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Generic and Specific

February 15, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Almost every day we specify something we want. One example is placing an order in a restaurant. We understand that if we specify what we would like, all other items on the menu are ruled out. No one goes through the menu telling the waiter/waitress every item they do not want. If anything other than our order is brought to our table, we assume waiter must have the wrong table, because it is not what we specified. On the other hand, sometimes we are generic with our requests. In the example of the restaurant, someone may ask for steak sauce without specifying the brand. Whether A1, Heinz, or some other brand is brought to the table, the request is fulfilled. If the brand is not specified, then any steak sauce will suffice.

This simple concept of generic and specific requests must be grasped when it comes to God’s word. When God specifies the way in which something is to be done, that eliminates all other ways I may think of doing it; however, if God is generic in His request, then I am at liberty to fulfill that request in any way that falls under that genus He has given.

We have many examples of specific requests in the Bible. In Genesis 6:14, God commanded Noah, “Make thee an ark of gopher wood.” “Gopher” was the type of wood specified; thus, pine, maple, oak, or any other kind of wood was ruled out. When God gave the command to Israel to keep the Passover, He specified, “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year…” (Exodus 12:5). This eliminated any other animal such as a cow or a pig. It also eliminated any female lamb. Lambs of the second, third, fourth or any other year than the first year would be eliminated as well. From Matthew 26, 1 Corinthian 10:16-17, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, we learn unleavened bread and fruit of the vine are the specified food and drink we are to partake of in observing the Lord’s supper; thus, other kinds of food are eliminated. The inspired writer of Hebrews makes this argument concerning Jesus being ineligible to be a priest under the Old Covenant. Hebrews 7:14 says, “For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.” Since God specified from which tribe priests were to come—Levi (Numbers 3:10)—all other tribes were excluded; thus, Judah was excluded.

God also gives some generic commands. Consider Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” There are certain things that are specified in this verse. For exam-ple, the Gospel is what we are to preach when we go into all the world. This rules out preaching some other message than the Gospel. But the command “go” is generic in the sense that how one is to go is not specified. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable for one to go by boat, plane, car, radio, television, internet or any other means that will bring the Gospel to the world.

When people try to take what God has specified and substitute their own choice, God is displeased. Nadab and Abihu offered fire that was different than that which God had specified and, therefore, were punished by the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2). Death was the consequence of doing their own thing rather than what God authorized; this is obviously a big deal to God! When God has given liberty in an area and people bind their own specific preference on others and deem the alternatives to be sinful God is equally displeased. The Spirit speaks contemptuously of those “forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:3-4).

We must recognize the generic and specific commands God has given in His word and treat them properly. If we do so, God will be pleased.

Comforted by God

February 8, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. (2 Corinthians 1:3-6.)

Why do innocent people suffer? Job, David, Solomon, Habakkuk, and other great men of faith have grappled with this question. By inspiration the apostle Paul gives one answer in the passage quoted above. Paul found in his suffering an opportunity to be comforted by God and to comfort others by pointing them to Him.

Suffering forces one to consider what is truly important in life. One’s priorities get an overhaul during the hard times. Suffering can make a person better. Though it breaks the spirit of some, it brings out the best in those who refuse to quit. Hard times are often the most defining moments in our lives. Through adversity a person becomes stronger.

Through suffering Paul learned to look to Christ and realize that He would see him through the hard times. From prison, Paul wrote, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:11-13). Regardless of what else he was lacking, Paul had Christ. With Christ he could be content.

As the afflictions of the apostle abounded, so his hope for comfort in heaven abounded. Notice some statements from his inspired pen concerning suffering for Christ. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:17). “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him…” (2 Timothy 2:12). “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

This comfort found in the hope of heaven comes after we have learned through suffering to turn away from fleeting earthly comforts to look to God. Then we will be able to point others to God, our source of comfort. The effectiveness of Paul’s work for Christ was not in eloquent speech or impressive physical image (2 Corinthians 10:10), but in tenaciously clinging to Christ as his rock and anchor in the storms of life. God’s strength was made perfect in Paul’s weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9); therefore, God was glorified and men followed (1 Corinthians 11:1; John 12:32; 1 Peter 3:15). Perhaps suffering for Christ and finding hope in heaven is what is so often lacking in the presentation of the gospel by Christians today.

There Eat Bread

January 31, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

The prophet Amos said Jeroboam, the king of Israel, would die by the sword and Israel would be led into captivity (Amos 7:11). At this message Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, said to Amos, “Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, and there prophesy. But never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the royal residence,” (Amos 7:12, 13).

Prophets were covenant enforcers for Israel, calling the people to be faithful to the covenant of the Lord. Amaziah had the wrong idea of the function of a prophet. He apparently thought a prophet was to always bring news people wanted to hear. If a prophet brought news that was hard to take, Amaziah’s solution was not to respond to the message in repentance, but to remove the prophet so the hard message would no longer be heard.

Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, and there prophesy,” (Amos 7:12). Often kings had their own prophets on their payroll. They would hire men to be prophets for them by providing their daily necessities, such as food. For example, false prophets ate at Jezebel’s table (1 Kings 18:19). If a prophet was being thus cared for by the king and queen, it is no surprise that prophets would often tell the king whatever he wanted to hear whether true or false. This is what Ahab’s prophets did to him (1 Kings 22:6). Thus, Amaziah was telling Amos to go to Judah and make a living by prophesying there. Amaziah thought Judah would be more receptive to Amos’ message. He appeals to Amos to just worry about taking care of himself and his own physical needs.

