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GOD SE TOORN – WAT BETEKEN DIT?

GOD SE TOORN – WAT BETEKEN DIT?

Terwyl ek werklik oortuig is van die waarheid oor die karakter van God soos geopenbaar en geleer deur jou bediening, vind ek dit moeilik om met ander oor hierdie onderwerp te gesels wanneer ek in die “toorn van God”-hoek geverf word, wat blykbaar soveel skriftuurlike ondersteuning het.

Kan jy my help om te verstaan hoe om hierdie tekste en hierdie frase toe te pas, in die lig van ons begrip van sy ware karakter?

Dankie en mag God voortgaan om jou en die Come & Reason “familie” te seën. Julle het my almal geseën deur julle bydraes tot die Kwartaallikse studie-uur opnames.

EH


Die volgende is ‘n uittreksel uit my volgende boek getiteld The God-Shaped Brain – How Your View of God Changes Your Brain, wat ek hoop in die nabye toekoms beskikbaar sal wees:

Waarom het God vir Adam gesê, “op die dag as jy hierdie vrug eet, sal jy sterwe?” Omdat Hy gedwing sou word om dood te maak? Of omdat die mensdom sou afwyk van die wet van liefde, die wet van die lewe, en sonder ingryping sou die enigste gevolg ondergang en dood wees? En sodra ons eerste ouers hulself met hierdie terminale toestand besmet het, wat was nodig? ‘n Oplossing en ‘n genesing! Daardie genesing is as ‘n baba in Betlehem gebore.

Liefde loop die gevaar om verkeerd verstaan te word sodat dit tot redding kan wees

Terwyl ek hierdie idees orals aangebied het, het ek individue ontmoet wat nie van hierdie siening hou nie. Hulle sukkel met hierdie waarheid as gevolg van stellings in die Bybel waarin God blykbaar sê, “Ek is woedend. Ek is kwaad. En in my toorn gaan ek doodmaak!”

Die oppermagtige Here sê: Rampe wag verseker vir Jerusalem, die stad vol moordenaars! Ek sal self hout op die vuur onder haar pak. Ja, pak die vuur aan! Laat die vuur dreun tot die water kook. Kook die vleis goed, met baie speserye. Verbrand dan die bene. Sit die leë pot op die kole en maak dit rooiwarm sodat die vuilheid en roes kan afbrand. … Die vuilheid is jou afskuwelike dade. Ek het jou probeer skoonmaak, maar jy het geweier. Daarom sal jy vuil bly tot my wraak teen jou afgekoel is. Ek, die Here, het so gesê! Die tyd het gekom en niks kan dit terughou nie. Ek verander nie van gedagte nie. Ek sal jou nie weer jammer kry nie. Jy sal geoordeel word op grond van jou afskuwelike dade, sê die oppermagtige Here (Esegiël 24: 9-14 NLV’11).

Met die eerste oogopslag klink hierdie teks skrikwekkend. Ek onthou hoe ek met gedeeltes soos hierdie gesukkel het, altyd bang dat God wag om my te betrap – en my goed te slaan – as ek ‘n glips gemaak het. Maar ek het besef dat my misverstande oor God slegs ontstaan het omdat ek nooit die regte vrae gevra het toe ek hierdie moeilike tekste gelees het nie. Die vraag is nie of God hierdie woorde deur sy profeet gespreek het nie, want ek is vol vertroue dat Hy dit gedoen het. Die belangrike vraag is: Wat het eintlik gebeur nadat Hy hierdie woorde gespreek het?

Het God sy krag gebruik om diegene te vernietig oor wie Hy sulke skrikwekkende woorde gespreek het? Of het hulle rebellie hulle van sy beskerming geskei en sodoende tot hulle vernietiging gelei?

Die kinders van Israel het geweier om God, sy metodes en beginsels te volg. Maar God het hulle nie seergemaak nie. In plaas daarvan, het Hy hulle gelos om te gaan! Hy het vir hulle gegee wat hulle gekies het – ‘n lewe wat van Hom geskei is. Hy het opgehou om namens hulle in te tree. Hy het sy beskermende hand op hulle aandrang verwyder, en kort voor lank het die Babiloniërs gekom wat in ware Babiloniese styl hulle stad vernietig het. Dit was die Babiloniërs, nie God nie, wat die vernietigende vuishou toegedien het.

