Bert Harper The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions. Welcome to Exploring the Word.

 

Alex McFarland You know, it's been said, that one of the proofs of the Bible is that there is what's called the principle of embarrassment. Hi, Alex McFarland here along with Bert Harper. And we are continuing on in the book of Hosea and we invite you to turn there. This is one of the Old Testament writers, called them minor prophets because of the brevity of the books. But you know Bert, the word of God is not just all perfect, just so stories. I mean there are some. You look at the life of King David, you look at the apostle Peter and part of the reason, and a number of scholars have said that the Bible has authenticity because it portrays human leaders, warts and all. And I think about the life of Hosea. This is a man of God, a prophet, and yet a pretty hard set of circumstances that he was called to, didn't just experience it, it was his calling. And like you said yesterday, Burton, you said it will, not only he proclaimed it, he lived it out. And we're going to see about the great lessons for our own lives in the life of this major figure, a minor prophet, but I would say a major figure, Hosea the prophet. And we invite everyone to turn there now.

 

Bert Harper Amen. Alex. He is, and that is so true, what a man he was. And the question as you were talking, the thought came over me, through no fault of his own, he struggled. What will some other person's sin decision cost you? And that is so true. We're not an island. We can't isolate ourselves so much that what others do, won't affect us. It will affect us. As we think about the election coming up and voting one week from today, and the people who cast their ballots determine so much. And if they choose immorality, if they choose socialism, if they choose those things of denying us being made in the image of God by voting, then I want to tell you, it will cost who? Everyone. and so yes, and Hosea is that individual. Because of his wife's decisions, he, he was left in pain. And we come to chapter two and we get what I would say is the sins that are the prominent sins. And let me just give you those real quickly and then we'll start reading. First and foremost, and we covered this yesterday, even though we did not get to chapter two, is idolatry. That is that. And it seems like every one of the other sins that come from that, like ingratitude, they were. They weren't thankful to God. They were thinking the gods of Baal. And then secondly, hypocrisy, you'll find out in verse 11, they were keeping the feast. They were keeping the Sabbaths. But guess who were they were worshiping when they were keeping them? Not God, Jehovah, but they are gods that they had raised up. So In Romans, chapter 1, verse 21 says it well. And when they were not thankful, they became vain in their own imaginations. When they were not thankful, although they knew God, they were not thankful. And Alex, two things I've noticed, pastoring as many years as I've. I have, and I've been in it a long time, 52 years of ministry, pastoring and working with people, there's two things I've noticed that are very. Having an attitude of gratitude is one of the most important things you can have. And when pride takes over in an individual or a group of people, I want to tell you, it's a downward spiral when in gratitude and pride combine. You catch what I'm saying?

 

Alex McFarland You know what, Bert? I was just thinking about this. really in learning, one of the great prerequisites for learning is humility.

 

Bert Harper You bet.

 

Alex McFarland The idea that, well, I don't know everything, and so there's some things that I need to learn and trust. you know, Bert, I've written quite a bit about skepticism. I've interviewed many atheists and professed skeptics and, to accept what the Bible says. And then, you know, the great commentators and the scholars and, I mean, some of history's books, best and brightest, have affirmed what we're saying, that the Bible is God's word, Jesus is risen. Many, many skeptics that I have, interacted with are just. I'm just going to say it. They're too prideful to believe what God says. And so to learn, you have to have humility. But then one of the other, like you said, one of the great virtues is gratitude. And I'm preaching at Alex here. But if we could let the Holy Spirit of God, breed within us. Gratitude and humility.

 

Bert Harper Amen.

