Transcript

American Family Radio takes your Bible questions live on American Family Radio

>> Alex McFarland: The Bible. It's the word of God.

>> Bert Harper: Sharper than any two edged sword.

>> Alex McFarland: This sacred book is living and active

>> Bert Harper: 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

>> Alex McFarland: and take your Bible questions.

Exploring the Word focuses on complaints and how to handle them

>> Bert Harper: Welcome to Exploring the Word. Well, today we are going to study about complaints and how to handle them. And, when you come to chapter 11 and 12 of the book of Numbers, you get one right after another. But we also see how God operates. And sometimes it is severe, and sometimes it is very, very gracious. So this is Bert Harper along with Dr. Alex McFarland. And it's a joy to have you join us as we're making our journey through numbers. Now, Alex, that was a little bit of a play on words. Did you catch it?

>> Alex McFarland: Yes, exactly. It's good to be with you, Bert. Good to be with and, apologize.

Alex: Book of Exodus opens up with these words. And again, they're complaining. Alex: When they complained, Lord's anger aroused

The last couple of days I'd been traveling, but, we're in numbers, chapter 11. And you know what, Bert, what's interesting to me? Words jump out at you a lot. Very often I've heard you say that there are repeated words and phrases. And I notice in numbers 11 there's a phrase that is at least four times in the Old Testament. And it's the phrase, consecrate yourselves. You know, God told Israel you in Leviticus to consecrate themselves and be holy. God tells in the book of Joshua, consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you. In Exodus, God told Moses to consecrate the people because they were going to meet with him at Mount Sinai. But in numbers 11, they're consecrating themselves to praise God because God, provides meat. They cried out to the Lord for meat, and God provided it. And they're going to consecrate themselves for the specific purpose of praising God. Now, Bert, the reason I said all that, even still, is there a call on the people of God to consecrate, dedicate, set themselves apart for the various things the Lord is doing?

>> Bert Harper: The answer is yes. And in the King James, I think it's clearer with the word, that Hebrew word, sanctify yourselves.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes.

>> Bert Harper: In other words, the, you know, come out, be separate, cleanse yourself. So the answer is yes. Always remember, discussion. the question, does God use dirty vessels? Okay. In other words, we're a vessel of God for him to use any way he pleases. does he use dirty ones? Well, yes, he has. But there is a limit and usually there's a price to pay for. So the need for sanctification, consecration, you know, following God. yes, there's a great need for that. And again, in numbers 11, no wonder he said, consecrate yourself or sanctify yourselves, because of what they were saying. And again, they're complaining. So chapter 11 opens up with these words. Now, when the people complained, that's exactly what they did. Now, this is three days after they had been at Mount Sinai for about a year, you know, and now they were moving. And moving is always difficult. It's always hard. So after three days, I guess they had had enough. So it says in chapter 11, verse 1. Now, when the people complained, it displeased the Lord. For the Lord heard it and his anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed in the outskirts of the camp. Now, the outskirts of the camp may be a hint of who we're talking about, and I think it'll be made clearer in verse four. But here it is. The Lord heard their complaint, and his anger was aroused. Alex, I, think all of us, I don't care who we are, better be careful with our complaints. There are some things we need to say. Okay, we need to do this, but, you know, pastors pastoring a church, and I speak as a pastor, and, we do this at fishbowl. When we have our fishbowl retreat. We should not be the complaint department. You know, especially right before you preach, come up and say, well, the temperature is not right. Well, preacher, this, you know, but here they complained. And notice the word. When they complained, the Lord's anger was aroused. Alex. it was aroused very severely, wasn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really was. And, you know, I think about this. The people on the outskirts of the camp in verse one, I mean, they were the back row people, weren't they? sat on the back row, quote unquote, on the outskirts. But they cried to Moses. And when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire was quenched. Isn't that something? So they had to cry out, lord, have mercy. The judgment that we're getting that we do deserve, please, you know, restrain and withhold and withdraw. Wouldn't it have been better if they had spent that energy crying out to the Lord in praise? It would have been crying out to the Lord in gratitude.

