A Monthly Journal Dedicated To Teaching First Principles Volume 5 Number 9 SEPTEMBER 2007 Back To Basics AND JESUS LOOKED AROUND Jesus was concerned about the things which went on around Him. Mark 11:11 states, “And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked around about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out into Bethany with the twelve.” We take a look at some things Jesus saw when He looked around. 1) A MOVED CITY. “And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?” (Mt. 21:10). Bible cities were often stirred when Jesus visited or when gospel preaching was done like in Acts 8:5, 8. 2) MONEY CHANGERS . Jesus saw “money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves” in the temple (Mt. 21:12-13). They were misusing the temple and the Lord “overthrew the tables and cast out, and said, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Mt. 21:13). The Lord’s house today must not be misused. 3) THE BLIND AND THE LAME. “And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them” (Mt. 21:14). No wonder Jesus is called “the great physician” in song. Also note Matthew 9:12. We have a Johnie Edwards physician who can heal all of our sin diseases, if we will obey him! 4) THOSE WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN BIBLE READERS. Jesus asked, “Yea have ye never read?” (Mt. 21:16). The Lord expects us to be readers of His word. “Blessed is he that readeth...” (Rev. 1:3). Paul taught young Timothy, “Till I come, give attendance to read- ing...” (1 Tim. 4:13). 5) A BARREN FIG TREE. “And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves, only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee hence- forward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away” (Mt. 21:19). The Lord is not pleased unless we are fruit producers. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life: and he that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30). 6) SHEEP WITHOUT SHEPHERDS. “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Mt. 9:36). It doesn’t have to be that way! What would Jesus see today if He came to our city and looked around?
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A Monthly Journal Dedicated To Teaching First Principles
1)A Moved City.“AndwhenhewascomeintoJerusalem,all thecitywasmoved,saying,Whoisthis?”(Mt.21:10).BiblecitieswereoftenstirredwhenJesusvisitedorwhengospelpreachingwasdonelikeinActs8:5,8.
2) Money ChAngers. Jesus saw“moneychangers,andtheseatsofthemthatsold doves” in the temple (Mt. 21:12-13).TheyweremisusingthetempleandtheLord“overthrewthetablesandcastout,andsaid,Myhouseshallbecalledthehouseofprayer;but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Mt.21:13).TheLord’shousetodaymustnotbemisused.
3)the Blind And the lAMe. “Andthe blind and the lame came to him in thetemple;andhehealedthem”(Mt.21:14).NowonderJesusiscalled“thegreatphysician”insong.AlsonoteMatthew9:12.Wehavea
4) those Who should hAve Been BiBle reAders. Jesusasked,“Yeahaveyeneverread?”(Mt.21:16).TheLordexpectsustobereadersofHisword.“Blessedishethatreadeth...”(Rev.1:3).PaultaughtyoungTimothy,“TillIcome,giveattendancetoread-ing...”(1Tim.4:13).
5)A BArren Fig tree.“Andwhenhe saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and foundnothingthereon,butleaves,only,andsaiduntoit,Letnofruitgrowontheehence-forward for ever. And presently the fig tree witheredaway”(Mt.21:19).TheLordisnotpleasedunlesswearefruitproducers.“Thefruitoftherighteousisatreeoflife:andhethatwinnethsoulsiswise”(Prov.11:30).
6)sheep Without shepherds. “Butwhenhesawthemultitudes,hewasmovedwith compassion on them, because theyfainted,andwerescatteredabroad,assheephavingno shepherd” (Mt.9:36). It doesn’thavetobethatway!
Most churches are not growing verymuch thesedays. Perhaps the reason is there isnotmuch“soulwinning”goingon!Wehaveputtogether an eight-lesson study on SoulWinningwithaSoulWinningToolKitthatisdesignedtomotivateeverymembertobeasoulwinner.Thismaterial has been taught with much success inmanypartsofthecountryandinothercountriesaswell.
