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Why So Many Gods?

 Mycenae was a location in Greece.  In fact, it was the location of the first Greeks. That was about 3000 BC.

The civilization in Mycenae was so religious.  They worshipped whom they thought were powerful, or fearful, or mysterious. They worshipped:-

ZEUS, the king of the gods.

POSEIDON, the god of the sea.

ATHENA, the goddess of wisdom.

APOLLO also known as PAIAN, the god of light, healing, music, and poetry.

HERMES, the messenger of gods.

ARTEMIS, the goddess of hunting.

HERA, Zeus' consort.

MAKA, the goddess associated with animals.

POTNIA, the goddess associated with agriculture.

DEMETER and PERSEPHONE, goddesses of food, grain and agriculture.

Wow, where did all these gods and goddesses come from!  The ancient Greeks had so many gods to serve! 

Abraham who served only ONE God, would have rolled his eyes in disbelief!

 

How Tall Is The Tower To Heaven?

Gen 11:4  "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name;  lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." 

That happened after the Noah's family flourished after the flood.  Probably around 2000 BC.

There were many other civilizations in that Middle Eastern region then.  There was Ur, between Babylon and the Persian Gulf.

The Ziggurat of Ur was built around 2000 BC by King Ur-Nammu.  This was not the only ziggurat in that region, there were other ziggurats besides this.  Seeing ziggurats around them, no wonder Noah's Israelite community wanted to build a 'Tower' too.  No need to consult God or to ask permission.  (By the way, 'tall tower to reach into heaven' does not literally mean so high as to reach heaven.  It simply means a very tall tower.)

This attitude is common in all humans - do what we think is right - just do it !

But God has His own plan.

(Note:  The best-preserved ziggurat is at Ur (Iraq). The largest ziggurat is at Choghā Zanbīl (Iran).  Another ziggurat, apparently of great antiquity, is located at Tepe Sialk (Iran). The legendary Tower of Babel has been popularly associated with the ziggurat of the great temple of Marduk (Babylon).

Giving Up What Is Most Precious

 Genesis 22:2:  And God said to Abraham, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."

This happened around 1800 BC to 1500 BC.  Abraham worshipped his God.  There were other civilizations scattered all over the world.  The other communities worshipped their own gods.

To appease their gods, and goaded on by their priests, it was normal for the other communities to sacrifice their most precious possessions to their gods.  What were their most precious possessions?  - Their children's lives.  Child sacrifice was not uncommon.  

Abraham would not have been very surprised by God's request.  But it had a happy ending.

Read this excerpt, from the book "VANISHED CIVILIZATIONS", on the ancient ritual of child sacrifice carried out in the defunct civilization at Carthage.  This could be what happened in ancient civilizations:

"Sacrifices took place at night before a great bronze statue of the supreme god Baal Hammon.  The parents brought their sacrificial child to the site - an infant between two and three years old, sometimes older.  The ceremony  included loud music and a great deal of festivities, and at the appropriate moment the child was taken by a priest to have his or her throat slit in a secret ritual.  The body was then placed on the statue's outstretched arms, from which it rolled off into the flames of a fire.  During the crisis in the 4th century when Agathocles besieged Carthage, 200 children are said to have been sacrificed."

In Christ, it was the reverse -  God sent His Son as a sacrifice to die on the cross to save us. Hallelujah!

(Picture:  The Diocletian Palace at Split/Croatia, built for Roman Emperor Diocletian.)

Who Kept The Dead Sea Scrolls

It could be around AD 80 when the Jewish historian Josephus visited Qumran, beside the Dead Sea.

Just a few decades after Christ's ascension, many of his disciples and followers travelled near and far and everywhere to spread the Good News of salvation, first to the Jews and also to the non-Jews.  They were in a hurry because they were expecting Christ's return in a short while.

But the expectation of Christ's return also gave rise to another response - some believers turned to a quiet ascetic lifestyle.

Josephus described the Essene community at Qumran. "After prayers before dawn, each member would set to a task in which he was skilled.  Before noon, they would assemble, washed with cold water to purify themselves to eat a simple meal.  Then they resumed work until the evening meal.  The silence within seems like some dread mystery; it stems from their permanent sobriety and the restriction of their food and drink to the bare necessities."

The study of scriptural law and prayer were among the chief occupations at this Essene community at Qumran.  A common thread of their faith was a sense that the apocalypse was about to strike.  The sect believed that God's vengeance would soon be unleashed on the unfaithful, and that they alone would survive the Day of Judgement.

We need to thank this Essene community for hiding the scriptural scrolls for posterity. 

(Paraphrased and gleaned from the book "Vanished Civilizations")

Civilizations: Rise and Fall

So many civilizations have vanished.

I have been reading this Reader's Digest book that documented 40 civilizations that had vanished.  The earliest civilizations, like the one in Catal Huyuk, existed around 7,100 BC, over 9,000 years ago.

