understanding – La Vista Church of Christ

How Can Our Mind Comprehend God?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:17:00 +0000

by Samuel A. Matthews

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33, KJV).

Loved ones, I look down at my feet, squinting closely, to identify the black moving speck as an ant. Though we are both living beings, we are so different that I feel absolutely no identity with the little creature. And what awareness can he possibly have of me?

Can the ant's eyes "see" the hugeness of the human body, beginning at the foot in front of his face and reaching upward fourteen or fifteen hundred times larger than himself—like me, trying to see a body a mile and a half tall?

Can the ant imagine the creative power or the destructive power in these two hands? Can the ant, unable to enter into my thought processes or to understand a word of my speech, have even a remote expectation of "knowing" my thoughts and mind? Can the ant's heart, made of a substance so different from my own, fathom how to even begin to reach out emotionally to me, to love me?

What ridiculous questions! The differences in "kind" create an insurmountable wall between the ant and my being, my mind, my spirit. There can be absolutely no crossing over, from me to him, or from him to me.

Between the infinite Spirit that is God and the ant-sized mortal that is me lies another seemingly insurmountable wall. How can I, in my human smallness, even begin to "see" God, whose presence is everywhere? How can I, with my limited strength, comprehend the power that spoke into existence from nothing the vastness of the universe, with every particle of matter that exists?

How can my mind fathom the mind that conceived the monstrous gaseous stars that burn with an explosiveness and intensity that could engulf my world in one searing breath, and that also conceived the worlds within our cells, too small to be seen without the aid of electron microscopes? Truly, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3).

How can my pathetically small mind, which cannot understand God's language or enter into His thought process, any more than an ant can think my thoughts —how can I fathom God? But we cry out for Him. There is a voice that will not be hushed, crying for His help, for His mercy, for His love. As small as we are, as impossible as it seems for the human spirit even to be aware of the Great Spirit that is God, much less to identify in some mysterious way with His Spirit, we do! Why? Because we were made differently from everything else in creation. In His letter to us, He told us that we were made in His image, that we were made a living soul (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7)

Yes, we are actually less than ant-sized in comparison to God; our power and abilities are less than ant-sized — but God built into our minds and spirits a likeness to Himself, a bridge to Himself, that enables a breeching of the impossible wall. Incorporated in the "awareness of self' that is uniquely human is an undying awareness also of God. He does not go away, and the human spirit spends its little lifetime either in search of God or in denial of God — but always the God-question is being dealt with.

Not one accountable human has ever passed through this life without wrestling with the question of God in his own life, concluding with an acceptance of Him or a rejection. The fact that there is not another single question which confronts every human, and which every human must answer for himself, is one of the greatest pieces of evidence for the undeniable existence of God.

But even those who reach out to God in longing will never be able to comprehend His mind or to love Him on His level of love — any more than an ant can comprehend human thought or feel human love. Our capacity simply is not sufficient.

Yet God has given us, to the extent of our miniscule ability to accept, a little window into His mind through borrowing the human words He gave us and writing them in His book. He has given us a drop of His love all our hearts can stand — and even with so small a portion sometimes we hurt with the sweetness and the greatness of it.

These are a foretaste of what He has promised, when "...we shall be like Him [our Lord, Jesus Christ] ..." (I John 3:2) and when I shall “…know even as also I am known" (I Corinthians 13:12).

I Understand, but I Have My Own Ideas

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 21:06:55 +0000

by Jefferson David Tant

While talking with a young woman I had several Bible studies with, I asked whether she had read something I had given her. Her reply was, “Yes, and I understand, but I have my own ideas.” Hers is not an uncommon reaction when discussing what the Bible teaches. This kind of thinking goes back thousands of years, to our origins in the Garden of Eden.

When Satan approached Eve concerning what fruit she could eat, she showed she clearly understood what God said. “The woman said to the serpent, ‘From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die'" (Genesis 3:2-3). She understood, but then Satan convinced her that it made no difference. So even though she understood, she was convinced “her own ideas” were just as good as what God had said. We know the tragic consequences.

In just the next generation, we have the story of Cain and Abel. They both offered sacrifices to the Lord, but God rejected Cain’s sacrifice, which caused him to be angry and kill his brother. “But for Cain and for his offering (God) had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell… And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him” (Genesis 4:5, 8). Had Cain understood what God’s requirements were? The answer is yes. “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain” (Hebrews 11:4). How did Abel have “faith” to offer a “better sacrifice”? His faith came from hearing God’s command. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Cain would have received the same word that Abel did. The clear implication of this is that although Cain understood what God had said, he “had his own ideas.” And he suffered for it.

