Galatians lesson #5

GALATIANS # 5
HISTORY
An overview (4)
6/28/10

At Sinai, God entrusted Moses not only with the moral law, and dietary law, but also all the, construction plans, construction specifications, and instructions pertaining to the tabernacle worship. With this, God had made one of His greatest revelations of Himself to mankind: entrusting it to Moses was a staggeringly high honor – and responsibility. After entrusting all this to Moses, they built the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle, God then continued the journey, leading them on to “the promised land”.

Even after witnessing and participating in all the amazing miracles which had rescued them from slavery in Egypt, and were even now continuing, leading them, providing for them and protecting them: the majority (not all, a “remnant” always remained true) of the Israelites continued to “waver” in their love of God – on again/off again; they would zealously worship God, emotionally, (not intellectually) when some spectacular miracle took place and then quickly return to their old ways, in spite of the astonishing miracles they had just witnessed! Their ignorance of God was clearly shown by this shallow belief they held, even so God remained faithful. After giving them the law to teach them more about Himself ( James 1:25 ( KJV ) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. ), God’s justice, patience, and mercy is further revealed, as He repeatedly forgives them, continues leading them; chastising them, but never abandoning or crushing them.

As they draw near to the Promised Land, dissent begins to build up. Finally Moses gets discouraged…Let’s turn to Numbers 11, and take a look at some of the troubles they were having:

more in chapter 12:

even more in chapters 13 & 14:

And finally chapter 16:

This fickle, shallow, emotional faith continued! A little later on after they have witnessed many more miracles and have lived in the Promised Land for many years, some even go back to building and worshiping golden calves!

Title : The Holy Bible, King James Version
Edition : Third
Copyright : Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright © 1998, Parsons Technology, Inc.

1 Kings 12:1-33 ( KJV )
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;
And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

Meanwhile, back in the desert, as a result of this endemic lack of faith we humans are subject to, the Israelites are condemned to wander in the desert for forty years – no one over the age of twenty at that time, would be allowed into the Promised Land – except for the few (remnant) that trusted. During this interregnum, God also entrusted and guided Moses in the writing of the law (Torah, Pentateuch) the first five books of the bible.


DISCUSSION
1. Why did God give the Law to Moses?
2. Where did Moses get the information to write the Torah?
3. How was their life different after receiving the Law?
4. Why was Miriam stricken with leprosy?
5. Why did the Israelites faith in God continue to “waver”?
6. How did Moses demonstrate his selfless concern for his people?
7. Now, these some 3500 +/- years later, with all that God has done and showed us,(far more than the Israelites had learned) do we have a tendency to worship an occasional golden calf?

GALATIANS # 4
HISTORY
An overview (3)
6/21/10



As a member of the pharaoh’s household, Moses was part of the most powerful, privileged, wealthy class of people alive at that time: he lived a life of power, privilege, and luxury. However, with the death sentence resulting from his slaying the overseer, he instantly lost all this and had to flee for his life, into the dessert, a fugitive, completely discredited, and rejected – by both the Egyptians and the Israelites!

In the wilderness he was taken in by a nomadic herdsman: from living in a magnificent home with all the sophistication, comforts and finest luxuries of that time; to living in a tent; constantly on the move; a refugee; scrambling to survive; herding goats for a livelihood.
Many years go by, then, suddenly from this obscure, ignominious life as a goat herder out in the middle of nowhere, God appears as a burning bush and “calls” Moses, sending him back to Egypt to rescue his brethren from their slavery; the very kinsmen that had rejected him; to confront the Egyptians who had sentenced him to death, twice!

In Egypt, God guides Moses in a series of astonishing confrontations with the pharaoh: the pharaoh responds to Moses, in a very typically human way: he refuses to accept that Moses, the fugitive, goat herding slave, is presenting the “Truth” and that the message is really from God – not Moses. God increases the pressure, ratcheting up the magnitude of the demonstration of His power, notch by notch, culminating in the final plague: the death of all the first born males in Egypt. At the conclusion of this plague pharaoh yields and releases the Israelites, leaving Moses the victor.

