Tag: God

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ChatGPT: God, Yeshua, Creation 

https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

From my first session with ChatGPT   

LJ: What was Jesus’ real name? 

ChatGPT: Jesus’ real name was Yeshua, which is a Hebrew name that means “salvation” or “to rescue.” Yeshua is also sometimes transliterated as “Joshua” in English. 

In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, Jesus is referred to by a number of different names and titles, including Jesus of Nazareth, Christ, Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man, and others. These names and titles reflect different aspects of Jesus’ identity and significance in Christian theology and belief. 

It is worth noting that while Yeshua was the name that Jesus would have been called during his lifetime, his name has been translated and transliterated into many different languages over the centuries, and different cultures and traditions may refer to him by different names. 

LJ: Who recorded Yeshua as Jesus? 

ChatGPT: The name “Jesus” comes from the Greek name “Iēsous” (Ιησούς), which was the Greek version of the Hebrew name “Yeshua” (ישוע), also spelled “Yehoshua” or “Joshua” in English. 

The New Testament of the Christian Bible, which includes accounts of the life, teachings, and death of Jesus, was written in Greek, and it refers to Jesus as “Iēsous” throughout the text. As Christianity spread throughout the Greek-speaking world in the centuries after Jesus’ death, the name “Iēsous” became more widely known and used to refer to him. 

Over time, as Christianity spread to other parts of the world and was translated into other languages, the name “Jesus” became the standard English name for the figure known in Greek as “Iēsous” and in Hebrew as “Yeshua.” The name “Jesus” has been used in English-language translations of the Bible and in Christian literature and worship for centuries, and it is the most commonly used name for the figure known as the Son of God in the Christian tradition. 

LJ: What was God’s original Hebrew name?  

ChatGPT: In the Hebrew Bible, God’s name is written using four consonants, which are transliterated as YHWH or YHVH. This name is known as the Tetragrammaton and is often referred to as the “unpronounceable name of God” because its exact pronunciation is uncertain. 

Scholars believe that the original pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton has been lost over time, as the ancient Hebrew language did not include written vowels. In the Jewish tradition, the Tetragrammaton is not pronounced aloud, and when the name appears in the Hebrew Bible, it is often replaced with the word “Adonai,” which means “Lord” in Hebrew. 

In English translations of the Bible, the Tetragrammaton is often translated as “LORD” in all capital letters to distinguish it from other Hebrew words translated as “Lord” or “lord.” 

It’s important to note that in the Jewish tradition, God has many names and titles, and the Tetragrammaton is only one of them. Other names for God in the Hebrew Bible include Elohim, El Shaddai, and Adonai, among others. 

LJ: Is there a connection between Egyptian Gods and the Hebrew God? Are they the same? 

ChatGPT: The relationship between the gods of ancient Egypt and the God of the Hebrew Bible is complex and has been the subject of scholarly debate for many years. While there are some similarities and connections between the two, they are generally understood to be distinct and separate entities. 

The ancient Egyptian religion was polytheistic, meaning that it recognized many different gods and goddesses, each with their own sphere of influence and role in the universe. These gods were often depicted with human or animal-like forms, and they were worshiped in temples and shrines throughout Egypt. 

In contrast, the Hebrew Bible presents a monotheistic view of God, which holds that there is only one God who created the universe and rules over it. This God is often described as invisible and ineffable, and is referred to by many different names and titles throughout the Hebrew Bible, including Yahweh, Adonai, and Elohim. 

Despite these differences, there are some connections between the gods of ancient Egypt and the God of the Hebrew Bible. For example, during the period of Egyptian rule over Israel, some aspects of Egyptian religion may have been incorporated into Israelite worship. Additionally, some scholars have suggested that certain Hebrew Bible stories and motifs may have been influenced by Egyptian mythology. 

Overall, while there are some similarities and connections between the gods of ancient Egypt and the God of the Hebrew Bible, they are generally understood to be distinct and separate entities with different characteristics, roles, and theological frameworks. 

LJ: Where does Gilgamesh fit in with Egyptian Gods and the Hebrew God? 

ChatGPT: Gilgamesh is a legendary king and hero from ancient Mesopotamian mythology, specifically from the Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh. He is not traditionally associated with either the gods of ancient Egypt or the God of the Hebrew Bible, as these are separate religious traditions from different regions and time periods. 

In Mesopotamian mythology, Gilgamesh is a legendary figure who is said to have ruled the city of Uruk in ancient Sumeria. He is often depicted as a demigod with superhuman strength and abilities, and his story is one of adventure, heroic deeds, and personal transformation. 

While there may be some thematic similarities between the story of Gilgamesh and other ancient mythologies, such as the theme of the hero’s journey, the specific characters and events in the Gilgamesh epic are distinct to Mesopotamian mythology and do not have direct connections to the gods of ancient Egypt or the God of the Hebrew Bible. 

LJ: What is the meaning of Hebrew? 

ChatGPT: The word “Hebrew” has a few different meanings, depending on the context. 

First, “Hebrew” can be used as an adjective to describe anything related to the Hebrew language or culture. For example, “Hebrew poetry” refers to poetry written in the Hebrew language, and “Hebrew cuisine” refers to the traditional foods and cooking styles of Hebrew-speaking cultures. 