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares Jehovah. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9). This is a lesson all need to learn. No matter how smart we think we are, nor how reasonable our thoughts and ideas seem to be, we are not God! He knows what He wants, and why He wants certain things. The only way to know the mind of God is by reading what He has told us. The only way we can please Him is to obey His word.

Jeremiah emphasizes the point: “I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). We tread on dangerous ground when we think we know better than God. Christ warns us about which way to go. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Why do so many go the “broad way?” Is it not because they have “their own ideas?” Christ further emphasizes the “narrow way” in Matthew 7:21-23: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

Note that those who were rejected thought they were doing right. They had their “own ideas,” but Christ said they were practicing “lawlessness,” i.e., things that were not authorized. We must always respect God’s thoughts and ways above our own ideas. To do otherwise elevates our own wisdom above God’s wisdom and invites disaster.

By Reason of Use

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 20:31:27 +0000

by William V. Beasley
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 19 No. 2, June 1993

Some, not all, of the Christians who originally received the book of Hebrews were in a state of spiritual infancy (Hebrews 5:11-14). The writer of Hebrews had a real difficulty in writing about Christ ("Whom" Hebrews 5:11) or of the priesthood of Christ ("which" ־ marginal reading of Hebrews 5:11). The problem was not a lack of information; God inspired the writer. The problem was in the spiritual infants to whom he wrote; they had become "dull of hearing." Sufficient time had passed for them to be teachers, but they were, despite their years as Christians, spiritual babies. Maturity came not from time only, but from the passage of time plus use ("by reason of the time" + "by reason of use" - Hebrews 5:12,14). These two (time + use) can produce "full-grown" ("perfect" - marginal reading) men who can "discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

Some subjects and doctrines are more challenging to understand than others. We are given examples of "first principles" (Hebrews 6:1-3). The problem (Hebrews 5:11-14) was not one of advanced and complex doctrines, but with the attitude and lack of experience of the hearers. We have, in the Lord’s church today, the same kind of problem; sufficient time has passed, but many are still without experience. We will try to illustrate the growth ("by reason of use") with four examples, subjects, or doctrines.

The Teaching of Baptisms

The "teaching of baptisms" (Hebrews 6:2) is one of the first principles. This would not be limited to, but would certainly include, water baptism unto or for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Baptism is a pre-requisite (i.e., comes before) salvation (Mark 16:16), remission of sins (Acts 2:38), washing away of sins (Acts 22:16) and entry into Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4). The first step of growth in this elementary (first principle) subject would be general acceptance. Almost all religious people would say, "I believe in baptism." Of course, this belief may be 1,000 miles removed from what the Bible teaches about it. Personal acceptance follows general acceptance. The first "by reason of use" would be obedience, being baptized unto remission of sins and into Christ. The general acceptance has been personalized and has brought about a change in conduct. The next step in growth would be universal application, or to teach others by making the application of Mark 16:16. A refusal to be baptized is disbelief, and this applies not only to me but also to all others, even my loved ones. A young man in Florida accepted his need to be baptized (lost without it), but rebelled at the thought that his fiancée was lost. The truth finally won out. We must come to the point of making the application to our parents, children (who are of age), friends, neighbors, etc. (Matthew 10:37).

Evangelism

These same three steps (General Acceptance, Personal Acceptance, Universal Application) can be noted in the subject or doctrine of evangelism (Mark 16:15; II Timothy 2:2). Most church members pay lip service to the idea that all Christians ought to be teaching the lost (Hebrews 5:12; Acts 8:4). Often, sadly, there is a long time between general acceptance and personal application. Personal application might begin by inviting others to services or by arranging a Bible class in your home, with someone else doing the teaching, for your friends and neighbors. Eventually, one must get down to (up to) sitting down with a prospect and opening the Book. Some Christians try to make a universal application before making a personal one: They should, but I am not. If one is not actively seeking to share the good news of Jesus Christ, is that one truly faithful?

Giving

Concerning giving (I Corinthians 16:1-2; II Corinthians 9:6-7), there is general acceptance: "Oh yes, people ought to give liberally." Personal application, general acceptance that is put into action, is more difficult. Giving is to be a sacrifice... based on the percentage of income. Are you giving liberally? Would you be embarrassed to divide your contribution by your net income (taken from your income tax form) to get the percentage...and have that printed in the bulletin? I am not advocating such (Did I hear a collective sigh of relief?), but would you be embarrassed? Universal application: By reason of use (personal) plus teaching others the full extent of their duty.