After the Israelites left, the pharaoh regained his courage, gathered his army and pursued them: to salvage his self esteem; to subdue them once and for all; to recapture and return them to slavery. Meanwhile, the Israelites had come to the red sea, whereupon, looking back they see the Egyptian army closing in on them – the red sea blocking their escape – it appears that all is lost! They abandon their trust in God, turn on Moses again, accusing him of getting them in this spot where they will likely be killed, Moses tells them to stand still and behold the salvation of God:
“Title : The Holy Bible, King James Version
Edition : Third
Copyright : Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright © 1998, Parsons Technology, Inc.

Exodus 14:10-31 ( KJV )
And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.
From this “victory” over the most powerful man alive at that time, Moses continues to perform what appear to be astonishing feats. Though the people “believed the LORD” they didn’t see and/or hear God, they only saw Moses apparently causing all these astonishing things to take place. The conversion and belief of the people was much like that of the pharaoh (Ex. 10: 16 – 20) weak and insincere, only to relieve the immediate situation for their selfish interests.
With God’s guidance Moses leads the people on into the dessert, arriving finally at mount Sinai where God had told him he would serve Him: Exodus 3:11-12 ( KJV )
And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
In lesson three we left off with Exodus 32, the story of many (not all) of the Israelites shocking display of their “shallow conversion”. In this incident His chosen people, even after having been miraculously rescued, turn away, choosing their false gods over Him! Enthralled by all the miraculous events that they have witnessed, rather than praising God, they attribute all the miracles to their pagan gods, and return to worshiping them!

However, aside from this failure of many of the Israelites, in this short passage we see the clearest demonstration of “why Moses”. Not only was he well trained, and educated, as we discussed earlier, but here he demonstrates another astonishing characteristic which is in very short supply among we Homo-Sapiens:
Matthew 22:36-40 ( KJV )
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

As we discussed last week, Moses was raised with all the power, privileges, and prestige of being part of the pharaohs household: even the possibility of becoming pharaoh himself – the most powerful, wealthy, man alive! And, even if not pharaoh, the certainty of a life of luxury and influence.

Yet, what did he do? Ex 2: 12 – 15

Moses was outraged at the brutal treatment of the Israelite and felt compassion for him, prompting him to go to his aid. Enmity with both the Egyptians and his kinsmen were the consequences of this action, costing him his lofty position in life and alienating him from his kinsmen.

Would Moses have shown such concern, “love”, for his kinsmen if he had known what was to befall him? We really can’t tell from what is recorded here, but the events recorded in Ex. 32 add a fascinating insight:
Exodus 32:31-33 ( KJV ) And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

We find this sentiment echoed by the apostle Paul in Rom 9: 3. Here we see each of these men offering their lives…even their salvation…for their “friends, this love of God/friend is a very significant part of their greatness.

John 15:12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

With all that had gone on, Moses not becoming impressed with himself, and seizing the power for himself (it would have been very easy to dupe the Israelites at this point, some of them did make a power play but God backed Moses, we will study this next week) in light of all the astonishing feats he had accomplished as God’s representative, was only possible by his loving God with all his heart mind, body and strength. Moses has repeatedly demonstrated his complete selflessness, culminating here in his offer to die for his friends.


DISCUSSION
1. Why Moses?
2. What were the three periods of Moses life?
3. How did they differ?
4. Why did the Israelites continue to desert their faith in God?
5. How did Moses demonstrate his selfless concern for his people?

