Year: 2011

Bible

Don’t be a Pain in the Butt

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date September 13, 2011

When I study the Bible, I use multiple versions (translations), depending on my mood and goals. One version that I seldom use, however, is the New King James Version (NKJV). There’s no particular reason, it’s just how things have worked out.

There is only one passage that I have memorized using the NKJV. It is 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, the“”prayer of Jabez,” which reads:

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”

Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

I like this rendering because, unlike the over versions I’ve checked, the reoccurring word “pain” connects his past — his birth — with his hope for the future. To make my point, consider a couple of tweaks in today’s vernacular:

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother had nicknamed him “hemorrhoid’ and always called him a “pain in the butt,” because his birth was so painful.

Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may no longer be viewed as a pain in the butt!” So God granted him what he requested.

The mother of Jabez gave him a terrible legacy — and the God of Jabez took it away!

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

Tags Jabez, prayer, Prayer of Jabez

Bible

A Different Perspective on the Bible

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date September 8, 2011
No Comments on A Different Perspective on the Bible

In one of the blogs I read, someone posted a comment. The message only somewhat tied in with the topic and the back link was to an unrelated website.

I dislike the idea of giving the author’s rant any more exposure by repeating it, but once its invective nature is set aside, there is both truth and insight within. Here is the comment:

“The bible is a poorly edited anthology of 3rd Century literature. Calling it ‘God’s Word’ perpetuates the church’s fraud.”

poorly edited: Yes, the Bible is poorly edited. In fact, aside from what is necessary in the process of translation, the intent is that it is not edited at all. This is a good thing.

anthology: An anthology is a collection of literary works. With the Bible’s creation spanning a couple of millennia and written by about 40 authors, it is definitely an anthology.

third century: This is only somewhat correct and a great oversimplification. The components of the New Testament were being compiled in its present assemblage in the third century, even though that effort started a couple of centuries prior. The contents of the Old Testament were assembled much earlier. The actual writing of the various sections (called “books”) of the Bible, however, certainly predates the third century.

literature: The Bible is literature — great literature, in my opinion. Based on worldwide sales, it is the most popular literary work ever.

God’s Word: Yes, this is what many people call it.

perpetuates the church: the Bible is a resource that propels the church forward, though I believe that could happen even without the Bible.

fraud: the Bible acknowledges that its message will seem like foolishness and be offensive to those who don’t understand it, so the writer’s conclusion is consistent with what the Bible predicts.

My only hope is that the author who penned this comment will one day see fit to change the final word from “fraud” to “faith.”

Tags church

Bible

More Thoughts on Balaam

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date September 6, 2011

In reading the story of Balaam, it is difficult to see what he may have done wrong. Indeed, based on this record alone, he seems like an upstanding guy. Therefore, we can only speculate as to what his error might have been.

However, there are several other references to Balaam in the Bible. These all portray him in a negative light. Consider that Balaam:

Practiced divination (and was ultimately killed for doing so).
Taught and advised Israel’s enemies on how to distract them from God and sin against him.
Was willing to do the wrong thing, as long as there was remuneration.
Tried to curse Israel, which God turned it into a blessing. (This would explain why the king gave him three chances to issue a curse and why the king blamed God for Balaam not receiving his promised reward).

This certainly provides a different view of Balaam. Apparently he wasn’t so good after all. As such, he exemplifies an ungodly man within the church, just as Jude said.

[Numbers 22-24, Joshua 13:22, Revelation 2:14, Numbers 31:16, 2 Peter 2:15, Joshua 24:9-10, Deuteronomy 23:4-5]

Tags Balaam, Jude

Bible

The Error of Balaam

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date September 1, 2011

We’ve covered Cain’s path and Korah’s rebellion; now it is time to address Balaam’s error.

Frankly, I am perplexed as to what Balaam’s error actually was. In reading his saga, I see a man who affirmed God as “my God,” heard God’s voice, and fully obeyed God’s instructions. Indeed Balaam had a better track record them me.

God told Balaam to not go and he stayed. Then God told him to go and he went — but God was angry because he did. Based on this, it would not be a stretch to conclude that God was bipolar.

