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WHICH GOD?

Which God do YOU follow??

oooOooo

"How long halt you between two opinions?

If the LORD be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him".

1 Kings 18:21.

Part Two of Two

Now another scene

A believing, practising, Christian couple desire to educate their children outside of the state school system and to follow God's advice in this matter. He said, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. [Comment]. But what if the government they live under objects to their manner of education? What should they do? After much prayer they are impressed to withdraw to an isolated spot in the country and commence the work in secret. They receive blessings and encouragement which gives them great satisfaction, and which increases their faith in their action.

Which god are they really following?

The Baal again! Why? Because their actions have been based on a lie, and he is the father of lies. John 8:44. To "drop out" from the sight of the state and operate in secret, is not the true God's way. He does everything "in righteousness", and has made provision for all situations. Revelation 19:1. In this case, there is usually an exemption option available which they could have used, but if not, then they could have moved right out of that state into one where there is an exemption. The Living God would have guided and protected them if they had been willing to move from principles which they could have found in the Scriptures. But to try and obey the God of heaven by using deception will never work for long, as Jacob found to his sorrow. Genesis 27.

Maybe you would like to open a medical clinic and heal people of their illnesses - to be a doctor. It's a lovely thought. The desire to help our fellow beings is one of the foundation facts of Christianity. But beware, this too can become baal worship! Only if we are the "nurse" will it be of the true God, because only He can be our Doctor. He said, "If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God, and will do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that heals you". Exodus 15:26. [See The gospel and your health]. Don't be a "fool" and serve the baal by trying to be the doctor. Rather be like Daniel when he was asked by the king, "Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?" His answer was, "There is a God in heaven that reveals secrets and makes known to the king ... But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living". Daniel 2:26-30.

Yet another scene

Some one of importance is coming to our home and we spend a lot of time in the kitchen when we should be with the visitor, having done all the preparation beforehand. Or, we are so busy travelling and spreading the word of God that we never seem to find the time to converse with Him ourselves.

On one such occasion, "Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her". Luke 10:41-42.

This reproof of Christ comes to many Marthas (both male and female) in our time for Martha was concerned for earthly things at a hour when she should have been keenly aware of spiritual values only. [Comment].

We lose much spiritual and divine knowledge that would make us wise to salvation through our bustling activity to do so much in temporal things, to shower favours on those whom we love, even our God! If we would preserve simplicity in all our actions and improve our precious few opportunities to obtain a better knowledge of God's will and be doers of His word, we would save ourselves much irritability and would drink of the perpetual fountain of life.

Martha was so anxious for all due honour to be given to Christ that in her active preparations she lost the precious, golden moments of listening to instruction from His divine lips. But Mary sat at His feet to catch every word. She regarded this of highest importance. This offended Martha, and she asked the LORD Jesus if He did not care that she served alone, while Mary shunned these responsibilities. Said Jesus, "Martha, Mary has chosen the better part which shall never be taken from her". What was the better part? To learn of Jesus, to appreciate His words. In giving attention to the words which fell from His lips she was showing her love for her Saviour and her fellow beings.

We may not be able to physically sit at His feet today, but we still have His words with us in the Bible and they should be listened to often every day, for the Bible should be read as the word of God spoken to us personally so that we may know what He wants of us. This book is sent as a message of love to your heart, written and addressed, not to churches or ministers alone, but as the voice of God to you - whispering to each one of us that which we most need. Thus it is that we should first regard and venerate it. Every word from the lips of Jesus is precious. Do not just read the words of the Bible, but explain them to yourself by the one unerring test - the character of God as shown in the life of Jesus. It was joy to Him to see Mary appreciate His instruction and if we do it also He will be happy again. Remember, the more frequently the words of Christ are heard the more deeply do they influence the mind, the better they are understood, and the more easily and perfectly are they obeyed.

This spirit that is ever ready to make great outward display for our friends is a device of the baal.

