Spies in the Bible.
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There is a lot to learn in the art of espionage within this story. I believe we wage a secret and hidden war that most do not even know about. For the weapons of our warefare are not carnal; And we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places.
I believe the giants in Canaan were Nephilim. As for the grapes being large: Well, they are a bit of a mystery to me. I do know that the pure blood of the grape is representative of Christ.
I believe the giants in Canaan were Nephilim. As for the grapes being large: Well, they are a bit of a mystery to me. I do know that the pure blood of the grape is representative of Christ.
D
Joshua sending his spies out in two's as Christ sent his disciples out in two's the token of peace left with Rahab (for her showing them a kindness) and the peace Jesus tells his disciples to speak forth to a house in the same token. Rahab would have been considered a traitor to her country but she wasnt a traitor of the mesengers of the Lord.
Rahab lied and saved the messengers of the Lord (hiding them from harm) wheres Judas (also a traitor) told the truth as to where the Lord was and betrayed him to his death. I thought that was sort of interesting.
Rahab lied and saved the messengers of the Lord (hiding them from harm) wheres Judas (also a traitor) told the truth as to where the Lord was and betrayed him to his death. I thought that was sort of interesting.
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Meaning they are not guns, knives, or our fists. Many Christians today have the false idea that they need to employ physical means of self defense and or join up with their country's army as a part of God's will. While I believe under the OT, God commanded His people to go to war physically with other nations; I do not believe believers today under the NT are to focus on self defense tactics and or wage war or combat in the same way. So I don't believe in guns and or using my fists to solve life's problems or challenges that are thrown my way.
I have talked extensively on this topic at the following links:
ECT Should Christians use guns? - Theology Online | Christian Forums & More
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/99415-sin-pacifism.html
Anyways, what I am getting at in the fact that our battle is a hidden one is that we wage a war that we and other people cannot see. With the battle ultimately belonging to the Lord: We are in a fight to keep ourselves pure before God and to lead others to Christ. We cannot see the victories of the good the Lord does within us. We do not see God and or his angels helping us in our time of trials. We do not see how what we do with the Lord (being our man of war thru us) and how that conquers more and more the powers of darkness. Our weapons are spiritual. Such as loving God with ever fiber of our being and loving others. Preaching the gospel. Praying for our enemies and doing good unto them. Helping the poor. Being humble before God and admitting our sins and or faults. Not looking to appear outwardly religious to others but seeking approval of only God instead of men. Being as innocent as doves but as wise as serpents. Using all of our spiritual armor that God would always want us to have on (Ephesians 6). Seek God's glory and victory and not our own. For after all, it is His battle. An unseen war that we wage with Him (and for Him). For without Him, we can do nothing. So sound the battle trumpet for the others, my brother; And let the glory be to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe the Nephilim are the offspring between demons and human women. Genesis 3 talks about how the serpent has a seed. 1 Corintihians 15 talks about how there is a natural body and a spiritual body. I believe they are giants who existed before and after the flood. Goliath and his brother were both Nephilim.
Yeah, I get it. A lot of people start to speculate a lot on this one.
I have talked extensively on this topic at the following links:
ECT Should Christians use guns? - Theology Online | Christian Forums & More
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/99415-sin-pacifism.html
Anyways, what I am getting at in the fact that our battle is a hidden one is that we wage a war that we and other people cannot see. With the battle ultimately belonging to the Lord: We are in a fight to keep ourselves pure before God and to lead others to Christ. We cannot see the victories of the good the Lord does within us. We do not see God and or his angels helping us in our time of trials. We do not see how what we do with the Lord (being our man of war thru us) and how that conquers more and more the powers of darkness. Our weapons are spiritual. Such as loving God with ever fiber of our being and loving others. Preaching the gospel. Praying for our enemies and doing good unto them. Helping the poor. Being humble before God and admitting our sins and or faults. Not looking to appear outwardly religious to others but seeking approval of only God instead of men. Being as innocent as doves but as wise as serpents. Using all of our spiritual armor that God would always want us to have on (Ephesians 6). Seek God's glory and victory and not our own. For after all, it is His battle. An unseen war that we wage with Him (and for Him). For without Him, we can do nothing. So sound the battle trumpet for the others, my brother; And let the glory be to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe the Nephilim are the offspring between demons and human women. Genesis 3 talks about how the serpent has a seed. 1 Corintihians 15 talks about how there is a natural body and a spiritual body. I believe they are giants who existed before and after the flood. Goliath and his brother were both Nephilim.
