Genesis 8, 1-9 (Dann erinnerte sich Gott an Noah)

Genesis 8, 1-9 (Dann erinnerte sich Gott an Noah)

Wusstest du, dass Noah der erfolgreichste Investor war, der je gelebt hat? Er brachte Aktien an die Börse, während um ihn herum alles in die Liquidation ging.

Ich erinnere mich an den Angriff auf die Zwillingstürme am 11. September 2001. Als ich all die Menschen in den Gebäuden sah und hörte, wie viele von ihnen beim Einsturz der Türme möglicherweise in den Gebäuden festsaßen, dachte ich an die Menschen, die zerquetscht wurden: “Wie wird Gott das alles in Ordnung bringen?” Ein ziemlich dummer Gedanke, aber die Ungeheuerlichkeit dessen, was wir an diesem Tag sahen, war schwer zu begreifen.

Als sich das Erdbeben in Indonesien ereignete und der Tsunami von Indonesien nach Indien schwappte und so viele Inseln und Menschen zerstörte, war es derselbe Gedanke: “Wie kann Gott das alles in Ordnung bringen?” Hunderttausende von Menschen hörten einfach auf zu existieren.

Und dann sind da noch wir… wir leben in unseren eigenen Ängsten, Problemen und Prüfungen. “Wo ist Gott bei all dem?” Das ist eine Frage, die die Menschen immer wieder stellen. “Erinnerst du dich nicht an mich, Herr?”

Einleitung:

Die Zahl 8 ist in der Bibel die Zahl des “Neubeginns”. Wir beginnen das 8. Kapitel des Buches und es sind insgesamt 8 Menschen auf der Arche, einschließlich Noah. Sie waren vielleicht verängstigt oder beunruhigt von den Ereignissen, die um sie herum geschahen, aber vier der tröstlichsten Worte der Bibel stehen am Anfang unseres heutigen Vortrags: “Dann erinnerte sich Gott an Noah.” Diese Worte sind der Schlüssel zum Verständnis vieler Dinge, sowohl in der Bibel selbst als auch in unserem eigenen Leben.

Es gibt eine Art Muster, das in der ganzen Bibel zu finden ist und das sich im Verborgenen abspielt. Wenn du diese Muster auf dem Papier siehst, können sie dir helfen, besser zu verstehen, was Gott tut und warum. Das Muster macht bestimmte Aussagen, dreht sich dann um und sagt genau das Gleiche in umgekehrter Reihenfolge. Wegen der Form, die das Muster hat, nennt man sie Chiasmen. Der griechische Buchstabe chi sieht aus wie ein x. Während wir uns unterhalten, reiche ich den Chiasmus herum, auf dem die Sintflut Noahs zentriert ist, und du wirst sehen, dass der Dreh- und Angelpunkt genau in diesen vier Worten liegt – “Dann erinnerte sich Gott an Noah” “v’yitskor elohim eth Noakh”

Die Sintflut Noahs

A Noah (6:10a)

B   Shem, Ham, Japheth (6,10b)

C     Die Arche wird gebaut (6,14-16)

D      Die angekündigte Sintflut (6,17)

E        Ein Bund mit Noah (6,18-20)

F          Nahrung in der Arche (6,21)

G           Befehl zum Betreten der Arche (7,1-3)

H             7 Tage warten auf die Flut (7,4-5)

I                7 Tage warten auf die Flut (7,7-10)

J                  Betreten der Arche (7,11-15)

K                   Der Herr sperrt Noah ein (7,16)

L                     40 Tage Flut (7,17a)

M                     Die Wasser nehmen zu (7,17b-18)

N                        Berge bedeckt (7,18-20)

O                          150 Tage lang herrschen die Wasser (7:21-24)

P                            Gott erinnert sich an Noah (8,1)

O’                         150 Tage lang ebbt das Wasser ab (8,3)

N’                       Bergspitzen werden sichtbar (8,4-5)

M’                     Die Wasser nehmen ab (8,6)

L’                     40 Tage (Ende) (8,6a)

K’                   Noah öffnet das Fenster der Arche (8,6b)

J’                   Rabe und Taube verlassen die Arche (8,7-9)

I’                  7 Tage warten, bis die Wasser zurückgehen (8,10-11)

H’              7 Tage warten, bis das Wasser sich gelegt hat (8,12-13)

G’             Befehl, die Arche zu verlassen (8,15-17)

F’            Essen außerhalb der Arche (9,1-4)

E’          Bund mit allem Fleisch (9,8-10)

D’        Keine Flut in der Zukunft (9,11-17)

C’      Die Arche (9,18a)

B’    Shem, Ham, Japheth (9,18b)

A’  Noah (9,19)

Es erklärt, warum sich so viele Dinge im Sintflutbericht ohne ersichtlichen Grund zu wiederholen scheinen. Hoffentlich kann Sergio herausfinden, wie er den Chiasmus auch in das Video einfügen kann, damit andere ihn sehen können. (oben eingefügt)

Es sind Details wie diese, die uns nicht nur die Weisheit und Kompliziertheit der Bibel zeigen, sondern auch die Gedanken Gottes, wie Er sich den Menschen in der Welt offenbart. Ich hoffe, dass dir dieses Muster gefällt, aber ich bin nicht derjenige, der es gefunden hat.

Es gibt noch viel mehr davon in der Bibel, und ich habe eine lange Liste davon auf meiner eigenen Website. Es ist ein großartiges Gefühl, etwas zu finden, das im Verborgenen liegt, und zu denken, dass man der erste Mensch in 3500 Jahren ist, der sieht, was Gott für uns versteckt hat. Wenn jemand mehr von diesen Chiasmen sehen möchte, schickt mir einfach eine E-Mail und ich sende euch den Link dazu.

Textvers:

Trotzdem blieb er voll Erbarmen, vergab ihre Schuld und tötete sie nicht. Oft hielt er seinen Zorn zurück und ließ seine Wut nicht erwachen. Er wusste ja, dass sie vergänglich sind, ein Hauch, der verweht und nicht wiederkehrt.
Psalm 78, 38+39

Möge Gott heute durch Sein Wort zu uns sprechen, und möge Sein glorreicher Name immer gepriesen werden.

I. Hat Gott jemals vergessen?

1 Da gedachte Gott an Noah und an alle Tiere und an alles Vieh, das bei ihm in der Arche war.

Die schönen Worte “Dann erinnerte sich Gott an Noah” sind hier zu unserem Nutzen gesetzt, nicht zu dem Gottes. Gott vergisst niemals das Werk Seiner Hände, aber Noah dachte vielleicht, Er hätte es getan, als die Arche auf der Oberfläche eines endlosen Ozean trieb.

Aber sicher und geborgen in der Arche waren ein Mann und seine Familie und die Tierpaare, die wieder die ganze Erde bedecken sollten. Es ist erstaunlich, wenn man sich heute die Anzahl und Vielfalt der Tiere auf der Erde ansieht und sich vorstellt, dass vor etwas mehr als 4000 Jahren alle Lebewesen der Erde in ein einziges Schiff auf dem Meer passten.

Gott erinnerte sich damals an jeden einzelnen von ihnen, und so schwer das für uns auch zu begreifen sein mag, Er kennt jeden einzelnen von ihnen auch jetzt. Jesus sagte uns das, als Er unter uns wandelte –

„Ihr wisst doch, dass zwei Spatzen für einen Cent verkauft werden. Doch nicht einer von ihnen fällt auf die Erde, ohne dass euer Vater es zulässt. Und bei euch sind selbst die Haare auf dem Kopf alle gezählt. Habt also keine Angst! Ihr seid doch mehr wert als noch so viele Spatzen.”
Matthäus 10,29-31

Gott kennt und erinnert sich an jeden Sperling. Und Er kennt die Anzahl der Haare auf deinem Kopf. Mach dir keine Sorgen, dass Er dich vergessen hat, das hat Er nicht. Er hat ganz sicher ein Auge auf dich. Wenn du durch deine Prüfungen und Kämpfe gehst, ist Er direkt bei dir.

Während sie auf dem Meer schwammen, frage ich mich, was Noah dachte. “Wohin würde das ganze Wasser gehen? Wenn es kein Land mehr gab, wie sollte das Wasser dann jemals wieder zurückgehen?” Es scheint wirklich ein unmögliches Dilemma zu sein.

Stell dir das so vor: Wenn du eine Tasse hast, die zur Hälfte mit Sand gefüllt ist, und dann Wasser hineinschüttest, kann der Sand niemals bis oben hin reichen. Wenn das Wasser der Sintflut die ganze Welt bedeckte, wohin würde dann das ganze Wasser fließen?

Ein Teil der Antwort findet sich in der zweiten Hälfte von Vers 1 –

1(Fortsetzung) … und er ließ einen Wind über die Erde wehen. Da kam das Wasser zur Ruhe.

Ein Wind fegte über die Erde. Wind ist ein äußerst effektives Mittel, um die Feuchtigkeit aufzusaugen. Du hast wahrscheinlich schon von den Chinook-Winden im pazifischen Nordwesten gehört. Der Begriff “Chinook” bedeutet “Fresser”, und ein starker Chinook kann an einem einzigen Tag einen ganzen Meter tiefen Schnee wegfressen.

Der Schnee schmilzt teilweise und verdunstet teilweise im trockenen Wind. Gleichzeitig wurde beobachtet, dass diese Winde die Temperatur ansteigen lassen, oft von unter 0 auf etwa 70° (Fahrenheit – das ist ca. von -17° auf 21° Celsius), und dann sinken die Temperaturen auf ihr Ausgangsniveau.

Die größte aufgezeichnete Temperaturänderung innerhalb von 24 Stunden fand am 15. Januar 1972 in Loma, Montana, statt. Die Temperatur stieg an einem einzigen Tag von -54 auf 48° (Fahrenheit – in Celsius von – 48° auf 8°) – ein Unterschied von über 100° (56° in Celsius).

Ebenso wehen die Khamsin-Winde im Nahen Osten so heiß und trocken, dass man völlig durchnässt aus dem Haus gehen kann – mitsamt der Kleidung – und in wenigen Sekunden wieder trocken ist.  

Die Verdunstung von Wasser von einer Wasseroberfläche, z. B. bei Hochwasser, hängt von der Temperatur im Wasser, der Temperatur in der Luft, der aktuellen Luftfeuchtigkeit und der Geschwindigkeit der Luft über der Oberfläche ab.

Wenn die Winde weltweit wehten und die Pole der Erde nicht mehr unter der Schutzschicht der Welt vor der Sintflut lägen, würde sich das von den Winden aufgenommene Wasser an den Polen sammeln und gefrieren. Hinzu kommt, dass das Land, das vor der Sintflut wahrscheinlich viel ebener war, jetzt große Höhenunterschiede aufweist. Wir haben nicht nur Gebirgszüge oberhalb des Meeresspiegels, sondern auch noch größere darunter.

Die Höhlen der großen Tiefe, die vor der Sintflut mit Wasser gefüllt waren, sind wahrscheinlich zusammengebrochen, als sie leer waren, und bilden nun den Meeresboden. Der 104. Psalm füllt dann die Lücken aus –

Du gabst der Erde ein festes Fundament,
dass sie durch nichts mehr zu erschüttern ist.
Die Flut bedeckte sie wie ein Kleid,
das Wasser stand über den Bergen.
Vor deiner Zurechtweisung musste es fliehen,
deine Donnerstimme trieb es fort.
Da schoben sich die Berge auf und die Täler senkten sich
an den Ort, den du ihnen bestimmt hast.
Du hast dem Wasser Grenzen gesetzt, die es nicht überschreitet.
Nicht noch einmal bedeckt es die Erde.
Psalm 104,5-9

Und bis zum heutigen Tag gilt diese Grenze. Mit Ausnahme von Tsunamis und anderen seltenen Ereignissen bleibt das Wasser an Ort und Stelle. Und selbst nach einem Tsunami kehrt das Wasser dorthin zurück, wo es hingehört.

2 Und die Quellen der Tiefe wurden verschlossen samt den Fenstern des Himmels, und dem Regen vom Himmel wurde Einhalt geboten.
3 Und die Wasser über der Erde nahmen mehr und mehr ab, sodass sie sich vermindert hatten nach 150 Tagen.

Der Wind und das Abfließen des Wassers begannen sich zu stabilisieren und abzuschwächen, und nach fünf Monaten begann das Wasser zurückzugehen. Wir haben es hier mit einer logischen Abfolge von vier Dingen zu tun – die Winde wehen, die Quellen der Tiefe beenden ihre Wasserabgabe, das Ende der Wasser, die vom vorsintflutlichen, einst gefrorenen Baldachin fallen, und die Regenfälle hören auf.

Wenn man sich den Bericht anschaut, ist er genau so, wie man es nach einem globalen Katastrophenereignis wie diesem erwarten würde. Es gibt überhaupt keinen Grund, warum wir diesen Bericht nicht ernst nehmen sollten.

Nach all dem Regen und den 150 Tagen, in denen das Wasser über die Ufer getreten ist, sollte man meinen, dass die Tortur größtenteils vorbei ist, aber da liegt man falsch.

4 Und die Arche ließ sich auf dem Gebirge Ararat nieder am siebzehnten Tag des siebten Monats.
5 Und die Wasser nahmen immer weiter ab bis zum zehnten Monat

Der siebzehnte Tag des siebten Monats ist der 150. Tag, der bereits zweimal erwähnt wurde – einmal im letzten Vers von Kapitel 7 und dann in Vers 3 dieses Kapitels. Es mag seltsam erscheinen, dass dieser 150. Tag zweimal erwähnt wird, und dann wird erwähnt, dass die Arche auf den Bergen des Ararat ruht, was genau derselbe Tag ist.

Mit anderen Worten: Wenn du nicht rechnest, wüsstest du nicht, dass dies der 150. Tag ist, und du würdest annehmen, dass es sich um ein späteres Datum handelt. Das ist aber nicht der Fall. Es ist genau derselbe Tag, und so folgt der Bericht nicht wirklich einem vollständig chronologischen Pfad.

Dies ist jedoch aus mehreren Gründen sinnvoll. Erstens ist der Chiasmus, den ich bereits erwähnt habe, in diesen Versen versteckt, um die Weisheit Gottes in diesem Bericht zu zeigen. Und zweitens, wenn die Arche so groß war, wie sie war, dann musste sie einen ziemlichen Tiefgang gehabt haben.

In Kapitel 7 heißt es, dass die Wasser die Erde bis zu einer Tiefe von 15 Ellen (ca. 17 Meter) bedeckten. Denk darüber nach… wenn die Wasser ihren höchsten Punkt am 150. Tag erreichten und erst dann begannen, sich zurückzuziehen, und die Arche am 150. Tag auf dem Ararat stehen blieb, dann steht der Chiasmus nicht nur mit Tinte auf den Seiten der Bibel. Es wurde von Noah auch buchstäblich gelebt.

Die genaue Tiefe der Arche entsprach genau der Höhe des Wassers über dem Berg, auf dem Noah nach Gottes Willen landen sollte. Andere Berge könnten während der Flut höher geschoben worden sein, aber dieser besondere Berg ist derjenige, auf dem Gott Noah ausruhen lassen wollte.

Gott erinnerte sich nicht nur an Noah, sondern plante schon vor der Erschaffung der Welt die genaue Menge an Wasser, die sich oben im gefrorenen Baldachin und unten in der großen Tiefe befinden sollte. Er musste die genaue Stelle planen, an der Noah die Arche bauen würde. Er musste genau die Wellen planen, die an die Seite der Arche schlagen würden, während sie Monat für Monat schwamm.

Er musste genau wissen, welche Winde die Balken des Schiffes antreiben würden, um sie genau an die Stelle zu bringen, an der sie zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt der Weltgeschichte auf einem bestimmten Berggipfel stecken bleiben würden. Die Ausführung des Plans musste bis ins kleinste Detail abgestimmt sein.

Und es gibt keinen Grund zu der Annahme, dass dies nicht der Fall war. Der gesamte Bericht zeigt eine Perfektion im Detail, die wunderschön anzuschauen ist.

Aber es gibt noch einen weiteren Punkt an diesem besonderen Tag, der noch schöner ist als alles, was du je über die Sintflut Noahs gedacht hast, und wie er auf Jesus Christus und Sein erstaunliches Werk hinweist.

Dieser Tag – der 17. Tag des siebten Monats – ist nämlich derselbe Tag, an dem Jesus Christus fast 2400 Jahre später aus dem Grab auferstanden ist. Das ist vielleicht etwas schwer zu verstehen, aber die Bibel verwendet zwei Kalender: den Schöpfungskalender und den Erlösungskalender. Bis zur Zeit des Exodus begann der Kalender im Herbst, aber mit dem Exodus wurde der erste Monat in den Frühling verlegt.

Der 17. Tag des siebten Monats im Schöpfungskalender ist der 17. Tag des ersten Monats im Erlösungskalender. Das Passahfest findet am 14. Tag des ersten Monats statt, und die Auferstehung geschah der Bibel zufolge am Sonntag nach dem Passahfest – dem 17. des ersten Monats.

Und ebenso erstaunlich ist die Bedeutung, die der Bibelwissenschaftler James Strong dem Namen Ararat zuschreibt. Ararat bedeutet “der Fluch ist umgekehrt”. An demselben Tag, an dem die Arche auf den Boden aufsetzte und festhielt, begann das Wasser zurückzugehen. Der Fluch der Wasser wurde nun genau in dem Moment umgekehrt, als Noah in die Sicherheit des Landes namens Ararat gebracht wurde – “der Fluch ist umgekehrt”.

Noah und seine Arche sind also ein Bild für die wahre Umkehrung des Fluchs, der mit dem Sündenfall in Kapitel 3 der Genesis begann. Nur 5 Kapitel nach dem Sündenfall wird Noah als ein Zeichen für das, was kommen sollte, genannt.

Paulus sagt uns, dass wir am Kreuz von dem Fluch erlöst wurden. Die Auferstehung beweist es uns und damit ist der Fluch aufgehoben.

Vers 5 geht weiter…

5 (Fortsetzung) …am ersten Tag des zehnten Monats konnte man die Spitzen der Berge sehen.

Heute ist der 223. Tag seit Beginn der Sintflut und 73 Tage nachdem die Arche auf dem Berg Ararat festsaß. Es sind fast 7 ½ Monate vergangen, und das Wasser sucht sich langsam seinen neuen Platz auf der Welt.

Sie würden in den Polarregionen, in den Gletschern der Berggipfel, in den Meeren, Seen, Teichen, Lagunen und Flüssen der Erde und auch in den großen Höhlen der Meere versammelt sein. Noah und seine Familie haben noch etwas mehr Zeit zu warten und Schach zu spielen, bevor sie die Arche verlassen können.

II. Geduld in einer Welt der Eile

6 Und es geschah nach Verlauf von 40 Tagen, dass Noah das Fenster an der Arche öffnete, das er gemacht hatte.

In allen Kommentaren, die ich gelesen habe, hieß es, dass dieser Zeitraum von vierzig Tagen aus der letzten Bemerkung stammt, in dem vom ersten Tag des zehnten Monats die Rede war, als die Berge gesehen wurden. Der Grund dafür ist, dass, wenn die Berge gesehen wurden, Noah bereits das Fenster geöffnet haben muss.

Dies muss also 40 Tage nach dem Aufenthalt auf dem Berggipfel sein. Mit anderen Worten, dies wäre der Tag 190, also 43 Tage vor dem vorherigen Vers. Auch wenn es für uns auf den ersten Blick keinen Sinn ergibt, dass der Bericht vor- und zurückspringt und nicht chronologisch geordnet ist, wird alles viel klarer und leichter zu verstehen, wenn man sich das Gesamtbild und den Zweck des Chiasmus in der Bibel vor Augen führt.

