Without question, one of the strangest verses in the Bible is Jude 9: “But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” Questions have long swirled around this verse, and the death and burial of Moses in general.

The canonical record of the death and burial of Moses is shrouded in mystery in Deuteronomy 34. Verse 1 says, “Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan.” A few verses later, verses 5-6 add, “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-Peor; but no man knows his burial place to this day.” After seeing the Promised Land from afar, Moses died alone in the presence of the Lord. Then something mysterious happened: Moses did not have a normal funeral and burial. The text says that “He” — presumably Yahweh — buried Moses in a secret grave. Nothing in this chapter mentions the devil, Michael, or a dispute about Moses’ body.

The mysterious nature of Moses’ burial proved to be fertile soil in which Jewish speculations and legends would grow. One source of discussion was a Jewish work entitled The Assumption of Moses. Another Jewish text called The Testament of Moses also mentions these events, although scholars are divided on whether these were two separate works or the same work under two different titles. Whatever the case, the text of these writings is incomplete, and the part that refers to Moses’ burial has been lost.

To complicate matters further, Jude might never have seen these writings and could have been referring to an oral tradition familiar to his original readers. Regardless of the specific source, we can conclude that Jude’s readers knew about this tradition since Jude assumes they understand what he is discussing without further context.

Does that mean that the original text or tradition Jude references was the inspired Word of God? No, just because the Bible quotes a non-inspired text or refers to an oral tradition not found in Scripture does not mean those texts and traditions were inspired by God. The Bible is a historical book, which means it will include historical facts that may be found in other writings or traditions. The biblical writers were moved by the Spirit to include those non-inspired texts or traditions in the inspired text of Scripture because those texts or traditions were historically accurate and reflected the truth God wanted to communicate in that portion of Scripture about that historical event. Therefore, we can conclude that Jude’s inclusion of this story about Michael and the devil is historically reliable since the Spirit of God moved Jude to include it in the New Testament as a historical account. The way it is worded in Jude is exactly as the Spirit wanted it to be articulated so that we have a true description of what happened.

After Moses’ death, there was a dispute about his body that arose between the devil and Michael the archangel. But why? The most plausible explanation comes from Richard Bauckham, who argues that the devil disputed with Michael about the body because Moses was a sinner. Furthermore, Moses was not just any sinner, but he was a murderer. In Exodus 2:12, Moses killed an Egyptian for beating one of the Hebrews. The devil therefore laid claim to Moses’ body, and such a claim was meant to be not only over Moses’ body but over his soul. Because Moses had so flagrantly violated the law of God, he stood condemned. This explanation comports well with what we know of the devil, who is also called the accuser of the brethren in Revelation 12:10.

The dispute in Jude 9 was not merely an argument, but the Greek words Jude employs speak of a legal battle. The devil was laying legal claim to Moses based on Moses’ sin. We see something similar in Zechariah 3:1. Joshua the High Priest of Israel is standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan stands at the right hand of Joshua to accuse Joshua of sin before the Lord. This accusation was not unfounded, for Zechariah 3:3 tells us that Joshua was standing before the Lord in filthy garments, representative of his sin and guilt before the Lord. Satan’s claim appeared to be legally valid at first because Joshua was indeed a sinner who deserved condemnation. God, however, provided Joshua with festal robes, replacing his guilt with the Lord’s own justifying righteousness. In a similar fashion, the devil is making a legal claim against Moses, that Moses deserves to be condemned for his sin. Such an accusation against the servant of the Lord demands a clear response.

Michael, who is described as one of the chief defenders of the people of God in Daniel 12:1, responds to the devil, but perhaps not in the way we might expect. Jude tells us that Michael “did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment.” Michael did not presume to step into God’s role as the one who judges the wicked. Although he was the archangel with so much power among the hosts of Heaven, Michael recognized God had prescribed limits to his authority — limits that he must respect for the honor and glory of the Lord.

