Category: Shadows (Page 7 of 25)

There is a bit of history that most of us never question. Why did it take the Israelites 40 years to cross the wilderness desert after leaving Egypt? After nearly 3,500 years, God had finally delivered His people from Egyptian bondage. They were to take possession of the land God had promised their forefathers, a land “flowing with milk and honey.” One would conclude that there would have been a lot of effort to get there quickly. The distance is approximately 240 miles (385 Kilometers). If the Israelites had tried to cross the desert as fast as possible, it would have taken them only several weeks or months, but certainly less than 40 years.

The Israelites crossed the “Desert of Sin” en route to Mount Sinai. The term used in the Hebrew Bible for the land they passed through is “midbar,” which can mean desert but also includes wilderness areas of all kinds, such as mountainous terrain and even empty grazing land. It is more accurate to say that the Israelites journeyed through a wilderness than to refer to a specific desert or route. Our question is: Why did the Israelites take so long?

• The book of Exodus documents that over 600,000 men, not including women and children, left Egypt with Moses (Exodus 12:37; Numbers 1:46). Including women, children, and the elderly, there could have been as many as 2.4 million people. This mass migration had huge logistical issues. Along with them were livestock, supplies, and tentage.
• The Israelites were afraid of the inhabitants of the land they were to occupy. They said, “The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.“ (Deuteronomy1:28)¹NIV New International Version Translations.
• Even though Moses assured the people that God would fight for them as He did in Egypt, they did not trust their God to fulfill His promises (Deuteronomy 1:29–33). Do you remember the “Ten Plagues?” (Nile River into Blood; Frogs; Lice/Gnats; Wild animals and flies; Pestilence on livestock; Boils; Thunderstorm of hail and fire; locusts; darkness for three days; and Death of the firstborn.) God was convincing enough to gain freedom for His people! You would have thought that the parting of the Red Sea would have been the icing on the cake.
• In the book of Numbers, God asked Moses to send out spies to survey the land He would give to the Israelites, and Moses obeyed (Numbers 13:1-3). However, some spies used this reconnaissance mission to avoid following God’s commands.

The Israelites’ reluctance to enter the Promised Land was primarily due to their fear and lack of faith in God. By now, anyone who reads our Bible should understand that God considers disobedience a sin. Sin is always punished (place and time at God’s discretion). Because of their disobedience, the Israelites living at the time were barred from entering their Promised Land.

(Deuteronomy 1:35) – “No one from this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your ancestors,”

Moses was barred from entering the land due to a different act of disobedience. In Numbers 20:2-12, Moses pleads to God for a water source, and God tells Moses to command a rock to become a spring. Instead, Moses strikes the rock twice with his staff. The second strike was due to his lack of faith in God. God would have given him water with the first strike. Therefore, God’s judgment was His response to disobedience and Moses’ lack of faith. God does the same to people today.

The Israelites’ 40-year journey in the wilderness was a punishment. The consequences of disobedience served as a lesson. Consequences, while different, serve to teach both the current generation and future generations about the importance of obedience and faith in God. Our God is often described as slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Exodus 34:6). God is patient and gives people time to repent and return to Him. God’s plan for the redemption of humanity unfolds over many generations and includes periods of disobedience, judgment, and restoration. This does not happen because of God but because of humanity’s free will and propensity to sin. Each subsequent generation is responsible for their actions and the passing of their faith on to the next generation. This includes the lessons learned from past mistakes and the hope that comes from God’s promises.

When the Israelites arrived at Kadesh Barnea (which bordered the Promised Land of Canaan), they sent twelve spies to survey the land and its people. Ten of the spies had a bad report.

(Numbers 13:31-33) – “But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.’ And they spread a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, ‘The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there were of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.’”

Only Joshua and Caleb dissented. Believing the report of the ten doubters, the people lost heart and rebelled. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will they refuse to believe in me, despite all the miraculous signs I have performed among them? I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them”. However, Moses once again interceded for his people and turned away the wrath of God. Although God did forgive them, He decided that “not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it”. Rather, they would suffer by wandering in the wilderness for forty years, one year for each day the spies explored the land.

This period of wandering in the desert was a time of testing and discipline. It was also a time when God provided for His people. While it took 40 years, it was not a continuous journey. A significant amount of time was spent at Mount Sinai and various encampments.

Conclusion

The Israelites would learn several important lessons during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. They would realize how much they had to rely on God. Every day, they needed His Spirit to fill them again and strengthen them for what was ahead. In miraculous ways, God provided for their needs. As an example, manna and quail from heaven provided food. This taught them that God could provide for them in the wilderness, where no food could be found. He could do the same for the Israelites in the Promised Land.

The time spent wandering in the wilderness was also a purging process, eliminating unbelievers and teaching the remaining Israelites to trust God more than humanity. Their faith was strengthened and dependence on God grew stronger. These lessons are also for us today. The story reminds us of the importance of our faith, obedience, and God.

Contemplations

• How did these lessons the Israelites learned shape their faith and relationship with God?
  • Ideas to Explore: The next generation was willing to take risks and enter Canna. Why do you think that was true?
• How did the Israelites’ experiences in the wilderness reflect their trust (or lack of trust) in God’s promises?
  • Ideas to Explore: The Israelites did not appear observant. Parting the Red Sea, years of manna, and water from stone did not strengthen their faith in God.
• There were consequences for the Israelites’ disobedience. However, God did not ban them from joining Him in eternity. What do you think about this selective punishment?
  • Ideas to Explore: God kept many from experiencing the “milk and honey.” God did not, however, pass an eternal judgment on all of them. God intended to provide blessings in this world too. (John 10:10)
• How does the story of the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness apply to our lives today?
  • Ideas to Explore: The importance of trust and faith in God. One’s ability to observe and see God’s provisions. The importance of passing on our faith and history to the next generation.
• Do you think our nation is wandering through the wilderness now?
  • Ideas to Explore: We live in a nation filled with blessings, and our history shows God’s favor and providence. Why is so much going wrong now? Have we failed to pass our faith on to the next generation? Is our nation being blocked from reaching its “Promised Land” by sin and disobedience?

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Natural laws, also known as “ius naturale” or “lex naturalis,” are a system of laws based on a close observation of natural order and human nature. These laws are thought to be intrinsic to human nature and can be deduced and applied independently of laws enacted by society.

(Romans 1:20)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

The verse above emphasizes that God’s eternal power and divine nature are evident in the world around us. We can see it in the beauty of nature and the complexity of the universe, reflecting God’s invisible qualities. Thus, people are without excuse for not acknowledging God’s existence and majesty. The concept of natural law has been documented in ancient Greek philosophy, including Aristotle, and was referred to in ancient Roman philosophy by Cicero. It has also been embraced and developed by many Christian philosophers, such as Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas.

(Jeremiah 31:33) – “’This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel, after that time,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.’”

The natural laws were expanded to all of humanity with a new covenant established through Jesus Christ. God will forgive sin and restore communion with those whose hearts believe in His Son. The defeat of death by Christ’s resurrection and restored life is available for those who believe in Him. This covenant is no longer one of law, but one of grace. It’s a covenant in which God’s people are born again, made new creatures, and now delight in God and delight in God’s law. Natural laws are important to us because they cover those behaviors that are intrinsically good. Life, liberty, and your right to pursue happiness would be prominent examples of natural laws.

Natural laws are a set of universal truths, principles, and rules that properly govern moral human conduct. Unlike societal law, natural law is pre-existing. Natural law can be discovered through human reason and rational analysis (common sense), and validated by revelation from the Holy Spirit. Galatians 3:25–26 states, “Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”In politics and jurisprudence, natural law is a body of rules prescribed by an authority superior to that of the state. Faith in Jesus Christ frees believers from the law as a means of justification. Natural law protects our rights from infringement by other individuals, nation-states, or political orders.

(Romans 2:14) – “Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.”