AndJesusLookedAroundJohnieEdwards......................................................1SoulWinningInWichita,KansasJohnIsaacEdwards................................................2BackToBasics—OnlineEditionJohnIsaacEdwards................................................3AndWomenRuleOverThemMelbaEdwards.......................................................4Example And InfluenceDavidMcPherson...................................................5SpiritualBlessingsInChristJeremySweets........................................................6TheOxAndTheDonkeyNormChastain.......................................................7TheTestOfAProphetSteveMonts...........................................................8ThePatriarchs:Abraham(Part5)John R. Gentry.....................................................9ThePatriarchs:Abraham(Part6)DavidEldridge.....................................................10ThePatriarchs:Abraham(Part7)ShaneWilliams......................................................11CanOneRightfullyDivorceForAnyCause?DavidEldridge.....................................................12PornographyStatistics.......................................13KidsActivityPageAleishaEdwards..................................................14MercyAndForgivenessJasonT.Leber........................................................15
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Back To Basics - September 20074 (132)
And Women ruLe over themMelba Edwards
“W
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...T
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Of
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Th
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(T
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Isaiah 3:12 reads, “As for mypeople,childrenaretheiroppressors,andwomenruleoverthem.”Fromthispassage,muchofJudahandIsrael’sdownfallwasinleadership.HeretheScripturesrevealthatwomenruledoverthem.Inapreviouswrit-ing,welearnedthatAthaliahreignedoverthelandafterherson,Ahaziah,died(2Ki.11:1-3). Let’sseewhattheBiblerevealsaboutwomenruling.
1)the MAn is to rule over the WoMAn.“Untothewomanhesaid,Iwillgreatlymultiply thy sorrowand thycon-ception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forthchildren; and thy desire shall be to thyhusband,andheshallruleoverthee”(Gen.3:16).Thiswasthewoman’spunishmentforeatingtheforbiddenfruitinthegardenofEden.TheNewTestamentremindsus,“For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the womanbeingdeceived,wasinthetransgression.”Also, “But I would have you know, thattheheadof everyman isChrist; and thehead of the woman is the man; and theheadofChristisGod”(1Cor.11:3).God,fromtheverybeginning,didnotwantthewomantorulethehome.Someonehastobeincharge.Godputmaninthatposition.WemustrespectGod’slawofruleinthehome.ManyproblemsarisewhenwedonotfollowGod’slaw.Wedon’twantthistobethedownfallofourhome.
2)the MAn is to rule his Children. OneofthereasonsJudahandIsraelerredwasthefactthatwomenruledoverthem.
Athaliah was a prime example when shecounseled her son,Ahaziah, to do wick-edly(2Chr.22:3).2Chronicles24:7tellsus,“ForthesonsofAthaliah,thatwickedwoman,hadbrokenupthehouseofGod;andalsoallthededicatedthingsofthehouseoftheLorddidtheybestowuponBaalim.”Eldersanddeaconsaretoruletheirhouseswell(1Tim.3:5,12).“Fathers,provokenotyourchildrentowrath;butbringthemupinthenurtureandadmonitionoftheLord”(Eph.6:4).Let’sfollowGod’slawandletthemanrulehischildren.
3) in the ChurCh, the elders And deACons Are to Be Men. Wecanread about the qualifications of elders in 1Timothy3:1-7andTitus1:6-9anddea-consin1Timothy3:8-13.Inbothcases,theScripturesarecleartheymustbemen!Hebrews13:17reads,“Obeythemthathavetheruleoveryou,andsubmityourselves:fortheywatchforyoursouls...”SomearechangingGod’slawinthisarea.Wealsohearofwomenpreachers.NowhereintheBible can we find a woman preacher. In 1 Timothy2:12we learn,“But I suffernotawoman to teach,nor tousurpauthorityovertheman,buttobeinsilence.”WewillerrlikeIsraelandJudahofoldifweallowwomentoruletheLord’schurch.Thisjustcannotbeallowed!
TheBiblehasmuch to say about theChristian’s example and influence. For us to be theLord’sdisciples indeed,wemustheedandapplythesetruths.Considerthefollowing:
1)1 tiMothy 4:12: “Letnoonedespiseyouryouth,butbeanexampletothebelieversinword, inconduct, in love, inspirit, infaith,inpurity.”Itisourresponsibility,justasitwasTimothy’s,tolivealifeconsistentwiththenamewewear.Thoseofuswhoarecalled“Christians”aretoactlikeourLordandSavior,JesusChrist.OthersshouldbeabletolooktousatalltimesandknowwhatachildofGodis.