A double blessing

What confuses such clear pictures as those which we have drawn before you is the fact that there can be blessings and encouragements from the true God in them also. These occur because lying, stealing, and other offenses against our fellow humans are so common among Christians that the God of heaven often has to guide His followers from within such episodes!

In the law God says,

"If a [Christian] soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie to his neighbour ... or in a thing taken away by violence, or has deceived his neighbour ... swears falsely ... or [keeps] the lost thing which he found ... he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD ... the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he has done in trespassing therein". Leviticus 6:1-7.

But the devil also likes to add his blessings in such cases to increase the confusion and to bind the wayward ones more firmly to his way of behaving. So we can get both the true God and the false god appearing to help. But the way of one only leads to death, while the guidance of the Other will lead to life and a change of attitude.

How can we know which is which, for we must choose as Elijah told us? 1 Kings 18-21.

By continually examining the base from which we are working.

If this is in harmony with the principles of the law of the Living God as shown in the Scriptures, then we may be assured that we are following Him. But our actions must be based on the revealed principles of the Bible, not just on our opinion or interpretation of the Word of God.

In the same way, to work in a job that requires union membership, (and this carries with it the responsibility for that union's actions) exposes us to the choice again. Shall we play the hypocrite as did Peter, or shall we use the provision that God has made available for conscientious objection? Mark 14:66-72. If we stick to the right way, others may be led to see the principles of the kingdom of heaven, and we personally will be much safer.

Abraham's example

Not until we can easily distinguish the true God from the other will we be able to follow in the footsteps of Abraham as he went to Mount Moriah with his only true son. Genesis 22:1-14. God had called Abraham to be the father of the faithful and his life was to stand as an example of faith to succeeding generations. But his faith had not been perfect. He had shown distrust of God in concealing the fact that Sarah was his wife, and again in his marriage with Hagar. That he might reach the highest standard, God was obliged to subject him to another test, the closest which man has ever been called upon to endure. [Comment]. Only in this way could he see into his own heart, for it is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?". Jeremiah 17:9.

There was no confusion in Abraham’s mind over the identity of his Leader. He did not "hope" or "guess". He knew from long experience that it was the voice of the true God which had asked him to sacrifice his son. Although it was against the law of the ten commandments, he was willing to obey, leaving the consequences with his God. Yet the devil must have been thundering in his ears that the command of the LORD is, "You shall not kill"! Abraham's great act of faith stands like a pillar of light, illuminating the pathway of all of God's servants in all succeeding ages, even though it was brought about by his own wrong actions. He did not seek to excuse himself from doing the will of God. During the three days journey he had more than sufficient time to reason and to doubt God, if he was disposed to doubt. He might have concluded that the slaying of his son would cause him to be looked upon as a murderer, a second Cain; that it would cause his teaching to be rejected and despised and thus destroy his power to do good to his fellow men; he might even have pleaded that age should excuse him from obedience.

But the patriarch did not take refuge in any of these excuses. He was human, his passions and attachments were like ours, but he did not even stop to question how God's promise would be fulfilled if Isaac were dead. Genesis 21:12. He did not reason with his aching heart, for he knew that God is just and righteous in all His requirements, and he obeyed the command to the very letter, because he knew that he was following the true God. When he saw the promised "sign" he knew that his faith in God was correct. Genesis 22:2.

"Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God". James 2:23. Jesus said later, "You are My friends, if you do whatever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knows not what his lord does; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you". John 15:14-16.

Do YOU know what your LORD does?

The Scripture which says that "God did tempt Abraham", (Genesis 22:1) appears to contradict the statement in the New Testament which says, "God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts He any man". James 1:13. The next two verses in James explain this more fully and we are admonished not to make any mistake about it! We must be absolutely sure of this foundation principle. Abraham was in this situation through his own past course of action. His faith had not been perfect. He had shown distrust of God in concealing the fact that Sarah was his wife, and again in his relationship with Hagar. It was that he might reach the highest standard that God called him to this test, the closest which man has ever been called upon to endure. He must be shown his own character very clearly. [Comment].

