02/22/08: Deuteronomy 7-9
Category: Deuteronomy
Posted by: sejje
Chapter 9:
When God aids the Israelites in battle, what exactly does He do for them?
Ted: God did various things. Sometimes He strengthened the Israeli forces so that they could overcome the stronger enemy. Sometimes He confused the enemy to cause them to be ineffective against the Israelites, or in some cases even to turn and start fighting against themselves. Sometimes God merely used His own power to kill the enemy directly, and the Israelites had to do nothing.
Why do you think God allows Moses (and others) to "reason" with Him or convince Him of something? It seems like God would be insulted.
Ted: God isn't insulted; He always wants for us to interact with Him. I do not believe that it actually is to change His mind or to cause Him to do something differently. He is going to do what He has set out to do from the beginning.
I believe that, in a sense, He has written a big "play," and all of us (including God Himself) are living out the "script." God has chosen, beforehand, to make certain decisions after others provide the "catalyst" (words) that result in an action or lack of action by God. All of these are written into the "script."
It is sort of like if we went fishing together. Our hooks have been baited, and we are ready to go. You already know that you are going to cast out your line, and you know where you are going to cast it. But, in deference to me as your guest, so that I will feel like I am "part of the action," you tell me, "OK, you go ahead and cast out your line first, and then I will cast mine."
Also, it is for our benefit, in the "here-and-now," reading previous "acts" of the "play" (in the Bible), to see how personal and personable God is, how He clearly interacts with people, how consistent He is, and how He seems to be, from all outward appearances, influenced by the words and actions of people. That encourages us to do things--pray, obey, help others, etc.--and, by doing so, expect certain consistent responses from God as a result.
When God aids the Israelites in battle, what exactly does He do for them?
Ted: God did various things. Sometimes He strengthened the Israeli forces so that they could overcome the stronger enemy. Sometimes He confused the enemy to cause them to be ineffective against the Israelites, or in some cases even to turn and start fighting against themselves. Sometimes God merely used His own power to kill the enemy directly, and the Israelites had to do nothing.
Why do you think God allows Moses (and others) to "reason" with Him or convince Him of something? It seems like God would be insulted.
Ted: God isn't insulted; He always wants for us to interact with Him. I do not believe that it actually is to change His mind or to cause Him to do something differently. He is going to do what He has set out to do from the beginning.
I believe that, in a sense, He has written a big "play," and all of us (including God Himself) are living out the "script." God has chosen, beforehand, to make certain decisions after others provide the "catalyst" (words) that result in an action or lack of action by God. All of these are written into the "script."
It is sort of like if we went fishing together. Our hooks have been baited, and we are ready to go. You already know that you are going to cast out your line, and you know where you are going to cast it. But, in deference to me as your guest, so that I will feel like I am "part of the action," you tell me, "OK, you go ahead and cast out your line first, and then I will cast mine."
Also, it is for our benefit, in the "here-and-now," reading previous "acts" of the "play" (in the Bible), to see how personal and personable God is, how He clearly interacts with people, how consistent He is, and how He seems to be, from all outward appearances, influenced by the words and actions of people. That encourages us to do things--pray, obey, help others, etc.--and, by doing so, expect certain consistent responses from God as a result.
