© Copyright 2011, Jim Langlois
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author.
ISBN: 978-1-936750-85-6
SPECIAL THANKS
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1: WILL THE REAL GOD PLEASE STAND UP!
CHAPTER 2: THE JUDGMENTS AND WRATHS OF GOD
CHAPTER 3: KNOWING FOUR IMPORTANT TRUTHS BEFORE WE BEGIN
CHAPTER 4: TWO REPEATING STANDARDS IN ALL OF GOD’S JUDGMENTS
CHAPTER 5: PUT AND STRUCK
CHAPTER 6: CHASTISE OR EDUCATE?
CHAPTER 7: THE SEVEN VIALS (BOWLS)
CHAPTER 8: JOB’S REMARKABLE COMMENT
CHAPTER 9: THE SERPENTS OF MOSES
CHAPTER 10: THE FIRE OF GOD
CHAPTER 11: THE FILTER OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 12: WITHOUT EXCUSE - PART 1
CHAPTER 13: DID JESUS HAVE THE NATURE OF SIN?
CHAPTER 14: WITHOUT EXCUSE - PART 2
CHAPTER 15: THE LINE
CHAPTER 16: AFFLICTIONS
CHAPTER 17: WHAT ABOUT NATURAL DISASTERS?
CHAPTER 18: I KILLED MY VOLVO
CHAPTER 19: ALL THINGS WORK FOR THE GOOD
CHAPTER 20: WHO IS THE AUTHOR AND CREATOR OF THE CURSE?
CHAPTER 21: WHY DID GOD CREATE HELL?
CHAPTER 22: THE NAMES OF GOD
CHAPTER 23: SUFFERING
CHAPTER 24: GRACE, FAITH, AND WORKS
CHAPTER 25: AN AUSTERE MAN
CHAPTER 26: THE GOODNESS OF GOD
CHAPTER 27: JESUS THE DIVIDER, WARRIOR, AND JUDGE
CHAPTER 28: THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
CHAPTER 29: THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
CHAPTER 30: PSALM 50
CHAPTER 31: THE OLD VS. THE NEW
CHAPTER 32: A HEALTHY RESPECT
CHAPTER 33: WHAT YOU NEED IS JESUS!
CHAPTER 34: NOW
CHAPTER 35: YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
To my editors:
Thelma Adams, Brenda Davenport, and Lynn Thomas.
To Dr. Doug Wingate and Life Christian University:
For my formal education in theology, and how to write my faith on paper.
To Logos Bible Software:
For their excellent computer software for Bible research and study.
To friends and theologians:
Ambassador Larry Huggins, Pastor Chuck Crismier, and the theologians and language experts who wrote or developed all the Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, interlinear Bibles, references, and language/word studies I used in my research.
Thank you all very much!
Pastor Jim Langlois, D.Min.
Recently, I spoke with an old friend who told me he was compelled to leave his church because he tried to defend God. A father and mother had given public testimony that God broke their son’s legs in order to test them and teach them a valuable spiritual lesson. My friend tried to gently explain that our Heavenly Father is a good God who doesn’t punish children by breaking their legs. The parents were offended. The Pastor took their side, and my friend found himself looking for a new church.
I’ve noticed whenever anything bad happens to good people they ask, “Why did God let that happen?” People are unsure of the nature of God. Is He a God of Judgment, or is He a God of wrath, or is He just unpredictable?
In this noble book, Will the Real God Please Stand Up, Jim Langlois has successfully defended God, and made the irrefutable case that God is a good God! If you love truth, and if you value academic integrity, then you’ll agree with his conclusion.
Through this book, you’ll see God as a loving God who offers humanity redemption through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. You’ll also see that it’s the goodness of God that warns us of the terrible consequences of rejecting mankind’s only savior, Jesus Christ.
This Book will strengthen your faith. You’ll discover that God doesn’t get pleasure from the sufferings of His people. He gets pleasure from lavishing His goodness and mercy upon his people. Get one for yourself, and one for each of your friends.
Thank you Jim, for making it plain!
Larry Huggins, D.D.
The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands (Psalm 9:16).
If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner (Proverbs 11:31).