Warum sollte Noah also 40 Tage warten, bis die Arche auf dem Ararat festsitzt, bevor er das Fenster öffnet? Denk daran, dass die Arche einen Tiefgang von etwa 15 Ellen (17 Metern) hat. Welchen Sinn hätte es, das Fenster zu öffnen, wenn alles 15 Ellen (17 Meter) unter Wasser war? Das Geräusch des Plätscherns an den Seiten der Arche wäre alles, was Noah zu wissen brauchte. Es gäbe absolut keine Notwendigkeit, das Fenster zu öffnen.

7 Und er sandte den Raben aus; der flog hin und her, bis das Wasser auf der Erde vertrocknet war.
8 Danach sandte er die Taube aus, um zu sehen, ob die Wasser sich verlaufen hätten auf der Fläche des Erdbodens.
9 Aber die Taube fand keinen Ort, wo ihr Fuß ruhen konnte. Da kehrte sie zu ihm in die Arche zurück; denn es war noch Wasser auf der ganzen Erdoberfläche. Da streckte er seine Hand aus und ergriff sie und nahm sie wieder zu sich in die Arche.

Und das bestätigt, was ich soeben gesagt habe. Die 40 Tage beziehen sich auf die Zeit, in der die Arche auf dem Berg lag und nicht auf die nächste Bemerkung, dass die Bergspitzen sichtbar waren.

Der Rabe flog so lange hin und her, bis das Wasser versiegte, was bedeutet, dass es noch immer die Berggipfel bedeckte. Sie fragen sich jetzt sicher: “Warum sollte Noah gleichzeitig eine Taube aussenden, `um zu sehen, ob das Wasser von der Erde zurückgegangen ist´?”

Warum sollte der Rabe ihm das nicht sagen? Weil der Rabe ein Aasfresser ist und es ihm nichts ausmacht, auf jeder Oberfläche zu landen, sogar auf dem toten Körper eines Tieres oder eines Menschen. Außerdem würde er auch gerne von so etwas naschen.

Die Taube würde das nicht tun. Stattdessen würde sie in die Sicherheit der Arche und zu einer sauberen, trockenen Nahrungsquelle zurückkehren. Der Rabe ist also ein Symbol für die unreine Welt, wie ein Mensch, der ohne die Gnade Gottes lebt und nur in der Welt des Todes lebt. Die Taube kehrt zu Noah zurück, so wie ein sanftes und reuevolles Herz zu Christus zurückkehrt.

Eine solche Person kann wahrhaftig sagen, wie der Psalmist es tat –

Der Herr ist gnädig und gerecht,
ja, unser Gott ist barmherzig.
Der Herr behütet die Einfältigen;
ich war ganz elend, aber er half mir.
Kehre zurück, meine Seele, zu deiner Ruhe,
denn der Herr hat dir wohlgetan!
Denn du hast meine Seele vom Tod errettet,
mein Auge von den Tränen, meinen Fuß vom Fall.
Ich werde wandeln vor dem Herrn im Land der Lebendigen.
Psalm 116,5-9

10 Und er wartete noch weitere sieben Tage; dann sandte er die Taube wieder von der Arche aus.
11 Und die Taube kam zur Abendzeit wieder zu ihm, und siehe, sie hatte ein frisches Ölbaumblatt in ihrem Schnabel! Da erkannte Noah, dass das Wasser sich verlaufen hatte auf der Erde.
12 Und nachdem er noch weitere sieben Tage gewartet hatte, sandte er die Taube wieder aus; da kam sie nicht mehr zu ihm zurück.

Noah wusste, dass die Dinge endlich austrocknen würden. Aber im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Pflanzen kann der Olivenbaum sogar unter Wasser Blätter ausschlagen. Und Gott wählte eigens einen Olivenbaum für die Taube aus. In der ganzen Bibel sind der Ölbaum und das Öl, das er produziert, ein schönes Symbol für das Wirken Christi und die Gegenwart des Heiligen Geistes.

Was uns dieser Vers zeigt, ist ein Bild der Auferstehung Christi. So wie der Ölbaum aus dem Wasser herauswachsen kann, so ist Christus als Sieger über den Tod aus dem Grab herausgekommen. Und bis heute feiern wir dies im Ritus der Taufe.

Mit dem Olivenbaum ist auch die Symbolik des Friedens verbunden, als Gott der neuen Welt seine Gunst gewährte. Dies zeigt sich in diesem frischen neuen Leben – dem Olivenblatt. Wenn wir Jesus Christus und die Taufe mit dem Heiligen Geist empfangen, sind wir wie dieser Ölbaum. Gehen wir noch einmal zu den Psalmen –

Ich aber bin wie ein grüner Ölbaum im Haus Gottes;
ich vertraue auf die Gnade Gottes für immer und ewig.
Ich preise dich ewiglich, denn du hast es vollbracht,
und in der Gegenwart deiner Getreuen harre ich auf deinen Namen,
weil er so gut ist.
Psalm 52, 10-11

Und in der Taube haben wir das Symbol des Heiligen Geistes, der auf uns herabkommt, wenn wir den Namen Jesus anrufen. Der Heilige Geist ist der Bote Gottes, der uns sagt, dass alles gut ist mit unserer Seele.

Die Symbolik der Taube und des Ölbaums wird zum ersten Mal bei der Taufe Jesu in Matthäus 3 deutlich, wo alle drei Mitglieder der Gottheit anwesend sind.

Und als Jesus getauft war, stieg er sogleich aus dem Wasser; und siehe, da öffnete sich ihm der Himmel, und er sah den Geist Gottes wie eine Taube herabsteigen und auf ihn kommen. Und siehe, eine Stimme kam vom Himmel, die sprach: Dies ist mein geliebter Sohn, an dem ich Wohlgefallen habe!
Matthäus 3,16-17

Durch Jesus haben wir jetzt die Hoffnung auf die gleichen schönen Worte des Lobes des ewigen Gottes: “Dies ist mein geliebter Sohn, an dem ich Wohlgefallen habe”.

III. Oh schöne neue Welt

“Sie hatten ihn in seinem Elend und seinen Gewissensbissen verspottet, verspottet mit einem abscheulichen Ton von zynischem Spott! Mit teuflischem Lachen hatten sie auf dem niedrigen Elend, der ekelhaften Hässlichkeit des Albtraums bestanden. Jetzt, plötzlich, trompeteten sie einen Ruf zu den Waffen. “Oh schöne neue Welt!” Miranda verkündete die Möglichkeit der Lieblichkeit, die Möglichkeit, selbst den Albtraum in etwas Schönes und Edles zu verwandeln. “Oh, schöne neue Welt! Es war eine Herausforderung, ein Befehl.”  Eine schöne neue Welt

13 Und es geschah im sechshundertersten Jahr, am ersten Tag des ersten Monats, da waren die Wasser von der Erde weggetrocknet. Und Noah entfernte das Dach von der Arche und schaute, und siehe, die Fläche des Erdbodens war trocken!

Das 601. Jahr bedeutet hier das 601. Lebensjahr Noahs. Dies war der erste Tag des ersten Monats dieses Jahres, des Monats Tischri.

Es war genau derselbe Tag, an dem 1657 Jahre zuvor Adam erschaffen wurde, und es war derselbe Tag, an dem etwa 2400 Jahre später der Retter der Welt in einer kleinen Stadt namens Bethlehem geboren werden sollte.

Noah öffnete die Abdeckung der Arche und schaute, und tatsächlich war die Oberfläche des Bodens trocken. “Oh schöne neue Welt, ich bin gekommen, um dir zu begegnen.”

14 Und im zweiten Monat, am sieben­undzwanzigsten Tag des Monats, war die Erde ganz trocken geworden.

Das war 57 Tage, nachdem Noah die Abdeckung der Arche geöffnet hatte, und es war der 370. Tag, nachdem Noah und seine Familie die Arche betreten hatten. Ein biblisches Jahr hat 360 Tage, also hatten sie 1 Jahr und 10 Tage damit verbracht, zu warten und zu beobachten, wie die Welt vom Wasser zerstört wurde, wie das Wasser stieg, wie es sich zurückzog, wie das Wasser in seine neue Heimat flüchtete und eine völlig andere Welt offenbarte. Es waren 370 Tage, in denen sie darauf warteten, die wunderbaren Worte von Gott zu hören…

15 Da redete Gott zu Noah und sprach:
16 „Geh aus der Arche, du und deine Frau und deine Söhne und die Frauen deiner Söhne mit dir!
17 Alle Tiere, die bei dir sind, von allem Fleisch: Vögel, Vieh und alles Gewürm, das auf der Erde kriecht, sollen mit dir hinausgehen und sich regen auf der Erde und sollen fruchtbar sein und sich mehren auf der Erde!“

Stell dir die Aufregung vor, die die Familie empfunden haben muss, als sie erfuhr, dass es Zeit war, die Arche zu verlassen. Wir wissen nicht, wie Gott zu Noah sprach – ob in einem Traum, direkt oder auf andere Weise, aber er erhielt göttliche Führung, dass er und seine Familie die Arche verlassen konnten – so wie er göttliche Führung erhielt, um sie zu betreten.

Und so wie sie die Arche mit Tieren gefüllt haben, sollen sie sie nun leeren. Die drei Kategorien, die als Erklärung für alles tierische Leben dienen, werden genannt – “Vögel und Vieh und alles Gewürm, das kriecht”.

Wie wir bei der Füllung der Arche festgestellt haben, deutet die Bezeichnung “alles, was kriecht” nicht darauf hin, dass Politiker auf der Arche mitgeführt wurden. Ja, es waren Reptilien.

Und als diese Tiere sich auf den Weg machten, gab Gott ihnen auch ein göttliches Gebot – dass sie fruchtbar sein und sich auf der Erde vermehren sollten. Dies ist genau derselbe Befehl, der in Genesis 1 gegeben wurde. Gott schuf alle Tiere am Anfang, und derselbe Lebensfunke, der in sie hineingelegt wurde, hielt bis zur Zeit Noahs an, und er hält bis heute an.

Wenn man innehält und darüber nachdenkt, was Leben ist und woher es kommt, sollte es jeden von uns erstaunen, wie dumm die Konzepte der spontanen Entstehung und der Evolution sind. Es gibt einen Lebensfunken in uns, und dieser Funke überträgt sich von uns auf die nächste Generation. Es gibt keinen neuen Funken, und es gibt auch keine Beweise dafür, dass es seit der Schöpfung einen gegeben hat.

Aber jeder Augenblick ist ein neuer Augenblick, und er hat die gleiche Chance, spontan zu entstehen. Wenn dies auch nur im Entferntesten möglich wäre, dann müsste in jedem Moment neues Leben entstehen. Im Grunde genommen ist jeder Moment der Zeit ein neuer Nagel im Sarg des Konzepts der Spontanerzeugung.

Wäre Noahs Arche nicht gewesen, gäbe es außer den Ozeanen kein Leben auf der Erde. Und jedes Tier, das nicht auf der Arche war, ist ausgestorben, weil sein Lebensfunke mit der Flut erlosch.

Und schließlich, wenn die Welt Milliarden von Jahren alt ist, wie die Evolutionisten behaupten, dann wird das Problem nur noch verschärft. Ausgehend von den Billionen von Momenten, die sich seit dem ersten Leben der spontanen Entstehung ereignet haben sollen, ist ihre einzige Erklärung für die Entwicklung die Evolution, nicht die weitere Entstehung. Beides sind dumme und korrupte Systeme, die absolut keine Grundlage in der Realität haben.

18 So ging Noah hinaus samt seinen Söhnen und seiner Frau und den Frauen seiner Söhne.
19 Alle Tiere, alles Gewürm und alle Vögel, alles, was sich regt auf der Erde nach seinen Gattungen, das verließ die Arche.

Die Familie gehorcht dem göttlichen Befehl, wahrscheinlich in einem Zustand der Ehrfurcht und des Staunens, und verlässt die Arche, während sie die Tiere mitnimmt. Die Erde war sicherlich völlig anders, als sie sie betreten hatten.

Der gefrorene Baldachin war weg und der Himmel war anders. Die Landschaft hatte sich gegenüber dem, was sie bisher kannten, völlig verändert. Das Klima war anders. Alles war neu, alles ein neues Abenteuer.

Auf dieselbe Weise sagt uns Petrus im Neuen Testament, dass es wieder geschehen wird, genau wie bei Noah. Nehmen wir uns ein paar Minuten Zeit und lesen wir 2. Petrus Kapitel 3 in seiner Gesamtheit und sehen wir uns die Parallelen zur Flut Noahs an – sowohl vor als auch nach der Flut –

Das ist bereits mein zweiter Brief an euch, liebe Geschwister. Durch beide wollte ich euch an längst Bekanntes erinnern, dass eure gute Gesinnung erwacht. Ich möchte, dass ihr euch an das erinnert, was die heiligen Propheten vor langer Zeit sagten, und an das Gebot unseres Herrn und Retters, das euch eure Apostel überbrachten. Vor allen Dingen müsst ihr wissen, dass in den letzten Tagen Spötter auftreten werden, die sich darüber lustig machen und ihre eigenen Begierden ausleben. Sie werden sagen: “Er hat doch versprochen wiederzukommen! Wo bleibt er denn? Inzwischen sind unsere Väter gestorben, aber alles ist immer noch so, wie es seit der Schöpfung von Anfang an war.” Wer das behauptet, will nicht wahrhaben, dass es die Himmel schon längst gab und die Erde aus dem Wasser hervorgetreten und mit Wasser umgeben war. Gott hatte sie durch sein Wort geschaffen. Dennoch wurde die Welt damals bei der großen Flut auf Gottes Wort hin durch Wasser überschwemmt und vernichtet. Durch dasselbe Wort werden nun auch die jetzigen Himmel und die jetzige Erde für das Feuer aufgespart. Sie werden bewahrt bis zum Tag des Gerichts, an dem die Gottlosen zugrunde gehen. Eins dürft ihr dabei nicht übersehen, liebe Geschwister: Für den Herrn ist das, was für uns ein Tag ist, wie tausend Jahre; und was für uns tausend Jahre sind, ist für ihn wie ein einziger Tag. Der Herr verzögert seine Zusage nicht, wie manche das meinen. Im Gegenteil: Er hat Geduld mit euch, denn er will nicht, dass irgendjemand ins Verderben geht, sondern dass alle umkehren zu ihm. Der Tag des Herrn wird aber so unerwartet kommen wie ein Dieb. Dann wird der Himmel unter schrecklichem Lärm vergehen und die Elemente in Hitze aufgelöst. Die Erde mit allen Menschenwerken darauf ist dann verbrannt. Wenn sich das alles nun so auflösen wird, was für ein Anliegen müsste es euch dann sein, ein Leben in Heiligkeit und Ehrfurcht vor Gott zu führen, den Tag Gottes zu erwarten und seine Ankunft zu beschleunigen – den Tag, an dem die Himmel im Feuer verbrennen und die Elemente sich auflösen in dieser Glut. Aber nach dem, was Gott uns versprochen hat, erwarten wir neue Himmel und eine neue Erde, in denen Gerechtigkeit regiert. Weil ihr das alles erwartet, liebe Geschwister, setzt alles daran, dass ihr rein und tadellos und innerlich im Frieden vor euren Herrn hintreten könnt. Und betrachtet die Geduld unseres Herrn als Gelegenheit zur Rettung. Genau das hat euch auch unser lieber Bruder Paulus geschrieben, dem Gott in all diesen Fragen viel Weisheit geschenkt hat. In seinen Briefen redet er mehrfach davon. Freilich ist einiges darin auch schwer zu verstehen, was dann von unverständigen oder im Glauben nicht gefestigten Leuten verdreht wird. Aber so machen sie es ja auch mit den anderen Texten der Heiligen Schrift – zu ihrem eigenen Verderben. Weil ihr das alles jetzt schon wisst, liebe Geschwister, passt auf, dass ihr nicht von dem Irrsinn der Gesetzesverächter mitgerissen werdet und euren festen Stand verliert. Nehmt vielmehr in der Gnade zu und lernt unseren Herrn und Retter Jesus Christus immer besser kennen. Ihm gehört alle Herrlichkeit und Ehre, schon jetzt und auch in alle Ewigkeit! Amen.
Petrus 3

 Dann erinnerte sich Gott an Noah

Gott erinnerte sich an Noah da draußen auf dem Meer
und an all die Tiere, mit ihm auf der Arche, sie war daher schwer
Noahs Glaube blieb während dieser Prüfungen standhaft und stark
Durch die Wellen, die Winde, die Stunden und die Dunkelheit wie im Sarg

Nach 150 Tagen ließ Gott einen Wind über die Erde fegen
Und die Wasser wichen zurück, als diese Winde wehten wie ein Segen
Die Quellen der Tiefe wurden in ihrem Versteck verriegelt
Und auch die Fenster des Himmels wurden versiegelt

Gott verhinderte, dass der Regen weiter fiel
Und die Wasser zogen sich zurück an ihren neuen Platz, ihr Ziel
Die Dinge würden anders sein als zuvor, kann man klar sagen
Die Welt würde nun ein ganz neues Gesicht haben

Die Arche ruhte auf den Bergen des Ararat
Und die Wasser nahmen ständig ab
Es war am siebzehnten des siebten Monats dann
Am 150. Tag schließlich ihre Fahrt zu einem Ende kam

Am Tag, als das Wasser zurückging, würde der Fluch rückgängig gemacht
Und an diesem Tag stand der Herr aus Seinem Grab auf in Seiner Pracht
Die Welt freute sich über den Mann, den sie für tot hielt – Er überwand
Unser Fluch wurde aufgehoben, als Christus auferstand

Und die Wasser sanken weiter, das würde eine Weile so gehen
Am ersten Tag des 10. Monats waren dann die Berggipfel zu sehen
Das brachte wohl unseren guten alten Freund Noah zum Strahlen
Auch wenn noch keine Grünflächen zu sehen waren, auch keine fahlen

Nach 40 Tagen öffnete Noah das Fenster sachte
Und er sandte einen Raben aus, der seine Runden machte
Die Sonne konnte hereinkommen und die tiefste Dunkelheit vertreiben
Und dieselbe Sonne würde neue Dinge zum Wachsen bringen und bleiben

Noah sandte auch eine Taube aus der Arche aus
um zu sehen, ob es trocken war, dann gab es Applaus.

Doch die Taube kehrte zurück in Noahs Hand der Liebe
Denn es war kein trockener Ort zu finden, nicht solide

Sieben weitere Tage, es war am Abend des Tages glatt
Siehe, die Taube brachte ein frisch gepflücktes Olivenblatt
Noah wusste, dass die Fluten endlich verschwunden waren
Er ließ einen großen Seufzer der Erleichterung fahren

Nach weiteren sieben Tagen flog die Taube wieder hinaus
Aber die Rückkehr in seine wartende Hand der Liebe blieb nun aus

Am ersten Tag des ersten Monats im 601. Jahr Noahs nun
trocknete das Wasser an der Oberfläche des Landes von diesem Monsun
Da nahm Noah die Decke der Arche ab und lies seine Augen erkunden
Und alle Wasser waren von dem einsamen Ort verschwunden

Am 27. des zweiten Monats war alles trocken und ausgewaschen
Da sprach Gott zu Noah: „Es ist Zeit, die Arche zu verlassen.
Nimm deine Frau und die anderen mit hinaus unter den Himmel
Ihr müsst nicht mehr drinnen leben, wo es dunkel ist, mit all dem Gewimmel

Bringt alles Lebendige hervor und lass es springen
Bringt die Vögel hervor und lasst sie singen

Holt das Vieh heraus, alles Leben darin, es ist ein neuer Start
Ja, sogar die kriechenden Dinge, es ist das Ende ihrer Bootsfahrt
Lass alles Lebendige auf der Erde sich tummeln.
Lass sie sich vermehren, bis sie überall sind, wie die Hummeln

Lass sie schwanger werden, tragen, gebären und verweilen
Zusammen mit ihnen wirst du die Welt teilen“.