The “Gentiles” referred to in the verse are non-Jewish people (the rest of humanity). The “law” refers to the Mosaic Law, the body of religious laws God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites. The Apostle Paul tells us that even without the explicit knowledge of God’s law, Gentiles (the rest of humanity) can still live morally and ethically by following the natural law written in their hearts. Natural law is a sense of right and wrong that God has instilled in everyone. So, even though much of humanity does not have or adhere to the Mosaic Law when they do what is morally right, they are a law unto themselves. They have no excuse!

Natural law is significant because emphasizes that moral law is universal and accessible to all people, regardless of their religious or cultural background. It underscores the belief in all human beings’ dignity and moral capacity.

(James 1:25) – “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

God’s laws are written in our hearts and are evident in the natural world. By observing nature and listening to our conscience, we can begin to understand some aspects of God’s laws. Humanity is to be governed by an inherited set of universal moral rules. They apply to everyone, everywhere, in the same way. This provides a common ground for understanding basic human rights and responsibilities. Most of the world’s legal systems are based on the concept of natural law and have served as a basis for morality and justice throughout human history. Natural law assumes people want to live “good and innocent” lives. By adhering to natural laws, societies can promote ethical behavior and social harmony (peace). The concept that people have rights, values, and responsibilities is inherent in human nature.

But What About Evil?

Evil actions and injustices work to distort humanity’s understanding of natural law. When societies or individuals engage in or witness evil acts, their perception of what is inherently right or wrong becomes clouded. This results in a weakened moral compass. Natural law is based on the inherent rights granted by a superior power, God, to humans. The presence of evil serves as a test of moral integrity and adherence to natural law. The struggle against evil should be seen as an opportunity for individuals and societies to demonstrate their commitment to natural moral principles. In practice, the prevalence of evil influences the creation and enforcement of more societal laws. Legal systems are designed to curb and address evil actions, reflecting an attempt to align human laws with natural law principles. However, when legal systems become corrupt or unjust, they can perpetuate evil, further distancing society from the ideals of God’s natural law.

Contemplations

• Do you think that evil, sinful people, cannot see the natural laws that God has given us?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do evil people know they are evil? Is there a sense of good in everyone? What blinds people to the natural law that God has given us?
• What do you think is the most obvious natural law?
  • Ideas to Explore: Please add your observations. For Lostpine, it would be that death comes to all. No one escapes. As such, the “things” we accumulate, the “wealth” we amass, and the “power” we command, all end. None will be brought forward into eternity.

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Nebuchadnezzar’s reign is a classic example of the dangers of absolute power. His tyranny and self-regard as a deity serve as a reminder of the potential for abuse when power is concentrated in the hands of one individual or a small group.  History knows him as a godless King. Nebuchadnezzar reigned in the area around the Tigris-Euphrates basin. Under his rule, the city of Babylon reached its height of power and prosperity. He is known for his military might, the splendor of his capital city, Babylon, and his part in Jewish history. Through his life’s story, we can learn how God used him to punish sin and save the Israelites.

Abuse takes many forms, including corruption, human rights violations, suppression of free speech, and more. Our Bible tells us that this is not new to our world. King Nebuchadnezzar, known to historians as Nebuchadnezzar II, ruled Babylonia from approximately 605 BC to 562 BC. He is considered the greatest King of the Babylonian Empire. Yet, God would humble him and the kings who followed his reign in Babylon.

An important part of Jewish history is Nebuchadnezzar’s conquering of Jerusalem, detailed in the Book of 2 Kings 25. It describes how Nebuchadnezzar burned down the Lord’s Temple, the King’s palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem. He ordered the Babylonian soldiers to break down the walls around Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar removed all the treasures from the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace. This included all the gold articles Solomon had made for the Temple. He carried into exile all the officers and fighting men, the craftsmen, and artisans. Only the poorest people of the land were left. This was how wealth and intellectual property were stolen back then.

Nebuchadnezzar’s harsh treatment of his people and others, including forced labor and religious persecution, highlighted his lack of respect for human rights. His aggressive military campaigns resulted in significant suffering and displacement. Jeremiah’s prophesy (Jeremiah 30-33) would describe God’s purpose and punishment for the sinful lives of the Israelites. However, in Jeremiah’s message, there was also hope. Though the Israelites would remain in exile for 70 years, upon their return, Jeremiah 30:3 says, “The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.’”

First and foremost, our Creator is not indifferent to sin, but rather, administers justice. God ingeniously uses the transgressions of others as a form of discipline for those He cherishes, correcting their missteps. His patience is boundless, even waiting for a new generation who would be ready to reestablish their covenant with Him. God possesses the power to humble the mightiest among us, reminding us of our human limitations. Above all, God stands as a beacon of salvation for His people, offering refuge and deliverance.

• God as a Judge: God is a judge who punishes sin, underscoring the importance of moral and ethical behavior, as actions have consequences.
• God as a Teacher: By allowing the sins of others to affect those He loves, God teaches important lessons about the interconnectedness of all people and the rippling effects of our actions on each other.
• God as Patient: God is patient, even willing to wait for a new generation to renew their covenant with Him. Why? Because God values free will and is willing to wait for sincere devotion rather than demanding immediate obedience.
• God as a Humbling Force: The ability of God to humble the most powerful people tells us that earthly power is transient and that humility is the real virtue worth pursuing.
• God as a Savior: Most importantly, it will be the belief that God ultimately saves His people, that provides hope and reassurance in times of difficulty.

We know much of this through the story of Daniel. Exiled as a young man, Daniel would impress Nebuchadnezzar with his character and faith. Daniel would be called on to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams. One such dream is recorded in the Book of Daniel, Chapter 2.  Daniel states that the dream and the interpretation came from the one true God. Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream as consisting of an image of differing metals in Daniel 2:31–45. The four metals represent Babylon, Medo-Peria (Persia), Greece, and Rome. Daniel explained to the King that the statue represented four successive kingdoms based upon power and wealth, beginning in Babylon. The stone and mountain in the dream are potent symbols, representing a kingdom ordained by God Himself. This kingdom is invincible, impervious to destruction or subjugation by any other nation. It stands as a testament to the enduring, unassailable power of God’s rule, a beacon of divine authority that will never wane or falter.

Daniel interpreted another dream for the King, this time about a tree. Daniel warned Nebuchadnezzar, “Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed” (Daniel 4:27). Nebuchadnezzar’s sins were more than just attacking nations and killing, torturing, and deporting their people. His people lived in poverty amongst his vast palace and elaborate building projects, including the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. But in the King’s arrogance, he did not heed Daniel’s interpretation or warning, and the dream came to fruition. “He was driven away from people and ate grass like an ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until this hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird” (Daniel 4:33).

Through this dream, King Nebuchadnezzar learned that only God’s Kingdom lasts forever. Daniel tells us about the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar. He made a public declaration through a letter he wrote for the world to read, praising God and acknowledging God’s sovereignty.

(Daniel 5:20-21)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all Kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.”

After Nebuchadnezzar’s death, the empire was passed down to his successors. They could not maintain the stability and power of the Babylonian empire. One of the successors was King Belshazzar. During his reign, Belshazzar held a great feast and used the gold and silver utensils stolen from the Temple. This disrespect towards the God of Israel led to a divine warning, which was interpreted by Daniel. Daniel told Belshazzar he would be replaced because he didn’t humble himself before God. During this feast, the city was invaded. That night, Belshazzar was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the Kingdom.

Daniel became a favored member of King Darius’ court, recognized for the “excellent spirit” within him. He was even considered for leadership over the entire advisory court. Jealous advisors would hatch a plot to find fault in the blameless Daniel, primarily through his unwavering faith in God. Darius was tricked into issuing a decree that no one other than the King must be worshipped as a god. When Daniel was discovered worshipping the one true God in the confines of his home, it was deemed that he be put to death for violating the decree. The punishment was death in the lion’s den.  Daniel survived the night with the lions and was found to be safe, a testament to Daniel’s faith and the power of God to protect those who trust in Him. The incident of Daniel in the lions’ den is recorded in the Book of Daniel 6.

