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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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Testimony 21

I am absolutly on fire with the message at Come and Reason! I can’t get enough! I’ve read your book, blog, and articles. I’ve listened to your Bible study podcasts, your radio show, and your series – all excellent! It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I have I like I’m becoming “healthy,” with more to share with others than just beasts and commandments! I used to be a Bible worker and preached when the pastors were gone until I had had enough. I didnt realize at the time what the problem was, but i know now… the message wasn’t properly focused. Now my flame is rekindled. All of your little examples are so perfect in explaining something “complicated” and making it easily understood! Now I’m trying to shape it into a life changing evangelistic series! Thank you!

M.T., USA

 

Testimony 13

I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

Testimony 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, 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 23

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 40

I was brought up in a different faith and have been petrified my whole life of God. I believed that I would burn in hell for eternity. When I was 12 I started pursuing the things of this world, but for the next 45 years the Spirit was always calling me, as I knew there was a God through nature. I could see the vast sea of stars in the universe and knew there was something bigger out there. Five years ago, through a Revelation seminar, I was blessed to learn about God’s character and government.

Then I found Come and Reason Ministries and have come under some extreme pressure when I speak about the ministry. One time a member sent me an internet article titled “Whats wrong with Tim Jennings?” I asked her what she thought of it and she said “I don’t know, I didn’t read it.”

I have always wanted to find out for myself the truth about God, so I stayed with the Design Law construct and have been liberated to understand the big picture. Once we consider Design Law, all other Bible stories and prophecies seem to fit perfectly. It is truly beautiful to see people grasping how God operates this Universe of Love and the liberation it has provided in their lives. It blows my mind to see how consistent Design law is with what our founders believed. I hear statements like “This makes so much sense.”

Tom W., Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA

 

Testimony 70

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Judy Phelps, Reno, NV, USA

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

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Testimony 18

The Healing the Mind DVD set tarted me on a journey that has changed my relationship with our loving God more significantly than any other study, and brought me to your book and Bible study podcasts, which I now listen to daily, thanks to the availability of archived content on your site and on iTunes.

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Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, 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!

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Testimony 37

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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

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