Second, “Hebrew” can be used as a noun to refer to a person who is a member of the Hebrew-speaking ethnic group, which historically has been centered in the region of Israel and the surrounding areas. In this sense, “Hebrew” is often used interchangeably with the terms “Jewish” or “Israelite.” 

Finally, “Hebrew” can also refer specifically to the ancient language spoken by the Israelites and used to write the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). The Hebrew language is still spoken today, both as a first language by some Jewish communities and as a liturgical language in Jewish religious services. 

LJ: How is Hebrew first used in the Christian Bible? 

ChatGPT: The use of Hebrew in the Christian Bible depends on which part of the Bible is being referred to. The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) is written almost entirely in Hebrew, while the New Testament is written in Greek with a few isolated Hebrew or Aramaic words or phrases. 

In the New Testament, there are a few instances where Hebrew is used, although these are relatively rare. For example, in the Gospel of Matthew, there are several references to the Hebrew scriptures and to Jewish religious practices, such as the use of the term “Rabbi” (meaning “teacher” in Hebrew) to refer to Jesus. 

One of the most famous uses of Hebrew in the New Testament is in the Gospel of John, where the words “I am” are used several times to describe Jesus. In Greek, this phrase is “ego eimi,” but in John 8:58, Jesus uses the Hebrew phrase “ego eimi” to describe himself, which is often translated as “I am he” or “I am who I am.” 

Overall, while Hebrew is not a prominent language in the New Testament, it is used in a few key instances to emphasize the Jewish roots of the Christian faith and to connect Jesus to the religious and cultural traditions of ancient Israel. 

LJ: Which body of water did Abraham’s ancestors cross to get to Israel? 

ChatGPT: According to the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), Abraham’s ancestors crossed the Euphrates River, not a body of water, to get to the land of Canaan, which later became Israel. The Euphrates River flows through modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, and was a significant water source and trade route in ancient times. 

Abraham’s journey is described in the Book of Genesis, where it is said that God called Abraham to leave his homeland in Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) and travel to the land of Canaan, which God had promised to give to him and his descendants. Abraham and his family crossed the Euphrates River and eventually settled in the city of Haran, where they lived for several years before continuing on to Canaan. 

LJ: When was the Arabian Peninsula last a part of Egypt and Ethiopia? 

ChatGPT: There is no historical record or evidence to suggest that the Arabian Peninsula was ever a part of Egypt or Ethiopia. While there have been cultural and economic interactions between these regions throughout history, they have always been separate and distinct geographic and political entities. 

Egypt and Ethiopia are both located in northeastern Africa, while the Arabian Peninsula is located in southwestern Asia, separated from Africa by the Red Sea. The region that is now Saudi Arabia was historically home to various indigenous Arab tribes and civilizations, including the Nabateans, the Kingdom of Lihyan, and the Kingdom of Kindah. 

While there were periods of cultural and commercial exchange between these regions, such as the trade routes that connected Arabia to the Red Sea ports of Ethiopia and Egypt, there is no evidence to suggest that any part of the Arabian Peninsula was ever a part of these countries. 

LJ: Was the Queen of Sheba not from Saba? Was Saba not part of Ethiopia? 

ChatGPT: The story of the Queen of Sheba is a legendary tale that appears in a number of ancient texts, including the Hebrew Bible, the Quran, and Ethiopian and Yemeni folklore. While the details of the story vary across these sources, they generally describe the Queen of Sheba as a wealthy and powerful ruler who travels to meet King Solomon of Israel and test his wisdom. 

In some versions of the story, Sheba is identified as a kingdom or region located in Ethiopia, while in others it is identified as a kingdom or region located in southern Arabia (modern-day Yemen). In the Ethiopian tradition, the Queen of Sheba is associated with the ancient kingdom of Aksum, which was located in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea. 

The ancient kingdom of Saba, or Sheba, was indeed located in what is now Yemen, not Ethiopia. While there were cultural and economic ties between the kingdoms of Aksum and Saba, they were separate and distinct political entities. 

It is worth noting that the Queen of Sheba is primarily a legendary figure and there is little historical evidence to confirm her existence or the events described in the various stories about her. As such, the exact details of her story and the locations associated with it remain a subject of debate and interpretation. 

Editor’s note: The Axum empire lasted for 900 years and spanned a good portion of southern Africa and most of the bottom half of what is now known as the Arabian Peninsula} 

LJ: s Aden in Yemen the same as Eden in Genesis? 

ChatGPT: The location of the Garden of Eden mentioned in the Book of Genesis is a subject of much debate and speculation among scholars and religious authorities. While there is no consensus on the exact location of Eden, there is no evidence to suggest that it was located in Aden or anywhere else in Yemen. 

Aden is a port city located in southern Yemen, near the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. It has a long and complex history, having been ruled by various empires and civilizations over the centuries, including the ancient kingdoms of Sheba and Hadhramaut, the Persians, the Ottomans, and the British. 

In the Book of Genesis, the Garden of Eden is described as a lush and fertile paradise, created by God as the home for the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. While the precise location of Eden is not specified in the Bible, it is generally thought to have been located in the region of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), based on the descriptions of the rivers that flowed through it, including the Tigris and Euphrates. 

It is worth noting that the story of Eden is primarily a theological and symbolic narrative, and should not be read as a literal account of historical events or geography. 

LJ: What are the starting and ending points of the Tigris and Euphrates? 