Not only would God bring the exiles back, but Jeremiah 31:33 says, “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” God would faithfully lead His people out of exile, physically and spiritually, through the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The Babylonian exile for the Israelites ended around 538 BC. The Persian conqueror of Babylonia, Cyrus the Great, conquered Babylon and permitted the Jews to return to their land. The earlier Assyrian deportation of the northern tribes of Israel in 722 BC resulted in the complete disappearance of the northern tribes. However, the Jews who went to Babylon formed their own community. They retained their religion, practices, and culture. The exile would end with their return under Zerubbabel the Prince (a descendant of the royal line of David) and Joshua the Priest (a descendant of the line of the former High Priests of the Temple). This would spawn the construction of the Second Temple in the period from 521 BC to 516 BC. Despite its hardships, the Babylonian exile shaped Jewish identity. During this time, many Jewish traditions and practices were solidified, and the Jewish people maintained their faith and identity despite being in a foreign land.

Contemplations

• Do you believe that God punishes sin?
  • Ideas to Explore: What knowledge or experiences give you your belief?
• Why do you think that God would wait a generation before the restoration of the Jewish nation?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where do you see sin so embedded into society that it will take a new generation to eliminate it?
• Where have you seen God humble those who have abused their power?
  • Ideas to Explore: Think through the Bible’s history, our world’s history, and our nation’s history. There are plenty of examples.
• Do you think our nation needs to be saved by God?
  • Ideas to Explore: This is where a humble heart is necessary.

Two additional studies adding to this topic are available:

The Story of Daniel

Part Two: Who was Zerubbabel

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Most would agree that the principal responsibility for raising a child lies with the parents.

(Proverbs 22:6)¹NIV New International Version Translations“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.”

What is often missed is the generational impact of good parenting and Godly training. Deuteronomy 4:9 states, ” Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and their children after them.” To understand this point further, we can look at the generational impact of one family on biblical history. Antipater the Idumaean founded the Herodian Dynasty, ruling from 47 BC to 42 BC. His descendants, however, ruled Judea until its conquest by the Romans in 70 AD. This covers most of the period of the New Testament itself.

To begin our history lesson, there is Antipater’s son, Herod the Great. Herod the Great was a Roman Jewish “client king” of the Herodian Kingdom of Judea. He was born around 72 BC and died around 4 BC (Jesus’ birth is thought to be between 4 BC and 6 BC). A client king meant that Herod’s rule depended on the continued approval of the more powerful State, Rome, to keep his authority. Herod the Great’s reign is recorded in the works of the Jewish historian Josephus. Herod the Great first appears in the Gospel of Matthew 2:1–22 as the ruler of Judea who orders the Massacre of the Innocents at the time of the birth of Jesus. He sought to kill Jesus by ordering the massacre of all infant boys in Bethlehem. Herod the Great also tried to trick the Wise Men into revealing the location of the Christ child. It was the first interaction the Herod family had with Jesus. While there is some evidence of a successful legacy as king, most historians view him as a tyrannical ruler.

On Herod the Great’s death in 4 BC, the Romans divided his kingdom among his three sons and his sister. His son, Herod Antipas, received the tetrarchy of Galilee and Peraea. The word “tetrarchy” means “rule of four.” Other family members of Herod the Great include Herod’s son, Herod Archelaus, who became the ruler of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea.  Herod the Great’s son Philip was a half-brother to Antipas. Philip was a product of his father’s fifth wife and became ruler of territories north and east of the Jordan River. Herod the Great’s sister, Salome, became ruler of the cities of Jabneh, Ashdod, and Phasaelis. Family life around the Herod household must have been interesting!

(Isaiah 40:3-5) – ” A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’”

We see a similar foretelling in Malachi 3:1. These prophecies foretold the coming of a forerunner who would prepare the way for a Messiah. John the Baptist was this person, forming the link between the Old and New Testaments. John the Baptist is also known as Saint John the Forerunner. He was born in the 1st century BC in the Herodian Tetrarchy and died around 30 AD in Machaerus. According to the Gospel of Luke, John and Jesus were relatives. His mother, Elizabeth, was a cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus. His father was the priest Zechariah. John the Baptist is revered and a major religious figure in Christianity, Islam, the Baháʼí faith, the Druze faith, and Mandaeism. These faiths consider John the Baptist to be a prophet of God. The angel Gabriel also foretold his birth and outlined his divine purpose, setting the stage for John the Baptist’s destined role as a “herald of the Messiah.” This is emphasized in Luke 1:16–17: “He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John the Baptist anticipated a messianic figure greater than himself. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus identifies John the Baptist as “Elijah who is to come”, a direct reference to the Book of Malachi. John used baptism as the central symbol or sacrament of his pre-messianic movement. Most biblical scholars agree that John baptized Jesus, and several New Testament accounts report that some of Jesus’s early followers had previously been followers of John. John’s use of baptism was a call to repentance and a symbol of cleansing from sin. His purpose was to prepare the people to receive the message of salvation directly from Jesus. His central theme was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2). He baptized those who responded to his message and had sincerely repented.

Herod Antipas is first mentioned in the New Testament in Matthew 14:1–12 and Mark 6:14–29.  John the Baptist directly confronted Herod Antipas for divorcing his first wife, Phasaelis (something Herod Antipas learned, no doubt, from his father) and then unlawfully marrying Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Herod Philip. Herodias, Herod Antipas’s new wife, was not pleased with John the Baptist’s public disapproval of her bigamous marriage to Herod Antipas and his half-brother Herod Philip. She would not rest until she saw John the Baptist killed. At the request of Herod Antipas’ soon-to-be mistress Salome (his stepdaughter, child of Herodias and Herod Philip), Herod Antipas carried out Herodias’ demand to murder John the Baptist (Matthew 14:6–11; Mark 21:21–29). John was beheaded by Herod Antipas around 30 AD.

In the Gospel of Luke, Herod Antipas is also mentioned in Acts 4:27 as having a role in the trial of Jesus. The first mention is where he is referred to as just “Herod,” one of those guilty of the crucifixion of Jesus. When Jesus was arrested in Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate, the Roman procurator of Judaea, sent Jesus to Herod Antipas because Jesus was a Galilean, under Antipas’ jurisdiction. Herod Antipas was eager to see Jesus, expecting him to perform miracles. However, instead of seeking the truth from Jesus, Herod Antipas wanted him to perform a miracle for his entertainment. When Jesus did not comply, Antipas and his soldiers mocked Jesus. Then, instead of freeing this innocent man, Herod Antipas sent him back to Pilate, who had the authority to have Jesus crucified. Herod Antipas’s actions during Jesus’ trial improved his relationship with the chief priests and the Sanhedrin and started a friendship with Pilate. Therefore, Herod Antipas is considered one of the co-conspirators who carried out the condemnation and execution of Jesus Christ. This might also be an early example of political alliances’ perversion of a nation’s justice system.

When we look at the history of the Herod family, it is easy to see the dysfunction. Murder, divorce, immorality, corruption, and the list goes on. How might history have changed if the patriarch, Antipater the Idumaean, had formed a Godly dynasty? What if the Herod brothers and Aunt Salome were raised to fear God? Antipater the Idumaean, the founder of the Herodian Dynasty and father of Herod the Great, died by poisoning due to his unpopularity. The people had grown tired of his leadership style. His death occurred in 43 BC. Herod the Great died in 4 BC. He passed away at his winter palace in Jericho. His death was due to a gruesome, painful, and mysterious illness. Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, ruled Galilee and Perea until 39 AD. His nephew, Agrippa I, accused him of conspiring against the Roman emperor Caligula. Herod Antipas was exiled to Gaul, accompanied by Herodias, his wife. The exact date of his death is unknown. The daughter of Herod Antipas and Herodias, who gave history the Dance of the Seven Veils²“Dance of the Seven Veils” was popularized in the 1894 English translation of Oscar Wilde’s 1893 French play “Salome”. The dance was also incorporated into Richard Strauss’s 1905 opera “Salome”., is rumored to have died in a tragic accident. As she was passing over a frozen river, the ice broke, and she sank up to her neck, freezing to death. Missing from history are details on Salome, sister of Herod the Great, who died around 10 AD, Herod Philip, who died around 18 AD, and Herod Archelaus, who died about 34 AD. One might conclude that God was far more interested in sustaining the legacies of John the Baptist, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus than the Herod family.

