You are invited to join Hillsdale Baptist Church for our 10:30 AM worship service this Sunday, March 26, 2023. I am continuing my new chronological series through the Bible titled “Logos: A Journey of Faith, Hope, and Love.” I am currently focusing on the patriarchs of the Book of Genesis, with the subject this week being Jacob and the two sisters he took as his wives. This Sunday’s sermon is titled Leah and Rachel: An “Unhappily Ever After” Story of Love and is taken from Genesis 28:10-30:24.
The following is my bulletin letter for the week titled:
“We the People” Must Say, ‘Never Again!’”
Can you believe this is the last Sunday of March? I am stunned at how fast time passes. For instance, three years have passed since COVID-19 was all the rage, and the world was compelled to “shelter in place.” While “Antifa” and other left-wing groups were encouraged to rally, protest, and riot, American businesses, schools, and churches were shuttered, and many never reopened!
Hillsdale missed Resurrection Sunday 2020 and “stayed in place,” only to learn the pandemic might have been a “Plandemic.” Even today, our nation and world are wrecked by government and corporate guidelines that crippled our nation. Tragically, the paranoia of 2020 lingers in our psyche, as does the growing oppression of our constitutional liberties.
Therefore, I have determined in my heart, “Never Again!” Never again will we trust or believe the messaging of government agencies, the media, corporations, or institutions (that includes schools, churches, and organizations). The radical left is antithetical to our faith and has vested power in every imaginable venue. The socialist-communist left is entrenched in government agencies. Members of the radical left sit in board rooms of medical and pharmaceutical companies and national and international corporations. They dominate the counting of votes and control the messaging of the media and educational institutions.
Lesson: As Bible believers, we should embrace the noble ways of the Berean believers of whom Paul wrote, “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). Let us be “Bereans” and question and research everything we are told, without and within the church.
Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday Services
Our children’s, teen’s, and adult choirs will combine next Sunday morning for an exciting choir anthem as we remember our LORD’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem when He was hailed as King! But, of course, the Friday after, on the day of the Passover, many of those same voices cried for Jesus’ death shouting, “Crucify Him!” Hillsdale’s Fine Arts ministry will present the drama and music of “Calvary’s Mountain” at a “Good Friday Service” (April 7, 7:00 pm). Resurrection Sunday Morning (April 9) will be a triumphant day for celebrating Christ’s resurrection with the Sunrise Service at 8:00 am, followed by a Pancake Breakfast at 9:00 am. Our worship service that day will start at 10:00 am.
The instructions that gave practical applications of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) continued in Exodus 23. As noted in the prior devotion (Exodus 21-22), you will recognize in today’s Scripture the foundational principles of civil society.
A Demand for Judicial Integrity: Justice for All (Exodus 23:1-3)
The ninth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (20:16). For justice to be fair and impartial, God’s Law demanded that Israel’s judges be above reproach and intolerant of any who would pervert justice (23:1-9). Therefore, a witness was commanded to state the truth and not bring a false accusation against an innocent man in a judicial matter, nor should a witness’ lie spare the guilty their due punishment (23:1-2). There was one law and one standard, and neither the poor nor the rich were granted a charitable judgment or spared the weight of the Law (23:3).
Exodus 23:4-5 challenged man’s natural bent for vengeance when wronged and commanded God’s people to show kindness and grace even to an enemy. Understanding Israel was chiefly an agricultural nation throughout its history, the illustration of returning an ox or ass to its owner (even if he was an enemy) is practical and easily applied in our modern day. Essentially, God’s people are to offer aid and not sit by idly when they know an enemy is struggling or has suffered a loss.
Justice for All (Exodus 23:6-9)
Exodus 23:6-9 returned to judicial matters and the demand for impartial judgment. Under God’s Law, the poor were not to be denied representation or justice (23:6), and judges were to see that righteous judgment prevailed (23:7). Judges were not to be bribed (23:8), and non-Hebrews (“strangers”), were to be judged fairly (23:9).
Emphasizing the significance of “Sabbath Rest” (20:8-11), Israel was commanded to observe a “Sabbath Year.” Every seventh year the land was to remain fallow (not to be plowed), and crops were not to be planted (23:10). The land was to rest, and if seeds volunteered and grew to bear fruit, the poor and the “beast of the field” were given liberty to eat (23:11). For both man and beast, the Sabbath was to be observed as a day to rest and “be refreshed” (23:12).
Three Feasts (or Festivals) were Observed by Israel (Exodus 23:14-19)
Israel was commanded to observe three annual festivals (23:14-19). First, there was the “feast of unleavened bread” and the Passover (23:15, 18), commemorating the Passover in Egypt when the LORD spared the firstborn of Israel. The “feast of the harvest,” known as Firstfruits and later celebrated as Pentecost, was observed at the beginning of harvest (23:16a). At that time, the first fruits of the harvest were offered to the LORD (23:19a). Finally, there was also the “feast of the ingathering,” that was observed at the end of the harvest season (23:16b), and was a time of thanksgiving.
The LORD made three promises to Israel, whose fulfillment was conditioned upon the people hearing and obeying His Law and Commandments (23:20-28). First, He promised to “send an Angel” before the nation to “keep [Israel] in the way, and to bring [the nation] into the place which [God had] prepared” (23:20). (I think that this “Angel” was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.) The LORD promised that if Israel obeyed the “voice” of the Angel, He would fulfill His covenant and “be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries” (23:22).