ChatGPT: The Tigris and Euphrates are two major rivers that flow through the Middle East. The Tigris originates in the Taurus Mountains of eastern Turkey and flows southeast through Iraq, before emptying into the Persian Gulf. The Euphrates originates in the Armenian Highlands of eastern Turkey and flows south through Syria and Iraq, before joining the Tigris and emptying into the Persian Gulf. 

The exact starting points of the rivers can be difficult to define, as they are formed by the confluence of several smaller streams and tributaries. The starting point of the Tigris is generally considered to be the junction of the Eastern and Western Tigris Rivers, near the town of Hasankeyf in southeastern Turkey. The starting point of the Euphrates is generally considered to be the Murat River, which originates in the Armenian Highlands of eastern Turkey and flows into the Karasu River, which then merges with the Arsanjan River to form the Euphrates. 

The exact ending points of the rivers can also be difficult to define, as they form extensive delta regions as they approach the Persian Gulf. The Tigris and Euphrates merge into a single river channel, known as the Shatt al-Arab, which then flows into the Persian Gulf between Iran and Iraq. 

LJ: How many creation stories are documented in the world? 

ChatGPT: There are numerous creation stories documented in various cultures and traditions around the world. It is impossible to provide an exact count, as many of these stories have been lost over time and new ones continue to be created. Additionally, the definition of what constitutes a “creation story” can vary depending on cultural and religious perspectives. 

LJ: What are the commonalities of known creation stories? 

ChatGPT: While creation stories can vary widely in their details and specific cultural contexts, there are some common themes and motifs that are shared across many traditions. Some of these commonalities include: 

  • Creation from chaos: Many creation stories describe the world as emerging from a state of primordial chaos, darkness, or emptiness. 
  • Divine creation: Creation is often attributed to one or more deities or supernatural forces. These may be anthropomorphic or abstract, and may be portrayed as creating the world through a variety of methods (e.g. speaking it into existence, crafting it out of pre-existing materials, etc.). 
  • Mythical beings: Creation stories often feature a cast of mythical or supernatural beings who play important roles in the creation of the world or in shaping the natural and spiritual landscape. 
  • Symbolism: Creation stories often use rich symbolism to convey deeper truths about the nature of the universe, human existence, and the relationship between humans and the divine. 
  • Ritual: Creation stories are often intimately tied to religious or cultural rituals, which may be performed to commemorate the creation event or to symbolically re-enact it. 

These are just a few examples of common themes found in creation stories around the world. However, it is worth noting that each story is unique and reflects the specific cultural and historical context in which it emerged. 

LJ: Who are the Watchers? 

ChatGPT: In some religious and mythological traditions, the Watchers are a group of angels or divine beings who are tasked with observing and guarding humanity. In the Book of Enoch, an apocryphal text in the Jewish and Christian traditions, the Watchers are fallen angels who are said to have descended to Earth and taken human wives, resulting in the birth of hybrid offspring known as the Nephilim. The Watchers are often associated with themes of forbidden knowledge, the corruption of power, and the consequences of human interaction with the divine realm. The concept of the Watchers has also been referenced in other cultural contexts, including ancient Mesopotamia and the Qumran community associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

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ACAD – Fight or Flight: Exodus 14

Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses: “Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told.

When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked. So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance. The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.

As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!”

Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night.

Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!

Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea. But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”

When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea. Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.

But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. That is how the Lord rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

Resource: Exodus 14, New Living Translation, Bible Gateway

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Thread: Why Read The Bible In Hebrew? By Ari Lamm