Contemplations

• An American educator, A.E. Winship, decided to trace the descendants of Reverend Jonathan Edwards, an American revivalist preacher, philosopher, and Congregationalist theologian. Winship would do this almost 150 years after his death. His findings are remarkable, especially when he compared Edwards’ genealogy to “Max Jukes.”³Max Jukes is a pseudonym used in sociological studies to refer to the patriarch of a New York family studied in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with a less-than-stellar reputation. (see footnote)
  • Jonathan Edwards’ legacy included: 1 U.S. Vice-President, 1 Dean of a law school, 1 dean of a medical school, 3 U.S. Senators, 3 governors, 3 mayors, 13 college presidents, 30 judges, 60 doctors, 65 professors, 75 Military officers, 80 public office holders, 100 lawyers, 100 clergymen, and 285 college graduates.
  • Max Jukes’ descendants included: 7 murderers, 60 thieves, 190 prostitutes, 150 other convicts, 310 paupers, and 440 who were physically wrecked by addiction to alcohol. Of the 1,200 descendants that were studied, 300 died prematurely.
• Ideas to Explore: https://ywam-fmi.org/news/multigenerational-legacies-the-story-of-jonathan-edwards/

• What will your genealogy look like in 150 years?
  • Ideas to Explore: The seeds of faith planted by parents and grandparents now will produce the fruit harvested by future generations.

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  “Dance of the Seven Veils” was popularized in the 1894 English translation of Oscar Wilde’s 1893 French play “Salome”. The dance was also incorporated into Richard Strauss’s 1905 opera “Salome”.
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  Max Jukes is a pseudonym used in sociological studies to refer to the patriarch of a New York family studied in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with a less-than-stellar reputation.

Our nation today struggles to educate its youth¹ https://www.theedadvocate.org/10-reasons-the-u-s-education-system-is-failing/.  State and private schools struggle to produce graduates who understand our nation’s government, know the fundamentals of life, such as budgeting or can demonstrate skills that make them employable. Many colleges are undergoing widespread unrest. Increases in costs are leaving students in untenable debt. Graduates find that their learnings have not prepared them for future technologies and needs of our nation.

Reverend Thomas Reid (1710–1796), a prominent figure in the Scottish Enlightenment, is known for his philosophy of the “Scottish School of Common Sense”. He believed that both human behavior and the use of language provide overwhelming evidence to support truths such as the existence of a material world and the retention of personal identity amidst continuous change. Reid’s philosophy valued intuition and common sense, encouraged critical thinking, and promoted understanding of the world as it is experienced in everyday life.

Benjamin Franklin was a significant figure who was influenced by Reid’s empirical approach. Franklin was a disciple of John Gregory, who was Thomas Reid’s cousin and a member of Reid’s “Wise Club.” Franklin’s commitment to practical wisdom, self-improvement, and public education helped create our great nation. Others, like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, would also benefit from the principles of Reid’s common sense philosophy. Yet in the last several hundred years, this proven approach to education has morphed into a failing system. What happened?

In the context of education, discernment, and wisdom are important for learning and teaching. This implies that education should not only impart knowledge but also foster the development of practical wisdom and sound judgment.  Our nation’s first colleges established in the American colonies intended to train ministers and were heavily influenced by religious beliefs.  They also set out to teach the advancement of all good literature, arts, and sciences and the education of both English and Indian Youth “in knowledge: and godliness.” These goals applied to colleges like Harvard College, the College of William and Mary, Yale, and Princeton.  Over time, these schools evolved to become comprehensive universities offering a wide range of academic disciplines intended to provide a well-rounded education, including but not limited to religious studies.

What went wrong? Is it technology, or the lack of human interaction in education? Could it be a lack of diversity in thought and opinion? Reverend Reid strongly felt that to understand the Natural Laws of our universe, students needed to be taught to reason, solve problems, and recognize revelations from our Creator. Aimee Arrambide, the executive director of the abortion rights nonprofit “Avow Texas” testified before the House Judiciary Committee on May 18, 2022. During her testimony, she stated that she believes men can become pregnant and have abortions. This is not unique. We now have little or no oversight as to exactly what our youth are being taught as science in our schools. If that is the problem, what would God tell us the solution is? 

Common Sense

Beginning with Solomon’s wisdom, Proverbs²NIV New International Version Translations states, “My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them” (Proverbs 3:21). This verse emphasizes the importance of common sense and discernment, which can be interpreted as a call for practical wisdom in education. Proverbs 10:21 states, “The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.” This verse suggests that common sense is crucial for success and survival in the world. Here are a few samples found in God’s Word to guide humanity as it struggles to educate its generations.

Mathematics

 “As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams” (Daniel 1:17 ). This verse suggests that God values knowledge and wisdom, which includes mathematical understanding. Luke 14:28 tells us, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” This verse highlights the importance of planning, budgeting, and calculation. Genesis 6:15–16 gives specific measurements for the construction of Noah’s Ark, indicating the importance of accurate measurements. Psalm 90:12 suggests that we number our days, suggesting the importance of counting and understanding the value of time.

Morality

Young people are encouraged to be role models in their behavior and faith. “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 ). Proverbs 1:8–9 states, “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.” This verse emphasizes the importance of parental guidance in teaching morality. The teaching of morality should not be outsourced! Teaching morality to youth is the responsibility of parents and elders, and it should be grounded in the teachings of the Bible.

History

Psalm 78:2-4 states, “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children but tell the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” This emphasizes the importance of passing down stories and lessons from past generations. The importance of remembering and teaching about significant historical events is highlighted in Deuteronomy 4:9–10. “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’”

Gender

The Bible acknowledges the existence of two genders, emphasizing the spiritual equality of both. “So God created man in his image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Deuteronomy 22:5 adds, “A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.“

 Winners and losers

The importance of winning or losing is often viewed in terms of spiritual growth, moral integrity, and glorifying God, rather than worldly success or failure. In Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, Solomon emphasizes the importance of community and helping each other, rather than focusing on individual victory or defeat, “Two are better than one because a good return comes when two work together. If one of them falls, the other can help him up. But who will help the pitiful person who falls down alone?”  Matthew 5:16 tells us, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew suggests that the ultimate “win” is glorifying God through good works, rather than achieving personal success. The importance of winning or losing should be viewed in terms of spiritual growth, moral integrity, and glorifying God, rather than worldly success or failure. Participation trophies do not count!

Reality or Fantasy

The Bible encourages us to focus on reality, truth, and spiritual wisdom rather than illusions or fantasies. Ecclesiastes 5:7 tells us, “But against all illusion and fantasy and empty talk There’s always this rock foundation: Fear God!” We are cautioned against illusions and fantasies, emphasizing the importance of fearing God, who exists in our real world, not a virtual world. Our Apostle Paul encourages focusing on what is true and real. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). God’s word can help us discern our thoughts and intentions and reinforce the importance of aligning our thoughts with reality. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Language

Our Bible cautions against using language in a way that confuses or misleads others, especially those who are young or impressionable. The trick is an old one. In (Genesis 11:7),  we read, “Come, let Us go down and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” There is a special warning to those who teach: “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1). Those who teach, especially to the youth, have a responsibility to provide clear and truthful instruction. Ephesians 4:14 gives the students a warning too. “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” This verse warns against being too easily swayed by deceptive teachings, which could include confusing or misleading language. Thomas Reid called the best protection, “Common Sense.”