Secondly, the LORD promised His “Angel” would protect Israel, and “go before” the nation and cut off those nations that occupied the land of Canaan (23:23). The Angel would give Israel protection (23:23), provisions (23:25), and posterity (i.e., future generations; 23:26). Unlike other nations that adopted and sacrificed to the gods of the land they conquered; Israel was to destroy the idols of the Canaanite people (23:24).
Finally, God promised to set the boundaries of the land He covenanted with Abraham (23:31). He warned Israel that the people were not to befriend or make any covenant with the Canaanites they conquered or worship their gods. Furthermore, the LORD admonished that the heathen “shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee (23:33).
Closing thoughts:
Although it is rarely preached in the pulpit nor practiced in the pew, the principle of radical separation is found throughout the Scriptures,
Israel was admonished to drive the heathen out of the land. Should they fail, the children of Israel would invariably adopt the sins of their neighbors (23:33). Tragically, that same truth is all too evident in today’s churches. In his first letter to believers in ancient Corinth, Paul exhorted, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). In his second letter to the same church, Paul admonished, “Wherefore come out from among them [the unsaved], and be ye separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17a).
Israel was called to separate from the heathen they conquered and to destroy their gods. So, too are believers to separate and distance themselves from the ungodly, lest we become like them! We are commanded and exhorted, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).
Questions to consider:
1) How did the Law illustrate God’s demand that His people have compassion for an enemy? (Exodus 23:4-5)
2) What were the Israelites not to do during the Sabbath year? (Exodus 23:10-12)
3) What were the three feasts Israel was commanded to observe yearly? (Exodus 23:14-19)
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Having established the Ten Commandments as the foundation of God’s Covenant with Israel, today’s Scripture reading states the practical and personal application of the Commandments. We read, “Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them” (21:1).
The following verses served not only Israel but have been the foundation of democratic law and government down through the centuries. You will find here the basis of your sense of justice and fairness. Yet, tragically, I fear the principles recorded here have been forgotten and discarded by leaders, politicians, and citizens of the 21st century.
Human Rights: Precepts for Slavery, Manslaughter, Rebellion, and Injury
Slavery and indentured servitude (21:1-11) have been practiced since ancient times and continue in some form to this day. Those who object to the inclusion of this topic in the Bible must realize it was a commonly accepted practice and had to be addressed righteously. Understanding poverty might reduce a man to slavery; the LORD instituted prudent principles that forbade injustice. Here we have guidelines to impart dignity to even the lowest household servant. Unfortunately, there is an epidemic of human trafficking and “sex slaves” today, perpetuating the shameful abuses God’s Law prohibits.
Slavery and Individual Sovereignty (21:1-6)
Should a Hebrew man become impoverished and reduced to slavery to pay his debt, he would serve his master no more than six years. Upon the seventh year, he was to be freed from his indebtedness and servitude (21:1-2). Should a married man be reduced to servitude, he, his wife, and his children would be released in the seventh year.
However, should a man take a wife during his servitude, he alone would be at liberty in the seventh year (21:3-4). Although freed from obligation, should the man love his master and not want to depart alone, he was permitted to choose to continue voluntarily as a slave (21:5). Such a man would have his ear bored through (21:6) and would serve either till the death of his master, or be set free with his family in the year of jubilee (which would occur every 50 years).
The Desperate Role of Daughters (21:7-11)
Poverty might sometimes force a father to part with his daughter and sell her to another as a household servant (21:7). Because this system was fraught with abuses, the Law provided guidelines to preserve the dignity and reputation of Hebrew daughters. For example, a poor man who desired a better life for his daughter sometimes permitted a wealthy man to purchase her and take her to his wife when she came of age. When she came of age, if the man or his son refused to marry her, they would send her away with a dowry enough to provide her food and clothing and with no further obligation to the benefactor (21:8-11).
The sixth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not kill” (20:13). Prudently, God’s Law recognized a difference between murder and manslaughter (taking a life without intent, 21:12-14).
The fifth commandment said, “Honour thy father and thy mother” (20:12). Cursing or striking one’s parents was a capital offense, and death was mandated (21:15, 17). Still, we must understand that cursing or hitting one’s father or mother carried judicial stipulations. The commandments are filled with conditions, longsuffering, and love. In addition, all offenses were brought before a judicial body that ruled over offenses. As such, we do not have a Biblical account of any being put to death for this offense.
Fair and adequate compensation was required for accidental injuries that did not result in death. Should a victim of injury be unable to provide for himself or his family, he was to be fairly and adequately compensated (21:18-32). The law states, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (21:24). Losses caused by one’s negligence were to be compensated (21:28-36). It did not require the offender to lose his eye, tooth, or life.
Theft and Endangerment of One’s Livelihood were not Tolerated. (22:1-13)
The theft of ox or sheep was a serious offense (22:1-4) in an agricultural society where a man’s livelihood and his family’s well-being depended on farming and husbandry. Damage to a man’s vineyard or crops required fair compensation for the loss (22:5-6).
Personal responsibility and liability were important issues among God’s people, and fair compensation for losses, whether caused by theft or neglect, was mandated (22:7-15).
