The Song of Moses: Some lessons on freedom .... a study in Exodus 15

Introduction

This week Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement and the world took notice. She’s a singer and he’s a football player, but the world sang their praises.

When the Oscars have their moment in the sun next year in March, probably five songs will candidate for the Best Song of the Year. But today’s chapter, contains the record of the First of 3 Songs of Moses in the Bible. And it might not win a Grammy or Oscar, but it certainly won a place in the Bible, and that’s better than any red carpet praise.

Now here’s an interesting verse in the middle of today’s song. In verse 13 we read

Thou hast guided them to Thy holy habitation.

Actually where was it to which we had been led at this point? Only across the sea and having our enemies drown in the midst of it. So, the forecast by Moses of the conquest of the Land is certainly in view as the next couple verses highlight, but I want to address the venue of our standing at this point.  Frank Sinatra sang the hit song about his lost lover whom he longed to kiss. He said, 

“Somewhere beyond the sea; somewhere waitin' for me.

My lover stands on golden sand and watches the ships that go sailin'.”

“Across the sea” for the Jewish people in our text today is freedom. And nothing else matters when you are across the sea. Let’s talk today about freedom and learn 4 lessons. I believe there is freedom in singing, there is also a danger in freedom and we can grow comfortable in true freedom. Finally, there is a cost for our freedom. 

Lesson 1: Freedom in singing

 Listen to Israel singing as they escape. Do you hear the ladies who led the chorus with their tambourines? Do you hear the birds joining in the chant? It’s a fantastic sense of relief. I was in jail for a few days in Florida as a hippie some 50 years ago. Don’t ask. But what I remember the most about the time was the getting out. The man who gave me the money to pay my penalty had enough for me, not for himself. He lent it to me and straightaway I knew I had to return it to him. But my first thought as I got out of prison was relief. I was overjoyed. I kicked my heels together and laughed and ran and felt like singing. I know how those 3 million slaves in Egypt felt, in measure. 

There is a joy in the freedom of escape. Israel turned and saw the drowned tormentors and there might have even been a feeling of satisfaction. Not only did we win, but you got yours, too, loser! Take that one!

The rabbis always caution however against smug and snooty sayings. Never rejoice, they say, at the sufferings of others.  Love of neighbour truly forbids that. 

And here’s another rub

“No man in this world attains to freedom from any slavery except by entrance into some higher servitude. There is no such thing as an entirely free man conceivable.“ Phillips Brooks (1835- 1893), Perennials.

I agree with Brooks. What was the new servitude we were to enter? I believe it was true relationship with the Lord. Many want freedom without responsibility, but that’s dangerous.

Lesson 2: Danger in Freedom

A man's worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes. Thomas Huxley, "Address on University Education," Collected Essays, 1902, III, p. 236. 

Maybe I should call this the responsibility of freedom rather than the danger of it.  For it is in knowing that we are responsible and to whom we are responsible that we gain a new level of freedom. 

Cicero said this, “We are in bondage to the law in order that we may be free.”

Cicero is not speaking about biblical law here, rather moral law and civil law.

And his point is well taken. We who gain our freedom need to employ it in serving others. 

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement,  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  (Galatians 5.13-16)

Lesson 3: The cost of Freedom

Who better than Yeshua understands that one? He had the freedom of being the Son in the heavens. He lived there throughout eternity past and chose to come to earth to bring God’s life and ministry here. If you have seen the movie “The Passion of the Christ” then you know what torment he endured. He had ample opportunity to opt out of the final march. He could have cashed in his chips and left and returned to the Father any time during his earthly stay. Yeshua however, remained. He chose to endure to the end. 

And the big question you must ask yourself as you watch the movie, or as you think through this issue, is why? Why did Yeshua endure to the end? Was it a need to be a martyr? Was he trying to make a point? Was he sort of slow and backward, not knowing the real consequences and then got caught out? Or was it his plan to trick people into thinking he was the messiah and had to play this out in public? Listen, I don’t think any of these questions and their rhetorical replies give a sense of satisfaction. I don’t believe Jesus was making a point or dying as a martyr to prove anything to anyone. He wasn’t a dolt by any means nor was this an act of trickery or slight of hand. 

The Bible says Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins. 

