...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 25

Question: Why did God pick Joseph to be a leader, and not his brothers? Sometimes I feel God picks some, and exclude others in the Old Testament times.

Answer from Polly: You are right! God did pick some and exclude others and did not always tell us why He did this. God’s acting is always situation-appropriate and fitting for specific times and places (Galatians 4:4). God’s seeing precedes the divine acting (Exodus 3:7-10) and He is the Master of discernment. God’s thoughts are not like our thoughts and His ways are not like our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9); and His understanding no one can fathom (Isaiah 40:28). He knows the end from the beginning and His purpose will stand (Isaiah 46:9-10). Our God in Heaven does whatever He pleases (Psalm 115:3, Daniel 34:35) and His plans cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2).

Question: In the book of Ezequiel chapter 37 verses 15-19, can you explain what does this mean, and is it talking about joining the bible and the book of mormon together?

Answer from Polly: There is no mention of the book of Mormon in the Bible. Some have claimed that the two sticks represent the Bible and the book of Mormon; however, this assertion ignores the CLEAR interpretation in verses 18-28 and seeks to impose a foreign meaning on the sticks. After Solomon died the nation of Israel was split asunder, in 931B.C. The Southern Kingdom was knows as Judah and Northern Kingdom was called Israel or sometimes Ephraim. The uniting of the sticks pictured God’s restoring and reuniting His people in the land as a single nation (Hosea 1:11). When united, Israel will be led by King David himself as God’s servant and he will be their new shepherd (Ezekiel 34:23-24). This is the resurrected David, Israel’s righteous prince, who will serve during the millennial period (Ezekiel 45:22, 46:4).

Question: I have read an heard mention that Jesus was born in a cave? I have not been able to find the answer to this question and have searched the sight with out any sucess.

Answer from Polly: From my biblical dictionary, facts researched and documented, a manger is an animal-feeding trough (Isaiah 1:3, Proverbs 14:4) or a stall (2 Chronicles 9:25, 32:28, Habakkuk 3:17) in a stable. Stables were situated on the ground level below a family’s living quarters or in caves under a house or near it. Troughs were free-standing stone boxes placed against stable walls or boxes made by hollowing out rocks protruding into the stable area. At Megiddo, archaeologists found limestone troughs, measuring 3ft. long, 1.5ft. wide and 2 ft. deep; quite ample for an infant. Tradition locates Jesus’ birth in a cave stable. Jesus’ placement in a manger after His birth foreshadows His role as a humble Messiah for all people (Luke 2:7, 12, 16, Isaiah 1:3).

Question: Why did Abraham decide to give 10% of his earning to the Lord?

Answer from Polly: Abraham was under the Law of the Land where a tenth of one’s income was set aside for sacral (religious rites) purposes. Tithing was common not only in ancient Israel but throughout the ancient Near East and was also used for state income. There is no Scripture stating that God commanded Abraham to tithe or that it was a condition of the Covenant God made with Abraham. Under the Law of Moses the tenth was then commanded by the Lord. The explanations of this tithing start in the Book of Leviticus and continue throughout the Book of Deuteronomy.

Question: Does is say in the Bible not to follow your heart? I was told it was in there and it says that the heart is wicked.

Answer from Polly: You are right on both counts. “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). “He who trust in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26). “The heart of the sons of men is full of evil and madness is in their heart while they live and after they go to the dead” (Ecclesiastes 9:3). You may walk in the ways of your heart but all these things God will bring into judgment (Ecclesiastes 11:9). “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts” (Matthew 15:19).

Question: In Joseph`s dream, what did the sun and the moon stand for? Where is it found?

Answer from Polly: Joseph’s dream is found in Genesis 37:9 and the answer to your question is found in Genesis 37:10. The scene of the dream was celestial and the sun, the moon and 11 stars bowed down to Joseph. In ancient cultures these astronomical symbols represented rulers. The dream, then, symbolically anticipated the elevation of Joseph over the whole house of Jacob, his father. The sun would be Jacob, the moon would be his mother and the 11 stars would be his 11 brothers. This dream was fulfilled in the continuing story of Joseph becoming ruler over Egypt (Genesis 41:41-43) and the bowing down of his brothers (Genesis 50:18).