DQ#2

2. Why is the word “judge” an inaccurate label for the leaders of pre-monarchial Israel?

The Book of Judges a book of the Bible originally written in Hebrew. It appears in the Tanakh and in the Christian Old testament. Its title refers to its contents; it contains the history of Biblical judges, who helped rule and guide the ancient Israelites, and of their times.

As Judges stands today, the last judge it mentions is Samson, and although there are two further stories, the traditional view is that Samson’s exploits probably synchronise with the period immediately preceding Eli, who was both high priest and judge. Both academic views and traditional thought hence view the narrative of the judges as ending at Samson, picking up again at 1 Samuel 1:1 to consider Eli, and continuing through to 1 Samuel 7:2. As for the stories at the end of the Book, which are set in the same time period as the judges, but discuss people other than the judges, there is much affinity between these and the Book of Ruth, and many people believe Ruth originally belonged amongst them.

Judges in the Old Testmanent era are the one called by God to save or deliver the Israelites from danger or from the enemy. As I understood with the questions and my readings. The word “judge” is an inaccurate label for the leaders of pre-monarchial  Israel because the judges during that time is also disobeyed some regulations or some commands of God. Supposed to be, as a leader of the Israelites, and as a leader commanded by God, they must follow all God’s instruction, but some of the leader are disobeyed God in some area. So I think that is the reason why the word judge is an inaccurate for the leader of the pre-monarchial Israel.

 

 

DEV 2

SERVE WITH FAITHFULNESS 

Joshua 24:14-15 (New International Version)

 14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the    River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

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The Word of the Lord said to Joshua that all the people must serve the Lord only, that fear Him
and serve Him with faithfulness. That they must not worship the idols that their father’s made. It is only the Lord God whom we worship and not the things that we created by our forefathers. As the passage said that the people of Israel must forsaken or must throw any graven image that they created to worship, we as a believer of Christ today must not worship any idols or any created images like the pagans do. We must set aside any idols sorrounding us. If we still have some any graven images sorrounds us, we must do our best to remove all those and focus only with God.

As I remember, and also today, my family serving the imgaes of Mother Mary. I thought before that it is okey, because they said that they are also worshiping and praying to Jesus Christ. But as I go on and observe, I notice that something like Mary is the mediator, or the way in which our prayers can be heard by God. I told them that Jesus Christ is the only one mediator, that God said that if we pray to Jesus Christ all our prayers will be heard, but why is it that they considered Mary as their mediator? And that time they didn’t answer me anything, some of them also doesn’t know why they are worshipping like that.

As I notice, they are doing this because their ancestors do and told them so. God said fear and serve Him only and not any other gods and idols. As I read this passage from Joshua, I remembered when the Lord called me out from the darkness. That I must worship Him alone and not the gods of my forefathes or my ancestors. Especially now that some of my families are still doing it. I cannot serve two masters, wether I forsake the other one and serve the other. So I must focus alone on God and serve Him. I will be happy then if my whole family will serve our God alone, because they are not still focusing on God, they are still doing their tradional way like the pagans do. How glad and happy I am, if I will be like Joshua who said that, “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”. I can be able to shout also to the others and to be a effective Christian Leader s

DQ#1

1.          Why is the complete destruction of Canaanites (and others) ordered by Yahweh? Isn’t he a God of Mercy and Love?

God is really a God of mercy and love! The destruction of the Canaanites and others shows that God is powerful and just. He destroyed the land of Canaanites and the others for a purpose. One reason why God has destroyed those lands are because the people living there are not recognizing God as their God. They are worshiping and praising other gods. Yes its true that God is the God of mercy and love, but it is written also in his Word and it shows that God is a jealous God. He said that the people must worship Him only, because He is the God of truth. But because of the sinfulness of the people they worship their own created gods.

God shows here that he is powerful, that no one can compare Him, that He can do everything, that all things are possible to Him. God shows to the Israelites people and Canaanites people and others that they must praise him only. But because of the hardheaded of the people, God ordered to destroy them. We say that God is the God of mercy and love, and that’s true. He shows his unceasing mercy and amazing love to those people who are following and obeying His commands. Everything is under God’s control.