The reason he came was to die. The reason he endured to the end was to see to the payment and not leave anyone out. Imagine a bank of enormous wealth and a grocery trolley and you. The bank is open and the wealth is yours. And you have to go in and out and take and carry what you want. With each transaction into the vault, you get more excited and more exhausted. There will be a time when you say, “Enough.” When is that?  When you have counted out a million dollars? Will it be enough to take one trolley full? When you have taken the entire wealth of the bank? Or is it when you attained what your goal was?  God loved the world so much that he sent his only son to die for us and to redeem us back from the powers of Satan. (John 3.16) Nothing was going to stop the Son of God from doing this job. And there were plenty of distractions and traps to cause him to fail. But his takings at the earthly bank, of something more valuable than money, were complete. He did not stop until he had in the words of the Apostle, “ruined the principalities and powers.”(1 Peter 3.22) He took the final amount of owings, that which humanity owed to sin and death, and received them on himself. Jesus took the lot of the punishment for our failings and our sins. What love the Father has for us…and Yeshua has for us. That’s the answer to the ‘why did he do it’ question.

Lesson 4: Growing comfortable in your freedom

The Israelites on the east side of the Red Sea are now free. They can rejoice and they can sing. They are unsure where they are going at this point. They know that God is leading them. The siblings, Moses, Aaron and Miriam are leading the troops of weary wanderers. It’s hot and dusty in the desert. It’s uncomfortable living out of a suitcase. They don’t know a lot; they don’t have earthly comforts, but they have something going for them. They have discovered the God who led them out of Egypt has the power to keep fighting for them in the world outside Egypt. Yahweh is not a tribal God or local deity; He is Lord of earth, and as they sing “ki ga’o, ga’ah”. He has triumphed triumphantly. He is not just an exalted local deity; He is the boss. They are beginning to understand the power and immensity of the Almighty.  I love the song we sing ‘Mi chamocha,’ “Who is like unto Thee?”(Ex. 15.11) reflects this orientation.  It’s also in this chapter. There are no gods like our God! You begin to sense that Israel which has been so far removed from the notice of the Lord for generations is now beginning to grow comfortable in saying things about Him, in singing to Him, and in living for Him.

Some of you reading this lesson today are new believers. Good! Make sure you grow comfortable in learning about the Lord, in saying the name of Yeshua to others, in being baptized, in walking out life with Him. Why? Because He has triumphed gloriously. He is the God among all false gods. He has taken us to freedom and will never forsake us. How awesome is he?

Taylor knows how to sing. The world of entertainment knows how to sing at the engagement of celebrities and the winning of Super Bowls. We have won the victory over sin and death in the powerful name of Yeshua. Let's sing together, even now.

 

Conclusion:  What lessons do we learn from today's teaching?

1)   Freedom has a cost and someone has to pay it

2)    Singing to God brings Him pleasure as well as you

3)   Never rejoice at the sufferings of your enemies

4)   Yeshua loved you so much that he would not stop until He died for all your sins and shortcomings.   

If God be for us, who can (successfully) be against us? A study in Romans chapter 8

Book of Romans: A Bible study series in 17 parts

The general theme of Romans: How to be right with God.

Lesson nine:  If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8)

[To watch this on YouTube as it was given live on Zoom and on Facebook Live, click    https://youtu.be/58iFt7FKYO4 ].  [The whole biblical text is at the end of this blog]

Introduction

Happy Shavuot to all my Jewish mates. Did you stay up all night and read the book of Ruth? Did you eat a cheesecake yet or a blintz? No matter, on to our study today. Welcome to those of you who are new to our class in this the 9^th lesson, as we take up Paul’s comments recorded in chapter 8 of The Book of Romans. If you are watching this video on YouTube long after our class ended today, then please pause the recording and read the 8^th chapter. It will only take 3 minutes, or maybe 4 if you get a wee bit confused, then push play again, and come back as we will try to bring meaning to it all. OK, welcome back.  For those of you on the Zoom call just now, have your Bible open, will you? And next week, please read the chapter before you come to ‘class.’ Thanks.

   This chapter is mammoth and worthy of weeks of study. But in our rendering, this will take the usual time today as I’m going to highlight aspects of the chapter and you will get to read, mark, inwardly digest it for another few days, or at least until tonight. Please muse on this, on all the promises, on the lavish grace that Paul writes about here, as it will bring deep gladness to your heart and spirit. The purpose of this letter is to help you get right with God and to remind you that YOU ARE right with God by faith in Yeshua. 

The overview of God’s promises

This chapter alone carries the bulk of that purpose.

Listen to the results of being right with God.