Heavenly Father, as I research material and write this book, I ask you for your guidance, your strength, the time, and wisdom in my research and writing. I pray that my conclusion will rightly divide your Word and help many people come to know you in truth and righteousness. May it set the captives free and declare your goodness. I ask you to make this difficult subject simple and clear for everyone to understand and walk in its truth. I ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, Amen.
To all who read this book:
I realize that there are those who will disagree with my study and conclusion in this book. If you disagree, fine. I will not argue. I do not declare that I have any special revelation and take no pride in claiming I am right and someone else is wrong. This book is my study and conclusion on the goodness and righteousness of God, and how I interpret the scriptures. The most important thing for us to agree on is salvation through Christ, according to Romans 10:9-10 and 13. If you disagree and say there are other ways to obtain salvation without receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord, then argue I will, for He is the ONLY way to the Father, and no man comes unto the Father but by Him. Whatever doctrine we believe concerning God’s mercy and judgment is secondary as long as we are born again. He said you MUST be born again to enter the Kingdom. If you are not born again, I invite (and recommend) you read the last chapter of this book first.
Within this book there are over 400 “quotes of” and 200 “references to” scripture from the Bible. In mentioning scripture, I could choose to reference the location and make comments about it, or I could quote the whole verse or passage and then make comments. My style leans mostly (if not exclusively) to the latter. I believe the power is in the Word of God itself, and not in my words about it. Consequently, in most instances I have included the entire text of any Bible reference mentioned. There are two advantages to this approach. One, if the reader is not familiar with the text they do not have to look it up. Two, there is power in the Word of God. Faith, revelation, deliverance, healing, wisdom, and knowledge do not come in a statement about the Word; they come BY the Word of God.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible (Hebrews 11:3).
We also must judge everything we have been taught by the Word to be sure our traditions are not cancelling the effect of the Word of God…
So for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed down by your forefathers), you have set aside the Word of God [depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect] (Matthew 15:6 AMP).
18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Revelation 22:18-19).
No human being interprets the Word of God 100% correctly all the time. We are (at least I hope we are) seeking and studying the Word on a daily basis to be sure we are learning and teaching it accurately. People’s lives are at stake. As a minister for over 28 years, I have seen people who will follow spiritual leaders no matter what they say and teach. Jim Jones, Charles Manson, David Koresh: the list goes on and on. Please take the time to read every quote of scripture from this book. Judge my comments and if they are right, accept them. If they are wrong – well, you know what to do. Love me, send me a letter, and I will read it and compare your comments to the Word. If I am wrong, I will humbly repent and make the correction.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
It is ultimately your own responsibility to rightly divide the Word. Remember, the power is in the Word, so do not skip over it as it appears within this book.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching (2 Timothy 4:1-2).
All scripture is quoted from the New King James Version unless noted.
God bless you.
In His greatness,
Pastor Jim Langlois, D.Min.
There was a popular television show in the 50’s and 60’s called “To Tell the Truth.” Wikipedia describes the format well;
The show featured a panel of four celebrities attempting to correctly identify a described contestant who typically had an unusual occupation or experience. This central character was joined by two imposters who pretended to be that central character. The celebrity panelists questioned the three contestants; the imposters were allowed (if not encouraged) to lie, but the central character was sworn “to tell the truth”.
The panelists were given information about this person’s occupation and a few minutes to ask each one several questions to try and determine which one was telling the truth. After all the panelists were finished with their questioning, they had to write down their guess as to who was telling the truth. Then the game show host asked for the real person to “please stand up.” That’s when they found out if they guessed right or wrong.
Let’s imagine you are one of the panelists and there are three people standing before you all claiming to be “God.” What questions would you ask? How could you tell the difference between those lying and the one telling the truth? If you did not understand the job, you would ask all the wrong questions and most likely, pick the wrong one.
Today there may be people who think they know who the real God is, but if they had to guess from a group of three, and two of them were lying, they would most likely miss by a mile if they did not know the truth of God’s Word and divide it rightly. If you had no knowledge about the job description, then you would not have a point of reference to form the right questions and to discern the truth from the lies.
That’s why many people serve a false god today. They have no concept that the job description of God is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, healing, salvation, instruction, discipline, and righteousness. They have no concept of Him as the “Heavenly Father.” If they did, they would also understand that it’s these very same words that govern His additional job description as “judge.”
