The Triumph of Doubt

One thing I love about the Bible is the way it speaks to people like me. An example is found in Mark 9:23, 24. Jesus had just returned from the mountain top with Peter, James and John where He had met with Moses and Elijah. At the foot of the mountain He found the rest of His disciples arguing with the teachers of religious law, the two groups surrounded by a large crowd.

At issue was the inability of the disciples to cast an evil spirit out of a boy. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and demanded the boy be brought to Him.

‘How long has this been going on’ asked Jesus? ‘Since he was little’ replied his father.

‘“The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can"’ pleaded the father.

‘"What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes."’

‘The father instantly replied, "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!"’

With that, Jesus commanded the spirit to leave the boy and he was healed.

While we may speak of ‘strong faith’ I wonder if any of us really have it. Even Abraham, the Father of the faithful struggled. We quote that famous verse from Gen. 15:6, ‘And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith.’

But two verses later we read ‘But Abram replied, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I be sure that you will give it to me?"’ (v.8) And as we continue on with Abraham’s story we find he continues to stumble.

If it relied on strong faith or unwavering faith there would be no hope. But the good news is that it doesn't. The father's faith was tentative yet desperate. He acknowledged his doubt. Abraham believed, yet he sought reassurance. His example is held up as one of a life of faith. Doubt is human, a natural and I believe essential part of faith. Just as courage is not the absence of fear but the overcoming of it, so faith is the overcoming of doubt.

So I can live with my doubts, my failures, knowing I share these traits with the heroes of faith whose stories are found in the Bible. Failure and doubt don’t of themselves condemn me, for I can confess them and ask Jesus for the help I need to continue in the life of faith.

Bible quotes from the New Living Translation.

Taken from the Earth

Genesis 1 gives a broad brush overview of the Earth’s creation, culminating with the creation of humanity and the Sabbath day, a day ‘made … holy’ because God rested on that day from his creative work (Gen.2:2.) Genesis 2 compliments the creation account, giving greater focus to humanity's relationship with each other, the earth, and the other creatures that we share it with.

Adam is formed ‘from the dust of the ground’ (Gen 2:7), as were ‘all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky’ (2:19). Both Adam and the other creatures are all formed of the same substance, taken from the earth. However Adam is created differently. Here we have a very intimate picture of God breathing ‘the breath of life into the man’s nostrils ...’ (v.7). It reminds me of the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation procedure as practiced by life savers and first aiders. In this way Adam is set apart from all the other created things.

Taken in the Domain, Melbourne

The Scripture says that Adam ‘became a living person’ or, as it says in the King James Version, ‘a living soul’ (v.7). The same Hebrew word translated ‘living person’ in v.7 is translated ‘living creature’ in v.19, referring to ‘all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky’. We are in many ways no different to the other creatures with whom we share the planet. All are formed from it, dependent on the same air, the same water and the same source of nutrients. Creation connects us to this planet and offers us no life apart from it.

There is a significant difference. Adam was also created without a companion, something God says ‘is not good’ (v.18). The animals are brought to him to name. In ancient cultures the act of naming something or somebody implied ownership or authority over that which was named (See the NIV Study Bible comment on Gen. 1:5). This reiterates the Genesis 1:26 account that humans were created in God’s image and likeness, to ‘reign over’ the other creatures. But there is still no suitable companion, and so the work of creation is not yet complete.

Adam is put into a deep sleep, God removes one of his ribs, and a companion is formed and presented to him. "At last!" Adam exclaimed. "She is part of my own flesh and bone! She will be called 'woman,' because she was taken out of a man." (v.23).

Just as the description of Adam’s creation is so much more intimate than that of the animals, so is the account of Eve’s creation. In fact, it is even more intimate, for she was taken from him. Her bone is his bone, her flesh is his flesh. For this reason says the Bible, a man leaves his parents ‘and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one’ (v.24)

Now the image and likeness of God in humanity is completed. Genesis 1:27 says: ‘So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’

Jesus often spoke of His oneness with the Father. For example, in John 10:30, ‘The Father and I are one.’ The image of God cannot be represented by one, for God is a plurality. The closest representation of we have on this planet, imperfect as it may be, is in the ‘oneness’ of a husband and wife, living together in a loving, united relationship.