Alex: The mixed multitude yielded to intense craving for manna

Now we're going to see something that has been the subject of much pondering and discussion. but let me read this. In verse three, he called the name of the place to bera, because the fire of the Lord had burned among them. Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving. So the children of Israel also wept again and said, who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we freely ate in Egypt. The cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. But now our whole being is dried up. There's nothing at all except this manna. Now, the manna was like coriander seed, and its color was like the color of bdellium, however you pronounce that. Bert, that's kind of a saying. The leeks and garlics of Egypt. Now, they might have had, spicy food, but they were in Egypt. Who wants to be a slave in Egypt?

>> Bert Harper: They were willing to give away what freedom for that food. And when they had food, wasn't like they were used to, but it was food. Now, Alex, going back to the mixed multitude, that got my interest very much. And, I looked at it in other translations in the Hebrew and everything. The word could be translated rabble. I mean, it was a, lot of. Believe that this was some of the people who came out with the Israelites. You know, they have had people that joined them, but it was a mixed multitude who were among them. not sure they identified with either one of the 12 tribes. And they were just on the outskirts and, like you said, back row, those that had not vested in it, those who were just, you know, going along, but they're the ones that led the complaints, and the. The others joined in. Now that's the case. And so we remember the fish. Have you found this about memory? Sometimes are a lot better than they really were. The good. Oh, yeah, the good old days, man, those good old days. But the good old.

>> Alex McFarland: As Billy Joel saying, the good old days weren't all that good.

>> Bert Harper: That's it. Way to go.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, we, were in Israel a few years ago, and good, Lord willing, will be in Israel with Tim Wildmon coming up in November. But we had, these little wafers, and I think it was maybe a little cracker made of sesame seeds and honey. They were so good. I've never had them anywhere else but Jerusalem. And when I read in verse seven about the manna, coriander seed, and it's been theorized that, you know, it was this, like, white, flaky bread or cracker type thing that was made with honey and fresh oil. It could be ground, baked into cakes. and when I read about manna, it reminds me of these sweet Kind of bread, like crackers I had at breakfast in Jerusalem, about 10 years ago. But, the word manna, there's a Hebrew word, M a n H u man hu, and fascinating. It translates to what is it? Because. Because they wanted it. It's good. We're eating it. But what is it?

>> Bert Harper: It was bread from heaven. Now, again, Jesus, the bread of life. Yes, there is. He is available each day except, let me say, the day before the Sabbath. And, if they gathered more than they should, it would rot or evaporate. They only had enough for themselves each day, depending on that. But on the day before the Sabbath, they were to gather enough for two days. And in those days, manna did not rot. It did not, disappear. So God was in control, and he was giving them what they needed at that time. And it sounded pretty good. Taste of pastry prepared with oil in verse eight. So, you know, in other words, they had no room to complain, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, they really didn't. And Bert, if I'm spiritualizing too much, you, you know, feel free to disagree with me, okay? They could not gather more than they needed for one day, and if they did, it would spoil, and it would really have a bad odor, like worms or something like that. And I think about this, that, you know, for a church or a ministry, in a way, manna is like the finances to run the ministries. And I. I've been in churches that were sitting on a really big nest egg of money. And sometimes, not always, but sometimes they would argue and fight over it. And, you know, a church that I know of 30 years ago, and somebody died and left them a huge sum of money, and it, it split the church, arguing what to do with it. And this church had done much better and in my opinion, was much, much, much healthier when they were running pretty lean and walking by faith, in a way. I mean, if we trust what's in the. The stockpile rather than, the. The God who gives us our daily bread, is that kind of a similar thing to the manna gathering, hoarding up too much and it rotting?

>> Bert Harper: I think you're right, Alex. And again, we live by faith. And that when you're not living by faith, but you're living by the money in the bank, there's nothing wrong with having, As then sue, you say, Rob west still says it now you, you know, to have that aside so that when the washer goes out or something happens to the car, you need to have that money so it doesn't put you in A bind. A church. Saving money to build a building that they know they need rather than waiting and borrowing and paying high interest. There's a difference in having that and having, as you said, the nest egg. Okay? It's there for us to use when we need it. No, for purpose. And so at that church 30 years ago, if they could have decided, here's what we need to do with this money, we're going to elect missions. We're going to do this. It would have been a lot better for that church. I know that.