Hierdie “laat gaan” deur God, hierdie vrystelling om die gevolge van ons eie aanhoudende, opstandige keuses te pluk, is wat die Bybel “God se toorn” noem. Paulus vertel vir ons dat die “toorn” van God ontstaan as gevolg van aanhoudende verwerping van God, die verwerping van die kennis van Hom en die voorkeur van ons eie manier bo God s’n. Dan sê Paulus drie keer dat die weerbarstiges in die eerste eeu na Christus God se toorn ervaar het toe God hulle “prysgegee het” om die gevolge van hulle eie keuses te pluk (Romeine 1:18-32).

Jesus, wat vir ons sonde geword het, het God se “toorn” namens ons aan die kruis ervaar en uitgeroep, “My God, my God, waarom het U My verlaat?” nie “waarom maak U my dood” nie (Matthéüs 27:46). Dwarsdeur die Bybel is die storie dieselfde.

In Deuteronomium dreig God met sy toorn: “Want my woede is aangesteek soos ’n vuur, en dit brand tot in die dieptes van die graf. Dit verteer die aarde en sy opbrengs, die fondamente van die berge steek dit aan die brand. Ek sal rampe op hulle ophoop en hulle met my pyle afskiet” (Deuteronomium 32:22, 23). Maar God sê die wyses sal verstaan wat sy toorn werklik is: “Was hulle maar wys, sou hulle verstaan en sien wat hulle lot sal wees! Hoe kan een mens duisend van hulle jaag, en hoe kan twee mense tienduisend laat vlug, as hulle Rots hulle nie verkoop het, en die Here hulle nie oorgelewer het nie?” (Deuteronomium 32:29, 30, NLV’11).

Liefde kan nie afgedwing word nie

Die wyse man verstaan dat liefde nie afgedwing kan word nie, net vryelik gegee kan word. Die oordeelkundige vrou besef die woedendste, wraaksugtigste daad wat liefde kan neem, is om die voorwerp van sy liefde te laat gaan. Weereens maak God dit duidelik dat sy woede of toorn is om te laat gaan. “Dan sal my woede teen hulle ontbrand. Ek sal hulle verlaat, my gesig vir hulle wegsteek sodat hulle agteruitgaan. In daardie tyd sal ellende en rampe hulle tref sodat hulle sal sê: ‘Hierdie swaarkry het oor ons gekom omdat God nie meer by ons is nie!’” [1] (Deuteronomium 31:17 NLV’11).

Maar waarom sou God in sulke dreigende taal deur Esegiël praat as Hy nie werklik die stad verbrand het nie? Wanneer ons kinders in gevaar is, wanneer hulle nie wil luister nie, verhef ons, as liefdevolle ouers, ons stem om te waarsku en te beskerm? “Israel is so hardnekkig soos ’n koppige koei. Moet die Here hulle dan onbeskermd laat wei soos ’n lam in die veld?” [2] (Hosea 4:16 NLV’11). God het dit gehaat dat hulle harte so hard was dat dit vir Hom nodig was om sulke harde woorde te spreek, maar die God van Liefde waag alles om sy kinders te red.


[1]American Bible Society: The Holy Bible : The Good News Translation. 2nd ed. New York : American Bible Society, 1992, S. Dt 31:17

[2]American Bible Society: The Holy Bible : The Good News Translation. 2nd ed. New York : American Bible Society, 1992, S. Ho 4:16

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I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

B. L.M., North Plains, OR, USA

 

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

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Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

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Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

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I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

Testimony 46

Over the past couple of years God has been expanding my view of Himself and His character. Along my approximately 40-year journey, I have often had questions, but was hesitant to voice these and step outside the traditionally accepted thinking, for fear of admitting that I may in fact be eternally lost. In the recesses of my thinking has been the thought – if one blindly accepts (which is widely regarded as “real faith”) and does not question, is this really ‘truth?’ I often find it challenging to grapple with very theological ‘speak,’ but Dr. Jennings has a real gift of explaining spiritual concepts with clear practical examples. The weekly discussions are growing my Christian experience and slowly changing my view of how to live as a child of God in today’s complex world. Finally the whole Old Testament sanctuary teaching moved in my mind from fantasy to reality!

Beverly S., South Africa

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

Testimony 27

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 6

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Testimony 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

Testimony 44

We were given a gift of the DVD set, “God and Your Brain,” and we just finished watching it. The truths in this are so powerful and truly an answer to a prayer. We’re seeing hope where once we thought God wasn’t answering our prayers to be free of certain mindsets. He answered with these DVDs and we are hungry for more. Thank you!

Daniel T., Easley, SC, USA

 

Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

Testimony 15

I have been sharing Come And Reason Ministries Bible study lessons with several folk. You have such a beautiful view of the plan of salvation. If we had this message preached when I was young, my generation would still all be in church.

H. R., New Zealand