2)MAttheW 18:6: “ButwhoevercausesoneoftheselittleoneswhobelieveinMetosin,itwouldbebetter for him if amillstonewerehungaroundhisneck,andheweredrownedinthedepthofthesea.”Jesushereisshowingtheseriousness of an evil influence upon those who areyounginthefaith. ShameonolderChris-tianswholeadothersastray. Canwenothatesinenoughtoleaveitbehind?Thinknotonlyofitsdamagetoyou,butofyourdamagetowardothers.
3)gAlAtiAns 2:20: “Ihavebeencruci-fied with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christlivesinme;andthelifewhichInowlivein the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who lovedmeandgaveHimselfforme.”Certainly,“toGodbetheglory,”butgoodforPaul.He,un-likemanybrethrentoday,understoodthatChristwastoliveinhim.ThenewlifeinChristisnolongeraboutme,butrathertheOnewhodiedforme.WhatwouldJesusdo?IfHewouldn’tdothethingsyoudo,thenHe’snotlivinginyou.A
4)1 CorinthiAns 11:1: “Imitateme,justasIalsoimitateChrist.”Pauldidnotmakethispleatohisbrethrenoutofsomekindofsickar-rogance.Rather,itwasoutofadisciplinedlife,patterned after theLord’s, that he calleduponothers to“imitateme.” What ifyourbrethrenimitatedyou?Wouldtherebeanyneedforfourchurchservicesperweek?Howmanycombinedhours of prayer and Bible study would we allengageineachmonth?Wouldanyonebeedi-fied?
Brethren,theseareseriousconcernsthatmustnotbetakenlightly.Godhelpustogrow,do better, humbly submit, and sacrifice ourselves (Rom.12:1)forthecauseofChrist.Nomatterhow insignificant we may feel, we all have influ-ence.Eachofusissettinganexampleeveryday.Letusseektobethesaltoftheearthandtoshineaslightsinthisworldofdarkness(Mt.5:13-16;Phil.2:15).
hoMe BiBle study on dvdAnaudio/videopresentationofthe4-lessonHomeBibleStudy,conductedinahomesettingbyJohnieEdwards.
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Back To Basics - September 20076 (134)
spirituAL BLessings in christJeremy Sweets
PaulwritesinthebookofEphesiansthateveryspiritualblessingisfoundinJesusChrist(Eph.1:3).AsChristians,wehaveblessingsim-measurableduetothegoodnessofourheavenlyFather. Notice the following blessings identified inEphesians1.
6) AdMinistrAtion (v. 10). God hasdesigned an administration or plan of deliver-ing salvation to mankind. This plan reacheditsculminationinJesus,asHebroughttogetherGod’s design from the beginning, fulfilling the Scripturesandprophecy(Eph.3:11).
8)AssurAnCe (v. 13).AfterhearingandobeyingthegospelmessageofJesusChrist,theHoly Spirit was given to the first century Chris-tiansasadownpaymentorguaranteeof theirfuture inheritance. We enjoy the benefits of that provisiontodaythroughtherevealedword(Eph.3:3-5; 1 Cor. 2:10). God’s promise is certainandsure,asevidencedbythegivingoftheHolySpirit.
The benefits of being in Christ are tremen-dous.ArelationshipwithChristbeginswhenarepentantsinnerconfessesfaithinChrist,commitshislifetoGodandisbaptizedintoChrist(Jn.8:24;Acts17:30;Rom.10:9-10;Gal.3:26-27;1Pet.3:21).Haveyoudonewhatisnecessarytotakeadvantage of the benefits found in Christ? If not, thereisnobettertimethantoday(2Cor.6:2).
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, Oearth!FortheLordhasspoken:“Ihavenour-ishedandbroughtupchildren,AndtheyhaverebelledagainstMe; 3Theoxknowsitsownerandthedon-keyitsmaster’scrib;ButIsraeldoesnotknow,Mypeopledonotconsider.”