However, I will reject that diagnosis as being inconsistent with God’s character, instead seeking a different explanation.

Perhaps the first time that God said “no” should have been enough. Balaam had no need to ask again — unless he didn’t like the first answer. It might be like kids pestering their folks for something.

Eventually the parents relent, not because they changed their mind, but because they want to teach their offspring a lesson about making good choices or learning what happens when bad paths are selected.

Another consideration is the implication that Balaam was mixing his pursuit of God with divination, a practice strictly verboten. This is a common practice today, where practitioners cherry pick the choice parts of various religions or philosophies, forming their own belief system.

Is there any expectation that their outcome will be different from Balaam’s, who was ultimately killed for his error?

[Numbers 22-24, Joshua 13:22]

Tags Balaam, Cain, Korah

Bible

Korah’s Rebellion

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 30, 2011

While the story of Cain killing his brother may be commonly known, the rebellion led by Korah is quite obscure.

Korah was from the tribe of Levi; he and the other Levites were assigned God-given tasks to serve in the temple; they were set apart for this. However, they were not to serve as priests; that fell only to Aaron and his descendants.

Korah didn’t like these distinctions; he advocated all people were holy, had God (the Holy Spirit) in them, and should be elevated to the level of priests.

Interestingly, these were something that Jesus would later proclaim and that his followers would embrace, but in Korah’s time, this was not the case. There were distinctions and that’s how God wanted it at that time.

Korah stirred up some followers, insisting on equal status for all. Then he and Moses had the equivalent of a modern-day smack down. Moses won and was affirmed by God; Korah lost — big time; the ground beneath him opened up and he and his family fell in and died.

Today, we would hail Korah as a martyred reformer who pursued justice and equality, advocating that anyone can approach God.

Although Jesus would later usher in these changes, that is not what God had put in place in Korah’s day. He had a different plan and, no matter how well intended, Korah opposed it — and will forever be associated with a failed rebellion against God.

[Numbers 16]

Tags Cain, justice, Korah, Moses

Bible

The World’s First Murder

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 25, 2011

Cain and his younger brother Abel both gave offerings to God. This was well before the life of Moses and the laws that God gave to him, therefore, there was no requirement to give an offering.

In fact, there was not even a precedent for doing so. Cain and Abel’s offerings were the first ones recorded in the Bible.

For reasons not fully explained, God accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. One possible hint is that while Abel’s offering was a choice part of the best that he had, Cain’s gift was merely “some” of what he had.

Another hint is found in the New Testament letter to the Hebrews, where Abel’s faith in giving a better offering is affirmed. Implicitly, Cain’s faith was lacking.

Regardless, Cain reacted poorly to God’s snub, becoming jealous of Abel and angry, culminating in the premeditated murder of his brother — the world’s first. However, even after this brutal act, God did not turn his back on Cain.

Although punishment was meted, God also provided Cain with protection.

Cain did an evil thing; however, he was not an evil man. Despite Cain’s downfall, he was a man who had sought God, giving a gift that was not asked for or required.

[Genesis 4:1-16 and Hebrews 11:4]

Tags Abel, Cain, Moses, offering

Bible

Cain, Balaam, and Korah

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 23, 2011

In Jude’s brief exposition of ungodly people in the church, he evokes three Old Testament characters: Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Cain, we know to be a murderer; Balaam, greedy; and Korah, rebellious.

However, it is simplistic to see them merely as evil men, for they also had an air of godliness to them, seeking God or having a connection to him.

It is astonishing, but each of these men did things that were seemingly right and godly. Despite that, the results of their actions went badly awry. The outcome renders them as emblematic of ungodly people in the church.

As we study what they did, we might find that we may be a lot closer to falling into their errors than we would normally dare to think possible.

Carefully consider then, the lives of Cain, Balaam, and Korah.

[Jude 1:11]

Tags Balaam, Cain, Jude, Korah

Bible

The Third Time’s a Charm

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 18, 2011

In Jude’s short letter, he often writes in triads, listing three items or offering three examples. He does this with such regularity that when he deviates from this in verse 12, I thought I had misread the text. Consider the following triplets:

three actions of God: called, loved, and kept (and if you implicitly see the Holy Spirit in doing the calling, then the Trinity is implied here as well: Holy Spirit, Father, and Jesus); verse 1.
three blessings: mercy, peace, and love; verse 2.
three historic warnings: leaving Egypt, deserting angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah; verses 5-7.
three negative actions: pollute their bodies, reject authority, and slander angels; verse 8.
three bad examples: Cain, Balaam, and Korah; verse 11.
five negative allusions: shepherds who feed only themselves, clouds without rain, dead autumn trees, wild waves, wandering stars; verse 12.
three characteristics of ungodly men in the church: cause division, follow natural instincts, and do not have the Spirit; verse 19.
three prescriptions: build up your faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and stay in God’s love; verses 20-21.
three ways to show mercy: help doubters, save others from destruction, and carefully rescue others without being taken down; verse 22.
three attributes of God: keeps us from falling, presents us without fault, and has great joy; verse 24.
four praises for God: glory, majesty, power, and authority; verse 25.

As someone who also has a propensity of writing in threes, Jude’s style is especially appealing to me.

[Read Jude 1]

Tags Balaam, Cain, desert, Egypt, Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jude, Korah

Bible

Biblical References in Jude

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 16, 2011

As covered a few weeks ago, the book of Jude contains three cryptic references to ancient non-biblical texts. In addition, Jude also includes references to biblical accounts.

The first is in verse 6, where Jude mentions angels who abandoned their role and their home. This is likely a nod to Genesis 6:1-4, which talks about the son’s of God marrying the daughters of man.

That is a bit perplexing itself, but at least it is the Bible. (Alternately, some scholars think Jude is referring to an ancient non-biblical text, The Book of Enoch. I opt for Genesis 6.)

Another non-biblical reference is found in verse 17-18. Here Jude cites other apostles who warn that in the last days there will be scoffers who follow ungodly desires.

Although the New Testament of the Bible did not exist at the time of Jude’s writing, he may have been privy to Paul’s and Peter’s letters or more likely, he simply heard them — or heard of them — issuing this warning.

Jude’s words are recorded almost verbatim by Peter in 2 Peter 3:3, as well as being alluded to in 2 Peter 2:1-3. Likewise, Paul, in his letters to Timothy, covers this theme in 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5, and 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

Last, and perhaps most significant, is references to Cain, Balaam, and, Korah, which I will address in future posts.

Jude was certainly well read and well-informed, peppering his letters with many references and illustrations. Though they would have been helpful to his audience then, that is not so much the case today.

Even so, Jude’s central warning to guard against ungodly people in the church is well founded — and timeless.

[Jude 1:6, Genesis 6:1-4, Jude 1:17-18, 2 Peter 3:3, 2 Peter 2:1-3, Timothy references]

Tags Balaam, Cain, Jude, Korah, Paul, Peter, Timothy

Bible

A Servant of Jesus

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 11, 2011

In the post “Who is Jude?” I speculated that Jude might be Jesus’ brother. Aside from that, we only know one other thing about him. Jude views himself simply as “a servant of Jesus.”

Today, in a time when religious people parade their titles and promote their education as if they were badges of godly distinction, someone who calls himself a servant would be shockingly countercultural.

When people introduce themselves as “Reverend,” “Bishop,” “Elder,” “Doctor,” “Prophet,” or my favorite, “Reverend-Doctor” so-and-so I wonder about their motives.

Who are they trying to impress? Others? God? Or maybe it’s a futile attempt to convince themselves they are someone who they truly know they are not.

How refreshing it would be for someone to simply say that he or she is a servant of Jesus. What a great and significant credential it would be, perhaps the best one possible.

I don’t think titles and degrees mean much to Jesus; he is looking for servants. After all, Jesus himself said he came to serve. Shouldn’t we — as his followers — do the same?

[Jude 1:1 and Matthew 20:28]

Tags Jesus, Jude