Genesis 2 represents the Creator’s ideal. The authority given to male and female to reign over the earth is not an authority to exploit, or degrade. Adam was placed in the Garden ‘to tend and watch over it’ (v.15). This became a shared reign with the creation of Eve. Man is not given authority over the woman, nor the woman over the man. Of the word ‘helper’ the Expanded Bible says  ’in the sense of a partner or ally; the word does not imply subordinate status’. They were created to support, or to assist, one another.

So what does this mean for the Christian today?

First, with the exception of Revelation 21 and 22, Genesis 2 is the only picture we have of God’s ideal. The picture in Revelation is of a new earth which will be the eternal home of the saved. It is a restoration of the original, a return to God’s intent. So if we want to understand God’s will for our future, we must look to the past. And that is a humanity that is one with each other and with God caring for, or acting as stewards of, His creation.

God’s plan is to restore in men and women the image that was broken by rebellion. Knowing our future, if we are to allow the work of restoration to begin in us today we must live out our lives in a way that anticipates future. In that future men will not exercise authority over women, nor will women exercise authority over me. For we were created to help and support one another, to partner with or to work together.

We must also think about our relationship with the rest of creation. This does not mean living in harmony with nature, for nature is in a state of decay. It has been out of harmony with God since Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. So whatever we do we cannot save the earth, for only God can do that. Yet we must look for ways to limit our impact on the planet and our overconsumption of its resources, for our lifestyle choices do have implications for all living things. And we must recognise that in the Old Testament exploitation of others and indifference to their plight is associated with environmental degradation. While there are no easy answers, and we may not all agree on what those answers are, we must recognise that it is for this that we will be held accountable to God.

Bible Quotes: From the New Living Translation unless stated otherwise.

Are We Seeing the End of the Human Experiment?

In the Bible story, Cain, the eldest son of Adam and Eve murdered his brother Abel. And so it has been ever since. Family member against family member, tribe against tribe, nation against nation, empire against empire. As humans we have a long and bloody history. And there seems no end in sight.

No race or culture is exempt. Scottish clans, English nobles, French and Germans, English and Spanish, Arabs and Persians. How long is the list of conflicts? How long is the proverbial piece of string?

In Western Europe a new vision emerged from the ruins of WW 2, an empire forged not by military force, but my mutual cooperation. It looked to trade, cooperation, adherence to agreed regulations and a submission of national self-interest to the common good.

A big ask. After all Europe has endured centuries of hate, mistrust and violence. The old hatreds and entrenched attitudes created by history have been passed on and reinforced from generation to generation. But, in Western Europe, of all places, one would think there was hope this grand dream could be realised.

The Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment broke the shackles of the Holy Roman Empire.  Western Europe share in a large part common values based on their shared Judeo-Christian heritage and views of the Enlightenment.  It is the world that gave us modern science, Mozart, Shakespeare and Handle. What an opportunity to learn from the failings of past and build a better future shaped by a shared vision.

Will it last,  or are we already seeing symptoms of decay? Brexit. The English have said enough and this could threaten the union with Scotland. The rise of populist nationalist parties that appeal to national self-interest appear as another threat. Will the European Union survive if Le Pen, Wilders and similar groups gain the political ascendancy?

If it fails, what does that failure say for humanity's future? Overpopulation, dwindling resources, a rapidly increasing rate of species extinction, widespread poverty and ignorance,  and climate change, whether human caused or not, tell us we face enormous problems, problems that threaten human survival. How can we even begin to find solutions if the nations of Europe who share so much in common can't lay aside their differences? The Middle East, Africa, Asia - can we see these peoples whose differences are much greater than Europe’s and in whose border’s live the vast majority of the world's poor and uneducated - find the solutions we badly need? I think not.

Maybe there is something in that ancient dream after all. Nebuchadnezzar is remembered as one of the world's great empire  builders. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. He set his wise men an impossible task. First tell me what I dreamt last night and then tell me what it means. If you can't you”ll lose your heads.

