The Heaton File

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Is The Bible Corrupted?

From the beginning of man’s existence in the Garden of Eden, Satan has attacked the word of God with the intent of destroying the souls of men. His words to Eve are the same words he uses today: “Has God indeed said?” Satan deceives the heart to challenge the word of God as without authority. When the devil convinces the heart to disregard the words of God, he tempts man to become his own god, serving his own desires, and seeking his own wisdom. This is done by changing the word of God to fit the narrative of human reasoning.

During the first century, the writers of the covenant of Christ warned against challenging the word of God. Paul wrote about the apostasy that would come when those with itching ears would draw men to themselves to follow their own perfidious teachings. Peter warned of the scoffers who denied the word of God. History has proven the Holy Spirit correct with the creation of the mother of apostasy, the catholic system of theology (Roman and Eastern). Spawning from its core beliefs, Protestant denominations broke off, creating a surge of religious error that increases with each passing generation. In America, one of the great apostasies occurred when Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, based on the premise that the Bible was a corrupted book, altered by the will of man.

The Mormon faith created “another testament of Jesus Christ,” calling it the Book of Mormon. For many years, Mormons denied that the Book of Mormon was another testament of Jesus Christ. It is now an accepted concept. In the Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Mormons teach they “believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.” The reason the eighth article of faith denies the Bible is correctly translated is because it is impossible to teach the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from the Bible. If the Bible stood alone, it would be impossible for anyone to find Mormonism within its pages.

It is easy to declare the Bible unauthoritative based on the assumption that it is not translated correctly. They deny that this charge applies to the Book of Mormon. The sixty-six books of the Bible are corrupted, but the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants are not, according to the teachings of the church. This is the only way the teachings of the Mormon faith can be substantiated. The apostle Paul would deny this charge as he wrote to Timothy, telling him the scriptures were inspired by God. This suggests that the Bible is the breath of God, given to man to know what he must do to be saved. Joseph Smith did not fabricate the Book of Mormon until 1830. Mormons would have the world believe that for 1800 years, a corrupted Bible led men to lose their souls and die condemned before God.

How can a God as mighty as the Lord God allow men to corrupt His word? Is it possible God is so feeble that He could not preserve His word for 1800 years without corruption? The Old Testament has been shown to have been preserved intact for 1500 years as the authority of the word of God. It seems God ran out of steam when the covenant of Christ was written, allowing the wisdom of man to corrupt and alter His word until Joseph Smith met an angel and received the true word of God. It is incredulous that the pride of human wisdom would suggest that God failed to keep His word pure. The only way the Book of Mormon can be believed is to accept the Bible as a corrupted text. Knowing the Bible has been translated correctly and preserved by the omnipotence of the Almighty, the Book of Mormon is a false testimony.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. He is the author and the preserver of His word. He gave the Bible to the world to establish doctrine, reprove sin, correct the will of men who would deny His word, and instruct lost men how to live in righteousness. The Bible was given to the world so that those who desired to be saved could be complete in their understanding of God’s will and be thoroughly equipped for every good work. What is corrupted is the heart of man, not the Bible. The God who created the world and established all things to continue as they are is the same God who gave the world His word and protected it from the false teachings of men who claim to have talked to angels. The Holy Spirit said anyone who listens to angels above the word of God was to be accursed. God reigns. His word is true. Believe it.

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. (Hebrews 11:11)

Judging God Faithful

After the flood, the ages of men and women diminished dramatically. Abraham would live to 175, and Sarah would die at 127. What is remarkable in the story of Abraham and Sarah is the birth of Isaac when Abraham was 100, and Sarah was 90. Isaac was the promised son when God told Abraham at the age of 75 that he would become the father of many nations. It would be twenty-five years before the promise was fulfilled and became one of the great miracles of Bible history. Unlike the days before the flood, Sarah conceiving a child in her womb and giving birth to a son at the age of 90 was only by the power of God.