 

Alex McFarland And we have so much for which to be grateful and humility, so much to learn and grow and experience God's will, those are the pathways to blessing and joy, gratitude before God, humility to learn and to be taught. And let me just say this, and we'll get back to Hosea, but we are called to be disciples. And the word in the original language is mathetes, from which we get the word math. And I don't mean math in terms of arithmetic, but the basic word means learner. Mathetes. M A T H E T E S We. If you're a disciple, you're to be a lifelong learner, Learning what? Jesus, the ways of God, the word of God. we're called to be disciples. And, Hosea is a great, exemplar from which we learn. but chapter two. Bring charges against your mother. Bring charges. For she is not my wife, nor am I her husband. Let her put away her harlotries from her sight. Okay, so, the brethren, Chapter two, verse one. The Israelites and the mother, the nation of Israel. God is telling them that the mother from which they've been birthed, the nation, is an idolatrous harlotress. they've turned away. And there's a lot of language there about the judgment of God. Verse 4. I will not have mercy on her children, for they are the children of harlotry. And of course, the three children of Hosea and Gomer are very pictorial of the children of Israel birthed of an immoral nation, an immoral mother. I mean, this is, Bert, I'm going to say this. I'm going to throw it to you. growing up, you learn really quick. one of the worst things ever is for somebody to say something about somebody's mother, right?

 

Bert Harper Yes.

 

Alex McFarland them's fighting words.

 

Bert Harper Yes.

 

Alex McFarland You know, and, But yet God is saying, hey, you're an illegitimate child of an illegitimate woman. Because God says, I raised you up. You've turned from me to false God, idols and spiritual harlotry. Really? And, the, you know, in the 21st century, it's hard to convey. This is indictment in the strongest possible terms.

 

Bert Harper If you turn from God to government, that's idolatry. Okay? If you turn from God to thinking that education is the thing, rather than being trained in the ways of God, you're being led astray. We don't set up those idols. But the idol that I think about so much, Alex, in the Old Testament, after the Philistines had. Had taken the Ark of the Covenant, and they took it back and put it in the temple of Dagon, and they come back in the next morning and guess where Dagon is. He is fallen off the pedestal, you know, so they, here's, here's the worst. it's the word picture that I love. They had to pick up their God and put him back on the pedestal. Yeah, when your God has to be picked up and put on a pedestal, that is not the God you need to worship. It is a little G O D. Our God is on the throne, not a pedestal. He reigns and rules. And so how foolish it is for anyone to turn from God, the Creator, who's made Himself known, and then through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, Creator and Redeemer, when we know him in those two ways, I want to tell you we need to worship him and we need to demonstrate that these Israelites had turned to idolatry. And that's what he said here in verses 2, through the first part of verse 5. They are, as you said, spiritual harlotry. I think that really gets it. I think that's what Hosea was doing. He was making it severe. This is harlotry. They'd say, oh, no, idolatry. No, they're synonymous, aren't they?

 

Alex McFarland they. They are. And it talks about in chapter two of Hosea, chasing after her lovers but not being able to catch them. And verse seven, although it's. This is maybe a little not as sincere as it ought to be, then she will say, I will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better for me than now. for she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine and oil, multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for baal. So, there is conviction and maybe even, there have been times for everybody listening, you've thought in your life, you know, I need to get back to God. looking back, I kind of momentarily forgot. The Lord's been good to me. I need to get back in church. Need to get my family back in church. See, verse eight. She forgot where her grain came from.

 

Bert Harper That's it, Alex, provision. But, that's ingratitude. Forgetting that that's the reason I'm making these idolatry, then ingratitude, then gratitude. They forgot where the blessings were coming from, did they not?

 

Alex McFarland Yeah, they did. They did. And, you know, basically everything from food and clothing, the wool, the provision. I don't mean to go too fast. You can go back if you want to. But it talks about in verses nine and ten, when they, committed idolatry and they went after BAAL and these false gods, which, by the way, Baal and the gods of the Philistines, these were demons, these, these idols and these false religions were demonic. And God says, I'm going to uncover her nakedness and lewdness. You know, throughout human history, to be, you know, naked was, basically, you know, demoralizing, dehumanizing and lewdness. That's immorality. there's judgment coming. Verse 10 says, no one shall deliver her from my hand. I will cause her mirth to cease. M, I R, T H. That's like celebrating and, you know, debauchery and just rejoicing in debauchery. And there's pagan feast and observances. there's, verse 12. Her fig trees and vines are going to get destroyed. Bert. When there is a backsliddenness and then apostatizing away from God, there's a spiritual price, a physical and psychological price. There's an economic price, isn't it? This is talking about the crops and the livestock are failing because of the turning away from the true and living God, Alec.