Moses complains about the burden of all these people on him

Alex, you come to verse 10. Complaining does not stop. Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent. The anger of the Lord was greatly aroused. Moses was displeased. So Moses said to the lord, now here it is. Why have you afflicted your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight that you have laid the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I begat them that you should say to me, carry them in your bosom as a guardian carries a nursing child of the land which you swore to their fathers. Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me saying, give us meat that we may eat. I am not able to bear all these people alone because the burden is too heavy for me if you treat me like this. Please kill me here and now if I have found favor in your sight. And do not let me see my wretchedness.

>> Alex McFarland: He was desperate.

>> Bert Harper: M. He was. But it's still humorous. Man, I'd rather die than to put up with these people.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is funny. And, folks, if you've ever really felt guilty, desperation, almost hopelessness, Moses says, you know, Lord, if this is what I'm going through, just kill me now. Verse 15. Kill me here and now if I found favor in your sight. And do not let me see my wretchedness. In other words, Moses was saying, lord, I know. I'm just. I'm going to cave in. I'm going to implode. So, Lord, rather than me see myself just unravel. Kill me here and now if I have found favor in your son. Poor Moses, he's.

>> Bert Harper: He's desperate, and God hears him. And guess what? God does. God gives him grace and gives him help. Gives him an answer. You want to wait on this? This is worth coming back to, to listen to more of numbers, chapter 11 here on exploring.

>> Alex McFarland: The AFR app is a powerful tool,

>> Bert Harper: but it does have limitations.

>> Alex McFarland: You can't Use it to change the

>> Bert Harper: oil in your vehicle or get rid of carpet stains.

>> Alex McFarland: It won't walk the dog, won't pick

>> Bert Harper: up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice. But while you're doing those things, you

>> Alex McFarland: can listen to your favorite AFR content

>> Bert Harper: through the app on your phone, smart device, or Roku. Just go to your app store or visit afr.net Listen to AFR wherever you

>> Alex McFarland: go with the AFR app.

Alex: This is history's first recorded example of delegation

Welcome back to Experience Exploring the Word. Alex and Bert, so honored that you're listening. We're in Numbers, chapter 11, and, I'm going to begin at verse 16. We closed out verse 15. Moses is very desperate. Lord, I can't handle all these people. They're numerous, they're ungrateful, they're grumbling against me and you. Now here's the thing, Bert. Just as you know with Joseph in the Old Testament, book of Genesis, history's first example of rationing, right now we're going to see in the Word of God the first instance in recorded history of delegation. And this is brilliant. I mean, this is just good leadership. And God instructs moses to get 70 elders. And, God will give them the spirit of assistance and leading and really, I guess maybe you might say the spiritual gift of helps. And Bert, this is very significant. if you ever read like, John Maxwell on leadership or some of the great, you know, ones that talk about how the Bible has much, much about administration and structure, to my knowledge, this is history's first recorded example of delegation.

>> Bert Harper: Is this before Jethro, his father in law, told him to, you know, let them be a judge.

>> Alex McFarland: I believe so.

>> Bert Harper: Okay. That's the only other time I could think of. I was asking.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay, yeah, so, the Lord said to Moses, gather me 70 men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and the officers over them. Bring them to the tabernacle of meeting that they may stand there with you. Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them. And they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. What's interesting, Bert, is that God is undivided and the Spirit, the anointing, the mantle that was on Moses, at least to a degree, gets put on these others. And it doesn't mean that the, the, the strength and the anointing on Moses is diminished, but it is supplemented with these spirit empowered men to assist in the leading it is.