Conclusion

What we are witnessing is the dissolution of societal absolutes. We live in a state of ethical relativism, where no absolute moral truth exists. What is morally right or wrong varies from person to person or differs from one society to another. Morality has become subjective and varies greatly among individuals. We have confusion and disagreement about what is morally and socially acceptable. Right and wrong change based on personal experience or cultural consensus. Actions that cause harm to others become justified. Without universal moral and societal standards, those in power impose their moral standards on others, causing oppression and injustice. Therefore, you will have little hope of teaching morality to the younger generation if there are no fixed standards to base moral education on.

Contemplations

• Do you know what your children are learning?
  • Ideas to Explore: God lays the responsibility of educating children upon the parents.
• Do you know what your children have already learned?
  • Ideas to Explore: Parents, grandparents, siblings, and family now hold the only hope for our society.
• What would you add to education to ensure that our world does not lose sight of God?
  • Ideas to Explore: We all have opinions. However, when good people fail to act and protect the upcoming generations, the risks to those generations are eternal.

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  https://www.theedadvocate.org/10-reasons-the-u-s-education-system-is-failing/
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Trinity Chapel

Not many people take exception to the concept of “eternity.” What always was and what always will be is seldom disputed. Our world, however, has been searching for the perfect “exit plan.” This Bible Study looks at whether it is advisable to have a formal exit plan or strategy that takes you from this world into the eternal world that has always existed and will always exist.

Humanity has used a lot of different strategies over time. During the Egyptian Era, careful planning left us the Great Pyramids and earthly tombs filled with the remnants of wealth. All this was meant to secure comfort in eternity. People also focused on their legacy, creating institutions and endowments to live on after they pass from this world. For Christians today, we can look to a roadmap leading from sin and spiritual death to eternal life. God tells us that all humanity is sinful and subject to His judgment. Through God’s Grace, we can find eternal life through Jesus Christ. While faith in Jesus is the source of salvation, we are called to redemption. Redemption means that after accepting Jesus as our Savior, we strive to lead a life that avoids sin.

Isaiah 1:16-17¹NIV New International Version Translations captures two sides to repentance: “Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice and encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” Repentance is not merely remorse or regret; it’s a transformative act that leads to reconciliation with God. Biblical repentance is a heartfelt change—a turning from sin and self toward God’s grace and forgiveness. What is missing in all of this is “good works.” In 2008, I accompanied approximately 3 dozen high school children and a dozen adults on a mission trip to Pittsburg, PA. It would be there that an amazing story of a man’s exit plan emerged.

Richard Beatty Mellon was part of the Mellon family. He and his brother, Andrew Mellon, were frequent business partners. Both were sons of Judge Thomas Mellon. Richard served under Andrew at Mellon Bank and later became president in 1921 when Andrew was appointed Treasury Secretary. Richard Mellon played a significant role in the Pittsburgh Reduction Company, which later became the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa). He was heavily invested in the Pittsburgh Coal Company. Richard Mellon then helped form the Mellbank Corporation, a holding company that supported affiliated banks during the Great Depression.

2009 Mission Trip Team working with East Liberty members

Our youth and adults would do many acts of service while on our mission trip. One particularly memorable activity was assisting the “Meals on Wheels.”

Our work was conducted at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206. The congregation of the East Liberty Presbyterian Church was founded in 1819. The cathedral structure, dedicated in 1935, covered the entire city block. The Mellon coat-of-arms is mounted on the south wall of the east transept. A brief history of the East Liberty Presbyterian Church is also inscribed there, documenting the congregation’s gratitude to the Mellons for their gift of the building. Five Christian virtues are carved as symbols on the west wall of the east transept on shields: Charity (a sheep), Wisdom (a serpent), Faith (a chalice and cross), Chastity (a phoenix), and Patience (a yoked ox). The shield of the Presbyterian Church is carved on the east wall of the nave. The Mellon Family provided funding for construction and the endowment that still supports this church. The present-day endowment is approximately 25 million dollars and provides about two-thirds of the church’s annual budget.

East Liberty had converted a section of their lower level into a large kitchen and filled it with food-handling automation. There were specific menu items prepared for Meals on Wheels participants that were based on both their likes and their needs. Our service work was to assist the regular volunteers with cooking, placing food in serving trays, sealing the food trays with a protective covering, and staging them for drivers who would deliver the meals. During a break, one of the church’s staff members offered to give me and our pastor a tour. As we walked through the sanctuary, the beauty and presence of God were overwhelming. Moving down one of the aisles, we came to the east side of the nave, called the Trinity Chapel, which serves as a crypt for the remains of Richard Beatty Mellon and Jennie King Mellon. The stained glass windows in this chapel are a visual representation of the Apostles’ Creed. My guide commented, “This was part of Mellon’s exit plan.” I will always remember his remarks. I thought for a moment, could all that generosity and wealth influence one’s eternal life?

Good works are an expression of gratitude in the believer’s heart. They demonstrate our appreciation for the gift of God’s Son. Scripture emphasizes that our obedience to God’s Word is evidence of our love for Christ (John 14:15; Colossians 2:6) Good works can bolster our assurance of faith. When we actively live out our faith through acts of love and obedience, it affirms our relationship with Christ (1 John 2:1-6). Good works serve as a means of encouraging fellow Christians by demonstrating Christ-centered love. This inspires others toward greater acts of kindness and service (Hebrews 10:24).

(Matthew 5:16) – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew highlights the importance of living a life that exemplifies love, compassion, and selflessness, ultimately pointing others toward a heavenly perspective. Jesus Himself set the ultimate example of leadership through His actions, teachings, and sacrifices. This verse highlights the importance of living a life that exemplifies love, compassion, and selflessness, ultimately pointing others toward a heavenly perspective. Your good works are a witness pointing to Jesus.

While good works are not the basis of anyone’s salvation, generosity, combined with good works, is a necessary component of a Christian life. God’s grace saves us through faith in Jesus Christ, but our faith is never alone. Faith must also be accompanied by a desire to honor God through our actions. The best exit strategy is recorded in the pages of the Bible. God’s exit plan delivers us from sin and spiritual death by our repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. The foundation of our salvation is faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8–9) clearly states that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works. However, Christians are God’s workmanship, created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). These works are not for salvation but are a response to God’s generosity. Good works don’t save us, but they do matter. They reflect our faith, obedience, and love for God. We are called to honor Him through our actions while trusting His grace for salvation.

(John 3:16 ) – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Through their generosity, the Mellon family created a place for a community of believers to gather and serve their neighborhoods. All are welcome at East Liberty Presbyterian Cathedral, including a group of tired high school kids on a mission trip from Florida. Each child was embarking on their faith walk, learning to serve God. The staff at East Liberty Presbyterian open their doors to yearning spirits and questioning minds, helping the spiritual development of people of all ages who seek God’s presence. What is your plan?

Contemplations

• We do not know and should not speculate on the faith of the Mellon family. Their walk with God is something between themselves and God. Their legacy is, however, subject to our viewing.
  • Ideas to Explore: Can you see the good that has been spread throughout the area surrounding East Liberty Cathedral? The people who may have found their way to Jesus. The help those in need have received. All that is visible.
• Where do you see good works and Jesus’ forgiveness working to serve those in need?
  • Ideas to Explore: Local food banks, churches with service programs, and local missions supporting those with special needs. Maybe a local Meals on Wheels?
• Will your legacy include things that last here in our world?
  • Ideas to Explore: Assisting churches to grow. Making a lasting gift to society. Serving those in need well after you are gone.
• Knowing your gifts, those given to you by the Holy Spirit can be an excellent guide to building an exit plan. Do you know yours?
  • Ideas to Explore: Have you taken the time to assess your spiritual gifts? Do you know how to find them?

