The Good Book | Bible

This purpose of this page is to address the common misconceptions and questions many seem to have when it comes to the Holy Bible, Jesus the Christ and/or GOD Almighty. These are just the ones I can think of. If you've got a question or issue that's not addressed here, PLEASE ASK AWAY! And remember, I am not some sort of expert on the Holy Bible. If I falter, please correct me.

I used to work with a young lady who didn't even know that Jesus was actually a real person, and not some mythical creature a bunch of crazy Christians made up (Wiki and PBS). No one disputes that Jesus the man lived on earth - the Holy Bible tells you so, of course, but so do the history books the rest of the world relies on. Other faiths even acknowledge him. So, there is no question that Jesus actually was born into the world and walked it like you and me. The only issue is his divinity - his claim to be the Son of GOD - there's a long line of those who dispute that!

Another common question - why do you call him Jesus Christ? Is Christ his last name, or something? No. As far as antiquity shows, folks didn't really have last names like you and I yet. They often cited their parents or home town to distinguish which Simon or which John they were, for example. As for Jesus, he is called 'Christ' or 'the Christ' because Christians believe he is the Savior (the Messiah, the Anointed One)...which is the definition of christ. It should be Jesus the Christ, but who has time to say all that? So, just saying Jesus Christ has caught on. Although you won't people saying Jesus Messiah or Jesus Anointed One or Jesus Savior... I guess Jesus Christ rolls off the tongue easier...and some just say Christ Jesus.


In the Great Flood story, did Noah actually go out on some kind of safari and capture all of these pairs of animals GOD commanded him to house in the ark? Um, no. Be serious. It would have been much easier for GOD to instruct the animals to got to Noah instead. Does that seem ridiculous? This thing called nature - what is it that makes birds come back to the nest to feed their young? Why do penguins follow that peculiar route every time every year? What is it? Nature? What is nature? Unless you believe creation (you, me, the heavens, the animals, our intricate bodies) is all chance, it's obviously GOD who gets the credit for orchestrating 'nature'. But hey, that's my interpretation.
Job 38:
4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
22“Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?
24By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?
25“Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man;
27To satisfy the desolate waste, And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
39“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40When they crouch in their dens, Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?
41Who provides food for the raven, When its young ones cry to God, And wander about for lack of food?

This blog post came to my attention recently and I figured I might as well share it and my comment here.

An excerpt:
I have to say- I can’t believe anyone would just CHOOSE that. I can’t believe that Stella simply woke up one day and said, “you know, I think I’ll be a lesbian now.” I’m not saying that somewhere in her brain there wasn’t a switch that got turned at some point. She had some bad experiences, she didn’t want to go through what her mom went through. I just don’t think that it was a choice. I don’t think any sane person would look at a life of acceptance and a life of awkward conversations and say, “my life is too easy. Let’s mix this up.”

Stella, at least, had to have really believed that was who she was meant to be.

She still believes in God, the last I heard. She just has a lot of questions. It’s just too bad that there aren’t very many churches where they’d let her in long enough to ask them.

Now, the author of the blog post excerpted above is not my focus, for she makes a very good point. Most so-called Christians would rather outright condemn you and kick you out of church before actually sitting down and listening to someone's questions and concerns. We are supposed to treat people with love and compassion. Keywords, supposed to...

My issue is with this most ignorant commentator named John (could be a fake name) who had this to say:

john replied:

let me be clear. scripture has never said homosexuality was a sin. its only man who says scripture says it. and i challenge anyone to show me where the words in the verses of the bible say so.

i have never understood why all the concern about whether choice or innate. surely the only thing that is important in any intimate relationship is that there is a mutual commitment to be affirming and trustworthy and loving to each other.

This is really why I encourage everyone to pick up the Holy Bible and set some time aside and start really, really reading it. You don't have to read it straight from Genesis to Revelations, but you should read it. If John had but done that, he wouldn't have made such an erroneous statement...which is also misleading, because it's possible John heard that bit of misinformation from someone else who either lied or didn't bother to read GOD's Holy Word. So someone like John will take his mis-statement as fact and roll with it.

Read your Holy Bible, people.

Anyway, the error in John's statement: "scripture has never said homosexuality was a sin. its only man who says scripture says it."

Here is my reaction:

It says explicitly in more than one place — both Old Testament and New Testamnet — that it is sin for man to lay with man and for woman to lay with woman. Because the term ‘homosexual’ doesn’t appear in the Holy Text it doesn’t mean that that is not what’s being addressed.