 

Bert Harper So. Well, notice I do. I've already talked about verse 11, the feast days, her, new moons that seem to be a little bit pagan in that, but her Sabbaths and then her appointed feast, in other words, what God had put on his calendar to come apart and worship him. They weren't worshiping him. They were worshiping the pagan gods. And it all starts with idolatry. When your heart is turned away from God, it turns into a vicious, vicious cycle of depravity. We're going to be back with more of Hosea chapter two right after the break. Stay tuned. You'll learn some more about how God operates. Hello, I'm, Bert Harper. Did you know that this content is listener supported? Without people like you, this podcast would not exist. That's why we need you. A generous monthly gift of any amount will sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast. Please consider becoming a monthly financial partner today by visiting afr.net give that's afr.net give shine, Jesus, shine Fill this land

 

Alex McFarland with the Father's glory. Place spirit rays, set our hearts on fire

 

Caroline forever.

 

Bert Harper M Hallelujah. I I do love that song. I was quite young when I heard it the first time and I, hadn't forgot it. I love that song. Song Shine, Jesus, shine. That's our prayer on exploring the Word, that Jesus Christ is seen, observed, heard. You even sense his presence through the power of the Holy Spirit, even through Internet and the radio. And that's what we Pray. As a matter of fact, a prayer, Alex. Today is the day of prayer. On Tuesdays, we do so. And, it's been over a year now that we did this, because last year, the election day, everybody was talking about, man, we need to be praying. So we kept on praying. And I'd say this is a good day to pray. Election day is coming up a week from today, and like you said yesterday, you and Angie's already voted because early voting is possible. But today, on the day of prayer, you may have a prayer request and you can call in. And that number is 888-589-8840. And that's not open yet, but, but about five minutes before the, at the bottom of the hour after that, Richard will be there ready to get your phone call. But if you want to get it done early, you can go to our Facebook page, you can go to wordfr.net and, and Brent keeps up with that. he shares it on the air. So we can pray for you or praise God. And we do accept praises, don't we, Alex?

 

Alex McFarland We do. We have a lot for which to be thankful. But, in all seriousness, please, I, I really would urge people to pray like your life depends on it for this election coming up. And, there's just so much at play. You know, all that you, you know the news folks. But we're going to take prayer requests in, in a few moments. We're going to continue in Hosea 2 for right now, but I'm going to go ahead and give that number. It's triple 858-9884-088858-98840. And of course, Brent Austin helps us with the Facebook and you can message in prayer requests and just a lot to pray about, a lot to praise God for. But, you know, bert, in 14 and following of Hosea, chapter two, really, you know, God shows mercy even in these severe condemnations of sin. The mercy of God, is there. God is always acting redemptively. And he talks about, you know, bringing conviction and drawing her, you know, even in the wilderness. God says, I will speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there and the valley of Achor as a door of hope. She shall sing there as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she. When Israel came up out of the land of Egypt. By the way, the Israel is often portrayed, as a woman. You know, in Revelation, Israel is the woman that brought forth the man child Jesus. And so verse 16 says the Lord, you will call me my husband and no longer call me my master. Now, Bert, in a way, believe it or not, you feel free to disagree. I really see this is a reference to the NewSong Covenant. Okay, the old covenant keep all these rituals, but one day the Messiah is going to come. The new covenant. I'm going to give you a living heart. see, the new covenant or the NewSong Testament is not about rituals, but relationship. It's not about religion, but this reality. And a husband shows love to a wife. It's not employer, employee. It's a love relationship. Just as a Christian husband is to lay down his life for his bride. Well, Christ Jesus the bridegroom laid down his life for the bride, the church. Bert, in Hosea 2, 16, I really. I think an argument could be made that husband versus master, that's a reference to the relationship that a believer has with the Savior.