>> Bert Harper: And again, you're going to see some interesting things happen in this. He not only gives Moses the answer for the overload that he is feeling with all the burdens of these 70 men. And they're 70 again, just like 70 sent out in the NewSong Testament. There are some significant numbers, and this is one of them. And then also, also he's going to give them meat. So the complaint about the food, manna, and God's going to give them some meat that they need. So all of this is coming place. And again we find out some that were consumed and his anger was aroused. But here it is. He's hearing this, and he said, I'm going to respond to you. And there's a difference in rebellion that they were doing, like that mixed multitude was doing, Alex, and going at it. We want to go back to Egypt. Is bas what they were saying. And here were the others. And God said, yeah, I know that, but I'm going to discipline you, but not I'm going to kill you here. But here it is. The Lord came down in the cloud in verse 25 and spoke to him and, took the spirit that was upon him, placed the same upon the 70 elders. And it happened when the spirit rested upon them that they prophesied, although they never did so again. But there were two men who remained in the camp. We don't know why. I love their names. Eldad and Medad, the dad. Eldad and Medad, the dad Brothers. Okay. And the Spirit rested upon them also, even though they were not outside the tabernacle. And the young man ran and told Moses, elad and Medad are prophesying now. This is Joshua. He's been mentioned two or three times before, and he's going to be mentioned a lot later on. Joshua, the son of Nun Moses, assistant. One of his choice men answered and said, moses, my Lord forbid them. He said, you know, they're not there. They were not. We don't know why they weren't there. But he's concerned. Moses said to him, are you, zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them. Now again, he's saying, joshua, don't worry. God has me where he is, and I am satisfied and I do not feel threatened. That, you know, when he says, don't be zealous of me. I think that has a little. Joshua was so, I don't know how to say it. It said, sold out. That Moses was God's man. He didn't want anybody ever trying to come up to compete with that one. Alex, do you. Is that an offbeat there? Do you think it might be? Some of it, yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: In verse 29, Moses says, you know, yeah, you're zealous, for my sake, but I wish everybody was preaching like that. You know, these men are prophesying. Don't worry about it. I wish they all were prophesying and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them. And Moses returned to the camp, he and the elders of Israel. And so, you know, the people are still grumbling and they want meat. So God sends quail, but while they're chewing it, it says, while it is still in their teeth, he sends a plague to punish their. Not only their greed, but their ingratitude.

>> Bert Harper: Right. There's just. It's amazing sometimes here that ingratitude and complaining. you get the idea. That's very serious offense toward God, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it is, and it ought to be viewed as such. Bert, you know, I gotta tell you, ingratitude among Christians is a very inappropriate, thing. And I've heard it, I've seen it many times. And, oh, my goodness, we ought to be grateful. You know, 99 things can go right, but if one tiny little thing is not just to somebody's like. And they will gripe and gripe about it.

Alex Redabor: Moses faced opposition of jealous underlings in Exodus chapter 12

And, verse 33, while the meat was still between their teeth before it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was aroused against the people. And the Lord struck the people with a very great plague. So he called the name of that place Kilbroth Hattavah. Because there they buried the people who yielded to craving.

>> Bert Harper: Wow.

>> Alex McFarland: Now, notice, to crave something is desire unchecked. I mean, on a hot day, maybe you crave a glass of water. Nothing wrong with that. But, when. When desire becomes unrestrained by the spirit of God and self restraint and craving becomes obsession, dare I say lust, that's when a person's heart is turned against God, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. And again, the judgment is severe. And, we come to chapter 12, and there's another complaint. I wouldn't say rebellion, but I think it was coming up against, leadership and threatening leadership with Miriam, and Eryn. And I would say mostly Miriam. Notice how she's list first here. then Miriam and Eryn spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married. most versions says cush a cushite. And, again, very difficult to Interpret. But this is the situation, isn't it, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is. There's dissension. Then Miriam and Eryn spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman who he had married, for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses, has he not spoken through us also? And the Lord heard it. Now, the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the face of the earth. That's. That's amazing, isn't it? in the Old Testament, we've got some superlatives. Solomon, the wisest man, John the Baptist. In the NewSong Testament, there's none born among women as great as John the Baptist, said Jesus. Now, here's Moses, the most humble man on earth. Suddenly, the Lord said to Moses, Eryn and Miriam, come out, you three, to the tabernacle of the meeting. So they came out. Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle and called Eryn and Miriam. And they both went forward, and I bet their knees were knocking, by the way. and God is going to rebuke them. And he says, look, don't quarrel with Moses. I speak to him face to face, and he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? God is saying, look, this is the man that meets with me. I want to say this. And on the one hand, Bert, I believe the Proverbs says, in the multitude of counselors, there's safety. But generally, and I'm being somewhat general here, vision doesn't come from a committee. Vision comes from a Moses who's been alone with God. Implementation of the vision, comes from a committee. But the vision comes from the person who spent time with God. And let me say this. If you look at numbers 12, verse, two. How you know. Why does he think he's the pastor? We can get up and talk in front of the people, too. This won't be the last time that the senior spiritual leader will face the opposition of jealous, underlings. I'm just going to say is true