GALATIANS # 3
HISTORY
An overview (2)
6/07/10

Moses was an unlikely candidate for the leader of the Israelites…
• Born under a death sentence.
• Had to conceal (or unaware of) his Jewish ancestry and heritage.
• Not a member of the Israelite community, though a Jew, was raised and lived as a member of the pharaoh’s family; rulers of Egypt, slave master of the Israelites.
• Rejected by the Jewish community after he killed the Egyptian overseer.
• Fled from Egypt under another death sentence for killing the Egyptian overseer.
• Married a daughter of “the priest of Midian” probably a worshiper of Yahweh, but not a descendant of Isaac.
• Lived there among non-Israelites, app. 40 yrs. before God called him:

Exodus Title : The Holy Bible, King James Version
Edition : Third
Copyright : Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright © 1998, Parsons Technology, Inc.

Exodus 3:1-22 ( KJV )
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

Moses was educated in the household of Pharaoh, with little, or no exposure to the teachings of the Israelites. His knowledge of His heritage would have been somewhat garbled seen through the teaching of his Midianite father in-law, and his Egyptian education. Even so, he was God’s choice to lead the Israelites out of captivity, rather than one of the leaders of the community which was in slavery.

In spite of these, what at “a quick glance”, appear to be some pretty serious shortcomings, Moses went on to become one of the two men having the greatest impact on humanity of anyone who has ever lived (the other being Saul of Tarsus); Let’s “stop, bend down, and peer intently” for a moment, at why Moses was such a monumental figure in mankind’s history.

At the time of Moses childhood, the Egyptians were the most advanced civilization the earth had yet seen: very sophisticated math and science; construction techniques which enabled the building of the pyramids, sphinxes, elaborate building etc.; they had a written language and an elaborate theology; funerary methods that haven’t been matched to this day. Since Moses was raised by the pharaoh’s daughter he was thoroughly educated in all these things: as a potential future ruler he would have been highly trained in military, managerial, and diplomatic skills. With all this training he would have been one of the best equipped, potential leaders of his time. His Midianite father in-law was the “priest of the Midianites” and, as the descendant of one of Abraham’s younger sons, would have been familiar with the promises and teachings that Abraham had received from God, thus Moses would have had access to, and been taught by a knowledgeable tutor: taught what was probably a much more detailed and much less distorted view of God than the Israelite’s. Since they had been kept in pagan captivity all that time, syncretic influences had taken their toll to some extent.

In light of all this information, Moses was not such a bad choice after all!
After Moses had been living among the Midianites for quite some time, God revealed Himself to Moses as a burning bush and in that encounter he directed Moses to go and bring the Israelites out of captivity. At this time God answered Moses question of what His name is: I AM (Exodus 3: 14) God’s most complete revelation of Himself to mankind up until that time, God’s ongoing revelation of himself, culminating in the death and resurrection of “His only Begotten Son”. We see this most clearly and emphatically with the preservation of the Israelites from the last plague God visits upon the Egyptians. (Exodus 12: 1- 20)

God instructed them to select and befriend a perfect lamb, then slay it, take some of the blood and paint their doorposts: the blood saved them from the “judgment” God visited upon the Egyptians. The patient, incremental process God has used here, each plague an increased manifestation of His power, is revealing more and more of Himself, continuing an ongoing provision of bits and pieces of the solution to the “Mystery” (Mark 4: 11; Romans 16: 25; etc)
After God demonstrated His power to Pharaoh and through him to all mankind, and the Israelites are released, He leads and protects them in the dessert, counseling and guiding Moses in all that he does. The general direction of the migration is Eastward, towards mount Horeb where God had told Moses he would “serve God” (Ex. 3: 12), upon arriving there God again speaks to Moses,(Exodus 19 – 20) entrusting Moses with His law.

. With these actions, God set in motion the events necessary to establish mankind’s only hope of Salvation; the “schoolmaster” was in place (Gal 3: 24). With the help of this protector and guide, mankind would be able to understand God’s plan of salvation as it was revealed.
During the time that Moses was on the mountain with God, some of the people grew impatient and reverted to their pagan beliefs! Assigning the rescue and miracles they have just experienced/witnessed to their old Gods, and build a golden calf to worship and thank for all that has transpired! So often there is only a thin patina of change in new converts – the old false god’s are present just below the surface.

