Call Us: 423 661-4734 | Email: requests@comeandreason.com      
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

Donate online, securely via PayPal using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).


cancel recurring payment

 

Want to use zelle instead?
See how on our
Support and Donations page.

Upcoming Events

calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

Testimony 3

My husband is a pastor and I listen to your lesson almost every week. Thank you for helping me in my study life and to help me love the “real” God more.

C. F., NC, 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 33

I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, 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 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 19

I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 6

I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia

 

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 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 30

God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

Testimony 11

I would love to have a copy of “Healing the Mind” DVDs to have in my therapy office. I enjoy having clients check out materials to enhance their therapy experience. I have sat under Dr. Jennings’ teaching at an American Association of Christian Counselors convention and respect his work greatly.

K.B., LA, USA

 

Testimony 58

I have been watching your videos in The Power of Love seminar and I must say these have liberated me and have improved my relationship with the Lord. I am no longer terrified of him as I was before following your teachings.

Thando N., South Africa

 

Testimony 48

I just want to tell you how blessed I have been reading “The Remedy!” It has become a daily part of my devotional relationship with God. In it I have found a God of love and a God that loves me! The bible has come alive for me! It is the first time that I can say that I have felt hope fill my heart as I have read God’s word. This is good news I can share! Thank you, Dr Jennings! Thank you for your heart for others. I can’t put into words how this has set me free! It has strengthened my trust and love for God.

Jason H.

 

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

 

Testimony 5

We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

R. N., MT, USA