Verse 1: No condemnation

Verse 2: Set free from the law of sin and death

Verse 4: The requirement of the Law is fulfilled in us

And we walk in the Spirit

Verse 5: We set our minds on the things of the Spirit

Verse 6: This brings life and peace

Verse 10: Our spirit is alive

Verse 11: God will quicken our mortal body

Verse 13:  We will live!

Verse 14: We are called ‘the sons of God.’

Verse 15: We have received a spirit of adoption as sons and cry ‘Abba”

Verse 17: We are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Yeshua and we will be glorified with him

Surprisingly, in 

Verse 23: We groan like creation for the complete restoration of all things

And

Verse 25: We hope for the redemption of our bodies

Verse 26: We have the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words

Verse 28: God causes all things to work together for the good

Verse 31: God is for us; who can be against us (successfully)?

Verse 32: God will give us all things (needed to get there)

NO MATTER WHAT!

If you are not yet feeling confident and assured, it’s time for a reality check. 

The contrasts

The chapter makes all these promises and assurances come to light against the backdrop of the comparisons of the other guys if you will, your past life, and those who still resist the love of God. You are adopted, but others are still outside. You are free, but others are still in chains. 

Look at the list from verse 2:

The law of sin and death. This is not Torah, of course, but the guiding principle he has clarified for several chapters that our sin and our flesh (Greek: sarx) is opposed to the Lord and results in death. 

Verse 3: The Law was weak because of our flesh

Verse 4: We walked in the flesh (that is, the system by the which we thought we were acceptable to God)

Verse 5: Our minds were set on fleshly (carnal) things

Verse 6: The result of carnal thinking was death

Verse 7: Carnal thinking was hostile to God, incapable of right-thinking

Verse 8: Carnal thinking prevented right relationship with God

Verse 9: Don’t belong to God (orphans)

Verse 13:  Death is the winner

Verse 15: Spirit of slavery which leads to fear

This list summarizes the failings of the carnal mind, the flesh-oriented person in Rome who wants his cake and to eat it, too. He has rejected God’s standards and God’s Son. He either thinks he will make it on his own religious path and he can earn God’s favor. Or he has dismissed God altogether and considers himself above the need for repair. Both the self-possessed and the self-righteous are going to fail. 

Family (.12-17)

The words in the chapter highlight family relationship. Sons, adoption, Abba. 

Paul is not being capricious, but he’s helping the believers in Rome to get it, to understand his compelling argument that the loving Father shown in the story of the Prodigal is your Father.  Most Jewish people would not have ever thought of God as Father in First Century terms. That came later. But Jesus and Paul certainly take no small pleasure in showcasing the Almighty as giving us sonship, we are children of God, heirs, joint-heirs with Yeshua. 

Adoption may mean different things in those days and in these days, but honestly, an adopted child is chosen and that’s more significant than one born naturally. We could say that an adopted child is favored, almost more than the natural born one. 

The excurses on suffering (.18-27)

Paul’s imagery of suffering in the few verses from verse 18 stands out to me in the reading. He puts the groaning of creation and the personal groaning of the believer in context. We are suffering in this mortal body and aching to be fully redeemed. We long for the fulfillment of the final restoration of body, soul, and spirit at the return of Jesus to establish his kingdom. And Paul helps us see our aching in light of Creation itself. Since Adam failed in the Garden, and brought sin to the planet, and thus the curse of Genesis 3, the entire creation longs for that same redemption that we await. 

We groan, we ache, we anticipate, but are we worried? That’s the key in this paragraph. He wants us to groan, if you will, in faith, because God has the whole world in his hands. Nothing will surprise him. In fact, he has sent us the down payment, the Holy Spirit to help us in our weaknesses in light of our sufferings. Groanings too deep for words might be praying in the Spirit. 

What God did (.28-31)

Some of you will be mad at me. You may have been waiting for this section since we announced the study on Romans. You long to hear your own convictions about predestination and justification. Call, glorification, and foreknowledge. Great… I’m glad you have such convictions. And I hope we can talk about those in due course, but for today, these grand topics are going to be only markers for us as we visit chapter 8. They can best be summarised as “What God did for us.” 