Paul used Abraham and Sarah as examples of hope in God’s promises. The apostle reminds the Roman saints that the body of Abraham was dead concerning producing a child, and Sarah’s womb was also dead. Neither could conceive and bear a son, and yet through the power of God, Isaac became the promised son. The faith of Sarah is further explained in the Hebrew letter, which says that she received strength to conceive seed and bear a child, even though she was long past the age of childbearing. What fueled Sarah’s hope was her belief in God’s promises as true and faithful. She had no other ground of confidence to give birth to a son than the divine promises of God. Against all human probability, she became a mother at 90 to a healthy son. Her faith in God was grounded in God’s promises, because she knew God could not lie. She had faith that God would do what He had promised, even though it seemed improbable to human wisdom. Her heart was convinced that God made a promise, and He was faithful to perform the impossible.

Sarah believed God would keep His promise because she believed in the Divine power to accomplish the impossible. Sarah judged that God was faithful to do something beyond the comprehension of human wisdom. Faith is the assurance of the promises of God that whatever the Lord promises, He will accomplish. Peter told the devout Jews assembled on the Day of Pentecost to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins. Three thousand souls believed in the promise of God and obeyed. Ananias told Saul (Paul) to rise and be baptized to wash away his sins. That was a promise Saul acted on, and his sins were washed away. Throughout the story of the Acts of the Apostles, the remission of sins was preached as God’s promise, and thousands responded.

There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. That is a promise of God. Walking in the light as He is in the light, the fellowship of grace is shared by the saved who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. That is a promise of God. Sarah judged God faithful to keep and carry out His promise. The promise of eternal life is found in the promised Son of God who came to Earth to give His life for the redemption of mankind. Those who submit to the blood of Jesus will find that God is a faithful God who keeps His promise. In the waters of baptism, sins are washed away as far as the East is from the West. The hope of eternal life is not a chance encounter, but a promise made by God who cannot lie.

Salvation is found in the hearts of those who judge God faithful in His word. His promise is true and will be realized on the final day when death opens the doors of eternity to the hearts of the saved who have believed in the impossible and accepted the word of the Lord as true. Sarah believed in something that was impossible. It may seem impossible to accept that God would save a sinful man, but Jesus died to save all those who will come to Him seeking cleansing in His blood. God is faithful in His promise. He cannot lie. Believe in the impossible. Judge God faithful.

For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. (Hebrews 13:14)

Seeking A Greater City

Someone suggested that home is where the heart is. It shows that the nature of home is not so much about the physical connection that creates it, but about the emotional and spiritual relationship shared by those who make up the home. The difference between a house and a home is that one is made of mortar and brick, and the other is made with the passion of the heart. One of the great challenges of life is to realize that the most important part of living is not what is seen but what is unseen. Life is measured by time, distance, and substance. Men live within the confines of a fleshly tent that is only temporary. The appointment with death cannot be changed. Everyone will die (short of the coming of the Lord). The key is how to view life’s brevity.

When the Hebrew author wrote his letter to the persecuted saints, he sought to instill in them a greater faith to endure temptations and trials. They had been severely tested for their faith. Hebrews is a letter showing the superiority of Christ as a better High Priest, sacrifice, Savior, teacher, and Lord. There is nothing better than the covenant of Jesus Christ. Living in the hope of eternal life is how the early Christians must view their persecuted existence. Some would be delivered while many others would perish. Regardless of which circumstance one finds himself in, the victory in Christ is assured.

As the author of Hebrews concludes his message, he reminds the saints of the enduring hope found in seeking a city whose foundation and maker is God. Abel, Enoch, and Noah received the promise of eternal life because they lived in the hope of God’s promises. Abraham obeyed the word of the Lord to leave his country and go to a place that he knew not. His faith led him to accept God’s promises as true, and a greater blessing awaited him. While he lived in tents, he longed for the heavenly city promised by God. Many died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them by the word of the Lord.

The greater truth is to understand that life is no continuing city. What is found here and now will never last. All the trappings of life are temporary, temporal, and fleeting. Faith is seeing what cannot be seen. It takes great faith to see the difference between what is promised and what is seen with the eyes. The greater faith for the Christian is to seek the city that is to come, the heavenly Jerusalem. Removing the trappings of this world to embrace the hope of eternal life demands the faith to walk away from the tabernacle of flesh here to accept the body of spirit that dwells in the presence of God.