1) the people oF isrAel Are pro-vided tWo reAl liFe illustrAtions. “Theoxknowsitsownerandthedonkeyitsmaster’scrib.” God then provides a contrast: “ButIsraeldoesnotknow,Mypeopledonotcon-sider.”EventhoughthepeopleofIsraelwouldrecognizethesetwoillustrations,theydidnotrecognizesomebasicfacts.One,theydidnotknowthattheLordGodwastheirmaster.Two,theydidnotconsiderthatGoddailyprovidedforthem.GodsaidthatIsraelwasinrebelliontoHim.
2) iF you Are not A ChristiAn, do you reCognize soMe BAsiC FACts?Afterall,theoxknowsitsownerandthedonkeyitsmas-ter’scrib.DoyouknowthatthereisaGodinheavenwhocreatedtheworldandyou?DoyouknowthatHedailyprovidesforyouandthatHesentHisSontodieforyoursins?ThewriterinHebrews11:6saysthat“withoutfaithitisimpossibletoplease”God.InActs17:24-26,PaultellsthepeopleofAthensthatGod“madetheworld,”thatHehadmade“everynationofmentodwellonallthefaceoftheearth.”John3:16tellsus,“ForGodsolovedtheworldthat
HegaveHisonlybegottenSon,thatwhoeverbelieves in Him should not perish but haveeverlastinglife.”InActs2:37-38,whenPeterpreachedJesus,theSonofGod,totheJews,theyasked,“Menandbrethren,whatshallwedo?”Peterreplied,“Repent,andleteveryoneofyoubebaptizedinthenameofJesusChristfortheremissionofsins.”Therefore,ifyouarenotaChristian,believeinGod.BelievethatHecreatedtheworldandyou.BelievethatHesentHisSontodieforyoursins.ActuponyourfaithinGodandJesusChristbyrepentingofyoursinsandbeingbaptizedfortheremissionofthosesins.
3)iF you Are A ChristiAn, do you reCognize soMe BAsiC FACts?Afterall,theoxknowsitsownerandthedonkeyitsmaster’scrib.DoyourememberthatthereisaGodinheavenwhocreatedtheworldandyou?DoyourememberthatHedailyprovidesforyouandthatHesentHisSontodieforyoursins?In2Corinthians5:9-10,Paulsaysthatyoumustmakeityouraim“tobewellpleasing”toGod,because“wemustallappearbeforethejudg-mentseatofChrist.”Therefore,asaChristian,makeityourdailyaimtopleaseGodandtoliveforChrist.
In theBible,we see aprophet is themouthofGod(Ex.4:16;7:1,AaronwascalledMoses’prophetforhewashismouth).Aproph-etdidnotclaimhismessagewashisownandoftenprefacedhismessagewith,“ThussaiththeLord.” Prophetswerean integralpartofrevealingGod’swill.Yet,Godknewthatsomewouldriseupclaimingtobeprophetswheninfacttheywerenot.Thus,Goddevisedawaytoknowwhowasaprophetandwhowasnot.
1)test oF A prophet.Deuteronomy18:20-22sayswhenonesupposestospeakfortheLord,ifthethingdoesnothappenorcometopassthentheLordhasnotspoken.Galatians1:6-9addsthatwhenanyone(includinganangelorapostle)speaksadifferentgospelthatacurserestsuponhim.Thesetwopassagessaywecantestthepredictionsmadebysupposedprophetsand theirwords if in anyway theycontradictwhatisalreadyrevealed(theBible).
2)Joseph sMith FAils the test oF A prophet BeCAuse… ■ His predictions failed. In Doctrine and Covenants,section84,JosephSmithproph-esiedthatNewJerusalemandaMormontemplewastobebuiltinZion,Missouribyhisgenera-tionandthathewoulddedicateitwithhisownhand.Yet,MormonswererunoutofMissouriand a temple was never built during Smith’slife, norbyhis contemporarygeneration. InDoctrine and Covenants, section111,JosephSmith prophesied that Salem, MassachusettswouldbegiventotheMormonsandinittheywould find great treasure to pay all their debts. TheMormonsneverreceivedSalem,noranytreasure.
■ His book is full of errors.Hewritesofhorses,oxen,andcowsasnativetoNorthAmerica(1Nephi18:25).Yet,theywereallintroducedbyEuropean settlers afterColumbus. Hehas Jesussaying,“Iamthealphaandomega”inthebookofMormon.ThoseareGreekterms,butthebookofMormonsupposedlycametotheNativeAmericanIndianswhowouldnothaveknownGreek.Oops.It looks like JosephSmithdid a little borrowingfromtheBibleandalittlelyingabouttheIndians.
