July 8, 2001 Volume 2 Number 27
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The Righteous Men of
God (1) - Joseph As we live and learn more and more. We process information in certain ways. We also retrieve this information in different ways. I don't know the technical names but one way we retrieve information is by key words or phrases, or events. In other words, someone might say something, which reminds of you of something else. And it could be anything on any subject. We tie certain thoughts together in this intricate web of information. Each thought is tied together. You could say it is our minds' filing system. Mother's Day can be a day when some wonderful thoughts of being with our mother are brought to mind. The one thought that always comes to mind was her patience in showing me how to draw. I can still see her in my minds eye leaning over me, holding my hand with hers as we drew a picture. We have all from time to time find ourselves saying, "That reminds me of..." and in turn that might remind us of something else. Some might call this "rambling." But, nonetheless, it is an aid in the collection and retrieval of thoughts. When I say the name Joseph, what comes to mind? For most of us we might see a young man dressed in a coat of many colors. Others might see a slave in jail interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker and later Pharaoh himself. We know him as the...11th son of Jacob, the first child of Rachael, the one sold into slavery by his jealous brothers who tried to hide the deed by dipping his coat of many colors in animal blood as if he had been killed. You might remember him ending up in Egypt and sold to Potiphar, an officer. There his good conduct earned him the highest position in the household, after some time Potiphar's wife became infatuated with Joseph and tempted him to commit adultery with her. When he refused she accused him of the crime and Joseph went to jail. In jail, his behavior earned him a position of responsibility over the other prisoners. Among those prisoners he met Pharaoh’s baker and cupbearer. Each had a dream and Joseph interpreted their dreams. When the butler left prison he failed to intercede on Joseph's behalf, and Joseph spent two more years in prison. When Pharaoh had dreams that none of his counselors could interpret, the butler remembered Joseph and mentioned him to the Pharaoh. He interpreted the Pharaoh's dreams, predicting seven years of plentiful food, followed by seven years of famine. Joseph was appointed as head over all things, second only to Pharaoh. Our mind should rightly be brought to the life of Joseph, Jacob's son when we hear that name. In all of the obstacles he encountered, he never forgot God, and God took care of him. It seems as though that name is synonymous with righteous individuals. There is no doubt one can say that about Joseph the son of Jacob being a righteous individual, truly he is an example to all of us. But, we also read of other men with that name. Other men who chose the God of Heaven to believe in obey. Joseph of Arimathea When one combines all the references to this man we find he was a rich man from Arimathea. Arimathea was the same as the OT town "Ramathaim-zophim" of simply "Ramah" which was the birthplace of Samuel (1Sam 1:19). Joseph was a devout man and highly spoken of by the writers of the gospel. He was a prominent council member who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:43). He was a good man and opposed the wickedness of his fellow councilors (Luke 23:51), and was a disciple of Jesus. After receiving permission from Pilate to remove the body of Jesus from the cross he and others including Nicodemus who brought about a hundred pounds of a mixture of myrrh and aloes to prepare the body for burial. The body of Jesus was place in Joseph's "new tomb" which had been "hewn out of the rock." This act of Joseph should be remembered for his thoughtfulness and love for the Master. He was a "good and righteous man" (Luke 23:50); he "was looking for the kingdom of God" (Mark 15:43; Luke 23:51); he became a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews he did not openly follow him (John 19:38). Perhaps, the scenes around the cross seem to have kindled in him new life and he summoned courage to perform this public act of service. We will look at some other Joseph’s next time
The young man I was talking to had been a Christian for several years. He had sinned a year or so before our discussion and had repented. Then about four months prior to our talk he had again yielded to the temptation that Joseph would not (Gen. 39). This time there was no repentance and seemingly no concern. Perhaps, no cessation of the sin either. One question kept coming to my mind before we had any discussion, "Does he ever think about hell?" I wondered if he understood that if he died in this condition that he would spend eternity in hell. So, I ask if he was afraid of hell. His answer: "I guess not as much as I ought to be." I suggested that he wasn't afraid at all! Why? I'm not certain. But one thing is sure: when one can lay his head down at night knowing that he is in sin and will go to hell if he dies and not be afraid, there is little hope. The above story could be duplicated time and again. Perhaps because we have neglected the old hell fire and brimstone preaching. Let's revisit this old subject that may be somewhat "new" to some. It oughta scare ya! Hell Is Real Hell is not a fictitious story or myth. It is not a condition or state of mind. It is a real place. Luke 16, which speaks of the realm of departed spirits (Hades and not the eternal abode), is a foretaste of greater things to come. The rich man spoke of this "place" of torment (vv. 23, 28). He was in a real place. It is merely a foretaste of worse to come. Hell is just as real as heaven. They are often put on an equality as far as their nature goes (cf. Matt. 25:46). If Heaven is real, so is hell. If hell is a state of mind, so is heaven. Jesus said we ought to fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. 