A Lesson for all Nations

     Just before entering the land of Canaan and prior to Moses’ death, God instructed Moses to record Israel’s future history in advance and present it to them.

     “Now therefore, write down this song…and teach it to the children of Israel…that this song may be a witness for Me…for I know the inclination of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them.  Therefore Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel.”  Deuteronomy 31:19-22

     The ‘song’ began with Moses proclaiming to the whole earth the righteousness of God.

     “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth…for I proclaim the name of the LORD…He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.”  Deuteronomy 32:1-4

     But Israel would prove to be just the opposite.

     “They have corrupted themselves…a perverse and crooked generation…do you thus deal with the LORD, O foolish and unwise people?”  Deuteronomy 32:5-6

     Moses admonished Israel to consider if they would deal appropriately with God after all that God would do for them.

     “Remember the days of old…ask your father, and he will show you…so the LORD alone led him, and there was no foreign god with him.  He made him ride in the heights of the earth…”  Deuteronomy 32:7, 12-13

     But Israel would take the credit for their great fortune.

     “But Jeshurun (a cynical name for Israel meaning upright) grew fat and kicked…then he forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.  They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods…of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, and have forgotten the God who fathered you.”  Deuteronomy 32:15-18

     Israel’s sins will not go unpunished.

     “They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; they have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols.”  Deuteronomy 32:21

     Then the consequences of Israel’s apostasy will catch them.

     “I will heap disasters on them; I will spend My arrows on them.”  Deuteronomy 32:23

     “For they are a nation void of counsel, nor is there any understanding in them. Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!”  Deuteronomy 32:28-29

     Israel will reap God’s justice in due time.

     “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.”  Deuteronomy 32:35

     Israel, however, has one thing that America will never have and that is an unconditional and everlasting covenant with God that they will be His glory forever.  That means that after Israel has suffered greatly during the tribulation (which is termed the ‘time of Jacob’s trouble’) they will be mightily restored.  America has no such promise.

     God provided Israel with blessings untold, but when they prospered greatly under God’s hand they did not give God the glory but rather boasted they had achieved their coveted status by their own effort.

     Their success caused them to believe that they really didn’t need the Rock of their salvation.  In fact they made gods of some of their blessings.

     The parallels between Israel as a nation and America are profound.   America’s leaders tout that America is the most exceptional nation on earth in terms of wealth and military might.  We have made wealth one of our many gods. 

      Americans traditionally attribute individual wealth and success to personal effort just as did the Israelites.  Both have overlooked the truth.

      “…and when your silver and your gold are multiplied…and you forget the LORD your God…then you say in your heart, ‘My power…have gained me this wealth’.  And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.”  Deuteronomy 8:11-18

     God is swift to deal with those who forget Him.

     “Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them…I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.”  Deuteronomy 8:19

     America, are we listening?

Living by Chance

     The term ‘chance’ in both Old and New Testaments is synonymous with the term ‘lot’.  The basic meaning is to befall or happen.

     Casting lots to determine an event was found originally during the time of Moses but was later used as common practice during the time of Christ. 

     “He (Aaron) shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.  Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat.  And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering.  But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.”  Leviticus 16:7-10

     This original example of casting lots consisted of two possible outcomes both with the same likelihood of occurrence.  It was similar to a coin toss today, i.e. the likelihood of ‘heads’ is the same as the likelihood as ‘tails’.

     The concept of casting lots was expanded to determine the allocation of land to the tribes of Israel.

     “These are the areas which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan…distributed as an inheritance to them.  Their inheritance was by lot, as the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses…”  Joshua 14:1-2

     The Hebrew base for ‘lot’ in the above passage is the same as used in the determination of the scapegoat in the earlier passage.  It is in fact the same base word used for isolating Jonah as the cause of the storm.

     “And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.’  So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.”  Jonah 1:7

     The contemporary meaning of ‘lot’ and ‘chance’ has been greatly expanded in this present age.  Several present and common related terms include probability and actuarial.  Both terms are based on the likelihood or the chance that a given event will occur. Actuarial tables are based on the likelihood or probability that death, for example, will most likely occur when a person reaches a certain age based on historical data.

     Likewise the probability that a certain candidate will be elected to office is based on quizzing numerous potential voters and noting their intentions.  The larger the sample of potential voters the more accurate will be the probability of the candidate’s success or failure.  The process of sampling potential voters is termed ‘polling’.  The sample size will also determine the magnitude of the statistical error which is called the margin of error.  Polling is also used to try to access how the majority of people feel about a given issue.  Nearly every president will say they don’t pay any attention to polls, however, watch to see if their position on certain issues change if the polls suggest a majority of voters have voiced their opinion contrary to the president’s previously stated position.

     The end result is that many major decisions are made by way of the statistical likelihood of future events.  Insurance companies set life insurance rates based on probabilities.  But in reality a person’s days have already been determined without regard to averages.

     “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”  Psalm 139:16

     The contemporary term ‘lottery’ is from the basic word lot.  Its meaning is a drawing of lots, or a set of prearranged numbers, in which prizes are awarded on the basis of possessing a ticket containing the predetermined set of numbers.

     But really, how much emphasis should one place on chance or probability?  Perhaps Solomon had the answer.

     “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”  Proverbs 16:33

     Therefore, while millions still cast lots daily in hopes of attaining good fortune, the sovereignty of God will always determine the outcome.  There is really no such thing as ‘living by chance’.

