...We Answer
Not every answer might comply with everybody's way of seeing things. Then I kindly ask you to hold it with Paul, who said in 1 Corinthians 13 that we now see in part. All of us answering here, stick to the basic faith statements as defined in the Apostle's Creed, yet further to that we know that there are also Biblical topics not related to salvation itself, that different people understand and see differently. So please keep this in mind in case you "stumble" over a certain answer - we would like you to be blessed by the challenge of different aspects!
Answer Set 24
Question: How many false gods are there in the bible and can you name them for me or tell me where to find them in the bible? Also do you think that the 10 plagues were pertaining to a god and God sent the plagues? I hope that you understand what I am asking you.
Answer from Polly: False “gods” are of course anything that a person worships instead of the True God. Perhaps you are referring to false prophets. This would be prophets who speak in the name of Baal (one of the most familiar idol gods in Scripture) (1 Kings 18:19-40) or, more frequently, a false prophet is one who speaks lies in the name of the Lord (Jeremiah 14:14-15; 23:25-39; 27:15-17; Micah 3:5-8, Jeremiah 4:9-10). As for the 10 plagues, God of course brought them on but used Moses and Aaron to direct them.
THE PLAGUES AND THE GODS AND GODDESSESS OF EGYPT:
1) Nile turned to blood – Exodus 7:14-25 – the god was Hapi or Apis, the bull god and god of the Nile; Isis, goddess of the Nile; Khnum the ram god was guardian of the Nile and there were others.
2) Frogs – Exodus 8:1-5 – Heqet, goddess of birth with a frog head.
3) Gnats – Exodus 8:16-19 – Set, god of the desert.
4) Flies – Exodus 8:20-32 – Re, a sun god; or the god Uatchit, possibly represented by the fly.
5) Death of livestock – Exodus 9:1-7 – Hathor, goddess with a cow head; Apis, the bull god, symbol of fertility.
6) Boils – Exodus 9:8-12 – Sekhmet, goddess with power over disease; Sunu, the pestilence god; Isis, goddess of healing.
7) Hail – Exodus 9:13-35 – Nut, the sky goddess; Osiris, god of crops and fertility; Set, god of storms.
8) Locusts – Exodus 10:1-20 – Nut, the sky goddess; Osiris, god of crops and fertility.
9) Darkness – Exodus 10:21-29 – Re, the sun god; Horus, a sun god; Nut, a sky goddess; Hathor, a sky goddess.
10) Death of the first born – Exodus 11:1-12; 30 – Min, god of reproduction; Heqet, goddess who attended women at childbirth; Isis, goddess who protected children.
As you can see, some of the gods have the same name and some of the gods “perform” more than one “service”.
Question: In Genesis Chapter 31, why did Rachel steal her father Laban's housejold gods when she and Jacob fled from him? What is the significance of that? Thank you.
Answer from Polly: There are several reasons all of which are conjecture since the Scripture does not tell us. The god figurine, “teraphim” was a god of protection and perhaps she was taking away her father’s protection for spite. Maybe she told herself she deserved the gold since her father had turned the tables on her in the name of custom and had deprived her of her right to marry when Jacob chose her first. To have the “teraphim” may have meant the right to inheritance according to Nuzi tablets of the 15th century B.C.
Question: Which number is David among his siblings? Please compare: 1 Chronicles 2:15 and I Samuel 16:10
Answer from Polly: The Bible does not say specifically that one of Jesse’s sons died at a young age but logic would imply this. Today if one child should die out of a family of seven, most would say when asked; “there are six of us in the family”; and you might possibly add; “and one deceased”. If people today can speak about their family number in two different ways, should we not also give Bible writers the same freedom in their recording of historical families? I do not believe there is a contradiction in Scripture but that the one who possibly died was without distinction, which would likely leave him out of the Chronicles.
Question: What does God mean when telling Isaiah what is written in Isaiah 6:9-10? Is God saying He really does not want some people to understand His Word?
He said, Go and tell this people:'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.
Answer from Polly: Isaiah realized that he was subject to judgment and that he was unclean. Realizing his impurity, he was cleansed by God, through the intermediary work of one of the seraphs (Isaiah 6:5-7). He thought that his serving the Lord would result in the nation’s cleansing but his message did not result in spiritual response. The people had not listened before and they did not listen now. The Lord did not delight in judging His people, but discipline was necessary because of their disobedience. Upon hearing Isaiah’s message they became even more hardened against the Lord. Jesus quoted part of this message to explain that Israel in His day COULD not believe because they WOULD not believe (John 12:37). Similar illustrations of God’s punishing of persistent sin by hardening are common (Exodus 9:12; Romans 1:24, 26, 28; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12). God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4) but He also says that His Spirit will not strive with man forever (Genesis 6:3). All men MUST receive His Word and ask Him in! So what He is saying in Isaiah and in the New Testament and today is this: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). God does not withhold His Word from those who desire to know it and Him and to walk in His ways and He will open your minds so you can understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).
Question: When did the disciples first learn of the Second Coming?
Answer from Polly: Jesus taught His Second Coming with every Word He spoke, but the disciples were slow to learn and understand as I am sure we today are. This is a glorious event that is hard to get in our minds and must be accepted on faith. I believe He first spoke plainly of this when He told them “the knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven have been given to you” (Matthew 13:11-The Parable of the Sower) and this parable continues to speak of the Kingdom of Heaven. The parable of the weeds ends with the end times (Matthew 13:41-43). “The Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels” (Matthew 16:27). Signs of the end of the age can be found in Matthew 24:1-51 especially verse 27 and 30. Again at the supper; “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s House (Matthew 26:29-referring to the end times wedding supper). Again in Matthew 26:64; “In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of Heaven”.
Question: I need actual scriptures that talk about hanging onto Faith when things get tough for my brother, I need about 3 or 4. Thank you!
Answer from Polly: Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1) and believing that we can do everything through Him who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). Jesus taught that faith could move mountains (Mark 11:22-24); there is peace with God through faith and we are to rejoice in our sufferings (Romans 5:1-5). Some Christians may be weak in faith (Romans 14:1) while others can be regarded as strong (Romans 15:1). Faith is something that can grow (2 Corinthians 10:15) and can strengthen us that we might believe more strongly (Romans 4:20-21). We can, just as the apostles did, ask for our faith to increase (Luke 17:5) and never forget that Jesus will pray for our faith just as He did for Peter (Luke 22:32). All things work for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28) and God can turn what was intended for harm into something good (Genesis 50:20). When someone feels that “things are tough” they should read the Book of Job and find how to “hold onto their faith”.