Michael’s response, “The Lord rebuke you,” is identical to what the angel of the Lord said to Satan in Zechariah 3:2, indicating that this tradition was closely linked to that account as well. This response, as Thomas Schreiner has noted, does not mean that Michael is asking the Lord to give Satan a verbal “dressing down.” Instead, Michael is calling upon the Lord to render His righteous judgment in the legal dispute over Moses’ body. Michael is asking the Lord both to vindicate His servant Moses and to condemn the accuser of the brethren, the devil.

Michael’s response models a true and proper faith in God’s justice. The one who believes God will judge righteously need not condemn the wicked, not even the devil, nor does he need to vindicate himself. Instead, he can rest, knowing the Lord Himself will vindicate His people and condemn the wicked.

Michael’s humble trust in God’s justice stands in stark contrast to the false teachers who are described as revilers. They “reject authority, and revile angelic majesties,” and they “revile the things which they do not understand.” They do not tremble to take the place of God by establishing themselves and their opinions as the standard of judgment, and they arrogate to themselves the prerogative to justify and to condemn based on their imagined standard of righteousness.

True believers by contrast live humbly before God, recognizing that our role is not to establish the standard of righteousness or to judge whether others have achieved that standard. Our responsibility is to submit to God’s standard of righteousness, to proclaim it according to His Word, and to leave the final judgment of others where it belongs — in the hands of the one true Lawgiver and Judge.

This mysterious passage proves quite relevant and powerful, reminding us humbly to obey our Lord by faith, resting in the truth that the Judge of all the earth will do what is right. Furthermore, it provides immense comfort to the believer. The devil will accuse us of sin and guilt, but our Lord has overcome our sin and guilt at the cross, so that none of his accusations against us will stand. We have been clothed with Christ’s righteousness, and all our filthy garments were buried in a grave that no one will ever find.
Sources:Christian Post

http://theendtimeradio.com

ന്യൂഡൽഹി: സ്വന്തം വാട്‌സ്ആപ്പിലേക്ക് എത്തുന്ന അനാവശ്യമായ സന്ദേശങ്ങളെ നിയന്ത്രിക്കാൻ മൊബൈൽ ഉപയോക്താക്കൾക്ക് ഉതകുന്ന പുതിയ ഫീച്ചറുമായി മെറ്റ. ഫെയ്സ്ബുക്കിന്റേയും വാട്ട്സ്ആപ്പിന്റേയും ഇൻസ്റ്റഗ്രാമിന്റേയുമെല്ലാം ഉടമകളായ മെറ്റ പ്ലാറ്റ്ഫോംസ് ഇൻക് ആണ് പുതിയ ഫീച്ചർ അവതരിപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. അജ്ഞാത നമ്പറുകളിൽ നിന്ന് വരുന്ന സന്ദേശങ്ങളെ നിയന്ത്രിക്കുന്നതാണ് ഈ ഫീച്ചർ.

വാട്സ്ആപ്പ് ബീറ്റ ആൻഡ്രോയിഡ് 2.24.20.16 അപ്‌ഡേറ്റ് ചെയ്യുന്നവർക്കാണ് നിലവിൽ ഫീച്ചർ ലഭ്യമാകുകയെന്ന് മെറ്റ അധികൃതർ വ്യക്തമാക്കിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. സെറ്റിങ്‌സിൽ ഫീച്ചർ ഇനേബിൾ ചെയ്താൽ അപരിചിത നമ്പറുകളിൽ നിന്നുള്ള മെസേജുകൾ ഈ ഫീച്ചർ തരംതിരിക്കും. സെറ്റിങ്സിൽ ‘പ്രൈവസി-അഡ്വാൻസ്ഡ്-ബ്ലോക്ക് അൺനോൺ അക്കൗണ്ട് മെസേജസ്’ എന്നിങ്ങനെയുള്ള ഓപ്ഷനുകൾ തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്താൽ ഫീച്ചർ ഉപയോഗിക്കാനാവും.

