Tag: Israelites

Stones Of Barad

Gary Pollard

Of the plagues in Exodus, the one most interesting to me is the hailstorm. According to that account, hail mixed with fire and thunder was responsible for the deaths of cattle, servants, and the total destruction of fields (c.f. The Ipuwer Papyrus 9.2-3 for the Egyptian perspective of this event. Orthodox scholars consider this papyrus to be simple propaganda, not an eyewitness account of the events of Exodus. I’ve read it many times over, and it’s not very good propaganda [if that’s what it’s supposed to be], and its events mirror those leading up to Israel’s escape quite nicely. E.g. “grain has perished on every side” in Ipuwer is “every living thing in the field was destroyed, even the trees” in Exodus 9.25).  . This hail was said to have been mixed with fire (Ex 9.24; The LXX may suggest that the “hailstones” themselves were on fire — …και το πυρ φλογιζον εν τη χαλαζη) and accompanied by “thunderings”. Ice does not usually mix well with fire, and the word used here for “thunder” would be better understood to mean “loud noise”. 

So what were these avney habarad (stones of barad) that brought great destruction in a desert land, that were mixed with fire, that caused frighteningly loud booming throughout Egypt, that slaughtered 1,000+ pound bulls, killed humans, leveled buildings, and obliterated fields? This was no ordinary hail. Joshua 10.11 says that these meteorites killed more of the enemy than their own swords did. Exodus 9.25 begins with, “It left all of Egypt in ruins…” I wonder if the destruction at Tanis was caused by this event? Can hail — even massive hail — level extremely heavy, granite-cased limestone structures? 

God did some pretty incredible things all over the planet around this same time. Egypt was not the only land to have water turned to blood, extended periods of darkness (on the other side of the world, the sun wouldn’t go down), flaming stones from heaven, plagues, and severe flooding. Records from all over the world claim that the length of the day changed, the length of the month changed, the positions of some of the constellations changed, and many other catastrophes that point to a divine source.

So what did God use to cause the destruction this plague brought? What it did, how it sounded, and its fiery nature all point to a source higher than the troposphere. More than likely, these “hailstones” were actually meteorites. The Exodus, contrary to how many in the secular world view it, was not a fanciful origin story or poetic propaganda to establish Moses’s leadership. Exodus was an eyewitness account of the events that lead both to the demise of Egypt’s Middle Kingdom and the securing of Israel’s freedom. We look with wonder at the great destruction all over Egypt, massive statues broken as if they were toys, buildings that look like they were put in a blender, huge single-piece granite pillars broken and strewn across courtyards, and Moses has likely held the answer to this mystery for 3,500 years.  

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (XV)

Unity And Israel’s “How Not To” Example (10:1-14)

Neal Pollard

The past is a valuable teacher. Often, we look back and are humbled at how much our forefathers achieved with relatively fewer resources and opportunities. Society often reflects back and sees ancestors who appear to have been more moral and righteous, and we decry our comparative spiritual decline. We say, “These things would not have happened back then.” Well, Paul reminds us that sometimes we should look to the past as an example of how not to behave. If you take the generation of Jews who were part of the wilderness wandering, you have a people so faithless and disobedient that God washed His hands of them.  Yet, Paul warned that some of their traits and tendencies could taint the thinking and actions of the Christians at Corinth.

Disunity Arises When We Ignore Our Blessings (1-5)

Israel had every spiritual advantage they needed to succeed. God was leading them (1). He did so through Moses (2) and Christ (4). God provided for their every need (3-4). Despite this, they displeased God (5a).  Every congregation of God’s people ought to seriously reflect on how much God has blessed us. He has given us a perfect Word to lead and guide us. He gives us every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3). He gives liberally (Jas. 1:5,17). We fail and fall short despite our advantages, not because of them. 

Disunity Arises When We Give In To Our Flesh (6-11)

Paul enumerates the divisive behavior of these wandering Jews. They craved evil things (6; Num. 11:4), were idolatrous, worshipping pleasure and comfort (7; Ex. 32:4-6), were sexually immoral (8; Num. 25:1ff), tried the Lord (9; Num. 21:5ff), and grumbled (10; Num. 16-17). Notice the spectrum of immoral behavior they put on display. Also notice God’s strong response to it. They fell and were destroyed (8-10). As their next generation learned, a congregation cannot thrive with unchecked sin in the camp (Josh. 7). Paul had just made that point with Corinth earlier in the letter (1 Cor. 5). It is vital to remember something Paul told Galatia: “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another” (5:24-26). Israel shows us how to rise above the call of our flesh (11). 

Disunity Arises When We Mishandle Temptation (12-14)

Churches are full of people, which is also to say full of sinners. Christians are pardoned, but not perfect. How do we properly handle the temptations that can plague us and prevent our unity?

Be humble (12). How often do we personally fail when we consider ourselves immune from and impervious to temptation? The emphasis of our preaching, teaching, fellowship, and relationships within the body ought to be sober vigilance (1 Pet. 5:8) and active resistance (1 Pet. 5:9; Jas. 4:7) regarding the Tempter. We also must honestly view our own tendencies and understand we are prone to be weak and willing in the face of temptation (Jas. 1:13ff). Spiritual giants so great as David, Solomon, and Peter fell hard by giving in to temptation. So, the counsel is wise to “let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” 

Avail yourself of God’s help (13). These are some of the most comforting words in all of Scripture. You are not alone nor are you the first to encounter this temptation. You always have a door of escape, if you will take it. The temptation is not bigger than you and God! How could it be? The key to this principle is that “God is faithful.” Maybe it does seem bigger than you. It is never bigger than God. 

Run (14). You won’t escape if you hold hands with, embrace, and nurture that temptation. Joseph didn’t just stand there with Potiphar’s wife. He didn’t ease away or even walk. He fled. Some sins are more subtle than sexual sins, and Paul deals with a variety of behaviors. We must build our conviction to handle temptation in all areas the same way. Get away from it as quickly as possible!

Congregations full of people committed to Christ’s standards of ethics and morality, in speech, attitude, and conduct, rise up together and do great things. Unity is disrupted and prevented, though, when sin runs amuck among us. We have an individual and collective responsibility to imitate Christ and those who effectively model Him (11:1). We also do well to see how not to do it, too!