Seek the city whose maker is God. The Lord’s promises depict a city four-square and beautiful beyond imagination. It is not about the physicality of the city but the eternal promise to dwell with the Father. The temptation to live for the world here and now is a ploy of the devil to have the child of God take their eyes off the eternal city and embrace the timbers below. Joy can only be found when the heart yearns for the city that is to come. All that is here will be destroyed. What God has prepared will never be destroyed. Seek the greater city.

My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:20-27)

Body Parts For The Lord

God created the human body as a wonderful testimony to His divine wisdom. Each part has a role that depends on the others. Ears hear the sounds of the world, the eyes open the mind to the beauty of the creation of God, and the heart, while beating blood nearly 104,000 times a day, is a symbol of the nature of man. God created the mouth to glorify Him. Seemingly small, eyelids serve to protect the eyes and play a crucial role in keeping the windows of the soul moist. Eyelids control the amount of light reaching the eyes, and blinking provides additional protection against foreign objects. Feet serve the body for stability, mobility, and a barometer of the body.

The body is used as a metaphor to teach people about the will of God. Throughout the scriptures, God uses parts of the body to impress His word on the lives of men. The ears should incline themselves to the sayings or teachings of God, not just to hear the sound but to receive them as truth. When the word of God is taught, ears should be listening carefully to what the Lord is saying. Hearing demands action. The ears serve as sentinels for the body to act. Hearing the word of the Lord demands attention.

God’s word should always be before the eyes of the soul to give attention to God’s will. The word of God should never leave the eyes so that all that is seen is the word of God. Those words must be kept in the heart or the soul of man to permeate through life. The heart pumps blood through the body to sustain life, nurture it, and keep it healthy. Life is in the blood. God’s word is life and should flow throughout every part of the lives of His people. Like the blood in the body, the words of God must be a part of everything the Christian does, thinks, and hears. The heart must be kept with all diligence because out of it spring the issues of life.

God created the mouth to praise Him and show Him glory. A deceitful or perverse mouth does not glorify God. The Lord demands a deceitful mouth and perverse lips to be put far away from the Christian. It does not fit the holiness of the saint who seeks to season his speech with the salt of God’s word. The eyes are set on holy things. What the proverb writer declares is the importance of keeping the eyes squarely on what is in front, straight ahead, without swerving to the right or left. There is premeditation in the actions of the child of God. The course is straight and true according to the word of God.

Feet transport the body from place to place and play an important role in determining where the body winds up. As the eyes keep straight the course, the feet or the goals of man should be considered for the consequences of where they lead. All the ways of the heart must be established according to the will of God. The greatest life lesson is to remain true to one course, not turning to the right or the left. God demands singularity in the life of the Christian to keep the eyes on Jesus Christ. The need to remove one’s feet from evil is to never find oneself in a place where temptation is prominent.

God marvelously designed the body. It is the purpose of man to use the body for the glory of God. Every part is important and must be used in conjunction with the other parts to give attention to the words of God. The ears hear, the eyes see, the heart receives, and the feet guide. Where the body finds itself is how the body has responded to the words of the Lord. Remove the temptation to walk in the path of evil. Guide the body to the will of the Lord.

A Psalm of David. Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare; and in His temple everyone says, “Glory!” The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever. The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. (Psalm 29)

The Voice Of The Lord Brings Peace

When God created the world, He spoke it into existence. The voice of the Lord established the habitation of the sun, moon, and stars and formed the continents of the earth, where God placed the animals on land and in the sea. By the word of the Lord, man and woman were formed through the incredible power of the Divine. The world is held together by the voice of the Lord. Nature declares the majesty of creation when the rains fall, the thunder roars in echoes across the sky, and storms gather beyond the horizon. The majesty of God’s presence fills the earth, revealing His handiwork, wisdom, and power. There is no power greater than the voice of the Lord over the waters, dividing the flames of fire, shaking the wilderness, and stripping bare the forests.