Halleluja und Amen…

Nächste Woche kommen wir zu Genesis 8:20 – 9:7 – Ein neues Zeitalter, Regierung.

 

Deuteronomy 29:9 (I Have Led You Forty Years in the Wilderness)

Deuteronomy 29:1-9
I Have Led You Forty Years in the Wilderness

In Amos 9, and which is referring to Israel, it says –

“‘I will plant them in their land,
And no longer shall they be pulled up
From the land I have given them,’
Says the Lord your God.” Amos 9:15

It is one of those verses that simply cannot be spiritualized, and so I like to remind people of it from time to time. It is speaking of a particular group of people, a particular land that they were given, and of an occurrence that can have only one meaning.

That meaning cannot be, “This was fulfilled when they were returned from Babylon.” This is because the people being addressed were sent into exile from their land again after that.

Nor can the meaning be, “This is fulfilled in Christ’s work during His first advent and the church has now replaced Israel.” Only a fool would attempt to make such a claim. The church is not given a land grant to where Israel is today. In fact, it is given no land grant at all.

Either the words are in error, and thus the Bible is not the word of God, or the words – without any other possible meaning – are that Israel the people will be brought back to Israel the land, and when that occurs, they will never be uprooted from the land again.

Any other analysis does damage to the intent of the words. But this should not surprise us that the Lord would bring them back and do this. The reason why is not because of them at all, but because of Him – His glory, His honor, His covenant-keeping.

The keeping of Israel, even through the destruction of Israel, is seen once again in our passage today. It is because of the righteousness of the Lord, and nothing that they have done, that this has come about.

Text Verse: “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” Romans 3:21, 22

What is important to understand concerning Israel is that Isaiah said, even before there was a first exile, that there would be a second one –

“It shall come to pass in that day
That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time
To recover the remnant of His people who are left,
From Assyria and Egypt,
From Pathros and Cush,
From Elam and Shinar,
From Hamath and the islands of the sea. Isaiah 11:11

The return of Israel to the land in our day was clearly spoken of and it is something that will never be needed to occur again. God’s word tells us that this is the case.

The righteousness of God is reflected in the law. That should be taken as an axiom. “This is God’s law, and therefore, it reflects His righteousness.” That isn’t a problem at all. The problem isn’t found in the law. Rather, it is found in our inability to meet the demands of the law. As Moses says to Israel, “Therefore, keep the words of this covenant, and do them.”

If one was actually able to perform as Moses says, what would that mean concerning such a person? Think on that and we’ll find out before we close. Once you realize what the inevitable answer must be, you can see why even thinking it is an utterly crazy notion.

And this is why Paul says, “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed.” He then explains what that means, saying, “…even the righteousness of God.” What is it that pleases God? It isn’t our attempts at being righteous, but in trusting in His provision of righteousness.

As Paul says, this is revealed in “the Law and the Prophets.” Israel is promised to never be uprooted from their land again. And this is, according to Isaiah, after a second exile.

That will take some doing. In failing to uphold the law, being uprooted from the land is an inevitable consequence. But we are assured in the word that they will be planted, and they will remain. That can only mean one possible thing as well… Jesus.

It’s all to be found in His superior word. And so, let us turn to that precious word once again and… May God speak to us through His word today and may His glorious name ever be praised.

I. The Words of the Covenant (verse 1)

These are the words of the covenant

The Hebrew Bibles will have this verse affixed to the end of Chapter 28 as a completing thought for the blessings and the curses. But the word translated as “these” does not necessarily speak of either what precedes or what follows. It simply speaks of something in the surrounding text.

In this case, Moses speaks of the covenant in the coming verses. Therefore, this verse is surely rightly fixed as an opening to Chapter 29, as he says in verse 29:12, “that you may enter into covenant with the Lord your God, and into His oath, which the Lord your God makes with you today.” He again refers to it in verse 29:15.

1 (con’t) which the Lord commanded Moses to make

asher tsivah Yehovah eth Moshe likrot – “which commanded Yehovah Moses to cut.” The word karath signifies to cut off, cut down, etc. A covenant is said to be “cut” because it involved the cutting of flesh and then the parties passing through the pieces of the animal.

As such, it was a witness to the severity of the covenant. One might say, “Just as this animal was cut in order to establish this covenant, so may it happen to me if I violate it.” In the case of this covenant, it is one commanded to be enacted by Moses at the command of the Lord. The other party is next stated…

1 (con’t) with the children of Israel

The Hebrew reads, “sons of Israel,” signifying those who represent the tribes from whom the people issue. Jacob, who is Israel, was the son of promise, and his twelve sons, along with his two adopted sons – meaning the sons of Joseph – comprise the family whom the Lord chose to continue to reveal Himself in the history of redemption. This is next specifically said to be…

1 (con’t) in the land of Moab,

This is now almost forty full years after the reception of the law at Sinai. It is in another country, and it is after an extended period of exile in the wilderness. And yet, the words are being spoken forth as law to which Israel is to be bound to.

The name Moab means, “From Father.” As such, the words anticipate that which comes from God, and which will be carried out by Him in the giving of Christ. For now, one might ask, “Under what authority does the right exist to heap more laws upon the people…”

1 (con’t) besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb.

milebad ha’berit asher karath itam b’khorev – “from alone the covenant which cut with them in Horeb.” It is of note that this is the last time the name Horeb is used in Deuteronomy. It means “Arid,” “Waste,” or “Desolate,” coming from kharav, meaning to be dry or dried up.

It was first used in Exodus 3:1 when Moses came to the mountain and the Lord spoke to him from the burning bush. The idea that is being conveyed is that the word of the Lord, meaning that which provides life, is coming from the barren place. The Lord is doing something in the world to bring restoration. That process is uniquely tied into this covenant that was made at Horeb.

The words of the Lord, through Moses, which comprise this part of the law, are specifically said to be “apart” or “besides” those given at Horeb (meaning Sinai). What authority is there to add these words? That will be explained in a moment.

As far as the words here, they are similar to those that ended Chapter 26 of Leviticus. That was the chapter that detailed the blessings and the curses that could be expected to come upon Israel as spoken forth by the Lord.

This first verse of Deuteronomy 29 also follows right after the chapter that detailed the blessings and the curses of this book –

“These are the statutes and judgments and laws which the Lord made between Himself and the children of Israel on Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.” Leviticus 26:46

“These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb.”

If the covenant was cut at Sinai, how can it be that more laws can be added to the covenant? The word “besides” is not indicating a new covenant, but that the words are added to the covenant besides that which has already been given.

The answer goes back to Exodus. The covenant was first agreed to in Exodus 19:7, 8 –

“So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.”

Then, in Exodus 24, the ceremony for the cutting of the covenant was conducted, animals were sacrificed, and the blood was sprinkled. At that time, it said –

“Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, ‘All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.’” Exodus 24:7

The words they spoke, qol asher dibber Yehovah na’aseh v’nishma, mean, “All that the Lord has said we will do, and we will hear.” The word used there, shema, means to hear, but hearing is often associated with obedience, such as “I want you to hear me,” which means “I want you to do as I say.”

However, one cannot be obedient unless he first hears. In the preceding chapter of Exodus, before this covenant rite was conducted, it said –

“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. 22 But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.” Exodus 23:20-22

In other words, despite the covenant being cut in Exodus 24, more words of instruction were already said to be coming from the Lord to which the people must be attentive. This is why the people said the words, “…and we will hear.” They committed to doing even before hearing.

The people didn’t say that they would hear and then they would obey. They said that they would do, and then they will hear – meaning both hear and then do what has been heard. The Book of the Covenant which was presented to them, and which led to the cutting of the covenant, was not the entire body of the law. It is what the entire body of the law was based on.

After that, however, Israel violated that same covenant. While Moses was on the mountain receiving the continued law, the people fashioned the golden calf. In this, they violated the covenant, and the Lord had every right to destroy them based on their disobedience.

However, Moses petitioned for them, and the Lord – full of grace and mercy – forgave their sin –

“The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6, 7

It was at this time, while Moses was again on the mountain, that the Lord agreed to Moses’ petition and said to him –

“Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.” Exodus 34:10

The words confirmed that Moses’ request was granted. The Lord said, hinneh anoki koreth berit – “Behold, I cut a covenant.” The Lord was confirming that the covenant would continue.

Israel had broken it and it could have been annulled. As such, they would have been liable to the entire weight of the penalty – meaning death – as pictured in the original shedding of the blood of the animals. But they had found grace.

Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord relented from fulfilling the terrifying terms of the covenant which they had violated. From here on, it is the Lord God that made, or “cut,” the covenant. It is one-sided and therefore if there was any disagreement, Israel would bear the blame. Likewise, if there was harmony between the two, only the Lord would receive the glory.

What occurred in Exodus 34 did not mean that the original covenant was simply reinstated. Nor did it mean that there was a “new covenant.” In the forgiving of the people’s transgressions, the thought “describes rather His future rule as a constant, continuous establishment of a covenant” (Lange).

Therefore, the entire time of His dealing with Israel under the covenant is a transitional phase that only anticipates a New Covenant. This is confirmed many hundreds of years later in the words of Jeremiah –

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

The word of the Lord through Jeremiah points back to the covenant that was broken by Israel after being brought out by the Lord. Thus, the law of Moses is a transitional phase of the Lord’s redemptive workings. It only anticipates a New Covenant at some point in the future.

Until that time, the Mosaic Law continued to be added to in Moab, and it was then explained and spoken forth by prophets during the time of its administration, right up until the coming of Christ who would fulfill it, annul it through His blood, and at the same time initiate a New Covenant.

Because of these things, there is no need for sacrifices to confirm the covenant. It is a part of the ongoing covenant that began at Horeb (Sinai). This is confirmed by what was said early in Deuteronomy as well –

“The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.” Deuteronomy 5:2

It is taken as an axiom there that what Moses says afterwards in Deuteronomy is all a part of this same covenant. But an important point concerning this on-going giving of the law is that it anticipates the call of the Gentiles as well as the restoration of Israel. That will be seen later, in Chapter 32 –

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people;
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And render vengeance to His adversaries;
He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”

Paul cites this in Romans 15 to show that even the Mosaic Covenant anticipated the inclusion of the Gentiles in what God is doing in His redemptive plans. Everything is tied up in the coming of Messiah, everything.

Looked at from this perspective, and understanding what He is doing, it is incredible that people believe the church has replaced Israel. What the Lord has done is for them and through them. The Gentiles are graciously grafted into what is promised to Israel. With this understood, the narrative continues…

The covenant is made, and it will stand
Even if you fail to do your part of it
You may be exiled from your land
But I will keep you always; to this, I commit

When you fail to keep and to do
I will still be sure to uphold My part, My friend
My words, like Me, are faithful and true
And I will perform My word, even to the end

**You, O God, are our only hope, it is true
And to You, O God, shall our praises forever ring
We shall hold fast to the One who is faithful and true
And to Him shall our voices forever sing

II. That You May Prosper (verses 2-9)

Now Moses called all Israel and said to them:

What Moses will do now is comparable to what Joshua will later do in Joshua 24. It is a way of reminding the people of the past so that they will pay heed into the future. In order to do this, he calls together the entire assembly. In their gathering, he says…

2 (con’t) “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt,

The words “You have seen” are emphatic. It is as if he says, “You most certainly have seen.” Although it was forty years earlier, the elders were alive at the time and they can speak for all, witnessing to the truth of Moses’ words.

In this, Moses returns the minds of the people back to Egypt once again. He is doing this to make a point concerning the greatness of the Lord. If He has performed magnificently and fearfully in the past, He is fully capable of doing so in the future as well.

The covenant is what binds the two parties together, and the Lord has the right to judge every infraction against it. If the Lord did the great things that Moses now describes in order to establish His covenant with Israel, then how much more should He do great things against those who trample underfoot the covenant!

2 (con’t) to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land— 

The Lord brought plagues against the mighty nation that Israel was in bondage to. Pharaoh ruled over them and yet, the Lord was victorious over him. At the same time, the Lord brought judgment against the servants of Pharaoh while sparing Israel. Likewise, the Lord brought destruction upon the land, and yet He spared the land of Goshen where Israel was.

The judgments were targeted, precise, and severe. Israel, even those before Moses now, saw this with their own eyes…

the great trials which your eyes have seen,

The previous verse was in the plural – “Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: “You (pl) have seen all that the Lord did before your (pl) eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land.” This verse now switches to the singular, addressing the nation collectively –

“the great trials which your (sg) eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders.” As normally is the case, Cambridge arrogantly denies the words are from a single source, saying that the singular “betrays the composite nature of the passage.”

Anyone adding new verses in, and wanting them to look original, would have consistently used the plural. But when considering this from Moses’ seat as he addresses the people, the change from the plural to the singular is both natural and expected.

Not every person gathered before him was alive during the entire time from the exodus until arriving at Moab. The change to the singular acknowledges that.

As far as the words here, they reflect the sentiment spoken by him in Chapter 4, repeating what he said there to some extent –

“Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?” Deuteronomy 4:34

In this he begins with the word massah, meaning testing or trials. It is derived from nasah, to test, or try. This is probably referring to the trials of the people prior to Moses’ arrival. They were in hard bondage, they were afflicted and tested –

“Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24 So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.” Exodus 2:23-25

3 (con’t) the signs,

The othoth, or signs, are things given to represent something else. The Lord gave Moses three signs to give to Israel – the rod which turned into a snake, the leprous hand, and the water which turned to blood. He also gave signs to Pharaoh concerning what would come upon them as the Lord accomplished His work. Next…

3 (con’t) and those great wonders.

v’ha’mophtim ha’gedolim ha-hem – “and the wonders, the great, the those.” The mopheth, or wonder, comes from yaphah, or beautiful. It speaks of that which is conspicuous and amazing.

This then refers to the plagues which came upon the land. And yet, it also speaks of the fact that Israel was spared at the same time. While Egypt was destroyed, Israel survived through the plagues – each time, it was a wonder in itself. Despite seeing these…

Yet the Lord has not given you a heart to perceive

The words continue in the singular. There are those in the congregation that this doesn’t apply to, like Joshua and Caleb. However, as a whole, Israel is being exactingly described by their leader.

He uses the word yada, meaning “to know.” It is something that is ascertained by seeing. In the Bible, the heart is the seat of reasoning and intellect. But what occurs in the heart must be processed after information has been obtained. Israel has been presented with the sights –

“You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land— the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders.”

Despite the sensory input, there is no perception as to the meaning behind what they have seen. This is then explained by the next words…

4 (con’t) and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day.

This is not referring to their literal eyes and ears. He has just told them that their eyes saw. In this, he has moved to metaphor and is equating the eyes and the ears to spiritual sensors. This is repeated by Jeremiah where he uses the word “heart” which is translated as understanding, as well as eyes and ears –

“Hear this now, O foolish people,
Without understanding,
Who have eyes and see not,
And who have ears and hear not:” Jeremiah 5:21

This is a theme that carries on throughout the Old Testament, and it is repeated in the New, both when referring to Israel, such as when Paul cites Isaiah in Acts 28 –

“Go to this people and say:
‘Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’” Acts 28:26, 27

It is also a prayer that Paul made, desiring that his disciples would receive these spiritual sensors –

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” Ephesians 1:17-21

As with Jeremiah just a moment ago, Paul’s words literally state “being enlightened the eyes of your heart.” The spiritual sensors are to work in accord with the intellect, producing discernment concerning the things of God. However, Moses tells Israel that they still had not arrived at this type of wisdom.

Considering the fact that the time of wilderness wandering is a mirror of the exile of Israel over these past two thousand years, it is evident that Moses’ words are being prophetically directed to Israel today.

After all this time, they still do not understand their role in the redemptive scenario, and they still do not understand that they are, even now, being directed by Moses to look and find Christ –

“But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” 2 Corinthians 3:14-16

This lack of discernment by Israel is next explained to them beginning in the most basic way…

And I have led you forty years in the wilderness.

The word is holek, to walk. More literally, it says, “And I walked you.” To walk signifies the conduct of one’s life. Israel is walking under the law.

In verse 8:2, it said that “the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness.” Now, Moses unites his words with those of the Lord, “And I have walked (meaning led).” Moses, typical of the law itself, represents the direction of the Lord.

Israel disobeyed the law and the Lord punished Israel. And yet, He led them through their time of punishment. Moses, as the lawgiver, conveyed the punishment that resulted, and Moses continued to lead Israel in their punishment. In other words, the law maintained its authority over them in their exile.

Nothing could be clearer than the typology we are seeing. Israel was punished under the law, Israel remains under the law, and Israel is restored based on the promises of the law – leading them to restoration and rest in Canaan, but in type, it anticipates restoration and rest in Christ.

5 (con’t) Your clothes have not worn out on you,

It is a most interesting set of words. Moses is referring to the salmah, or garment. That ultimately comes from semel, or image. The idea is that the garment takes on the image, or shape, of the person it is on. The image of Israel remained through their wanderings.

The words are to be taken literally. The Lord kept their garments from wearing out. This is the literal occurrence. However, it is to be understood typologically as well. The words have been carefully chosen to reveal what would happen to Israel in the future.

One would think that upon exile, Israel would be disbanded and simply take the image of those around them, like all of the other exiled nations of the world. But this did not happen. The garments not wearing out in the wilderness are typologically given to show us the Lord’s supernatural care of preserving Israel in exile.

This is evident because this verse is a close repeat of verse 8:4 with a specific difference –

8:4 – Your (singular) garment not did wear out on you (singular).
29:5 – Not have worn out your (plural) garments on you (plural).

The people are Israel, and Israel is comprised of the people. We are being instructed in the Lord’s care for Israel. Next, more remarkably, the words now go from the plural to the singular – just to make sure this is understood…

5 (con’t) and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.

It is incorrect. It says, “and your (singular) sandal not has worn out on your (singular) foot.” The sandal is a symbol of authority over the place it rests. The sandal of Israel, on the foot of Israel, has not worn out, even in their exile.

They still retain the authority that was promised to them. Despite rejecting Christ, they will someday rule the world with Christ as their Head –

“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days
That the mountain of the Lord’s house
Shall be established on the top of the mountains,
And shall be exalted above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it.
Many people shall come and say,
“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore.” Isaiah 2:2-4

For now, Moses is still schooling Israel on their lack of understanding…

You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or similar drink

Moses tells Israel that they have not participated in three different things during their time in the wilderness.

First, lekhem, or bread, is representative of that which sustains life. It can be used synonymously with food in general. Next is yayin, or wine. It represents our reasoning and that which will change our mind. An example of this is found in Jesus’ words of Matthew 9 –

“Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:17

Jesus was speaking of the law and grace. The new wine is the new dispensation of grace to come. The old wine was the dispensation of the law. If one were to introduce the new concept into the old, it would not work because the two were incompatible. Only if one put the new wine in the new wineskin and received the new wine would the mind be changed.

The third item is shekar, or intensely strong drink. That comes from shakar, to be drunk. It is almost always, but not always, used negatively. It is also almost always cited in conjunction with yayin (wine).

Shekar was not to be drunk by the priest while performing his duties, by the Nazirite during his time of separation to the Lord, and Solomon notes that it is not for kings to drink shekar (Proverbs 31:4). As those each imply separation to the Lord, then it can be inferred that shekar is typical of being closely in fellowship with others. This is certainly the case in Deuteronomy 14 –

“And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.” Deuteronomy 14:26

However, this fellowship with others should not be at the exclusion of the Lord.

What this verse is saying is that Israel was wholly dependent on the Lord. They lacked the things that would normally keep people alive and united – food, wine, and strong drink. And yet, they remained a people. The Lord provided manna (Christ) and they drank the water from the rock (Christ) and He kept them as a people, even though they did not recognize Him.

Likewise, Israel in exile has lacked the Bread of Life (Christ), and yet they have been kept alive. They have not had a united cultural expression, and yet they have maintained their culture, and they have not had fellowship as a nation, and yet they have been nationally kept in fellowship – meaning they have remained favorable toward one another despite their separation.

