THE PUNISHMENT God ordered for a number of sins, ranging from sexual relations before marriage (for women) to rebelling against one’s parents (for sons), seems harsh by today’s standards.
Continue readingTag Archives: Amorites
Gilbert House Fellowship #321: Deuteronomy 17–20
THE PEOPLE in Canaan engaged in what God called “abominable practices”: First, burning a child as an offering to Molech, followed by divination, reading omens, augury, sorcery, enchantment, consulting mediums, necromancy, and inquiring of the dead.
Derek argues in his forthcoming that these seven acts, which all involve contacting the spirit realm to gain influence or information, are connected to the worship of Molech, which was another name for the creator-god of the Canaanites El—also known as Dagon, Enlil, Kronos, and Saturn.
Continue readingFiled under Bible Study, Old Testament
Gilbert House Fellowship #319: Deuteronomy 11-14
THE PUNISHMENT for an Israelite who led people to worship other gods was harsh: Death by stoning.
We explain why God was so insistent that His people followed His commands, especially the first commandment about not worshiping other gods—because those gods are real entities bent on destroying what God created and called good, including humankind.
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Gilbert House Fellowship #295: Leviticus 19:19–20
SPEAKING WITH SPIRITS was strictly forbidden by God. This might seem to be a quaint and antiquated notion, but the fact that we encounter the prohibition three times in our reading today indicates that this was a serious issue in ancient Canaan.
Continue readingFiled under Bible Study, Old Testament