 

Bert Harper I think your argument would be well taken. Now, what you want to do in 14 through the end, go through it. And you know, I'm looking for repeated phrases. The repeated phrase you want to look for is I will. This is God, his actions. Notice in verse 14, I will allure her or woo her. God, you know that song, God is running after me. God woos. He wants us to come back to him. And oh, Jerusalem, to Jerusalem. How many times I would have taken you, but you would not. You know how many times he woos them. Now notice verse 15. I will give. I'm going to give her vineyards. This is what God says I'm going to do. Now notice where it is in the valley of Acor. Now, if you want to find something out about that, read Joshua, chapter seven, where a man named Akin went in and he took what was supposed to be the Lord's and took it away. And then there would be a defeat at AI after that, the sin that. That everybody suffered for it because of one man's sin. And it says, but I'm going to turn it into something that is good. Alex. God does that a lot. He takes that and he turns it. It's Romans 8, 28, you know, God takes it and he turns it into good. And then verse 17, I will take from her. I'm just going to go through those, and then we come back. Verse 18, I will make a covenant for them. Verse 19, I will betroth you forever. I will betroth you to me. In verse 20, I will. And then look at 21, I will answer, says the Lord. And finally in verse 23, I will sow this is completely different from what he named Jezreel. I will what? Scatter. I'm going to sow. I'm going to make it come to fruit. So, a teaching outline, a devotional outline. Yeah. Preachers, even a sermon outline. When you look at this and you see what all God does now, he did it for them. But I want to tell you, when you relate it, as Alex did with that husband and master, and see what Christ does, He does those for us. He. His Holy Spirit has been sent to draw you unto Himself. He gives unto us eternal life. He gives us what we don't deserve. So, Alex, verses 14 through 25. I really do believe it is an awesome, awesome, list of what God does for his children.

 

Alex McFarland Amen. Bert, that is so good. Do you know what I was thinking about what you said? The. The I wills of chapter two.

 

Bert Harper Yeah.

 

Alex McFarland Would you believe 22 times in chapter two, 22 times, God says, I will take her, Take from her mouth the name of the bales. I will make a covenant for them. I will. Verse 19. I will betroth you to me forever. I will. Oh, I'm sorry. There's 23. 23. I will betroth you to me. But then there are some I will or I, shalls by way of response. You know, they will. They shall answer me. They, will respond. And it, concludes. And we can go back a little more, though I will say to those who were not my people, you are my people. I think maybe from verse 23, there could be an argument made of the Gentiles being saved. And they shall say, you are my God. Hey, backslidden. Israel is going to get restored. Unconverted, Gentiles are going to get redeemed. The people who were not God's people are going to be able to get grafted in. There's so much here that is just very, salvific. I counted. I, had to count again. 23 I wills by God in Hosea, chapter two, Bert.

 

Bert Harper Hallelujah. Way to count, man. You counted more than me. I want to spend a little time on verse 19. It is so. I mean, this is powerful. Betrothed marriage. We're talking about relationship with me for how long? Forever. Yes. I'll betroth you. He says this two times now. Notice these words, Alex. This is the relationship that they could have and will have with God. And we have with him today, through that relationship with our redeemer, Jesus Christ. As you made the point over in verse 16, not my master, but my husband. Okay, now again, a wife could call them both, but the husband is the one that comes into that covenant and that precious relationship of love. And so here it is. Righteousness, justice, loving kindness and mercy. Now that's what he brings into our lives, Alex. As a follower of Jesus Christ, we're made right with him. You can't help but think of that robe of righteousness that he's going to put on us. in heaven we're robed in robes of righteousness. Justice. Now we hear a lot about justice and it has been misused and I understand that. But we don't need to deny it. We don't need to let them take away the real truth of justice. That we treat each other as brothers and sisters, we care for one another. We are to do that which is right in the sight of Lord. Loving kindness. That we have this brotherly love. That we have this care for one another and mercy. We're not going around in judgment trying to demean and demote. No, we're trying. And this is what God brings into our lives. And, and one more thing, because I agree with you. This alludes, I think, to the Gentiles. This demonstrates this lifestyle, this way we live is a witness to those that do not know him. Alex, one more thing and I'll throw it back to you. I love the temple. Studying the temple about all the furniture that's in it, the places. But there was a place, the court of Gentiles.