Corrective Discipline

What about the doctrine of corrective discipline (II Thessalonians 3:6)? General acceptance: Sadly, some in the church boldly declare, "I don’t believe in withdrawing or marking." Others, thankfully, answer, "Oh yes, when handled right, corrective discipline is good." Personal application: We need to practice instructive self-discipline (II Timothy 2:15), and cease to be "dull of hearing" (Hebrews 5:11). We also need to uphold corrective discipline when exercised (I Corinthians 5:9-13; II Thessalonians 3:14-15). In fact, we need to exhort, encourage, and push those who are unfaithful to be disciplined. Universal application: Teach others about the duty to exercise corrective discipline. Exhort, push that discipline be exercised reasonably, faithfully, and regularly (as needed). A mother in Montana pushed (without overstepping the bounds of feminine modesty and propriety) the men of the congregation until they withdrew from her son. Why? Because she loved the Lord, her son, and her own soul. We need to acknowledge in word and practice that scriptural discipline ought to be practiced, even if the one disciplined is your mother, or father, son or daughter, brother or sister.

Beloved, can we truly "discern good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14)?

Truly Enlightened!

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 19:52:22 +0000

by David Gibson

Since ancient times, down to our day, certain religions, philosophies, and secret societies have promised enlightenment to their initiates, granting them an inside knowledge unavailable to the uninitiated. Some of these groups have even threatened with death any initiate who would dare to reveal their secrets.

In Christ, however, there are no secrets. What had been kept under wraps during Old Testament times has now been revealed through the gospel (Ephesians 3:1-10).

In Christianity, there are no esoteric symbols or covert rituals. The knowledge revealed in the New Testament is free for all to learn and live by--then share with those yet in darkness. All who humble themselves in faith, repentance, and obedience to the gospel are welcomed into the fellowship of the truly enlightened.

Light Offered to All

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Christ commissioned the apostle Paul to take the gospel to the Gentiles “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18).

“. . . the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God . . . . For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:4, 6).

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9).

Enlightened indeed!

How God Stretches Our Understanding

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:47:01 +0000

by David Gibson

Moving beyond what we know

God designed our minds so we can absorb new insights much more easily if we can connect them with something we already know.

So often, Christ drew parallels between common things in everyday life and less familiar spiritual concepts, using figures of speech such as similes (“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed”) and metaphors (“I am the good shepherd”) (Matthew 13:31; John 10:11 NASB).

Jesus is far too large for any one single comparison to be adequate. Jonah, for example, is quite unlike Jesus in some crucial ways, but in at least one narrow sense there is a parallel, and in that one respect Jesus draws an analogy (Matthew 12:38-40).

The New Testament compares baptism to a birth (John 3:3-5) and to death (Romans 6:3-7). In one way, baptism is an end (death to the old life of sin). In another sense, it is a glorious beginning (a new birth).

Moving beyond what we’ve experienced

The Bible prepares us for life beyond anything we’ve ever experienced. And so, God uses His word to help us make that challenging transition from the physical world we are so familiar with to a life that far exceeds anything we’ve ever known. God uses Scripture to develop in us a whole new way of seeing so that “we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18).

What exciting vistas God lays out before us! Are we willing to move beyond the familiar here-and-now to the less familiar but so much more wonderful then-and-there?

Are We Still Looking for the Wrong Kind of Answers?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 23:53:30 +0000

by Mike Riley

While television has a myriad of programming to watch, the most entertaining offerings are the commercials. A few years back, one of the more amusing ads was the one for Toyota minivans in which Bob, the safety engineer, demonstrates to two young boys how automobiles are crash-tested. By remote control, Bob slams one vehicle after another into the testing wall, as the boys squeal with delight — “Do another one! Do another one!” When at last Bob announces that he has exhausted the supply of test vehicles, the boys pipe up and ask, “What about your car, Bob?” Clearly, the message of safety was lost on these two young men.

Some members of the church are like the boys in the Toyota commercial. As Bible teachers, we can spend a great deal of time and effort attempting to teach a particular Bible lesson, only to have the students completely miss the point we were trying to convey at the end of the lesson. Unfortunately, we’ve all been guilty of being that kind of Bible student at one time or another.

Jesus had plenty of experience with people who took away one message when He was trying to teach an entirely different message. For example, when Jesus fed the crowd of five thousand, many of them followed Him to his next stop (John 6:5-25 – NKJV). He said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life” (John 6:26-27 – NKJV). Jesus had performed a miracle to demonstrate His power and deity, and all they had learned was that He could provide them with a free meal.

