Musing – Does the Account of the Noahic Flood Parallel Current Events?

 

Hebraic Musing – Does the Account of the Noahic Flood Parallel Current Events?

The Noahic flood account in Genesis 6 & 7 has interesting parallels in the World today.  Is it possible that these could be the birth pains about which we were warned which lead to the End Times described in Revelation? 

Let’s start with key phrases in Gen.6:1-3 – “When men began to increase in number on the earth … they married any of them they chose.  Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal (or corrupt).”  NIV

·         Increasing numbers - Currently the earth currently has almost eight billion people; meanwhile many ungodly world leaders claim that is eight times more than the earth can support.  

·         In recent generations we’ve seen significant degradation of Biblical Marriage practices.  The family, marriage and sexual morality are under attack; young folks are asking “Why get married?” 

·         The corruption of man and the ungodly worship of self is getting worse.

·         The Spirit of God said that’s Enough; God will say it again to start the events in the book of Revelation!

In Gen.6:8-9 – “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.  Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.”  God identified Noah’s righteousness as reason to save him and his family as a remnant.  And after 400 years of silence God sent His righteous Son, Jesus Christ, to save a remnant.

When the Spirit of God says Enough, we see He reveals to Noah the next step in His plan.  “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.”  Gen.6:13  Does the statement to Noah sound similar to what Father God might soon say to His son, Jesus, as the Godhead recognizes the need to separate the sheep & the goats?  Saved & unsaved?  Godly & ungodly?  Righteous & unrighteous?  And what does the destruction sound like in the book of Revelation?

The purpose of the Ark was to save the remnant, so God tells Noah to “Make a roof for it and finish [Or Make an opening for light by finishing] the ark ….” Gen.6:16.  While the remnant are being saved in the Ark, their only view is to the heavens! Once Noah and family entered the Ark “Then the LORD shut him in.” Gen.7:16   The LORD saw that their salvation was assured once in the Ark. 

Look at how God describes Noah in Gen.6:22 – “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” And “And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.” Gen.7:5  The only other person I know who obeyed God perfectly was our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.  Note the parallel between the two Saviors of God’s children!

The first mention of “family” as a unit is in Genesis 7:1 when the LORD instructed Noah to “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.”

Biblically speaking, Forty represents a time for revelation of Truth(s) resulting in major transformations and changes.  “And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.” Gen.7:12   The Flood and End Times both resulted in major changes.  How many other major changes took “forty days”?   Crossing the desert, Fasting, Temptation, Moses waiting on the mountain to get commandments, Spies in Canaan land, etc.

In Genesis 6:17 God reveals His plan “to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.”   And God does that in both Gen. & Rev.   “Every living thing that moved on the earth perished—…” in Gen.7:21   And then in Revelation 8:5 “Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.”  This is the final destruction of the earth as we know it!

Points to ponder

Shouldn’t our view be more “heavenly” focused?

Is the degradation of Biblical Marriage an American problem?  Or is it a world-wide sin problem?

♫ I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God… ♫

♫ “Lord, I need You, Every hour, I need You. My one defense, my righteousness, Oh God, how I need You. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      June 29, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

Musing – What Four Legs Does a Christian Need to Walk On?

 Hebraic Musing – What Four Legs Does a Christian Need to Walk On?

Why is a four legged chair so reliable? How can you maintain a solid relationship in your Christian walk?  Let’s look at the four legs that built the early church in Acts 2:42.  “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  And the result is something we are still looking for in our churches today –  “Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:43  NIV   The believers were devoted to these four activities which created the dynamic church growth that our modern churches envy.  And the church was built on these four legs:

Teaching – The OT is a primer on how to live.  It is the responsibility of the father of the family to teach his children according to Deut. 6:6-9.  “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”  And Moses was told by his Father-in-law to “Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform.” Exod.18:20

Fellowship – Mal 3:16  describes what might be an ideal fellowship of believers – “Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.”

Breaking of Bread – “Bread” is mentioned 253 times in the NIV* .  Not surprising that Jesus used broken bread to symbolize His close relationship with His disciples at the Last Supper – “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Mark14:22  And I for one enjoy meals, breaking bread, with people as opportunity to encourage, learn and/or evangelize.