God destroys those people who will not praise Him but worshiping other gods. He continues to show his mercy and love to the people whom He called to serve Him and continue to follow Him alone.

 

 

 

 

ot152 DEV.#1

GOD IS WITH THEE! 

Joshua 1:8-9

8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” New International Version

  

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The Word of the Lord is faithful and true! The Lord said that we must read and meditate His Words everyday, wherever we are and whatever we do. We must not forget to meditate on God’s Word, because it is the very important and precious thing in our life.

We may eat our food everyday, but still we feel hungry. So also with the Word’s of God, we must read our bible everyday, because it is our spiritual food. We may have strength when we eat our physical food, but we will be stronger and wise if we will eat our spiritual food in life, that is to meditate on God’s Word.

I will meditate on the Word of God always, because the Word of God gives me wisdom. It is my guide in every activity that I am going to do, especially during my bible studies and if some needs some counsel I may know what to advice to them through the Words of God. As a minister called by God, I must always read His Word and always meditate on it. So that if just in case I can face some cult members or some people who don’t believe on God, I can know how to deal with them.

As my experience before, when someone came to me and they share something about God, I always believe them and sometimes agree with them. But as I go on my personal relationship with God, I know and learned that they are the members of what they called cult. They are using the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but they don’t really believe on the Christ.

According to the Word of God, all things in heaven and on earth will pass away, but His Words will never pass away. So as long as we live, we must focus on God alone. Let’s serve Him with all our hearts, with all our strength, with all our might and with all of our everything. No one can compare to the Word of God, it is the greatest and strongest weapon of every Christian. Let’s grab that armor so that no one can deceive us.

Let’s be strong in the Lord, we must not afraid of any circumstances, because we know and we sure that God will always help us in times of need. He promised that in His Word, that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He will there always right beside us, ready to help us in times of our troubles in life.

Quiz No. 8

1.         What mountain is probably the “Mount Sinai” mentioned in Exodus?
Why is this the most preferred?

2.         Trace the route of the Exodus and give brief description of what happened at a particular place.

The mountain in the Exodus and probably the Mount Sinai is Jebel Musa. Jebel Musa seems to be the preferred site because of the imposing granite formalities of the massif and the presence of the extensive plain at its base.

In the middle of the sixth century, when the Justinian had the monastery and the basilica of St. Catherine erected at the foot of Jebel Musa, they formalize a tradition to trace back the mountain of Moses at least around in the fourth century. 

The route of the Exodus took place in the Red Sea and for approximately 100 miles and then diagonally inland about 50 miles toward modern Jebel Musa. There the Israelites remained for nearly one year. From that point, their journey led to north of Kadesh-barnea at the south part of Canaan. 

As they departed form the eastern shore of the red Sea they stop for a while to give praise to God. Then as they go on with their traveling, they first stop at Ain Musa, or the “Spring of Moses”, it is the source of sweet water and about sixteen to eighteen hours journey from the north of the site of Marah. The journey from Ain Musa to Marah is about 40 miles. Marah is a site known for its salty and brackish water, its taste is unpleasant, and somewhat bitter. But  because of God’s command to Moses, the water became sweet and drinkable.

Then the  Israelites journeyed on to Elim, this is located in the large and beatiful valley of Gruhundel. During the rainy season, there is a constant torrent of water running down to the Red Sea. This site had at least 12 wells to supply the people and their herds.  

The next place is the Desert od Sin or they called it the Dophkah, meaning smeltery. The people rested at Dophkah and Alush before they came to Rephidim. And when they arrived at Rephidim, they found that their water was depleted, and even also that the region that contained a few springs were also depleted and insufficient for all their needs. During their stay at Rephidim when they were attacked by the Amelikites. And it was at Rephidim that Moses was visited by his father-in-law. 