As that conversation continued, Jesus spoke to them of “the true bread from heaven …. the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:32-33). They presumed He was speaking of literal bread, like the manna God had given their ancestors in the days of Moses (Exodus 16:15; Numbers 11:7; Nehemiah 9:15). So they said, “Lord, give us this bread always” (John 6:34 – NKJV). Once again, Jesus was trying to convey to them the word of life, and all they could think about was eating.

After considerable explanation, Jesus later pointedly said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:51 – NKJV). Now they thought Christ was advocating cannibalism, because they responded, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” (John 6:52 – NKJV).

By the end of John Chapter 6, most of the multitude had deserted Jesus because He kept saying all these peculiar things (John 6:66). They failed to comprehend the messages He was revealing to them, because their own selfish interests and perspectives kept getting in the way.
Even Jesus’ apostles were not immune to this way of thinking. After three years of hearing the Master’s teaching about the nature of His work, His coming sacrifice, and His kingdom, they still expected Him to establish a material throne similar to those of David and Solomon. Immediately before His ascension into heaven, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6 – NKJV). Despite Jesus’ death and resurrection, they were still looking for the wrong kind of answers.

So much of the misunderstanding and misinterpretation that occurs in religion has this phenomenon at its root — folks don’t really listen to what God’s word says, because they are too busy listening to hear something different — something they want to hear (cf. Acts 17:21; II Timothy 4:3). To borrow the metaphor of the Toyota ad, they miss the safety lesson because they get too excited about watching cars crash.

Brethren, Jesus’ primary mission was not to heal the sick, feed the hungry, cast out demons, or raise the dead, even though He performed all of these miracles. In His own words, He primarily came into the world “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 – NKJV; cf. Matthew 18:11). Indeed, He came to sacrifice Himself so that sinners might be made just before God (Romans 5:6-11). Therefore, when we read, study, and hear His word (Acts 17:11; II Timothy 2:15 – KJV; Revelation 2:7; cf. Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9; Matthew 13:43), let us ensure that we don’t seek the wrong kind of answers and miss His real lesson.

Be Merciful

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:28 +0000

by Doy Moyer

We cannot see what is going on inside someone. That’s obvious, but sometimes our judgments about people assume that everything should be normal for them because we can’t see anything outwardly wrong. If we see them acting in ways we would otherwise expect, we might judge them to be rude, or worse. When someone is dealing with internal issues that affect their interactions with others, it’s easy to lose patience or think that the person just doesn’t care or is being selfish. We judge the feelings of others based on how we think they should feel, and this can lead to serious misjudgments and assumptions that change how we treat them. Our judgment is based on outward appearance when, internally, there may be another story to tell.

This drives home to me why we need to be merciful. I’m not talking about going easy on sin. We need to be aware that problems suffered aren’t always visible, and these are not issues that can be fixed by just telling people to get over it or have more faith. There are complex issues that may involve physical problems in the brain (e.g., a lack of dopamine in patients with Parkinson’s disease), which can impact movement, emotions, and cognitive functions. One’s whole system is affected. However frustrating it may seem, know that the person dealing with it is even more frustrated.

What do we do about it? Be patient, merciful, and kind. Be a help. Be aware. Pray for one another. Let people know you care.

"Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
'Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you'” (Isaiah 35:3-4).

The Benefit of the Doubt

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 21:07:28 +0000

by Zeke Flores

Sometimes, we say, "Give me the benefit of the doubt."

We want some leeway, some wiggle room, some consideration, some understanding. But are we willing to extend that same courtesy to others? The church and the world would undoubtedly be better off if we were as patient with others as we expect them to be with ourselves. If you put up with yourself, why not put up with everyone else?

"For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you" (Matthew 7:2).

Perception Can Be Entirely Wrong

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 00:34:18 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

Isaiah prophesied that there would be a wrong perception of the Messiah and a correct one (See Isaiah 53). So, all viewpoints would not be equal. Even though sincerely ignorant, going away with the wrong perception would be fatal.

Isaiah 53:4-5

"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;"

This is actually what Jesus was doing on the cross, but the next statements tell how the bulk of the Jews looked at this situation, and this belief was entirely wrong.

"Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted."

This was an entirely wrong belief. To look at Jesus’ suffering on the cross this way will keep you from benefitting from what He was really doing.

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (NKJV)

Whether we get the peace and healing God wants us to have depends on whether we look at Jesus correctly. A wrong perspective will keep us from peace and healing from our sins. This prophecy shows that not all perspectives are formed by necessary inference from the evidence.