■ His book is full of changes. Ihave inmypossessionabookentitled“The3,913changesmadetotheBookofMormon.”IfJosephSmithtrulywasaprophet fromGod,whywould thereneed to be any changes? God’s word does notchange.TherehavebeennochangestotheBible.Mormons claim their book is the most accuratetranslation,yet,astimegoeson,theykeep“updat-ing”theirbook.
■ The gift of prophecy ended long before Joseph Smith.JosephSmithlivedinthe1800’s;yet theBibletellsusthatwhenGod’swordwascomplete,prophesywouldend(1Cor.13:8).Theword of God came to completion at the end ofthe 1st century. Jude wrote of “the faith whichwasonceforalldeliveredtothesaints”(Jude3).And,whenJohnlaiddownhispen,heclosedtheScriptureswithawarningnottoaddtoitnortakefromit(Rev.22:18-19).Yetwearetoldtobelievethatnearly1,700yearslateramancamealongandaddedmoretoit!SorrySir,justalittlebittoolate!JosephSmithfailsthetestofaprophetandpassesthetestofafalseprophet(Matt.7:15-20).
After the destruction of Sodom andGomorrah,AbrahamjourneyedfromtheoaksofMamre (Gen.18:1) toward the territoryofthe Negev (i.e., the desert, or the south) andsojourned in Gerar (Gen. 20:1). While hereAbrahamencounteredAbimilech,kingofGerar,andthesonofpromise,Isaac,wasborn.
1)ABrAhAM’s treAChery. Uponarriv-inginGerar,AbrahamtoldAbimelechthatSarahwashissister;therefore,thekingsentandtookhertobehiswife(Gen.20:2).Abraham,againfearingforhislife(v.11;12:10-20),deliberatelydeceivedtheking.WhileitwastruethatSarahandAbrahamhadthesamefather(v.12),andwere thereforebrotherandsister, theycausedAbimelechtobelievethatwhichwasfalse,thattheywerenothusbandandwife.Godabhorsdeceit (Ps. 5:6). Jesus said it is evil and defiles a person(Mk.7:20-23).Wemustneverbeguiltyoftellingonlypartofthetruthinordertoleadsomeone to believe something that is false!BecauseAbimelechtookSarahasawife,Godclosedthewombsofhishouseandwasgoingtotakehislife(vv.18,3,7).GodtoldhimtoaskAbrahamtopraythathemightliveandhisfamilybehealed(v.7).Abrahamprayedandtheywerehealed(v.17).GodanswersprayersandbyHispowerpeoplearehealed(Jas.5:16-18).
2)the Birth oF isAAC. GodkepthispromiseandvisitedSarah;sheconceivedandgavebirthtoIsaac(Gen.21:1-3;Heb.11:11).ThoughAbrahamandSarahwerepassedchild-bearingage,“theLordisnotslackconcerninghispromise”(2Pet.3:9).Ithadbeenatleast25yearssinceGodhadmadethepromisestoAbra-
3) hAgAr And ishMAel. Aftera fewyears, Isaac was weaned and Ishmael begantomockandmakefunofIsaac(Gen.21:8-9).Seeingthis,SarahsaidtoAbraham,“Castoutthisslavewomanwithherson...”(v.10).Paulused this passage to describe the differencesbetweenbeingaslavetotheoldlawandbeingfreeunderChrist,aswellasthepersecutionofChristiansbythoseJewswhoremainedslavesto the old law (Gal. 4:21-31). Abraham wasverydispleasedwithsendinghissonaway,buttheLordassuredhimthathewouldtakecareofhimbecausehewashisson(vv.11-13).SoAbrahamsentthemaway(v.14).TheirwaterranoutandHagarassumedtheyweregoingtodie(vv.15-16).However,asGodpromised,Heprovidedfor them(vv.17-19). Ishmaelgrewandproducedagreatnation(Gen.21:18,20-21;25:12-18).