Man stands in awe at the natural power of God in creation. He can marvel at the consuming power of a hurricane, the unyielding force of a tornado, and the earth-destroying power of a volcano. There is nothing man can do but yield to the power of the voice of God in nature. Viewing the natural forces of the world unleash their fury can bring fear, but it can also bring peace. Man must recognize the author of these natural occurrences. Glory is due to the name of the Lord who formed the forces of nature and let His power rule the world. The heart of man, drawn to the power of God, should worship the Creator who established everything by His voice. God is found in the glory of thunder and the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful and full of majesty. All men should be in awe and revere the name of the Creator.

When God destroyed the world in the days of Noah, His voice told Noah what to do to be saved. The same voice that opened the doors of grace to save Noah and his family opened the heavens to fill the earth with rain. Waters from beneath destroyed the world and everything with the breath of life. The voice of God saved and destroyed. For Noah, the voice of the Lord brought peace and safety. To those outside the ark, the voice of the Lord brought death. There is majesty in the voice of the Lord. Through the word of God, the Lord revealed to the world what to do to be saved from His wrath. His voice can bring peace to those who see His power and respect His word. David was overwhelmed by God’s voice. The Lord sits as King forever and will give strength to His people. David learned that the voice of the Lord will bring peace.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Sin Does Not Change

The fall of man happened so many thousands of years ago; no one knows the exact date. All that is known is that Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden when Satan deceived the woman to take the forbidden fruit, and she gave some to Adam. Sin separated God from man, and the story of humanity continues to struggle with sin. Cast out of the garden, Adam and Eve were the headwaters of the history of the world, where sin would cast a veil of darkness over the world.

God saw the wickedness of man was great, and that every intent and thought of the heart was evil. The Lord destroyed everyone on the face of the earth because of sin. Only Noah and his family were saved. God raised up Israel to be His special people, but they, too, fell under the sway of sin and were destroyed. Jesus came into the world to bring humanity the path of salvation. Through His blood, the answer to sin was given, but sin still abounds in the world. There is one thing that is absolute about sin: it does not change.

Paul warned Timothy that the darkness of sin was perilous. He describes the nature of sin as the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. The list Paul gives Timothy is an astonishing library of the nature of sin. It begins with the selfish desires of the heart leading to the destruction of the soul as man seeks the pleasures of the flesh rather than lovers of God. Sin exalts the heart of man to think he is his own god. He loves his money, boasting of his power, proud to be in charge of his life, and blaspheming the nature of the Creator. Families are destroyed because children are taught to be like their parents. Youth are unthankful, unholy, and unloving because they emulate the spirit of their peers.

Mercy vanishes from the hearts of men who refuse to forgive others, slandering their neighbors, living lives of uncontrolled passion and desire. They become brutal in how they treat others, leading to road rage, mass murder, disrespect for authority, and rebellion against everything law. Good is despised. Neighbors hate each other; arrogance reigns in haughty hearts, where people believe themselves gods among their peers. The rich and famous are admired. Young people waste their lives seeking to be like their idols. Pleasure is desired more than anything, and anything will be done to attain it. There is no love of God in their hearts. Pornography fills the mind, envy corrupts the heart, and anger fuels the mouth.

Perilous times are the modern canvas on which men paint their lives. Paul wrote these warnings two thousand years ago, and the unchained passion of sin remains as strong today as then. Satan continues to barrage the hearts of men with the love of the flesh and the pride of the heart. Sin has not changed, and the tactic of the evil one remains the same. Some believe sin is worse today than before, but sin remains the same. It destroys lives and damns souls to perdition. Only through the blood of Christ can man wash away his sin. Thank God for Jesus Christ.

And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. (Luke 11:14-16)

They Saw The Same Miracle

Jesus performed untold numbers of miracles before large and small crowds. Some miracles were done in private. The critics of Jesus never denied His power. They attacked His teaching and challenged His authority without success. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the chief priests and Pharisees sought to kill Lazarus and Jesus. No one could challenge the reality of miracles. On one occasion, Jesus cast a demon from a man. A multitude of people witnessed the healing of the demon-possessed man, but it was the reaction of the people that showed the conflict the world had with Jesus.