And no, GOD doesn't hate 'fags' as some wicked people love to hatefully insist.

Take a look at the verses and consider them carefully. You need only to accept them or reject them.

The Holy Bible even addresses bestiality…and no, I’m not trying to link the two. The Holy Bible comments on everything dealing with sexual morality and sexual immorality, is my point.

OLD TESTAMENT:

Leviticus 18:20-24 (New King James Version) -
22)You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
23)Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion.
24)‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you.

And this same statute is mentioned again in Leviticus 20:13-17 (New King James Version).

NEW TESTAMENT:

Romans 1(New King James Version)-
24)Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25)who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26)For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27)Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28)And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29)being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30)backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31)undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32)who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

And I must say, you cannot pick and choose which part of GOD’s commands and statutes you’re going to follow. You’re either all in or you’re out. Yes, Jesus the Christ was all about love, but he was very serious about abiding by GOD Almighty’s laws (as you see when you read his interactions with the Pharisees and Sadducees).

If it was easy, everyone would be saved…so be quite careful of those calling themselves Christians.

Nothing is impossible for GOD. If you want to change, HE can change you. Are people born gay? - Unlikely. And I say all of this as one who has dealt personally with homosexuality. Are homosexuals some sort of ‘mistake’? Of course not. But they are sinners…as everyone is a sinner. And GOD cannot stand sin (it says that too, in the Holy Bible). Homosexuality is sexually immoral (sinful)…as is fornication, adultery, incest, bestiality, rape, etc.

And again, you either accept it or reject… it’s a bit too late to re-write the Holy Bible...though some people are trying very, very hard. There are answers to issues in the Holy Bible not explicitly answered, but this is definitely not one of those cases.


And here is a reaction from a man named Brian J Walsh (I think). I include it because he says it a lot gentler than I do:

You know, many people make bad choices for a lot of good reasons and good choices for a lot of bad reasons. I think your post really hit on that tension. Even if homosexuality is a bad choice (i.e. sinful) there can still be many good reasons behind it, like loving and caring for another human being. Separating those difficult tensions is a nearly impossible task and may only be worthy for an omniscient judge… like God. Point is, churches can’t play that role, they can’t be the omniscient judge (because they aren’t God) but they can and should point people towards God.

The other thing people often forget is that the path to God is NEVER fun, gentle, or easy. Everyone knows intuitively that becoming a better is hard, and if God wanted to make us into a MUCH better person, it follows that the process bight be incrementally much harder. No pain no gain, right? So maybe life isn’t all about the nicest, happiest, most pleasing choice, but about the best choice even when it is the hardest.

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This is a post from my other blog, The Bible Means. It's a very relevant post, so I figured I would share it on here, too.

I was re-reading through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) recently and realized something for the first time when I came across the verses of St. John 8 (KJV):

2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.
3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,
4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”
6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

Because of years of listening to sloppy preaching and biased theories, I had always assumed that this unnamed woman caught in adultery was Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' top (female) disciples.

I had also always been taught that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute...and had heard many teachings that this woman caught in adultery was actually a prostitute. Confusing? It should be, because most of it is a lie.


To get to the truth of it -- using the Holy Bible alone, as it is the only true Word of GOD that we have today -- I examined several key verses. It didn't take much time at all to discover the truth.

First off, Mary Magdalene is first mentioned in Matthew 27:56 "among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons"... which describes the disciples who were watching Jesus' crucifixion. So, this is Mary Magdalene's introduction -- a dedicated, loving disciple of the Christ.

We learn a little about M. M.'s history in Mark 16: 19 "Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons." Two important things are revealed here. One, we learn that Jesus and M.M. met when the Messiah freed her from demonic possession. Lastly, the fact that M.M. was the first disciple to see the resurrected Jesus says a lot. Not even Jesus' mother Mary got to see him first... he appeared to one of his disciples...whom I can only infer from this text was a very important person to him. No, I'm not going the 'Da Vinci' code route by insinuating that there was some unrighteous intimate relationship between this disciple and the Son of GOD. I'm simply saying, just as Jesus favored Peter to help lead/create the Church, he may have first appeared in his resurrected state to M.M. for a reason.

So, to summarize where we are right now, Mary Magdalene had previously been possessed by demons; watched Jesus' crucifixion; and was the first to see him after his resurrection. No where has there been any indication that she was a prostitute or adulterer.