>> Bert Harper: and notice what takes place. It's. You have to notice it. Notice in verse one, it's Miriam, Eryn. You know, there's usually something about the one who is listed first. Look down, if you would. Now, when he talks to them again in verse four, suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Eryn and Miriam, okay, he is. I believe it's a little bit of order. Okay, Moses, you are the man that I've called out as leader. Eryn, I signed you to help your brother and Miriam. I've used you to help this one and that one. But the roles have not reversed, you know? Yeah, I think there's some meaning there when you look at how they're listed, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, here's the thing. After they crossed the Red Sea, Miriam led the women in a praise song to God.

>> Bert Harper: Yes.

>> Alex McFarland: After they escaped Pharaoh crossing the Red Sea, Eryn was kind of Moses's mouthpiece before Pharaoh. And, Eryn became high priest. And they were almost a triad of leadership, but Moses was at the top. And I'm, not going to belabor this point, but, you've never really fully got the experience of leadership until somebody that once served you turns against you and has to be reprimanded. And that's what happened. Miriam got like, a skin disease, like leprosy and died in the desert, didn't she?

>> Bert Harper: She really did. And again, this is verse. Verse 8 and 9. Miriam became leprous as white as snow. Then Eryn turned toward Miriam, and there she was a leper. It did not happen to Eryn. That makes you, I believe, understand that it was Miriam that was leading this. And Eryn was going along. Eryn's been used to playing second fiddle. Okay. You know what I mean, Alex. He was the. With Moses. He was to assist him. And that looks like. Well, I'll go with you. I'm not. I don't see it the way you see it, but I'm there. So Eryn said to Moses, now listen, this is interceding once again. The interceder who is Eryn needs to be interceded for.

Bert Jensen: Two biblical failures were preceded by Aaron's disobedience

Oh, my Lord, please do not lay this sin on us which we have done foolishly, in which we have sinned. He didn't say, the woman you gave me caused me to do this. No, he says, we. I take responsibility. Please do not let her to be as one dead whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb. So that was Eryn pleading again to Moses. Now, this is so important, M. Because in the other verse, you remember, it is Moses that was standing there with the seven. The seven weren't talking to God. It was Moses talking to God and God talking to Moses. But the spirit of Moses that he had came upon those seven year, those 68 plus two. And here it is. Moses does this. Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, please heal her. Oh, God, I pray. Now notice how short this is, Alex. I mean, Jensen Franklin, a great guy that, you know, that I appreciate in so many ways. He's Got a book that we got to interview him at the nrb. And it was about the power of, short prayers. Is God really impressed with great, eloquent long prayers with flowery words and everything, or does he listen to the heart?

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, God listens to the heart. It's not the eloquence of the language or the lofty diction. It's the sincerity of the heart really. and so there's a lesson in that for us just to speak our peace and be honest and sincere with God. Bert, maybe it's me this time that's looking at a repetition in God's word. Now you, if I'm overstating you feel free to push back here. I'm going to submit something to you. Eryn was not a leader. He was a follower.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: And I'm going to tell you, two of the catastrophic failures in the Bible were preceded by Eryn's disobedience.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: Now let me think about this. Moses is on Mount Sinai. The people get really impatient. They want some tangible object to worship. So Eryn grudgingly, but weekly he complies with, the people's demands and they make the golden calf. And then Moses was angry, rightly so. Broke the stone tablets and there was judgment. Now Eryn goes along in a kind of a half hearted mutiny against Moses. And there's going to be the spies that go in. And one of the saddest parts of the Bible in like in Numbers 14, where they refused to enter Canaan. Bert, isn't it just a bit ironic that two frankly of the saddest moments in the journey of the Israelites are both preceded by failures on the part of Eryn?