Without recognizing the hand of the Lord in keeping them, they were kept by Him. All of this was done in the wilderness, and all of this was done while they were in exile…

6 (con’t) that you may know that I am the Lord your God.

Who is speaking here? l’maan tedeu ki ani Yehovah elohekem – “to end purpose you (all) may know that I Yehovah your (all) God.” Moses is relaying this, but he is speaking the law, and the law is spoken forth by the Lord. The Lord has a purpose for what He is saying, and what He is saying is based upon what He has been doing.

He has done all of these things with an end goal and purpose, which is for them to know what they have consistently failed to learn. It is that Yehovah is the Lord their God, and that Jesus is the incarnate Lord God. If this is not true, then there would be no reason, at all, to keep them as a people. The end purpose is Christ.

With that understood, Moses next turns to events that only just recently transpired…

And when you came to this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we conquered them.

“This place” means, east of Canaan. The account of the defeat of Sihon and Og is recorded in Numbers 21:21-35. These two represent the last two foes to be defeated before Israel would receive their inheritance.

Despite coming against Israel, they were both defeated, assuring Israel of their ability to enter into the promise. The Lord brought about the victory through them. Likewise, the two great foes of the end times will come out against Israel, and they will likewise be defeated. What they possessed will be possessed by Israel.

We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh.

To be precise, the names are in the singular. “to the Reubenite, and to the Gadite, and to half-tribe the Manassite.” The land that was conquered was given to them as an inheritance.

This is especially recorded in Numbers 32. The account focused on the livestock of the people and their desire to not enter the inheritance because of it. But the main point is that the land was conquered by Israel, and it was possessed by several tribes of Israel.

Moses is reminding them, only a short time after the events took place, that it was the Lord who had brought them to this point, and that it was the Lord who led Israel and who then ultimately won the battles for them. Because of this care for them, and because of His ever-present hand upon them, they are admonished, once again, to think and to act upon that knowledge…

Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them,

The Hebrew reads, “And you (pl. all) shall keep words the covenant, the this, and you (pl. all) shall do them.” One can keep and not do – “This is our law, but I am not going to do it.” Or one can “not” keep and yet do – “There is no law that says I should do this, but I am doing it because it is right.” Israel is instructed to keep and to do.

This is a heavy burden to bear if you think about it. In order to keep and do, the people must know. Otherwise, this would be impossible to perform.

One might not know the law at all. This is a person with no understanding. One may know the law and fail to do what the law says. That demonstrates understanding, but a lack of wisdom. And one can know the law and also do what the law says. That would demonstrate a person with both understanding and wisdom. This is what Moses is conveying to the people.

The Lord had been with Israel, He had clearly displayed Himself and His capabilities to them all along, and He expected them to acknowledge Him by doing what He had (and continues to) instruct them. If they are willing to comply, there is a benefit…

*9 (fin) that you may prosper in all that you do.

It is direct and bears an emphasis: l’maan taskilu eth ka lasher taasun – “to end purpose you (all) will prosper in all that you all (certainly) do.”

The word translated as “prosper” is sakal. It actually bears two separate meanings that unite as one. It means both to prosper and to be wise. It is used by Isaiah when referring to the Messiah –

“Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently;
He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.” Isaiah 52:13

This is why some translations say, “Behold My Servant will prosper” (BSB). The Amplified Bible goes an extra step and includes both, to carry the meaning to its fullest intent – “Indeed, My Servant (the Messiah) will act wisely and prosper.”

Moses is certainly thinking on the same lines. In being wise (keeping and doing), the people will prosper. But, as just noted, one cannot do without knowing. There must be an understanding of the law to do the things of the law.

In understanding, there must also be a willingness to perform. And more, there must be a constant willingness to perform. There is not a day where one can take off. Any day without performing (keeping and doing) is a violation of the law.

This is the burden of the law. And it is this very thing that Israel must learn. The law, though good, is an impossible yoke upon the neck of the people. To say, “I have fulfilled the law all of my life, without failing,” is to say, “I am as righteous as God.”

It is a one-for-one correspondence, and it is something the Bible dismisses wholly and entirely. This is why the Bible repeatedly speaks of, and exalts, the righteousness of the Lord. We can do what is righteous, but we can never truly be righteous without it being imputed to us.

Hence, God sent Christ into the world to bring us to that state of perfection that He demands. And without it, there is only an infinite gap between us. Israel has yet to figure this out, and it will continue to be a costly lesson to them. But someday they will learn it. Moses will not enter Canaan because the law has no inheritance with the promise, and the typology must be maintained.

Israel must leave the law behind, trusting in Christ’s fulfillment of it. When they come to that point, they will be in the sweet spot. And the same is true with countless people in the “Christian” world today. They keep bringing themselves back under this impossible weight, looking to merit God’s favor apart from Christ.

Let us be wise and not go down that road. Instead, let us hold fast to the Lord, our Righteousness. Let us hold fast to Jesus.

Closing Verse: “My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.” Psalm 71:15, 16

Next Week: Deuteronomy 29:10-19 Be sure to follow obediently in the way… (That He May Establish You Today) (85th Deuteronomy Sermon)

The Lord has you exactly where He wants you. He has a good plan and purpose for you. But He also has expectations of you as He prepares you for entrance into His Land of Promise. So, follow Him and trust Him and He will do marvelous things for you and through you.

I Have Led You Forty Years in the Wilderness

These are the words of the covenant
Which the LORD commanded Moses to make
———-and Moses obeyed
With the children of Israel in the land of Moab
Besides the covenant which with them in Horeb He made

Now Moses called all Israel and said to them:
“You have seen all that the LORD did; wonders so grand
Before your eyes in the land of Egypt
To Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land—

The great trials which your eyes have seen
The signs, and those great wonders He did display
Yet the LORD has not given you a heart to perceive
And eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day

And I have led you
Forty years in the wilderness; now your wandering is complete
Your clothes have not worn out on you
And your sandals have not worn out on your feet

You have not eaten bread
Nor have you drunk wine or similar drink
That you may know
That I am the LORD your God; so that you would stop and think

And when you came to this place
Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan
Came out against us to battle
And we conquered them, and from there we pressed on

We took their land and gave it as an inheritance
To the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to half the tribe
———-of Manasseh too
Therefore keep the words of this covenant
And do them, that you may prosper in all that you do

Lord God, turn our hearts to be obedient to Your word
Give us wisdom to be ever faithful to You
May we carefully heed each thing we have heard
Yes, Lord God may our hearts be faithful and true

And we shall be content and satisfied in You alone
We will follow You as we sing our songs of praise
Hallelujah to You; to us Your path You have shown
Hallelujah we shall sing to You for all of our days

Hallelujah and Amen…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb.

Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land— the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders. Yet the Lord has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day. And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or similar drink, that you may know that I am the Lord your God. And when you came to this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we conquered them. We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh. Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deuteronomy 28:62-68 (The Blessings and the Curses, Part VII)

Deuteronomy 28:62-68
(The Blessings and the Curses, Part VII)

In 2003, I went on a trip to Israel with mom. We went together with Zola Levitt ministries. Zola was a messianic Jew and had been on about 70 tour groups by the time we went with him. Because of this, he had things pretty tightened up as to how to make the trip enjoyable – what to see, what not to see, and so on.

We enjoyed everything from Dan to Beersheba, down to Eilat, and over to Petra in Jordan. While in Jerusalem, there were many nice sights to see. It was during the second Intifada, and people thought we were stupid for going. While in Jerusalem, we had lunch on a hill overlooking the city.

I fell asleep on the grass, and Zola took a photo of me napping with the city in the distance. That made the cover of his next month’s publication. It was a selling point for those who might have thought you could get shot while touring Israel. That just wasn’t likely.

While in Jerusalem, Zola took us to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial, on Mount Herzl (the Mount of Remembrance). It was certainly a moving place to be, and they made sure that all who went through it would feel that way. Israel wants the world to never forget what happened to them. But Israel has yet to acknowledge why those things happened to them…

Text Verse: “Now therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: 37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. 38 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. 41 Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.” Jeremiah 32:36-41

A Jewish guy that a friend of mine knows watched some of the sermons I have done. Eventually, he told her, I will never watch one of his sermons again. He said that I blamed Israel for what happened to them in the Holocaust.

I have never directly said that, but I have implied it many times. They don’t need my opinion on this, all they need to do is read Leviticus 26 (the Lord in the first person), or Deuteronomy 28 (Moses speaking of the Lord in the third person), to know that if they had been obedient to the Lord, none of the woes of their past would have come upon them, including the Holocaust.

When mom and I walked out of Yad Vashem, I turned to her and said, “The only thing that is missing in this place is a copy of Deuteronomy 28 posted in every language that the Jews were driven to. As sad as the Holocaust was, it was a self-inflicted wound for having rejected the Lord their God.

It is true, that man certainly took things too far, just as the Babylonians did millennia earlier, but there would have been no first exile, nor a second exile, along with the resulting punishments, if Israel had done what the Lord expected of them.

And, sadly, what happened to them in the Holocaust will be overshadowed by what the word says is still to come upon them. If you want to know what I mean, your next reading assignment is Zechariah 13:8. But good news immediately follows that coming tragedy in Zechariah 13:9.

The blessings and the curses. Israel was given the choice. It was carefully laid out for them, in advance. And everything that Moses prophesied has come to pass. And it is all because they failed to know the time of their visitation.

The terrible woes to come upon Israel, as prophesied in Deuteronomy 28, will be completed in our sermon today. But the terrible woes to come upon Israel will continue into the future until that day when they – as a nation – finally call out to Jesus, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Certain truths such as these are to be found in His superior word. And so, let us turn to that precious word once again and… May God speak to us through His word today and may His glorious name ever be praised.

I.To Destroy You and Bring You to Nothing (verses 62 & 63)

62 You shall be left few in number,

v’nishartem bimte meat – “And you (all: plural) shall remain in persons few.” With the exception of one instance in verse 14, Deuteronomy 28 has spoken to the people in the singular consistently until this point.

Now, and in the next clause of this verse, it goes to the plural – you all. As far as the content, the words are a close repeat of Deuteronomy 4:27 where Moses also uses the plural –

“And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you.”

In this verse, however, the NKJV omits the word “And” that begins it. The words are actually a continuation of what has been said and they speak of the result of those previous verses –

“If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, 59 then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses. 60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed. 62 [And] You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.

It is the plagues, sicknesses, and diseases noted in the previous verses that will result in the diminution of their numbers. The use of the plural adds emphasis to the content. Instead of, “And you (Israel) shall be left few in number,” it says, “And you (all) shall be left few in number.” The plural continues with the words…

62 (con’t) whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude,

takhat asher heyitem ke’kokve ha’shemayim la’rov – “under which you (all: plural) were as stars the heavens to multitude.” Again, the plural adds emphasis. After the many, many verses of it being in the singular, Moses uses the plural to speak forth the magnitude of the resulting catastrophe that will come upon the people –

“And you (all) shall be left few in number.”
“Whereas you (all) were as the stars of heaven in multitude.”

With that noted, he again provides the exact reason that this will come about, saying…

62 (con’t) because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.

ki lo shamata b’qol Yehovah elohekha – “for no you (singular) would hear (meaning hearken to) in voice Yehovah your (singular) God.” In essence, Moses is calling down the collective curse upon the people – both as individuals and as a nation. The two are essentially inseparable.

If America is to be judged for its wrongdoing, all of the people will suffer. It is not as if the Lord will separate the faithful from the unfaithful when the nuke detonates over New York City, or when the plague falls upon the land. Rather, all will participate in the tragedy of the events.

With this stated, we cannot go far from the truth that Jesus came to take Israel’s punishment upon Himself. The nation transgressed, and yet the punishment of the sins of Israel could – ostensibly – have been carried by Him.

This would include the sins of each person, and the sins of the nation collectively. In relation to Him, each person who accepts him – Peter or Paul for example – is forgiven. But the guilt of the nation remains. Hence, exile and punishment came upon all.

The idea of being few in number is probably twofold in significance. First, it is that there will be but a few left in the land at any time, but also that the whole will be reduced to a few as well. As far as the first premise during the Babylonian exile, that is recorded in Jeremiah –

“But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah the poor people, who had nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.” Jeremiah 39:10

It is also true of the number who were exiled. The total of Israel was reduced to a tiny number compared to those who were, as it said in 1 Kings 4, at the time of Solomon –

“Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing. 21 So Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.” 1 Kings 4:20, 21

Whether the term “stars of the heavens,” or the term “sand by the sea,” the number was immense. Eventually, through war, pestilence, and exile, the number was reduced to a paltry few souls.

The same is true at the time of the Roman exile. After the Babylonian exile, the people returned to the land and grew in number once again. However, John Gill notes the sad details of their reduction in number when the Romans came –

“…how much they were reduced by the Romans will appear by the accounts Josephus gives of those that were slain, and made prisoners by them: he says (i), ‘there were 1,100,000 slain at the siege of Jerusalem and by the war, and 97,000 made prisoners;’ and it is computed that 1,240,490 were destroyed in Jerusalem and other parts of the nation (k); and it is also said by their historian (l), that of those that were transported from Jerusalem and other parts of Palestine into Spain, scarce a thousandth part remained and that an infinite number were slain in France and Germany; and though their number equalled those that came out of Egypt, yet scarce five thousand of them were left.” John Gill

This is how it was, and this is how it continues to be, for Israel. The people belong to the whole, and the many will collectively be reduced within the nation. Until the nation collectively turns to Christ, this will remain unchanged. With that understood, Moses continues with the words of tragedy…

63 And it shall be, that just as the Lord rejoiced over you

v’hayah ka’asher sas Yehovah alekhem – “And it shall be according to which has delighted over you (plural).” As you can see, the plural continues. Moses acknowledges that the Lord rejoices over each and every soul.

It is as if the Lord looks down from heaven and sees the masses and rejoices over them all together and individually at the same time. In this, Moses introduces a new word, sus. It means to be glad, rejoice, make mirth, and so on. There is the sense of gladness in the Lord that is being delightfully expressed, which is…

63 (con’t) to do you good and multiply you,

l’hetive etkhem u-l’harbot etkhem – “to do good you (all) and to multiply you (all).” In the obedience of the nation, the Lord rejoices to do good to all of the people individually.

One can almost see Moses raising his hands and sweeping them across the people, and then pointing at individuals in rapid succession. “This is what the Lord did for you all. You, you, you, you, annnnnnd you over there as well.” However, in their disobedience, another course will be set for them…

63 (con’t) so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing;

ken yasis Yehovah alekhem l’haabid etkhem u-l’hashmid etkhem – “Thus, will delight Yehovah over you (all) to cause to perish you (all) and to destroy you (all). The contrast is complete. “Yehovah delighted to do you good and to multiply you when you were faithful. Just so, Yehovah will delight over you to cause you to perish and to destroy you when you are faithless.” Of this verse, John Lange rightly says it… –

“…is a bold anthropomorphic figure, but spoken from the profoundest view of the truth, since righteousness on the basis of His holiness, as His mercy according to His love, is in full accordance with the nature of God. As He is glorious, so also He is fearful.” John Lange

This is now the seventh and final use of the word shamad, or destroy, in Deuteronomy 28. It will continue to be seen in Scripture, but repeating the word seven times brings its own sense of completeness and finality to the words.

As we have seen, and as is now repeated, this doesn’t mean to destroy utterly. Israel continued to exist, and they continue to exist. But the people have been destroyed along the way.

Though using different words to express the thought, what is stated here is certainly reflective of what is said about Christ in Isaiah 53. The Lord delighted to bring His destruction upon Israel. But it also pleased the Lord to do so in Christ in their stead –

“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.” Isaiah 53:10

God in Christ was willing to take what Israel rightly deserved upon Himself in order to redeem them from their transgressions committed under the law. However, as for Israel in their destruction, Moses next says…

63 (con’t) and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess.

The words now go from the plural back to the singular – “and you (all, plural) shall be plucked from off the land which you (Israel, singular) go to possess.” Here, it more appropriately reads, “the ground.” Those who would come to Canaan would go in to possess their own plot, but like a tree being pulled up, so would those who once went to sink down their roots.

In this is a new word, nasakh. It means to destroy, pluck, or uproot, coming from a root meaning to tear away. It will be used once by David in Psalm 52 and then only two more times by Solomon in the proverbs. So literally was this fulfilled that John Gill records these words as a part of the historical record of the Jews –

“The Emperor Adrian, to prevent their insurrections and rebellions, which had given him a great deal of trouble, ordered by an edict that no Jew should come into Jerusalem, nor into the land of Judea, or be seen in it, which is observed by several writers (m); by which means the country was cleared of them. In later times some of them did get thither again, but they were but few. Benjamin of Tudela, a Jew of the twelfth century, travelled into several parts of the world in quest of his countrymen, and particularly into Judea, and his view was to magnify his people; and yet owns he found at Jerusalem only two hundred persons, whose employment was dyeing wool, and dwelt in a corner of the town under the tower of David; and but twelve at Bethlehem, three at Maresha, at Shunem indeed three hundred, none at Gilead, two at Nob, who were dyers, three at Ramah, one at Joppa, none at Jafne, where had been a famous academy, none at Ashdod, and at Tiberias about fifty (n). And our countryman Sandys (o), who travelled into Judea in the seventeenth century, says, ‘here be some Jews, yet inherit they no part of the land, but in their own country do live as aliens.;” John Gill

So, at any given time there were from no Jews at all to less than a thousand in the entire land, and even while there, they were counted as foreigners. This lowly state continued right up until the Zionist Movement began and the Jews, once again, started to fill the land.

As for a parallel in Christ, again, though the Hebrew words used are different, the same sentiment is spoken of concerning Him in Isaiah 53 –

“He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.”

Israel was to be removed from their land due to disobedience, but Christ was to be removed from another type of land in their place. The trade was offered, and to this day it still stands. Only when the exchange is accepted will there be surety for them.

As for being uprooted, Moses next tells what the consequences of that will be for them, as we will see in a minute…

If only you will heed the voice of the Lord your God
If only you will do what that voice calls out to you
But like animals being conducted with a cattle prod
So, you will be treated for what you failed to do

The Lord has given the word in advance
And Moses has spoken the word out to you
This word will not fail, of this there is no chance
The Lord will set forth all He has promised to do

He will provide the blessing when you heed the word
And surely will come the curses when you fail to heed
So be diligent to do all that you have heard
Or the Lord will destroy you, and He will do so with speed

II. Your Life Shall Hang in Doubt Before You (verses 64-68)

64 “Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples,

The words of this verse are all in the singular, you Israel. In this clause, it is more specific – “all the peoples.” In other words, the distinction is being made between Israel and “all the peoples.” They are completely set apart from them, even if they are dwelling among them.

And how true has that been, and how true it remains even to this day. They dwell throughout the US, even as citizens, but they remain Jews. Such is true wherever they have gone. They have stubbornly held onto their identity not only among all the people, but throughout the millennia among all the peoples, even…

64 (con’t) from one end of the earth to the other,

miqtseh ha’arets v’ad qetseh ha’arets – “from end the earth and as far as end the earth.” This has been literally fulfilled as Jews have been spread to every possible place where man dwells.

Synagogues exist in remote China and in Budapest. They are found on remote islands of Tunisia and in India. They are found as far north as Fairbanks, Alaska and Trondheim, Norway, and they are found as far south as Dunedin, New Zealand.

Jews have been dispersed like the dust blown off of the Sahara Desert, encompassing the world and just as easily removed once again and scattered further still. It is without controversy that the prophecy of Moses as he sat in the plains of Moab, near the Jordan River has been literally fulfilled.

Looking at it in this light, and considering that it was spoken concerning Israel’s disobedience, it is actually a mark of shame upon them, rather than something to be boasted of.