The false god objected to his behaviour and told him that this was definitely against the ten commandments and must therefore be coming from the wrong god! What a dilemma! But he believed the voice of the Living God. How did he know who was who? How could he be so sure?

Jesus' example

In the wilderness after His baptism, Jesus was approached by a person who at first appeared to be an angel of light from heaven. Matthew 4:1-11. Yet He knew that this was not so. His "comforter" was really the devil, and He was aware of it. For Him the situation was as clear as black and white, as it should be for us.

[If you haven't already read it, then check "The Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness"]

How did He know?

By the use of the word "if" in verse 3, which was an invitation to selfishly feed Himself.

Through the misuse of Scripture by leaving out a significant portion of it. Verse 6.

By His tempter's blatant desire for worship. Verse 9.

But most of all, by the fact that His God had told Him to wait, and it would have to be God who would release Him from that place.

He knew His principles! Do we? If not .....

We will be persuaded to practise a selfish religion.

We will accept part or single verses quoted to us as proofs.

We will be encouraged to follow a leader in religion.

And we will be stimulated to get up and go when we should exercise the Sabbath "rest" and wait.

If we do not know the principles of our God!

What can we do about this?

Ishi

In a wonderfully descriptive passage of Scripture God describes the return of His people to an understanding of the true religion in the "latter days". The children of Israel had become so confused in their thinking during the years of Hosea, just before the final dispersion of the ten tribes of the northern kingdom, that they openly addressed the Living God as if He were the baal! The LORD then told them that one day all His people would be able to see the difference very clearly. "And it shall be at that day, says the LORD, that you shall call Me Ishi [i.e. my Husband]; and shall call Me no more Baali [i.e. my lord]. For I will take way the names of [the] baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered [or known] by their name. And in that day I will make a covenant for them ... and I will betroth you to Me forever" Hosea 2:14-19.

He will not be a "lord and master" to us, as one separated from us and above us, but He will be a "LORD and MASTER" to us as One who is a part of us!

He will be our LORD Protector and school MASTER.

He will be One who is a Partner, not a boss! He will be a Friend, a loved One, not at all one to be feared. Respected, yes, as a wife should respect her husband, but without fear, for "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear ..." 1 John 4:18. Love is expressed in obedience, and perfect love casts out all fear, therefore those who love God will have perfect obedience and receive the "seal" of God in their foreheads, the result of working the works of God. Would that all who profess Christianity practised loving God practically!

But how does one love God practically? [Comment].

To love in that way is to love others unselfishly, with no thought of gain for oneself. [See article: The perfect Christian]

Jesus says, "Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me". Matthew 25:40.

It is to love by having perfect trust in one's partner and his or her actions. It means to allow another person absolute freedom to do what he or she thinks is right, not to be his or her "lord and master" in any way. (Remember that it is just as wrong for a woman to control another as it is for a man to do so). It means to counsel and decide together, deferring to the one who has the greater understanding of the problem at hand, be it God, man or woman. Isaiah 1:18.

In Christian terms it means to actually have a relationship with the God of the universe, such as a loving wife should have with her husband, or a husband with his wife! It is the same relationship that Eve had with Adam before their fall, to be one physically, mentally, and spiritually.

To be equal - yet unequal in some areas - to be truly partners.

Only thus will we be happily "married" to our LORD. Romans 7:4.

Jesus was tested

Jesus was subjected to another bitter test of faith when He was on His way to Jerusalem to be crucified. The devil urged Him through Peter to continue His missionary labours. He even suggested that it could not yet be time to die! But, "It came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem". Luke 9:51. When He had to handle the additional burden of one of His own disciples attempting, in his ignorance of the way of God, to lead Him astray, His reply was quick and to the point. "He turned and said to Peter, Get you behind Me, Satan: you are an offence to Me; for you savour not the things that be of God, but those that be of men". Matthew 16:23.