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  NIV New International Version Translations

Evil is complex, and our Bible provides insights that we cannot find anywhere else. The simple story is that Satan, a fallen angel who rebelled against God, seeks to lead humanity away from righteousness, away from God. Satan is at liberty to wander the earth, even visit heaven, where he can engage in a dialogue with God. He tempts individuals to sin (1 John 3:8; Matthew 4:1–11). The Scriptures allow us the privilege to hear directly from Satan. In the opening of the Book of Job, he talks to God directly about Job. It will be here that we can gain an understanding of the power of evil in our world. Satan’s role in the story revolves around testing Job’s faith. Satan is portrayed as a spiritual being with the ability to affect human lives, often causing harm. He argues that Job’s piety is contingent on his blessings. We first learn that Satan is ultimately subservient to God. Although he has the power to harm people, it is only because God grants him this authority. For instance, at the beginning of the Book of Job, God allows Satan to harm anything that belongs to Job, except Job’s own body. In Job 1, God says to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.” Yes, Satan causes disasters, but his actions are always within the boundaries set by God.

When God allows Satan to afflict Job with physical suffering, Job’s unwavering faith surprises Satan. Despite immense hardship, Job refuses to curse God. Job 2 begins to document the painful sores inflicted on Job by Satan. Despite Job’s suffering, he remains solid in his faith and does not sin by denigrating or blaming God. We can begin to see one of Satan’s characteristics emerging that plays to the advantage of evil. It is sin! Sin, came into our world when our first foreparents, Adam and Eve, directly disobeyed God, leading to their fall and banishment from Eden (Genesis 3). This disobedience introduced sin and evil into the world (Romans 5:12–14). But the “Gorilla in the Room” lies with humanity’s original creation with free will. We are a separate creation from God, with the freedom to choose how we will interact with the world around us, including God. This thing called “free will” grants each of us the power to break our relationship with God on our own, Satan is free to lead us to evil and suffering if we choose to follow him.

(Isaiah 45:7)¹NIV New International Version Translatiosn – “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.”

The verse from Isaiah tells us that God says, “I make peace and create evil.” The Hebrew word for “evil” here is ra’ah, which refers to calamity, disaster, or hardship. It does not imply moral wickedness. God never causes anyone to sin! The Bible never attributes the creation of moral wickedness (rasha’) to God. God is consistently described as good and just (Mark 10:18; Psalm 111:7). What we learn about Satan from Job is that evil comes from a combination of Satan’s influence, human choices, and the risks inherent in free will. God did not directly create evil but allowed us the freedom to choose love and a relationship with Him.

In Hebrew, Satan means “The Accuser” or “The Prosecutor.” He searches out wrongdoings and appears as an accuser. Satan isn’t acting as a tempter here but rather as someone who challenges religious pretensions. To be religiously pretentious is to claim a level of religious devotion, knowledge, or piety that you do not genuinely have. It involves presenting oneself as more devout, righteous, or spiritually advanced than one truly is.

There is one more place that we can use to fully understand the nature of evil in our world. It is in the story of how Jesus, after fasting for 40 days, faced three specific temptations from Satan. Jesus responded to each temptation with Scripture, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to God (Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13). Satan tempts Jesus directly, knowing that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus’ authority is evident, and Satan’s efforts are futile. Jesus is without sin, and His will is that of His Father, not subject to humanity’s many flaws. Satan tempts Jesus with three specific challenges:

• To turn stones into bread (appealing to physical needs).
• To throw Himself down from the temple (appealing to pride and testing God’s protection).
• To worship Satan in exchange for worldly power (appealing to ambition).

Jesus resists all temptations, asserting His unwavering commitment to God. Satan departs, and angels minister to Jesus. How many of today’s leaders could come close to passing that same test?

(1 John 3:8) – “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

In Summary

From these two encounters between God (and Jesus) and Satan, we can finally list Satan’s characteristics.

• Who is Satan? An accuser who stands against God’s chosen people (Zechariah 3:1–2).
• Deceit: Satan is associated with the serpent who deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden (2 Corinthians 11:3).
• Impact on humanity: Satan’s influence on human hearts and his role in deception are well documented in Scripture (Acts 5:3). Satan is real, and he is effective.
• The source of false information and murder: Jesus describes Satan as a murderer, liar, and the source of falsehood (John 8:44).
• Satan has influence: Jesus directly addresses Satan’s influence when Peter opposes God’s plan (Matthew 16:23).
• Impact on our World: Satan is a thief who seeks to harm and destroy, contrasting with Jesus’, who came to bring abundant life (John 10:10).
• Humanity’s response must be: To resist Satan’s interference in our world through submission to God (James 4:7).
• The End Game: This passage speaks of Satan’s ultimate defeat by God (Romans 16:20).

The verses above provide us with an insight into Satan’s character. Can you identify evil? Just look for deception and direct opposition to God. Be reassured that God’s Truth and Jesus will prevail.

God’s Word does not answer the question directly of why God permits evil to exist. We know that our free will lets us make choices independently, including choosing good or evil. Evil emerges when individuals turn away from God’s intended design. Sin disrupted the perfect harmony of creation, leading to suffering, pain, and moral evil. God allowed this consequence as a result of human disobedience. Trials can strengthen our character, deepen our dependence on God, and lead to spiritual growth (1 Peter 1:6-7; James 1:2-4). Our experiences of pain allow us to comfort and support those who suffer (2 Corinthians 1:3-6). Through Jesus Christ, God provides a way to overcome evil and reconcile humanity to Himself. This world is temporary compared to the glory of eternal life (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). God promises to make all things new (Revelation 21:5). Some aspects of evil remain mysterious. Our understanding is limited, and we cannot fully comprehend God’s purposes. Despite the existence of evil, we are called to trust in God’s wisdom, goodness, and sovereignty. All things together for His ultimate purposes (Romans 8:28).

Contemplations

• How do you spot evil?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is it moving you farther away from God’s Truth? Is hatred present? Does it ever bring people closer to God? Does the source have a track record of unbiased influence on our world, bringing them together?
• Do you take stories like that in Job literally, or do you view them as figurative lessons on the character of our God?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is the lesson within Job that God is in charge? God even controls the extent to which evil can persist. Note: Parables are also not intended to be taken literally. They are lessons to aid in our understanding of our Creation story. What might the lessons that you see be within the Book of Job?
• Do you think that evil in our world is a problem?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are the risks of war higher? Why is the average lifespan dropping in our nation? Why is there such a political divide based on hatred?
• If you had to pick a source in which you would place both your physical and spiritual future, what would it be?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is wealth stable enough? With manufactured diseases, is anyone safe? Do governments have the interests and freedoms of their people at heart?
• If you had to offer the ultimate protection to yourself and your family from evil, how would you do it?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where would you look? Where would you live? What would your plan look like?
• Is there any safety outside of Jesus Christ?
  • Ideas to Explore: This is a serious question. Knowing you have free will and will never be sinless, how is it that people will reconcile themselves with their Creator? Do we still care as a nation? Do we still believe in eternal life?

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Lying, and the spreading of falsehoods have been part of humanity since creation. Our dictionaries hold hundreds of variants of these types of lies. Occasionally, we see a few new terms pop up, like “gaslighting.”¹The term “gaslighting” comes from the 1938 British play “Gas Light” by Patrick Hamilton, which was later adapted into films in 1940 and 1944. The story involves a husband who manipulates his wife into believing she is losing her mind as part of his plot to steal from her. He does this by dimming the gas lights in their home and then denying any change when his wife notices it. The term has since entered the realm of psychology to describe a type of psychological manipulation where one person seeks to undermine another person’s confidence in their understanding of events or their surroundingsGaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation where a person is made to question their thoughts, beliefs, and even their memories of the events occurring around them. By manipulating history, facts, and the obvious, gaslighting has become a tactic used to gain power over someone. In some cases, people can do it to themselves by ignoring the true world around them.

Recognizing a lie is always challenging. We have our own biases, and experiences that cloud our reasoning. Sometimes, we just trust the wrong people. The Bible doesn’t provide direct advice on how to spot a lie, but it does offer wisdom on discerning truth from falsehood.  For example, in Ephesians 4:25, believers are encouraged to “speak truthfully to your neighbor,”²NIV New International Version Translations which implies the importance of honesty and truth in interactions with others. Additionally, Proverbs 12:22 states that “lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,” suggesting that God values truth and detests lies. As believers, we are also encouraged to pray for discernment and wisdom, which can aid us in recognizing when we are being deceived.