>> Bert Harper: It is. And again, you know, Moses was doing something else involved when Eryn was doing that at the Mount Sinai. And again, here it is again. And you need to stand. And having done all to stand, that's the power of the Holy Spirit in the NewSong Testament he says stand and withal stand. And here Miriam gets the punishment. The leprosy is lifted, but she has to spend seven days outside the camp. Embarrassing, difficult. Everybody knew why. They'd say, why is Miriam out there? She's not with her two brothers leading. Well, the word got out and, it was gracious discipline, you see, taking the leprosy away, but at the same time having to sit outside the camp. God. That's God for us. Well, we're going to take phone calls and that number, if you would love to call with Your Bible question is 8885-8988-4088-8589-8840. If you have a Bible question, call us today.

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>> Alex McFarland: My faith don't flinch at your rap Devil gon get off of my shoulder. You thought you had the last laugh you thought this song was over. Whoa, you ain't my king though Whoa.

Birdie and Alex answer your Bible questions in question and answer time

>> Bert Harper: Welcome back to Exploring the word. Birdie and Alex here, and it is question and answer time. In other words, you can call and ask your bible question and Alex and I will do our best to give you a biblical concise answer. And before we do real quickly, wanted to mention this again. The activate summit for 2026. Alex. It's coming up, brother.

>> Alex McFarland: It sure is. I was there last summer. It's fantastic. And we just encourage people to come to that. Now, I believe one of the people that is well known for exploring the word is going to speak. Am I right? In addition to people like Ed Vitagliano and other of your AFA personalities, is Bert Harper gonna be speaking at Activate this summer.

>> Bert Harper: They're going to work him in somewhere and we're looking forward to that. Jen and I are both be there and we're looking forward to it. July 16th, 17th and 18th. And you can register, but you need to register get your tickets by May 22nd. And so that's a little bit more than a month. So you need to get that. You can go online afr.net that's afr.net summit. And you can register and it'll give you all the prices, gives you what you need to know. And we're looking forward, matter of fact, Jeff SRI is going to be there. Jessica Peck is going to be there. So we're looking forward to that and we'd love to meet you. That's July 16th, 17th and 18th here in Tupelo, Mississippi. Go to afa.netsummit and, hope to see you there.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Alex, you ready to go to the lines?

>> Alex McFarland: Let's do it. Let's do it. Here's the phone number, folks. 888-589-8840. And we'll do our best to give you a good solid answer to any and every Bible question. We'd love to hear from you. where do we begin?

William: AI is really hitting the seniors pretty good

>> Bert Harper: Bert, let's go to Illinois. And William, thank you for calling. Go.

>> Caroline: I enjoy your talk today on what you covered. And something's been bothering me lately so much that was going on as these last days that we were warned of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. AI is, really hitting the seniors. I'm a senior myself. I got a friend that he thanked us, one lady in California, 30 some years old, she's going to meet him. Supposedly she's got $10 million, but she's interested in him, something goofy and he believes it. And he's a church member too. And I don't know why he swallowed this. But, anyway, this AI is really hitting the seniors pretty good. Especially them using the Facebook to do it with the seniors. Really need to look out for this nonsense. Thank you, boys.

>> Bert Harper: William. Thank you, Alex. Yeah, thank you.

William Bennett: Artificial intelligence is getting more sophisticated. What's really going to get dangerous

writing on this and talk on this, give a synopsis, a little bit about AI well, you know, it's interesting

>> Alex McFarland: and Bert and I covered this in our book that came out just shortly before Christmas on Hundred Bible questions on Prophecy in the end times, which it's got a red cover, you can find it on the AFA store. But you know, the Bible talks about in the last times, like second Peter 2, 18, that this beast, and false prophet would use quote, great swelling words, deceptive, empty speech. And this is again in Revelation 13. How this relates to AI I believe is computers have gotten sophisticated enough that in a matter of seconds a search engine can scan all the hard drives of the world and give answers to questions. And based on digital footprints. And Bert, this is only going to get worse. I mean the a, Computer analytic can know what websites you've gone to, what are your habitual. If you're always looking for, you know, sports equipment or something, you're going to get responses that look like sports equipment or whatever. And what people I think don't realize more and more is like if, if you go on a website and a window pops up, you know, hi, I, see that you're looking for shoes. How may I help you? You're not talking to a human. You're not. Lines of code are getting regurgitated based on what they know about your search preferences and things like that. And Bert, it's, it's unsettling enough that people need human contact, but they're interacting with machines. What's really going to get dangerous though, as we get nearer and near the end of time, is when a computer can appear to have godlike knowledge. And that's why the Bible talks about, deceiving the very elect. If that were possible, Bert, we must. And that's why the Activate summit is so important. And we believe all of our programming to help people be able to have discernment. Bert, I think the antidote to the misleadings of bad computer retrieval answers, the, the antidote is biblically informed discernment.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And I, I really do believe that is the only way you can know that. And the rest of it would be speculation and hope. So. And so William, thank you for that warning and it is one well worth taking. Let's go to Missouri and talk to Steve. Steve, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Thank you for taking my call.