 

Bert Harper This is where the Gentiles could come and they could ask the question, what does all this mean? And they could go out and they could tell them about the Lamb that's going to take away the sin of the world. This is just a covering, but one day there's going to be a washing. There's going to be the blood of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Alex, when I read chapter two, it's here, it's how to live, but also how to be a witness. Isn't it?

 

Alex McFarland It really is. it really is. And I'm glad you brought out verse 19. I love this. It says, I will betroth you to me forever. God says, and I'm going to come back to this. the word betrothed. B E T R O T H. You don't hear that word as much as you used to. it's an important word and I'll explain if I may. Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, justice in Lovingkindness and mercy. Now, folks, think about righteousness, justice, lovingkindness, mercy. Those attributes are present in the salvation transaction. Righteousness, which we don't have, but we get upon our faith in Jesus. Justice, which we had betrayed. We're sinners, but it was satisfied by the Lord on the cross. Loving kindness. God so loved the world that he sent his son. And mercy. Listen, we all, we need God's mercy. And if you come to Jesus, you have God's mercy. Now, the word betrothal. Okay, Bert. I remember, we used to have newspapers, and I used to love to look through old newspapers, and you'd see there used to be a big wedding page, you know, and you'd see words like this. a couple pledged a troth T R O T H B truffle. That was marriage, right? I plight the my trough. And you might think, what in the world does that mean? That old kind of language was fascinating. the word. And this goes all the way back to the ancient, you know, times of the Hebrew and Aramaic tribes. A betrothal was a marriage. Okay, fair enough. But what it really meant was a couple of things. One, you, have paid the price for possession. Now, a man might come with. you know, he, could prove that he could support a wife. You know, a father might pay a dowry. one of the ways that the husband and wife paid for each other possession was their virginity, their commitment to each other as husband and wife. Now, we know Christ has paid the right of possession by his own blood. But, Bert, these words are so important, and it's sad that they've become a bit antiquated. All right, the prefix B means thoroughly. And T R O U T H. Truth is an ancient Latin word. So really, a betrothal means thoroughly truthed.

 

Bert Harper Wow.

 

Alex McFarland What does that mean? It means I have pledged fidelity to you till death do us part. And so, nowadays, I fear many enter into marriage without thorough commitment of truth and life. But God says, and this is in Romans 7, that we are espoused to Christ Jesus or betrothed. And, Bert, just as a husband and wife, marriage is life's highest commitment. Well, the relationship to God, whether it be an individual person or Israel as a nation or the church to the Savior, it is the highest commitment imaginable. It is a betrothal.

 

Bert Harper And look at verse 20. In faithfulness, you add that. I don't guess you have to add it, but you put those side by side, and you'll see what Alex is referring to. That wholehearted commitment to the Lord. Not halfway all the way as we, as we end that number and we're ready to Open the lines is 888-589-8840. And your prayer request, we would love to hear them. If you've got a Bible question, we'll get to that if we can. And you can do it on facebook [email protected] but as we close look at verse 23, we have to remember when they were naming the children's names, there was one that they talked about. Not my God Lo. Amy, you are not my people. But in verse 23 it says they leave the low off and it's only Amy. My people.

 

Bert Harper Amen.

 

Alex McFarland You are my people.

 

Bert Harper You are my people. Don't listen. Turn to Christ right now. Don't go your way. There's a way that may seem right but it's not. It's only through Christ. 888-589-8840. We would like to thank our sponsors, including PreBorn. PreBorn has rescued over 400,000 babies from abortion and has seen over 100,000 commitments to Christ. Will you join PreBorn in continuing this good work supporting young moms in crisis? Save a life today. Go to preborn.com afr.

 

Alex McFarland Let your knees wear out the floor.

 

Caroline Don't stop believing.