The Bible is not a book on world history.  The Old Testament tells us the origin of the Jewish people.  They originated from the 12 sons of Jacob also known as Israel, and by extension, originated from Adam and Eve, some 21 generations earlier, or around 4,000 BC. (Gen 1 to Gen 24)

But there were many civilizations and communities in the world before Adam and Eve.

This book on vanished civilizations is amazing.

How can I be a Prophet?

"Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."  1Cor 14:1 NASB version.

I was confused by this verse for a very long time.  Me?  Prophesize?  Like Elijah or Elisha or Jeremiah or Jonah?  Going around telling people when war will come, when the world will end, when this and that will happen?  No way!

Later, I learnt that there are 2 meanings to 'prophesy' (or prophecy).  2 types of prophets:

Prophet Type A:  Predicts the future based on divine revelation or inspiration.  That was what Elijah and Elisha and Isaiah and Jeremiah did.  They told the Israelites "If you continue with your wicked ways, you will be destroyed.  The Assyrians or Babylonians would attack you.  You would become slaves, etc.

Prophet Type B:  1 Cor 14:1 Today's English Version is clearer:  "It is love, then, that you should strive for.  Set your hearts on spiritual gifts, especially the gift of proclaiming God's message."

Now I understand.  I was told to desire the spiritual gift of prophesy Type B, which is gift of proclaiming God's message.  Not predicting future events.  Not going around telling people when Rapture or the Third World War will take place, or when Christ will return.

Simply proclaim God's message.  That was what Abraham did, what Moses did, what Aaron and his sister Mariam did.  No wonder they were also called 'prophets'. (Genesis 20:7, Exodus 7:1, Exodus 15:20)

We all can do a bit of Prophet Type B.  Simple proclaim God's message of Jesus Christ.

(Photo:  My favorite mountain, Mt Fuji.  Majestic and standalone)

EASTER without COVID - Because He lives.

Today is Good Friday.  The mood is sombre not just because Christ was crucified on the cross this day years ago, but also because we are in the midst of a 'Lockdown' due to the COVID19 pandemic.

Today I read 1 Chronicles 21 verse 7 onwards.  Let me paraphrase below:

   God was displeased with what King David had done.  So He punished Israel.  
   David said to God, "I have committed a terrible sin in doing this! Please forgive me..."
   But God asked Gad the prophet.  "Go and tell David that I am giving him 3 choices of punishment.  I will do whichever he chooses."
   The 3 choices were a) 3 years of famine, b) 3 months of running away from the armies of your enemies, c) 3 days during which the Lord attacks you with His sword and sends an epidemic on your land.
   David replied to Gad the prophet.  "I am in a desperate situation! But I don't want to be punished by men.  Let the Lord Himself be the one to punish me BECAUSE HE IS MERCIFUL."
   So the Lord sent an epidemic on the people of Israel, and 70,000 of them died.  Then He sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but He CHANGED HIS MIND and said to the angel, "Stop! That's enough!"
   David saw the angel standing in midair, holding his sword in his hand, ready to destroy Jerusalem.
   David prayed, "Oh God, I am the one who did wrong, I am the one who ordered the census.  What have these poor people done?  Lord, my God, punish me and my family, and spare your people."

This is truly a sad story about God's righteousness.  God WAS a tough discipline master.  When the Israelites sinned, He punished them.

But all these had changed.  With Good Friday and Easter, when God's people sin, Jesus was the one who got punished.  He was hung on the cross.  God's people would not suffer an epidemic from God anymore.

So, dear friends, DO NOT SAY that this COVID19 PANDEMIC is an act of God.  It is not an act of God -- because Christ died on Good Friday and was raised on Easter.

This is the Dispensation of God's Grace.

(Photo: Mostar Stari Bridge, Bosnia. 2019)

Virus and Sovereign Lord

In the Bible (New International Version), the words 'Sovereign Lord' appeared 289 times.  God is sovereign.  He is in control.

So why did He allow COVID19 virus to wreck havoc on our beautiful blue planet?  Thousands have died.  And thousands more will die.

Although God is sovereign, in this Dispensation of Grace, His answer and His solution is always in Jesus Christ, whom He sent to die for human's sins.

So if humans wrecked havoc and released viruses, God would not stop humans from doing that. The viruses were not released by God who is all-loving.  God simply allows humans to have their way.

Humans must pray to God for help during this topsy turvy period.   "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5.16. (Photo: Blue Planet)

Dispensation of Law vs Grace

The Book of Jeremiah is a beautiful story.

During the Dispensation of Law, when Israelites sinned, God would punish them.  (See my previous blog entry.)

Because the Israelites sinned against God again and again, God punished them.  Jerusalem collapsed in BC 587 and the Israelites were exiled under the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.  Jeremiah was the prophet who saw all these events.  He was an emotional man, and had the painful task of warning, instructing and consoling the Israelites during this historical lowest point.

Jer 21:5-7 - God's Punishment.  "I will fight against you with all my might, my anger, my wrath, and my fury...I will let all of you be captured by king Nebuchadnezzar and by your enemies, who want to kill you...will not spare any of you or show mercy or pity to any of you..."