Yeah, I get it. A lot of people start to speculate a lot on this one.
Thank you for that comparison.
However, I do not believe Rahab lied according to God's Word. She used a common tactic of deceiving one's enemy as a part of protecting others from being hurt physically. This tactic is used a lot in war time. For I believe this was a war tactic just like when Joshua was told by the Lord to attack the city of AI in a way that deceived them. Lying is done for selfish reasons to protect only your own behind. For example: Murder is taking another person's life selfishly for your own dark reasons. Suicide is self murder. Yet, if one were to sacrifice their life for others.... it is considered the highest form of love (Sort of like what Jesus Christ did for us).
However, I do not believe Rahab lied according to God's Word. She used a common tactic of deceiving one's enemy as a part of protecting others from being hurt physically. This tactic is used a lot in war time. For I believe this was a war tactic just like when Joshua was told by the Lord to attack the city of AI in a way that deceived them. Lying is done for selfish reasons to protect only your own behind. For example: Murder is taking another person's life selfishly for your own dark reasons. Suicide is self murder. Yet, if one were to sacrifice their life for others.... it is considered the highest form of love (Sort of like what Jesus Christ did for us).
I like David's undercover water task force. In the heat of the battle David was longing for a drink from a certain well so some of his men slipped through enemy lines just to get a cup of water!
I still don't understand why what David did with it wasn't an insult, but I don't know much about sociology of that era.
I still don't understand why what David did with it wasn't an insult, but I don't know much about sociology of that era.
I love that story. The grapes are the New Wine which is the Holy Spirit. The New Wine is brought in by the two... Old Testament and New Testament. The most interesting part of that story to me is that the ones who put their faith in the 10 witnesses (think about the law being represented by 10) could not enter the promised land, only the ones who believed the account of the 2 witnesses (think about the bible, Old Testament and New Testament) could enter the promised land. The gospel in the Old Testament.
D
She is commended for her faith, and faith works by love, and love does no harm to another, most especially a messenger of God, therefore she DID nothing against the truth, and when she lied in what she said (to protect and show a kindness, as Sarah did Abraham) I didnt say it wasnt justified. Sarah just gave a half truth in obedience to Abraham (and in order to protect his life and show him a kindness).
In both Rahab and Paul the messengers are shown escaping either a king of a garrison (and Im sure whoever lowere Paul down through a window was likely sending the garrison off in a whole other direction then the one Paul went (while escaping).
Its just about which side you are and which side you with (or against)
Jesus asked which is lawful to save or destroy a life? Rahab saved the messengers and she and her household were saved also
In both Rahab and Paul the messengers are shown escaping either a king of a garrison (and Im sure whoever lowere Paul down through a window was likely sending the garrison off in a whole other direction then the one Paul went (while escaping).
Its just about which side you are and which side you with (or against)
Jesus asked which is lawful to save or destroy a life? Rahab saved the messengers and she and her household were saved also
Here is my favorite spy story.
Article Source:
Blank Title - Home
God's Undercover Agent
By Rev. Darren Edgington
As a young child, the Mission Impossible television programs tantalized me. I couldn’t wait to watch the next nail-biting episode. I can recall the introductory music, and can visualize the puff of smoke as the mysterious tape self-destructed in five seconds. There was something delightfully intriguing about the life of a secret agent.
Our best efforts to portray the mystery of espionage cannot ever supercede God’s story. The unveiling of God’s undercover agent makes the best episode of Mission Impossible quite trivial.
The superstar of God’s story is of course Jesus of Nazareth. Those who came into contact with him often wondered out loud, “What manner of man is this?” *He appeared ordinary. But in reality, he was far from it.
In many Mission Impossible episodes a spy would peel off a fake mask. *Beneath they were really someone else. Jesus’ identity is far more mysterious.
In the fullness of time the Bible declares that the eternal Son of God took to himself a complete human nature, not a mere mask. In the manger in Bethlehem was what appeared to be just another baby. But Jesus was more than meets the eye. *God and man – the perfect union of two natures in one person - now that is some mystery!
God’s secret agent veiled his unique identity throughout his life. He even spoke to the masses in parabolic forms of speech so that, “though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand” (Luke 8:10). His Father also participated in the cover-up, hiding things from the wise and intelligent (Luke 10:21).