Satan was saying, "Help these others first, it's what God really wants and needs". But Jesus was not fooled for a moment. He always acted from deep foundation principles, and, knowing that circumstances sometimes alter cases, knew what to do at that time, as Abraham had known in his time.

Conflicting principles

Often two principles - both of which are true - appear to come into conflict with each other, but it is really a matter of timing. It is then that we must know the voice of the Living God as the sheep know the voice of the shepherd. Jesus said, "I am the good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine". John 10:14. When we know His voice above and apart from all others, then we also will be able to endure that which Christ endured.

To be able to do this, means that we must take the responsibility for our own actions (be they good or bad) and not try to blame God or any one else, not even the devil, for them! What it really means is that we must "grow up" and become mature Christians capable of living with a universe of adults who continually co-operate with the Living God. All this is possible, and is made actual, by the power which the heavenly "Husband" brings with Him into the marriage. [See "The Science of Redemption"]

To "follow the Lamb" also means that we will know that our God does not exercise force of any kind on any of His creatures, and consequently, we will not force any other creature in the slightest either! Revelation 14:4. He doesn't want forced obedience, but only the true response or return of true love. Then will we truly not be baal worshippers, for the Baal has the desire to be lord over others.

Thus baal worship is self worship at its worst.

High places

However, we will be baalim ourselves unless we come down from our "high places" of pride and prejudice, and join the meek and lowly One where He is, for it is written, "He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to humble thyself to walk with thy God". Micah 6:8 margin. "Learn of Me", says Jesus, "for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find [Sabbath] rest". Matthew 11:29. We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Sanctification is that process by which we are trained for heaven. This training means that we will obtain a better knowledge of Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. Each one of us must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty and obedience to God.

It is the love of self that brings unrest. But when we are born from above, the same type of mind will be in us that was in Christ Jesus, the mind that led Him to humble Himself that we might be saved. Only thus will we be enabled not to seek the highest place. Rather, we shall then desire to sit humbly at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him. We shall then understand that the value of our work does not consist in making a show and a noise in the world, or in being active and zealous in our own strength. Then we will find as we enter more fully into "rest" through Jesus, that heaven begins here. As we respond to His invitation, "Come, learn of Me", we begin to enjoy the benefits of life eternal, for heaven is but a ceaseless approaching to the Living God through Jesus Christ. [Comment].

We start this approach by simply doing a "Thus says the LORD". This is obedience and duty and corresponds with the physical plane.

However, as we grow "in the LORD" we will learn to distinguish the word of God by its principles, and to recognise these principles in other Scriptures, or in events in and about our lives. All these are God's providences or opportunities, to work on our hearts. Here the ten commandments are useful, for they set out these principles in a very human way. If we follow this higher way, we will be showing benevolence which is obedience with an extra called love, for it includes willingness and is as much above duty as mental is above physical.

The other level

But we must progress even further into the third situation, without laying aside the first two levels. This is true sanctification, having compassion as well as benovolence, and with no burden of duty in it. Here we will know the voice of the true God so well that, even a command such as the one Abraham received by which he was asked to "offer up" Isaac would not confuse us as to what God really means! Moses heard the words, "I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people: Now therefore, LET ME ALONE, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: AND I SHALL MAKE OF THEE A GREAT NATION". Exodus 32:9-10. In apparent disobedience to the command, he stood his ground and "argued" with his LORD!

Knowing the character of Him who is "Merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin", he realised that what he thought he heard could not be what his LORD intended. Exodus 34:6-7. Under the inspiration of the Spirit of God he interpreted, "Let Me alone", to mean, "Stand and talk with Me until you understand the situation". And the words, "I shall make of you a great nation", caused an immediate natural re-action through his love for his fellows. It gave him that much more "faith" to stand and inquire! [Comment].

