayers of HIS people.
December 16th, 2013 at 7:16 pm
Ray, thank you for your question. I was wondering the same thing.
Barbara, thank you for your insight and willingness to help answer the question. I prayed for you to receive more of an insight into the question..
December 16th, 2013 at 7:29 pm
” Marines they are to stay true to their mission, fellow Marines, and country. They are disciplined to trust, honor, and obey those in authority, often in seemingly impossible situations.”
Christians are, likewise, disciplined, but not in a “boot camp” situation, It’s a life-long training course provided by the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Savior; and, many times the additional knocks on our the hearts are ignored.
December 16th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Ray Craighead: “Explain to me again, how Deut. 13:9-10 is to be followed today.”
Notice that the “Lord your God” did not “say” this passage, however, we know that 2 Timothy 3:16 stated that all scripture is God-breathed for a “purpose”.
This scripture is credited to Moses, but is possibly by an anonymous writer. Moses (who had “basically” just delivered the 10 commandments to those that had been brought out of slavery in Egypt) was establishing some guidelines for the community to follow to remain true to their deliver. In “my” opinion, Moses (in his zeal to keep the community loyal to the Lord their God, probably unknowingly but with God’s approval) was testing the Israelites regarding the following of those commandments recently set before them.
Thus, the purpose of this outlandish request was to appraise the hearts of the people, and ours as well. We can “assume” God contradicted HIS own commandments to the people, or, we can search out the matter to prove HE truly is a God of Love.
?????????
December 17th, 2013 at 7:24 am
Notice Deuteronomy 13 is a warning against worshipping other Gods.
In the verse: Deuteronomy 13:18, the personal pronoun “I.” is used. Also notice Deuteronomy 13:3-4 paying close attention to the fact that God is testing them regarding their love. If they kept one of the commandments given by Moses in lieu of even one of the commandments given by the man “Moses”, they were worshipping another god.
Even though we believe in only one God, we can worship other gods by our actions.
Thank you Amy for your prayer!
December 17th, 2013 at 7:31 am
Giving Moses credit for being facetious to make a point might be appropriate.
December 17th, 2013 at 8:52 am
Ray, Barbara, and Amy,
It is good to read your discussion on this challenging passage. While it would be easy to select only comforting or “feel good” passages, it is good to wrestle with those we find less comfortable. Sometimes we will find insights that we have not discovered before.
Israel, as you will remember, was a covenant community. They had special obligations and responsibilities to honor and glorify God. While the instruction on how to deal with a group within that community who have forsaken the true God seems harsh and brutal it underscored the responsibility of the entire community. An analogy in the New Testament would be Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 5 on the discipline of a church member who was unrepentantly living in a relationship that brought dishonor on Christ and the church.
Sin is always serious business. For those who are in a covenant relationship with God it is especially true. While we are not under the same obligations as ancient Israel we should remember that sin, whether personal or communal, demands immediate confession and repentance. It is good to remember that, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 6:23.
Thank you to all of you for participating in this important discussion.
December 17th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
”An analogy in the New Testament would be Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 5 on the discipline of a church member who was unrepentantly living in a relationship that brought dishonor on Christ and the church.”
Knowing that debating an issue without personal spiritual growth would not be purposeful for this greatly appreciated devotional system that allows the openness for responses, Paul’s instructions regarding Christian discipline and Jesus’ parable regarding the “weeds” seem to contradict each other. Are we doing the harvesting of the ones within the Church?
Even though the weeds (ones that are not right with God) choke out the productivity of the crop (church) both are in the world. It could kill the crop of Christians if they were pulled out before they matured (roots are intertwined with weeds).
Please “forgive” my nature to search-out issues that “seem” to contradict. (I understand the concept of “for the good of the many rather than the few.” )
December 17th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Since Jesus came as a “sword of truth” and had a physical healing touch, has anyone ever pondered the fact that Jesus only healed whereas Paul “blinded” the sorcerer (evil power) and false prophet in (Acts 13:9-11)?
Realizing the purpose of the need to blind the evil spirit for protection and allowing the Holy Spirit to prosper, is it possible that Paul had a “blinding” ministry until we have been refined to the point of placing the evil within us at bay?
May 4th, 2014 at 5:39 pm
My pastoral husband of fifteen years passed away on Dec 17the 2013, less than 6 months ago. During our time together as a pastoral family, co-parenting 11 children, some adopted, some ours, some step, but all loved beyond measure, we learned, discussed, and grew deeply in love with one another, forgiving along the way as people, principalities and governing bodies of believers as well as non- believers, to love, live, hope, pray and keep on praying our way through this life!! It is always going to be a challenge but I believe with all my heart that it is worth every step or misstep along God’s Holy Path!!!
Thank you Jesus for your unconditional love, your resurrection as well as your Holy Spirit living and loving within your people. Thanks for the chance to say this without reservation nor fear of retribution by man or woman. Peace dear fellow believers.