Before we continue, there is one more thing that I should mention. Mary was apparently from the town of Magdala, which is why she was called a Magdalene. However, there is some evidence that shows that even the name of the town was translated incorrectly. The Jewish Talmud (the books covering the law, etc. in the Old Testament) and other historical references indicate that the town was mostly likely called "Migdal" or "Magadan" (Greek manuscripts). Despite all of that, the town's name was ascribed to Mary just to let others know which Mary this was...since Mary was an extremely popular name during that time. As a matter of fact, it notes in the concordance of my Bible that there were seven persons named Mary in the New Testament, and it describes M.M. as 'A Galilean follower of Jesus.'

I would also like to note that the term 'prostitute' doesn't appear anywhere in the Holy Bible (KJV) except for in Lev. 19:29. 'Harlot' however is mentioned plenty of times, but nowhere in the Gospels do any of its usages make reference to or speak of M.M. or anyone in particular for that matter. It's simply mentioned as one would talk about a group of people, such as saying 'publicans' or 'tax collectors', you'd say 'harlots.'

Finally, this 'woman caught in adultery' was never given a name, nor do we know her town of origin. Jesus simply refused to condemn her and told her to sin no more. No mention of demons, Magdala, Mary or the like. This was just one of the many people in the Gospels that Jesus used to glorify His Father GOD.

So who was Mary of Magdala? -- She was a devout disciple of Jesus who helped support his ministry financially and I'm sure she did her part in helping to spread the Truth. She wasn't an adulterer. She wasn't a prostitute. She had been demon possessed before meeting Jesus, was healed, and took up her cross and followed him.

Where did this awful slander come from? Why would anyone want to purport such a lie and misconception? Is it just carelessness/ laziness that people continue to believe such a false teaching of Mary Magdalene? I don't know the answers to these questions, but considering Christian history, specifically in terms of the Catholic Church, I don't find it unlikely that these men who made the decisions of what books would enter the Bible, conducted the demonic Inquisitions, etc., would have an interest in discounting one of Jesus' top disciples -- a woman. After all, what were the other twelve's sin? Are we to believe that Peter, Thomas, Matthew, etc. were all blemish-free before Jesus? I think not.

And I guess I should note that I'm not so passionate about rectifying the image of M.M. because I think former prostitutes are deplorable creatures. Quite the contrary, because we are all sinners, and as far as I've read in the Bible, GOD is no respecter of persons when it comes to judging sinners. Sin is sin, and can all be forgiven...except for sins against the Holy Spirit of course.

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This is a little off form (already! I know), but I came across this blog called Let's Ask The Bible. It's a really well-meaning blog and I think it can do some good in the goal of exposing the truth about the Holy Bible to those who are looking for it.

Anyway, without judging the dude who owns the blog, I needed to challenge him in his response/explanation for why GOD is supposedly not a Trinity. Oh, and please visit his blog and 'challenge' him... he will appreciate it because he will learn some wonderful things, too (I know that's how it works with me!).

First off, let's define Trinity (as any dictionary will tell you):

# three: the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
# the union of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost in one Godhead
# trio: three people considered as a unit

How interesting... 'the sum of one and one and one'; 'three people considered as a unit'...

OK, so you know where I'm going with this, but why not do yourself a favor AND NOT JUST TAKE MY WORD on it, and look at the verses from the Holy Bible that support this concept - and yes, it is a concept!

But you will actually have to pick up a Holy Bible or use an e-version in some cases to follow along (don't be lazy; TRUTH doesn't fall into your lap!)

In verses like Gen 1:26 and Gen 3:22, who do you suppose GOD is talking to? You can easily look up the verses yourself, but GOD basically uses the phrases 'like one of us' and 'let us make'... This is of course right around creation. HE says, "Let us make man in our image..." Who could he possibly be talking to? Shall we assume that HE's talking to HIS angels? I don't believe I've ever seen in the Holy Bible that angels have power like GOD (they get their power from GOD, I know that). I'd like to know your thoughts on this.

Gen 1:26: Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Gen 3:22: Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”...

Also, we know that in verses all over the Holy Bible, especially the New Testament, that Jesus refers to himself as the SON OF GOD and others refer to him as such. There is only ONE SON OF GOD. And Jesus often said that he and the Father are ONE, that when you look at Jesus, you look at the Father. And remember, we call him Immanuel (which means 'GOD with us').