This is such a great read on Adam, Eve, and the Serpent from a Hebrew speaker’s perspective. It provides some interpretation I’ve never heard but can certainly appreciate. It also walks along tangents of research I’ve done on my own on Adam and Eve.
Why Read The Bible In Hebrew?
Originally posted on Twitter by Ari Lamm on February 3, 2023
Let’s talk about one of the most iconic villains in world history—the Serpent from the Book of Genesis.
Why exactly was the Serpent out to get Adam and Eve? A thread (for non-Hebrew readers, too!) 🧵 1
I know what you’re gonna ask. Isn’t the serpent just Satan—or the inclination to do evil—given flesh?
I do think there’s truth to this!
But, the Bible doesn’t say this. In the text itself, the snake is just… a snake. So why does it bother trying to get Adam and Eve to sin? 2
In order to answer this question, we need to ask a preliminary question:
Why does the text of Genesis seem out of order?
In Gen 2, we first hear about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. So then, right away, we get to the story of the serpent, right?
…Nope! 3
Instead, we get this odd intermission (2:18-25) that begins with God’s observation, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner”.
Easy fix, right? God just needs to create Woman!
…well, not so fast. What’s God’s next move? 4
At first, God offers Adam the choice of a soulmate from among the animal kingdom!
“So out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to the man…but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner” (2:19-20). 5
Bizarre, no? How could this be?
To answer, we need to identify the central question at the heart of the Bible’s account of Creation:
What is humanity?
Are we godlike beings, fundamentally different from animals? Or are we glorified animals, fundamentally different from God? 6
In the first two chapters of Genesis, the Bible actually gives us both perspectives.
On one hand, humans are unique. We’re different—in kind, not just degree—from the animals.
Think back, e.g., to Genesis 1. Unlike any other being, “God created humans in his image” (1:27) 7
And while the views of Creation in Gen 1 and 2 differ, the Bible clearly intends them to be read as one. Just look at the Hebrew of Gen 2:4
“These are the generations (elleh toledot) of the heavens and the earth when they were created (b-r-‘).” 8
For years commentators have wondered, is this verse the end of Gen 1 or the beginning of Gen 2?
On one hand, it uses the verb for “create” (b-r-‘) characteristic of Gen 1, but not Gen 2. On the other, the phrase “elleh toledot” always—no exceptions—*begins* a story. 9
The obvious answer is: it’s both—it’s the bridge verse that ties Gen 1 and Gen 2 together. So yes, the humans of Gen 2 are the same divine-image bearing humans of Gen 1.
Moreover, even in Gen 2, God creates humanity before any other being (2:7).
Humanity is clearly special! 10
And this, of course, is why Man can’t find a soulmate from among the animals. They’re simply too removed from him.
In fact, there is no being in creation fit to partner with us other than…us.
…And this explains one of the most famous mistranslations in Biblical history. 11
How did God create Eve? He made her from Adam’s rib, right?
…Wrong!
Here’s the verse: “The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man…He took one of his ribs…And the rib (tzela) that the Lord God had taken from the man He made (va’yiven) into a woman” (2:21-22). 12
Wait, but doesn’t that say God made Eve from Adam’s rib?
Well, no…
The Hebrew word being translated as “rib” here is “tzela”. But it only means that in much later Hebrew (like *way* after the Bible).
In the Bible itself, however, it never takes that meaning. 13
In the Bible, the word “tzela” is actually always an architectural term. It means “side”.
The next time we meet this word in the Bible, it’s in constructing the Ark of the Covenant: “two rings on one side (tzela) of it and two rings on the other side (tzela)” (Exodus 25:12). 14
So “tzela” refers to one part of a building that, when you fit it together with the other part, forms a whole.
And that’s clearly the meaning in Genesis! How do I know? Well, remember the Hebrew word the Bible uses for “made” (as in “made into a woman”)?
It’s “va’yiven”. 15
That root (b-n-h) quite literally means “to build” in the architectural sense!
So God didn’t make Eve from one of Adam’s ribs. Rather, He split the first human in half—He built one side into Man and the other into Woman. They are two halves of the same structure. 16
One being—one flesh—longing to be united.
Literarily, this explains the Bible’s very next line: “Therefore (‘al kein) a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh” (2:24).
How does Woman’s creation lead to this “therefore”? 17
Genesis’s answer is that once you understand Man and Woman as two halves of the same being, you can then understand the attraction of marriage.
After all, man comes from the flesh of his parents…and so only leaves them for another being of whose flesh he is a part. 18
Okay, so we’ve seen how you can read Genesis 1-2 and easily point to humanity’s uniqueness—its *difference* from animal life.
But then here’s the question: why on earth does the Bible propose that Adam *might* have found a soulmate from among the animal kingdom?! 19
The answer’s simple:
So many other elements of the text suggest that man is, in essence, just another animal.
Consider: the first human being is formed from dirt (2:7), just like the rest of the beasts (2:19). In Genesis 1, humans and land animals are created on the same day 20
Wait, but doesn’t humankind get a little something extra during its creation? Like how God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (2:7).
Not really.
Like take that phrase “living being” (nefesh chayah). Sounds extraordinary, right? 21
Well, slow your roll. Because it’s the same phrase Genesis uses to describe all the rest of the beasts (1:24).
From this perspective, Adam finding a mate from the animal kingdom makes perfect sense!
…And therein lies the key to explaining the serpent’s role in Genesis 3.
22
Here’s the first time we meet the serpent:
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal (chayyat ha’sadeh) that the Lord God had made” (3:1)
This is SUPER crucial! Because see that Hebrew phrase “chayyat ha’sadeh” (wild animal)? Where have we seen it before? 23
Answer: it appears only *one* other place in the entire Book of Genesis…
Back in Genesis 2!
“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone’…So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field (chayyat ha’sadeh)” (18-19). 24
So “chayyat ha’sadeh” describes the animals from whom Adam was supposed to choose a mate…and whom he ultimately rejected as unsuitable.
This failed speed-dating-with-the-animals leads directly to the Creation of Woman. And it’s at *this* moment that the serpent appears. 25
The Bible, in other words, tells us *exactly* why the serpent is here, and why he’s out to get humanity.
He’s the most sophisticated of the “chayyat ha’sadeh”. He represents the jilted would-be-soulmates of the animal kingdom.