As we discussed last week, the Israelites beliefs had been polluted by exposure to four hundred years of syncretism between them and paganism of various forms; additionally a “multitude“of others joined them in their departure from Egypt: Exodus 12:38 ( KJV ) And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. Soon after participating in all the miraculous works of God delivering them from Egypt and providing for them in the desert it seems they would unwaveringly trust and worship God, however, when Moses didn’t come right back from his mission on mount Sinai, they built a gold calf and worshiped it! Even Aaron joined in!

God was displeased and offered to slay all the Israelites and raise a new “chosen” people from Moses. Moses, humbly turned down the offer, God relented and punished only the worst offenders (Exodus 32).

DISCUSSION

1. Why Moses?
2. What was beneficial as a future leader in Moses up-bringing?
3. What was significant about the last plague?
4. What was beneficial about the time he spent with his in-laws?
5. After gaining the peoples release where did Moses head for? Why?
6. What happened there?
7. How did the people respond while at mount Horeb?
8. What happened to them?

reading assignment Galatians, class 3

READING ASSIGNMENT FOR GALATIANS CLASS #3

1. History of the Christian Church pages I6 -20
2. Jeremiah chapter 2.
3. Amos 3
http://dailydevotionalblog.com/?p=384 ( TITLE: Moses and Egyptian History)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses

GALATIANS # 2
HISTORY
An overview (1)
5/24/10

In preparing and presenting these studies, I try not to let any denominationalism, or my opinions creep in; my goal is to present the material accurately and completely unbiased. However, it is inevitable that some of my views will sneak in! To minimize the bias with which my prejudices might taint the study and in order to maintain some semblance of coherence in our study of Galatians we must acknowledge my world view and thus enable our establishing the parameters of the discussion.

So, for purposes of this study, let’s accept a “conservative” position and agree to agree, that:

1. The Scriptures (such as the King James Version) traditionally considered to be canonical by the Protestant churches, are “the breath of God”, and are thus inerrant and adequate, “sola scriptura"
a. Acknowledge that some interpretations are less true to the original writings than others, thus if necessary, we will rely on the KJV as the arbiter of conflicting interpretations.
b. All miracles mentioned literally happened, supernaturally, just as described.
c. The scriptures are historically correct.
d. They were written by the ones listed as the authors and generally at the earliest date normally accepted by conservative Christian Biblical scholars.
2. Christ is one aspect of the “Trinity”: is of identical substance as God the Father..
3. Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, came physically in the flesh, to dwell with mankind; God/man.
4. Mankind is guilty of , and condemned for “original sin”
5. Jesus suffering and death on the cross was the only means of “atoning" for mankind’s sins, “penal substitution”, which paid the penalty for the sins (including original sin) of anyone who will accept Him.
6. There is no salvation, but through Jesus Christ.
7. God is:
a. Omnipotent: absolutely powerful.
b. Omniscient: knows everything.
c. Omnipresent: is present everywhere at all times.

With that framework in place let’s see if we can keep the discussion within these boundaries:

Open your bible to the book of “beginnings”, Genesis, chapter 1, verse 1: “In the beginning God created….” From this we see that God existed before the beginning; before time! Why did He decide to create this universe? Turn to Revelations 4: 11…where we are told: it was for His pleasure. Not for our pleasure, not a random act issuing forth from His boredom: For His pleasure. Now back to Genesis 1: 26 – 31. At the conclusion of other days of creation, the scriptures record that God declares that day’s work as good: on completion of the crowning act, the creation of man, He declares creation to be “very good”. From this we see that not only did God create we humans, but he was pleased with the result; “very good”.