Isaiah 10:14: ...14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Finally, we all know that GOD is Spirit and must be worshiped in spirit, as HE says HIMSELF in the Holy Bible. And there are many references to this: Holy Spirit, Spirit of GOD, Spirit of the Holy GOD, etc.

John 4:24: ...God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

So these are three distinctive persons -- holy persons and wholly unique. There is no one like them anywhere. But what do they have in common?

THEY ARE ALL GOD.

GOD, the Father, GOD the Son (Christ Jesus) and GOD the Holy Spirit. So therefore, GOD is ONE, yet three very distinctive personalities.

So was Jesus praying to himself when he said 'Father'?

Or was GOD talking about HIMSELF when he said 'This is my beloved Son...'?

And was Jesus saying he would send himself when he told the disciples that he would send 'the Comforter, the Holy Spirit'?

Yes and no.

There is one godhead. But it is comprised of three people. You could say GOD 'spread' HIMSELF among two other people.

No one ever said the trinity concept meant that there were three GODs... it only means that GOD has placed Jesus the Christ beside HIM and 'operates' in the Holy Spirit.

And yes, it is a concept... no need to believe it for your salvation to remain intact (though it would be difficult, I think). However, you cannot deny that Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit are both uniquely of GOD. GOD was first; HE then sent Jesus; and Jesus then sent the Great Comforter, the Holy Spirit (but the Spirit of GOD has always been...and to make it even more confusing, Jesus said he has always been, since before the beginning).

And don't you find it strange that GOD and both Jesus the Christ call themselves the Alpha and the Omega (in Isaiah 48:12, GOD says, “Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last"...)

GOD is indeed ONE.

And look at Isaiah 48:16 (the section about Israel's salvation, the Light of the Gentiles, etc... this whole book is interesting... many chapters appear to have a communication of sorts between Jesus and GOD... check it out).

“Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit Have sent Me.”

I believe the 'Me' is Christ Jesus, if you look at the whole book of Isaiah in context. And take note that it says 'the Lord GOD and HIS Holy Spirit'... sounds like two different people to me...

If you disagree, pleas explain why. If you agree, please explain why. If I've 'got it all wrong'... please explain why.

I'm basically encouraging feedback :)

- Theist @ http://goodbible.blogspot.com/

I have seen a post on another Web site about this same subject. The author has it titled: Ritual Human Sacrifice (Why does GOD want me to burn animals and humans?). That is probably one of the most ignorant and irresponsible statements concerning the Holy Bible that I've ever seen. Absolutely no where in the Holy Bible does the LORD GOD Jehovah instruct HIS people to sacrifice humans -- that is a blatant lie and slander! As a matter of fact, GOD curses the people because they toss their own children in the fire! HE hates things like that.

A very ridiculous example these atheists and agents of Satan use to make you - the passing visitor (who they know will most likely NOT pick up a Holy Bible and read) - believe that GOD 'delights in human sacrifice' is the passage of Genesis 22: 1-18. In the Holy Bible, this is known as the time when Abraham - called by GOD to found a nation for HIM (to inherit HIS creation) - has to confirm his faith... prove that he does indeed believe and trust in GOD.

How must Abraham prove himself ? - He must take his son to an altar and sacrifice him to and before the LORD.

You're like, wait a minute - what? Now, that's the only part of the entire passage from Genesis that the atheists will share with you... they give you no context, no history, no nothing. They just want you think that GOD is evil or wicked just on that verse alone. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER BLATANT, WICKED LIE of the devil and his atheists.

Don't worry, my friends, there's no way in heaven GOD would require any one of us to kill a blessing...and you will learn that Abraham's son, Isaac, was indeed given to him and his wife as a miracle blessing.

Let's look at it all in context as it is plainly given in the Holy Bible.

We first meet Abram (as he was called before he became 'father' to a nation...Abraham) in Gen. 11: 26, along with his two brothers (the verses before are all about his predecessors... it's like a genealogy list...read it).

We then go into Abram's story and are introduced to some important people in his life, such as his nephew Lot (of Sodom and Gomorrah 'fame') and his wife, Sarai (she too had a name change, which is Sarah).

In Gen. 12, we discover that GOD actually speaks to Abram and tells him to do something, and what HE, the LORD, will do for him in exchange:

1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.