Consider the parallel noted in the previous verse. Like Israel being removed from the land which typifies life, Christ was removed from the land of the living. The parallel continues in that Israel was prophesied to be returned to their land, just as it was prophesied that Christ would return from that place where no one could have imagined anyone would ever return from again.

Moses, in just two more chapters, shows us that it would be the same for Israel –

“Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Deuteronomy 30:1-6

Likewise, Isaiah – in the same passage where he spoke of Christ’s death – also speaks of Christ’s return from death –

“After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.” Isaiah 53:11 (BSB)

Even from the remotest parts of the world, the Lord has, and continues to, bring the people back to the land where they may live. And just so, Christ was brought back from the remotest place a human could imagine going, back to the land where He may live.

As for Israel in their land of exile, Moses tells them of their state in such places…

64 (con’t) and there you shall serve other gods,

Some scholars say this can’t be confirmed. They haven’t looked very closely. The words elohim akherim, or “gods other,” mean any god other than the Lord God. If they were serving the Lord God, they wouldn’t be in exile. Moses then further defines what he means by saying…

64 (con’t) which neither you nor your fathers have known—

This is obviously referring to serving the Lord God. Even though Israel in the land served innumerable gods other than the Lord, causing them to be exiled, this isn’t referring to them. It is referring to any gods out among the nations that the Jews have served.

Today, if you go into many Jewish homes, you’ll find statues of Buddha, Krishna, and other gods. Of these, and many others, they are…

64 (con’t) wood and stone.

Along with all of the other false gods the Jews have served around the world, John Gill tells of the false gods of Roman Catholicism that they have gone after –

“The author of the history of their calamities and sufferings owns this; “multitudes (he says (p)) in Spain and Portugal forsook the law of Moses, and joined the Papists, pretending at least to be of their religion.” He makes mention of sixteen thousand at one time (q), and some, he say (r), “that were driven out of Spain, came into Italy, where the young men pressed with famine could not bear it, and changed their religion, and began to worship images that they might have to satisfy their hunger; and the Papists used to go about with a crucifix in one hand, and a piece of bread in the other, promising the bread to those that would worship the crucifix; and so many famishing persons forsook the law of Moses, and mixed with them:” and to this day the convents of monks and nuns in Spain are full of them; and most of their canons, inquisitors, and bishops, are Jews (s).” John Gill

In this, there is a complete contrast to Jesus in His exile from the land of the living. The book of Jonah, while he was in the belly of the fish, prophetically refers to the time when Christ was in the tomb. In that state, it says –

“Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
And You heard my voice.
For You cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the floods surrounded me;
All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.
Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight;
Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;
The deep closed around me;
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
I went down to the moorings of the mountains;
The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,
O Lord, my God.
“When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the Lord;
And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple.
“Those who regard worthless idols
Forsake their own Mercy.
But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord.” Jonah 2:2-9

In death and through death, in exile from the land of the living, Christ remained faithful to the Lord God. The wood and stone the Jews have served have no life. They cannot sense anything. As such, they cannot hear prayer and they cannot deliver from the place of distress. But the Lord God, whom Christ remained faithful to, can hear and He did deliver. The contrast is complete.

For Israel in exile, Moses continues…

65 And among those nations you shall find no rest,

The words of this verse are all in the singular – “you Israel.” Despite this, it can just as easily refer to an individual who belongs to Israel. If he is the only “Israel” in the land, then he represents the nation to whom he belongs.

In this verse, Moses pulled out his lexicon in order to bestow upon us several new or rare words. The first is raga. It is a verb meaning to disturb. Thus, it is used figuratively to signify settling. Israel would remain unsettled anywhere they went. They would always be in a state of being upheaved and moved along.

When I was young, we used to go on vacation to a remote part of Massachusetts. There was a Jewish couple that lived there. When I was with my aunt one day, she said, “Twice, they had to get up and leave the food on the table and flee for their lives.” This is the idea of the words Moses now gives. It was literally fulfilled in that old couple on the mountain. Moses next says…

65 (con’t) nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place;

Here Moses uses a word, manoakh, seen only once so far, in Genesis 8:9, where it says, “But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot.” It is exactingly translated, resting place. Wherever Israel’s foot comes down, it will be as if there is a thorn or hot coals there, prodding it to move hurriedly on. Along with that, Moses says…

65 (con’t) but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul.

Rather than “but,” the word simply says, “and.” There will be no resting place for the soul of the foot, and along with that would come added calamities. Of them, Moses introduces three very rare words. The first is ragaz. It is an adjective occurring only this once.

It comes from the verb ragaz, meaning to quake or tremble. Thus, “trembling heart” is correct. There would never cease to be a time when the heart wouldn’t feel as if it might simply explode from the fear of the moment or from the constant motion of the foot.

Next, he uses the word kilayon. It is a noun signifying pining or failing. It is found only here and in Isaiah 10:22. The idea is probably that the eyes would become weak from looking for a spot to rest or looking for the salvation of a messiah, not realizing that the Messiah had already come, and they had rejected Him.

Along with that, Moses uses the word deavon. It is a noun, found only here, meaning faintness or languishing. Combined with the word nephesh, or soul, it means that the very force which impels the person would be so worn out that there would be no desire to even continue on. It is the weariness of the person that would choose death, if it would just come and end the misery.

The words here are not unlike those that the Lord spoke forth in Leviticus 26 –

“’As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them.” Leviticus 26:36

Israel is the transgressor. It is he who failed to honor and serve the Lord, and his soul suffered because of his failings. But the Lord had come to take away their sin. While they were looking for a hero to exalt them among the nations, He came to restore them to the Father.

Instead of being exalted among the nations, they were abased among them, and they remain in their sin. But Christ came to refresh their souls through the pouring out of His own for them –

“He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:11, 12

66 Your life shall hang in doubt before you;

v’hayu khayekha teluim lekha mineged – “And will become your life hang to you from before.” Again, Moses introduces a new word, tala. It is a verb meaning “to hang.” It is found only here and in Hosea 11:7. Figuratively is signifies uncertainty.

The words are obvious when considered. It will be as if nothing can be trusted from moment to moment. Each moment is one of doubt and the next will be as well. No matter what one attempts in order to provide a state of constancy, there will always be nothing but fear of life. This state will then continue twenty-four hours a day…

66 (con’t) you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life.

u-pakhadta laylah v’yomam v’lo taamin b’khayekha – “and you shall fear night and day and no you have assurance in life.” Another new word is given, pakhad. It is a verb meaning “to dread.” These words further define the previous clause.

The life of Israel hangs before it in doubt. As such, there is dread at all times. Throughout the night, and throughout the day. There is never a time when life will seem secure.

It is as if the entire nation is a soldier on a battlefield with bombs falling nearby constantly. There is never a moment where the fear of the “next one maybe being it” is over. Life, its continuance, has no foothold of surety at all. The sword of Damocles is always present. Of this verse, Luther says –

“I have never seen a passage which describes more clearly the misery of a guilty conscience, in words and thoughts so fitting and appropriate. For this is just the way in which a man is affected, who knows that God is offended, i.e., who is harassed with the consciousness of sin.” Martin Luther

This is a right analogy, and it calls into focus the words of the first clause, “Your life shall hang in doubt before you.” Israel rejected Christ, the crucified Savior. The knowledge of this event is known to them, and somewhere in the back of their minds, they have pieced it together.

They understand the symbolism of their writings, and the thought of their sin before God lingers because their sin hung before them on the cross, if only they will acknowledge it. But in not believing Him, it is their life that hangs in doubt. And because of this…

67 In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!’

Properly translated, it reads, “In the morning you will say, ‘Who will give me evening?’ and in the evening you will say, ‘Who will give me morning?’” (CG). It is as if a petition to God, but the Lord is left out of the conversation.

In other words, instead of appealing to the Lord, Israel stubbornly asks for anyone to help, but the Lord. It is reflective of the words of Amos 6:10 –

“Hold your tongue! For we dare not mention the name of the Lord.”

The Lord hangs before them. Their consciences intuitively know this, and yet they will call out in any direction except His. And their cry is…

67 (con’t) because of the fear which terrifies your heart, and because of the sight which your eyes see.

One can think of the most recent example set before the world, that of the holocaust. The Jews of Europe faced everything that has been presented in the verses today. They begged for day during the night, and they begged for night during the day.

The things they experienced brought them dread in their hearts, and what they saw brought terror to their eyes. Moses spoke out the words of terror and horror that would come upon the people. They are – meaning the law is – a mirror for them to behold. Its words direct their actions, and the resulting horrors, back upon themselves.

68 “And the Lord will take you back to Egypt in ships,

It is the highest disgrace of all. Not only is it exile from the land, but it is exile back to the very place from which they had been redeemed. They walked out of Egypt as a free people, led by the Lord. But the Lord Himself will take them back in ships, meaning as slaves, as a people cursed of the Lord. And this will be…

68 (con’t) by the way of which I said to you, ‘You shall never see it again.’

It says, ba’derek amarti lekha – “in the way I said to you.” One could assume that this is referring to not returning to Egypt as was seen in Deuteronomy 17. There, it said –

“But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’” Deuteronomy 17:16

However, I would argue that this is speaking of the state of slavery. Rather than, “You shall not return that way again,” meaning going back to Egypt. Moses now speaks of the way, saying, “You shall never see it again.” Israel is being returned to something by the Lord, and it is in ships. Thus, they are bound as slaves.

As real slaves, according to Josephus, this was fulfilled under Titus. But without the law and without Christ, this has also spiritually been fulfilled in Israel. The law gave them the Day of Atonement. Christ is the fulfillment of that. Outside of the land, and without Christ, there is no atonement, and thus the people are, literally, slaves to sin –

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’
33 They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, “You will be made free’?’”
34 Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’” John 8:31-36

This is what is being conveyed. Egypt is only a type of the true bondage that man suffers under. As for the literal fulfillment of this, Moses next says…

*68 (fin) And there you shall be offered for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.

The translation is incorrect. It says, “And you shall sell yourselves there.” It is in the plural, and it is the action of the people themselves. In other words, it is a petition to be sold into bondage just so that they could have a master over them in order to eat and have a place to sleep.

But it says that for Israel, v’ein qoneh – “and no buying.” For their physical bodies, none would be interested. And for their spiritual selves, there is none to redeem. They had rejected the Lord and because of their sin, the devil is their owner.

With these words, one of the most mournful passages of all of Scripture comes to a close. What makes it so much the case is that it explains everything in advance. There is nothing that was hidden from them. The choice for obedience and blessing, or disobedience and cursing, rested solely with Israel.

The Lord set the two before them through Moses, and whatever resulted is solely the responsibility of Israel. But let none of us be smug in what has come upon them. They are simply a template of what will come upon each of us.

We can come to the Lord and be saved, or we will remain in the bonds of sin and death that He came to destroy. And just as the Lord has faithfully kept Israel, even through their destruction, so He will keep any whom He redeems.

Thank God for His faithfulness to unfaithful Israel. And thank God for His faithfulness to us. He is a great and wonderful God who has set us free from our bonds. Yes. Thank God for His tender mercies. Yes, thank God for JESUS!

I came to You with nothing,
Only buckets of my sins.
You stretched your arms
Around me
And you said, “welcome in.”
I cried for forgiveness.
You wiped my tears away.
You emptied all the buckets
When I called upon your name.

You told me that, “I’m loved,”
You told me, “this’s my home.”
You told me, “I’m forgiven!”
“No longer I’m alone”
You told me, “live in peace.”
You told me, “I’m the Christ.”
“I’m the price for your sins
and your everlasting life

I carried now the buckets
No longer full of sins.
But full of living water,
Of mercies flowing in.
I see other people
caring buckets of despair.
But mine are full of forgiveness,
And good news to be shared. Izabela Bednara

Closing Verse: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:15-18

Next Week: Luke 1:26-38 A marvelous thing God will do… (The Power of the Highest Will Overshadow You) (2021 Christmas Sermon)

The Lord has you exactly where He wants you. He has a good plan and purpose for you. But He also has expectations of you as He prepares you for entrance into His Land of Promise. So, follow Him and trust Him and He will do marvelous things for you and through you.

The Blessings and the Curses

You shall be left few in number
Whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude
Because you would not obey
The voice of the LORD your God, such was your attitude

And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you
To do you good and multiply you, so to you I address
So the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you
———-and bring you to nothing
And you shall be plucked from off the land
———-which you go to possess

“Then the LORD will scatter you among all peoples
From one end of the earth to the other, so you will dwell alone
And there you shall serve other gods
Which neither you nor your fathers have known—wood and stone

And among those nations you shall find no rest
Nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place
But there the LORD will give you a trembling heart
Failing eyes, and anguish of soul – there in your disgrace

Your life shall hang in doubt before you
You shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life
———-so I give you this warning
In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!
And at evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!

Because of the fear which terrifies your heart, so shall it be
And because of the sight which your eyes see

And the LORD will take you back to Egypt in ships
By the way of which I said to you, ‘You shall never see it again
———-thus, it is true
And there you shall be offered for sale to your enemies
As male and female slaves, but no one will buy you

Lord God, turn our hearts to be obedient to Your word
Give us wisdom to be ever faithful to You
May we carefully heed each thing we have heard
Yes, Lord God may our hearts be faithful and true

And we shall be content and satisfied in You alone
We will follow You as we sing our songs of praise
Hallelujah to You; to us Your path You have shown
Hallelujah we shall sing to You for all of our days

Hallelujah and Amen…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

62 You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God. 63 And it shall be, that just as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess.

64 “Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known—wood and stone. 65 And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. 66 Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life. 67 In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!’ because of the fear which terrifies your heart, and because of the sight which your eyes see.

68 “And the Lord will take you back to Egypt in ships, by the way of which I said to you, ‘You shall never see it again.’ And there you shall be offered for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genesis 7, 1-24 (Noahs Flut)

Genesis 7, 1-24 (Noahs Flut)

Einleitung:

Hier sind wir nun… 7. Kapitel der Bibel und eine weitere scheinbar unglaubliche Geschichte. Wir sind aber schon auf andere gestoßen. Die sechs Tage der Schöpfung stellten ein Problem dar, wenn man an die Evolution denkt und daran, dass die Dinge Milliarden von Jahren alt sind.

Wir haben darüber gesprochen, dass der Mensch aus dem Staub erschaffen wurde, anstatt sich aus Schleim zu entwickeln, und dass die Frau aus einer Rippe des Mannes geschaffen wurde. Wir haben einen Blick in die Berichte von Männern geworfen, die fast tausend Jahre alt wurden, und wir haben gesehen, wie Menschen zu immenser Größe heranwuchsen.

All diese Dinge sind im Buch der Anfänge so schnell auf uns zugekommen. Und jetzt werden wir uns mit der Sintflut von Noah beschäftigen. Es ist eine Geschichte, die die meisten Menschen kennen, und doch fällt es uns so schwer, sie zu akzeptieren. Ist die Geschichte wahr?

Die Bibel ist die Grundlage unseres Lebens, und die Genesis ist die Grundlage der Bibel. Es wäre unglaubwürdig, wenn Gottes Wort mit einem Haufen von Mythen, Übertreibungen oder Lügen beginnen würde.

Letzte Woche haben wir uns Verse angesehen, die bestätigen, dass die Verfasser des Neuen Testaments diese Geschichte für 100% wahr hielten. Und das gilt auch für Jesus, unseren Herrn. Er sprach von Noah als einer realen Person und vom Bericht als wörtlich zu nehmend. Es gibt also nur 2 Möglichkeiten: Entweder Er wollte seinen Zuhörern schmeicheln, oder Er sagte uns, dass der Bericht wahr ist.

Wenn du wie ich glaubst, dass Jesus der menschgewordene Gott und die Grundlage unseres Glaubens ist, dann kannst du nicht sagen, dass Er Seinem Publikum nur schmeicheln wollte; der Herr lügt nicht. Für uns, die wir an das Wort Gottes glauben, gibt es nur eine mögliche Antwort auf die Frage, ob die Flut wirklich stattgefunden hat oder nicht. Sie hat stattgefunden.

Und es ist eine Geschichte von unermesslicher Liebe und Treue inmitten des Gerichts – Liebe für das Werk der Hände des Schöpfers und Treue zu denen, die ebenfalls gerecht, rechtschaffen und vor allem treu waren.

Textvers:

Einen kleinen Augenblick habe ich dich verlassen; aber mit großer Barmherzigkeit werde ich dich sammeln. In überwallendem Zorn habe ich einen Augenblick mein Angesicht vor dir verborgen; aber mit ewiger Gnade will ich mich über dich erbarmen, spricht der Herr, dein Erlöser. Und das soll mir sein wie die Wasser Noahs: Denn wie ich geschworen habe, dass die Wasser Noahs nie mehr die Erde überfluten sollen, so habe ich geschworen, dass ich nie mehr über dich zornig werden noch dich schelten werde.

Jesaja 54,7-9

Möge Gott heute durch Sein Wort zu uns sprechen, und möge Sein glorreicher Name immer gepriesen werden.

I. Noah war ein rechtschaffener Mann

1 Und der Herr sprach zu Noah: „Geh in die Arche, du und dein ganzes Haus! Denn dich allein habe ich vor mir gerecht erfunden unter diesem Geschlecht.
2 Nimm von allem reinen Vieh je sieben und sieben mit dir, das Männchen und sein Weibchen; von dem unreinen Vieh aber je ein Paar, das Männchen und sein Weibchen;
3 auch von den Vögeln des Himmels je sieben und sieben, Männchen und Weibchen, um auf dem ganzen Erdboden Nachkommen am Leben zu erhalten.
4 Denn es sind nur noch sieben Tage, dann will ich es regnen lassen auf der Erde, 40 Tage und 40 Nächte lang, und ich will alles Bestehende, das ich gemacht habe, vom Erdboden vertilgen.“
5 Und Noah tat alles ganz wie der Herr es ihm geboten hatte.
6 Und Noah war 600 Jahre alt, als die Wasser der Sintflut auf die Erde kamen. 

Noah war in seinen Generationen gerecht vor Gott. Was bedeutet das im Kontext der Bibel und was können wir daraus lernen?

Das kostenlose Online-Wörterbuch, für das ich keinen Pfennig bezahlen musste, definiert “gerecht” folgendermaßen: “moralisch. befasst sich mit den Grundsätzen von richtig und falsch oder mit der Einhaltung von Verhaltens- und Charakternormen, die auf diesen Grundsätzen beruhen; “moralischer Sinn”; “eine moralische Prüfung”; “eine moralische Lektion”; “eine moralische Zwickmühle”; “moralische Überzeugungen”; “ein moralisches Leben”.

Es gibt viele andere Definitionen, die ausreichen würden, aber diese hier ist besonders gut, weil sie das Wort “moralisch” ständig wiederholt. Wenn Noah in seiner Generation vor Gott gerecht war, dann hat diese Gerechtigkeit damit zu tun, dass Noahs Moral mit Gottes Moral übereinstimmt. Wie kann man das wissen?

Moral muss irgendwo herkommen. Wenn ich meine Frau liebe, dann ist das nicht aus einem Apfelbaum entstanden. Stattdessen kam diese Liebe von irgendwoher und wurde auf der Grundlage eines perfekten Standards definiert. Die Liebe entsteht nicht einfach zufällig. Und das gilt auch für alle anderen moralischen Tugenden.

Wenn jemand aus Fahrlässigkeit mit seinem Auto gegen mein Auto stößt, werde ich ärgerlich. Und warum? Weil es in mir einen Sinn für Gerechtigkeit und Rechtschaffenheit gibt. Und das beruht auf einem perfekten Maßstab für diese Dinge. Wenn das nicht der Fall wäre, würden wir wie Autoscooter aneinander abprallen und es wäre egal… aber es ist so.