And he’s here to take humanity down a peg. 26
The serpent’s attitude can be summed up as: “You think you’re better than us?!”
He wants to prove to the first Man and Woman that they’ve gotten too big for their britches. They think they’re gods. But they’re not.
“You’re animals”, says the serpent, “just like us”. 27
And the Bible, for its part, helps us feel the serpent’s indignation at the outset!
How?
Well, remember how the verse describes the serpent? “Crafty (‘arum)” (3:1). Now look one verse earlier (2:25). “And the man and his wife were both naked (‘arumim”) and were not ashamed”. 28
The Hebrew for “crafty” and “naked” is nearly identical!
The implication is the serpent might have a point—he’s as clever as the first man and woman are naive.
So in order to show them they’re not better than the animals, he sets out to trick them into debasing themselves. 29
He does this by playing on their insecurities. “You know God is holding out on you, right? He’s kept the Tree of Knowledge for Himself!”
“But the serpent said to the woman…’God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God'” (3:4-5).
30
We know the result. Man and Woman sin, and God is furious. But in order to understand the point of the narrative, it’s just as important to see *how* exactly God expresses His anger.
He does so, on one hand, by re-emphasizing the boundaries between God and human beings. 31
Through their punishments, God reminds Adam of his origins in the dust of the ground, and Eve that ultimately she is not above the natural world but very much a part of it.
In fact, even the name “Eve”, which Adam first calls her immediately afterwards, drives home the point. 32
The Hebrew name “Eve” (Chavah) is a variation of the word for “beast” (Chayah). A fitting parallel to Adam’s own name, which in Hebrew means “Dirt”.
Adam’s coining the name Eve reflects his willingness to finally admit that he and his soulmate are just beasts born from dust. 33
So the serpent won, right?
Man’s aspiration to godhood is folly, and humans are just animals by another name. Sure, the serpent was punished too. But in the end, didn’t he prove his point?
Well…not so fast. 34
The Bible ultimately rejects the serpent’s nihilistic view of humanity. Yes, God reinforces the boundary between God and Man. But He likewise reminds us that we *are* indeed, different than the animals. We *are* something more.
Consider the literary sequence of Gen 3:20-21.
35
Right before verse 20 are Adam and Eve’s punishments, through which God highlights humanity’s lowliness.
Then comes verse 20, in which Adam finally concedes the point. He calls Woman “Eve” (Chavah). He embraces his own identity as “Dirt” and calls his mate “Beast”. 36
Finally, we get verse 21: “And the Lord God made garments of skins for Adam and for his wife and clothed them.”
Is this just some stray detail in the story that just happens to come after verse 20 (naming Eve), but isn’t actually connected to it?
Think again… 37
It’s actually God’s direct response to the human despair in verse 20. He gently reminds the first Man and Woman not to be *too* self-effacing. Not to surrender entirely to their animal identities.
Instead, God clothes them. 38
He helps them become the only beings in Creation to behave in such a fashion. In effect, God instructs them: you are not gods…but neither are you mere beasts.
And in so doing, He restores their dignity.
God’s desire to elevate humankind explains the very next verse as well. 39
God proclaims that since Man has tasted the Tree of Knowledge, “now he might reach out his hand and take also from the Tree of Life and eat and live forever” (3:22). So He bars the way back to the Tree of Life.
Why?
Is it jealousy, as the serpent implied to Eve? 40
The Hebrew for “might reach out his hand” (pen yishlach yado) helps us read this verse correctly.
In Biblical Hebrew, that syntactical combo refers to touching something that has been leant to you—or for whose safekeeping you’re responsible—but which doesn’t belong to you. 41
The best example is the prohibition against illicitly using an item someone else entrusted to you.
If you’re suspected of violating, then the court needs “to determine whether or not the owner had laid hands (lo shalach yado) on the neighbor’s goods” (Exodus 2:27). 42
Okay, so now back to the Tree of Life. What was God’s concern?
Well, remember…humanity had *already* been eating from the Tree of Life. That’s the clear upshot of the earlier narrative. They could eat from “every tree” (2:16). Only exception was the Tree of Knowledge. 43
So on one hand, once they eat from the Tree of Knowledge—reaching for divinity—God reinforces the divine/human boundary by barring the Tree of Life.
In doing so, God frames the Tree of Life as an object entrusted to humanity that they brazenly treated as if they owned it. 44
“But you DON’T own it”, God points out. “It belongs to Me. You are not gods!”
And yet, what does God leave implanted within humanity? The effects of the Tree of Knowledge!
Why? Because, Genesis tells us, while humans aren’t gods, they’re also something more than mere beasts. 45
So what are we in the end?
We’re human.
Wonderfully, complicatedly, wretchedly, exaltedly human.
At our worst, we can behave like beasts—with cruelty, injustice, or even just boorish incuriousness.
Sometimes we should worry that the serpent might have been right about us… 46
But in the end, the Bible reminds us, the serpent is wrong.
We *do* ultimately stand apart from the beasts of the field. True, we humans aren’t gods. But we *are* bearers of the divine image.
…And this represents both a promise, and a set of responsibilities. 47
The promise is that every single descendant of Adam and Eve possesses equal and intrinsic worth in God’s eyes. None of us bears *more* of God’s image than any other.
Were the Bible’s serpent indeed a demon in disguise, surely he reveals himself in those who still forget this. 48
But what comes with this promise is the responsibility to bear that divine imprint with grace and steadfastness. To do our best to deserve it by acting kindly, justly, and with virtue.
In the end, I suppose, the question of who’s right about us—the serpent or God—is up to us! 49
P.S. As always, deepest thanks to @zenahitz and the @CatherineProj for empowering me to think about this stuff! And it’s just amazing and deeply inspiring to me that even after our Hebrew study group concluded, those incredible folks have continued on their own—to this day! @mentions
And finally P.P.S. if you liked this thread, definitely check out my weekly podcast on the Bible called Good Faith Effort! @gfaitheffort
Talk about cool stuff like this all the time, like on our latest episode featuring @zugzwanged!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ala… ❤️🔥❤️🔥
‎Good Faith Effort: Alastair Roberts – How To Read The Bible on Apple Podcasts ‎Show Good Faith Effort, Ep Alastair Roberts – How To Read The Bible – Jan 16, 2023
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alastair-roberts-how-to-read-the-bible/id1536163226?i=1000594826994
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Womanhood: Evidence of God’s Goodness