Prayer – When I want to describe the importance of Prayer, my mind goes to “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Eph.6:18   What is prayer?  We’ve been given the honor and privilege to talk to the Creator of the whole Universe AND He wants us to call on Him any time, any where and for any reason.  AND He’s always listening to each and every one of us all the time.  Jesus Himself asked us to “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matt.7:7-8

Final question:  What happened when they devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer? 
Answer:  Awe, wonders, miracles and thousands added!   And  they evangelized - “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47

In which of these four activities does your church need more of your support?

Points to ponder

In which of these four activities do each of us need more focus?

What happens if a chair is missing one leg?  Is the chair reliable, safe to use?

“Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.” 1 Corinth.14:12   

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      June 22, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

*  Bread is mentioned 330 times in the KJV.

Musing - Does Exodus Foretell Coming Events in Revelation?

 Hebraic Musing - Does Exodus Foretell Coming Events in Revelation?

Our Hebrew forefathers were enslaved in Egypt; and we also find ourselves enslaved here in this world.  Our hope is based on the coming fulfilment of our Savior’s promise in the book of Revelation.  Have you considered that events in the book of Exodus might be a foreshadowing of events promised in the book of Revelation?

Exodus           Judgment in Egypt – “I am the LORD … I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will
                                    redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.” Ex.6:6 NKJV
Revelation      Judgment of whole world – “For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship
                                    before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.” Rev.15:4 NKJV

Exodus           Pharaoh’s rule - represents and parallels Satan rule.    
Revelation      God rules - Speaks of the home for the “Children of Israel”

Exodus           Pharaoh's heart hardened - “… Pharaoh saw that …, he hardened his heart” Ex 8:15
Revelation      World has a hard heart -  “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,” Isa.12:40

Exodus           10 plagues judgment - Egypt:  blood, frogs, lice, …, hail, locusts, darkness, death of firstborn.
Revelation      Seven plagues of wrath – “Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels
                                    seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.” Rev.15:7

Exodus           Goshen protected - “… I will set apart the land of Goshen, … I am the LORD” Ex.8:21  
Revelation      Believers protected - “144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed”  Rev.7:4

Exodus           Lead by Moses & Aaron – With many miracles in the desert crossing!
Revelation      2 witnesses performing miracles - “And I will give power to my two witnesses,” Rev.11:3  

Exodus           Overcame death by blood - “…blood …on doorposts, the LORD will pass over ….” Ex 12:23 
Revelation      Death defeated by blood of Lamb - “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb” Rev.12:11

Exodus           Be ready, ate in haste - “So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover.” Ex 12:11  
Revelation      Yeshua to come quickly - “Surely I am coming quickly.” Rev.22:20

Exodus           Clothes did not wear out – “…forty years … Your clothes have not worn out.” Deut.29:5
Revelation      Given white garments for eternity - “Then a white robe was given to each of them” Rev.6:11

Exodus           Pharaoh & his army pursues but destroyed - “... drowned in the Red Sea.” Ex15:4
Revelation      Armies come against Jerusalem - destroyed by the LORD at Armageddon.

Exodus           Escape through sea.  
Revelation      Escape in the clouds -“Then we shall be caught up… in clouds to meet the Lord.”1 Thess. 4:17

Exodus           Taken out of Egypt - Out of Pharaoh’s rule.  
Revelation      Taken away from earth - Out of Satan's rule.

Exodus           Sabbath rest - “Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD.”  Ex 16:23
Revelation      Eternal rest - “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” Rev 14:13

Points to ponder

What an awesome God we serve?!?!   He has already laid out plans for His children!

While Israelites experienced “Exodus” were they able to see “Revelation” in their future?

What are we obliged to do now that will have eternal consequences?

♫ “Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, And come with singing unto Zion; And everlasting joy shall be upon their head. They shall obtain gladness and joy; And sorrow and mourning shall flee away. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                             June 15, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

Note - Inspired & excerpted from Johanna Hocker’s email “Exodus / Revelation Compared” May 6, 2021

Musing – How Well do We Understand the Far Left Agenda?

 Hebraic Musing – How Well do We Understand the Far Left Agenda?