Ich spreche mich gegen die Abtreibung aus, jemand anderes ist dafür. Die Tatsache, dass wir uns überhaupt mit diesem Thema beschäftigen, liegt daran, dass es einen Standard gibt, über den wir streiten. Der eine ist näher an dieser Norm, der andere weiter davon entfernt, aber es gibt sie ganz sicher.

Wenn ein objektives Gesetz wie die Wahrheit, die Gerechtigkeit oder die Rechtschaffenheit Noahs unabhängig von unserem individuellen Verstand existiert – und das tut es -, dann muss es von einem vollkommenen Geist stammen.

Jemand könnte sagen: “Ich bin anderer Meinung, alles ist bedeutungslos”. Was ist das Problem dabei? Es ist selbstzerstörerisch, weil man davon ausgeht, dass die Aussage sinnvoll ist. Selbst wenn wir versuchen, von der Bedeutung wegzukommen, demonstrieren wir nur noch mehr Bedeutung.

Dies soll keine philosophische Übung sein, sondern eine Erklärung, warum Noah in seiner Generation rechtschaffen war. Das lag daran, dass sein Moralkodex und sein moralischer Standard mit dem des Schöpfers übereinstimmten. Das ist es, was wir über den Bericht wissen müssen, um ihn in dem Kontext zu verstehen, in dem er gegeben wird.

Erinnere dich an Genesis 6, wo es drei wichtige Verse gab –

Da sah der HERR, dass die Bosheit des Menschen auf Erden groß war und dass alle Gedanken seines Herzens nur böse waren, immerzu.

Noah war ein gerechter Mann, vollkommen in seinem Geschlecht.

Aber Noah fand Gnade in den Augen des HERRN.

Das ist es, was Gott uns an diesem Punkt der Geschichte wissen lassen will. Aber vielleicht gibt es noch mehr, was Gott uns sagen will, wenn wir die Dinge mit offenen Augen betrachten.

Was brauchte Adam, um nach dem Sündenfall von Gott bekleidet zu werden? Was machte Abels Opfergabe annehmbarer als die von Kain? Was führte dazu, dass die Menschen am Ende von Kapitel 4 den Herrn anriefen? Was veranlasste Methusalahs Eltern, ihm einen prophetischen Namen über die kommende Flut zu geben?

All dies beruhte auf dem Glauben. Aus den drei Versen, die wir gerade in Kapitel 6 gelesen haben, können wir also schließen, dass die Bosheit der Menschen auf der Erde auf einem Mangel an Glauben beruhte. Wir können auch ableiten, dass Noah durch den Glauben als gerecht angesehen wurde. Und wir können daraus schließen, dass die Gnade, die er erhielt, auf diesen Glauben zurückzuführen ist.

Noahs Moral entsprang dem Glauben, und deshalb war sie eine richtig ausgerichtete Moral. Nicht jeder, der sich gegen die Abtreibung ausspricht, tut dies, weil er glaubt, dass dies Gottes Maßstab ist. Sie basiert auf Gottes Maßstab, das haben wir bereits gesehen, aber es ist der Glaube an die Tatsache, dass es Gottes Maßstab ist, der die Entscheidung vor Gott gerechtfertigt erscheinen lässt. Nicht die Tatsache, dass der Standard gehalten wird.

Wenn ein Atheist nicht für die Abtreibung ist, bedeutet das für Gott nichts. Er könnte genauso gut Kinder zum Frühstück essen. Nur wenn der Glaube und die Taten zusammenwirken, sind sie für Gott annehmbar. Mit anderen Worten: Die Taten sind – per Definition – Taten des Glaubens. Paulus sagt: “Denn darin wird die Gerechtigkeit Gottes geoffenbart von Glaube zu Glaube, wie geschrieben steht: ‘Der Gerechte wird aus Glauben leben.'” Von allen Menschen, die zu seiner Zeit auf der Erde lebten, war Noah dieser Mann.

Letzte Woche hat Noah eine Arche gebaut. Beruhte das auf Glauben oder auf Sehen? Es war Glaube. Gott sagte, die Flut würde kommen, und Noah hätte sagen können: “Flut, Flut, welche Flut? Geh mir aus dem Kopf, du Stimme über die Flut”. Stattdessen begann er, ohne jemals eine solche Flut gesehen zu haben, mit dem Bau einer Arche.

Erinnere dich an Hebräer 11,7

Durch Glauben baute Noah, als er eine göttliche Weisung empfangen hatte über die Dinge, die man noch nicht sah, von Gottesfurcht bewegt eine Arche zur Rettung seines Hauses; durch ihn verurteilte er die Welt und wurde ein Erbe der Gerechtigkeit aufgrund des Glaubens.

 Noah war also in seinem Leben treu, und er reagierte auf die göttliche Warnung mit mehr Glauben. Nachdem er eine Arche gebaut hatte, sahen wir in den Versen 2-6, dass Noah angewiesen wurde, die Arche mit den Tieren zu füllen, die Gott ihm geschickt hatte, und dass er zu diesem Zeitpunkt 600 Jahre alt war. Das war 1656 morgens und die Flut kam in nur 7 Tagen.

II. Noah war ein gehorsamer Mann

7 Da ging Noah samt seinen Söhnen, seiner Frau und den Frauen seiner Söhne in die Arche vor dem Wasser der Sintflut.
8 Von dem reinen Vieh und von dem Vieh, das nicht rein war, und von den Vögeln und von allem, was auf dem Erdboden kriecht,
9 gingen Männchen und Weibchen paarweise zu Noah in die Arche, wie Gott es dem Noah geboten hatte.

Noah gehorchte dem göttlichen Befehl und betrat die Arche. Und mit ihm gingen die Tiere und Vögel und alles, was auf der Erde kriecht. Alles, was auf der Erde kreucht und fleucht, bedeutet nicht, dass Politiker mitgenommen wurden. Vielmehr ist hier von Reptilien die Rede.

10 Und es geschah nach den sieben Tagen, dass die Wasser der Sintflut auf die Erde kamen.
11 Im sechshundertsten Lebensjahr Noahs, am siebzehnten Tag des zweiten Monats, an diesem Tag brachen alle Quellen der großen Tiefe auf, und die Fenster des Himmels öffneten sich.
12 Und es regnete auf der Erde 40 Tage und 40 Nächte lang.
13 An eben diesem Tag war Noah in die Arche gegangen mit Sem, Ham und Japhet, seinen Söhnen, und mit seiner Frau und den drei Frauen seiner Söhne;
14 sie und alle Wildtiere nach ihrer Art und alles Vieh nach seiner Art und alles Gewürm, das auf der Erde kriecht, nach seiner Art, auch alle Vögel nach ihrer Art, jeder gefiederte Vogel.
15 Und sie gingen zu Noah in die Arche, je zwei und zwei, von allem Fleisch, das Lebensodem in sich hatte.
16 Die aber hineingingen, Männchen und Weibchen von allem Fleisch, kamen herbei, wie Gott ihm geboten hatte. Und der Herr schloss hinter ihm zu.

Immer wieder wird in diesen 9 Versen auf Noahs Gehorsam hingewiesen. Noah war ein gehorsamer Mann. Ihm wurde gesagt, er solle die Arche bauen, und er baute sie. Es hatte lange gedauert, viel Mühe gekostet und wahrscheinlich auch viele Beschimpfungen. Ich kann mir die Gespräche am morgendlichen Kaffeetisch gut vorstellen. Aber trotz alledem hat Noah gehorcht.

“Noah, du verrückte Nuss, mit dem ganzen Holz, das du für diese Kiste benutzt hast, hättest du einen Turm zum Himmel bauen können. Jetzt, wo ich es erwähne, wäre das vielleicht mal ein gutes Projekt. Eine Flut!? Noah, du bist ein außergewöhnlicher Verrückter…”

Noah, du bist verrückt, all diese Bäume zu verschwenden.
Und deine Zeit mit diesen verrückten Umständen
Es gibt nicht so etwas wie eine Fahrt auf hoher See
Alles Wasser der Welt wäre nicht genug geschmolzener Schnee

Diese große Kiste auch nur einen Zentimeter zu erheben
Hmmm, was ist das für ein Rumpeln, Noah, was ist das für ein Beben?

Wie ich schon sagte, deine Arbeit ist umsonst
Und diese Tiere werden dich arm fressen bevor du ankommst
Das, was du “Regen” nennst, gibt es nicht.
Aber diese Wolken sehen seltsam aus vor der Tür, komische Sicht

Wie auch immer, Noah, hör auf so ein Narr zu sein
Ich liebe dich, aber du bist eine alte Nuss, alt wie Wein

Von welchem Gericht und welcher Strafe redest du da?
Was ist das für ein “heiliges Leben”, das du mir setzt in Ohr gar?
Nur eine Minute, ich gehe zur Tür, um das Wetter auszuschließen
Die großen alten Wolken kommen langsam näher, solche Riesen.

Wohin gehst du, Noah? Zu der Arche da drüben?
Na, dann viel Spaß und wir sehen uns, später beim Pflügen
Was ist das für ein nasses Zeug, das da aus der Luft kommt?
Das kann nicht das sein, was Noah “Regen” genannt hat – am ganzen Horizont.

Hooo Noah, lass mich in dein Boot
Ich fühle mich hier draußen ganz bedroht
Das Wasser steht mir schon bis zu den Socken
Und ich fürchte, es steigt schnell noch höher zu meinen Locken

Ich kann dir gar nicht sagen, wie wichtig das Konzept des Gehorsams für Gott ist. Gehorsam ist das, was zu Leben, Glück und einer engen und persönlichen Beziehung zu Gott führt. Auf der anderen Seite gibt es den Ungehorsam. Er führt zu Verlust, Traurigkeit, Bestrafung, Tod und Verurteilung.

Das ist die Realität. Wenn wir nicht gehorsam sind, ziehen wir uns das Unglück nur selbst zu. Wenn wir gehorsam sind, dann werden die Dinge, abgesehen von Zeit und Zufall, immer besser laufen.

Wie wichtig ist es, dem Wort Gottes zu gehorchen? Die Bibel ist voll von den Folgen des Ungehorsams. Saul, der erste König Israels, verlor dadurch das Recht auf das Königtum. Und er, seine Söhne und seine Nachkommen starben deswegen. Samuel legte es Saul nach seinem Ungehorsam offen:

Samuel sagte zu Saul: “Freut Jahwe sich mehr über Opfer, die man schlachtet und verbrennt, als daran, dass man ihm gehorcht? Merk dir: Gehorsam ist ihm wichtiger als Opfer, auf ihn zu hören, ist ihm mehr wert als das Fett vieler Schafböcke. Ungehorsam ist für ihn eine Sünde wie die Zauberei, Auflehnung gegen ihn so schlimm wie Götzendienst. Weil du das Wort Jahwes verworfen hast, verwirft er auch dich als König.”
Samuel 15,22+23

Ungehorsam ist Ungerechtigkeit, weil er einen Mangel an Glauben zeigt. Da ist es wieder, dieses Wort. Egal, welche Bibelstelle oder welches Thema wir betrachten, das Wort “Glaube” taucht unweigerlich auf.

Sogar bei den Tieren, die auf die Arche gebracht werden, sehen wir den Glauben. Noah wurde gesagt, er solle von jedem Tier zwei auf die Arche bringen, aber sieben von jedem reinen Tier. Aber die Bibel hat bis zu diesem Punkt nicht gesagt, welche Tiere rein waren und welche nicht.

Dies hat moderne Gelehrte zu der Behauptung veranlasst, dass diese Verse später von den Priestern Israels eingefügt wurden. Aber es gibt überhaupt keinen Grund, zu dieser Schlussfolgerung zu kommen. Hier ist, was ein Kommentar zu sagen hat –

“Denn die Unterscheidung zwischen reinen und unreinen Tieren stammt nicht von Mose, sondern wurde von ihm als eine seit langem bestehende Sitte bestätigt, die mit dem Gesetz in Einklang steht. Sie reichte bis in die frühesten Zeiten zurück und entsprang einem bestimmten angeborenen Gefühl des menschlichen Geistes…”

Da es noch kein göttliches Gebot darüber gab, welche Tiere rein waren, stellt der Kommentar richtig fest, dass der Mensch von Natur aus wusste, was für ein Opfer geeignet war und was nicht. Das mosaische Gesetz war ein direktes Gebot Gottes und baute auf bereits bestehenden Bräuchen auf. Mehr können wir nicht hineininterpretieren.

Es war nun das sechshundertste Jahr von Noahs Leben, und es heißt, dass die Flut im zweiten Monat am siebzehnten Tag des Monats kam. Das wäre im Oktober/November um die Herbsttagundnachtgleiche gewesen.

Während die Welt ihre nächste Ernte einbrachte, bereitete sich Noah auf etwas anderes vor. Während die Welt wahrscheinlich die Ausrichtung der Himmelskörper anbetete, betete Noah den Herrn an. Während die Welt ihre nächste Ernte erwartete, rechnete Noah mit einer Flut.

An jenem Tag brachen alle Quellen der großen Tiefe auf, und die Fenster des Himmels wurden geöffnet. Und es heißt, dass der Regen vierzig Tage und vierzig Nächte auf der Erde war.

Die Welt war wahrscheinlich ein bisschen kleiner als heute. Und die Bibel sagt, dass sie ursprünglich eine große Menge an Wasser in unterirdischen Hohlräumen hatte und auch ein gefrorenes Gewölbe über ihr war. Als diese Dinge aufbrachen, war eine globale Flut die Folge.

Wenn du dir einmal eine geologische Karte der Erde ansiehst, sieht sie aus wie ein Baseball. Früher war das nicht der Fall, aber als die Erde aus den Nähten platzte, zerbrachen die Platten an den Stellen, an denen sich der Wasserdruck aufgebaut hatte. Seitdem haben sich diese Platten weiter bewegt, und der Umfang der Erde hat sich vergrößert.

Das gefrorene Gewölbe wäre ebenfalls unter diesen Druck geraten, und zusammen mit dem Wasser, das in die Atmosphäre geschleudert wurde, ist der vierzig Tage andauernde Regen durchaus plausibel. Die größere Erde und das Fehlen eines Gewölbes über der Erde würden sicherlich viele der Veränderungen erklären, die nach der Flut eingetreten sind.

Noah brach zum größten Seeabenteuer der Welt auf, weil Noah ein gehorsamer Mann war.

III. Noah war ein geduldiger Mann

17 Und die Sintflut war 40 Tage auf der Erde, und die Wasser schwollen an und hoben die Arche hoch, sodass sie über der Erde schwebte.
18 Und die Wasser wurden so gewaltig und nahmen so sehr zu auf der Erde, dass die Arche auf den Wassern dahinfuhr.
19 Ja, die Wasser nahmen so sehr überhand auf der Erde, dass alle hohen Berge unter dem ganzen Himmel bedeckt wurden;
20 die Wasser stiegen noch 15 Ellen höher, nachdem die Berge schon bedeckt waren.
21 Da ging alles Fleisch zugrunde, das sich regte auf der Erde: Vögel, Vieh und wilde Tiere und alles, was wimmelte auf der Erde, samt allen Menschen;
22 und es starb alles, was Lebensodem hatte auf dem trockenen Land.
23 Er vertilgte alles Bestehende auf dem Erdboden, vom Menschen bis zum Vieh, bis zum Gewürm und zu den Vögeln des Himmels — alles wurde von der Erde vertilgt; nur Noah blieb übrig und was mit ihm in der Arche war.
24 Und die Wasser blieben hoch über der Erde, 150 Tage lang.

Ich habe diese Verse bestimmt 50 oder mehr Mal gelesen, und bis ich sie vor dem Tippen dieser Worte erneut las, hatte ich nie über die Menschen nachgedacht, wie sie waren. Es war immer weit weg.

Die Flut kam, um Noah zu retten und die Bösen zu vernichten. Aber es wurde persönlich, als ich über diese Menschen aus der Perspektive der Menschen um mich herum und der Menschen, die ich liebe und die nicht gläubig sind, nachdachte.

Das waren echte Menschen – wahrscheinlich Milliarden von ihnen, genau wie die Menschen, denen wir jeden Tag auf der Straße begegnen. Sie waren wie der alte Freund oder die alte Freundin, mit denen wir früher zusammen waren und an die wir immer noch denken, wenn unsere Gemüter still sind.

Sie waren genau wie die Menschen, die uns bei der Arbeit so lieb sind und die wir in unserer Nachbarschaft sehen. Ich habe Freunde auf der ganzen Welt, die ich auf meinen Reisen kennengelernt habe, und seit dem elektronischen Zeitalter habe ich so viele neue hinzugewonnen. Sie alle sind Menschen, mit echten, schlagenden Herzen, echten Hoffnungen, Wünschen und Bestrebungen. Und jeder Einzelne von ihnen ist entweder in Adam oder in Christus. Das sind die beiden einzigen Möglichkeiten.

Noah war ein geduldiger Mann. Er predigte den Menschen, die er liebte, bis zur Flut. Er tat es durch Worte und er tat es durch sein Handeln. Und auch heute predigt er durch diese Taten den Menschen, die ihm zuhören wollen. Er wartete geduldig auf das Timing des Herrn, und seine Geduld muss mit großer Traurigkeit verbunden gewesen sein.

Wenn ich die Welt ins Verderben stürzen würde, während ich aus diesem Verderben gerettet werde, würde mein Herz für diese Menschen brechen. Ich würde ihnen von Gott erzählen, von Seiner Liebe zur Welt, von einem gerechten Leben und von Seinem Sohn, Jesus Christus. Das ist es, was ich tun würde, wenn die, die ich so sehr liebe, auf dem Weg in die ewige Trennung von Gott und in die Hölle wären.

Moment mal… die Welt ist dem Untergang geweiht, und einige Menschen werden daraus gerettet werden. Und ich bin einer von ihnen. Ich muss anfangen, den Menschen von Gott zu erzählen, von Seiner Liebe für die Welt, von einem gerechten Leben und von Seinem Sohn, Jesus Christus.

Das ist es, was ich tun muss, wenn ich diese Menschen wirklich liebe. Oh Gott, gib mir wieder ein Herz für die Verlorenen. Gib mir den Wunsch zu erzählen, was Du getan hast, indem Du uns durch das Blut Jesu von unseren Sünden befreit hast. Brich mir noch einmal das Herz, o Gott.

Als die Flut kam, musste Noah wieder geduldig sein. Unabhängig davon, ob er die Menschen außerhalb des Bootes hörte oder nicht, wusste er, was geschah, und er musste geduldig den Verlust aller Menschen ertragen, die er kannte – sicherlich viele aus seiner unmittelbaren Familie, Brüder und Schwestern, Onkel und Tanten und Cousins.

Menschen, mit denen er als Kind gespielt hat und Menschen, mit denen er aufgewachsen ist. Wahrscheinlich hat er geduldig gewartet, durch viele schmerzhafte Erinnerungen hindurch. Stell dir unser eigenes Leben und die Menschen vor, die wir geliebt und verloren haben. Wie niedergeschmettert wir damals waren.

Die Schmerzen verblassen, aber die Erinnerungen nicht. Noah dachte wahrscheinlich an die vielen tausend Menschen, die in sein Leben getreten waren – eine Erinnerung nach der anderen, als das Wasser stieg.

Und auch auf dem Meer musste er geduldig sein. Es regnete 40 Tage lang und die Fluten hielten 150 Tage lang an. Die ganze Zeit über mussten er und seine sieben Familienmitglieder in der stillen Einsamkeit inmitten der tobenden Fluten ausharren.

Wir lesen, dass die Wasser sehr groß waren auf der Erde, und alle hohen Berge unter dem ganzen Himmel wurden bedeckt. (20 …die Wasser stiegen noch 15 Ellen höher, nachdem die Berge schon bedeckt waren.)