If you are new to these biblical words, no worries, they will come up again and again for you in further readings and in sermons down the track. For now, let me say this, “God knew all things from the beginning (foreknowledge) and he laid out a course of action and circumstances (predestination) so that we would end up living a holy life and represent Yeshua well. (verse 29). God made sure we would be aware of this reality by calling us (verse 30) and making justification happen. (Isaiah 53.11) Glorification is the final result of that and it’s already done (in a spiritual sense) and has not yet happened (in the temporal world of the flesh). (verse 30)

Remember before we were put in the Garden, God made man in his image and wanted us to be regents on the planet under his lordship. We failed back then, and God enacted Plan A to get us back into right relationship with him. That’s called “the plan of salvation” and is what God did as I just laid out in those heavy theological terms. But making us be together the imago dei (image of God) according to his purpose…that’s what this whole story is about. 

Please don’t get caught up in the controversy about Calvin vs Wesley and ‘inexperienced people’ or ‘the learned author’… the issues here are not designed for us to be perplexed, but rather to be comforted. God’s got this. Relax!

The summary

Verse 33: Look at the judicial charges. Who has anything to say against you?  His implication is that NO ONE does. He’ll detail this in a moment. 

Verse 34: No condemnation. You are set free; liberated, and acquitted. Made right with God.

Verse 35: Who will separate us from God’s love? There are 7 candidates. 

Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? There is a certain rhythm to this sequence. The ‘or’ between each word is like a drumbeat. And within the sentence, I want to hear you say, “NO”. Will tribulation? NO. Will distress? NO! Will persecution? NO. Will famine? NO. Will nakedness. NO? Will peril. NO. Will sword. NO!!! All these imposters to the plan of God will fail.  Will Covid-19? NO. Will the failing of your superannuation? NO. 

PSALM 44.22.

Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

 This quoted verse probably had already been used of martyrs of the Jewish people. 

Just mentioning the 7 attack dogs of peril and tribulation etc might hearken the reader of the letter back to the mood, the somber mood of chapter 7. “Who will save me from the body of this death?” BUT against that, immediately, Paul launches one of the greatest return-of-fires recorded in the Scripture, “We are more than conquerors.” 

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. (verse 37)

We are conquerors. We are MORE than conquerors. Overwhelmingly. This is not a slight victory in extra time. This is not eeking out a one-point win in overtime. This is the conquest and overwhelmingly so because of Yeshua, who loved us. We know that love (chapter 5) in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us. We win because HE WON!

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (38-39)

These 10 things are going to try to prevent our victory. 10 things are going to weigh in psychologically or sociologically. All these realities are aiming to stop your celebration… they don’t want you to remember the love of God. They want your failure. God, however, wants your success. 

Paul says he is convinced. He wants you to be convinced. The word is often translated “persuaded” (Luke 16.31, Acts 18.4, 19.8, .26) Are you?

Look at this list of the Top 10: And this list is not exhaustive. Neither death, the ultimate finality of death cannot separate us from God’s love because it was in death that Yeshua showed us that great love at Calvary. Can life separate us? By that he probably means the regular, ordinary role of living, going to work, riding the train, mowing your lawn, buying groceries, regular ordinary life. Can that separate us? Not at all.. in our ordinary life, God’s love can shine and be manifest. He shows up in ordinary circumstances like sticks that blossom in Aaron’s day or ravens that feed prophets, like an ordinary fishing expedition that nets 153 fish after an empty catch all night. God shows his light all the more in the darkness of ‘life.’ Angels—can they separate us? Gabriel and Michael called us to God; Satan’s empty beckoning is vain and empty when shown against the glory of the call of God. Can principalities prevent the love of God? Greek word ‘arche’ like ‘heads’ or ‘rulers’ like in Colossian 1.16, 2.10, 2.15, 1 Cor. 15.24, especially Ephesians 6.12). All governments, all authorities, all powers… he is above them all! 

What about things present? You know, situations in which I find myself. Loneliness, despair. What about anxieties or worries. What about the Romans ruling over us and we have no freedom. What about I want to open up my village or city or state and the government is not letting me. Things present.  Things to come? Our future, the stock market, impending troubles from China aggravating our relationships with Australia or in the USA. 

What about powers (Greek word: dunamis)? People who are stronger than me, and I worry they will hurt me.  What about height or depth…Paul is moving into every considered discipline of conversation… can anything of these 10 or your next 10 or the media or the duopoly of Coles and Woolies…can anything separate us from God’s love. 

His unequivocal answer is NO. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. 

Hallelujah is our answer and our response. 

Is that your response?