നിലവിലെ സാഹചര്യത്തിൽ ബീറ്റ പതിപ്പ് ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നവർക്ക് മാത്രമേ അപരിചിതമായ നമ്പറുകളിൽ നിന്നുള്ള മെസേജുകൾ ബ്ലോക്ക് ചെയ്യാനുള്ള സൗകര്യം ലഭ്യമായിട്ടുള്ളൂ. ഈ ഫീച്ചർ എല്ലാ ഉപയോക്താക്കൾക്കും ലഭിക്കാൻ ഇനിയും കാത്തിരിക്കണം. പ്രൈവസി ഉറപ്പാക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള മറ്റ് രണ്ട് പുത്തൻ ഫീച്ചറുകൾക്കൊപ്പമാണ് അൺനോൺ അക്കൗണ്ടുകളിൽ നിന്നുള്ള മെസേജുകൾ ബ്ലോക്ക് ചെയ്യാനുള്ള ഓപ്ഷനും വരുന്നത്.

അക്കൗണ്ടുകൾ സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്നതിനൊപ്പം ഡിവൈസിന്റെ പ്രവർത്തനം മെച്ചപ്പെടുത്താനുമാണ് ഈ ഫീച്ചർ അവതരിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. അപരിചിതമായ നമ്പറിൽ നിന്നുള്ള സന്ദേശങ്ങൾ എല്ലാം ഫീച്ചർ ബ്ലോക്ക് ചെയ്യില്ല. നിശ്ചിത പരിധിക്ക് അപ്പുറമുള്ള മെസേജുകൾ വരുന്ന നമ്പറുകളെ മാത്രമേ ഇത് തടയൂ.
Sources:Metro Journal

http://theendtimeradio.com

The book of Ruth shows that even amid a dark period of unthinkable wickedness and rebellion, God is still working to accomplish His purpose of redemption. This book is also a reminder that even when it seems an entire nation has rejected the Lord, His faithful remnant remains.

With everything we face in our world today, it is a great relief to look at God’s faithful, covenant love in the first two chapters of this book. God’s covenant love triumphs over everything against His people so that we persevere in hope. Paul writes in Romans 8:35: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” In Ruth 1-2, we see a number of these things trying to separate God’s people from His love. Yet, these chapters are a living illustration of the truth of Romans 8:35-39 and God’s enduring, unbreakable love for His people.

There are three things from Ruth 1-2 that enable us to persevere in hope on the firm foundation of God’s covenant love.

First, to persevere in hope, we need to recognize the reality of adversity.

The story of redemption in Ruth is born in the cradle of adversity. In just this chapter, Naomi undergoes five severe experiences of difficulty.

As the story opens, we meet a family of four, who are confronted with famine in Israel. This famine was such a severe trial that it prompted Elimelech, Ruth’s future father-in-law, to uproot his family to Moab.

This family then faces the adversity of living among unfriendly foreigners outside the land that God gave to Israel. Moab had long opposed Israel and its military conquests.

Naomi’s third trial occurs when her husband dies, and she now was burdened by being a widow in a foreign land. Her sons were probably not very old, so they would have been of limited help.

After Naomi’s sons married foreign women, they died as well, extinguishing Naomi’s family line. She is bereft not only of her family but also of any legal help or protection.

Naomi eventually learns that the Lord has brought the famine to an end and decides to move back home. It was extremely dangerous for a woman to travel alone, but Naomi’s options at this point were to remain in Moab as an unprotected widow or to take a chance on the journey and hope some distant relative back home might assist her.

When Naomi arrives home, the intensity of the adversity she has faced is not lost on her. She recognizes the difficulties she has experienced, and she has been, at least in her understanding, irrevocably changed because of her trials. Naomi left a woman who was full of joy, with a family and high hopes. She came back destitute and hopeless.