Pastor Emeritus, Erwin Lutzer, of Moody Church in Chicago has declared on behalf of us Christians that “We Will Not Be Silenced; Responding Courageously to Our Culture’s Assault on Christianity.”*  His book is said by me and by others to be a must read for all Christians.  Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”  Ps. 2:1-3  NKJV 

Lutzer’s book expounds on “the forces that seek to dismantle the core values that built up America.”  Let me tease you with chapter headings, introductions and a few salient snippets from the book.

Rewrite the Past to Control the Future, The strategies being used to delegitimize our Judeo-Christian past in order to make way for a wholly secular and Godless society.   What’s happening?  Destruction of History by burning books, toppling statues to delegitimize the Founding Fathers and America’s Judeo-Christian heritage.    After History is erased, then erase the constitution and Judeo-Christian heritage.   “If a person loses his memory, he does not know who he is.  When a nation loses its history, it becomes whatever people say it is. Based on the loudest and angriest voices.”  BTW – Similarly - The NT gets meaning from the OT.

Use Diversity to Divide and Destroy How harmful cultural ideologies are keeping the races in perpetual, endless conflict.    Using Diversity with Victimology to Divide Races, Genders, White Privilege, etc.  But John 17:22 says “…they may be one just as We are one.”  Victimization justifies Government dependency, providing “free” stuff for the “victims.”  But Prov. 14:23 says “In all labor there is profit,…”

Critical Role of Families in Our National Struggles. Biblical Marriage** What percentage of children going home to both original parents!?!?  Ask your public school teachers that question. (I suspect it’s less than 10%!)

Freedom of Speech for Me, but Not for Thee. The growing trend to stifle and shame those who uphold conservative or Christian worldviews, And Using Slogans to Mask Evil.  So they twist definitions to sell their agenda as Civil Right or as Love & Compassion.  Using Gaslighting to change Language to lower Crime Rates.
At first the Left applauded free speech; now it is deemed unfair, unjust and insensitive.  Ok for some groups, but not others.  Free speech for Christians is criminalized or shamed or mocked!  Defund the Police.  And calls from BLM to destroy images of Christ and deface houses of worship…(p.63)

Sell the Noble Cause. How propaganda is used to shape a population’s perception of reality so they will not change their minds even when confronted by compelling counterevidence.  The Importance of Climate Change.       “They” believe the earth cannot support more than about a billion people (not the 7 billion we have now), so abortion & euthanasia are needed.  Under the banners of compassion and justice, “Equality” is the banner for Same-sex Marriage, Economic (Socialism). The Focus is now on “Individual rights” instead of loving your neighbor.  All these issues are not to help the poor, but to organize for power.  Social Justice – Critical Race Theory (CRT) & Intersectionality stress inequality and assign blame and victimhood.  Their focus is on matters of diversity – gender identity, race, sexuality, ethnicity, class, etc. and ends with controversy about “White Guilt.”  BTW - Theirs is not a method to make people both free and equal.   “The Church is a Toxic Culture.”  Because of “social justice” and CRT it is difficult to have Biblical discussions about race and gender.

Sexualize Children.  How school curricula and popular culture are leading our children into sexual confusion and warped ideas of personal identity.  The Corrupting Influence of Our Public Schools.  Christian Colleges Submit to LGBTQ Values.   The Demonic Nature of What’s Happening in the Transgender Phenomenon.  Explicit curriculums subtly promote the LGBTQ agenda.  Destruction of the nuclear family.**   Promotion and legalization of drug use and pornography.

Capitalism is the Disease; Socialism is the Cure.   Why socialism is initially attractive yet ultimately leads to failure, and how capitalism can create wealth that furthers Christian work everywhere.   Capitalism is blamed for evil in society, charged with greed, materialism, selfishness, etc.; all leading to financial inequality.  
BTW - Is Karl Marx still ruling from the grave?

Join radical Islam to destroy America.  Why and how two very different worldviews are willing to set aside their differences to eradicate Christianity and capitalism.   

Vilify! Vilify! Vilify!  How disagreements today are no longer resolved with mutual respect and civility, but through shaming and outrageous denunciations.   “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” – Thomas Jefferson.

Wake Up!  Strengthen What Remains! Jesus, speaking to a New Testament church, gives a warning that applies directly to us today, and His assessment is the only one that matters.   “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.  Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.”  Rev.3:2-3  Could Jesus have said this to us?