One saved them. Daniel, who had been taken captive from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and trained in the ways of Babylon asked for a delay of execution so that he could consider the problem. The request granted, Daniel went home, called a few friends together, and prayed about it.

Next morning he stood before the king. You saw a grand statue your Majesty, with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet a mixture of iron and clay. The interpretation followed and it is expanded on as the Book of Daniel continues.

The head represented Babylon, but it would fall to Medo-Persia who, in turn, would be followed by Greece. These are named in a later vision in Daniel 9:20,21. Greece is followed by an unnamed empire represented by the legs of iron. The commentary provided in the NIV Study Bible identifies this as Rome and I believe this makes sense. Not only did Rome follow Greece, it also held sway over Palestine at the time of Jesus, that to which the prophecies of Daniel clearly point.

Which brings us to the feet of iron and clay. Who are they?  Of these the Study Bible Commentary says the 10 toes ‘are understood by some to represent a later confederation of states occupying the territory formerly controlled by the Roman Empire.’  Daniel, in 2:41-43 says of these:

The feet and toes you saw were a combination of iron and baked clay, showing that this kingdom will be divided. Like iron mixed with clay, it will have some of the strength of iron. 42 But while some parts of it will be as strong as iron, other parts will be as weak as clay. 43 This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. But they will not hold together, just as iron and clay do not mix.

The Roman Empire was divided into two by the Emperor Diocletian in 285 CE to facilitate more efficient administration. The Western empire fell in 476 CE, the Eastern, or Byzantine, fell in 1453, to be replace by the Ottomans. World War one saw the end of the Ottomans and the likelihood of any enduring unity being formed in that part of the world seems highly improbable.

Charlemagne, Napoleon and Hitler are three that come to mind who have attempted to unite Western Europe since Rome’s fall, and all have failed. And if we look to take the prophecy more literally we know that intermarriage between the royal houses of Europe was practiced in an effort to forge alliances without lasting success.

Which brings us back to modern Western Europe, a new form of alliance formed not by military force or royal marriages, but by the agreement of democratically elected governments of nations sharing what in so many ways is a common heritage. If it falls apart is their any real hope for a an increasingly overpopulated world with diminishing resources, poverty, wars, chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and widespread environmental degradation?

There is one more part of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that may provide the answer. A rock cut from a mountain struck the feet of the statue and destroyed it completely. The rock grew into a mighty mountain covering the entire earth. This symbolised the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth - the Kingdom of eternal peace and fairness.

Will the dream come true? I hope and believe so. For if it doesn’t, I believe humanity will end up destroying itself and the world in which we live. Which sounds a lot like this verse from Revelation 11:18

The nations were filled with wrath,

   but now the time of your wrath has come.

It is time to judge the dead

   and reward your servants the prophets,

   as well as your holy people,

and all who fear your name,

   from the least to the greatest.

It is time to destroy

   all who have caused destruction on the earth

It is not God that destroys, it is us. Could we be close to that time?

Bible quoted: New Living Translation

Mission Accomplished? - Confronting Genocide Part 9

To date we have seen in the stories of Rahab and the Gibeonites, as well as the later example of Ruth, (Parts 6-8) God’s apparent absolutes do not exclude grace. In each of these examples people who appear to have been condemned without mercy come under God’s protection.

There is no doubt that in the conquest of Canaan battles took place, people were killed, and Israel settled in the land. That may raise some ethical questions, but the issue discussed to date is that of genocide.Did God demand genocide?

In Part 5 I proposed one of two tests to the charge of genocide: the civil standard of more likely than unlikely; or the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt. Neither our legal system or faith demand the absence of any doubt. So let's look at further evidence.

Before they crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land the Israelites had been attacked by the Amorite kings Sihon and Og. The Israelites emerged victorious and took possession of the land of these kings (Numbers 21:21-35). Believing this land suited their requirements the tribes of Gad and Reuben requested they be granted this land in lieu of what lay on the other  side of the river. Moses agreed to this request on the condition that their fighting men, along with those of the half tribe of Manasseh who were also granted land in the same region,  go with the rest of the tribes and fight with them until the mission was accomplished (Num 32:1-42).