Since God is omniscient, He knew before He created man that man would rebel - yet He created him anyway, and declared all creation, including man, to be “very good”!Before Adam rebelled, the scriptures tell us God interacted on an intimate basis with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3: 8).

After the fall, man was saddled with “original sin” and was no longer allowed this close relationship: the revelation of the “Great Mystery” (Mark 4: 11) had begun (Genesis 1: 15)
As mankind increased, so did their rebellion, leading finally to such violence and debauchery that God had had enough and we read this astonishing statement in Genesis 6:6-7 :
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
God then did destroy all, except by His grace, preserving mankind through Noah and his immediate family: even so the, “sin nature”, though not as rampant, was still alive and well, even after these miraculous events! Noah planted a vineyard, made some wine, got falling down drunk, and Ham committed some disgusting sin, the nature of which is uncertain...

From there mankind sunk back into their rebellious ways and set out to “build a tower to heaven” Gen. 11: 5-9 God broke this plot up by “confounded their tongues” and scattering “races” of men; He continued to be merciful, patient and, by His Grace, forgiving. On up through the centuries the scriptures continue to record man “wavering” or outright rebelling against God, even so, God remained steadfast, though justly dispensing punishment from time to time, yet ever remaining faithful to his promise to Eve: Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel , the promise of a savior who will conquer Satan.

Mankind again drifts away (always a “remnant” remaining faithful: Melchizedek Gen: 14: 18, etc). Remaining faithful to his promise, in spite of mans perversity, God takes the next step in revealing Himself, “choosing” Abram :
Genesis 12:1-3 ( KJV )
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

And His covenant with Abram:

Genesis 15:7-21 ( KJV )
And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

Note that in verses 17 and 18 Abraham is in a trance and does not pass between the parts of the sacrifice, only God did, Hard Sayings of the Bible explores this intriguing chain of events:

Obedience, the Way to Blessing?

(Genesis 26:3-5) Did God grant his gracious gifts to Abraham on the basis of works? Are we to surmise that Old Testament men and women got salvation the old-fashioned Smith-Barney way: “They earned it”? It is the word because in Genesis 26:3-5 that causes us to raise our eyebrows and see this as a hard saying. There does appear to be a tension here between the free and unconditional offer of the promise to Abraham and the promise conditioned on Abraham’s keeping all God’s commands, decrees and laws. Surely law and grace are on a theological collision course. There are five key passages that are cited as demonstrating that the patriarch Abraham performed the requirements of God and in return God offered to him the everlasting covenant as a gift for his obedience: Genesis 12:1; 17:1, 9-14; 22:16; 26:3-5. Some have added additional commands to this list, but generally these are not as directly related to the promise-plan as the five already cited. The difficulty of this argument for conditionality and earning the promise is the stress the text makes on God’s actively conferring this covenant on Abraham. In one of the most dramatic scenes in the patriarch’s life, Genesis 15:12-21 depicts Abraham as being only a passive party to the formalization of the covenant, while the Lord, appearing as a “smoking firepot with a blazing torch,” passes between the pieces of the animals in the act of making a covenant with Abraham. It is well worth noting that only God passed between the pieces and therefore obligated himself. Had this been a bilateral covenant in which the covenant depended equally on both parties fulfilling their sides of the bargain, then both God and Abraham would have had to move between the pieces of the animals divided in half and thus say in effect, “May it happen to me what has happened to these animals if I do not uphold my side of the covenant.” So how shall we explain the disparity that now seems to intrude, requiring obedience from Abraham if the covenant is to be maintained? The answer will be this: promise and blessing still precede the command to obey and to keep the commands of God. Obedience is no more a condition for Abraham than it is for the church living under the command “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love” (Jn 15:10) or “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (Jn 14:15). The promise does not oppose God’s law, either in Abraham’s gift of the promise or in our gift of eternal life. The promise-giver who initiated the cove- nant with the patriarchs is the same one who gave the commandments, laws and statutes. Obedience, then, was not a condition for receiving the promise-blessing of God but was instead the evidence of real participation in that same promise. Because God was faithful, it was possible for these patriarchs to receive the promised blessings even if they themselves did not participate in them through their own belief. Even those who were not personal participants in the benefits of the covenant still had to pass on these benefits to those who followed in the line of the seed of the patriarchs. That belief was most easily demonstrated by the way in which individuals obeyed God—just as John puts it in his Gospel for the believing community of the New Testament. Therefore, the alleged conditional elements in the Abrahamic (and Davidic) covenant never threatened the constituent elements of the promise, nor did they add any stipulations to them. The matter of duty or obedience, which indeed is intimately bound up with the promise, is a matter of outcome and sequel rather than a prior condition to being a participant in its benefits by faith. The most remarkable text expressing the unconditional nature of the promise is Leviticus 26:44-45—“Yet in spite of this [the sins of disobedience],... I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors.” Surely that sounds as if it is indeed an unconditional covenant! See also comment on Leviticus 18:5; comment on Micah 6:6-8; comment on James 2:24. (QuickVerse)