Alex: The church has a greater priesthood than any of the priests of old

I'm a little scared and confused. I remember reading in Exodus that God, made the Israelites a kingdom of priests in a holy nation. But when I was, studying First Peter here recently, he speaks of the believers of Jesus being, a holy priesthood. And, in first Peter 2:4 and 5, and then in, first Peter 2:9. But then when I get to Revelations, it talks about us being priests in the millennial kingdom. So, like, are we considered by God and Jesus that we're priest now?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, good question. Alex, let me ask you and set this up. priest had access to the Lord.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Okay. That access says it all, doesn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really does. And we've got it even better than the priests of old. The priests of old were a mediator between the people and God. But they would go in and offer a sacrifice. And to the degree that they understood it, they could preach to the people about the Messiah. Who would one Day come. We're a kingdom of priests. We're indwelt by the Holy Spirit and sealed. We can proclaim the Messiah that did come. Right? And not the temporary sacrifice to cover the sin in anticipation of the permanent sacrifice of Jesus. No. We proclaim the final sacrifice that was made on Calvary. Not the blood that would be shed. The blood that was shed. And that's why, Bert, I think about First John 3, 2 and 3, that says, now, present tense, verb, now. Are with the people of God. Now we are pure before God. Now we, with God's Holy Spirit, sanctify and purify ourselves. We will see him again. the church has a greater priesthood than any of the priests of old, Bert.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Now we're the priest. There's only one high priest, right, Alex? And that is the Lord Jesus. He is the one. Now, what's amazing about this high priest, Jesus, he was the one that offered the sacrifice. And he was the sacrifice. That's him. And he did not have to offer a sacrifice for himself the way the high priest did that day of atonement back in the Old Testament. So we are. It's far better. You go to the Book of Hebrews, and it says, in these last days, Jesus has spoken. And it goes through that first part. Jesus is better than, I would say, the priesthood. He's better. He's better than any of those. And so, that because of what Jesus has done, Steve, we have that access. Thank you for that. Good call. Let's go to Kentucky and. Hey, we're going to talk to Steve again. Steve from Kentucky. Go right ahead, brother.

>> Caroline: Yeah. Good afternoon, Burton. Al, it's good to talk with you.

Do you think it was a case of racial prejudice against Moses' wife

so Miriam's punishment, was severe and harsh. Do you think it was, a case of racial prejudice against Moses? Wife being a kushite?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, this is a great question. Let me put it this way. That's what she opened up with. But when it was revealed, the. The real big issue was that of Moses being the spokesman and her being subservient when she had saved his life, when she had done this. But it was an issue. a lot of folks think his first wife, Zipporah, possibly had died. And this is his new wife, Alex, and it's a cushite. the issue of race here has come up. We don't know for sure. but it was an issue, wasn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, okay, Sometimes they call it the kushite woman. Jewish tradition says that it was Zipporah. other people theorize Maybe, Zipporah had died and this is a different woman. Kush was a place outside of Egypt and there were dark skinned people there. So, you know, I don't know. I really think it was more, not so much the pigment of the skin. I really. Be careful. And I'm not saying this is an example. there's a logical fallacy called presentism. And presentism is reading an ancient text and making assumptions based on our current present situation. I really don't think this is about race or, melanin in the skin. Whether it was Zipporah or an African Ethiopian woman. I think it was about Moses's leadership and Moses being the mouthpiece of God.