The first reaction was the amazement of the people at such a great miracle. All miracles were amazing examples of Jesus’ power over death, nature, time, and the spirit world. Jesus’ authority over Satan was firmly established as He cast out the demons from those possessed. A further example of His power was that the sufferer was made mute. Healing the man of his malady gave praise and honor to God. The people responded in simple faith, seeing and hearing the miracle. It was the multitudes who saw clearly the power of Jesus. They were not challenged by the prejudice of Jewish elitism as others in the crowd were.

A second group in the multitude denied the miracle, suggesting Jesus performed His act of mercy by the power of Beelzebub. They did not deny the miracle, so they said Jesus was in league with an evil angel named Beelzebub. This was an idol-deity referred to as the god of Ekron. The name signifies “lord of flies.” A miracle was done, and the man was healed. Some of them charged Jesus with casting out a demon by the power of a demon. This was how wicked the hearts of those who saw the miracle became. Instead of giving glory to God for a powerful example of the authority of Jesus over Satan, some accused Jesus of being aligned with Satan. Jesus answered how ridiculous this accusation was, as Satan would never allow a demon to be cast out of a man. The blind in heart could not see the power of God.

Other people in the audience tried to test Jesus. They witnessed the miracle and did not deny it. However, they were not satisfied with the miracle and demanded a sign from heaven. What was incredible about the healing of the demon-possessed man was that it was not satisfactory to some. What more could they want or expect? Jesus raised people from the dead, and many did not believe. He fed thousands of people, and many did not believe it. Showing His power over the evil-spirit world of Satan was not enough for some in the crowd. They demanded more because their hearts were hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

God’s word will either comfort the afflicted or afflict the comfortable. The world views the Bible as something that cannot be denied, its message and power. What the world does is the same as what it did in the days of Jesus. They will charge God with being in league with Satan, or they will demand more than what is revealed in the Bible. The world is not satisfied with the evidence of God’s power, rejects the Bible, and demands more. Sadly, they will find on the final day that nothing more will be given. The multitude demanded that Jesus give them a sign from heaven, and He told them that a sign would be given. That same sign is what saves men today. Jesus said the sign they desired would be the sign of Jonah.

The story of Jonah becomes the story of God’s power. Jonah was in the belly of the great fish three days and nights. Jesus was in the tomb three days and nights and arose. His resurrection is the greatest miracle of all time. Many marvel at His resurrection, while some deny its message. Some are still looking for a greater sign than the resurrection of Jesus. The only message for man is the resurrection of Jesus. Without the risen Savior, there is no hope. Salvation depends on how you view His resurrection.

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.) (1 Kings 1:5-6)

A Spoiled Son

David is remembered as the shepherd boy who killed Goliath and had a turbulent relationship with Saul, who was trying to kill him. After David became King, he consolidated the kingdom with victories over the Philistines. His relationship with his wives was well known (Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba). What is not well known is that David had more than nine wives, including concubines, and twenty or more children. His fifth wife, Haggith, bore him a son, Adonijah.

When David grew old, he had yet to pass the reign to one of his sons. Solomon, born of Bathsheba, would become the chosen leader of the people. David had promised Bathsheba that Solomon would reign after him and sit on his throne. Adonijah was older than Solomon and presumed himself to be the King. The son of Haggith exalted himself, boasting that he would make himself King. He gathered chariots with drivers and recruited fifty men to run before him. Adonijah sacrificed oxen, cattle, and sheep in abundance and invited all the king’s sons and the commanders of the army to join him in a feast, declaring his kingship. He convinced Joab to support him along with Abiathar the priest.

Bathsheba warned David of Adonijah’s attempt to take the throne. David declared Solomon King by placing him on the King’s mule and taking him to Gihon, where he was anointed by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet. Meanwhile, Adonijah was celebrating his presumed rise to the throne when news came that David had declared Solomon king. Adonijah and all who were at the feast became afraid and left the banquet. Hearing that Solomon was King, Adonijah went to the altar and took hold of its horns, seeking mercy from Solomon. Solomon spared Adonijah’s life, sending him back to his house to live.