2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So Abram, in agreement with the LORD, packs up his stuff and his family and heads out...to wherever this place is GOD 'will show' him. Look at Abram's faith already - he doesn't even need to know specific details...he can take GOD at HIS Word. So, Lot (his nephew, whose father had died) and Sarai, of course, go off with Abram.

Now, in Gen. 15, things get a little interesting. GOD talks to Abram in a little more detail about how HE will bless him. Abram's like, that's great, but I don't even have any kids to inherit my stuff. My wife can't have children, we're both as old as dirt and my servants will probably inherit my stuff. How does GOD respond?

4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Isn't that amazing! GOD tells Abram, 'Don't even worry about an offspring! Your children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren will be so numerous, it'll be like trying to count how many stars are in the night sky.

And how does Abram respond? - He says, 'OK. I believe YOU.' And he meant it. GOD was so impressed with his faith, HE said, 'Abram is indeed a good man, one I can trust and count on'...basically. Read it and re-read it for yourself to come to an understanding. Don't take my word for it.

In Gen. 16, we see how worked up and sadden Sarai is about not being able to have children. She gets so twisted about it, she tells her husband, Abram, to sleep with her maidservant (female servant). Abram does what she asks and this maidservent, Hagar, gets pregnant. Now Sarai's jealous! Boy oh boy... that's what we get for meddling, right? So, Sarai is all upset and starts treating Hagar like garbage (my interpretation for 'dealt harshly with her'). It appears that Sarai let her emotions get the best of her, again. Hagar takes off, which is probably what Sarai was hoping for. But GOD takes pity on Hagar, after all, she's with Abram's child. HE tells Hagar to go back home, everything will be OK and she'll have even more children for Abram. And HE tells her the one she's carrying already, Ishmael, will be father of a great people because of his own father. Read it.

You know how old Abram was when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael? - 86 years old. Remember, (or learn) GOD had already marked man to live only about 120 years (read it).

GOD pays another personal visit to Abram when he's 99, the Holy Bible says (read it). GOD re-iterates HIS promise, gives Abram a little more information, and explains his end of the covenant (or deal, if you will). The major thing was for every male to be circumcised (babies when they are 8 days old). So Abram circumcised Ishmael, himself (ouch! he was 99!) and all the men in his company (ouch! ouch! ouch!). There must have been a lot of crying and screaming in Abram's camp for days! But why circumcision? As I have recently learned (a good interpretation), it was an obvious, physical reminder (a symbol) for the people about their covenant with GOD. HE knew they'd need a constant reminder about their pact (Jesus changed all of that later, though). That very same day, the covenant was sealed, if you will, and GOD gave them new names: Abraham and Sarah.

And at some point later, GOD and two of HIS angels actually, physically stop by Abraham's home on their way to see what's going on in Sodom (and Gomorrah). GOD and HIS angels dine with Abraham (why not?) and GOD tells Abraham again that Sarah will soon have that child HE promised. Now, Abraham and Sarah were old...like practically dead :), so when Sarah overheard this old promise renewed, she laughed! She was like to herself, 'Yeah right! I'm way over the hill...ain't no way!' GOD heard her laugh and asked Abraham what she found so funny...nothing is too hard for the LORD to do. HE says again that she will have the child at the appointed time. Sarah was terrified when she realized that she was overheard and denied (to GOD HIMSELF) that she laughed. HE didn't get mad, I guess. GOD said to her, "No, but you did laugh!"


So do they have that kid? - Yes! Finally! In Gen. 21:
5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
6 And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.”
7 She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”


And the part we have all been waiting for (but you needed the back story, my friends):

KEY: (words like this are my own); the asterisks*** mean you should take special note; this [!huh!] means I don't get it; this [wow] means I'm amazed.

Genesis 22 - Abraham’s Faith Confirmed

1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”***
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.***
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.
5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad (Isaac) and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”***
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”*** So the two of them went together.
9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. [wow]
10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.***
11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.”
12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.*** So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”
15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,
16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—
17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” ***
19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.


INTERPRETATION:

Wow. What a passage... it's almost like watching the most suspenseful part of a movie.

So, let's take a look at this 'evil' GOD who delights in human sacrifice (rolling me eyes).

1. The first thing we read in this chapter is 'GOD tested Abraham'. This is only a test! Why? Because GOD wanted to see if Abraham would really be willing to go the whole mile. After all, GOD was asking him to do a very important thing -- be the holder of HIS covenant...to keep a part of creation sacred and set-aside for HIM. Would Abraham be willing to give up the most precious blessing in his life, his first and only son with his barren, senior citizen wife, Sarah?