If so, you are right with God and that’s nothing to shake a stick at. It’s something about which to sing and rejoice. For those watching this video later, I’m going to put a song into the video that I heard for the first time the other day. It was made during COVID lockdown in the UK and celebrates the reality of this conclusion. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. If God be for us, who or what can be against us? NOTHING else will win; He has won it all. Enjoy that song. But first, 

Dear friends on Facebook and on this zoom call, if you are not yet a believer in Yeshua, I urge you today, call on him while he is near. If you know your Torah, and you know yourself, you know you need a Saviour. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be rescued, will be saved will be made to be in right relationship with God. It’s worth all the social distancing people will give you when you tell them about God. It’s worth all the rejection of others who don’t want to know about God’s love in Messiah Yeshua. 

If you want, you can pray a prayer with me just now to solidify your choice. Something like this, “Father in Yeshua’s name, thank you for loving me. Thank you for sending Yeshua to save me from myself, from my selfishness, from my despair, and the harm I cause so many. Thank you for making me right with God through your sacrifice. I receive Yeshua (Jesus) as my savior and the lover of my soul. He frees me to love others. I repent of my sins and ask for God’s forgiveness to be my portion. I receive the free gift of God, eternal life in Messiah Jesus our Lord. Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, will you let us know via the messages or write me directly? I would appreciate that.

NEXT WEEK we will look at the 9^th chapter and find some of the most difficult passages in the Bible about Jewish people and about the Sovereignty of God. If nothing can separate us from God’s love, what about the Jewish people… that will be Paul’s major question. 

To all my Jewish mates, Chag Shavuot s’meach, and to all my Christian friends, happy Pentecost on Sunday.

I’m delighted to be able to read and help us understand this book each Friday here from my home in Sydney.  Shabbat shalom!

The actual text:

Rom. 8:1   Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are ^bin Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. ³ For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, ⁷because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, ⁸ and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Rom. 8:9   However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Rom. 8:12   So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — ¹³ for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Rom. 8:18   For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. ²³ And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Rom. 8:26   In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; ²⁷ and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Rom. 8:28   And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; ³⁰ and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Rom. 8:31   What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? ³³ Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; ³⁴ who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 

³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

³⁶  Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Israel Folau and Free Speech

Firestorm! An Australian sports figure writes on his social media platform his own opinion. The sports world in Australia goes ballistic. The media brands Israel Folau a bigot and homophobe. There are calls for his being fired for declaring his opinion about who is on their way to hell. Wow, let's sit down and consider what this is about and what it is not about.

Some say that he is welcome to have his own opinion, but he shouldn't declare that opinion if the content might offend someone. Some don't want him to express any opinion at all if it is 'out of bounds'  Wait a minute, who decides which of your opinions are worthy or proper or agreeable? Do you really want the thought police 'out there?'

Imagine if Anthony Mundine or Khoder Nasser, Usman Khawaja or Fawad Ahmed were being told they couldn't say that homosexuality is out of bounds in their religion. Muslims hold that as one of their beliefs. Would their sports association dismiss them for that, too?

Someone is crossing the line here, and it's not Folau. Or did he?

You see, the issue, they say, is that Qantas and Rugby AU have said that their sportsmen are not to say things which will cause some fans to withdraw their support. Folau signed an agreement with that position less than three months ago. So there are TWO issues, one the signed agreement, and the 2nd is the matter of Rugby telling their players what they can or cannot say.

Commentator Alan Jones weighed in. News.com.au reported today 

"Folau has found an ally in broadcast heavyweight Alan Jones after Rugby Australia vowed to terminate the contract of the Wallabies star after he posted an image which included anti-gay sentiment to Instagram this week. Folau, 30, was widely slammed for calling on “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” to repent for their sins or else “hell awaits” them.

Jones, a former coach of our national rugby team, is pointing the finger at Rugby Australia. “Rugby Australia are only worried about the quids, they’re only worried about the sponsorship,” Jones said on his 2GB radio show on Friday morning.“That’s why they asked Israel to sign a contract in which he wouldn’t say this and he wouldn’t say that and that his views would be consistent with (Rugby Australia sponsor) Qantas.“He’s made comments about religion — who will end up heaven and who will end up in hell. Who cares? It’s an opinion. I don’t necessarily agree with what he said, by the way, but a lot of people don’t agree with what I say.

“We’re going down a very, very narrow road here and this has gone on and on and on this crap. I’m telling you, out there people are terrified of saying anything. They are frightened, they don’t know what they can say. We’re on a slippery slope here ... it’s got nothing to do with Israel, or rugby, or religion, or homosexuals, or whatever. Where are we in this country on free speech?”