After David died, Adonijah asked Bathsheba to seek Solomon’s approval to wed the young virgin who had cared for David in his final days. Adonijah desired to marry Abishag the Shunammite. This was a calculated move on Adonijah’s part to find a way to take the throne away from Solomon. Realizing the ploy of his brother to take his throne, King Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, to kill Adonijah.

The story of Adonijah is one of tragedy, including some of the reasons for his rebellion and arrogance. David had never disciplined his son at any time. His father never challenged anything that Adonijah did. The fourth son of David was spoiled so much that his father refused to discipline him for anything. As a child left to his own devices and spoiled into getting whatever he wanted, Adonijah grew up demanding that the world give him what he wanted. He presumed the throne of his father David. That was a grievous mistake. Solomon showed restraint and mercy, allowing his brother to live. When David died, Adonijah again miscalculated his importance, asking to wed Abishag. This was an act of rebellion. It led to his death.

Children left to their own devices bring shame on their parents. An undisciplined child becomes an entitled adult who demands the world bow at his feet. David failed as a father with his son Adonijah by never disciplining him or correcting him. Adonijah was very handsome. He did not seek the will of God in his life. Everything he did was to glorify Adonijah. His story became a final tragedy when his brother called for his death. Such is the case of children who are never disciplined. They become the tragedy of their own lives, presuming to be more important than they are, expecting the world to beckon to their every wish and desire.

Parents are admonished throughout scripture to nurture, train, discipline, and mold their children’s hearts to love the Lord with all their hearts. This demands learning about humility. Children who are not disciplined will rebel against God and lose their souls. It is not cute to watch a spoiled child act out. Adonijah was never disciplined by his father. For whatever reason, David cultivated a child who would become rebellious to the will of the Lord. Discipline begins at home, so the child’s heart learns to submit to the Heavenly Father.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 136:1)

The Mercy Of The Lord Endures Forever

There is a characteristic of God that is unchanging and eternal. Man is a sinful creature. God chose to save His creation in the garden when Adam and Eve disobeyed His command. Satan deceived the woman to eat of the forbidden fruit, and she gave some to Adam. They knew immediately they were naked and, in shame, hid themselves from the presence of the Lord. God punished the man and woman, but in consequence of sin came the hope of salvation through the Seed promise. Throughout the ages of time, God’s mercy is shown to sinful man time and again.

An unknown poet is overwhelmed with the mercy of God. He writes a striking psalm that declares, over and over, that the mercy of God endures forever. Twenty-six times in his psalm, the psalmist reminds his readers of the everlasting mercy of God. This refrain is couched within the framework of God’s goodness, creation, power, judgment, and grace to remember the lowly state of man. To understand God is to give thanks because He is good, the God of gods, and the Lord of lords. The benevolence and rule of God are endless.

Understanding the mercy of God begins with thanksgiving. Three times, the psalmist declares the thanksgiving of God for who He is. God is good. Everything God does is good. He provides all the needs of man. The world is the testimony to the provisions of God. These blessings cannot come from the gods of men. Thanksgiving comes from God because He is greater than the gods. He is Lord of lords, ruler of all nations, and victorious King above all kings. The mercy of the Lord endures forever through thanksgiving.

Creation declares the glory of God. The great wonders of the power of God to make the heavens and form the earth below declare His mercy is everlasting. Stars fill the night sky, declaring the power of God to establish order in the universe, as the sun rules the day and the moon the night. All of the expanse of the universe is created by the hand of God for His glory. The heavens testify to the mercy of God that it is everlasting. Everything remains as it was from creation. If God can create such a world, His mercy is assured and guaranteed through the same word.

The history of Israel stands as a monument to God’s mercy. God chose the Hebrews, not because they were a mighty people, but because He loved them. His mercy was extended to them through His power, delivering them from Egypt. The ten plagues declared the glory of God. On the final night of the plagues, God struck the firstborn of the Egyptians, including their animals. Pharaoh relented and let the Hebrews leave. God brought His people out with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm. When Pharaoh tried to destroy the Hebrews, God destroyed his army in the Red Sea. Israel passed through the midst of the sea because the mercy of God endures forever.