 

Alex McFarland Amen. We continue praying, believing and pray praising God. Well, welcome back to Exploring the Word. Alex and Bert, so honored that you're listening. The number is 888-589-8840. And if you've got a Bible question, that's fine. On Tuesdays we do try to take a lot of prayer requests and agree together in prayer. And Bert, are you okay if we go straight to the telephone?

 

Bert Harper Let's do it, brother. We got some people that have called. We, we want to hear from you.

 

Alex McFarland Amen. All right, let's go to Philip in Indiana. I believe this is the first place we're going to start. Philip, are you there?

 

Caroline yes sir. can you hear me okay?

 

Alex McFarland Yeah. Welcome.

 

Caroline Well, thank you, for ah, that. Welcome. I've got a quick question and I'm driving so I don't have the scripture pulled up in front of me. But you guys have been touching a bit on Isaiah. And in Isaiah 41:14, God refers to Jacob as a worm. And I've read Isaiah, so many times, but for some reason that stood out to me yesterday. And so I, if you will, pastors just expound on that a little bit, why he referred to Jacob As a worm. That's such a harsh word. And also I have a prayer request. There's a gentleman named Brandon, out of Calhoun, Georgia, that wrecked his semi, three days ago, broke his back, and he's paralyzed. And I believe the Lord can touch him today. And I will, hang up and listen to your answer.

 

Alex McFarland God bless you. God bless you. You know, we've talked a lot about, the word Talia, the crimson worm. But, you know, there's the, Alas, and did my Savior bleed? And did my sovereign die? Would he devote that sacred head for such a worm as I? Isaiah 41:14. Do not be afraid, you worm, Jacob. it doesn't mean God doesn't love them or God is demeaning them. I think it's basically contrasting human frailty with divine strength compared to the power and wisdom and might of God. We are a little bitty worm in God's sight, aren't we there, Bert?

 

Bert Harper We really are. And when we recognize that and know that, again, we talked earlier about gratitude and humility, I'm thankful God reminds me from time to time who I am without Him. I know I'm in His image. I know. You know, my, my worth is only what God has done in me. And I, think this puts Jacob in that place of reminding. Although it's not as harmful. It's similar to the one over when Jesus was talking to that woman, and the woman says, don't you even treat dogs better than this? she was referring to how she was away from God. And, this is who we are without Him. And we're going to be praying for Brandon. Those of you that are prayer warriors, write Brandon down. A broken back. How goodness, man. one of those truck drivers that we talk about and how we appreciate so much. Alex.

 

Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. We're going to go to North Carolina. Deborah in North Carolina. Deborah, welcome to Exploring the Word.

 

Caroline Hi, this is Deborah. Okay, I just. I want us to please pray for, you know, we've got an important election coming up. They always say all of them are important, which they all are, because God is in the middle of them. But we need to pray for the Christian people to get to the polls and to vote. Ah, the Bible.

 

Alex McFarland Amen.

 

Caroline we need to get them there first. A lot of them not even going. And so if we could pray for the saints. A lot of times I think that we miss it at times. We pray for other people and their problems, their issues, and we forget to pray for the Saints. Right now, I'm standing in the gaps of the saints. We're praying for the saints and asking you guys.

 

Alex McFarland God bless you. Deborah, you know, you're really living up to your namesake. Deborah, in the Old Testament was a courageous, godly woman leader, and you exemplified that, I do believe. And Bert, we do need to pray. And, I would say to everybody out there, that's kind of. You might be wondering, okay, what's the big deal? Well, there really, really is a lot at stake in this election. And, the Muslims are running for office. We wish them no ill. We want them to know the Lord, but at the same time, we cannot let Sharia law have a foothold in America. And 1400 years of Islamic history have shown us that. Look, virtually everywhere Islam goes, it is pretty unrelenting in taking over the culture. And, and so there's just a lot at stake. And, Bert, I'm praying for honest elections. The honest tabulation. No, no voter fraud, nothing like that. A, ah, lot of states, my own state included, have constitutional amendments on the ballot. Some good, some not so good. And yeah, there's a lot to pray for. And Bert, would you, I know everybody is praying, but would you lead us? And anything else you might care to add, do it.