”Gaslighting,” however, is different. There are psychological and social attributes, heavily influenced by self-interest and the desire to control others. It is professional lying on a large scale, sometimes, so large that the truth cannot even be seen. It might even be called “team lying,” where groups band together using the complexities of our world as a smoke screen. Today, politics, media, large corporations, social media, and search engines are at the heart of this cooperative deception. Add to this concern that Artificial Intelligence is coming, and it is cloaked in secrecy, which adds additional risks. Many people have their fingers on the lamp of our nation’s freedoms—people we do not know or see.

While the term “gaslighting” is modern and not used in the Bible, the sin of gaslighting-like behavior, where individuals are deceived or led to doubt their perception or memory, was alive and well a long time ago.  We will look at two short stories to better understand this deceptive technique.

Anointed by the prophet Samuel, Saul was chosen by God to be the first king of Israel. We find this history in the First Book of Samuel. Saul was initially humble and successful in uniting the tribes of Israel and leading them against their enemies. Saul’s reign began to take a turn for the worse when he began to disobey God’s commands. For example, Saul failed to destroy the Amalekites³The Amalekites were the first nation to attack the Jewish people after their Exodus from Egypt. They launched a vicious surprise attack on the Jews while they were encamped in Rephidim in the Sinai Desert. Although the physical nation of Amalek no longer exists, its name symbolizes evil and enmity toward the Jewish people. and their possessions. as God had instructed him to do. It had been his prime duty to protect the Israelite nation. Because of his disobedience, God eventually rejected Saul as king and had Samuel anoint David as his successor.

This now becomes a story of jealousy.  After David’s victory over Goliath and his growing popularity, Saul’s behavior toward David led to erratic behavior and a decline in Saul’s leadership. Saul, approaching the end of his life, sought guidance from a medium at Endor (1 Samuel 28:3-25). This was paramount to abandoning God because Saul was fearful and not in communication with God. Saul’s actions and the resulting spiritual and psychological turmoil he experienced can be likened to the confusion and self-doubt that are hallmarks of being gaslighted. Saul’s increasing paranoia and erratic behavior, particularly towards David, reflects the inner conflict and distress that can result from prolonged exposure to manipulative behaviors driven by jealousy. Remember, “gaslighting” involves manipulating someone to doubt their memory, perception, or sanity. While Saul himself is not a victim of gaslighting by Samuel, his actions, and the consequences of those actions, as narrated by Samuel, led to a situation where Saul’s grasp on reality and his kingship became increasingly tenuous. God’s Word shows us how deception, whether self-inflicted or from external sources, can lead to doubt and confusion. The consequences of turning away from God’s guidance caused Saul to make a desperate move and ask a medium to summon the spirit of Samuel.

Let’s stop for a moment and look at our world today. How many people fall into that same trap? Having abandoned God, they have no plan and go searching for self-proclaimed experts. We have an entire government filled with “experts” doing the same thing.  What we are missing is God! The medium in Saul’s story calls up a spirit who is presumed to be Samuel. The spirit then predicted Saul’s defeat and death. Saul’s life ends tragically in a battle against the Philistines.⁴As a nation, Philistia no longer exists. The descendants of the Philistines inhabited the heartland of ancient Philistia along the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Their cities included Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza.When Saul realized the battle was lost, he took his own life to avoid capture.

Saul’s disobedience and subsequent rationalizations of his actions could be interpreted as attempts to manipulate reality to fit his narrative, especially when facing the prophet Samuel. Saul’s increasing paranoia and erratic behavior, particularly towards David, also reflected the inner conflict and distress that resulted from prolonged exposure to manipulative behaviors. Yes, most were self-inflicted, but some also came from external sources. For “gaslighting” to work well, it takes a team effort. When governments hide the truth and align with groups loaded with nefarious motives, it is just another form of lying.

You might want to also add the story of how quickly the triumphant entry of Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was replaced with His crucifixion and death. The leaders and the high priests manipulated the attitude of the crowds by holding a bogus trial. Jesus, an innocent man, was sentenced to death, by an unjust court and false witnesses. Those leaders were able to erase a three-year ministry filled with healing, hope, and love, substituting in the minds of the crowd hatred and revenge. The Romans were also more than happy to join in. This is just one more example of how a little sleight of hand and psychological turmoil were strong enough to even impact the apostles, making them question their knowledge of the Savior Himself.

The risks to a nation begin when the focus is lost, no longer prioritizing obedience and faith in God. Suddenly, the consequences of turning away from God become secondary and are substituted for more worldly concerns like personal safety and the health of the economy. The question that is at hand is whether this is by chance or by design. Is this another successful attempt at team lying, you know, “gaslighting.”

When the truth is absent, stress and discomfort quickly fill the void. “Gaslighting” undermines the trust and authenticity of any relationship. Whether political, social, or professional, lasting relationships must be based on the truth. Add in a bit of fraud, defamation, or other serious matters, and what you have before you is a divided nation, abandoning the very God who created us. God’s Truth has been clear, lying is a sin, and truthfulness is a virtue to be upheld. When the Apostle John responded to someone about lying, here is what he said:

(John 8:44) – “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

John was referring to a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. The Pharisees were involved in using the woman to try to trap Jesus in an ethical dilemma.  They asked Him whether the woman, who was caught “in the very act” of adultery, should be stoned as per the Law of Moses. Jesus’s wisdom and His message of forgiveness and grace had been calling for repentance and forgiveness.  The dilemma was to instill in Jesus, a conflict in His beliefs. Our lesson is just to keep it simple. Demand nothing less from anyone, “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another” (Leviticus 19:11). Not much wiggle room is there.

Contemplations

• How does the idea of manipulation and unequal justice work against the truth?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where in our contemporary world are we losing sight of truth because of manipulation and lies? Why is it dangerous to have politics, the media, search engines, social media, and large corporations team up to control the narrative?
• In a world of increasing complexity, how is it that you find what is true?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is any source of information that the world provides free from bias, and misrepresentation? What is your secret to digging for the truth? In what way does simplicity protect against “gaslighting?”
• Leadership’s role is to bring people together and bring people to God. Where do you see the idea of complex untruths and gaslighting, being applied to hide the real objectives being implemented in our world today?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are you sure you know the truth about topics like immigration, the national debt, the scope of the drug crisis in our nation, the real risks to our environment, or other issues affecting us today? There are lots of issues, pick a few.
• What is your plan?
  • Ideas to Explore: Can you spot it? Can you avoid it? Can you fight it? Can you help to stop it? What is the role of God’s Word in your plan? Satan has a plan. Do you?

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  The term “gaslighting” comes from the 1938 British play “Gas Light” by Patrick Hamilton, which was later adapted into films in 1940 and 1944. The story involves a husband who manipulates his wife into believing she is losing her mind as part of his plot to steal from her. He does this by dimming the gas lights in their home and then denying any change when his wife notices it. The term has since entered the realm of psychology to describe a type of psychological manipulation where one person seeks to undermine another person’s confidence in their understanding of events or their surroundings
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  NIV New International Version Translations
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  The Amalekites were the first nation to attack the Jewish people after their Exodus from Egypt. They launched a vicious surprise attack on the Jews while they were encamped in Rephidim in the Sinai Desert. Although the physical nation of Amalek no longer exists, its name symbolizes evil and enmity toward the Jewish people. and their possessions.
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  As a nation, Philistia no longer exists. The descendants of the Philistines inhabited the heartland of ancient Philistia along the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Their cities included Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza.

Heaven’s Door

Lostpine has spent a lot of time over the years writing about God’s Truth. You know, that which is righteous behavior and the absolutes established at the time of our world’s creation by God. If you go back to the very beginning, Genesis, God’s Word describes a pretty nice place. There was no stress or strain in the Garden. No fear, no anxiety. The Tree of Life was there, providing physical and spiritual nourishment. Today, we might call this the good life, the life we all seek to find. What in the world happened? Oh yes, there was that slippery serpent that changed all of that for us.

