Confusion in the Scriptures

Confusion in the Scriptures

Confusion is something everyone goes through at some point in their lives.  Whether young or old, we have moments when we just don’t understand what we are seeing or are hearing.  I remember as a boy, I was walking at night toward my house.  There, 60 feet from the house, was a lightning ball.  A lightning ball is exactly what it sounds like.  It is a ball of lightning hovering off the ground, in this case, about three feet above the ground.  My curiosity was electric.  I crept closer and closer to this rare occurrence.  Then, I realized what I had seen as a lightning ball was just light brightly shining off of a large shiny tin container.  My confusion was based on a lack of knowledge about what I was seeing and a predisposition to wanting to see a lightning ball which I had previously read about.  In addition to our lifetime moments, there are a number of occasions within scripture where confusion occurred.

The book of John in chapter 6 retells the history of Jesus to a crowd and his disciples near the sea of Galilee.  Picking up in verse 31 the crowd mentions the Israelites in the wilderness and how they were given bread from heaven to eat.  Jesus declares He is the true bread from heaven.  He is the bread of life.  The people grumbled about his statement.  They certainly understood His claim of Deity.  Jesus declared that “the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world… I say unto you, except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, he have no life in you.  Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life.”  By verse 66 it is read, “From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.”  It appears as if there was confusion in regard to what Jesus wanted from those who would follow Him.  Can you imagine hearing these words firsthand?  Not only is this Jesus claiming Deity but is Jesus talking about cannibalism?  Well, no he wasn’t.  He was speaking of the Lord’s Supper by which Christians would partake of the fruit of the vine and unleavened bread to remember Jesus (I Corinthians 11:23-27).

After his death and resurrection, Jesus instructed the disciples remain in Jerusalem waiting for the promise of the Father which was the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  “When the day of Pentecost arrived… they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  These disciples, the twelve apostles, were telling people from different countries and different languages (tongues) “the mighty works of God”.  What was the response to this?  “And all were amazed and perplexed [confused], saying to one another, ‘what does this mean?’ But others mocking said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’”  This interaction recorded in Acts 2 demonstrates how confusion can occur.  These “Galileans”, men who were not educated in the speaking of different languages, were doing so!  The foolish explanation of drunkenness certainly would not apply.  One does not get drunk and develop an ability to speak coherently in language.  What sounded like gibberish to the Hebrew speaking Jew could very likely have been Greek or Aramaic or any other language.  Of course, the apostle Peter lends his voice to these assertions and declares that they were definitely not drunk, but that this was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel.

The apostle Paul visited the Thessalonians in after passing through the area of Amphipolis and Apollonia.  He shared the scriptures with the people there but met quite a bit of persecution and moved on quickly.  However, the Church would grow from his visit and it would flourish.  Paul would later write to the Thessalonians to encourage, strengthen, and instruct them.  Part of his discussion would cover the final judgment of mankind with the return of Jesus in the clouds.  The faithful alive and dead would meet Jesus in the sky and be with him forever.  What great news and blossom of Hope!  Yet, there was confusion.  People were under the impression that Jesus would be returning very soon.  So, people stopped working.  They just waited for the return of the Christ and the blessing of their eternal home.  However, Paul did not mean that the return was imminent.  He wrote another letter a few months later discouraging idleness.  Additionally, he spoke of other things which must come before the return of the Christ.  Simple confusion had created a problem that needed to be taken care of quickly.

Confusion is nothing new.  It has happened in the past.  It is happening today.  It will happen in the future.  When possible, take time to consider how your words or actions might be interpreted.  Also if something seems odd or confusing, seek for clarification.  Communication and inspection is a quick remedy to faulty conclusions.

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The Life of Cain

The Life of Cain

Cain is the first son recorded to be born of Eve the wife of Adam.  He is mentioned in 17 verses in the Bible from both Old and New Testaments.  14 of the verses mentioning Cain come in Genesis 4.  The life of Cain is one of tragedy.  It speaks heavily to disobedience, a lack of self-control, jealous anger.

Cain worked the ground.  Thus, he appears to be a farmer of some sort.  There came a time when he brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. God did not have respect for Cain’s offering. Cain became angry and this disposition showed.  God spoke to Cain and asked him why he was angry and why did he look the way he did.  He asked Cain if he did well wouldn’t he be accepted?  He then instructed Cain that when he didn’t do well that sin would be near.  He told Cain sin wanted him, but he must rule over it.

Critical in understanding the life of Cain is understanding the authority of God.  Without all the information, it is easy to point the finger at God by our not understanding.  How could God punish Cain, someone who had brought him a gift offering?  Would it not seem that Cain wanted to please or be pleasing to God through his action?  Believe it or not, this same behavior is occurring throughout religious bodies today.  Individuals are offering up gifts they believe will be pleasing to God, but are not.  How can this be said?  Where is the proof of this comparison?  Consider the rest of the story, then one of the three verses not found in Genesis 4.  The rest of the story of the offering is that the brother of Cain, Abel, “also brought of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions.”  Of this the author of the book of Hebrews, writes, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts…”.  “By Faith” what does this mean?  Fortunately, we do not have to guess.  Romans 10:17 tells us “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”.  In other words, acceptable offerings “by faith” to God come from what He tells the hearer.  For Cain, the words came directly to him from God.  For mankind today, they come from the Bible itself.  So, if God commands a specific offering and exactly what He requested is not offered, the offeror is outside of given authority.  Bottom line, God will not be pleased.  This was the failing of Cain and the reason God had no regard for his offering. Cain did not offer what was requested.  His offering was not righteous – not right.  This type of action is also the reason God is not pleased by much of modern day worship.  They offer what God did not request nor in the manner He has requested.