And the next destination of the Israelites is at Mount Sinai. The people were remained there for almost eleven months and five days. And during their time at Mount Sinai, the Covenant of the law and the orders of the services on how to worship God was given to them through Moses.     

Dev 8:

LORD is God! 

Deuteronomy 4:39

Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.

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The Lord is my God. He is the only One and true God, He is the living God. I have my father but He is my Heavenly Father and Spiritual Father. No one can I compare Him to someone else here on earth. No one can do what are the things He has done to me. He loves me so much, He shows that He really cares for me, He didn’t forsake nor leave me. He is there always right at my side.

I will do everything for His glory alone, I will obey and follow Him. I put my trust in Him alone, no one can hinder me in doing my best to my Heavenly Father. What ever my circumstances in life, whether its hard or not, I will make sure that I will always do the task that God has given me.

DQ8:

DQ8: What is a city of refuge? What is its function? Why did the LORD had the Israelites set it up?

The city of refuge is the place wherein the people can go to save their lives so that the people seeking for them may find them. It is the place wherein God told to the people of Israelite and to Moses that if someone killed a person unintentionally, they can go to this place and stay there until they make sure that they are safe.

In our life today, our city of refuge is only to God himself, We can run to Him, we can ask help to Him. He is the only one we can take our refuge, not only physically but also spiritually. He is there always right beside us ready to help us in times of our needs and troubles. We don’t need to run and go to other places to save ourselves, the only thing we do is to run to God alone. Surely He will help us, and we need to trust Him in everything. He can do all things. God is our refuge.

Dev7

Do what you ought to do! 

Dev7:Num.15:1-36:13

Numbers 30:2

When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

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If a person promise to do something, they must do what ever they promised. If you can not do your obligations well, it is better to not say promise if you will just forget it or you will not going to do it,

If I will going to make a covenant to someone, I will do what I say. As long as I can, ii will do what ever it is. Especially when the promise is between God and me, I will do my best to fulfill it. All promises must be done in a right time and in a right person. I must do all my obligations as I promised it to someone else, I must not break whatever the vow that I made.

DQ7:

DQ7: Who hardenened Pharoah’s heart during the standoff between him and the LORD?

The one who hardened Pharaoh’s heart is God himself. He did it because God has some purpose with it and He has a special plan for this event. As I know, God did it to show to both the Israelites and the Egyptians that He is the God, the true and living God. God want to show that He is the God of the Israelite, His own people, He want to show His great and amazing love for them all. Not only to the Israelites people but also to the Egyptian people. God did this so that all the people may believe on Him alone and not to their other dead gods.

I think one reason why God hardened Pharaoh’s heart is that He wants to test Moses and Aaron in their obedience to Him, on whether until when they will follow and obey God in spite of the hardships and difficult circumstances that they are going to face during their journey with God. And maybe also God want to train them to be a good leader and to set a good example to the next leader that God will appoint when they will gone.

Dev.6

Leviticus 26:1-5

Worship God alone!

Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.

Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.

If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands,

I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit.

Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.(NIV)

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Worship the Lord our God with all our everything. We must not make any graven image to worship. God alone is only one, no one should be woship aside from Him.

In my situation before, we always go to the catholic church and  I saw some man made monument there inside and outside. People touched the graven image and believed that they will be healed if just they can touch it. They believed on their superticious belief, even the image of Mary the mother of Jesus.

But when i grown up, I realized that no one can saved you alone, but only through Jesus Christ. It is clearly stated in the Bible that we should not make any graven image to worship. Only God alone deserve our worship, He is the One worthy of our worship.

God blesses those people who are following His commands and will. I as a Christian must obey Him alone. I must not be tempted to follow any traditional or pagan way of the people sorround me. I must focus on God alone. No one can hinder me in worshiping God, I trust Him that He will never leave me nor forsake me. I will do all things for God alone.

God is the source of life, we should not forget it as some are in a habit of doing. They didn’t even recognize that their lives came from God, that their breath cam from God. Some people still believe on their pagan idols.

That we as a Christian must do something, to reveal to them the Truth and nothing  but the Truth.