This is why there are so many misconceptions today as to who He really is. Does He go around with a big stick to keep His people in line? Is He a dictator? Does He care at all about what we think or what we deal with on a daily basis? Does He “take” people away against their will from earth to be with Him in heaven? Does He make people sick and poor to keep them humble and teach them obedience?
An interesting comment I heard;
“If God goes around seeking whom He may devour, instead of the devil, then we are worshipping the wrong one.”
Finis, Jennings Dake: Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible
Page 552 article e – in reference to Psalm 9:16 “Not every accident or calamity to man can be called the judgment of God. Judgments are always sent after many acts of mercy and much longsuffering on God’s part toward rebels. He judges and takes action only when it is necessary to carry out His will among men and to vindicate His righteous government on earth. When God judges, His purpose of doing so is clearly seen. There are no natural causes to which such judgments can be legally attributed as, for instance, the flood of Noah, the destruction of Sodom, the seals, trumpets, and vials of Rev. 6, 8, 9, and 16.”
Before we look at a list of several judgments we should understand the word “judge” in the Hebrew and Greek. The New Strong’s Guide to Bible Words gives us a list of eight English words along with concise Hebrew and Greek meanings. As you read this list you will see a theme throughout. In each list, I have shown two or three of what I would consider to be important Hebrew and Greek words translated into each English word. Note: as with all Strong’s works, the Greek words and Strong’s numbers are distinguished from the Hebrew by being “italicized.”
New Strong’s Guide to Bible words
1. JUDGE
430 elohiym, God; magistrates, judges
8199 shaphat, to judge
2919 krino, to decide; to try, condemn, punish
2. JUDGED
8199 shaphat, to judge
2919 krino, to decide; to try, condemn, punish
3. JUDGES
430 elohiym, God; magistrates, judges 8199 shaphat, to judge
4. JUDGEST
8199 shaphat, to judge
2919 krino, to decide; to try, condemn, punish
5. JUDGETH
8199 shaphat, to judge
2919 krino, to decide; to try, condemn, punish
6. JUDGING
8199 shaphat, to judge
2919 krino, to decide; to try, condemn, punish
7. JUDGMENT
8199 shaphat, to judge
8201 shephet, criminal sentence
2917 krima, decision
8. JUDGMENTS
8201 shephet, criminal sentence
1345 dikaioma, deed; statute or decision
2917 krima, decision
Notice, the two words referring to the “person” as opposed to the “action” (Judge vs. Judges), come from the Hebrew word “elohiym.” This is the main Hebrew Name of God from the very first scripture.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).
This word “God” is the Hebrew word “elohiym.” It means “exceeding one, judge, and the true God.” In this scripture it is further defined by the word “bara” which means to create and to make. Combined together we get “The true God, creator, exceeding one, and judge.” In the very first description of God we come to know Him as our creator AND judge. This word “elohiym” shows up 2705 times in the King James Version of the Old Testament.
This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God (elohiym) made the earth and the heavens (Genesis 2:4).
The New Testament equivalent is found in Revelation 4:11;
You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created (Revelation 4:11).
This word “Lord” in the Greek is “kurios” which means “lord, master, owner, having power and authority, and sir.” “Sir” is my favorite because it clearly defines that our attitude toward this position of authority should be “Yes Sir!” This word show up 749 times in the King James New Testament, and when we combine the Old Testament Hebrew word for Lord (yahovah) meaning “the existing one,” the word “Lord” appears well over seven thousand times in the Bible!
You see, because He is the creator AND Lord, we need to obey Him. We need to make Him the Lord of our Life (not just Savior) because He is also the Judge!
But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? (Luke 6:46).
21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23).
The next two words we need to understand is the Hebrew word “shaphat” and the Greek word “krino.” “Shaphat” means to judge, govern, execute, condemn, punish, defend, and vindicate, while “krino” means to call in question, determine, and pass judgment on the deeds and words of others.
Finally, looking at the Hebrew word “shephet,” we find it means the act of judgment. It would be the pronouncing of a criminal sentence (guilty) or freedom (not guilty). When we combine the definitions of the Hebrew words “elohym, shaphat, and shephet” along with the Greek Words “kurios and krino,” we can conclude that the God of Abraham….
is the true God, the creator of all things, the Lord and Master, the one who governs, judges as righteous or unrighteous, pronounces a sentence and condemns or vindicates accordingly.