Joshua reminded them of this requirement as the tribes prepared to cross the Jordan. We see, in Joshua 1:14-15  their warriors were to lead the way.

Your wives, children, and cattle may remain here on the east side of the Jordan River, but your warriors, fully armed, must lead the other tribes across the Jordan to help them conquer their territory. Stay with them until the LORD gives rest to them as he has given rest to you, and until they, too, possess the land the LORD your God is giving them. Only then may you settle here on the east side of the Jordan River in the land that Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave you.

Now the text seems quite clear. The Gadite, Reubenite and Manassite warriors were to remain with the others until they also possessed the land they had been promised. In chapter 21:43-45 it seems the mission is completed.

So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. 45 Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.

Their duty done, the fighting men of  the Gadites, Reubanites and Manassites were sent home to be reunited with their families.

Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 2 He told them, “You have done as Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you, and you have obeyed every order I have given you.3 During all this time you have not deserted the other tribes. You have been careful to obey the commands of the Lord your God right up to the present day. 4 And now the Lord your God has given the other tribes rest, as he promised them. So go back home to the land that Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you as your possession on the east side of the Jordan River. 5 But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” 6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went home. (Joshua 22:1-6)

However things were not as one would expect. Consider the following.

Jebusites

Listed in chapter 11 as one of the coalition defeated by Joshua (v3). Of this victory it is said that ‘not one enemy warrior was left alive’ (v8). In Joshua 15:63 the Jebusites are still living in Jerusalem because the tribe of Judah was unable to drive them out. It was not until the time of David that the Israelites took Jerusalem from them (1 Chronicles 11:4-7).

The Negev

Joshua 11:16 records Joshua’s defeat of the ‘entire Negev’ and ‘the western foothills. Again they were ‘completely destroyed without mercy’ (v.24). But in Judges 1, after the death of Joshua, we find the tribe of Judah defeating these same people (Judges 1:19).

Debir

In Joshua 10:38, 39 we read the town of Debir, ‘its king, and all of its surrounding villages’ were ‘completely destroyed … leaving no survivors’. Again, in Judges 1 we find that Debir is sacked by ‘Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz …’ (v.11-13).

In fact, when one reads Chapters 10-12 of Joshua it gives the impression that the Canaanites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Hivites, with the exception of the residents of Gibeon, had been completely destroyed. And this is what a casual reading would lead us to believe if ‘all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel’ had been fulfilled and ‘everything he had spoken came true (Joshua 21:45).

But that is not what we find. Judges 1, which follows Joshua's death, notes the following:

• 21 The tribe of Benjamin, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the people of Benjamin.

• 27 The tribe of Manasseh failed to drive out the people living in Beth-shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and all their surrounding settlements, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region.

• 29 The tribe of Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, so the Canaanites continued to live there among them.

• 30 The tribe of Zebulun failed to drive out the residents of Kitron and Nahalol, so the Canaanites continued to live among them.

• 31 The tribe of Asher failed to drive out the residents of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Aczib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.32 Instead, the people of Asher moved in among the Canaanites, who controlled the land, for they failed to drive them out.

• 33 Likewise, the tribe of Naphtali failed to drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. Instead, they moved in among the Canaanites, who controlled the land.

• 34 As for the tribe of Dan, the Amorites forced them back into the hill country and would not let them come down into the plains. 35 The Amorites were determined to stay in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim, but when the descendants of Joseph became stronger, they forced the Amorites to work as slaves.

It is quite clear that although the author of Joshua at 21:43-45 considered God had fulfilled His promise. So how do we account for the language of complete annihilation? The answer is that the writer of Joshua used the war rhetoric that was common at the time. Rather than discuss that further I will refer you to following link:

http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/201004/201004_138_canannites.cfm

The evidence presented to date shows that those Canaanites who chose to place themselves under God’s protection were spared. It also seems clear that the author of Joshua considered ‘all the good promises the Lord’ had been fulfilled despite the evidence that the ‘enemy’ remained in the land and that Israel had not taken  it all.

Therefore, I suggest, the charge of genocide at either standard is not proven.

What then are we to make of Joshua? In future posts I will explore this further.

Bible quoted: New Living Translation