Sadly, this is not the last failing in the life of Cain.  Cain spoke to his brother out in a field and then killed him.  The text of Genesis 4 does not specifically say why he killed his brother.  However, the New Testament gives us an answer we might have supposed. “We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.”  Cain killed his brother because of his own jealous anger.  God had warned Cain that sin wanted him.  He told him to rule over it, that is to have self-control.  So many things flash through our minds as we experience the different feelings of this life.  Anger, sadness, desire, lust, joy, exhilaration, envy, jealousy, greed, hunger, and other aspects of living in human flesh all have their potential pitfalls.  Solomon wrote that “There is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way of death.”  Cain’s solution to his evil disobedient behavior and his brother’s righteous behavior was to eliminate his brother.  What could be wrong with this plan?  Kind of like David eliminating Uriah (the husband of the wife with whom David committed adultery and impregnated).  Cain was jealous of his brother receiving the praise of God.  This jealousy led to his lack of self-control.  The lack of self-control added another sin on top of the first one.Cain jealousy

Sobriety is often associated with alcohol or drugs.  If you are sober, many consider this to be the absence of the influence of these substances.  However, sobriety is being clear headed, self controlled, vigilant with your thoughts and actions.  It means that despite how you feel, you put yourself in the right state of thinking.  Cain failed mightily in both his offering and his killing of Abel because in neither case did he exert control over his thoughts or actions.  Cain may be a bad example of how to conduct your life, but he is an excellent example of how not to conduct your life.  Walk in obedience and self-control by the authority of God and not by your own feelings, and your life will be an offering that is pleasing to God.

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Thoughts by the Fire

Thoughts by the Fire

Recently, I wrote an article entitled, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and I discussed the occurrences of cold in the Bible.  Well, it is still cold here in Missouri (below freezing).  So, I am keeping the fire blazing to stay warm!  I want to share with you my “Thoughts by the Fire”. The scriptures speak of keeping warm by the fire.  Peter warmed himself by the fire in Mark 14:54 and the inhabitants of Melita as a show of kindness kindled a fire to warm Paul and those who had been shipwrecked (Acts 28:1-2).  Fire can be such a blessing.  I have good memories of being around it with family and friends.  I am certain that the disciples never forgot being near the fire with Jesus and sharing fish and bread (John 21:9).  Today, let’s take a gander at a few of the instances where the Bible speaks of fire.

Thoughts by the Fire

Thoughts by the Fire

The Bible itself is referred to as a fire.  Jeremiah, sharing the Word each day in a Jerusalem soon to be destroyed came to be mocked and treated poorly because of his proclamations.  He decided not to share God’s revelation anymore, however, it was a “burning fire shut up” in his bones.  Jeremiah couldn’t keep it in!  God later says through Jeremiah “Is not my Word like as a fire?”  I think the prophet would agree.

Fire was actually used to communicate in at least two occurrences within scripture.  First, Moses was drawn to a burning bush, in which an angel of the Lord spoke to him. Second, the voice of God came from fire upon Mt. Sinai with Israel fresh from Egypt camped below.  Of course, communication by fire is not the norm.  That being the case, the fact that fire can also cause great fear is not surprising.  When Israel saw and heard the voice from the fire on Mt. Sinai they were terrified and did not want to see that fire anymore for fear of death.

On the other side of fear, fire for many is a form of comfort.  When the children of Israel were led out of Egypt, by night they could see the presence of God in a pillar of fire.  You could literally say that God was their light.  Throughout all their journeys in the wilderness, God was there.  When Solomon built the temple, though it was not God’s intention for it to be built, fire came down and the Glory of the Lord filled the temple.  This caused Israel to bow faces to the ground and worship and praise God saying “For He is good; for his mercy endureth forever.”  How comforting to know that God was among them.  When the servant of Elisha was concerned about being surrounded by horses and chariots, Elisha prayed that the servant’s eyes be opened.  God answered that prayer, and the man could see the Lord’s chariots of fire filling the mountain.  Now that is assurance!  Fire is even used in the New Testament as a sign of comfort.  The apostle Paul speaks of providing food and drink even to an enemy.  Additionally, he mentions providing coals of fire (which were carried in a ceramic container upon the head) to care for that person in giving them a source to create their domestic fire.