Loans and the Obligation of Debtors (22:14-15)
Exodus 22:14-15 states the obligation a borrower assumed when using another man’s property. For the sake of illustration, if a farmer borrowed another man’s ox to plow his field, and the ox was injured or died, the borrower became a debtor and was under obligation to “make it good” (22:14). In other words, one must choose to either repay or replace the ox. An exception to the law of repayment or replacement was when the owner of an ox plowed another man’s field “for his hire” (22:15). Because he was hired to plow a field, the employer (owner of the field) was not under obligation to replace the ox.
Exodus 22 concluded with various laws that addressed moral and societal issues (22:16-23:19), including rape (22:16-17), witchcraft (22:18), bestiality (22:19), and idolatry (22:20). The matter of borrowing, and indebtedness were addressed as well as charging excessive interest that imposed unnecessary hardships on the poor were condemned (22:25-27).
Closing thoughts:
The Law and its application to daily life necessitate honesty and integrity. Indeed, the need for spiritual principles and values is as great today as they were when they were given. Certainly, if we want the next generation to have integrity, they must be taught to be responsible. Justice and fairness demand that when one’s actions cause injury or loss, there is an obligation to make the injured party whole.
After all, sometimes saying, “I’m sorry,” is not enough!
Questions to consider:
1) To pay a debt, a man might be forced to become an indentured servant (slave). What was the maximum number of years a man might be enslaved? (Exodus 21:2)
2) What would become of a man’s wife and children should he marry while enslaved? (Exodus 21:4)
3) What physical sign identified a man as a willing, voluntary servant? (Exodus 21:5-6)
4) The penalty for intentional murder was death (Exodus 21:12). What was the consequence of manslaughter (unintentional killing of another)? (Exodus 21:13)
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All of Israel witnessed the outward manifestation of God’s heavenly glory as smoke and fire engulfed Mount Sinai. The trumpet blasts warned man, woman, and beast that none dared approach the mount and live (19:12-13). Then, out of the midst of the mountain, the LORD was heard saying, “I am the LORD [Jehovah; Eternal, Self-Existent God]thy God [Elohim], which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (20:2).
The Ten Commandments were part of the LORD’S covenant with Israel, and the people were commanded to hear, heed, and obey them (20:1-17).
The first commandment stated, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (20:3). Unlike the neighboring nations who worshipped innumerable gods, Israel was to worship one God—Yahweh, Elohim, the True, Eternal, Self-existent One.
The second commandment was, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (20:4-6). Unlike their neighbors, Israel was not to worship idols or images like Israel’s God. The people were warned that the family would bear the guilt for violating the second commandment and thereby invoke God’s judgment “upon the children” (20:5).
The third commandment reminded Israel that the essence of God’s character was summed up in His name. We read, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (20:7). God’s name was to be honored and not spoken of lightly or in vain. The name and meaning of Israel’s God was to be hallowed.
The fourth commandment served as a reminder that Israel’s God was Creator, and the Sabbath would serve as a day of rest and a memorial to His handiwork. Of the Sabbath, we read: “8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (20:8-11). The Sabbath Day, the seventh day of the week, was dedicated to the LORD as a day of worship and rest (31:16-17).
The fifth commandment moved the emphasis of the Law and Commandments from man’s relationship with his Creator to his relationship with his fellow man. Israel was commanded, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (20:12). Because fathers and mothers represented God’s authority, sons and daughters of Israel were to honor and revere their parents. Likewise, the elderly were to be honored and revered; any who failed were condemned (Deuteronomy 27:16). The fifth commandment also carried a particular promise and reward–long life (20:12b; Ephesians 6:1-3).
The sixth commandment was a reminder of the sanctity of human life: “Thou shalt not kill” (20:13). Because Adam was created in God’s image, the life of man and woman were to be valued as sacred (Genesis 1:27; 2:7, 21-22).
The seventh commandment served as a reminder of the sanctity of marriage. The LORD commanded Israel, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (20:14). From the beginning, God established the institution of marriage as a sacred covenant between Himself and the man and woman. It was ordained by their Creator that “man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). As “one flesh,” the bond between the husband and his wife is not to be broken (Genesis 2:24). So sacred is the institution of marriage, that it served in the New Testament as a picture of Christ’s enduring love for believers and the church (Ephesians 5:30-32; Matthew 5:27-29).
The eighth commandment established the right of ownership. It stated: “Thou shalt not steal” (20:15). Thus, to take that which belonged to another (whether by theft or deceit) was a sin against God and man (Ephesians 4:28).
The ninth commandment demanded that truth would prevail. We read, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (20:16). God’s people were to speak the truth (Ephesians 4:15, 25, 29), and libel, slander, or bearing false witness was a grievous sin.
The tenth commandment stated, “Thou shalt not covet,” and focused upon desires for that which belonged to another. So we read, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (20:17). Though manifested outwardly, covetousness is deeply-rooted within the heart of man.
The Manner of Worship Required by a Holy God (Exodus 20:18-26)
Having forbidden idols and images of Himself (20:4-6; 23-25), the LORD was also concerned about the attitude and manner of those who approached His altar to worship and offer sacrifices. Therefore, steps were forbidden at the altar to preserve a modest, respectful decorum, lest those who worshipped be perceived as immodest (20:26).