Es handelte sich nicht um eine lokal begrenzte Flut, wie Skeptiker zu behaupten versuchen. Es handelte sich um eine globale Flut, bei der jeder hohe Hügel und jeder höhere Berg bedeckt und sogar überflutet wurde. Fünfzehn Ellen sind fast 25 Fuß (7,5 m). Selbst der größte der Nephilim, der auf dem Gipfel des höchsten Berges stand, konnte die Wasser, die die Erde überfluteten, nicht überwinden.

Und so starb alles. Hör dir noch einmal die Terminologie der Bibel an:
„Da ging alles zugrunde, was auf der Erde lebte und sich regte: Vögel, Herdenvieh und wilde Tiere und alle Menschen. Alles, was einen Lebenshauch in sich trug und auf dem Festland lebte, ging zugrunde.“

Die Bibel sagt es so, um uns an den Schöpfungsbericht zu erinnern: “Vögel und Vieh und Tiere und alles Gewürm, das auf Erden kriecht, und alle Menschen.” Mit anderen Worten, in Genesis 1 wurden sie alle von Gott geschaffen, und das bedeutet, dass Er jedes Recht hat, mit ihnen zu tun, was Er will. Die Luft in ihren Nasenlöchern, die der Atem des Lebensgeistes ist, wurde von Gott gegeben, und nun wurde sie ihnen weggenommen.

Nur ein perverses und abgetrenntes Herz würde den Schöpfer dafür kritisieren, wie Er mit Seiner eigenen Schöpfung umgeht. Ja, aber wir tun es. Jeder von uns tut das auf die eine oder andere Weise. Unser Freund stirbt, und wir suchen die Schuld bei Ihm. Unser Mann, unsere Frau oder unser Kind erkrankt an einer Krankheit oder hat einen Unfall und wird zum Invaliden, und wir suchen die Schuld bei Ihm. Unser Lieblingstier stirbt, und wir suchen nach Schuld.

Alle Dinge haben ein Ende, und mit der Freude mischen sich auch Trauer und Verlust. Das ist die Welt, in der wir leben, und wir sind aufgefordert, unsere Augen in solchen Momenten zu öffnen und so zu reagieren, dass wir Gottes Souveränität anerkennen.

Nachdem er alles verloren hat, außer seiner nörgelnden Frau, sagt die Bibel,

Da stand Hiob auf, riss sein Obergewand ein und schor sich den Kopf. Dann ließ er sich zur Erde sinken und beugte sich nieder. „Nackt bin ich aus dem Leib meiner Mutter gekommen, / nackt gehe ich wieder dahin. / Jahwe hat gegeben und hat es wieder genommen. / Gelobt sei der Name Jahwes.”
Hiob 1,20-21

Wie Hiob war auch Noah ein geduldiger Mann. Noah wartete, und er wurde mit dem Erbe einer neuen Welt und einem Neuanfang belohnt.

Und das Warten auf den Herrn ist kein Konzept, das es nur bei Noah gibt. Vielmehr ist es etwas, das in der Bibel Dutzende Male und in vielen Zusammenhängen erwähnt wird. Es gibt Beispiele von Menschen, die auf den Herrn warten, und von solchen, die nicht auf den Herrn warten. Du weißt aber, wo die Belohnung liegt.

Vor allem die Psalmen sind voll von Menschen, die auf den Herrn warten – Menschen in Not, Menschen, die Prüfungen durchmachen, Menschen, die von allen Seiten bedrängt werden. Aber das Ende des Wartens liegt immer in den sicheren und liebenden Armen des Herrn. Im 27. Psalm sagt David, dass es keinen anderen Ort wie diese Arme gibt –

Ich hätte den Mut verloren, wenn ich nicht geglaubt hätte
dass ich die Güte des HERRN sehen würde
im Land der Lebenden.
Warte auf den HERRN;
Sei guten Mutes!
und er wird dein Herz stärken;
Warte auf den HERRN, sage ich!
Psalm 27:13, 14

Und der Prophet Jeremia wartet nicht einfach auf den Herrn, als sei er eine Art kosmischer Süßigkeitenspender, wie so viele erwarten. Stattdessen verweist er darauf, dass er der Schöpfer und Erhalter ist. Es ist dieser liebende Gott, zu dem Jeremia aufruft –

Gibt es unter den Götzen der Völker welche, die Regen verursachen können?
Oder kann der Himmel selbst Schauer geben?
Bist du es nicht, HERR, unser Gott?
Darum wollen wir auf Dich warten,
denn du hast sie alle gemacht.
Jeremia 14:22

Und im Neuen Testament gibt es die ruhige Gewissheit, dass Jesus kommen wird, um die Dinge in Ordnung zu bringen, und zwar in einem der wenigen wirklich prophetischen Verse des Neuen Testaments außerhalb der Evangelien und der Offenbarung –

Haltet also geduldig aus, liebe Geschwister. Wartet auf das Wiederkommen des Herrn. Seht, wie der Bauer auf die köstliche Frucht der Erde wartet und sich ihretwegen geduldet, bis sie den Herbst- und Frühjahrsregen bekommt! So habt auch ihr Geduld und fasst Mut, denn das Kommen des Herrn steht bevor.
Jakobus 5,7-8

Jakobus fordert uns auf, geduldig zu sein und auf das Kommen des Herrn zu warten, und dann zitiert er den Bauern, der geduldig auf den ersten und letzten Regen wartet. Israel hat in den letzten 2000 Jahren den Spätregen vermisst. Als die Römer in das Land eindrangen, es zerstörten und das Volk vertrieben, fällten sie alle Bäume für ihre Belagerungswerke.

Dadurch veränderte sich das jahreszeitliche Klima, so dass der Regenzyklus zum Stillstand kam. Aber seit der Rückkehr Israels in sein Land haben sie Millionen von Bäumen gepflanzt und sowohl den Früh- als auch den Spätregen zurückgebracht. Jakobus sagt, dass dies die Zeit ist, unsere Herzen zu festigen, denn die Ankunft des Herrn ist nahe.

Noah war ein gerechter Mann, ein gehorsamer Mann und ein geduldiger Mann, aber die Bibel sagt, dass er die Verheißung, auf die er wartete, noch nicht erhalten hat. Der Hebräerbrief sagt uns das. Dort sehen wir, dass er und die anderen Heiligen der alten Zeit…

All diese Menschen haben Gott bis zu ihrem Tod vertraut, obwohl sie noch nicht erhielten, was er ihnen zugesagt hatte. Doch sie sahen es von fern und freuten sich darauf und gaben zu, hier auf der Erde nur Gäste und Fremde zu sein. So machten sie klar, dass sie noch auf der Suche nach einer Heimat waren. Hätten sie dabei an das Land gedacht, aus dem sie gekommen waren, hätten sie genügend Zeit gehabt, dorthin zurückzukehren. Aber sie suchten nach etwas Besserem, einer Heimat im Himmel. Deshalb schämt Gott sich auch nicht, ihr Gott genannt zu werden, denn er hat ihnen eine Stadt im Himmel gebaut.
Hebräer 11, 13-16

Für das Volk Gottes ist eine Stadt vorbereitet worden. Schau dir die Welt mit all ihrer Schönheit an. Sieh dir die Pracht des Universums an und die Herrlichkeit dessen, was Gott getan hat. Sechs Tage. Er hat das alles in nur sechs Tagen getan. Als Jesus uns vor 2000 Jahren verließ, sagte er dies zu den Aposteln.

Im Haus meines Vaters gibt es viele Wohnungen. Wenn es nicht so wäre, dann hätte ich es euch gesagt. Ich gehe jetzt voraus, um einen Platz für euch vorzubereiten. Und wenn ich dann alles vorbereitet habe, komme ich zurück und werde euch zu mir holen, damit auch ihr da seid, wo ich bin.
Johannes 14,2-3

Gott hat das alles in sechs Tagen gemacht. Jesus hat 2000 Jahre lang ein Haus mit vielen Wohnungen vorbereitet. Stell dir nur vor, was er für uns aufgebaut hat.

Und wie erhalten wir unsere Wohnung. Er sagt uns im selben Buch, dem Johannesevangelium, im selben Kapitel –

Den Weg dorthin kennt ihr ja.” “Herr”, sagte Thomas, “wir wissen nicht einmal, wo du hingehst. Wie sollen wir da den Weg kennen?” “Ich bin der Weg!”, antwortete Jesus. “Ich bin die Wahrheit und das Leben! Zum Vater kommt man nur durch mich.“
Johannes 14,4-6

Noahs Flut

Noah, geh in die Arche, du und dein ganzes Haus hier
Denn ich habe gesehen, dass ihr rechtschaffen seid vor mir
Die Wasser kommen und die Arche wird euch beschützen
Und ich werde an euch denken, auf den großen Pfützen

Du bist rechtschaffen in dieser bösen Generation
Von allen Menschen auf der Erde bist du der Einzige wert den Lohn
Aber du, Noah, bist keine Anomalie, kein Hohn
Du und die Arche verkörpern sogar meinen eigenen Sohn

Bringt die Tiere, bringt sie zu zweit herein
Außer den reinen Tieren, von denen es sieben sollen sein
Ich werden die Arten am Leben erhalten, auf dem Boot darinnen
Mit dem Inhalt der Arche wird eine ganz neue Zeit beginnen

Noch sieben Tage, und die Flut wird über die Erde kommen
Und allem, was draußen lebt, wird das Leben genommen
Im Moment lachen sie und machen fröhliche Laute
Aber in nur einer Woche ihr Stolz ergraute

Noah war 600 Jahre alt, als der Regen schließlich kam
Seine Frau, seine Söhne und Schwiegertöchter er mit sich nahm
Und seit 4000 Jahren erinnern wir uns an seinen Namen
Denn Gott sah in Noah Rechtschaffenheit, rettete ihn und seinen Samen

Am 17. des zweiten Monats waren die Wasser auf der Erde
Die Quellen der großen Tiefe brachen auseinander wie eine Herde
Die Fenster des Himmels öffneten sich und beendeten alle Freude dann
Das ist der Tag, an dem Gottes großes Gericht seinen Anfang nahm

40 Tage und 40 Nächte lang regnete es weiter, voll satte,
aber nicht, bis der Herr die Tür der Arche geschlossen hatte.
Nur weil Noah den Namen des Herrn anrief zu seiner Zeit,
waren er und seine Sippe vor dem sintflutartigen Regen in Sicherheit

Alles, was Atem in den Nasenlöchern hatte, starb – kein Entrinnen
Und der kostbare Funke des Lebens erlosch aus ihnen
Ich bin sicher, dass Noah in der Arche oft traurig seufzte
Als er mit seinen Kindern und seiner Frau das Stroh aufhäufte

150 Tage lang das Wasser über die Erde schleckt
Und selbst die höchsten Berge wurden vom Wasser bedeckt
Bis zu 15 Ellen waren sie versteckt und verborgen
Wenn man Seinem Gericht keine Beachtung schenkt und keine Sorgen

Es gibt eine wahre Arche, nach dem Bild von Noahs Boot
Es ist die Sicherheit von Jesus, unserem wundervollen Herrn, in jeder Not
Vertraue auf Ihn, Seine Sicherheit wird niemals schwinden
Er wird dich beschützen und alles mit dir überwinden.

Oh, ich liebe Dich, Herr Jesus, Du rettest einen wie mich
Mit gedemütigtem Herzen und auf Knien komme ich vor Dich
Benutze mich, bitte, als ein Werkzeug in Deinem sich entfaltenden Plan
Die Liebe Gottes der Erlösung des Menschen bricht Bahn

Halleluja und Amen.

Nächste Woche lesen wir Genesis 8,1-19 – Dann erinnerte sich Gott an Noah.
Nehmt euch Zeit, diese Verse zu lesen, bevor wir uns wieder treffen.

Deuteronomy 28:52-61 (The Blessings and the Curses, Part VI)

Deuteronomy 28:52-61
(The Blessings and the Curses, Part VI)

In our first verse today, a word, batakh, will be introduced. As will be explained again when we get there, it means “to trust.” It is used in the psalms more than 45 times, almost always in connection with trusting in the Lord.

There are things we can trust in, and there are things that we are admonished to not put our trust in. The verses today contain some of the most horrifying words in all of Scripture. That is for certain.

To keep them in context with the people to whom they are directed, I will say, without giving too much personal information, that I have been to several Jewish funerals. Some friends, some family of friends.

At one of them, the rabbi who was doing the ceremony talked about his people and the struggles they had gone through. He even mentioned Leviticus 26 which is the parallel passage to Deuteronomy 28. There, it is in the first person. The Lord says, “I will do this,” and “I will do that.”

On the other hand, here in Deuteronomy 28, it is in the third person. Moses says, “the Lord will do this,” and “the Lord will do that.” Either way, they are words that are so obviously fulfilled in the history of the Jewish people that they simply cannot be dismissed. And yet, this is exactly what the rabbi did when he mentioned the plagues the Lord promised to come upon the people.

It was as if, “This great book established us, and it is our rule and guide for life, but the bad parts do not – no they cannot – apply to us.” I was shocked, but not surprised. We see it in churches all the time. Let us get out our Exacto knife and cut out the things we don’t like. It is not wise, nor is it helpful.

Who are we going to trust concerning the word, concerning the Lord, concerning our theology, and our doctrine? If God is competent, and he made trees so He is, then we should expect that He will get us a word that is suitable for the edification of all people, if they will simply check it out.

Text Verse: “O Israel, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.” Psalm 115:9-11

One thing that doesn’t matter is “many.” Too often, we look at “many” and we use that as our guide for making decisions. There are many people on the earth and so there must be many acceptable ways to express ourselves toward God.

There are many cultures on the earth and so there are many ways that people groups can express themselves toward God.

There are many religions, and so there must be many ways to have a relationship with God.

There are many denominations, and so it must be ok to worship God in any of them.

And so on.

The problem with that is that there is only one God. We don’t set the rules, He does. That should be obvious on the surface. But it eludes most people, and it is a tragic flaw in our thinking. Once we can accept that God is God and that He sets the rules – and only then – can we then work to find out “how” He expects us to live.

If there is one God and He has actually only given one way for many to relate to Him, we need to find out what that way is. Is it Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, or what? Does He care at all? It is certainly worth finding out.

Does walking into a shopping mall and pulling a detonator cord, blowing yourself and all the people around you up, please God? Does that, as some are told, guarantee you a place in paradise?

If the Bible is God’s word, and if we think dismissing parts of it are ok, then we only need to look at Israel. The tragic story is of a nation that has, and continues to receive, exactly what it bargained for. God has given an example for the whole wide world to discover exactly what He expects and what happens when those expectations aren’t met.

Wonderful, blessed, and great things, along with tragic, terrible, and extraordinary things are to be found in His superior word. And so, let us turn to that precious word once again and… May God speak to us through His word today and may His glorious name ever be praised.

I. The Siege and Desperate Straits (verses 52-57)

52 “They shall besiege you at all your gates

v’hetsar lekha b’kal shearekha – “and he shall besiege to you in all your gates.” As was noted in the verses last week, from verse 49, it speaks of a nation whom the Lord will bring against Israel. In referring to the actions of that nation, the words are in the singular, speaking of it as a united entity.

That continues now – “He shall besiege you,” rather than “They shall be besiege you.” Understanding this, it will be…

52 (con’t) until your high and fortified walls,

The words are prefixed by articles for effect. It says, “until come down your walls, the high and the fortified.” Obviously, one builds walls for protection.

To build them high is intended to make getting over them more difficult, and to give greater advantage to those inside when those outsides are trying to scale them. And more, from a higher elevation, there is an advantage for archers and the like over troops mustered below.

To fortify them obviously is intended to make breeching them more difficult. Having such notable defenses would lead to a feeling of security for those within. The walls are those things…

52 (con’t) in which you trust,

With such strong fortifications, the inhabitants would feel secure. But to trust in such things while failing to trust the Lord can only lead to futility. To highlight this, a new word is introduced, batakh. It gives the sense of being bold, confident, placing one’s hope, and so on.

Where is one’s confidence? In 2 Kings 18 alone, the word is used eight times. The chapter refers to Hezekiah. Of him, it first says in verse 5 –

“He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.”

In verses 9-12, it notes the besieging of Samaria by Shalmaneser, king of Assyria. The city was taken, and the inhabitants were taken into exile “because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God.” They had failed to put their trust in Him.

After that, starting in verse 13, it refers to the warfare of the cities of Judah by Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Then, from verse 17, it details the coming siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib. Until the end of the chapter, the word batakh is used seven more times in relation to where Hezekiah placed his trust, meaning in the Lord.

After that, the word is used again in Chapter 19 as the account of the siege continues. Despite the overwhelming force that stood outside threatening the city, Hezekiah refused to surrender, but continued to trust (batakh) in the Lord God. Because of this, the account of the siege concludes with these words –

“And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh.” 2 Kings 19:35, 36

Here in Deuteronomy, Moses is laying down the law. Where will the people place their trust? Will it be in the Lord, following Him and being obedient to His law, or will it be in the walls of their cities, the work of their own hands? If that is their hope, he says that such strong fortifications will…

52 (con’t) come down throughout all your land;

If an army is prepared to besiege a city long enough, even the highest and strongest walls will not be able to endure forever. A city is comprised of people and people need food. Eventually, even the greatest and most protected city will run out of it.

In such a state, the soldiers within would be so famished that they would be unable to fend off those scaling the walls or the sappers beneath the walls. In this, the walls which had been the inhabitants greatest trust will come down. One city after another would fall to the foe. But more…

52 (con’t) and they shall besiege you at all your gates

v’hetsar lekha b’kal shearekha – “and he shall besiege to you in all your gates.” Moses returns to the thought of the besieging of the gates of the first clause, exactly repeating those words again. Why would he do this? It is to set a contrast to what was said and what will next be said, which is…

52 (con’t) throughout all your land which the Lord your God has given you.

Notice the difference between the two thoughts –

*at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust
*at all your gates throughout all your land which the Lord your God has given you

Where is your trust? There are gates and there are gates. There are walls and there are walls. Some are built by man, and some are of the Lord. The contrast to where Israel will place its trust, to its own destruction, and where the Lord Jesus placed His trust, to His own victory, is absolute.

In the 22nd Psalm, a messianic psalm, the word batakh, or trust, is used three times. Twice it speaks of the trust of the fathers in the Lord –

“But You are holy,
Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
Our fathers trusted in You;
They trusted, and You delivered them.
They cried to You, and were delivered;
They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.” Psalm 22:3-5

The third time, it speaks of the faith of the Lord’s Messiah in the Lord –

“But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother’s womb
You have been My God.” Psalm 22:9, 10

Christ placed His trust in the Lord, even from infancy. The Lord is the Gate of trust –

“Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them,
And I will praise the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord,
Through which the righteous shall enter.” Psalm 118:19, 20

And the Lord is a Wall for those who trust Him –

“‘For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” Zechariah 2:5

Moses’ implied question for Israel is, “Where will you place your trust?” Israel failed and was punished and exiled. The Lord Jesus never swerved in His trust of the Lord His God. He prevailed where Israel failed. Because of their failures, Moses says…

53 You shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and your daughters

The words here, as tragic as they are, were given by Moses in advance. Therefore, when such events were to take place, and they did – in fact – take place, the people could go to his words and say, “This is our fault.” The “fruit of your own body” is explained by the words, “the flesh of your sons and your daughters.”

What is as horrifying as the act itself is the fact that before the act, the child would first have to be killed. And this is what the record of Israel details –

“Then, as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, ‘Help, my lord, O king!’
27 And he said, ‘If the Lord does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?’ 28 Then the king said to her, ‘What is troubling you?’
And she answered, ‘This woman said to me, “Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.” 29 So we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, “Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.”’” 2 Kings 6:26-29

This also is recorded as occurring in Judah –

“The hands of the compassionate women
Have cooked their own children;
They became food for them
In the destruction of the daughter of my people.” Lamentations 4:10

These and other such examples are given right in Scripture as fulfillment of the words of Moses now. Israel was told that they would eat their own children…

53 (con’t) whom the Lord your God has given you,

In the Bible, having children is considered a blessing from the Lord. However, in rejecting the Lord and shunning His law, the blessing of children would turn into a curse of horror. The unthinkable would become reality…

53 (con’t) in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you.

b’matsor u-b’matsoq asher yatsiq lekha oyevekha – “in siege and in desperate straights which shall distress to you your enemy.” The words are filled with horror – enemies without, complete lack within, and a state of total distress because of the siege of the enemy.