    

Transparency...Someday

     It seems like every presidential candidate vows that if elected their administration will be the most transparent in history.  Our current president certainly made that claim.  Most likely he was referring to one of Webster’s definitions of transparency namely ‘free from pretense or deceit’.  On the other hand the opposite of transparency includes clandestine conduct of which one would be ashamed.  Synonyms include secret, hidden, or concealed.  History will reveal which definition best suits this president.

     Transparency is also a popular Biblical teaching in both Old and New Testaments.  The major premise is that one cannot take a secret to the grave thinking it will never be revealed.

     Biblical synonyms for transparency include reveal, uncover, unveil, disclose and open.  In the present age many defense lawyers earn their living by circumventing or suppressing the truth.  Consider the tremendously popular trial of George Zimmerman.  The trial lasted several weeks just to arrive at the ‘truth’ so a jury verdict could be rendered.  Consider the congressional hearings being conducted regarding the numerous ‘scandals’ surrounding this current administration’s activities.  Millions of dollars and untold hours are being spent, again just to arrive at the truth.  And then there is the use of the Fifth Amendment where a person is exempted from testifying if their testimony would be self incriminating. 

     The above is just a sampling of the games being played during this present age.  The truth, however, is already known and is being stored in a data base that would put the National Security Agency to shame.  And all will be revealed in due time.

     The doctrine of ‘openness’ and transparency was taught by Jesus beginning with the parable of the lamp.

     “Also He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed?  Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear’.”  Mark 4:21-23

     Note the wording ‘nothing hidden…nor has anything been kept secret’.  There is no such thing as a ‘delete’ button in God’s data base.

     Jesus then taught that all types of hypocrisy would be exposed.

     “In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all. ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.  Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops’.”  Luke 12:1-3

     Recall that the Pharisees were the prime examples of hypocrites.  They pretended to be righteous when in fact Jesus exposed them as being of their father, the devil.  Recent columns have highlighted some of the doctrine of the Pharisees and warned of the activities of present day Pharisees.

     Paul carried on with the concept of openness and total transparency.  He taught that even the supposed inner thoughts of the heart would be exposed in due time.

     “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels (motives) of the hearts…” 1 Corinthians 4:5

     Solomon, who was considered to be the wisest man in the world during the days of the kings, summarized the Old Testament teachings of transparency.

     “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.  For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

     At the end of the recent trial of Jodi Arias she made the now infamous statement:  ‘Death is the ultimate freedom’.

     Perhaps many share her thinking, however, those who find themselves before the great white throne will learn the truth of the matter.

     “…and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God…”  Revelation 20:11-12

    

    

    

    

    

Modern Day Pharisees

     Jesus warned His disciples to beware of the Pharisees and their teachings.

     “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees…’.”  Matthew 16:6

     His disciples did not at first understand what Jesus was saying, so Jesus explained His statement.

     “Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine (teachings) of the Pharisees…”  Matthew 16:12

     It is indisputable that polarization in today’s political climate is at or nearing an all time high.  There must be a cause or explanation.  Logic dictates that both sides of the argument cannot be right, however, both sides may be wrong. 

     If all the politicians of today were asked about their religious faith, it has been estimated that 3 out of 4 would proclaim they were Christian.  That is the professed faith of our president.  And while the President himself proclaims his Christianity, he also contends that ‘America is no longer a Christian nation’.  Is he correct in his assessment?

     The president and many of his followers have advanced ‘traditions’ that are anti-Biblical but have wide voter appeal.  That is political correctness in its most blatant form.  Political correctness and hypocrisy are very much one in the same.

     During a discussion on women’s right to choose, the president made another of his anti-Biblical statements which appeared recently in the national media.  He stated that if one of his teenage daughters made a mistake, they shouldn’t have to be punished with a child.

     The Bible prohibits Christians from judging others; however, Jesus made it explicitly clear that hypocrites, apostates, and by clear inference, those given to political correctness would be easily recognized.

     “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will now them by their fruits…A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”  Matthew 7:15-20

     Political correctness comes in many shapes and forms and addresses many varied issues, regretfully including America’s foreign policy.

     Our president continues to promote the idea that peace via democracy is on the way in the Middle East and Northern Africa.  When a country like Iran for example openly states their intention to eliminate Israel from the face of the earth, our president is quick to try to convince them and the rest of the world that they really don’t mean what they say.

     The entire world should give more credibility to such threats and openly agree with them when they are corroborated by Biblical prophecy.  The Bible does in fact tell of a future invasion of Israel by Iran (Persia).  We also need to proclaim boldly that the end result has already been determined and the future history of Iran has been written.  Our foreign policy should be forged accordingly.

     And just as the Pharisees were taught not to add to or subtract from the Mosaic Law, Jesus reinforced the consequences of adding or subtracting from any Biblical teachings.

     “…If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of…this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book (Tree) of Life.”  Revelation 22:18-19

       World renowned evangelist Billy Graham has voiced his conviction over and over that the majority of mankind and in fact the majority of professed Christianity has been deluded and deceived. 

     “Enter by the narrow gate; for…broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

     And though political correctness and hypocrisy may be politically expedient in this present generation, its end is destruction while the truth will endure forever.

     “Praise the LORD, all you nations!  Praise Him, all you peoples!  For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the LORD endures forever.”  Psalm 117:1-2