2. Yes, yes, yes! Abraham was more than willing. What a faithful, reliable man. That's the kind of guy I'd want in my corner. He's loyal. Now, I find it interesting in verse 7 that innocent little Isaac is like, 'Dad, we've got the wood and all that, but aren't we forgetting the lamb for the actual sacrifice?' Poor kid :). But Abraham says firmly, without hesitation, 'GOD will provide for HIMSELF.' GOD doesn't need help; HE IS GOD.

3. I must note in verse 9 that even once they got up to the sacrificial altar, little Isaac didn't fight and kick and scream when it became quite clear that he was the sacrificial lamb. He just went along with his father... now that's faith. He obviously trusted his father. Now, some of you may wonder how I can even glean such a thing from these verses. Well, the Holy Bible only includes what is necessary for us to know (on the surface, anyway...more things are often revealed when you sit down with a 'calculator'). First off, it doesn't say Isaac fought to get away. It doesn't say Isaac hated or was afraid of his father afterwards. There were no hard feelings between the two because they had just shared a very awesome experience. Was Isaac afraid? - Most likely. Who wouldn't be? But the little boy wasn't afraid of his father. Again, that's my interpretation. What's yours?

4. GOD finally shows up in the nick of time and tells Abraham to chill with the knife, it was only a test...and he passed (again) with flying colors. Think about it. GOD calls him from his home and tells him to pack up and leave, HE's going to show him a new land that'll be just for him (he was a nomad like this for decades!). HE then tells him to cut the foreskin from his penis (at 99 years old!). And now, he tells him to kill his own son in sacrifice. Abraham never hesitated or flinched with any of these things GOD asked him to do. And yes, GOD asked him, because there was no way GOD was going to get a knife or send some people to circumcise Abraham and his folks...not that it's impossible. But it pleases GOD when we choose to obey HIM. HE wouldn't have chosen Abraham and Sarah if HE didn't already know that Abraham was 'the one'.

5. So, a ram suddenly appears in some bushes nearby and Abraham is relieved... 'GOD will provide,' he says. He unties his son and puts the real lamb in his place. GOD renews his promises to the man Abraham with a passion (swearing by HIMSELF, the ultimate AUTHORITY). Thank GOD Abraham was so obedient and pleasing to the LORD -- 'all the nations of the earth' are blessed by him. Hallelujah!


QUESTIONS:

So how would a lying atheist or Satan himself spin this meaningful test of Abraham's dedication and faith? They may say, for example, that just because it was a test and on one died, that it was still an incredibly mean and evil thing to do. They may even say that Abraham lied to Isaac to get him to go with him. But nowhere in the verses we just read (and those are all of them...I didn't pick and choose to try and 'convince' you of anything) does Abraham lie to Isaac. He says 'GOD will provide' because he was quite sure of it...he even named the altar on the mountain 'GOD WILL PROVIDE'. As for if it was an incredibly mean and evil thing to do, you know where I stand. Where you stand is...well, where you stand.

Where's the love in this passage? GOD was so moved by Abraham's willingness, that HE beefed up HIS promises and said, you know what, the entire world will benefit from what you have just done in this single moment, Abraham.

That is love.

As a matter of fact, it is written in the Holy Bible in James 2 (read it):
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the Friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

What is up with the animal sacrifice? As I've written previously, the wages of sin is death. But GOD is not going to ask you to kill yourself to show you're truly repentant. Instead, he has you spill the blood of an animal, which takes the place of you. It sounds crazy, I know, but it makes sense if GOD finds sins so deplorable that HE would permanently have you removed from HIS sight if you sinned so against HIM. Animal sacrifice is quite common in the pre-Messianic era (started with Moses...when the people accepted GOD's covenant but was still sinning up a storm). That all stopped, though, when Jesus the Christ died on the cross - he was the ultimate sin offering. So we no longer need to offer these sacrifices when we sin - we can sincerely repent in our acknowledgment of the sin - Jesus already did the sacrificing.

Now, did Abraham sin by doing simply what GOD had requested of him? I don't know. Is that why GOD gave him the ram to kill? I don't know. It doesn't spell it out in the Holy Bible (to me, anyway). If you have a theory/interpretation, please share it.