This is a key passage: mankind, in their disbelief, has gone right to the brink of utter obliteration over and over, each time God has mercifully preserved a remnant, now here He further reveals Himself, and His plan of salvation for mankind reinforcing his promise of a coming Messiah (seed Gal 3: 16) even though we humans have failed over and over, unilaterally promising the inheritance to Abraham! There is nothing Abraham could pledge or promise, no work that he could do: it is entirely undeserved; entirely an act of Grace, unilaterally, solely on God’s part!

For a little more on this promise, let’s open our bibles to Galatians 3: 16 and read the insight the apostle Paul gives us.

As time goes by, Abraham (God changed his name Gen. 15: 17) wavers, even fails, from time to time, yet he never completely turns away from God; he continues to have “faith” in God, by which God counts him to be righteous (James 2: 21 – 23, etc.). One of Abraham’s failures leads to the birth of Ishmael by the slave woman, which we will consider a little later. The son of Sarah, “the son of promise” goes on to father Esau and his younger twin brother, Jacob.

As the eldest, Esau is the rightful heir of Abraham and God’s promise, however, through treachery and deceit Jacob steals their father’s blessing and the birthright.(Gen. 27 etc). Jacob then fathered twelve sons: the twelve tribes of Israel (God changed his name, Gen. 32: 28). the next to youngest of these boys (Joseph) was his father’s favorite, which caused his brothers to resent him and to finally decide to kill him! At the last moment they sold him to some itinerant slave traders and thought they were done with him, however, God wasn’t.

The slave traders took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to a high official in the pharaoh’s court, a series of miraculous events then unfold leading to Joseph becoming the second in command to the pharaoh.(Gen 41 etc). a famine struck all of that region and Joseph’s family came to Egypt for food and were reconciled with him, and so began the four hundred years God had told Abraham his children would be captive (Genesis 15:7-21, see above). In this vision God had also told Abraham his descendants would be delivered from this captivity after four hundred years.

A little over three hundred years later, God began preparing a man to lead them from this captivity: Moses, one of the two humans having the greatest positive influence and impact on mankind that ever lived (Jesus is God/man) the other being Saul of Tarsus – the Apostle Paul.

God’s requirement that Abraham and his descendants be circumcised (Gen 17: 7 – 14) set them apart physically and preserved them as God’s chosen people to some extent, even during their four hundred year Egyptian sojourn they remained a separate people. This outward physical sign, along with their belief in the God of Abraham and that they were His chosen people, along with their lowly social status as slaves, prevented their being completely absorbed by the Egyptian society in which they were immersed. However, not without suffering the syncretic infusion of some bits and pieces of the pagan religions in which they were immersed.