Sports figures worldwide regularly make comments about their beliefs, just like movie folks accepting their Oscars. In the US, sports and religion, especially after a significant victory, go hand in hand.  The US media wrote this about former star player Tim Tebow: "Evangelical quarterback Tim Tebow is known for demonstrating his faith on the football field, including wearing Bible verses on his eye black in college and dropping to a knee in prayer (launching the meme “Tebowing”). The son of Baptist missionaries, he spurred a movement to let homeschooled athletes compete on public school teams and starred in a pro-family Focus on the Family ad during the 2010 Super Bowl. At the University of Florida, Tebow won the 2007 Heisman Trophy. He went on to play for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets in the NFL."

Michael Chang won the French Open when he was 17 (still the youngest male to win a major) (see this link: /) Chang has always been outspoken about his faith in Jesus, beginning in 1989, when he won the French and then told the interviewing commentator, “I thank the Lord Jesus Christ, because without Him, I am nothing."

Social media is exploding with calls for Folau to be gone, and others who like this blog, are standing with Folau. Some religionists and prime ministers, even Christian ones, are not speaking up as loudly as they might in defense of Folau's right to free speech. Listen to this from Lyle Shelton today on the radio. AUDIO.  What happens if gagging becomes the norm? 

God, give Israel Folau great wisdom and terrific lawyers.

God, help our country to calm down about the religion of non-offense and learn to disagree agreeably. 

We really need help.

#OneWayReligiousTolerance

If I could speak with Ari Hershkowitz

I had never heard of this man. Not until this year. The Times of Israel had a major article about him, and his departure from his religious roots. Anything about religion, especially the Jewish religion, often captivates me. Satmar Hasidim are a subset of ultra-Orthodox Jewish people and it was from them that this Ari Hershkowitz departed, leaving Brooklyn NY 3 years ago. The article is here.

He now calls himself a "culturally Jewish atheist." And gave up drugs and many other substances about 15 months ago. He revealed much about himself to Henry Greener from Melbourne on The Shtick. I remember Henry interviewing me there some years ago. He's a delightful man with keen insights.  (The Shtick - S53-05 Seg.3)

Ari is becoming well known in his own right, and he is one of the featured 'leavers' of Hasidic life in the movie/ Netflix documentary, "One of us." 

In an interview with three fellows online (Epistemic Ep. 18), Ari says, "For the record God hasn't answered any of my questions." I wonder what those questions might be. I wonder if Ari has read any of the words of Rabbi Yeshua from Nazareth. And then I wondered what we might talk about if he were in my lounge room here in Sydney, or I were in his back in the US. 

Some points I would consider:
1) Ari, going against the parents and the religion of your youth... I get that. I did that. And it cost me. And I imagine it has cost you. Do you have any regrets about leaving?
2) You cite your earlier years, even before Bar Mitzvah, as including sexual abuse and mental illness. Do you feel you have overcome the mental illness or outgrown it, or is it still haunting you? By the way, I'm so sorry you experienced abuse at all.
3) As for those unanswered questions, I seriously recommend an honest read of the Brit Hadashah. CJB or TLV or even NASB. The version doesn't matter so much as an honest and open heart. 

And you have to know, Yeshua went through all these points, too. 

1) One day he and his family were in Jerusalem. 
Look at this little story: "Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Yeshua stayed behind in Jerusalem. But his parents were unaware of it, but supposed him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for him. Then, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.”  And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them and He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he continued in subjection to them; and his mother treasured all these things in her heart." (recorded in Luke 2:42-51)

2) Yeshua wasn't mentally ill, but some wondered if he weren't losing it. In the story recorded just before Hanukkah account "A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?" (John 10.19-21) Yeshua actually healed people of their diseases, and he is still available to bring life and health to anyone who asks. I'm so glad I asked. 

3) Finally, as for questions, and longing for answers, Yeshua knows your thoughts and your questions, and sometimes answers and sometimes doesn't so that you will ask him again and again. And learn that answers to questions don't necessarily turn into faith and relationship. Honestly, what the Almighty wants is to be in relationship with each of us. And with you. Anything that gets in the way, He wants you to remove. Listen to this story: "A ruler questioned Yeshua, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Yeshua said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.“You know the commandments, ‘^aDO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”  When Yeshua heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; ^asell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have ^btreasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich." (Luke 18.18-23)

God wants to love on you today.

God wants you to love him back, today. How about now?

BTW, if anyone wants to read more about Ari here's the link to his own website: https://arih.me Shalom!