Jer 29:10 - The Restoration.  "When 70 years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place..."

Jer 32:38-42 - The Consolation. "And they shall be My people, and I will be their God;  and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always for their own good... Just as I brought all this calamity on this people, so I am going to bring them all the good that I am promising them..."

The Israelites returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple around 520 BC.

Fortunately we are now in the Dispensation of Grace.  We are lucky.  We do not need to go through this cycle of sin and punishment anymore.  Because, by grace, Christ has borne all our punishment by dying on the cross for us.  Give Thanks (Jer 33:11).

The 7 Dispensations and Rapture

Bible scholars tried to understand His story by dividing it into 7 or 8 Dispensations. We are now in the Dispensation of GRACE, which ends when Rapture takes place.

According to the bible, Rapture is when the people of God are taken away.  It's like, "I tell you, on that night two people on the same bed, one will be taken away, the other left behind." Luke 17:24.

It is important to understand that we are in the Dispensation of Grace and no longer the Dispensation of Law.  It affects how we read the Old Testament and the New Testament.

In this Dispensation, God no longer punish us for our sins  -  because Christ has already died on the cross as punishment for our sins.  Accept Christ.

Here is another Chart on the Seven Dispensations.

COVID19 for all. Take care.

"For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and give rain to those who do good and to those who do evil." Matt 5:45.

Jesus' words are clear.  His followers and ardent believers are not exempted.  When there is Sars or COVID19 in the community, everyone is affected.  Everyone is at risk.  The churches and ardent Christians are not exempted.

So are other instances of disasters and mishaps.  All are affected - the good the bad the ugly, and all God's people.

But God's people do have one option which atheists do not have:  They can pray to God for divine help, and God will response as He sees fit.  God is all-loving.   AGAPE
(Photo: Church in Zagreb / Croatia)

 

Omnipresent but not there !!

God is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient.  That's what we were taught. God is all-present, all-powerful and all-knowing.

But these 3 words are not found in the bible.

I believe God is such.  However, there is a slight twist to the interpretations of these 3 words. God is all-present, but sometimes He is not there.  God is all-powerful, but there are things that He could not do.  God is all-knowing, but there are things that He does not know beforehand.  I give you just a few examples:

God is all-present, but sometimes He is not there.  When hundreds of innocent people, praying people, were killed whether in a plane clash or in a tsunami or in an earthquake, most likely God was not there in that short moment.  Otherwise the all-loving God would have saved the innocent.  By the way, when Satan tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden, God was not there too. (He later came and asked "Did you eat the fruit...?" Gen 3:8-11)

God is all-powerful, but there are things He could not do or do not want to do.  God cannot make Abraham Lincoln alive and be the President of America again.  God cannot change the past since past is passed.  God cannot, or do not want to, stop King Solomon from worshipping the idols worshipped by his wives and concubines (1 Kings 11:1-10).

God is all-knowing, but after giving men their free-will, He does not know when the hearts of men will change. God agreed to anoint Saul as King of Israel, considering that a good choice.  But Saul turned very bad and sinful.  God was sorry and regretted (1 Sam 15:35).  God did not know beforehand.

Yet, notwithstanding this new understanding of omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient,  our God is a real God.  He had sent His Son Jesus Christ to reconcile us with Him.  He is a loving God.  Thanks be to God.   (Zagreb / Croatia)

Treachery and Conspiracy (1Kings1)

The Bible is my favorite book. Some passages are more interesting than Hong Kong or Taiwan TV dramas.

1 Kings 1 started with a teaser and quickly followed with a treachery and a conspiracy.

Please read the teaser (1 Kings 1:1-4) on your own. It's funny.

The Treachery:
So just before King David passed away, son Adonijah acted quickly.  He conferred with Joab the general, Abiathar the priest and other close allies. Adonijah sacrificed to God, and organized a grand event to parade his own coronation to replace David.  He was going to win the throne,  never mind all the other brothers and step-brothers from King David's other marriages.

The Conspiracy:
Now Bathsheba is not going to take this hands down.  "What about my son Solomon?" she was worried.  So she consulted with Nathan the prophet.  They came up with a plan.  Bathsheba were to present her case before the dying King David, and while she was there, Nathan were to join in to add oil to fire.
Verse 15 onwards:
So Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king.  The king said, "What do you wish?"
And she said to him, "My lord, you swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God, saying "Surely your son Solomon shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne." …..
And behold, while she was still speaking, Nathan the prophet came in.
Then Nathan said to David, "My lord the king, have you said 'Adonijah shall be king after me?... For ... today.. behold...they are eating and drinking before him, and they shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah''".

To cut the story short, King David crowned Solomon as king instead of Adonijah.  Thereafter, king Solomon executed Adonijah.

Nice story, right?
Go on, read the Bible, all of it !!  Enjoy !!

(Beautiful Jeju / Korea)