 

Bert Harper Let me just say this. We've got lines open if you want to call 888-589-8840. We'd love to pray, but we're going to pray for Brandon. But also, Deborah, you are right. We're praying for that. I just got off of a podcast of a good friend of mine in quite a large, large church, and, he was sharing with his congregation. Vote. Vote godly, vote the Bible. Vote your biblical world view. And that's what I'd say as well. Father, I thank you for Deborah calling in. I thank you for Philip calling in, to have brothers and sisters in Christ that are concerned about their other friends. And that's what we do for Brandon right now with that broken back. Father, I'm praying, God, that you would intervene in such a way. And I, know. I know firsthand up close what that tragedy of a broken back leads to. And I'm praying for that healing right now for Brandon. God, we're praying, as Deborah said, for this election. we're praying for believers to get out and vote that biblical worldview. sometimes I. Hey, I've had to vote against some individuals and against things to vote for someone else that I really wasn't so excited about. But, Father, it's required of stewards to be faithful. And we need to be faithful in our voting. And sometimes, Father, it is the lesser of than that of, excited for. And Father, I've been there, done that, and I got a feeling there's a lot of listeners there, but they're not to sit home. They're to be faithful in what God has given them here in America, we the people and as followers of Christ. And when I look back on the past, the black robed regiment in the Revolutionary War and those pastors that were with the flaming fire of the pulpits talked about what we could have in Christ, the liberty that comes in Christ, that that liberty can be had by all. And I pray we would do that. And I pray that the pastors would do what my friend did and just share with those people. Get out and vote and vote a biblical worldview concerning the righteousness of Jesus Christ. As best you can, Father, we're praying for that and believing that. In Jesus name, amen.

 

Alex McFarland Amen. Well said. thank you, Bert and Deborah. Sheri in Tennessee. Sheri, welcome to Exploring the Word. Hey, Sheri, Sheri in Tennessee.

 

Caroline Are you there?

 

Alex McFarland Oh, go. Yes. Well, yes.

 

Caroline Can you hear me?

 

Alex McFarland We sure can.

 

Caroline Okay. I was just calling to ask for prayer for my grandson Sebastian. He's been, he's three years old. He's been in hospital for a few weeks and he's just had a lot going on. He's been a very sick little boy and he just needs lots of prayer. He was born and sent home at two months. The doctor said we had a couple hours with him and he turned three years old in June.

 

Bert Harper Wow. Amen.

 

Alex McFarland Wow.

 

Bert Harper When we're praying for him, Sebastian. Sebastian, yes.

 

Alex McFarland I want to pray for that little boy right now. And by the way, folks, if you've got a prayer request or a Bible question, call in. You'll get through. 888-589-8840. but let me pray. Father, in the name of Jesus, we lift up Sebastian, this little boy and we just pray you'll raise him up and that he will come to know you at a young age. And he will be a mighty, mighty servant of Jesus. He will be, great for you, Lord. And thank you so much for this, this, grandmother, call in for prayer and we do, we thank you that this little boy is alive. And we just pray he gets better and better and better. And I know there are a lot of people, Lord, I pray for, a lady named Darlene who had surgery this morning, who goes to our church. Lord, I pray you'll minimize her, pain. Lord, I pray for Joyce. Joyce is a dear sister in Christ. She's of Native American extract. And I pray for Joyce. She's got some pains in her legs that she's asking you to alleviate, and she wants to stay mobile and be able to walk. Please let Joyce walk. And Lord, I want to pray for Ruth Huff. and I just ask everybody, please pray for Ruth. Ruth is a dear saint of God, came to the Lord under Billy Graham many years ago, and she was in a car wreck. And we're praying, and Lord, we agree together for Ruth that she would walk again. Lord, she is begging you to walk one more time. Please let that happen, Jesus. In the name of Jesus, we pray for Ruth's legs to work again and Joyce, to have freedom from pain. And Darlene Ryerson. And Sebastian, the little boy. Lord, we thank you that you are the healer and we lift it up to you. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

 

