I'm glad you're back....I wondered where you'd got to.
Let's say for a moment that Jesus didn't die because of the Jews, how would He have died if the Jews didn't kill him?
If you remember, as soon as Adam and his wife had sinned, God uttered his first prophesy.
To the serpent God said....
"And I shall place hatred between you and between the woman, and between your seed and between her seed. He will crush your head, and you will bite his heel." (Genesis 3:15 Tanach)
The players in this scenario remained a mystery for many centuries. Eve may have thought that she was the "woman" in the prophesy, but as God revealed more of the "sacred mystery", the identity of the serpent (not specifically named in scripture as the devil till the Revelation) and the woman became clearer.
The serpent would produce seed or offspring. Jesus identified the Pharisees as sons of the devil who wished to carry out his desires. (John 8:44) So opposers of God's Messiah would be the seed of the devil. These would deliver the "heel" wound. (not fatal)
The "woman" was not Eve because Jesus was not a sinful offspring of Adam and his wife....he came from heaven, so the "woman" who figuratively gave birth to him was God's "wife"....his heavenly family of spirit creatures. "She" was his "mother" and God was his "Father".
The devil's seed were going to deal God's anointed a non-fatal heel wound (something that would temporarily disable him, but from which he would recover) so it was Jesus who identified those who were going to deliver the "bite".
It wasn't just that it was the Pharisees doing satan's dirty work, but that he got God's people.....his chosen nation, to murder their own Messiah.
The prophesy was accurate because God sees the future. (Isaiah 46:10)
Isn't fighting against your sin nature a difficult thing to do?
For those without God's spirit it can be hard.
Gal 25:19-24....
"Now the works of the flesh are plainly seen, and they are sexual immorality, uncleanness, brazen conduct, 20 idolatry, spiritism, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, dissensions, divisions, sects, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and things like these. I am forewarning you about these things, the same way I already warned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.
22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed to the stake the flesh together with its passions and desires."
You see here from Paul the clear distinction between what is desired by the flesh and what is produced by God's spirit.
If we have God on our side, then battles with the flesh can be won. God's spirit is stronger than we are.
So the Egyptians were wiped out by the flood? That's not what the historical records say.
The Bible does not give us the origins of the Egyptian civilization. But highlights its involvement with Israel through Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery in Egypt and him being sent ahead of his family in order to preserve the family line of the Messiah.
Whatever civilizations were wiped out in the flood, God said that "all flesh had ruined its way" so apparently no one responded to Noah's preaching of righteousness, and all perished in the flood.
With respect to the garden of Eden, where did it go? It's said that God put a cherubim in front of it so that humans couldn't go back to it but where did it go since it's not around anymore?
The cherubs posted to guard the way to the tree of life would have stayed there until the flood. If that cataclysmic event changed the landscape, then there is no way to tell where it was, or even if the tree survived the flood.
But again doesn't softening someone's heart without them knowing acting against their free will?
God can't soften a hard heart. Its not messing with free will if God's will is to be put first. Jesus said
"let not my will but yours be done" So God's will takes precedence over the will of man. Free will has to be exercised within the limits set by the Creator.
Have you ever seen two people standing their ground over an argument that has turned nasty and then one of them realizes that peace is worth more than being right and they humbly end the argument by retreating and even apologizing? Hearts respond to kindness and humility....it solicits similar feelings in response. It usually results in hugs and more apologies. Hearts can be softened by other hearts.
I hope everything's OK with you... and again I hope you got support after what happened with your husband. I hope everything turns out OK with you.
Thank you for your kind thoughts.
We are a tight knit Christian family who always try to do our best. God doesn't require us to do more than our best....but my best may not be yours, and you best may not be someone else's. There is no blanket cover....God judges us as individuals with our own flaws and weaknesses. He never compares us with others. We can't hide anything from him, but we also have to know that he wants to see the good in us....he is not like a big policeman in the sky scrutinizing what we do or wanting to micro-manage our actions. We have to be our own police and when we do the wrong thing, we fess up to him and sincerely apologise, and then try not to repeat that mistake. That is all God requires.
I like Galatians 6:1-5...
"Brothers, even if a man takes a false step before he is aware of it, you who have spiritual qualifications try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness. But keep an eye on yourself, for fear you too may be tempted. 2 Go on carrying the burdens of one another, and in this way you will fulfill the law of the Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deceiving himself. 4 But let each one examine his own actions, and then he will have cause for rejoicing in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person. 5 For each one will carry his own load."
Its interesting that Paul says we are to "carry the burdens of one another" whilst saying that we are to "carry our own load".
Do you know the difference?
Thanks, it's nice talking to you too.
Take care....