The Old Testament speaks frequently about the fire used for the many sacrifices of Israel.  The fire upon the altar consummating the offering to God.  Outside of the camp of Israel, the sin offering of the bull would be carried and then in a clean place burned with fire.  Within and outside of the walls of Jerusalem, the fires reminded the people of God and His Graciousness toward them.  The thought of fire and sacrifice harkens back to the second mention of fire in the Bible.  Abraham was instructed by God to offer His son Isaac upon an altar.  Scripture says ”And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand and a knife; and they went both of them together.”  Of course, God would provide another offering in this type through the sacrifice of Christ for all mankind; but what a powerful initial example to Israel about devotion to God this example sent.

The first mention of fire in scripture was used to show God’s judgment.  Due to the sinful state of Sodom and Gomorrah, God rained fire and brimstone down upon them from heaven.  God’s judgment is often shown in scripture by the use of fire.  Fire was utilized in the plagues upon Egypt.  Nadab and Abihu were destroyed with fire from heaven due to their disobedience to God.  Complaining from Israel fueled God’s anger toward them, and many were consumed by fire.  God commanded frequently throughout the Old Testament that idols and false Gods were to be destroyed by fire as well.  Significantly, Jerusalem was destroyed by the fire of the Chaldeans in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:9, Jeremiah 37:8) and it was prophesied to be destroyed in the same manner in 70 AD (Zephaniah 1:18, Luke 3:16).  Both occurrences could have been avoided if Israel would have clung to God and honored him through deeds of repentance, but they refused.  Though these earthly judgments are terrifying displays of God’s power, a greater judgment waits for all mankind.  Matthew 18:8, 25:41, and Jude 1:7 all speak of an eternal fire to come punishing those whose hearts would not turn to God.

There are many uses and instances of the word fire in the Bible.  Its impact can range from the pleasant to the horrifying.  Its flame can be a blessing or an eternal curse depending on the heart of man.  The wrath of God burns like a fire, but he will not hide it forever (Psalm 89:46).  This fiery anger of God will come upon those whose heart has departed from Him (Jeremiah 17:4-5).  Let’s let our thoughts by the fire examine whether our hearts are turning dark and cold.  May we all kindle a flame of repentance, love, and honor to God before it is eternally too late.

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What Are You Thankful For?

What Are You Thankful For?

Let me ask you, what are you truly thankful for? As strange as it may seem, the answer you give is likely the very opposite of the answer Paul would give. Read his words, then read them again, slowly. “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake” (2 Cor. 12:10).

How can anyone take pleasure in infirmities? The word signifies the opposite of strength, it signifies weakness and the inability to produce results. If this seems strange, keep reading.Thankful script

How can anyone take pleasure in reproaches? The word indicates insult, contempt, and harsh treatment. So many of us can hardly go without words of encouragement from others. If this seems strange that Paul would find pleasure in this, keep reading.

How can anyone take pleasure in needs? We are living in a time when the cost of what we consider necessities is almost overwhelming. Paul took pleasure in those times when the necessities of life were scarce. If this seems strange to you, keep reading.

How can anyone take pleasure in persecutions? Compare in the previous chapter his list of all he had suffered and compare it to what we have to endure. Paul took pleasure in those periods in his life where his enemies pushed so hard against him. If this seems strange to you, keep reading.

How can anyone take pleasure in distresses? This word is best defined as being pressed on every side so severely that it appears there is no escape. If this seems strange to you that Paul would find pleasure in this, keep reading.

To understand Paul’s “Thanksgiving List,” read the rest of the verse. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Pay special attention to the words “when” and “then,” for they point to the same time. It is not that “after” I am weak and look back on a situation that I became strong. At the time of his greatest weakness, he had his greatest strength.

When life is easier and we have so many good things for which we can be thankful, we can so easily forget how good circumstances can make us forget about living close to God. However, when circumstances are not “pleasant,” we sense our need for God and turn to Him. He is there, because when we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. James says that such times when trials come, we should count it all joy. He then gives the reason, and it is the same one Paul gives. The results of such trials strengthen us and bring us to spiritual maturity (James 1:4). It might be a good time to look at our lists and see that the best times in our lives is when we are having trials!

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It’s About People!

It’s About People!

One of the greatest challenges that we face in our lives is connecting with other people.  When we think about our purpose, to love God and love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39), we realize that this is the great challenge God has given us.  We let things get in the way of doing that.  We also let things get in the way of others showing love to us.  Being about the Lord’s business is being about the business of visiting with and learning about other people.  The more that we can do this, the better job we will do in fulfilling our purpose in life.person group

One of the greatest obstacles that we place in our path of connecting with other people is simply failing to talk to them.  So often we conceive of prejudices in our mind as to why a person is one way or another.  We think, “I can’t talk to him/her about this because he/she will never listen.”  How do we know until we try?  Jesus told us that if we have a problem with another that we need to go to him/her and talk (Matthew 18:15).  Jesus’ way is the best way.  More often than not, we will be able to resolve our differences.

Many times the reason we don’t want to talk to other people lies within our own heart.  We allow others to control us by blaming them instead of doing what we can.  This is debilitating.  We must take responsibility for our own thoughts, beliefs, decisions, feelings, and actions.  This will put us back in control of our own life and go a long way toward helping us be more relaxed and comfortable around other people so that we can fulfill the purpose that God has given us in this life.

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