>> Bert Harper: Now let me share which he was. How that works is when you start finding something you don't like about how, quote, you're being treated, you're going to start looking at the leader and try to find more ammunition, you know, Alex. Yeah, and I think that is the case, with Miriam here, I really do. Good question. Steve, thank you so much. Want to go to Ohio and talk to Pam? Pam, thank you for calling. Go right ahead. yes, you're on.

Alex: Taking charitable contributions on your taxes is not bad

>> Caroline: When you pay your, when you pay

>> Bert Harper: taxes in, a new tithe, is

>> Alex McFarland: that taking money away from God, when

>> Caroline: you put that on your taxes to

>> Bert Harper: claim it on your taxes? Okay, Alex, this is one of those things.

>> Caroline: Honestly.

>> Bert Harper: a lot of people look at tithing and okay, the gross or the, you know, whatever you tithe on, you, you come to the Lord and honestly, Alex, you do everything you can to be as honest you can. But taking tax exemptions, no matter what they are, listen, that's not bad. That's not bad, is it?

>> Alex McFarland: No, no. tithing. And I'm not a legalist, but I'm just speaking for Alex and Angie. We tithe off the gross, not the net. The first fruits of all thine increase. And I realized that, let's say, you know, your check is, your paycheck is $500. And of course there's your withholdings. I, I think you figure your tithe off of the gross. But now when it comes April 15th and you're allowable, all are part of the, religious contributions. You give money to your church, hopefully you donate to afa, you send some money to Billy Graham, and you can write that off in your taxes. I don't think it's bad at all to deduct charitable contributions as the law allows.

>> Bert Harper: I agree fully. And again, when we do this and say that I would call it. And Rob west and Dan Celia both said, that's good stewardship.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: to leave that money, because a lot of times it's leaving you some money, not just on your family, but for others as well. So you use that wisely as you can.

Alex: Will America have a great awakening this year? Bert: God moving

Alex, this question has come up again quite a bit about Future events. The 144,000. those 144,000. I've heard you express this, and I think 144,000 Billy Grahams, they are going to be evangelists, aren't they?

>> Alex McFarland: They. They really are. This is in the book of Revelation, and there are. This is in Revelation, chapter seven, beginning really at verse four, from Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin. These are born again Jews that get martyred by the Antichrist during the Tribulation. But their witness and their martyrdom is going to be a cause for many, many, many people getting saved. And Bert, can I say a word about that?

>> Bert Harper: go ahead, brother, go ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: I'm gonna give you four steps before there's a great wave of obedience. And people ask me, I was asked this morning about a great awakening. And I've looked at history, I've looked at church history. Here's how the body of Christ can awake, if they will, and the sooner, the better. There's the wooing of the Holy Spirit. Then there's conviction. Then there's persecution. Then there's martyrdom. People ask, will America have a great awakening? God is moving. Frankly, I think God is. Is convicting us of sin, personal and cultural and national. If we don't yield, there's persecution. If that doesn't wake us up, there's martyrdom, wooing or drawing of the Holy Spirit. Conviction, persecution, martyrdom. The sooner along that continuum, the sooner the better, that we get on our knees and cry out to God for revival, the better.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And we are. We're seeing God move, and we really are, in all ages, but especially the younger age. And, we're praying that God would just continue. And we're saying, churches, be ready. Feed them the word of God. not a show, not something of a concert, but feeding upon the word of God. And, personally, Alex, I've seen you do it, and I've experienced as well, preaching the word of God with a passion and compassion and accuracy and truth. it really registers with individuals, young people, college age. It registers with them. Does it? It.

>> Alex McFarland: It really, really does. And I rejoice that among the demographics where God is moving strongly, it's among young adult men, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. And we're praying that God would continue to do that. And let me see, Alex, is tomorrow Friday?

>> Alex McFarland: Tomorrow is Fire Away Friday. All questions, all the hour. So if you would tell somebody about exploring the word, but most of all, tell somebody about Jesus. And tomorrow's big show, Fire Away Friday.

>> Bert Harper: We'll see you then.

>> Alex McFarland: M. The views and opinions expressed in

>> Bert Harper: this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those

>> Alex McFarland: of the American Family association or American Family Radio.