What a pity it was that he so soon lost his understanding and followed the baal again!! This is written for our understanding,

"And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh to the camp, that he saw the calf [which was really a powerful young animal, full of strength and power, a convincing symbol of the baal], and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed [scattered] it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it". Exodus 32:19-20.

Thus we can see how easy it is to forget the LORD and follow the lord, even for one like Moses! Later, his Saviour subtly rebuked him for his action by requiring him to cut out and carry up the mountain two heavy replacement stones! Exodus 34:1-4.

Would Jesus have behaved like this if He had been there? When He had similar opportunity, He did not use it. He had a small whip in His hand one day in the temple at Jerusalem, but this was simply to show that power under the control of the Living God is not used against the transgressor. The priests, merchants and money-changers ran from His presence under the influence of their guilty minds, not because He might hit them, for what could one man have done against so many? John 2:15.

Harmless messengers

Our Saviour recognised His time to die, and knew that He was leaving the work of God in the hands of His so very faulty disciples. Could we do the same? If we can't, then we are baalim and trying to run the work ourselves!

"Behold", said Jesus, "I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves". Matthew 10:16. Christ Himself did not suppress one word of truth, but when He spoke it was always in love. He exercised the greatest tact and thoughtful, kind attention in His dealings with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. Neither did He censure human weakness. John 8:11. He fearlessly denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity, but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes. He wept over Jerusalem, the city He loved, that refused to receive Him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Matthew 23:37. They rejected Him, the only Saviour, but He regarded them with such pitying tenderness, and sorrow so deep that it broke His heart. Every soul was precious in His eyes. While He always bore Himself with divine dignity, He bowed with tenderest regard to every member of the family of God, saint or sinner, for in all of them He saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save. John 13:3-5.

Because of this, during His ministry Jesus devoted more time to healing the sick, than to preaching. His miracles testify to the truth of His words, that he came not to destroy but to save. Luke 19:10. His righteousness went before him, and the glory of the LORD was left behind Him. Isaiah 58:8. Wherever He went, the tidings of His mercy preceded Him. Where He had passed, the objects of His compassion were to be found rejoicing in health, and making trial of their new-found powers. Crowds collected around them to hear from their lips the works Christ had wrought. His voice was the first sound that many had ever heard, His name the first word some had ever spoken, His face the first others had ever looked upon. Why should they not love Jesus, and sound His praise? As He passed through the towns and cities He was like a vital current, diffusing life and joy wherever He went.

His real followers are to labour as He did. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the suffering and afflicted. We are to minister to the despairing, and inspire hope in the hopeless, and every day His Spirit will tell us what to do, how to do it, and when to do it, as He was told. Isaiah 50:4. It is in this way that we truly worship and praise Him. Matthew 25:35-40. Then to us also, the promise will be fulfilled, "Your righteousness shall go before you; and the glory of the Lord shall be your rearward". Isaiah 58:8. The love of Christ, manifested in unselfish ministry in His disciples, will be more effective in reforming an evil-doer than will the sword or the court of justice.

The "wrath" of God

We, as servants of Christ, should not act out the dictates of our former natural desires in following the baalim. But we will need to have close communion with the Living God, for without this, self will rise up under provocation, and we will pour forth a torrent of words that are unbefitting, that are not as dew or the still showers that refresh the withering plants. This is what Satan wants us to do, for these are his methods. It is the dragon that has earthly "wrath". It is the spirit of Satan that is revealed in anger and accusation. Revelation 12:12-17; Zechariah 3:1.

God's "wrath" (heavenly wrath) is actually a loving invitation to us to seek the real truth, the real way, of the God of the universe. God's servants are to be representatives of Him, therefore He desires us to deal only in the currency of heaven, the truth that bears His image and superscription. The power by which we are to overcome evil is the power, or the love, of Christ. The glory of Jesus Christ is our strength. We are to fix our eyes upon His loveliness. Then we can verily present the gospel with divine tact and gentleness. When our spirit is kept gentle under provocation, it will speak more effectively in favour of the truth than will any argument, however forcible. [Comment].

