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The World, ‘Arar, And God’s People

The World, ‘Arar, And God’s People

Last updated on: January 14, 2024 at 7:05 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

The World, ‘Arar, And God’s People 2024-01-14T19:05:38-05:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This week has been a volatile week around the world. The conflict in the Middle East has escalated into a regional war. The Israeli-Hamas conflict has spread to every country where Jewish people have been welcomed. Greed and corruption have been spreading since the fall in the garden.

The battle over the Promised Land isn’t just a physical war; it is a spiritual battle that touches every human on the planet and even the ground itself.

Good versus evil
heaven versus hell
God versus Satan

This world has been perishing ever since the fall (Genesis 3:1-19.) After the fall God cursed the world because of mankind’s disobedience. And we all have a choice between God’s way and our selfish corrupt desires.

The Earth

Image by Pixabay

In the beginning, God created in good and perfect world and set certain rules in place for His creation because God knows what’s best. However, Mankind’s desire for more led to his disobedience and believing Satan’s lie of having more over God’s will.

Mankind’s disobedience resulted in God’s good creation being cursed because of its disobedience.

Cursed

Creation was cursed not because God is bad, but because the creations’ actions were. The creation account has been debated for centuries. Creationism versus evolutionism looks at the progress and stages of mankind through science.

Evolution

Image by Pixabay

In recent years creationism has been proven through science. Science looks at the physical aspect of creation, but it ignores the spiritual and moral facets of life. Adam and Eve disobeyed God because they wanted to know more. Knowledge can either be a blessing or a curse. God had to discipline the creation by putting a curse on it.

‘Arar

The Genesis account and the story of the demise of creation have deep roots in Judaism. The Hebrew word used is ‘Arar, to curse. The Torah explains the conditions of God’s blessings and consequences leading to His curses, each is a result of the choices God’s people make.

Through Noah the world was blessed for His obedience and the world was flooded because of its wickedness (Genesis 6:9-9:17.) God continued to bless or curse His people throughout the Old Testament.

Upon the city and the land (Deuteronomy 28:16.)
Upon their food (Deuteronomy 28:17.)
Upon children and livestock (Deuteronomy 28:18.)
Upon their travel at all times (Deuteronomy 28:19.)

We serve a God of blessings and curses; there are consequences for our actions. God’s people don’t get a blank check to do whatever they want. All creation was cursed because of the disobedience of the first Adam.

However, all of creation will be redeemed because of the obedience of the Second Adam. God’s people, just like the world have a choice to make between God’s way and ours—good and evil.

Storms

Image by Pixabay

The Apostle Paul said all creation is waiting for its redemption through Jesus (Romans 8:19-22.) As we watch the weather and see natural disasters, we can see the battle waging in Mother Nature

Battles

There is a battle between curses and blessings going on in this fallen world. Because even God’s people must fight themselves and choose to do God’s will. Mankind’s sinful nature is constantly at war within God’s people because of the curse.

The Apostle Paul experienced this same battle himself (Romans 7:14-25.) Spiritual warfare is both internal and external. At times all Christians have walked in darkness (Ephesians 5: 8.)

This is why we need God’s Spirit leading us to His will instead of the lusts of our flesh (Galatians 5:19-25.)

Selfishness

Image by Pixabay

Idolatry
Selfish ambition
Envy
Division
Hostility

Although we live in a cursed world, our battle is not against the rulers of this world, but against spiritual forces in dark places (Ephesians 6:12.) Curses and blessings are how the spiritual affects the physical.

As God’s people we must choose His will over our selfish wants, no matter what political party we support, both are tainted by the same curse ‘Arar!

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January 10, 2024

The World, YHWH Šāmmā, and the Curse

Next Post

January 17, 2024 God’s People, Nāsâ, and the World

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