Forthright Magazine http://www.forthright.net Straight to the Cross Encourage our writers and engage them in conversation. See the links at the end of each article. Online, you can comment and discuss with the authors and other readers. COLUMN: HEAVENLY CONNECTIONS In God We Should Have Trusted by Tim Hall Ancient Israel provides a needed lesson for Christians today. Before Moses led them triumphantly out of Egypt, they were just a bunch of slaves linked by a common ancestry. Now they were a young nation, standing on the doorstep of their new home, a land God was handing to them. All that remained was to accept the keys from his hands and take possession. But that's when things went seriously awry. Numbers 13:1,2 begins the tragic episode: And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them" (NKJV). From there we know the rest of the story. Ten of the twelve spies returned with a discouraging report of an unbeatable enemy. The fear-filled people refused to follow God's orders to march in and conquer the land. Forty years and a generation of Israelites passed before the opportunity came again. Why did God give Moses such a command? Didn't he know they might stumble? Apparently it wasn't God's idea to begin with; he merely acquiesced to the demand of the people. That becomes plain when we read Moses' later account: And every one of you came near to me and said, "Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and of the cities into which we shall come" (Deuteronomy 1:22). It was similar to God agreeing to the people's later request for a king (1 Samuel 8:19-22); God knew the plan was flawed, but granted their foolish demand. In hindsight, wouldn't it have been much better for the people to have simply trusted God's wisdom in bringing them to this land? Instead of insisting on inspecting the property, the people should have accepted the Lord's gifts with gratitude, knowing they would be better than anything they could imagine. By not trusting God, they totally messed up what could have been wonderful. • "How could forgiving my enemy be the right thing to do?" • "Why should I submit to my spouse when everyone else looks out for number one?" • "Are you seriously asking me to follow the instructions of a 2,000-year-old book instead of doing what others are doing?" With such questions we attempt to shove God from beneath the steering wheel so we can go where we wish. Old truths are still true. Two plus two equaled four thousands of years ago, and the bottom line is the same today. So is this truth: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5,6). Just ask those refugees from Egyptian slavery and they'll tell you: It's better to trust God. ---- Join the conversation. Read this article online and share your thoughts with us. Click here: http://www.forthright.net/heavenly_connections/in_god_we_should_have_trusted.htm COLUMN: UP FOR THE TASK Figurative Language by Paul Goddard The highest function of the teacher consists not so much in imparting knowledge as in stimulating the pupil in its love and pursuit. --Henri Frederic Amiel Raymond C. Kelcy served as the chairman of the Bible Department at Oklahoma Christian College from 1962 until his death in 1986. He had a profound influence on my life. A few weeks ago an individual dogmatically stated, "There's no figurative language in the Bible, for every word is literal." In response to this statement, I thought back to Dr. Kelcy's lecture, "The Figurative Language of the Bible". My class notes are now yellow, but here is what he taught: 1. The parable. Oldest and most common. From two Greek words: "para" meaning "beside" or "alongside" and "ballo" meaning "to throw or cast." Hence, a placing beside or together for comparison. It is a narrative in which something real in life is used as a means for presenting a spiritual truth. The Old Testament has a few parables and Jesus used them constantly. For his statement of why he spoke in parables see Matthew 13:10 ff. 2. The fable. An illustration made by attributing human qualities to inanimate beings or things. Like the parable, it is put in the form of a story but, unlike the parable, its actors are unreal. It is a fictitious narrative intended to enforce some truth. It is not used in the Bible to a great extent. Examples are Judges 9:6-21 and 2 Kings 14:8-10. 3. The simile. In this figure a comparison is made between two different objects in order to bring out some resemblance. The comparison is by statement rather than by story. See Jeremiah 23:29 and Matthew 23:27. 4. Metaphor. From two Greek words: "meta" which means "beyond" or "over" and "phero" which means "to bring." It is the expression of a similitude without words of comparison. The comparison is implied. Compare the simile of Hosea 13:8 with the metaphor of Genesis 49:27. 5. Allegory. "A figurative sentence or discourse, in which the principal subject is described by another subject resembling it in its properties and circumstances. The principal subject is thus kept out of view, and we are left to collect the intentions of the writer or speaker by the resemblance of the secondary to the primary subject (Webster)." See Galatians 4:21 ff. 6. Metonymy. From the Greek "meta" indicating a change and "onoma" meaning "name"; hence, a change of name, the employing of one word or name for another. Examples: parents are put for children (Genesis 9:25); authors are put for their works (Luke 16:29). 7. Synecdoche. From the Greek words meaning "to receive jointly." It is the figure in which we speak of the whole by a part or a part by the whole. Examples: Matthew 12:40 and Acts 19:27. 8. Proverb. A short and pithy sentence containing a valuable thought. It is used to express the truth with greater forcefulness. It may be constructed of several figures of speech, and when they are employed within a proverb the rules that relate to their interpretation should be used. 9. Irony. One thing is said and another thing is meant. See 1 Kings 18:27 and Job 12:2. 10. Hyperbole. A figure in which the expression is an exaggeration of the meaning intended to be conveyed. See Deuteronomy 1:28 and Judges 7:12. 11. Apostrophe. The speaker turns away from the listener and addresses an imaginary listener. See 2 Samuel 18:33 and 1 Corinthians 15:55. 12. Personification. A figure in which the inanimate is spoken of as animate, or endowed with volition; or animals are endowed with the feeling and activities akin to those of man. See Number 16:31,32 and Matthew 6:34. 13. Interrogation. A question may be regarded as a figure of speech when it is used for the purpose of affirming or denying with great force. See 1 Corinthians 9:1-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:29, 30. 14. Apocalyptic. This is a type of literature in which there is a certain amount of obscurity. However, the meaning of the word "apocalypse" is a "revealing" or "unveiling". The writer's main purpose is to reveal great truths and to make them especially vivid through signs and symbols. It was intended that those who were initiated would, through careful application, get the truths, and at the same time the ones for whom the message was not intended would not. Many examples of this type are to be found in certain Old Testament books such as Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, and Joel. Jesus used this type of language in Matthew 24. Paul used it in such passages as 2 Thessalonians 2:1- 10. The book of Revelation is the best example of this type of literature. The dramatic element is especially noticeable and much is made of visions and symbols. 15. Anthropomorphism. From Greek "anthropos" meaning "man" and "morphe" meaning "form". Passages in which God is described as possessing human parts or characteristics are anthropomorphic. See Genesis 3:8; Genesis 11:4; Psalm 8:3. Thank God for men with sound analytical minds who are faithful to text of the Bible ( James 3:1). When is the last time you've thanked a Bible teacher? Christian, are you up for the task? O teach me Lord, that I may teach The precious things Thou dost impart; And wing my words that they may reach The hidden depths of my many a heart. --Frances Havergal ---- Join the conversation. Read this article online and share your thoughts with us. 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