The language of this opening chapter is reminiscent of the book of Job. Naomi loses everything she values in her life. Her trials seem to happen in rapid succession, without a respite from the adversity. Also, like Job, she recognizes everything comes from the Lord’s hand and providence. Whether Naomi is proven right about what God is doing is yet to be seen, but the reality is that God is the one who has moved her through it all.

If we’re encountering adversity, remember God is working in and through our lives. Our trials have not taken God by surprise. Adversity is providence.

Second, to persevere with hope, we need to respond to adversity in faith.

When Naomi decided to leave Moab, her two daughters-in-law desired to follow. She encouraged them to return to their mother’s house. Eventually, Orpah was persuaded to go home, but Ruth would not be persuaded.

Ruth is determined to follow Naomi, wanting to convert to become an Israelite. In doing so, she understands she must forsake her gods and worship only the God of Israel; unexpectedly, especially given the context of Judges, she freely volunteers her unwavering loyalty to Israel’s God! Here we have this foreigner, excluded from the Lord’s assembly by her nationality, committing herself to the Lord until death. What a picture: Ruth the Moabitess is utterly loyal to the God of Israel, while Israel itself continually forsakes Him.

This conversion appears to be genuine. Ruth does not say Naomi’s gods will be her gods; instead, she specifically names Israel’s God. Moreover, Boaz later recognizes Ruth came to take refuge under the Lord’s protection. Through Ruth’s relationship with her Israelite family, she saw the futility of the Moabite gods and the glory of the God of Israel — and she would not be parted from Him.

What was it about the God of Israel that Ruth found so attractive? Ruth’s first exposure to Him was a God whose people were suffering from famine. Then, her father-in-law died, and her husband and brother-in-law passed away. She was a barren widow. She and her mother-in-law became embittered and impoverished.

Despite all that had happened, Ruth wanted to follow the Lord because she had found the truth. Once Ruth had recognized the truth, it didn’t matter the cost or the external trappings, nor did it matter that the lie looked more promising in the short run. The God of Israel was the true God, and she would not relinquish Him.

Most importantly, though, this woman responds to adversity with faith. She doesn’t make her decision based on emotion or external circumstances. Instead, she makes her decision based on God’s truth.

Ruth’s response is so instructive. When we struggle with adversity, does truth drive our response? Or does the flesh lead to despair rather than hope? When we tell others the Gospel of Christ, are we confident that the power is in the truth, not in our presentation? We need to remind ourselves repeatedly that Scripture is the truth, and our God is the true God against all the world’s lies.

Third, to persevere with hope, rest in God’s faithfulness through adversity.

Chapter two of Ruth shows God’s faithfulness to Ruth and Naomi.

When she settles in her new home, Ruth takes the initiative to provide food. The field that Ruth discovers to glean belongs to a man named Boaz, who was related to Naomi’s late husband. When Boaz finds out Ruth’s identity, he instructs his workers to ensure she is provided for and protected. Boaz also tells Ruth he has provided for her because of her godly reputation.

In the end, God’s provision to Naomi and Ruth is more than abundant — not only of food but also of physical protection, something two widows would have severely needed in their culture. Moreover, it appears that a budding romance is beginning between Boaz and Ruth.

As we look at this chapter, God’s provision for Naomi and Ruth is unmistakable. God provides for the ladies in their distress in more ways than initially Ruth even was seeking. This is how God works. He regularly provides for His people even during adversity. We can rest in His care and love even if the entire world around us has been turned upside down.

Here we see two women who were able to persevere in hope because of God’s faithfulness. Without God, they would have had no hope — and neither does anyone apart from faith in Christ. It’s amazing to consider that Ruth was part of a population that God said was never allowed in His people. And yet Ruth was received by God because she trusted in Him. Jesus turns away no one who comes to Him in faith. What a marvelous and reassuring promise of hope and salvation!
Sources:Christian Post

http://theendtimeradio.com