Here are two scriptures that show the judge in action:
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34).
Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).
Below is a list of several of God’s judgments. Throughout this book we will be analyzing many of them.
The 10 plagues of Egypt (Exodus 3-12):
1. Plague of blood
2. Plague of frogs
3. Plague of lice
4. Plague of flies
5. Plague of diseased livestock
6. Plague of boils
7. Plague of hail
8. Plague of locusts
9. Plague of darkness
10. Plague of the death of the firstborn – man and beast / and the Passover
Other Judgments:
The flood of Noah
The earth that opened up
The wall of Jericho
The snakes of Moses
Sodom and Gomorrah
The seven trumpets and bowls of Revelation
The Judgment of Sin
The Judgment Seat of Christ
The Judgment of Nations
Fire from heaven against Satan
The Great White Throne Judgment
Dr. John MacArthur, Pastor of Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, CA, gave a message on May 3, 2007 at a National Day of Prayer meeting in Colorado Springs, CO. His message was based on the wrath of God. He stated that there are five wraths of God. The first wrath is eternal wrath which will come upon the unbelieving dead. The second wrath is eschatological wrath. This wrath is the end-time wrath mentioned in the book of Revelation. The third is calamitous wrath such as the flood of Noah. The fourth wrath is consequential wrath according to God’s law of sowing and reaping, and the fifth wrath is the wrath of abandonment where He lets go of a society due to their persistent refusal to listen and obey. He eventually withdraws His hand and permits them to go their own way. As Dr. MacArthur put it, He gave them up.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves (Romans 1:24).
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature (Romans 1:26).
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting (Romans 1:28).
Dr. MacArthur also gave four sequential reasons for God’s wrath of abandonment:
1. Revelation
2. Rejection
3. Rationalism
4. Religion
Romans chapter 1 verses 18-20 say that what may be known of God is manifest in us and His invisible attributes are clearly seen by the things He has created. He being our creator placed within our spirit the very knowledge of Him. We know by instinct He is the true God, Jesus is His son, and the Holy Spirit is our comforter and guide. We have known this from the very day we were born. We also know Him by His creation. Reason does not lead us to a big bang theory that came from nothing; it always leads us to Him. Since we can’t deny the revelation we will not be able to offer any excuses on the Day of Judgment.
Verse 21 says that because we profess to be wise in ourselves, we have rejected His truth, and the lights have gone out – our minds have been darkened. Verse 22 – now that we have rationalized our thinking against the Word of the Lord we have become fools. Verse 23 – the last and lowest form of man has resorted to his own religion and man-made images to worship. And verse 24 declares “Therefore God gave them up” – four sequential reasons for the wrath of abandonment.
1. God is good.
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4).
Who would want to serve a God who was not good?
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off (Romans 11:22).
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:16-17).
2. He does not tempt, test, or try anyone with evil.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed (James 1:13-14).
3. He is our heavenly Father.
8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name_(Matthew 6:8-9).
4. True and righteous are His judgments.
And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments” (Revelation 16:7).
These are four truths that we will be referring to throughout our study. First, we must believe that He is good. We must understand that God isn’t gathering the curse to “put” it on us! He isn’t walking around with a big stick waiting to whack someone over the head. Second, God doesn’t have any evil to “put” upon someone to see if they can overcome it. He doesn’t go around tempting people with their weakness to make them strong. How do we know this? Because third, we have been created in His image, and we would never teach our children that way! We would never place a burning red hot iron on our child’s arm to teach them what happens if they touch it! No, our way would be like a father to them. We would educate them by example, love, and sound principles of teaching through stories, object lessons and parables. Fourth, due to His goodness, His righteousness, and His fatherhood, we must believe that His judgments are always right, fair, merciful, full of grace, and direct.
As you study each of God’s judgments you will notice there are two standards He always abides by… 1. A “warning,” and 2. A “way.”
1. The judgment is prophesied and the people (both righteous and unrighteous) are warned in advance.
2. He provides a way of escape.
Let’s look at a few examples…
The Waters Become Blood:
1. God’s warning in advance to Pharaoh:
14 So the Lord said to Moses: “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go.
15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand.