4) treAty With ABiMeleCh. Abim-elechdesiredthatAbrahamsweartodealkindlywithhim(vv.22-24).First,Abrahamdesiredtosettleadisputeoverawell.Withsevenewelambs serving as a witness, they settled thematterandsworeanoath.AbrahamnamedtheplaceBeersheba(vv.25-32).ThereheplantedatamarisktreeandcalledonthenameoftheLORD, the Everlasting God (v. 33). “AndAbrahamsojournedmanydays in the landofthePhilistines”(v.34).
ThefaithofthepatriarchAbrahamisseeninanumberofeventsrecordedabouthislife.Perhapsthegreatestexampleofhisfaithisseen in the sacrifice of Isaac.
1) ABrAhAM CoMMAnded to oFFer isAAC. The Lord instructedAbraham, “Takenowthyson,thineonlysonIsaac,whomthoulovest,andgettheeintothelandofMoriah;andofferhimthereforaburntofferingupononeofthemountainswhichIwill tell theeof”(Gen.22:2). RememberAbraham was told, “Sarahthywifeshallbeartheeasonindeed;andthoushaltcallhisnameIsaac:andIwillestablishmycovenantwithhimforaneverlastingcovenant,andwithhisseedafterhim”(Gen.17:19).GodtestedAbrahambyaskinghimtoofferthesonofhisoldage,thesonofpromise.
2)ABrAhAM’s trusting FAith. AsanobedientservantoftheLord,Abrahamroseupearlyinthemorning.Takingtwoofhisservants,he went to sacrifice his son Isaac. Once they gottotheplaceofwhichGodhadtoldhim,weseeAbraham’strustintheLorddemonstrated.ThoughhewastoldthatIsaacwastobeofferedasaburntoffering,Abrahamtoldhisservants,“...Iandtheladwillgoyonderandworship,andcome again to you” (Gen. 22:5).Also, whenIsaacaskedwherethelambwasfortheoffering,Abrahamtoldhim,“Myson,Godwillprovidehimselfalambforburntoffering”(Gen.22:8).OfAbraham’strustingfaith,theHebrewwritersaidthatbyhisfaithAbrahamwas“AccountingthatGodwasabletoraisehimup,evenfromthedead; from whence also he received him in afigure” (Heb. 11:19). Abraham trusted that God would fulfill His promises.
3) ABrAhAM oFFers isAAC. “AndtheycametotheplacewhichGodhadtoldhimof;andAbrahambuiltanaltar there,and laid thewoodinorder,andboundIsaachisson,andlaidhimonthealtaruponthewood.AndAbrahamstretchedforthhishand,andtooktheknifetoslayhisson”(Gen.22:9-10).ThoughthehandofAbrahamwasstayedandthelifeofIsaacwasspared,intheeyesofGoditwasasifAbrahamhadofferedhisonlybegottenson.ItisrecordedintheNewTestament,“ByfaithAbraham,whenhewastried,offeredupIsaac:andhethathadreceivedthepromisesoffereduphisonlybegot-tenson”(Heb.11:17).NowonderAbrahamiscalled“thefriendofGod”ashewaswillingtodothatwhichGodwoulddosome2,000yearslateratCalvary.
4) the lord Will provide. AbrahamwastoldbytheangeloftheLord,“Laynotthinehanduponthelad...AndAbrahamlifteduphiseyes,andlooked,andbeholdbehindhimaramcaughtinathicketbyhishorns:andAbrahamwentandtooktheram,andofferedhimupforaburntofferinginthesteadofhisson”(Gen.22:12-13).“AndAbrahamcalledthenameofthatplaceJehovah-jireh...”(Gen.22:14).Jeho-vah-jirehmeansthatJehovahwillprovide.EvenastheLordhadprovidedtheraminthethickettobeofferedinthesteadofIsaac,forusHehasprovidedHisonlybegottenSontobeofferedinourstead.Thus,JohnthebaptistsaysofJesus,“BeholdtheLambofGod,whichtakethawaythesinoftheworld”(Jn.1:29).GodisstillJehovah-jireh,providingfortheneedsofHispeople.
InGenesis24,Abraham’sdesire is tofind a suitable bride for his son Isaac. An appro-priatewifeforIsaacwasnotaboutconvenience,but was worth great sacrifice.