Closing thoughts:
The LORD’S expectations for Israel’s altar, and His demand for modesty, should be instructive. The priests were commanded to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the holiness of God. There were not to allow “nakedness” (immodesty) to distract those who worshipped the LORD (20:26).
Tragically, “anything goes” seems to be the mode of worshippers in the 21st-century church. I fear there is little thought given to the manner or style of worshiping God who is holy.
Questions to consider:
1) Was Israel permitted to have and worship a physical likeness (image) of God? (Exodus 20:4)
2) What were the people promised if they kept God’s Commandments? (20:6)
3) Why was Israel commanded to consider the Sabbath a holy day? (20:11)
4) What two commandments stressed the sanctity of human life and marriage? (Exodus 20:13-14)
* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com.
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Mailing Address:
Heart of A Shepherd Inc
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Abraham interceded with God and prayed that the city of Sodom might be spared, “peradventure ten [righteous souls] shall be found there” (18:32a). The LORD honored Abraham’s request saying, “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake” (18:32b).
Genesis 19 – The Tragic Judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities in the Plain
On the same day, the LORD assured Abraham He would be merciful should he find ten righteous souls residing in Sodom, the angels who appeared before Abraham arrived at the gate of Sodom (18:2, 16). Sadly, they were greeted by Lot, who had progressed from pitching his tent toward Sodom to becoming one of the leaders and judges of the city. We read, “Lot sat in the gate of Sodom” (19:1), where government and commercial business was transacted.
Seeing the “two angels” and perceiving they were strangers, Lot “rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground” (19:1). Calling them “lords,” for he knew the “men” were not of the character as those of that wicked city, Lot urged them to accept refuge in his home (19:2-3). At first, the “two angels” refused his accommodations, but Lot “pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house” (19:2). That evening, Lot made his guest “a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat” (19:3).
The Gross Wickedness and Depravity of Sodom (19:4-11)
“Before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them” (19:4-5).
Tragically, the wickedness and depravity of the city were displayed that night as sodomites (homosexuals)encircled Lot’s house. They demanded he would turn his visitors into the street to be violently and sexually assaulted (19:4-6). Instead, Lot defined their lusts as wicked (19:7) and offered his virgin daughters to satisfy their cravings (19:8-9).
Though he was a citizen and a leader of Sodom, his righteous judgment of their wicked passions infuriated the men. They mocked and ridiculed his hypocrisy as a sojourner (an alien, an outsider). Those men would have attacked Lot and broken into his house had the angels not rescued him, for they “put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut the door” (19:10). Although they struck the sodomites with blindness, those men of that city continued, “both small and great…[and] wearied themselves to find the door” of Lot’s house (19:10-11).
An Offer of Salvation (19:12-14)
Displaying God’s grace, the angels pressed Lot to go to his sons, daughters, and spouses and urge them to flee Sodom before the LORD destroyed the city for its wickedness (19:12-13). Yet, Lot’s children and their spouses refused his pleas and despised him, for he appeared “as one that mocked unto his sons in law” (19:14).
A Display of Mercy (19:15-22)
As the morning light crested the plain, “the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city” (19:15). Though knowing the judgment of God was imminent, Lot “lingered,” and the angels mercifully took hold of him, his wife, and daughters and “brought him forth, and set him without the city” (19:16).
Though admonished to “escape for [his] life; [and] look not behind…escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed” (19:17), Lot foolishly protested God’s place of safety and pleaded that a nearby city, “a little one” (19:20), might be spared as his refuge (19:19-20). The LORD heeded Lot’s request (19:21) and spared the city called Zoar (19:22).
God’s Fiery Judgment (19:24-26)
With the sun risen and Lot safely removed from Sodom, “the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; 25And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground” (19:24-25). The scene was utter destruction, a burning inferno, as though hell rained from heaven upon the wicked. Tragically, Lot’s “wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (19:26).
Abraham’s Vision from a Summit (19:27-28)
Abraham arose early that morning, perhaps anxious that Sodom might have been spared. So he went “to the place where he stood before the LORD” (19:27). There he “looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah…and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace” (19:28). Abraham saw the severity of God’s judgment upon that wicked city and its inhabitants. Yet, in answer to Abraham’s intercession and a reminder that the LORD will spare the righteous in His judgment, “God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt” (19:29).
Lot: An Object of Grace (19:29-38)
Why were Lot and his daughters spared judgment? First, scripture says, “God remembered Abraham” (19:29). What a blessed thought to realize that God never forgets His promise. Surely, we would hope Lot’s straying from the LORD would end with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, but that was not the case. Lot, a man whom the Scriptures declare was righteous (though he chose to dwell among the wicked, 2 Peter 2:8), became drunk with wine. Then, succumbing to his daughters’ enticement, tragically, Lot committed the morally depraved sin of incest (19:30-36).
The eldest daughter conceived a son she named Moab. He became the father of the Moabites (19:37). The youngest daughter conceived a son named Ammon, of whom would be born the Ammonites (19:38). Both nations, the Moabites and Ammonites, would become a curse and perpetual trouble for the nation of Israel.
Closing thoughts – Genesis 19 portrays man’s sinful depravity and God’s inevitable judgment of the wicked. We have been reminded of the shadow and influence of parental character and how today’s choices will have consequences for our children and grandchildren. Yes, Lot’s spirit was vexed by the sinful, “unlawful deeds” of the wicked, but he failed to separate from them. The consequences of his failure were innumerable, for he lost his wife, children, possessions, and neighbors.