A Song & Verse Post: Evidence by Josh Baldwin

evidence: the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid

Every time Evidence comes on in the car I want to pull over and praise God. Today, I came to home to write.

All throughout my history Your faithfulness has walked beside me.

There is not one period of my life that I cannot identify the presence of God and His work in me. I remember being baptized around the age of six. Though I had no understanding of what that meant at the time, I can literally look back on my life to that moment and see how God has held on to me through every devastation, betrayal, abuse, disillusionment and every step of rebuilding and healing.

I remember my one-dollar lock and key diaries from Walgreens that were full of my seven-year-old pleadings for God to save me from the near daily sexual abuse I was subjected to. “Dear God, he did it again. Please make him stop!” Years of one or two line prayers. Silent screams. One day, four years later, God called me out of my house (I didn’t recognize His hand then, but I certainly do now) and guided me on a walk to a nearby police station outpost. I knocked on the door and said to the officer who answered, “I’m being molested.”

From that moment forward, I was never again forced to share space with my violators.

The winter storms made way for spring. In every season, from where I’m standing I see the evidence of Your goodness all over my life. I see Your promises in fulfillment all over my life.

I grew up in families – both sides – that didn’t acknowledge abuse or trauma. Everyone is either a victim or a perpetrator. If anyone could claim to be on the sidelines, they would act deaf, dumb, blind and incapable for standing against any wrongdoing.

A few years after I had forgiven my dad, and a few years before he died, he asked me why I act better than I am. “You’re from the ghetto, you’ll always be ghetto.” This was during the “healing and repair” of our relationship, mind you. It was also one of our last conversations.

Imagine being told by someone who should have molded you for greatness, that you were never expected to rise above his level of filth, disease, psychological, sexual and spiritual bondage. Imagine being looked upon with disgust by a man who, for all intent and purpose, murdered you as a child and then being told as an adult woman that you were expected to remain dead.

At that time, I hadn’t yet started my dedicated faith walk. I was still journaling – writing prayers to God – but the Bible remained a mystery to me. Nothing was catching or keeping. However, I can look back on that time now and see it as the beginning of release in my life. I tried so hard to reconcile that relationship, but when I stopped holding on – when I stopped trying – it was easy to see that I had been on my own the whole time.

I believe firmly that God desires willing hearts most – a desire to conform to His Word in practice and deed. However, He has never allowed me to remain open to those who intentionally harm me repeatedly. I view this as God’s judgement on the other person’s heart condition, rather than my inability to be faithful and obedient to Grace and Mercy.

Imagine telling your sire: I’m more than my beginnings. I’m more than the seed you contributed to my being. I’ve become more than a little girl from the ghetto.

Help me remember when I’m weak, fear may come but fear will leave.

It’s said that we can do anything we can imagine. Yet our imagination is limited by what we’re exposed to. What if we’re exposed to people who can’t see beyond their own dark pits?

I went into a deep depression in my late thirties. My mom died at the age of thirty-six and when I reached that age, my future dimmed to darkness. It was difficult to climb out of my second grave by letting go of the woman I thought I would have become by then. My mother began life as a sharecropper’s granddaughter in rural Mississippi, but I only ever saw her as the best of all created beings. As difficult as her life had been, she had at least accomplished the Holy Grail of Womanhood (according to society) – marriage and children. No matter that she tied herself to a rotten man and worked multiple minimum wage jobs to house and feed her children, she remained the epitome of everything to me. It was difficult to see myself as worthy of more time in this world than she had. Harder still to face the length of her lifespan without even a taste of the Holy Grail of Womanhood.

The end of beginnings is the beginning of letting go.

You lead my heart to victory. You are my strength and You always will be.

My birthday this year will put me at ten years beyond the lifespan of my mother – and still not even a lick of the traditional Holy Grail of Womanhood. Today, I can say I am completely fine with that. In recent years I’ve not only learned to embrace my solitude, I’ve come to appreciate it, honor it and protect it. There’s something being forged in me that I can’t articulate. That glimpse of greatness that repelled my dad fifteen years ago, is unfurling in a wondrous way. I’ve grown from hiding my light under a bushel to Clarkeshia Kent exposing her S with a declarative chest thrust. Yet my light is still gaining strength. I foresee beaming across the Universe.

Why settle for tradition when the Universe is already mine?

I’m becoming a Woman I never imagined I would be. Nothing about my life today was part of the dream, fantasy or hope. Everything about my life is better than all my mind and heart conjured for me. There’s something to be said about what we’re exposed to. Exposure sounds expansive, but it’s actually limiting. If we only trust what our eyes see, we will be satisfied with that view for our life. However, when we begin to let go of all the dead things – relationships, hopes, dreams, ideals, culture, tradition – we will have room to invite the previously unimaginable in. We will be able to develop into beings of light with experiences beyond the confinement of the world. Living beyond the construct breaks the paradigm. At which point, you’ll actually be able to imagine what previously seemed impossible. Thus, within your reality all things are then possible.

A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth.

But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.

So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued[d] the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.