In spite of these shortcomings God remains merciful and patient and through Moses, frees the Israelites and sets in motion the events defining and ultimately providing the answer to the great “mystery” (mark 4: 11; Rom 16: 25 – 27)

DISCUSSION

1. Why did God create the universe?
2. Did God know that Satan and man were going to rebel before he created them?
3. What was the first time God promised a deliverer?
4. Why did God send the flood?
5. What happened to the people building the tower of Babel?
6. Who was Abram?
7. What were the two elements of the covenant God made to Abram/Abraham?
8. What was significant about how the covenant was made?
9. How did Jacob get his father’s blessing?
10. How did the Israelites wind up slaves in Egypt?

Galatians # 1 homework

GALATIANS # 1
HISTORY
5/10/10

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

We will spend first class getting acquainted with Paul and a little bit of church history (info in the History of Christian Church hand out (posted in my blog also)).

Read
1. Exodus, Chapters 20 -26.
2. Exodus chapter 32.
3. Numbers 15: 32 – 41.
4. Jeremiah 2: 9 – 13.
5. Jeremiah 52: 24 – 30
6. John 19: 19 – 30.
7. History of the Christian Church pages 7 – 15
8. Galatians Chapter 1 and 2/
9. Acts chapter 1 – 9
10. Matt 5: 17 - 20

Observe, and be prepared to discuss, the development of God’s revelation of himself as shown by Moses receipt of the law, Jesus statement “it is finished” and Jesus revealing “Grace” to Paul: the transition from “Law” to “Grace”

James # 23 summary

23
Summary of James lessons
5/3/10

What have we learned?

1. James stressing “faith that works” and his paradoxical statement, in 2:24, that we are justified by works and not faith only, seems to be completely contradictory to Paul’s teaching that we are justified by Grace, not by works: this caused much controversy over whether it should be included in the canon.

a. James letter provides a look into the interface between the Law and Grace
b. It was very difficult for Jews, particularly Hebraic Jews, to make this transition
c. The church faltered and almost disintegrated over whether one must be a Jew first, and secondarily a Christian

2. The letter was written by James, the brother of Jesus, about 46 AD; the first of the New Testament Canon.

a. No mention of the controversy over circumcision which came to a head at the Council of Jerusalem (about 49 AD)
b. James had became the leader and spokesman of the church after Peter fled Jerusalem.

3. It was written, primarily, to Hellenistic Jewish followers of “The Way” (later known as “Christians”) Gentiles were not yet members.

a. .Hellenistic Jews were Jews who didn’t return to Jerusalem after the various Diasporas.
b. Hebraic Jews were residents of Jerusalem or nearby regions and more diligently adhered to the letter of the law, they also participated in temple worship more consistently.

4. There was a distinct difference between the Hebraic and Hellenistic Jews.

5. Hellenistic Jews were discriminated against and were the majority of the ones persecuted and as a consequence fled from Jerusalem.

6. After his imprisonment, and miraculous escape from prison in Jerusalem, the Apostle Peter handed leader ship of the Jerusalem church to James.

7. James was a devout Jew, continuing to adhere to Temple worship.

8. Even though a practicing Hebraic Jew, James acknowledges the Deity of Christ in the opening salutation of his letter (vv1: 1 “Lord Jesus Christ)

9. James letter is more practical than Theological; emphasizing day to day Christian living.

10. James recurring theme is “Faith that works.

11. The letter begins,(vv1: 2 – 18) addressing faith and humility.

a. Rejoice when your faith is “tried”.
b. Ask for wisdom and God will give it to you.
c. One must not waver in ones faith.
d. Everyone is drawn away of their own “lusts”.
e. God gives only good gifts.
f. God “begat” us of his will.

12. James tells us we must hear and then be doers of the engrafted word. (1: 19 – 27)

a. A hearer of the word who does not heed it and do it is like a person who looks into a mirror and sees his debauched, wicked self but rather than being ashamed and repentant, he turns away and goes on with his wicked life.
b. We should stop, bend down, and stare intently into the word.
c. If we don’t help those in need our faith is dead.