Are you ready for God’s judgment?
Romans 14:11–12 – 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
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Eliphaz, the third of Job’s friends to argue Job’s troubles were like those of the wicked, evoked a response from Job that began in chapter 23 and continued to chapter 24. Having slandered Job’s character, Eliphaz accused him of some great evil and urged him to repent promising God would restore him (22:23-27).
Nevertheless, though he suffered overwhelming afflictions and felt abandoned by God, Job maintained his innocence (Job 23). He lamented, if God would give him a hearing, he would maintain his troubles were greater than his sins (23:1-7). Yet, though he was wrongly accused by his friends, Job was confident God knew he was a man of integrity, who desired to walk according to His commandments (23:8-12).
Accused of gross wrongdoing, the accusations brought against Job by his “friends” left him wondering why he suffered, when the wicked prospered and went unpunished? Job’s reflections on the sins of the wicked was recorded in Job 24:2-17.
Job first considered the company of thieves, and their wiles, deceptions, and effronteries against God and humanity. (Remember, as you read verses 2-8, the setting was an agrarian society, and the perspective was rural and agricultural. Of course, thievery and robbery are the same, though the coveted objects of the thief change with the culture). Times have changed, but the nature of man is as wicked as ever!
Before making an application to 21st century society, let’s consider Job’s observations. The first were land thieves who removed “landmarks,” essentially physical stakes, that designated the boundaries of a family’s lands (24:2a). Not surprising, but the same criminal activity continues in our day. (Note – Deuteronomy 19:14; 27:17; Proverbs 23:10-11). There were thieves who would seize a neighbor’s sheep, and move them to graze in his pastures, thus robbing a man of his livelihood (24:2b).
Tragically, the wicked have always preyed upon the most vulnerable of a society, the poor and the weak (24:3-8). In Job’s day, evil men would steal the donkey of an orphan (24:3a), and demand a widow’s ox for surety or collateral (24:3b). They would abuse the poor, and mislead them (24:4), and leave them to forage for food and shelter like wild beasts (24:5-8).
Cruel Oppressors of the Weak and Defenseless (24:9-17)
Job described children taken from their mothers (24:9) as collateral for debt (tragically, the 21st century has revived this abuse with “human trafficking,” and the mass movement of humanity across international borders). The wicked would take the robes of the poor (a symbol of the bare necessities for life) as collateral for debt (24:10). Such is the way of the wicked. While a farmer would reward an ox with the grain he treads, the wicked would leave the poor destitute, hungry, and thirsty (24:11-12; Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Corinthians 9:9; 1 Timothy 5:18).
The rise of violent crimes and murder in 21st century society is akin to the observations of Job. He observed murderers who plotted and preyed upon the poor and needy (24:14). Numbered among the wicked were adulterers who disguised their faces to avoid recognition (24:15). Rounding out the society of the wicked were thieves who marked houses in the day, and enjoyed the guise of darkness to break into them and steal at night (24:16-17).
Having considered the character and sins of the wicked, Job agreed with his friends, for the wicked will not go unpunished. The wicked are swift to steal the fruits of other men’s labor, because they are unwilling to toil in their own vineyards (24:18). Nevertheless, the end of the wicked is akin to “drought and heat [that consumes] the snow;” they will go the way of all sinners, to “the grave” (24:19).
Closing thoughts (24:20-25) – Describing the fate and destiny of the wicked, Job graphically detailed his end, writing: “20The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; He shall be no more remembered; And wickedness shall be broken as a tree” (24:20).
Rich or poor, famous or infamous, powerful or weak, the bodies of the dead eventually become the diet of worms. While the most stately of trees will eventually be broken and fall, the bodies of the powerful will inevitably decay in their graves. We might ponder with Job, why the LORD is patient with the wicked, and his pernicious ways; however, we are assured, “His eyes are upon their ways” (24:23).
Warning: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).
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Our chronological study of The Book of Genesis is interrupted by a diversion to The Book of Job. Among Bible scholars, The Book of Job is commonly believed to be the oldest book of the Bible. So far, our renewed chronological study of the Scriptures has given us a perspective on Creation and the fall of man (Genesis 1-5), and carried the historical narrative from the worldwide Flood, to God calling out Abraham (Genesis 6-11). Job, the subject of the book before us, was believed to have been a contemporary of Abraham. There are several details of the book that lead us to accept that conclusion, but particularly the names of ancient cities whose names were derived from men who were contemporaries of Abraham.
The Book of Job introduces us to the man whose name it bears; however, we are not presented with any background of the man, nor how he became so incredibly wealthy. We read, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1).
The exact location of the “land of Uz” is one of speculation; however, there are cities mentioned in this book that were located in the land we will later identify as Edom. So, we might place Uz in that geographical region (southeast of today’s Israel, and on the border of Jordan to the east and Egypt to the south). Yet, it is not Job’s birthplace, but his character that identifies him as an important figure in the Bible. Arguably, he was what God would have every man to be: “Perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (1:1). He was perfect, meaning blameless, guiltless, a man of integrity. He was an upright man, righteous, and honest before God and man. He was a God-fearing man who revered his Creator, and eschewed, or shunned evil (1:1).