10:28). In this we learn that (1) Hell should be feared. (2) It is beyond the grave. (3) It should motivate us to live so as to go to heaven. All of these point to the reality of hell. Hell Is Terrible It may be that some of those who believe in hell think that the biblical descriptions of it are overstated. Surely it could not be as bad as the old fashion preachers used to say it would be. The following points tell us how terrible hell really is. Gehenna. The word hell (when referring to the eternal abode of the wicked) is from the Greek word Gehenna. When we understand how that word came to be used to describe the eternal damnation, we will appreciate how tragic hell is. Gehenna points back to the Valley of Hinnom. "Originally the Valley of Hinnom, near Jerus, Gehenna became among the Jews the synonym for the place of torment in the future life" (ISBE 1371). "Gehenna is a transliteration from the Aram. form of the Heb ge-hinnom, "valley of Hinnom" (ISBE 1183).This valley was to the southwest of Jerusalem. This valley was the seat of worship to the idol Molech. "That 'the valley of Hinnom' became the technical designation for the place of final punishment was due to two causes. In the first place the valley had been the seat of the idolatrous worship to Molech, to whom children were immolated by fire (2 Ch. 28:3; 33:6). Secondly, on account of these practices the place was defiled by King Josiah (2 K 23:10), and became in consequence associated in prophecy with the judgment to be visited upon the people (Jer 7:32)" (ISBE 1183). The sacrifice that was made to Molech was awful. Many texts tell of parents burning the sons and daughters to honor this idol (cf. Jer. 7:30-31; 19:5-6; 2 Kings 23:10). "The image of Molech was a human figure with a bulls head and outstretched arms, ready to receive the children destined for sacrifice. The image of metal was heated red hot by a fire kindled within, and the children laid on its arms rolled off into the fiery pit below" (ISBE 2075). The valley came be used to burn the city's trash and rubbish. It was the city incinerator. Jeremiah spoke of the valley of dead bodies and of ashes (Jer. 31:40). "Into this valley dead bodies were probably cast to be consumed by the dogs...and fires were kept burning to consume the rubbish of the city. Such associations led to the Ge-Hinnom (NT 'Gehenna') becoming the 'type of Hell'"( ISBE 1393). Lake of fire. Hell is described as a lake that burns with fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:10, 14, 15; 21:8). Imagine a literal lake that you know. Picture that every drop of water were a flammable substance (i.e. gasoline). If that were set aflame, what would it be like to be thrown into the middle of it? Brimstone is perhaps sulfur that melts and runs in streams. It spreads and is sticky. Picture that some sticky substance is poured all over you (i.e. honey or molasses). What if that were a flammable substance set aflame? Can you image the intense pain, the agony and the suffering? Other passages portray hell as a furnace of fire (Matt. 13:42, 50), a flaming fire (2 Thess. 1:7-9), a baptism of fire (Matt. 3:11-12), and an unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43). 3. Weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. Those who are cast into hell will be howling, crying aloud and grinding their teeth (cf. Matt. 8:12; 13:50; 25:30). What a picture of punishment! Hell Is Eternal. The above descriptions of hell would be bad enough if it only lasted for a day or a even an hour. However, the pain and suffering of hell is eternal. Jesus equated "hell fire" (Matt. 18:9) with "everlasting fire" (v. 8). Jesus contrasted the "everlasting punishment" with "eternal life" (Matt. 25:46). Hell is as long as heaven is. The smoke of torment ascends "forever and ever" (Rev. 14:10-11). It scares me to think about hell. It oughta scare you too! Live It Down David sinned and was shamed. "My sin," he said, "is ever before me" (Psa. 51:3). Paul never forgot his days as a tormentor and persecutor. Because of his awful past, he thought himself unfit to be called an apostle (1 Cor. 15:9). Did Peter ever forget having cursed and sworn that he did not know Jesus? I think not. If this is your sad plight, perhaps the following story will help you. Years ago, two brothers were caught and condemned for stealing sheep. As part of their punishment, their foreheads were branded with large capital letters, "S. S." One of the young men could not bear the stigma. He fled from town to town, but everywhere he went, people inquired about the letters on his forehead. Haunted by his past, he lived on the run as a fugitive, trying to escape his shame and reproach. He died while still a young man, never able to escape the letters seared into his skin and scorched into his condemning conscience. Meanwhile, his brother settled down in the same community where his crime had been committed. He worked and lived an honest, upright life. He devoted himself to helping and serving others. Many years past and people scarcely noticed the scars on his face. One day, a stranger moved into town and asked his neighbor about the letters, "S. S." on "that old man's face." "Well, we're not for certain," his neighbor replied, "but we think it means that he's the Savior's Servant." So, my dear fellow, suffering servant, however grievous your sins have been, if they are forgiven, you are now wearing the brand of the Savior's Servant. Hence, you may humbly forget those things which are behind and reach forth unto those things which are before, pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Phil. 3:13, 14). The Spirit Expressly
Says ... The Gospel of John The Gospel of John Is written, for the purpose of having faith in Jesus, The Christ. The miracles recorded in John's gospel attest to the power of God, through, His Son. Seven miracles in John show the power of Christ:
What do you think of this One called, Jesus Christ? Come and learn more about God, Christ and His Spirit for your life. Food For Thought It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret. "And he will go on before the lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of righteousness - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17) We
hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study. 2
Sam 22:31
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