During the wilderness wanderings, God showed His mercy toward His people when He struck down great kings, including Sihon, King of the Amorites, and Og, King of Bashan. Israel never lost a battle in war because of God’s mercy. The only battle lost was when Israel rebelled against the Lord at Kadesh-Barnea. God’s mercy is a powerful testimony to His rule over the nations of men. Jericho would fall by the power of God. The mercy of God is the army of the Lord fighting the battles for the saints. It endures forever.

Canaan was given to Israel through the mercy of God. It was a heritage from the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God rescued His people from their enemies and provided all blessings to the nation of Israel. The mercy of God is everlasting. There is reason to give thanks to the God of heaven for His mercy. His benevolence gives food to all flesh. There is nothing more to say than to give thanks to the God of heaven, for His mercy endures forever.

So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” (Exodus 7:1-5)

The Heart Of Pharaoh

The official title of the Egyptian kings throughout the ages was Pharaoh. It is thought that the name Pharaoh is a compound of the words’ Ra,’ the “sun” or “sun-god,” and the article’ phe,’ “the.” The Pharaohs were considered gods by the people, or “the sun-god.” Everything in the culture, politics, economics, and military revolved around the worship of Pharaoh, who considered himself a divine presence. Egypt was a land filled with idolatry. Egyptian life was deeply polytheistic, with a pantheon that included more than 2,000 deities over the course of its history. They had a god for everything.

God sent Moses to Pharaoh to bring the Hebrews out of the slavery that Pharaoh imposed upon the people. The Pharaoh did not know Joseph and showed no interest in caring for the Hebrews as previous Pharaohs had. He was worried the Hebrews would multiply and join a foreign army to depose the Pharaoh and take over the land. Pharaoh tried to work the people to death, but to no avail. He demanded that the midwives kill all the baby boys. The midwives refused. Finally, he made it a law that all Hebrew baby boys were to be cast into the river. The wickedness of Pharaoh was deeply embedded in his belief that he was a god. Pharaoh considered himself to be divine and was about to meet the One who was truly divine.

God told Moses to return to Egypt and bring His people out. The Lord knew that Pharaoh was a wicked man and would refuse to let the people go. God told Moses that He would harden the king’s heart so that he would not let the people go. The Lord used the heart of Pharaoh to show His signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, knowing Pharaoh would harden his heart. Pharaoh’s heart grew hard and refused to listen to Moses and Aaron. After the first plague of the water turning blood, the heart of Pharaoh was unmoved. The second plague of frogs devastated the land of Egypt, but when the king saw the frogs go away, he hardened his heart. After the third plague of lice, Pharaoh’s heart grew hard. The flies came in the fourth plague. God removed the flies, and not one remained, but Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.

Livestock died in the fifth plague. But the heart of Pharaoh hardened, and he would not let the people go. The sixth plague brought boils upon the people, and the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh. Hail came in the seventh plague, bringing great destruction to the land and animals. When Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. The heart of Pharaoh was hard! He refused to let the people go.

God sent Moses to the king for the eighth time to warn him of the coming plague of locusts. The Lord tells Moses that He had hardened Pharaoh’s heart to show His power and majesty to the Egyptians and the Hebrews for generations to come. Locusts filled the land of the Egyptians, consuming everything in their path. When the Lord took the locust away, the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Again, the king refused to let the people go. After the ninth plague of darkness, the Lord hardened once again the heart of Pharaoh. The people would not be free until the Lord killed all the firstborn among the Egyptians, including man and animal. When the people were freed from Egypt, the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh to go after the Hebrews to kill them. God showed His power over Egypt in the final blow of destroying the Egyptian army.

The Lord God uses evil men for His purpose. Pharaoh was a wicked man whom the Lord used to show His glory and power to the whole world. God used the Canaanites and the Philistines to punish His people. Nations like Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome all played a part in God’s divine plan. Herod the Great was a pawn of God, as were his descendants, who murdered many of God’s people. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart because Pharaoh’s heart was evil. Those who do not receive the love of the truth will be given strong delusions to believe the lie because they did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. God’s power and glory are clearly seen in His dealings with the heart of Pharaoh.