Job was blessed with a large family, having “seven sons and three daughters” (1:2). He was also a man of great wealth (1:3). In our story, we find his children were adults, with their own households (1:4). They shared in their father’s wealth, and enjoyed the bounty of their own riches. As a family, we find they observed a week of feast days, perhaps as a celebration of the harvest. When the feast days were ended, Job, acting as the spiritual priest of his household, summoned his children to offer sacrifices to God, reasoning, “It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually” (1:5). Notice the last phrase: “Thus did Job continually.” Worship and sacrifices were a pattern of Job’s life, and one he did not take lightly as the spiritual head of his family.
Job 1:6 carried us into the midst of a heavenly council where “the sons of God” (whom I believe were angels), were standing before God’s throne. In their midst was Satan, the serpent, the wicked one, fallen angel Lucifer, the spiritual adversary of God and man (1:6). The LORD inquired of Satan, “Whence comest thou?”, and he answered, “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it” (1:7b).
God then turned the focus of the heavenly council to a man in whom He found great joy. The LORD asked Satan, “Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” (1:8).
Evidencing his adversarial heart, Satan questioned God, and disparaged Job asking, “Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face” (1:9-11).
The LORD accepted Satan’s challenge, and gave him liberty to accost Job in a series of devastating trials. Mercifully, God limited the extent of the devil’s power and commanded him, “Behold, all that he [Job] hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand” (1:12a). Satan departed from God’s presence, and initiated a series of disastrous events that destroyed all Job’s earthly possessions (1:13-17). Eventually, the devil’s assault took that which was dearest to Job, his sons and daughters (1:18-19).
Satan had slandered Job, and suggested he was faithful to the LORD only because he was lavishly blessed, and protected by Him (1:9-11). How did Job respond to his losses? Did he curse God as Satan alleged he would? (1:11)
Rather than reprove his Creator, Job responded with humility, and acknowledged God’s sovereignty over His creation. Then, he worshipped the LORD, and prayed, “Yahweh gives, and Yahweh takes away; blessed be the name of Yahweh” (1:21b). Contrary to Satan’s accusation, Job “sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” (1:22).
Job 2 – Job: His Body Afflicted, His Friends’ Inquisition
A thorough study of Job 2 will have to wait for another time, and another year; however, Job 2 records a second heavenly council (2:1-3), and introduces a trial that will afflict Job’s body and rob him of his health (2:4-7). You will meet Job’s wife who questions why he maintains his integrity in the midst of sorrows (2:9-10), and meet Job’s “three friends” who will assert his losses are a punishment for unconfessed sin (2:11-13).
A Closing Thought: Satan is a real person, and an adversary of believers; however, God limits his power and influence. When trials come, and they will, trust God knowing He is intensely interested in your soul and well-being.
Romans 8:28 – 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
An Introduction to The First Book of Moses Called Genesis
The Bible is the most influential book in history, and Genesis is its foundation. The Book of Genesis explains the origin of all things, and is the basis of our understanding of the universe, the earth, its atmosphere, and life itself. For example, Genesis 1:27 presents us with the complexity and uniqueness of man, who was created in the “image of God.” In Genesis 2:24-25, God established marriage and family as the foundation of human society.
The origin of sin and its consequences are revealed in Genesis 3. Genesis 3 also unveiled the commencement of God’s answer to man’s wickedness: A son who would be born of a woman (Genesis 3:16), of the lineage of Abraham, and through whom all nations and people of the earth might be blessed (Genesis 12). The basis of language, culture, and the existence of the nations are all stated in Genesis. (Genesis 11:1-9).
Warning: Reject the Genesis account of Creation, and you must reject the Scriptures entirely!
The New Testament quotes from, or alludes to one hundred sixty-five passages recorded in Genesis. In fact, more than one hundred direct quotes or references to Genesis 1-11 are found the New Testament.
Creation declares the person and existence of the God of Creation (Romans 1:20-27), and what you believe regarding the existence, and origin of life shapes your philosophy of life and worldview. Accepting or rejecting the Genesis account of Creation will influence the value you place on human life. If you believe, “God created man in His own image,” meaning in His spiritual likeness (1:26-27), you must conclude that human life is sacred. Reject creation, and you will inevitably come to the conclusion human life is not sacred, and some lives are expendable (for instance, the life of the unborn, elderly, or physically dependent).
To believe God is Creator, and the Genesis account of Creation is true (Genesis 1), you must accept God is Sovereign of all things. He has authority to declare right and wrong. God alone has the right to establish that which is moral and define what is immoral (1:29-31).
When you read the Genesis account of Creation, you must come to the conclusion there is only one of two explanations for the origin of life. Either God is Creator and He has revealed Himself to man in His Word and in His creation, or life and the universe are the result of chance. It behooves us all to ask the question: “Who can be trusted in the matter of the origin of life? Is evolution an unproven theory, or a scientific fact? Can we trust the Bible when it states simply, “In the beginning God created” (1:1)? Can the Scriptures and evolution (chance) co-exist?
The Biblical account of Creation affords no compromise with evolution, and evolution offers no worthy answer to the Biblical account of creation.