13. We must not be partial to rich or poor. (vv2: 1 -13)

14. If we have faith it will be shown by our works.(vv2: 14 – 26)

a. Verse 14 and 24 are the two most controversial as they seem to contradict Paul’s teaching that we are justified by Grace not works.(see footnote Nelson study Bible)
b. Faith without works is dead.

15. The tongue is a dangerous thing.(3: 1 – 18)

a. Be cautious if setting out to teach.
b. The tongue is nearly impossible to control.
c. True wisdom is from God, from above; envying and strife, vain talking, is from demons.

16. Worldliness and pride.(vv4: 1 10)

a. You covet and envy and “have not because you ask not”.
b. You ask for things to satisfy your greedy, selfish, self interest and God does not answer such prayers.
c. Friendship with the world is enmity with God.
d. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you.
e. Humble yourself in the sight of God and He will lift you up.

17. Unchristian conduct.(vv4: 11 – 17)

a. Speak not evil of one another
b. There is only one lawgiver and Judge: God.
c. Don’t arrogantly decide and declare what you are going to do in the future – God controls the future!
d. If you know to do good and don’t do it , to you it is a sin.

18. Warnings to the rich (5: 1 – 6)

a. Weep and howl you rich men!
b. You have lived in selfish, greedy, wanton pleasure and your judgment is coming quickly!

19. Patience.(vv5: 7 – 18)

a. The Lord is coming soon, justice will be administered then.
b. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.
c. Prayers of faith will save the sick.
d. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availith much.

20. Saving an errant brother. (5: 19 -20)

a. If you can reach out and council an erring brother and turn him away from his error, you will save his soul from death.



OUTLINE OF JAMES
As john MacArthur points out in his bible commentary, the complexity of James causes it to be difficult to outline with several potential methods possible; the one he provides orders the book around a series of test’s by which the genuineness of a person’s faith may be measured:
Introduction (1.1)
I. The Test of Perseverance
II. The Test of Suffering (1:2 – 12)
II. The Test of Blame in Temptation (1:13-18)
III. The Test of Response to the Word (1:19-27)
IV. The Test of Impartial Love (2:1-13)
V. The Test of Righteous Works (2:14-26)
VI. The Test of the Tongue
VII. The Test of Humble Wisdom (3:13-18)
VIII. The Test of Worldly Indulgence (4:1-12)
IX. The Test of Dependence (4:13-17)
X. The Test of Patient Endurance (5:1-11)
XI. The Test of Truthfulness (5:12)
XII. The Test of Prayerfulness (5:13-18)
XIII. The Test of True Faith (5:19, 20) (MacArthur)

Bibliography
Hard Sayings of The Bible. 1997. James .
The Word in Translation. Libronix, n.d.
New American Commentary vol. 36 James. Nashville Tennessee: Broadman and Holman Publishers, Libronix, 1997. 5.
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Begg, Alistair. Faith That Works, volume 1, When Tempted. October 2009 .
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Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology, an Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Zondervan, 1994. 731.
Gutierrez O. P, Fr.Gustavo. A Theology of Liberation. 1972.
"The King James Study Bible." James. James. Thomas Nelson, n.d. 1938.
JinLoh, I and Howard A. Hatton. James a Translators Handbook on the Letter From James. New York: UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES, 1997. 20.
KJV. Quickverse, n.d.
Liberation Theology Wikipedia. 23 September 2009 .
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MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005. 1880.
McGrath, Alister E. The Christian Thelolgy Reader. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers, Reprint 1999. 219.
Moo, Carson &. An Introduction to The New Testament. Zondervan, 1992. 631.
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Oswald, Chambers. My Utmost for His hightest. Quick Verse, n.d. March 3.
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Sider, Ronald J. Rich christians in an age of Hunger. thomas Nelson, 2005.
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