Ge 22 2 Sometimes God s commandments seem

Ge. 22: 2 • Sometimes God’s commandments seem to defy all reason!

Dt. 12: 1 -14 • A law about the worship ceremony of Jehovah – 1, these are the statutes. . . which you shall carefully observe in the land…. Laying down the law. – 4, you shall not act like this • Referring back to the actions of the Canaanites – idolatry (vv. 2 -3) • God’s people would be different (Lv. 11), especially in worship

Dt. 12: 1 -14 • 5 -7, you shall seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God shall choose…. – 4 addressed the form of worship, 5 -7, the place • 8, you shall not do what we are doing here today – Different from “old self” • 9, for you have not yet come…. – God had made allowances for circumstances. But this was not to be expected forever

Dt. 12: 1 -14 • 10… 14, Be careful you do not offer your burnt offerings in every cultic place you see, but in the place where the Lord chooses – 3 times in these 14 vv. ***BE CAREFUL YOU DO NOT OFFER YOUR BURNT OFFERINGS IN EVERY CULTIC PLACE YOU SEE, BUT IN THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD CHOOSES!!!***

Dt. 12: 1 -14 • 8, every man doing what is right in his own eyes – Opinions – “Free-for-all” • Appl. : God does not approve of everything man thinks to do in worship! • In the place God will choose • A specific application of a general rule, Jer. 10: 23

Jos. 22 • An event that concerns the law of worship • 1… 9, Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh depart • 10, built an altar. 28, copy of the altar of the Lord • 10 -12, When the sons of Israel heard of it…gathered themselves at Shiloh to go up against them in war • 16, What is this unfaithful act… (Dt. 12) • 21 -23, 26, 28, 29, far be it from us…

Jos. 22 • 22, If unfaithful…do not save us this day – What a great attitude! • They were willing to sacrifice peace for purity! • Some were willing to kill family while others were willing to be killed! All for the sake of purity.

David’s Altar 1 Chron. 21 • … 26, David built there an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings…. How? ! • 18 -19, so David went up at the word of Gad, which he had spoke in the name of the Lord • Permission • Authorization • Authority • The difference between war and peace!

Col. 3: 17 • Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord – Permission, authorization, authority – In all things, ask yourself, “Do I have permission from Christ to do what I want to do/am doing? ”

Three Questions: • Impossible request? – Remember Abraham • Seemingly impossible • But, because of his obedience, he came to understand. And was considered faithful. • Important precept? – Remember the events of Jos. 22 • Isolated passage? Rm. 14

Rm. 14 • 1, opinions, position, thoughts, judgments, etc. – Paul’s application: • 2, all things/vegetables only, e. g. , a hamburger • 5, day, e. g. , Christmas • 2, faith refers to knowledge (Jd. 3)

Rm. 14 • 5, each person must be fully convinced in his own mind – A matter of conscience – You “convince” with evidence, facts, knowledge, information. Illus. : Sales – Paul’s source of knowledge / standard: • 14, I know and am convinced in the Lord • 12, we must all give an account of himself to God

Rm. 14 • The Bible is the source! What Mr. A, B, or C, says or does might be interesting and useful, but he is not the law-giver. • Assumptions are not good enough! – You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing what is right in his own eyes (Dt. 12: 8) – The opinions of v. 1 are governed by the Lord in v. 14.

Rm. 14 • 6, observes / eats not – Knowledge (5) decision action (6) • 23, – he who doubts a statement of knowledge – is condemned if he eats because his eating is not from faith knowledge (vv. 2, 23) – and whatever is not from faith [knowledge] is sin • Implication: About everything, you must know if you have permission from God. = Col. 3: 17 • Even “trivial” things? 2, vegetables

• At times, application may be difficult. But this doesn’t invalidate the law. Cf. Abraham • Approach to determining permission is for another lesson • For now, continue developing the great attitude of the trans-Jordan tribes, if unfaithful…do not save us this day!