If interpreted literally and without prejudice, Genesis 1 gives us an explanation for the world around us, as well as, God’s purpose for our life and existence (1:31-2:2). As Creator, God is Sovereign, and He is providentiallyinvolved in His creation, preserving and sustaining the universe. The Book of Job, believed to be the most ancient of the books of the Bible states of God: “He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven” (Job 28:24). “His eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings” (Job 34:21). Solomon warned, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).
If you believe God is your Creator, you must accept He has authority to oversee every facet of your life. He has the right to reward, or punish as He deems just. In the words of the psalmist, “Our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” (Psalm 115:3).
Reject God as Creator, and a man, society, and nation will be overcome by all manner of wickedness and sorrows (Romans 1:28-32).
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John recorded three events in Revelation 19. The first, the gathering of the saints of God for “The Great Marriage Supper of the Lamb” (19:1-10). The second event was the “Second Coming of Christ the King” (19:11-16), culminating in the third event—”The Battle of Armageddon” (19:17-21).
Revelation 20 recorded the “Binding of Satan for a Thousand years” (20:1-3), and “The Millennial Reign of Christ” (20:4-6). At the end of Christ’s 1,000-year reign, the devil will be loosed to deceive the nations, leading to the destruction of their armies, and Satan being condemned and “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone” (20:7-10). Revelation 20 concluded with the final judgment of unbelievers at “The Great White Throne” (20:11-15). Today’s devotional will be taken from Revelation 19.
The understated majesty of the Scriptures often stuns me in my personal study in God’s Word. For instance, Revelation 19 records three of the great pinnacle moments in human history, yet the chapter begins simply, “And after these things” (19:1). What things? The fall and destruction of Babylon, the spiritual harlot that embodied the kingdom of the antichrist with its false religions, idolatry, and moral depravity (Revelation 18). After God took vengeance on the nations who shed the blood of the prophets and believers (18:24), John wrote:
“I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God” (19:1). Who were these “people in heaven?” They were worshippers of God, most likely the angels, and other hosts of heaven, including the redeemed who had died and were forever with the Lord. John heard their voices praising God and saying, “Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power,” thus implying those things belong to the Lord and Him alone (19:1).
Exulting over the demise of Babylon, the people said, “For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand” (19:2). With the shout, “Alleluia,” they rejoiced in the destruction of Babylon (19:3). At the same time, the 24 elders and the four beasts (Revelation 4:4, 6, 7), “fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia” (19:4). Then, John heard a voice coming “out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great” (19:5). The voice was not identified, but perhaps it was that of an angel.
The Summons to the Great Marriage Supper of the Lamb (19:6-8)
Suddenly, John heard “the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings” (19:6a). How loud, and powerful were the voices of the throng? It exceeded the deafening roar of the mightiest waterfalls, and the boisterous rumbles of the most frightening thunderstorms. What were the voices shouting? They were praising God for His strength and power, saying, “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (19:7).
The Lamb was the focus of the rejoicing, for He was Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for our sins, and the sins of the world (John 1:29, 36; Revelation 5:6; 7:10, 17; 17:14). The wife of the Lamb was described as a bride “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (19:8). The white speaks of the purity of the saints of God, and “the fine linen” symbolized their works of righteousness.
Even so, this is how God would have the members of His church, which is His body, to present themselves before Him. Being redeemed, and justified, His people should be sanctified [set apart] (Romans 3:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:8-9), to the end of presenting ourselves to Christ: “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).
Closing thoughts (19:11-21) – Time and space do not afford more than a brief summary of the closing verses of Revelation 19. As John looked on, he witnessed heaven open, and the glorious emergence of Jesus Christ, riding on a white horse, and He was called, “Faithful and True” (19:11). It was the Second Coming of Christ, and He was going forth to “judge and make war” as He promised (10:11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Titus 1:2). His coming was a picture of vengeance and justice (19:12-13), and “the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean” (the same attire as was worn at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, 19:8, 14).
With His Word as His weapon (Revelation 1:16; 19:15), the LORD executed God’s wrath upon the nations (19:15). John noticed, “on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (19:16). A description of the battle at Armageddon closes our devotion, even as the antichrist (“the beast”) was defeated, and he and “the false prophet…were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (19:20)
Revelation 19:20 is the first mention of the “lake of fire” in the Scriptures; however, it is not the last. Revelation 20 warns, “14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (20:14-15).
The “lake of fire” is the eternal destiny of all who reject Christ as Savior. Only by repenting of your sin, and trusting Christ as Savior, will your name be inscribed with the redeemed who will live forever with the Lord.
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Seven bowls of God’s wrath were poured out on the tribulation world (Revelation 16-17). Yet, Babylon seemed to prevail, even as the people and nations of the world were reeling under the consequences of God’s wrath. The flesh of men was afflicted with ulcers (16:2), and the seas and fresh waters turned to blood (16:3-7). The sun’s shift scorched men under its rays (16:8-9), even as the earth was plunged into terrifying darkness (16:10-11). The Euphrates River dried up, as God made a path for the armies of the world to gather at Armageddon (16:12-16).
When the seventh bowl of God’s wrath was poured out, His voice was heard and declared, “It is done” (16:17). The earth was then shaken by an earthquake greater than any before it, and the city of Jerusalem “was divided into three parts” (16:19), Islands fell into the sea, as the mountains were removed (16:20).