Drawing a faulty conclusion from faulty evidence handling can and will be fatal. Of the multitudes gathered on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the same evidence was heard, but only 3,000 drew a necessary inference from it. The rest mishandled the evidence and drew a wrong conclusion. That is fatal, and it tells us to be careful that we handle the evidence fairly to reach the right conclusions and be saved.

We can be healed of the sin-cancer of the soul and enjoy peace with God and in our conscience because what Jesus was doing for us was suffering for our transgression and iniquities so that we can have healing of soul and peace with God. Jesus was bearing our inward grief and sorrow brought on by sin that breaks our fellowship with God. This is the only true perception of what Jesus did on the cross.

But, it is amazing that Isaiah said that the Jews would look at it incorrectly hundreds of years before the event took place. That is an amazing thing about the inspiration of the Bible!

Is Exodus 22:29 talking about child sacrifice?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 22:16:14 +0000

Question:

In Exodus 22:29, is God allowing child sacrifice? I'm sure that's not what's present here, and I'm taking it as them becoming a part of the priesthood. If correct, are there other verses that can cover this idea?

Answer:

Human communication relies heavily on implications. We don't say everything. We expect the other person to fill in the gaps. However, people often fill in the gaps with the wrong ideas, and that is how people misunderstand each other.

"You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me" (Exodus 22:29).

"Give" does not imply sacrifice, though I can see how the mistake is made since the first half of the verse does talk about offerings.

In Israel, all firstborn children were dedicated to God, and firstborn males were initially selected to be priests. This was in payment (in a sense) for God freeing Israel from slavery by killing all the firstborns in Egypt. Death skipped over the firstborn in Israel, so they became dedicated to God. The tribe of Levite replaced this, but all firstborn males had to be redeemed by paying five shekels to the Temple. Firstborn females were considered to belong to God but did not have to be redeemed because they were not selected for service to God. Thus, a family with a girl first and then a boy would not have to pay the five shekels because the rules applied to the child who opens the womb. If a woman's first child is a boy, then there is a redemption fee.

"Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine" (Exodus 13:2).

"And it shall be, when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you, that you shall set apart to the LORD all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the LORD'S. But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' that you shall say to him, 'By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem'" (Exodus 13:11-15).

"You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me" (Exodus 22:29).

"All that open the womb are Mine, and every male firstborn among your livestock, whether ox or sheep. But the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you will not redeem him, then you shall break his neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed" (Exodus 34:19-20).

"Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine, because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the LORD" (Numbers 3:12-13).

"And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites, you shall take five shekels for each one individually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs" (Numbers 3:46-47).

"After that the Levites shall go in to service the tabernacle of meeting. So you shall cleanse them and offer them, like a wave offering. For they are wholly given to Me from among the children of Israel; I have taken them for Myself instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the children of Israel. For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are Mine, both man and beast; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them to Myself. I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel" (Numbers 8:15-18).

"Everything that first opens the womb of all flesh, which they bring to the LORD, whether man or beast, shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem. And those redeemed of the devoted things you shall redeem when one month old, according to your valuation, for five shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs" (Numbers 18:15).

Question:

Thank you for your response. My response wasn't due to my view. I'm speaking with an atheist who thinks God is evil because of the acts mentioned in the Old Testament. I've told him that he has completely misunderstood Scripture, and sometimes, my verbiage may not be understandable. So, when you sent me your answer, it allowed me to share it in a manner that should be universally understood.

He said to me that God knew that Jephthah's daughter would have been sacrificed because He knew that she was going to come out the door first. His whole question is why He didn't stop it. Why would He allow Jephthah's daughter to be sacrificed despite it being His doing to sacrifice whoever came out the door first? I'm sure Jephthah wasn't expecting his daughter to walk out first, but his argument is that God knew.

Answer:

What you are dealing with is a person who claims there is no God but argues that the God of the Bible is evil because He didn't prevent Jephthah's daughter from walking out of the door first. His argument is actually contradictory. Atheism is technically amoral since morality requires a higher being to impose the rule of morality. Calling God evil is to accept that there is a God to impose morality.

His view rules out people having free choice. How does he know that Jephthah's daughter didn't hear of her father's vow and purposely chose to be the first to greet him? What the Bible tells us is that an individual's choice is not always knowable in advance.

See:

Another mistake that he makes is assuming Jephthah's daughter was killed, which God says He finds disgusting. See Jephthahs Daughter.

When a person makes arguments from a self-contradictory position, it is difficult to be persuasive because you don't know what the person truly believes.