16 And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed, until now you would not hear!
17 Thus says the Lord: “By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood.
18 And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink the water of the river” (Exodus 7:14-18).
2. The way of escape for Pharaoh was to simply obey! He did not, so judgment came.
20 And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
21 The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt (Exodus 7:20-21).
There were ten prophesied judgments that took place with Pharaoh; the plague of blood, the plague of frogs, the plague of lice, the plague of flies, the plague of livestock death, the plague of boils, the plague of hail, the plague of locusts, the plague of darkness, and the death of the firstborn.
For each plague, Pharaoh was warned in advance. God even told Moses before he went back to Egypt that Pharaoh would harden his heart, and that the final plague would be the death of the firstborn.
21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.
23 So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn” (Exodus 4:21-23).
There could be an argument that Pharaoh was just a puppet of God. That he did not have a choice because the scripture says “I (God) will harden his heart.” In the original Hebrew the English translation “will harden” is actually from one word; “chazaq,” (pronounced khawzak). It actually means to strengthen, give strength, make rigid, make hard, and make firm.
But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, “he” hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said (Exodus 8:15) (emphasis added).
And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, “he” sinned yet more; and “he” hardened his heart, he and his servants (Exodus 9:34) (emphasis added).
The Believer’s Study Bible (Re: Exodus 21):
In this first of many references to the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart (i.e., his mind and will), it is significant that the Lord is both subject and agent (cf. 7:3; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8). The theological problems regarding man’s will arising from this verse are largely due to the false assumption that the issue here is one of salvation. The Lord did not keep Pharaoh from responding to the gospel. What He did was to use a self-hardened (7:13, 22; 8:15, 19, 31; 9:7, 34, 35), condemned pagan to provide an opportunity to demonstrate His power and to bring His judgment on this wicked people (cf. Deut. 2:30; Josh. 11:20). God’s decree of judgment on Pharaoh was that he would cause his own destruction. The fact that God can affect a person’s mind and will should not surprise or alarm us, since that is the assumption from which we often pray (cf. Prov. 21:1). It should also be noted in this contest between Yahweh and the Egyptian gods (who were thought to protect Egypt from such plagues) that there is a progression of hardening. After each of the first five miracles of judgment, Pharaoh is invariably said to have a firm or a dull heart which was insensitive to the voice of God. Only after the sixth plague is it specifically stated that Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart (9:12) (emphasis added).
Warnings in advance and provisions for escape are just two of the common occurrences in true judgments from God. The following list shows that God is a God of grace and mercy during any judgment “He” sends.
Facts about true judgments from God (source unknown):
1. He warns in advance.
a. God warned Moses in advance that Pharaoh would harden his heart and not let the people go (Exodus 4:21).
b. God prophesied the death of the firstborn in advance to Moses (Exodus 4:23).
c. Choices are offered to the wicked in advance (Exodus 7:16-18, 8:1-4, 20-23, 9:1-5, 10:3-6, 11:4-8).
2. The righteous are sent out or protected (If they are listening – Exodus 12:27-30).
3. The judgments are miraculous and not natural in the sense of size and severity (Exodus 10:14).
4. Even the unrighteous begin to believe it’s the finger of God, but they do not change! (Exodus 8:19).
5. They single out the unrighteous and spare the righteous (even concerning their livestock, and light) – only the unbelieving suffer (Exodus 8:23, 9:4, 26, 10:23, 11:7).
6. They are sent as warnings to the unrighteous, to afford them a means of seeing God’s will and an opportunity to repent.
7. Repentance can always stop the judgment, however, in the cases where the judgment actually took place, the unbelieving/unrighteous have shown no repentance and have hardened hearts against God (Exodus 8:32, 10:28).
Put and struck are two words in the Old Testament that confused me at first, but after digging deeper into the original Hebrew language I found some interesting facts. The two passages that challenged me the most were Exodus 15:26 and 2 Samuel 12:15-20.
And said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).
15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? (2 Samuel 12:15-18 (KJV).