God’s judgment against Babylon began in Revelation 17, and continued through Revelation 18. As you read today’s Scripture reading (Revelation 18), remember Babylon was prophetically more than a great city. In the Book of Revelation, Babylon was a symbol of the power, authority, and government of the antichrist(identified as “the beast” in these latter chapters of Revelation).
The apostle John wrote, “I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory” (18:1). Remembering the earth was in the throes of darkness from the fifth bowl (Revelation 16:10-11), the angel’s appearance illuminated the sky “with his glory” (18:1). The same angel cried with a loud voice, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen” (18:2).
Like ancient Babylon, which was weighed in the balances of God’s justice and was “found wanting” (Daniel 5:27), the Babylon of Revelation was condemned (18:2-3). It had become a place for demonic spirits (18:2b), and every foul and unclean spirit (18:2c). Like vultures circling a rotting carcass, demonic spirits, like “every unclean and hateful bird,” waited for Babylon’s fall (18:2d).
Tragically, I find the sins of Revelation 18:3 indicative of the sins and wickedness of our current western nations: the United States being most prominent. Babylon was condemned for her sexual debauchery, and lust for wealth and riches (18:3). The world ruled by the antichrist will lead nations down a path of sexual perversity, and spiritual idolatry (18:3a). The kingdom of the antichrist will seduce the nations of the world with its wealth, riches, and pleasures (18:3b).
The voice of the angel (18:1) was suddenly interrupted when the Lord voiced from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, That ye be not partakers of her sins, And that ye receive not of her plagues” (18:4). The call for believers to separate from the world and its wickedness is found throughout the Scriptures. Although separation from the world is a Scriptural mandate, many 21st century believers and churches have failed to separate from the Babylon of our day. Surely, the command, “come out of her, my people,” should resonate in the heart of every believer who loves the Lord (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17).
Like the tower of ancient Babel (Genesis 11), the sins of Babylon were described as having piled up so high they “reached unto heaven” (18:5a). An angel called on God to punish Babylon, saying, “6Reward her even as she rewarded you, And double unto her double according to her works: In the cup which she hath filled fill to her double” (18:6). In essence, not only remember Babylon’s wickedness, but punish her doubly for the sins she has committed. The same angel described Babylon’s sins: Proud (for she had “glorified herself”), Sensual (“lived deliciously”), and Presumptuous (for the city boasted “I sit a queen, And am no widow, and shall see no sorrow” (18:7).
Closing thoughts (18:8-24) – I conclude with a few observations. The nations of the earth were staggered by the wrath of God, but were especially shocked at the sudden demise and destruction of Babylon (18:8). The wealthy and powerful men of the earth were shocked and dismayed by the fall of the antichrist and his empire (18:9-10).
So much of the world economy was dependent on trade with Babylon, and the sudden failure of that nation sent economic shock waves across the world (18:11-14). The wealthy and powerful were terrified, and wailed, “Alas, alas, that great city…17For in one hour so great riches is come to nought” (18:16b-17a). Shipping and commerce were destroyed, as men who sailed the seas, cried, “For in one hour is she made desolate” (18:17-19).
The destruction of Babylon (representing the seat of the antichrist’s power and authority), gave cause for rejoicing in heaven (18:20). A “mighty angel” described the effect of Babylon’s annihilation: The sound of musical instruments fell silent (18:22a), and the work of craftsmen and those preparing bread ceased (18:22b). Light was extinguished, along with the joys of the groom and the bride (18:23a).
Finally, given the world’s recent experience with “Covid-19” and vaccines, verse 23 should resonate with believers. We read, “For thy merchants were the great men of the earth; For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived” (18:23b). The root word for sorceries in the Greek language is “pharmakeia,” from which we get our English word “pharmacy or pharmaceuticals.” In the tribulation, “all nations” will be deceived by “pharmakeia” (In the United States, the revenue of the pharmaceutical industry in 2021 was $576.9 billion).
When people ask, “what is wrong with our world?” You can answer, “We are on the threshold of the Tribulation!”
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Can you believe this is the last Sunday of March? I am stunned at how fast time passes. For instance, three years have passed since COVID-19 was all the rage, and the world was compelled to “shelter in place.” While “Antifa” and other left-wing groups were encouraged to rally, protest, and riot, American businesses, schools, and churches were shuttered, and many never reopened!
Therefore, I have determined in my heart, “Never Again!” Never again will we trust or believe the messaging of government agencies, the media, corporations, or institutions (that includes schools, churches, and organizations). The radical left is antithetical to our faith and has vested power in every imaginable venue. The socialist-communist left is entrenched in government agencies. Members of the radical left sit in board rooms of medical and pharmaceutical companies and national and international corporations. They dominate the counting of votes and control the messaging of the media and educational institutions.
Our children’s, teen’s, and adult choirs will combine next Sunday morning for an exciting choir anthem as we remember our LORD’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem when He was hailed as King! But, of course, the Friday after, on the day of the Passover, many of those same voices cried for Jesus’ death shouting, “Crucify Him!” Hillsdale’s Fine Arts ministry will present the drama and music of “Calvary’s Mountain” at a “Good Friday Service” (April 7, 7:00 pm). Resurrection Sunday Morning (April 9) will be a triumphant day for celebrating Christ’s resurrection with the Sunrise Service at 8:00 am, followed by a Pancake Breakfast at 9:00 am. Our worship service that day will start at 10:00 am.
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