1)ABrAhAM And his servAnt.Abra-hamentrustedhisoldestandmostloyalservantwiththetaskofbringingbackawifeforIsaac.HemadetheservantswearbytheLordthathewouldbringthiswifefromAbraham’scountryandnotfromthedaughtersof theCanaanites.Isaacwouldsoonunderstandjusthowimportantthis was, asEsau’s Hittite wivesbrought himmuchgrief(Gen.26:34-35).
2) the servAnt’s ConCerns. Abra-ham’sservanthadsomeconcernsabouthowhewouldaccomplishthisgreattask.Whatifthewomanwouldn’tcomebackwithhim?ShouldhetakeIsaacthere?AbrahamtoldhisservantnottotakeIsaactothisland,butthattheLordwouldsendHisangelbeforetheservantintotheland.However,ifthewomanwasnotwillingtofollowtheservantback,hewouldthenbefreefromtheoathhehadsworn.
3) reBeKAh is Chosen. Whileat thewelloutsidethecityofNahor,theservantprayedtoGod.HeprayedtoknowwhotheLordhadchosenforIsaacbaseduponherresponsetohisquestion(Gen.24:12-14).Rebekahwasmakingherwayto thewell,evenbeforehewasdonespeaking.Theresponsetheservantwaspray-ingtoGodaboutwaspreciselywhatRebekahsaidinanswertohisquestion.WhentheservantwassurethatRebekahwasthechoice,heboweddownlowandworshippedtheLord(Gen.24:26-27).
5)“this is FroM the lord.”Theser-vantofAbrahamwasunwillingtoeatuntilhehadtoldthehouseholdofhisbusiness.HerelayedeverythingthathadhappenedfromAbraham’swealthtothechoosingofRebekahatthewell(Gen. 24:34-49). He wanted to know if thehouseholdwoulddealkindlyandtrulywithhismasterAbraham.LabanandBethuelrespondedbysaying,“ThisisfromtheLord.”TheythentoldhimthatRebekahwouldgowithhimandwouldbethewifeofhismaster’sson,astheLordhasspoken(Gen.24:51).
6)isAAC And reBeKAh’s Meeting.Isaacsaw the camels coming, as he was in the field. Rebekah inquired of the servant to find out who was walking to meet them. The servant toldIsaacallthathehaddone.Isaacbroughtherintohismother’stent,whowasdeceased.Thetexttellsusthatshebecamehiswifeandhelovedher. RebekahwasacomforttoIsaacwithhismother’spassing.
God’sdivineinstitutionofthehomeisconstantly under attack by the media, movies,denominations,aswellassomebrethren.Theevi-denceofthisbarrageisseeninthehighnumberofdivorcesrecordedinthiscountryeveryyear.Thecommonthinkingintheworldtodayisthatonecandivorcetheirspouseforjustanyreason.Justabout anything is cited by many as being justifiable groundsfordivorce,suchasifsheburntthetoast,ifhedoesn’tputhisdirtyclothesinthelaundrybasket,ifonepersoninthemarriagedoesn’thandlemoneywell,orifwefusstoomuch.Thereareevensomeinthechurchwhoareattemptingtoteachthatonecandivorceforanyreason,thoughtheymaystillstatethetruthonwhomayremarry. IsthisthinkingnotattheveryheartofthequestionaskedofJesusinMatthew19:3?Theretherecordstates,“ThePhariseesalsocametoHim,testingHim,andsayingtoHim,‘Isitlawfulforamantodivorcehiswifeforjustanyreason?’”Insteadofconsideringpurelyemotionalargumentsorlisteningtothe“wisdomofmen,”letuslooktotheansweroftheOnewhoalonehas“thewordsofeternallife”(Jn.6:68).IntheversesthatfollowthisquestionofthePharisees(Mt.19:3-9),Jesusgivestheanswerthreetimes.Manysimplylookattheseversestoseewhomayremarryoncetheyaredivorced,butthereisalsoaneedtolookatthesubject that isdirectlybeingaddressed—whatcanonedivorceforandberightwithGod?LetuslistencarefullytotheclearanswersofJesustothisquestion,“Isitlawfulforamantodivorcehiswifeforjustanyreason?”
shallcleavetohiswife:andtheytwainshallbeone flesh?” (Mt. 19:4-5). The fact that they are no longer two, but bound together by God as one flesh showsthatitisnotlawfultodivorceyourspouseforanycause. It isalso interesting tonote thatJesusasksthem,“Haveyenotread?”Thereasonthereissomuchmisunderstandingonthissubjectisthatpeopleeitherhavenotread,orhavechosentosimplydisregard,whattheLordhascommandedonthissubject.Bystatingthefactthathusbandand wife are one flesh, Jesus answers the question may one divorce for any reason. The Lord’s first answertothisquestion—NO!