(John 8:44)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

In one rather creative lie, Satan destroyed our heritage too. We are the heirs of Adam and Eve. Our first couple of humanity would leave us an estate filled with “thorns and thistles” (Genesis 3:18).  This new world, Satan’s world, now requires constant labor to survive. Adam and Eve would watch one of their offspring murder the other over nothing more than simple jealousy. The idea of pain and death in their new world became much too real, and it is much too real in our world today. The hope Adam and Eve had for eternal bliss quickly faded. It must have looked like a future without hope. Maybe you think our future today looks the same—not too hopeful.

Reflecting for a moment, Satan reminded us to trust our abilities rather than rely on God. King David tells us that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). It is the oldest trick in the book. Satan says, “You too can be as smart as God.” Eve was so convinced, that she ate the forbidden fruit just to “be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). If anyone is expecting our world to ever be an easy place to live in, you may want to reset your expectations. Eve had to do quite a reset. We will always be tired, and anxious, and we will live with stress and fear. Why? We keep trying to shoulder the responsibilities of our Creator. There is no history of that ever working!

Humans make lousy judges and lawmakers. Our idea of moral order has never worked for long. We try to create but only manage to destroy. We try to be shepherds but only manage to lead others away from the very God who loves us and created us. If we can accept the science (facts), our world has not existed forever, nor will it exist forever. It is only safe to assume that our world is the place where you and I are right now. It is also the only place we will find the door—the gateway out of this world back into eternity. This should be everyone’s goal because that is where we will find God.

Know this:

• Our God loves us. He loves His world and desires a relationship with all of humanity.
• We must acknowledge that sin has separated us from our God, and without intervention, this separation leads to spiritual death, the kind that Adam and Eve experienced.
• That door, that latch to eternity, is nothing less than Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for human sin, and rose from the dead to prove to us that “He and only He” is the door, the latch to eternity from our world into the next.

Our vision in this world will always be clouded by pride. To see the door, to see the latch, and to see Jesus Christ, we must be willing to repent of our sins and place our faith in Him as our Lord and Savior. That Tree of Life is sitting inside that door, along with the Tree of Eternal Life. Jesus is ready to forgive our sins, reconcile us to God Himself, and transform our lives back to that which was lost so long ago by Adam and Eve.

 If you are tired:

(Matthew 11:28-30) – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

If you are anxious:

(Philippians 4:6-7) – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

If you are tempted:

(1 Corinthians 10:13) –  “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

If you are fearful:

(Isaiah 41:10) – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

If you are under stress:

(Romans 12:2) – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

Still Looking for Hope? Others have fought that same fight too!

(2 Corinthians 4:8-9) – “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

The above Scripture verses are all a small part of God’s Truth, conveniently packaged in book form entitled, “The Bible.”

Contemplations

• When our world is filled with despots, liars, thieves, and sadists, and the list goes on, we will have chaos. Are you surprised that we have anxiety, fear, war, and stress, and must deal with other human anomalies?
  • Ideas to Explore: Why is society surprised by economic difficulties when we have incompetent leadership? Do you think we are being led by thieves? What is it about the pride of position that drives those to power and crime? Does over 34 trillion dollars in debt concern you? It should, it is your debt!
• Do you think that those who elect and support corrupt leaders recognize their failure?
  • Ideas to Explore: Half of the population of the world disagrees with the other half. How can this be reconciled? Do you think knowing God’s Truth might help sort this out?
• Why is it often insufficient to tell someone with health issues, financial issues, or other severe problems that they should just “keep the faith?”
  • Ideas to Explore: Does keeping the faith mean the pain stops? Have good people, who do not deserve the problems of the world, experienced suffering not at their own hands? What is our role when we see this? Are we helping people find the latch to heaven’s door?
• Do leaders of today have the competence to lead?
  • Ideas to Explore: How do you measure competence?

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  NIV New International Version Translations

This study finds us in the Gospel of John, after the end of Jesus’ last meal with the disciples. Jesus is praying before entering the garden of Gethsemane.  It is hard to imagine what our Lord was going through at that moment. He was worried about the men who had lived beside Him for the last three years. The future of the world and His ministry were about to fall into their hands. And yes, the impending sequence of suffering and death by crucifixion was in His thoughts. When a person (Jesus was a human by all standards) is in such a position, His thoughts and prayers are most revealing.

(John 17:13-23)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

For us today, this should be considered the ultimate prayer. What is it that the Incarnate God wants for humanity? This might be called the “Priestly Prayer,” asking humanity’s creator on behalf of those chosen to carry on the ministry here on earth.  Jesus prays for three things: joy, protection from Satan, and sanctification through the Truth. Jesus is asking that, through the work of the Holy Spirit, believers will be set apart from sin and consecrated for God’s service. He is asking God to separate believers from the influence and power of sin and to consecrate them for God’s Holy purpose.

(Romans 6:22) – “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

In this prayer, Jesus is emphasizing the unity between Himself and His Father, as well as the unity He wants for His followers. Jesus is also praying for future believers, asking that they may experience unity with God and each other. This unity is to be a light for the world, reflecting the divine love and glory of God. In these last moments, before His ministry on earth ends, Jesus is focused on the mission left to us to complete. Jesus is asking His Father to guard us against the chaos and falsehoods of the world. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:5–6). What unites us with all other believers should be far greater than what divides us. Our unity should be our joint mission on earth.

• Our Belief in Jesus Christ: We believe in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God and the savior of humanity. His life, death, and resurrection are central to our faith, based on the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life with God.
• The Bible: We consider the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, as sacred Scripture. Because it is the inspired Word of God, it is our primary source of guidance and authority while living in this world.
• The Trinity: We believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, which teaches us that God is a unity of three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we overcome sin and guide our human reason to the necessary revelations of God’s mysteries.
• The Resurrection: We believe that Jesus was crucified, died as a sacrifice for our sins, and, on the third day, rose from the dead. It is our faith in Christ that brings victory over death to us.

As believers, we practice sacraments or rituals, such as baptism and communion, which hold special significance to our faith. We engage in communal worship such as church service and prayer to celebrate our faith. Despite differences, the core beliefs mentioned above, as well as other common beliefs, serve as a unifying foundation for believers worldwide. Our takeaway must be that we have one faith and one God. Therefore, as believers, we are to live in a manner worthy of our one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Test yourself:

• Do you love one another? (2 Corinthians 13:11)
• Do you forgive each other? ( Ephesians 4:32)
• Do you serve each other? (1 Peter 4:9–10) 
• Do you pray for each other? (James 5:16)
• Do you encourage each other? (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Conclusions

The unity Jesus spoke about is not an organization. It has nothing to do with denominations or versions of the Bible. Nor is it about how sacraments are to be administered. Jesus did not expect us to dress alike, believe the same way, or raise our children with the same beliefs. Jesus asks you and me to share His life for eternity with Him. We are to walk with Him, learn from Him, care for each other, and be a light to the world.

(Matthew 5:14-16) – “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

In Jesus’ priestly prayer, He was not praying for the world. He was specifically praying for you and me today. Jesus was asking God to protect all those who had placed their faith in Him. In this, we should all be united!

Contemplations

• Can you express your beliefs in a few seconds?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do you name denominations? Do you include rituals? Is your faith simple? Does your explanation make others want to know more about your faith?
• Do you see the common bond between people of faith?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are you too political? Are you too secular? Are you too rigid?
• Who do you align with when it comes to personal comfort?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are you more comfortable with believers or non-believers? Do you compromise your beliefs because of your desire to be friends with someone? How are you around family members who believe differently than you?
• Does your life mirror how Jesus lived?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do you show joy even in suffering? Are you the “light” that points to Jesus? Will you be missed by those around you when you are gone because of how you loved them?

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