Points to ponder

Is Jesus our Lord, or has the world become our lord?  Whose judgement matters?

Can the Culture be Reclaimed without reclaiming the CHURCH?

How are we to protect Family, Friends and Ourselves from brain-washing?

“The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD…” Ps.2:2 NIV

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      June 8, 2021

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

* Inspired by “We Will Not Be Silenced” by Erwin Lutzer, Pastor Emeritous of The Moody Church in Chicago.

** “Biblical Marriage” by Yosef Brusherd

Musing – Have You Ever Said “No” to God?

 Hebraic Musing – Have You Ever Said “No” to God?

The number one reason we say “no” to God is FEAR!  If the Lord asks you to do something, it might involve risk. He’s not going to ask you to be reckless or irresponsible, but He will ask you to step out of your comfort zone.  Saying “no” to God comes from both stubbornness and doubt.  Stubbornness, in that we want our will over God’s will, and doubt because we trust our plan over His. 

Doing our will comes naturally; it takes no effort, it’s familiar. We can hardly imagine our life without it.  We are prone to entertain even the sins we actually dislike simply because they are routine and comfortable.  I wonder if anyone else ever had that problem?  Let’s see what some respected Bible characters did.

Adam’s original sin was the result of Adam and Eve's disobedience to God when they ate a forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.  Adam & Eve played “hide & Seek” and finally admitted “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” God asked, "Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” Gen.3:10&11 NIV

Moses is often referred to as God’s friend (Exod. 33:11), but this ‘friend of God’ said “No” to God.  “… please send someone else to do it.” Exod. 4:13   God appears to Moses at the burning bush, and they have a long dialogue.  Finally, Moses doesn’t want to go because he has a fear of public speaking.  At least twice, Moses tells God “no.”  Finally, God relents and arranges for Aaron to be the spokesman for Moses (Exodus 4:13-16).

Jonah attempted to flee rather than carry out his assignment to preach repentance to Nineveh.  He had already said YES to God about being a prophet.  Once one agrees to be a prophet, he’s under obligation to carry out the responsibilities of the job.  “But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish.” Jonah 1:3 NIV

Saul   In 1 Sam.15:8 Every Amalekite was killed except King Agag.  In v.9 “But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, …—everything that was good….”  Result?  In v.10 the Lord told Samuel, “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.”  Saul had said no to carrying out God’s full command; he had a “better” plan!

David    Who was David listening to when he took the census in 2 Samuel 24?  God or himself or Satan?

Malachi talks about men who say “No” by robbing God.  (BTW  By NOT trusting, by NOT putting resources into God’s storehouse, we also deprive ourselves of God’s blessings)  So, by saying “no” to God, we are depriving the rest of the world of God’s blessings. Malachi 3:7-12

Peter responds, “No, Lord!”  three times before the vision ended in Acts 10:9-16.  And then when Jesus predicted His own death, impetuous Peter rebuked Him saying “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!”

Ananias also argued with God and held back; he didn’t want to go meet Saul.  Ananias thought he knew better; he was afraid; he thought he had a better grasp of the situation than God did!  He didn’t think God had all the facts!  He thought he could explain to the God of the universe that his way was better than HIS way.  Finally, in Acts 9:15 he listened when God said “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”  Thankfully, Ananias finally obeyed and a powerful ministry was launched!

I wonder how many have said “no” to God and as a result we’ve not heard of them again?  Looking back in life, I wish I had started an organization called “The Royal Order of the First Steppers.”  The Member Emeritus will be the first Israelite who put his foot in the Red Sea and saw it part before him!

Points to ponder

Do we take the first step to trust God when the Holy Spirit tells us to do something?

Saying “No” to God is an option, but is it a good one?  What’s it cost?

What happened when you said “no” to your parents?

What if God responded to our needs like we respond when God shows us the needs of others?

Why does anyone argue with God?   Do we do that too!

♫   I'm trading my sorrows, I'm trading my shame, I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord.    We say
Yes, Lord Yes, Lord Yes, yes, Lord; Yes, Lord Yes, Lord Yes, yes, Lord; Yes, Lord Yes, Lord Yes, yes, Lord. Amen. ♫
Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd              June 1, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings” http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/