Bert Harper Amen. Thank you, Alex. Brent. I understand we have some coming in on Facebook. Would you share those? I've got two from Facebook. The first one is from Mike in Florida. He is, scheduled for knee surgery tomorrow, and he would really appreciate your prayers. Okay. Knee surgery. And I know we've already prayed for this one, earlier, but I like the fact that Myshel just said pray for the elections and voting. She didn't say pray for a certain person to lose. Pray for, you know, this one to win. She just said pray for elections and voting. And we got that from the caller earlier as well. Amen. We want to do that. I, Thank you, Mike. We pray that your knee surgery would go well. We're asking God to be with the surgeon as they do this. All the people that are involved in the surgery, that you would direct their thoughts and their paths, their hands, in Jesus name. Amen.

 

Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. Hey, how about we go to Texas? Kathi in Texas? Kathi, are you there?

 

Caroline Yes, I am.

 

Bert Harper Yeah.

 

Alex McFarland Thanks for. Hi, welcome.

 

Caroline Hi. yeah, the, ah, Old Testament question. it. I'm sorry, my phone sometimes is weird. Can you hear me?

 

Alex McFarland Yeah. You're good? You're good?

 

Caroline Okay. yeah, has to do with, Judah, Jacob's son and his daughter in law, Tamar. I can't remember her name. I think it's.

 

Alex McFarland Yeah.

 

Caroline but how. She. She had to marry all the. The brother or something. I don't know. I don't understand. But he used her as a prostitute or something.

 

Bert Harper Yeah, yeah, yeah, that. It. This is What Alex was talking about earlier, the Bible does not hide some of those hideous, Let me say, hideous things that some of the people he used did. And Judah is one of them. With his daughter in law, she dressed up and disguised herself as a prostitute because he was not living up to what he should. Is that right, Alex?

 

Alex McFarland So, yeah, this is one of those things that's really embarrassing. Okay, Tamar was married to, er. Er died, so she's a widow now. It was required that the next of kin care for a brother's widow, but there was not. The next in line was a male named Shelah. S H E L A H. And he was a little boy. So Judah said to Tamar, go back to your father's house, and when Shelah is grown up, Shelah will marry you. But that didn't happen. And so Tamar is this unmarried widow. So she disguises herself as a prostitute, tricks Judah, and he sleeps with her and gets pregnant with twin sons named Perez and Zerah. This is a, ah, sordid, dark chapter, this in Genesis 38. But, let me say this. you know, this is just part of what's in the Bible when they weren't living for the Lord and living righteously, Bert.

 

Bert Harper It really is. And it's a. I would say it's a cry for us to serve God, be people of his word and follow him. don't be distracted. you know, and so, it just shows you how bad man is. Even after God, speaks. We walk in the spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Alex, there's never a time on this earth when we say we've arrived. No, it's always dependent upon him.

 

Alex McFarland And let me just mention, Kathy, one of the great commentaries on Genesis was written by a guy named Henry Morris called the Genesis Record. and it's in there. Let's see if we can get this call in. Terri in Mississippi. Terri, quickly, please.

 

Caroline Hi, brother.

 

Alex McFarland Yeah, evening.

 

Caroline I'd like to have a biblical response to when people tell me I have prayed and prayed and prayed for a healing, and I have not gotten it.

 

Alex McFarland I don't know that we can know that, Bert. Let me just say this. I'm gonna throw it to you. And I know you've pastored many years. one time they asked Jesus, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind. And Jesus said, neither one, but that the sovereignty and the power of God would be revealed. there's just some things that are known only to God.

 

Bert Harper Here's what he said to Paul when Paul prayed at least three times, take this thorn away from me. We don't know what it was. And God said to him, terry, my grace is sufficient. So when God does not heal, we turn to his grace. Because his grace is more important in our lives than the healing his presence. Alex. We serve a good God.

 

Alex McFarland Amen. God is faithful.

 

Caroline Bert.

 

Alex McFarland Thank you, Brent Austin and all the staff and, listeners. Thank you. May God bless you in every way. The views and opinions expressed in this

 

Bert Harper broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of

 

Alex McFarland the American Family association or American Family Radio.