2)no! We find Jesus’ second answer in thestatement,“Whereforetheyarenomoretwain,but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mt. 19:6).Thestatement,“WhatthereforeGodhathjoinedtogether,letnotmanputasunder”leavesnoop-tion—itisacommand.BystatingthatamanandwomanareGod-joinedinmarriage,andthatmanisnottoseparatethatbond,Jesusagainanswersthequestionmayonedivorceforanyreason.OurSavior’sanswer—NO!
3) no! InresponsetotheseanswersofJesus,thePhariseesasked,“WhydidMosesthencommandtogiveawritingofdivorcement,andtoputheraway”(Mt.19:7).AgaintheLordrevealsthemindofGodonthismatterasHeproclaims,“Moses because of the hardness of your heartssufferedyoutoputawayyourwives:butfromthebeginningitwasnotso”(Mt.19:8).ThePhariseesattemptedtoappealtothelawofMoses.However,JesusgoestothatwhichwasinthemindofGodfromtheveryinstitutionofthemarriagerelation-ship. Insaying,“butfromthebeginningitwas
Back To Basics - September 200712 (140)
cAn one rightfuLLy divorce for Any cAuse?David Eldridge
cause?No,No,No!Onecanonlydivorcewithoutcoming under the condemnation of God if theyare the innocentparty,havingaspouse thathasbeenunfaithful(Mt.19:9).Ifonehasdivorcedforanycauseotherthanfornication,howcantheybeforgivenofthissin?Aswithanyothersin,theymustrepent.Repentancewoulddictatethattheyattemptreconciliationtotheonewhomtheyhadnorighttodivorce,and,ifthisisimpossible,thattheyremainunmarried.
IsitpossiblethatsomeoftheundesirableattributesinRomans1couldbeoverlookedbecausetheyareconsideredtobecharacteristicsofarepro-bate?AreprobatemindisarejectedmindbyGod;thuscouldbeconsideredbysometobeonlythosenotinthe“bodyofChrist.”However,weshouldbe concerned with judging the “house of God” first (2Pet.4:17;1Cor.5:12).Withthisinmind,letusexaminetheundesirableattributes:unmercifulandunforgiving(Rom.1:31).Couldthisbeyou?Doyoueverhavethisattitude?Sadtosay,manyChris-tianscannotgetalong.AndIamnottalkingaboutmattersoftruth.SomeChristianscanbecomelikethePhariseesbyputtingaheavyburdenonsomeonetheyhavenorightto(Mt.23:4).Andtwooftheseburdensarebeingunmercifulandunforgiving.Thecliché,canwealljustgetalong,isnotthepleaofthisarticle;however,itisforthereaderandwritertointrospectivelylookatselfinthe“mirrorofGod’sword” (Jas. 1:23-24) concerning these two sinfulattitudes.EveryoneknowsthatGodexpectsustobelikeHimwhenitcomestoforgiveness(Mt.6:14).Fur-thermore,wearetoforgiveabrotherwhenherepents(Lk.17:3-4).ThisbeingthecasebecausewearetobeperfectlikeGod(Mt.5:48).Yet,withthesedi-vineobligationsbeingestablishedbyGod’sword,Ibelieveweunderstandthem;however,itisthedoingnotthehearingwehaveaproblemwith!JesustoldthePhariseestheywereleavingtheweightiermattersundonewhichwerejustice,mercy,andfaith. Doyoueverleavetheseundone?NoticethePhariseeswerenotwronginteaching“paytitheofmintandaniseandcummin,”buttheywereleavingsomethingundone(Mt.23:23)!Letusneverleavemercyandforgivenessundone.TheyaregivenfreelybyGodtothosewhoconfessandrepent(1Jn.1:8-10).Weshoulddothesame.