Amos, on the other hand, had the correct view of a prophet’s duty. He replied to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheep breeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel’” (Amos 7:14). Amos understood that prophesying was not just a way to make money. Amos had the occupation of a herdsman. His prophesying was not to make money but because the Lord had charged him to do so. Amos knew God had a message that needed to be delivered. It was not about pleasing men, but God (cf. Galatians 1:10).

Nowadays, some preachers are concerned primarily with making money and pleasing people. They approach preaching as a means to these ends. They have the same false view that Amaziah did. The truth is God has a message to deliver, and it must be preached even if it does not please people. Let us support those who preach God’s message without fear or favor.

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-4.)

Behold, I Thought…

January 25, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Naaman was captain over the army of Syria. He had a high position of prominence and respect. He was also a mighty man of valor. However, he had one big problem; he was a leper.

Fortunately for Naaman, God was willing to cure him of his leprosy, and Naaman had been told that if he would go to God’s prophet, Elisha, he could be healed of this horrible disease. That Naaman came to the door of Elisha’s house with great hope and desire of being healed there can be no doubt. Naaman had great expectations, but something happened that caused Naaman to be angry and disappointed. Instead of Elisha coming to meet him, a messenger was sent out of the house who told Naaman to go and wash in the Jordan river seven times and he would be healed. The Bible says in 2 Kings 5:11-12, “But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.”

Now, consider Naaman in the state he is in at this point. He has a cure for his dreaded disease of leprosy, but because it is not what he expected, he is choosing to continue to suffer instead of being cured. The Bible reveals that later Naaman changed his mind, but suppose he had stayed in this mindset? He would have continued suffering by allowing what he thought to overrule what God instructed, and leprosy would most likely have caused his death.

How often is this repeated in our day. When it comes to discussions about what God requires of us, many often say, “Well, I think…”, or “I believe…”, or worst of all “I know the Bible says that, but…” instead of giving heed to the actual words of God. Those with this mindset refuse to be swayed by God’s instructions and—following their own beliefs—will continue suffering from spiritual leprosy: sin. If they do not change their minds, it will ultimately cause death (Romans 6:23). There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). Let us strive to not give what we think or feel but what God says (Jeremiah 10:23; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17). “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

-Mark Day

The Hebrew Midwives

January 19, 2025 by admin Leave a Comment

Exodus 1:15 introduces two midwives by the names of Shiphrah and Puah. These were instructed in verse 16 to kill any son born to the Hebrew women. No doubt the midwives were faced with a dilemma. They had been given a command by the king of Egypt to do something they knew to be wrong. What did they do?

Exodus 1:17 says they “feared God and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them but saved the men children alive.” A principle is illustrated here that is important for Christians to consider. It is the same precept Peter stated in Acts 5:29 to the Sadducees, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” God has given government as his minister to execute wrath upon the ungodly, and a Christian is expected to obey the civil authorities (Romans 13:1-4); however, when government gets out of its realm and begins to make and enforce laws that are contrary to God’s will Christians must follow the example of the midwives and Peter. Egypt’s king did not recognize that God’s laws held rank over his laws (Exodus 5:2). The civil authorities of today often likewise overlook this fact. Christians need not only recognize this fact, but also must be bold and courageous enough to act accordingly when the time comes.

The king of Egypt questioned the midwives for their disobedience (Exodus 1:18). Their reply in verse 19 does not seem to be entirely truthful when compared to verse 17. Some scholars point to verse 20 where God deals well with the midwives and ask if God is sanctioning their deception. Is this true? God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18). His word is truth (John 17:17). God does not uphold lying, so let’s consider some plausible alternatives.

First, it is possible that the way they saved the Hebrew boys was by not being involved in their births. If they were informed of a Hebrews woman going into labor, the midwives may have hesitated and were dilatory in their arrival. The sons of the Hebrew women may then have been born prior to the midwives’ arrival, so the midwives could have told the truth, at least part of it.

Let us also remember that Exodus 1:20 does not necessarily indicate that God blessed them for lying to the king. Verse 20 is saying they were blessed because they feared God rather than Pharaoh, not for their deception. It is much like the situation with Rahab the harlot (Joshua 2). Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25 commend Rahab for her reception of the spies, but her lying to the king’s servants is not mentioned in these commendations. The deception of the midwives and of Rahab are both told as part of the story and no comment is made regarding God’s judgment of these individual acts; thus, God is not sanctioning the lies. The Bible does not have to stop each time a sin is committed in historical narratives and make a comment as to what is right and wrong and why.

Finally, we should remember that God judges man based on the overall tenor of his life. God does not take the worst moments in our lives and judge us by them alone. Faithful people like Abraham, the midwives, and Rahab lied on occasions when they felt their lives were at stake. It was not right, but God forgave them and considered the overall picture of their lives and what their aim was. Would any of us do better if we were in the same situation? Hopefully we would, but if not, we ought to be thankful that God is forgiving. When we fall short of His glory, as we all do (Romans 3:23), He is willing to forgive us if we repent of our sins and confess them to Him (1 John 1:9).