THE BOTTOM LINE If you are loyal to, obedient of and trust in GOD, HE will take care of you. HE will count you among HIS friends. A real relationship with GOD is not supposed to be easy. HE will constantly test your faith in HIM. HE won't let you sit around and get complacent, as many Christians do. If you really believe in Christ Jesus, you should show it and share it with whomever you are moved to. And you must remember, as it is written, GOD will never give HIS people more than they can handle (look it up).

But here is some extra reading regarding the issue of animal sacrifices... and here's a verse to let you know, when the purposefully misleading atheists or Satanists try to convince you that GOD just loves the blood of animals and senseless sacrifices (you should read the whole thing if you want to know why GOD is so pissed off):

Isaiah 1 (NKJV)

11 “ To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”

Again, my brothers and sisters (we are all human, I hope), I'm not trying to convince you or convert you...I simply wish to show you the truth as it is written plainly (most times) in GOD's Holy Word the Holy Bible. GOD IS LOVE. GOD GETS ANGRY, SLOWLY. GOD GETS JEALOUS. GOD IS VENGEFUL. GOD IS JUST. GOD IS RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY. GOD IS PATIENT. GOD WISHES THAT NOT ONE WOULD BE LOST. GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED. GOD DOESN'T GIVE YOU A PASS JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU.

GOD will kick your butt if HE feels you have wronged HIM (HE's not some inanimate statue in a church). If you can't handle the discipline and correction, that's just too bad. HE WILL NOT TURN A BLIND EYE TO YOUR WICKED WAYS AND HABITS just because HE loves you. You will be held accountable. GOD IS NOT EVIL just because HE requires you to be faithful and true. Remember, this is HIS world, HIS planet, HIS creation. We own nothing...not even the air we breathe. HE can do what HE will with it all and you and I. Period.

- Theist @ http://goodbible.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer: This blog is not about tearing down ignorant people who really don't know much about GOD. Instead this blog is designed to glorify GOD while tearing down the willfully ignorant ones who know well enough who the LORD IS, but spread lies and disinformation and twist the words of the Holy Bible to keep you - his beloved - from learning the very wonderful truth about salvation and GOD's love for you. Why would anyone want to hide something so good and precious from you? Keep reading, my friend, keep reading...

This Web site is designed to spread the wonderful truth about the Holy Bible. For far too long ignorant people have been trying to warp the wonderful truth the Holy Bible reveals to those who actually put an effort into understanding GOD's Holy Word. There are those who would like you to believe that GOD is not real - they are agents of the devil. They will show you controversial and challenging verses from the Holy Bible to 'prove' to you that GOD is an awful, wicked being who doesn't love you.

You should first ask yourself why someone who claims to not believe in GOD's existence can tell you about HIM. If someone is not real, how can they have any traits? Yet these people will say to you in one breath, "GOD does not exist." And in the next breath, "Let me tell you what kind of GOD He is."

Doesn't make much sense, does it?

That's because they know GOD is real and only want to suppress that wonderful truth. They are also counting on you never picking up a copy of the Holy Bible for yourself and actually reading it. If you did, their whole game would fall apart.

They will take passages from the Holy Bible which shows GOD's anger, jealously and judgment, but will neglect to share with you the myriad others that portray his love, righteousness and infinite wisdom. They show you one side - albeit rather ignorantly - and hide from you the other. Why not show the whole of the picture? - Because the whole picture proves that not only is GOD very real, but that HE is the only god and HE loves us immensely -- more than we can ever comprehend.

I won't hide from you anything. I will share with you, as we walk through the Holy Bible, the massacres, the bloody wars, the pillages and plunders, the enslavements and the host of other seemingly negative and confusing parts. But I will also share with you the redemptive, uplifting, creative and beautiful parts of the Holy Bible.

And don't worry, I won't be going on my words and interpretations alone. The Holy Bible usually explains itself rather well. If I use other resources, such as dictionaries or concordances, I will point it out.

You can also follow along with on-line Bibles (in various translations) available at BibleGateway.com, which also has the Holy Bible in audio. StudyLight.org provides dictionaries, concordances and other useful tools.

And don't worry, this is only an educational venture. It is not meant to 'convert' you, only to show what the Holy Bible reveals about it's primary author, GOD.

I will mostly be using the New Kings James Version (NKJV), but will occasionally turn to the Kings James Version (KJV), the New Living Translation (NLT) and/or the Jewish Publication Society's Tanakh.

- Theist @ http://goodbible.blogspot.com/