Frequently after performing some jaw-dropping miracle, Jesus stated that his identity must remain a secret. He repeated this order at one critical juncture. He had drawn his disciples aside to inquire about their opinion regarding his identity. Peter correctly asserted that the Jesus was the long-expected Jewish Messiah, the Christ. It is noteworthy that Jesus immediately “warned them not to tell anyone about him” (Mark 8:30).
Put yourself in one of the disciple’s sandals for a moment. Can you imagine knowing with certainty that Jesus was the Christ that everyone had been waiting for, then not being able to tell anyone? *This is front-page news! Why must they be silent?
At that time Jesus began to unravel the purpose of his undercover operation, but only to the inner circle. His mission to Jerusalem requires a special task: “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this” (Mark 8:31-32).
Jesus sequestered the disciples on two more occasions and explained the details of God’s mysterious plan. It is obvious from the text that they remained in the dark.
Why was Jesus so careful to retain this undercover status?
The people wanted the messianic king to deliver them from Roman tyranny (and the disciples all wanted a prominent cabinet position!). The problem was that they had predetermined the nature of his mission. Jesus would not allow any man to dictate his role. He was God’s agent. He would not be deterred from God’s mission.
Jesus’ words in Mark 10:45 define why he came: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
What the disciples failed to grasp is that the expected messianic Lion is also the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 – the Lamb of God who is pierced for our transgressions. The eternal Son went undercover so he could lay down his life on Calvary. *The ransom price for many had to be paid. *Prevailing misconceptions must not be allowed to keep him from fulfilling his mission.
After the resurrection and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment at Pentecost, the formerly confused disciples proclaimed Jesus’ identity and mission with vigor. And what was central in their message? Jesus Christ, and him crucified. No cross . . . no Christianity.
The undercover agent had a dual identity. The royal Lion is also the pierced Lamb. What an intriguing mystery!
By Rev. Darren Edgington
As a young child, the Mission Impossible television programs tantalized me. I couldn’t wait to watch the next nail-biting episode. I can recall the introductory music, and can visualize the puff of smoke as the mysterious tape self-destructed in five seconds. There was something delightfully intriguing about the life of a secret agent.
Our best efforts to portray the mystery of espionage cannot ever supercede God’s story. The unveiling of God’s undercover agent makes the best episode of Mission Impossible quite trivial.
The superstar of God’s story is of course Jesus of Nazareth. Those who came into contact with him often wondered out loud, “What manner of man is this?” *He appeared ordinary. But in reality, he was far from it.
In many Mission Impossible episodes a spy would peel off a fake mask. *Beneath they were really someone else. Jesus’ identity is far more mysterious.
In the fullness of time the Bible declares that the eternal Son of God took to himself a complete human nature, not a mere mask. In the manger in Bethlehem was what appeared to be just another baby. But Jesus was more than meets the eye. *God and man – the perfect union of two natures in one person - now that is some mystery!
God’s secret agent veiled his unique identity throughout his life. He even spoke to the masses in parabolic forms of speech so that, “though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand” (Luke 8:10). His Father also participated in the cover-up, hiding things from the wise and intelligent (Luke 10:21).
Frequently after performing some jaw-dropping miracle, Jesus stated that his identity must remain a secret. He repeated this order at one critical juncture. He had drawn his disciples aside to inquire about their opinion regarding his identity. Peter correctly asserted that the Jesus was the long-expected Jewish Messiah, the Christ. It is noteworthy that Jesus immediately “warned them not to tell anyone about him” (Mark 8:30).
Put yourself in one of the disciple’s sandals for a moment. Can you imagine knowing with certainty that Jesus was the Christ that everyone had been waiting for, then not being able to tell anyone? *This is front-page news! Why must they be silent?
At that time Jesus began to unravel the purpose of his undercover operation, but only to the inner circle. His mission to Jerusalem requires a special task: “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this” (Mark 8:31-32).
Jesus sequestered the disciples on two more occasions and explained the details of God’s mysterious plan. It is obvious from the text that they remained in the dark.
Why was Jesus so careful to retain this undercover status?
The people wanted the messianic king to deliver them from Roman tyranny (and the disciples all wanted a prominent cabinet position!). The problem was that they had predetermined the nature of his mission. Jesus would not allow any man to dictate his role. He was God’s agent. He would not be deterred from God’s mission.