~ Revelation 12:1-2, 5-6, 13-14, 17

 

[NOTE: More of my story is shared in Clichés: A Life in Verse, My God and Me, and Desert of Solitude. Some poems from Clichés will be reprinted in I AM WOMAN: Expressions of Black Womanhood in America. All books are available on Harvest-Life.org/shop and Amazon.com]

 

Evidence

by Josh Baldwin w/Dante Bowe

All throughout my history
Your faithfulness has walked beside me
The winter storms made way for spring
In every season, from where I’m standing

I see the evidence of Your goodness
All over my life
All over my life
I see Your promises in fulfillment
All over my life
All over my life

Help me remember when I’m weak
Fear may come but fear will leave
You lead my heart to victory
You are my strength and You always will be

See the cross, the empty grave
The evidence is endless
All my sin rolled away
Because of You, oh Jesus

Why should I fear
The evidence is here

 

See a Victory

by Elevation Worship w/Brandon Lake

The weapon may be formed but it won’t prosper
When the darkness falls it won’t prevail
Cause the God I serve knows only how to triumph
My God will never fail
My God will never fail

I’m gonna see a victory
I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You Lord
I’m gonna see a victory
I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You Lord

There’s power in the mighty name of Jesus
Every war He wages He will win
I’m not backing down from any giant
I know how this story ends
I know how this story ends

You take what the enemy meant for evil
And You turn it for good
You turn it for good

Sources:

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Kingdom of Heaven (ACAD: Psalm 19)

God’s Glory in Creation and the Law

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:1-14 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%2019:1-14&version=NRSV

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Complete in Christ (ACAD: Colossians 2)

For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Fullness of Life in Christ

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.

Warnings Against False Teachers

Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”? All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings. These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence.

Colossians 2:1-23 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Colossians%202:1-23&version=NRSV

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Poem: Why did God make me Black? by RuNell Ni Ebo

Lord, Lord
Why did You make me Black?
Why did You make someone
the world wants to hold back?

Black is the color of dirty clothes,
the color of grimy hands and feet.
Black is the color of darkness,
the color of tire-beaten streets.

Why did You give me thick lips,
a broad nose and kinky hair?
Why did You make someone
who receives the hatred stare?

Black is the color of the bruised eye
when someone gets hurt.
Black is the color of darkness,
Black is the color of dirt.

How come my bone structure’s so thick,
my hips and cheeks are high?
How come my eyes are brown
and not the color of daylight sky?

Why do people think I’m useless?
How come I feel so used?
Why do some people see my skin
and think I should be abused?

Lord I just don’t understand.
What is it about my skin?
Why do some people want to hate me
and not know the person within?

Black is what people are “listed”
when others want to keep them away.
Black is the color of shadows cast.
Black is the end of day.

Lord you know my own people mistreat me
and I know this just ain’t right.
They don’t like my hair.
They say I’m too dark or too light.

Lord, don’t You think it’s time for You
to make a change?
Why don’t You re-do creation and
make everyone the same?

God answered:

Why did I make you Black?
Why did I make you Black?
Get off your knees and look around
Tell me, what do you see?
I didn’t make you in the image of darkness,
I made you in likeness of ME!

I made you the color of coal from which
beautiful diamonds are formed.
I made you the color of oil,
the black gold that keeps people warm.

I made you from the rich, dark earth that can
grow the food you need.
You color’s the same as the black stallion,
a majestic animal is he.
I didn’t make you in the image of darkness.
I made you in likeness of ME!

All the colors of the heavenly rainbow can be
found throughout every nation.
But when all of those colors were blended,
you became my greatest creation.

Your hair is the texture of lamb’s wool.
Such a humble little creature is he.
I am the Sheperd who watches them.
I am the One who will watch over thee.

You are the color of midnight sky.
I put the star’s glitter in your eyes.
There is a smile hidden behind your pain.
That’s why your cheeks are so high.

You are the color of dark clouds formed,
when I send My strongest weather.
I made your lips full so when you kiss
the one that you love, they will remember.

Your stature is strong, your bone structure thick
to withstand the burdens of time.
The reflection you see in the mirror…
The image that looks back is MINE.

– RuNell Ni Ebo

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All Is Meaningless (ACAD: Ecclesiastes 12)

Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return with the rain; in the day when the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the women who grind cease working because they are few, and those who look through the windows see dimly; when the doors on the street are shut, and the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low; when one is afraid of heights, and terrors are in the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along and desire fails; because all must go to their eternal home, and the mourners will go about the streets; before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher; all is vanity.

Besides being wise, the Teacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs. The Teacher sought to find pleasing words, and he wrote words of truth plainly.

The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd. Of anything beyond these, my child, beware. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ecclesiastes%2012:1-14&version=NRSV

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Proving Ground

Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.

Psalm 26:2-3 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%2026:2-3&version=NRSV

prov·ing ground: an environment that serves to demonstrate whether something, such as a theory or product, really works.

What do you believe about your belief?

  • Do you believe you have power over your decisions?
  • Do you believe you are enough for your life?
  • Do you believe you are capable of doing what needs to be done today?

I have a friend who is going through a tumultuous season with her teenage son. She’s a believer who has struggled, like all of us, with understanding how to apply the Word to her life. And how to be the Word in her life. Her focus is selective with an attempt at literal application. Over the years, she has repeatedly missed the same mark. A mark that appears to me to be an easy goal. Simple to achieve. No hardship at all. Her test has been love. Love is her proving ground. Truthfully speaking, love is the proving ground for all of us.