Therefore Satan's influence is constantly exerted upon us to distract our senses, control our minds for evil, and incite us to violence and crime. With this he weakens our body, darkens our intellect, and attempts to debase us with his ideas and practices. Luke 8:22-29. Whenever men and women reject the Saviour's invitation, they automatically yield themselves to Satan, the Baal. Multitudes in every way of life, in the home, in business, and even in the church, are doing this today!

It is because of this that violence and crime have overspread the earth, and moral darkness, like the pall of death, hangs over the habitations of men. Isaiah 8:22. Through his specious or illusory temptations, Satan leads men, women and children to worse and worse evils, until utter depravity and ruin are the results as they were in the days of Noah. We are told, "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually". Genesis 6:5. Jesus said, "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be". Matthew 24:37. The only safeguard against the power of this temptation is in having the living presence of Jesus in our lives, as the mad man found out. Luke 8:35-36.

The mad man of Gadarene

This man's deliverance highlights the difference between Christ and His adversary. Jesus was there to save the one who had been His enemy, while Satan did not care what happened even to those who were on his side. It was he who caused the pigs to rush to their doom in the vain hope that their death would injure the cause of God. [Comment]. Although Satan was temporarily successful, and Jesus was asked to go away by the people, later when He returned they were anxious to know more because of the healed man's testimony. Luke 8:37-40.

Before men and angels Satan has repeatedly been revealed as man's enemy and destroyer, and Christ, as man's Friend and Deliverer.

Which one do you follow?

The place of the law in all this

The character of the Living God is expressed in His law, and in order for us to be in harmony with God, the principles of that law must be the foundation of all our actions. To the words of Jesus, "Keep the commandments", a rich young man questioned, "Which?" Matthew 19:17-18. Christ was speaking of the law given at Mt. Sinai and He mentioned several of the commandments from the second tablet - those which deal with our behaviour towards each other. The man answered without hesitation, "All these things have I kept from my youth up; what lack I yet?" It was true that to a great degree his outward life had been free from guilt, and he really thought that his obedience had been without a flaw. Yet he had an inner conviction that all was not right between him and God as it is set out on the first tablet, and it was this that prompted his question. Jesus answered him, "If you will be perfect, go and sell what you have and give to the poor ... and come and follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions [and loved them very much]". Verses 20-22.

The lover of self is a transgressor of the law.

This is what Jesus desired to reveal to the man, therefore He gave him a test which would clearly reveal the selfishness hidden in his heart. He showed him the plague spot in his character, but the young man desired no further enlightenment. He had cherished an idol in his mind and the love of its treasures was his real worship. He professed to be a follower of the Living God and to keep His commandments, but was destitute of the principle which is the very spirit and life of them all. He did not possess true love for God or man. With what earnest, anxious longing, did the Saviour look at that young man, hoping that he would yield to the invitation of the Spirit! But to give up his visible earthly treasure for the heavenly treasure that was unseen except by faith, was too great a risk for him. He refused the offer of eternal life and went away. Ever after the world and its lord were to receive his worship, and Jesus could do no more for it had to be the man's free choice.

Thousands today are still passing through this ordeal, weighing Christ against the pleasures and riches of this world; and most choose the world, saying in their hearts, "I will not have this Man as my Leader, I will lead myself".

Thus the real choice is - Christ or self - the LORD or the ultimate baal.

Thank God that He has told us that many will come from the grossest error and sin, to take the places of others who have had many opportunities and privileges, but have not prized them. These newcomers will be accounted the chosen of God, elect, and precious. And when Christ comes into His kingdom, they will stand next to His throne. Matthew 8:11-12.

The call through Moses is:

"O Israel, come back to Him whom you have so deeply offended, for on that day [the day of judgment] you will spurn, one and all, the idols of silver and the idols of gold which your own sinful hands have made. Assyria [a nation of baal worshippers] shall fall by the sword, but by no sword of man; a sword that no man wields shall devour him ..."

"Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness and His rulers rule with justice, and a Man shall be [a] refuge from the wind and a Shelter from the tempest; or like runnels of water in dry ground, like the shadow of a great Rock in a thirsty land."

"The eye that can see will not be clouded and the ears that hear will listen, the anxious heart will understand and know, and the man who stammers will at once speak plain. The scoundrel will no longer be thought noble, nor the villain called a prince; for the scoundrel will speak like a scoundrel and will hatch evil in his heart; he is an imposter in all his actions and in his words a liar even to the LORD. He starves the hungry of their food and refuses drink to the thirsty. The villain's ways are villainous and he devises infamous plans to ruin the poor with his lies and deny justice to the needy. But the man of noble mind forms noble designs and stands firm in his nobility".
................................... Isaiah 31:6-9; 32:1-8. The New English Bible.

 

His exhortation through Jeremiah is:

"The word of the LORD came to me:

Go, Make a proclamation that all Jerusalem shall hear [this is a representation of all the faithful]: These are the words of the LORD:

I remember the unfailing devotion of your youth, [when you were new in the faith]. The love of your bridal days, when you followed Me in the wilderness [of temptation], through a land unsown.

Israel then was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest; no one who devoured her went unpunished, evil always overtook them.

This is the very word of the LORD. Listen to the word of the LORD, people of Jacob, families of Israel, one and all. These are the words of the LORD:

What fault did your forefathers find in Me, that they wandered far from Me, pursuing empty phantoms and themselves becoming empty?

That they did not ask, 'Where is the LORD, Who brought us up from Egypt, [a picture of the rebellious world], And led us through the wilderness, through a country of deserts and shifting sands, A country barren and ill-omened, where no man ever trod, no man made his home?’

I [eventually] brought you into a fruitful land [a land of Sabbath rest] to enjoy its fruit and the goodness of it; but when you entered upon it you defiled it and made the home I gave you loathsome.

The priests no longer asked, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who handled the law had no thought of Me, the shepherds of the people rebelled against Me: and the prophets prophesied in the name of Baal and followed gods powerless to help.

Therefore I will bring a charge against you once more, says the LORD, against you and against your descendants. Cross to the coasts and islands of Kittim and see, send to Kedar and consider well, see whether there has been anything like this: Has a nation ever changed its gods although they were no gods?

But My people have exchanged their Glory for a god altogether powerless. Stand aghast at this, you heavens, tremble in utter despair, says the LORD.

Two sins have My people committed: they have forsaken Me, a Spring of living water, And they have hewn out for themselves cisterns, cracked cisterns that can hold no water".

Jeremiah 2:1-13. NEB

 

Therefore His word continues in another place:-

"Come back to Me, apostate children, says the LORD, for I am patient with you, and I will take you, one from a city and two from a clan, and bring you to [the heavenly] Zion. There I will give you shepherds after My own heart, and they shall lead you with knowledge and under- standing. In those days, when you have increased and become fruitful in the land, says the LORD, men shall speak no more of the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD: they shall not think of it nor remember it nor resort to it; it will be needed no more. [The need for any object lesson or ritual will have gone]. At that time [the heavenly] Jerusalem shall be called the Throne of the LORD. All [the saved of the] nations shall gather in [the heavenly] Jerusalem to honour the LORD's name; never again will they follow the prompting of their [former] evil and stubborn hearts. In those days Judah shall join Israel, and together they shall come from a northern land [the land of the baalim] into a land I gave their fathers as their patrimony". ................................................................. Jeremiah 3:14-18. NEB.

 

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This book is the first of a trilogy.

They are:-

No. 1 Which God?

No. 2 That God!

No. 3 Before God?

The last two will be available shortly, we hope!

To Ancient SDA's ............ To "What's New?"