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 | | From: | Steve Goltra | | Subject: | Re: Open View Theism | | Date: | Wed, 19 Jan 2005 14:21:03 GMT |
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 | Dear Muz:
When the Jews were crying for water to drink in Kadesh (Numbers 20:5)
"5. And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in
unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of
pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink."
Moses & Aaron then came before the Lord and received specific instructions
of what to do. Previously Moses had struck the rock with his staff to get
water- a "picture" of the crucifixion of Christ. This time God specifically
instructed him to speak to the rock, and water would come out. This again is
a picture of how we today have access to the Lord, the Holy Spirit that is
provided to us by prayer.
Numbers 20:6-13
"6. And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces:
and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.
7. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
8. Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron
thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give
forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock:
so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
9. And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.
10. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the
rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water
out of this rock?
11. And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock
twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and
their beasts also.
12. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not,
to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not
bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
13. This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove
with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them."
Please note Moses' punishment for not doing what God had instructed Him to
do, for not BELIEVING GOD, and for not treating God as Holy in the site of
the Israelites-it wasn't annihilation, it wasn't excommunication, it was
denial of entry into the promised land. Also of note is that Moses was also
taking the credit with God for fetching the water, when it was actually God
that was doing all of the work.
The Lord's anger has waxed hot against the Israelites many times, but he has
never slayed them, never wiped them out and left just one man because they
are the people of the promise, the blood covenant partners of God Almighty.
However, he has destroyed entire cities because of their iniquity- Sodom &
Gomorrah to name two. At the same time, God's word tells us that he sends
his Prophets to witness of his coming judgment (Just like He sent Jonah to
Nineveh as an example of His mercy). Amos 3:7 tells us of what God does to
warn of impending judgment: " 7. Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but
he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
God bless,
Steve Goltra
"Muz" wrote in message
news:K_9Hd.9823$pZ4.5314@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> >I am not "abandoning my position" on anything.
>
> Well, you failed to deal with the obvious contradiction of your own
> position, so there was no other logical conclusion.
>
>>I read the Bible through 5 times when Iwas in the New Age
>
> I'm glad you found your way to Christ and the indwelling of the Holy
> Spirit. Welcome to the family.
>
>>It is quite
>>clear that what I have posted, as well as other's on this thread, have
> not
>>softened your heart or opened your eyes to the truth.
>
> Ah, yes, the last vestige of the defeated: "God told me that this is
> true, so you must be wrong in spite of my obvious lack of knowledge and
> inability to deal with the problems of my position."
>
> Honestly, Steve, discussion is about an examination of doctrines. Its
> purpose is to bring to the surface the errors and problems with one's
> position so that it may be refined. I've opened up and laid out my
> case, answered your questions, and have found our discussion
> beneficial. I suspect it is you that is unwilling to consider the
> problems we've encountered in your position, having cast it in
> concrete.
>
> I was not honestly expecting you to change your mind as a result of our
> conversation, but I had hoped for something more than this kind of
> conclusion.
>
> Muz
>
>
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