What do you know or understand about love?

  • I know that if I allow love to have it’s way in my life, I am de facto relinquishing control over where love leads me.
  • I know that love has nothing to do with romance, lust or physical desires, yet everything to do with one’s heart and spirit.
  • I know that love has nothing to do with me in and of myself while at the same time I am both fully a product and a conduit of love.

I know that God is Love. I know that He created a human version of Himself to live among the rest of His creation here on Earth in order to minister to us in our sin, our sorrow, our disappointments, our madness, our bondage, our sickness, and even in our death. Love is so much more powerful than obedience, preferences, plans, lifestyle, ideals, gender, sexuality and doctrine.

Love covers a multitude of sins because love is not diminished by sin. But perhaps love is proved by sin.

Do you love me?

No.

Why not?

Because you hurt me.

Then you never loved me at all.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

~ Proverbs 10:12 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%2010:12&version=NRSV

People who sin against you, violate your trust, hurt your heart, betray your relationship – whatever the trespass may be – are still precious to the Lord. God has not stopped loving the person you turned your back on because they do not live the way you want them to live. He is actually proving to that person that you had no understanding of love at all. You who were to be this person’s light and source of love took action to drive them further into darkness instead.

How do you respond when your interpretation of the Bible is challenged by a situation within your own family or friend circles?

Do you respond in love, with your heart and spirit projecting the love God gave the world when He laid Himself down for His creation?

Or do you respond in ego, in self, with pride.

ego: a person’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance.

self: a person or thing referred to with respect to complete individuality; a person’s nature, character; personal interest.

pride: a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.; the state or feeling of being proud; a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one’s position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.

If we believe God IS who He says He Is, then we know His Word is performative. He didn’t just just tell us about love being gentle, long-suffering, kind, selfless and faithful. He gave us His Spirit of Love from the beginning when He breathed His Life into our lungs. And again in the middle when He sacrificed His form, His Son, Jesus, to show both obedience to the responsibility of love and the extreme performance of love. No one on Earth is worthy to be the Lamb. Not one person. There has never been an alternative to Jesus. No person created has been a potential stand-in cross-bearer for His assignment. Yet Jesus chose to die for us all. Not because we deserve His death, His blood, His concern, or His sacrifice. We didn’t then and we still don’t. And certainly not because He wanted to die for a dying, sinning populace. But Jesus too is a product and conduit of love. He is the Word Love personified. And even He said that those who come after Him will perform greater deeds than He did. Those who believe in Him, will perform Love better than Jesus. Imagine that.

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

~ John 14:11-12 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:11-12&version=NRSV

As you consider Love, evaluate your relationships, especially the strained, difficult ones. In your interactions with the people dear to you, do you represent Love? Are you taking the responsibility of gentleness, kindness, patience, care, sacrifice and faithfulness seriously? Or are you focused only on self – your beliefs, your concerns, your perspective? The bumps and boulders in the road are your tests. Your relationships and daily interactions are your proving ground. As long as you are alive, it’s not too late to take on the responsibility of love and prove yourself the perfect conduit within your circles.

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ACAD – Remnant: 2 Kings 19

When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. And he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. It may be that the Lord your God heard all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.” When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me. I myself will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.’”

The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah; for he had heard that the king had left Lachish. When the king heard concerning King Tirhakah of Ethiopia, “See, he has set out to fight against you,” he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus shall you speak to King Hezekiah of Judah: Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. See, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, destroying them utterly. Shall you be delivered? Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my predecessors destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?”

Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: “O Lord the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord , and see; hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and have hurled their gods into the fire, though they were no gods but the work of human hands—wood and stone—and so they were destroyed. So now, O Lord our God, save us, I pray you, from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.”

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I have heard your prayer to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria. This is the word that the Lord has spoken concerning him:

She despises you, she scorns you— virgin daughter Zion; she tosses her head—behind your back, daughter Jerusalem.

“Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and haughtily lifted your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel! By your messengers you have mocked the Lord, and you have said, ‘With my many chariots I have gone up the heights of the mountains, to the far recesses of Lebanon; I felled its tallest cedars, its choicest cypresses; I entered its farthest retreat, its densest forest. I dug wells and drank foreign waters, I dried up with the sole of my foot all the streams of Egypt.’

“Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins, while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, are dismayed and confounded; they have become like plants of the field and like tender grass, like grass on the housetops, blighted before it is grown.

But I know your rising and your sitting, your going out and coming in, and your raging against me. Because you have raged against me and your arrogance has come to my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth; I will turn you back on the way by which you came.

“And this shall be the sign for you: This year you shall eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs from that; then in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. The surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward; for from Jerusalem a remnant shall go out, and from Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

“Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city, shoot an arrow there, come before it with a shield, or cast up a siege ramp against it. By the way that he came, by the same he shall return; he shall not come into this city, says the Lord. For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”

That very night the angel of the Lord set out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; when morning dawned, they were all dead bodies. Then King Sennacherib of Assyria left, went home, and lived at Nineveh. As he was worshiping in the house of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Ararat. His son Esar-haddon succeeded him.

2 Kings 19:1-37 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Kings%2019:1-37&version=NRSV