Jesus’ words in Mark 10:45 define why he came: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
What the disciples failed to grasp is that the expected messianic Lion is also the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 – the Lamb of God who is pierced for our transgressions. The eternal Son went undercover so he could lay down his life on Calvary. *The ransom price for many had to be paid. *Prevailing misconceptions must not be allowed to keep him from fulfilling his mission.
After the resurrection and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment at Pentecost, the formerly confused disciples proclaimed Jesus’ identity and mission with vigor. And what was central in their message? Jesus Christ, and him crucified. No cross . . . no Christianity.
The undercover agent had a dual identity. The royal Lion is also the pierced Lamb. What an intriguing mystery!
Article Source:
Blank Title - Home
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as it is written, whoever God wants to save, He saves, .... whoever He wants to continue having a hard heart, He hardens their heart ....
and
whoever blesses God's people(or blesses Yahshua(Jesus)) being first of all, obviously), God blesses,
whoever seeks to harm God's people, God destroys(curses).
His people didn't and don't figure out by man's ways what to do, not by man's wisdom nor man's knowledge nor by man's reasoning (all of which God poopahs),
but by doing what is right in God's sight. God simply tells His children what is right, so simple.
and
whoever blesses God's people(or blesses Yahshua(Jesus)) being first of all, obviously), God blesses,
whoever seeks to harm God's people, God destroys(curses).
His people didn't and don't figure out by man's ways what to do, not by man's wisdom nor man's knowledge nor by man's reasoning (all of which God poopahs),
but by doing what is right in God's sight. God simply tells His children what is right, so simple.
Again, I do not think we can use the same word "lie" as if it was a breaking of one of God's Commandment. For in Revelation 21:8, it says all liars will have their part in the Lake of Fire. Meaning, there is a difference between lying to cover up your own selfishness versus using a tactic of deception during the art of war in order to save other lives and or protect your people.
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Well, if that were true, then Jesus beared false witness about His true identity to everyone. Jesus was God Almighty in the flesh. While Christ did say things to the Jews that would let them know He was God (Whereby they wanted to stone him for it), not everyone understood it. Jesus did not make an open show in using His powers as God. So no. Lying is for selfish and wrong reasons.
Also, Rahab did not break the 9th Commandment and lie, either. She was using the art of war in protecting the interests of God's people. For she did not lie to protect herself or to cover up another sin or anything of that nature.
For in war time or in protecting your loved ones or God's people, a person can use the art of war to defend that which is good. This sometimes unfortunately involves deceiving and or eliminating your enemy; However, these things are not done out of selfish ambition, but they are done in order to preserve innocent lives or to protect the common good.
For the Hebrew midwives had lied to the Pharoah's servants to protect the innocent (Exodus 1).
And King David pretended he was crazy when he was not crazy in front of the enemy king of Gath named "Achish" (1 Samuel 21:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15).
Also, Elisha deceived the enemy when they were blinded by lying about where he was taking them. (2 Kings 6:19)
In addition in Joshua 8:
Joshua himself went in battle against the city of Ai, they pretended that they were being defeated and they retreated. They weren’t being defeated—it was a trap. The Israelites deceived them.
For in war time or in protecting your loved ones or God's people, a person can use the art of war to defend that which is good. This sometimes unfortunately involves deceiving and or eliminating your enemy; However, these things are not done out of selfish ambition, but they are done in order to preserve innocent lives or to protect the common good.
For the Hebrew midwives had lied to the Pharoah's servants to protect the innocent (Exodus 1).
And King David pretended he was crazy when he was not crazy in front of the enemy king of Gath named "Achish" (1 Samuel 21:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15).
Also, Elisha deceived the enemy when they were blinded by lying about where he was taking them. (2 Kings 6:19)
In addition in Joshua 8:
Joshua himself went in battle against the city of Ai, they pretended that they were being defeated and they retreated. They weren’t being defeated—it was a trap. The Israelites deceived them.
Please take note that God told Joshua to lay an ambush for the army at Ai. If you were to read the chapter, this ambush involved deception. In other words, God was telling Joshua to deceive their enemies as a part of the art of war.
However, if a certain spirit was telling Joshua to lie so as to cover up a sin and or his own embarrassment or shame about something, then that would be a wrong spirit who was trying to make Joshua break the 9th Commandment.
However, if a certain spirit was telling Joshua to lie so as to cover up a sin and or his own embarrassment or shame about something, then that would be a wrong spirit who was trying to make Joshua break the 9th Commandment.
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