When I read these verses I asked myself “did God really put diseases on the Egyptians? Does He even have sickness to put on anyone?” I envisioned God dipping His hand into a bowl of sickness and disease and then smearing it on His disobedient creation. It felt like an angry artist throwing brown goop all over his beautiful painting, or a sculptor smashing his creation with a hammer until it was a pile of small rocks and dust. Did God really strike and kill David’s son with sickness, so that within seven days he would die? Wasn’t David a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22)? Somehow this did not agree with the God I had accepted into my heart. It did not agree with my understanding of fatherhood! No matter how angry my children could make me, I would never destroy them with suffering or death. Am I not made in the image of God? If I could not do this to my children, how could God?
In Exodus the word “put” and “brought” are both from the Hebrew word “suwm,” (Strong’s #7760). This original word is translated put, make, set, and lay, but it is also translated appoint, assign, and ordain.
From the Hebrew Morphological Strong’s Numbers, L. Pierce’s “Tense Voice Mood”, the tense, voice, and mood of this word is “Qal-Imperative” [8799], meaning a simple, casual, and incomplete action, process, or condition. It has past, present, and future in its understanding. It does not relate so much to one occasion, as it does to a continued condition based upon a past or present condition.
The words “put” and “brought” can better be expressed as “permit.” Kenneth E. Hagin explains it well from his book “Bible Healing Study Course.”
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put [literal Hebrew, “I will permit”] none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought [permitted] upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee (Exodus 15:26 KJV).
Notice it isn’t the Lord who made them sick. He said “I am the Lord that healeth thee.” God didn’t put diseases upon Israel, nor upon the Egyptians. It is Satan, the god of this world, who makes man sick. Jehovah declares that He is Israel’s Healer.
25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
26 There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill (Exodus 23:25-26 KJV).
As long as Israel walked in the covenant, there was no sickness among them. There is no record of a premature death – no babies, young people, or middle-aged people dying.
13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
14 Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.
15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put [permit 7760] none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay [permit 5414] - them upon all them that hate thee (Deuteronomy 7:13-15 KJV) (emphasis added). (Hagin, K.E., Bible Healing Study Course 4,5).
15 Then Nathan departed to his house. And the Lord [struck 5062] the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. 18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!” (2 Samuel 12:15,18) (emphasis added).
As is the word “put,” the tense, voice, and mood of “strike” is also “Qal-Imperative” [8799], meaning a simple, casual, and incomplete action, process, or condition, having past, present, and future in its understanding. It does not relate so much to one occasion, as it does to a continued condition based upon a past or present condition.
Even though the word “strike” [5062 – nagaph] can be translated in the causative sense of smite, put to the worse, plague, and hurt, it can also be translated in the passive-reflexive sense of “allowed and permitted.”
Why would God “permit” such a thing to happen and where is the sickness coming from? We will answer this in more detail in several chapters to come; however, the simplest explanation I can give is as follows:
Let’s say you are a parent with a child and you have instructed that child not to ride their bicycle without a helmet. There is a law that says if you fall off your bike and hit your head without a helmet the consequence could be harmful. It’s a law God created and it’s called the law of gravity. You cannot MAKE your child obey, you TEACH them to obey. If they disobey, due to the law they stand the chance of a very unpleasant circumstance.
Another law says you reap what you sow. Even though you would like to have the power to stop the circumstance you cannot make your child obey and you cannot stop the law of sowing and reaping. God operates in the same way. There is another law – “Obey God, or there may be consequences.” Live in sin, and you will reap what you have sown. God is not the author of the consequence. Disobey the Word and you personally allow Satan’s Kingdom to wreak havoc in your life. Although God would like to have the power to stop the circumstance, He has given us free will, and He will not transgress His own word.
If I remember correctly, God told Adam if he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he will surely die (Genesis 2:15-17). One might argue that Eve was not aware of this and was nai-“eve;” however, in chapter 3, verse 2, she told the serpent exactly what God had said, and still fell right into the lie and disobeyed God. God will not change his Word; therefore, Adam and Eve reaped what they had sown. Did God bring the death and separation? No, Adam and Eve opened the door to the kingdom of darkness and let it in themselves.
David also knew better. He disobeyed God and placed himself out of God’s Kingdom and into Satan’s Kingdom. It was a choice he made. The prophet Nathan prophesied to David that because he had given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord, his son would die.
9 Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.