Moses introduces two new words. The first is tsuq. It is a verb signifying distress, being brought into dire straits, and so on. From that comes the other noun, matsoq, meaning dire straits, anguish, and so on. Moses says that the Lord will distress Israel in the sieges and straits that He brings upon the people.

It is in this terrible state that they would do the horrifying thing of eating their own children. This is not only recorded in the Bible, but it is also recorded concerning the siege of Jerusalem by Josephus. Joseph Benson says the following –

“This prediction was repeatedly fulfilled, especially when Vespasian and his son Titus begirt Jerusalem so closely that the besieged were reduced to a most grievous famine, which forced them, after they had eaten up their horses and other creatures, to eat even their own children, whom parents, who had used to live delicately, Moses here foretels, should themselves eat up privately, and let none share with them.” Joseph Benson

What Benson is referring to continues to be explained by Moses in the next words…

54 The sensitive and very refined man among you 

Moses uses two words to describe the man of this verse. The first is rak, or “sensitive.” It signifies tender, delicate, soft and the like. The second word is new and rare, anog. It is used only here, in verse 56, and in Isaiah 47:1. It speaks of that which is luxurious or delicate. He then modifies it with the word meod, or very.

The person being described is the kindest and most gentle sort of man. In normal circumstances, he would reach out to help anyone, and he would never dare to be rude or unkind. And yet, in the straits that Moses speaks of, he…

54 (con’t) will be hostile toward his brother, toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the rest of his children whom he leaves behind,

The words translated as “will be hostile” are literally “will be evil his eye.” In his own anguish, he will look at his brother, his beloved wife, and even his own children with contempt and disdain rather than compassion.

In saying “the rest of his children,” it means that he has taken one to eat. In saying “whom he leaves behind,” it is speaking of the other children. More correctly, it reads, “the rest of his children who remain.” One is taken, the others are not, but he will not give a bite of the meal he is preparing to anyone else.

In the siege of Jerusalem Josephus records –

“…in every house where there was any appearance of food (or anything that looked like it, that had the shadow of it) there was a battle; and the dearest friends fought with one another, snatching away from each other, the miserable supports of life.”

That is just what Moses says of this refined man now. He will take one of his own children and look at those around him with an evil eye…

55 so that he will not give any of them the flesh of his children whom he will eat,

The obvious thought that comes to mind is that his child is already skin and bones. To his demented mind, killing him would be an act of mercy at this point. But because he is nothing but skin and bones, to share him wouldn’t leave enough even for himself. This is all there is, and it isn’t much…

55 (con’t) because he has nothing left in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates.

Moses repeats the same words as in verse 53, thus forming its own stress on the state of things – “in siege and in desperate straits which shall distress to you your enemy.” Along with that, he adds in the words from verse 52, b’kal shearekha – “in all your gates.”

It isn’t just a city that is besieged so that the residents of other cities could come and help. Rather, there is no help for anyone because invaders have come upon the whole land. None will be spared. No food will be smuggled in. No friendly armies will launch counterattacks.

In this terrible state, the unthinkable for this man has become reality. The horror and the revolting nature of the meal is all he can think of. But the man is not alone…

56 The tender and delicate woman among you,

Moses uses the same two words he just used to describe the man to describe now this woman, rak and anog. She is “tender” and “delicate.” She is a woman of culture, she is refined, she is dainty. However you would describe the mildest and sweetest woman, this is who Moses now refers to. She is so cultured that she is one…

56 (con’t) who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground

The word translated as “venture” is nasah. It signifies to test or prove a matter. She is so delicate and soft that she wouldn’t attempt to tread barefooted. Moses also uses the word arets (land) instead of adamah (ground).

Though they are almost synonymous, and are both translated as earth, land, and ground, it appears that he may have chosen arets to speak of any terrain – be it soft grass, the shores of the water, or anywhere else. She would never even attempt it…

56 (con’t) because of her delicateness and sensitivity,

Again, Moses repeats the word anog (delicate) and then he uses the noun form of rak, a word found only here in the Bible, rok, or “tenderness.” The repetition is once again a way of highlighting what is said. Such a completely polished and refined woman…

56 (con’t) will refuse to the husband of her bosom, and to her son and her daughter,

Again, like the description of the sensitive and refined man, Moses says that this sensitive and refined woman would have an evil eye toward her beloved husband and also toward her own children. The idea here is that of the strongest of possible bonds.

In saying “wife of his bosom,” or “husband of her bosom,” it is speaking of someone so close that the two are as close to one another as if they are one. And as the children have issued from them, they are one in the same stock. No human relationships could be any closer. And yet, for this once refine and tender woman, she will refuse them…

57 her placenta which comes out from between her feet

This is a word found only here in the Bible, shilyah. Some translations say “her young,” but this is unlikely. It is more likely referring to afterbirth. The word comes from shalah meaning to extract.

The woman is at the time of birth, and so she has withdrawn herself from being near anyone else in order that she will be alone to consume what passes from her. But knowing that the placenta would only lightly satisfy her, she plots to also add to it…

57 (con’t) and her children whom she bears;

The use of the plural, children, certainly means one, twins, or triplets. Her affection for the child or children to be born would be completely lacking. In her deranged thinking, she probably thought it a just and fair trade. “My body has been the vessel to produce the child, now the child will be the means of sustaining my body.

Such is the nature of the horror of being besieged and there being nothing left to eat. And so, to bear a child would be to set forth a meal…

57 (con’t) for she will eat them secretly for lack of everything

ki tokelem b’khoser kol ba’sather – “for she will eat them [plural – probably meaning the afterbirth and the child] in lack all, in the secret.” The words of Moses are so direct, so personal, and so horrifying that surely none could believe they were possible. Who could even imagine it?

But in abandoning the Lord, there would be a time of dread that those who have never faced such a thing could not even think possible. And yet, he says that it would come…

57 (con’t) in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates.

The NKJV translators lazily copied the translation from verse 55 and restated it here. However, here it only says, “in your gates,” not “in all your gates” as it said in verse 55. Such lack of attention to detail is unacceptable for a translation committee.

Despite that, for the third time in a row, Moses returns to the same general words as were used in verses 53 and 55 – “in siege and in desperate straits which shall distress to you your enemy in your gates.” Thus, he is forming a very heavy stress on the state of what it will be like when the Lord turns His favor away from Israel.

As already seen, this came to pass in various degrees in 2 Kings 6 and in Lamentations 4. This is also noted in Ezekiel 5. Moses had warned, the law was given, and Israel shunned both the Lord and His word. Because of this, the prophet confirmed what lay ahead –

“Thus says the Lord God: ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her. She has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that are all around her; for they have refused My judgments, and they have not walked in My statutes.’ Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around you, have not walked in My statutes nor kept My judgments, nor even done according to the judgments of the nations that are all around you’— therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Indeed I, even I, am against you and will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations. And I will do among you what I have never done, and the like of which I will never do again, because of all your abominations. 10 Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments among you, and all of you who remain I will scatter to all the winds.” Ezekiel 5:5-10

Ezekiel was referring to the tragedy that would come upon the people in the first exile, which had already begun. Eventually, the city was destroyed as prophesied, including the resulting horrors he conveyed to the people.

However, in failing to heed after that, the same tragedy came upon them again as recorded by Josephus and as relayed on Wikipedia. It is a story that occurred during the Roman siege that so closely matches Moses’ words that it can be considered nothing but a fulfillment of these verses here in Deuteronomy –

“Josephus relates that there was a Mary, daughter of Eleazar originally from the village of Bethezuba in the district of Perea, east of the Jordan River, who had previously fled to Jerusalem. Distinguished in family and fortune, her property, treasures and food had been plundered by the Jewish defenders of the city during the siege. Famine was “eating her heart out, and rage consuming her still faster”. Maddened by hunger she took the infant at her breast and said to him: ‘Poor little mite! In war, famine, and civil strife why should I keep you alive? With the Romans there is only slavery and that only if alive when they come; but famine is forestalling slavery, and the partisans are crueler than either. Come you must be food for me, to the partisans an avenging spirit, and to the world a tale, the only thing left to fill up the measure of Jewish misery.’ And in ‘defiance to all natural feeling’ she killed her son, then roasted him and ate one half, hiding the rest.
Almost immediately the rebels appeared (‘sniffing the unholy smell’) and threatened to kill her on the spot unless she revealed what she had prepared. As she uncovered what was left of the child she offered them a share. They left her in horror and the ‘entire city could not stop thinking of this crime and abomination.’ When the news reached the Romans, ‘some refused to believe, some were distressed but on most the effect was to add enormously to their detestation’ of the enemy at hand. Titus disclaimed all responsibility as he had repeatedly offered peace and amnesty for surrender.”

Though not in the Bible itself, and though Josephus – at times – contradicts or misunderstands some of the things found in Scripture, his eyewitness writings of the time in which he lived serve as a witness to what occurred in Israel after their rejection of Christ Jesus.

On the one hand, there is disobedience leading to the horror spoken of in these verses concerning the offspring of the people. On the other hand, there is the note of the blessing for Christ who perfectly obeyed the will of His Father by accomplishing everything set forth for Him to do –

“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:
‘I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.’

13 And again:
‘I will put My trust in Him.’
And again:
‘Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.’
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 2:10-18

Instead of those in Israel rejecting brother, wife, or offspring, and consuming their own children, Christ was willing to come to save His brethren, die for His bride (Ephesians 5:25), and to suffer for the children God has given Him. The contrast between the two is complete.

As for Israel, it has been a heavy burden laid upon them, but the law came by their own agreement to be under it, and it came with advanced warnings of what it meant to reject what it says. Moses will again confirm this thought in the next verse…

He was so gentle and such a loving soul
He never harmed a thing in his whole wife
But something has come over him that he cannot control
And it has separated any love he had, even for his wife

She was the epitome of tenderness and sensitivity
Never did she dare to put the sole of her foot to the ground
But she has destroyed her own child in the siege of the city
And has hidden his body to eat when none are around

How could such a thing happen? It is a world full of woe
There is only horror and disaster to be found
Where will it end? No one can know
But look at what has happened with the terror all around 

Oh God, may our trust be in You alone
You are our God, our only Helping Stone

II. Until You Are Destroyed (verses 58-61)

58 “If you do not carefully observe

This is somewhat of a paraphrase. The words are more precise, saying, “If not you keep to do.” There is the keeping and the doing as has been mentioned in earlier sermons. One can keep and not do, and one can do without keeping. But what is expected is that the people will both keep and also do…

58 (con’t) all the words of this law that are written in this book,

The English gives the sense for us to understand, but in the original Moses is very specific, leaving out any possibility of ambiguity – “all words, the law the this, these written in the book the this.” One can only see that absolute perfect adherence to what is stated is the expectation.

For Israel, there was the sacrificial system for failure to meet this perfect standard, but the intent is not to fail and then seek forgiveness. It is, instead, to perform and not need to seek it. In keeping and doing, there is a demonstration of the attitude of the people…

58 (con’t) that you may fear

The words, “that you may fear” are not correct. Rather, it says “to fear.” Using “that” implies one clause gives the purpose for the other. Rather the second clause explains the first. In observing and doing, the people are showing reverential fear.

Taken together, it says, “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, to fear…

58 (con’t) this glorious and awesome name,

ha’shem ha’nikbad v’ha’nora – “the Name, the heavying, and the feared.” The verb kavad means heavy, weighty, or abounding with. Thus, “the glorying” is a good way to understand the meaning. The word nora is a verb meaning to fear. Being prefixed by the article, it thus means “the feared,” and so “the awestriking” may get the point across as well. And that superlative name is…

58 (con’t) THE LORD YOUR GOD,

YEHOVAH ELOHEKHA – YEHOVAH YOUR GOD. It is a term used many times in Deuteronomy when speaking of the Lord in general, but because of how Moses has preceded it with the previous clause that is filled with superlatives, the full cap title is a sweet touch to offset the words.

By stating it the way he has, it appears that Moses has shown that the name Yehovah that was explained to him at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14 (I AM THAT I AM), is now more fully developed to Israel. It is not just that He is “Yehovah, who is your God,” but that he is “YEHOVAH YOUR GOD.”

The name, and the people to whom the name has been presented, are united in a new revelation of Himself. God is progressively revealing who He is and what His relationship with Israel is. Therefore, if they fail to keep and to do the words of the law and to fear the Name, the heavying, and the feared (YEHOVAH YOUR GOD) …

59 then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues

The nature of the plagues is stated first – “And will make extraordinary, Yehovah, your plagues and plagues your descendants.” Also, the word “plagues” is the same word that was used to describe the beating a person was to receive for violating the law – up to forty stripes – seen in Deuteronomy 25:3.

Therefore, this is certainly more than just plagues of pestilence, but plagues, hazards, social afflictions against the people, and dare we even say of events such as the pogroms and the holocaust. It is the stripes of punishment for rejecting the law and the Lord from whom the law came. These will be…

59 (con’t) —great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses.

This seems to show that the idea of “stripes” is more suited. There are both great and prolonged stripes and great and prolonged sicknesses. The two work hand in hand. In being afflicted, such as when the Jews were all clustered into the ghettos (a stripe), the sicknesses would then accompany the stripes.

60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt,

Here, the word “disease” is singular. It reads, “And he will return in you every infirmity Egypt.” The word translated as “disease” is used now for the second and last time, madveh.” In both Deuteronomy 7:15 and here, it is referring to disease found in Egypt.

It comes from a word signifying infirmity and it was something that they should have forever left behind, but the Lord promises to bring them back upon the people when they fail to heed. These may or may not be the diseases that afflicted the Egyptians during the plagues upon Egypt. The reason is that a different word is used when describing those in Exodus 15 –

“There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said, ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.’” Exodus 15:25, 26

Either way, whether those particular plagues, or whether it was general diseases that were found in Egypt that the Israelites personally experienced, of them, he specifically notes…

60 (con’t) of which you were afraid,

The words are more personal, “which you were afraid of their presence.” In other words, like AIDS or some other debilitating disease that people are fearful of even being around, they shall return to the people of Israel, but more…

60 (con’t) and they shall cling to you.

They will reappear among the people and there will be no way to shake them off. Where one person goes, it will follow. And when it does, it will cling to whoever is near him, sticking like glue. But more than these, the Lord promises extra that the people had not even considered…

61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law,

Here again, Moses uses the same word translated elsewhere as “stripe” that he used in verse 59, “Also, every sickness and every stripe, which is not written in this Book of the Law.”

Things that would be completely unknown, more terrible, more enduring, more terrifying, and so on – all of these would come upon Israel for their failure to heed. All of these and more…

*61 (fin) will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed.

This is the sixth of seven times that Moses uses the word shamad, or “destroy” in this chapter. As we have already seen, it means just that, to destroy, bring to naught, perish, and so on. However, it does not have to be taken in its absolute sense.

Moses knows that Israel will be destroyed. They will be so crushed that there appears to be no hope for them at all. And yet, he knows that the Lord has promised to preserve them through their destruction and to never utterly annihilate them. But that will not ease the pains they are sure to face while they are facing them.

In Jeremiah 6, the prophet uses the same two words that Moses now uses (sickness and stripe) to describe what had befallen the people as an attempted corrective measure –

“For thus says the LORD of hosts:
‘Cut down her trees;
cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem.
This is the city that must be punished;
there is nothing but oppression within her.
7As a well keeps its water fresh,
so she keeps fresh her evil;
violence and destruction are heard within her;
sickness and wounds are ever before me.
8 Be warned, O Jerusalem,
lest I turn from you in disgust,
lest I make you a desolation,
an uninhabited land.’”

Jeremiah probably read the words after penning them and said, “Yes, the Lord is true to His word.” He may have wondered what the end of it all would be. But it wasn’t for him to know. He simply wrote what the Spirit inspired, and he waited to see where things would head.

To this day, people in Israel still don’t know where things will go, because – for the most part – the are wholly ignorant of His word. And of those who have studied it, almost none of them have done so with the thought of Christ Jesus being the One to whom the words point.

Think of that rabbi I mentioned at the beginning of our word today. There he is, telling his people about how unreliable the word is, when it told – in the minutest detail – exactly what would come to pass. But unless one wants to admit that he is (or his people are) in the wrong, there will be no understanding.

Let us not make this error. God is God and we must let Him be so in our lives. Think clearly, think soberly, and think about Israel. If nothing else on this planet explains what is right and what is not concerning who God is (and there many things that do), Israel surely does.

We cannot ignore this word, which tells us of such things, and go unscathed. And the fact is that above all else, this word tells us of Jesus. Therefore, to reject what it says about Him is to find only condemnation.

Pay heed to the word, accept it as it is given (and in its proper context), and you will do well. Of this, I am absolutely certain. If you do not, things will not go well. And of this, I am absolutely certain. Come to Christ and find God’s favor. Amen.

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

Next Week: Deuteronomy 28:62-68 Some will find hell by ignoring these verses, and yet they think they will find heaven… (The Blessings and the Curses, Part VII) (83rd Deuteronomy Sermon)

The Lord has you exactly where He wants you. He has a good plan and purpose for you. But He also has expectations of you as He prepares you for entrance into His Land of Promise. So, follow Him and trust Him and He will do marvelous things for you and through you.

The Blessings and the Curses, Part VI

“They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and
———-fortified walls
Those in which you trust
Come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you
———-at all your gates
Throughout all your land which the LORD your God has given you
———–as is right and just

You shall eat the fruit of your own body
The flesh of your sons and your daughters – yes, this is true
Whom the LORD your God has given you
In the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy
———-shall distress you

The sensitive and very refined man among you
Will be hostile toward his brother, acting so unkind
Toward the wife of his bosom
And toward the rest of his children whom he leaves behind

So that he will not give any of them the flesh; their meat
Of his children whom he will eat

Because he has nothing left in the siege and desperate straits
In which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates

The tender and delicate woman among you
Who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground
Because of her delicateness and sensitivity
Will refuse to the husband of her bosom, and to her son
———-and her daughter, if they be found

Her placenta which comes out from between her feet
And her children whom she bears, so she will them treat

For she will eat them secretly for lack of everything
———-in the siege and desperate straits
In which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates

“If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law
That are written in this book by which you should be awed
That you may fear this glorious and awesome name
THE LORD YOUR GOD

Then the LORD will bring upon you and your descendants
Extraordinary plagues; a vile mess
Great and prolonged plagues—
And serious and prolonged sicknesses

Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt
Of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you
———-they shall from you not be stripped

Also every sickness and every plague
Which is not written in this Book of the Law
Will the LORD bring upon you until you are destroyed
Because you did not show Him respect and awe

Lord God, turn our hearts to be obedient to Your word
Give us wisdom to be ever faithful to You
May we carefully heed each thing we have heard
Yes, Lord God may our hearts be faithful and true

And we shall be content and satisfied in You alone
We will follow You as we sing our songs of praise
Hallelujah to You; to us Your path You have shown
Hallelujah we shall sing to You for all of our days

Hallelujah and Amen…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

52 “They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you at all your gates throughout all your land which the Lord your God has given you. 53 You shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and your daughters whom the Lord your God has given you, in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you. 54 The sensitive and very refined man among you will be hostile toward his brother, toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the rest of his children whom he leaves behind, 55 so that he will not give any of them the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates. 56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and sensitivity, will refuse to the husband of her bosom, and to her son and her daughter, 57 her placenta which comes out from between her feet and her children whom she bears; for she will eat them secretly for lack of everything in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates.

58 “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, 59 then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses. 60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed.