ABRAHAM’S DISTRESS at being childless was caused by his understanding of the afterlife. In the Amorite culture that dominated his world, it was believed that one’s quality of life after death depended on your descendants performing a monthly ritual to provide your food and drink.
A DRAGON in the Bible? Yes! And we see it here in the Book of Job. What’s more, we see a connection between this primordial enemy of God and the spirits of the Nephilim.
JOB’S UNDERSTANDING of the afterlife was a reflection of the culture around him. But even with that, Job knew that his Redeemer lived, “and at the last he will stand upon the earth.”
JOB CONTINUES his lament this week, openly wishing that he could hide in Sheol until God’s anger was past. In response, Eliphaz the Temanite accuses Job of guilt, asserting that God only punishes the wicked, something that we know is true, but judgment doesn’t always happen when we want it.
JOB FINALLY vents, declaring that he must speak freely since his effort to forget his complaint has failed. In chapter 10, Job addresses God in forceful language, accusing Him of being unjust and demanding answers for his suffering.
GOD PROMISED to extinguish a cult of the dead that had defiled the Temple. This is just one of the surprising things we find in our study of Ezekiel this week.Continue Reading