Thematic Bible: Condescension of God
Thematic Bible
Condescension of God » Expostulates with backsliding israel
Present your case, says Jehovah. Set forth your arguments, says Jacob's King. Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come. Tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be shocked and filled with fear. read more.
You are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless! He who chooses you is detestable.
You are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless! He who chooses you is detestable.
Jehovah created Jacob and formed Israel. Jehovah says: Do not be afraid for I have reclaimed you. I have called you by my name. You are mine. When you go through the sea, I am with you. When you go through rivers, they will not sweep you away. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, and the flames will not harm you. I AM JEHOVAH YOUR GOD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, YOUR SAVIOR. Egypt is the ransom I exchanged for you. Sudan and Seba are the price I paid for you. read more.
I honor you because you are precious to me and I love you. I will exchange others for you. Nations will be the price I pay for your life. Do not be afraid for I am with you. I will bring your descendants from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up,' and to the south, 'do not keep them. Bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the ends of the earth. Bring everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.' Bring the people who are blind but still have eyes, the people who are deaf but still have ears. All nations have gathered together, and people have assembled. Who among them could have revealed this? Who among them could have foretold this to us? They should bring their witnesses to prove that they were right. Let the people hear them. Then they will say: 'It is the truth.' YOU ARE MY WITNESSES, DECLARES JEHOVAH! I have chosen you as my servant so that you can know and believe in me and understand that I am the one who did this. No god was formed before me, and there will be none after me. I ALONE AM JEHOVAH, AND THERE IS NO SAVIOR BESIDES ME. I have revealed it to you. I have saved you, and I have announced it to you. There was no foreign god among you. You are my witnesses that I am God, declares Jehovah. From the beginning I was the one who did this. No one can rescue people from my power. When I do something, who can undo it? This is what Jehovah, your redeemer, and the Holy One of Israel, says: For your sake I will send an army to Babylon. I will bring back all the Babylonian refugees in the ships that they take pride in. I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. Jehovah makes a path through the sea and a road through the strong currents. He leads chariots and horses, an army and reinforcements. They lie down together and do not get up again. They are extinguished and snuffed out like a wick. This is what Jehovah says: Forget what happened in the past, and do not dwell on events from long ago. I am going to do something new. It is already happening. Do you recognize it? I will clear a way in the desert. I will make rivers on dry land.
I honor you because you are precious to me and I love you. I will exchange others for you. Nations will be the price I pay for your life. Do not be afraid for I am with you. I will bring your descendants from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up,' and to the south, 'do not keep them. Bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the ends of the earth. Bring everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.' Bring the people who are blind but still have eyes, the people who are deaf but still have ears. All nations have gathered together, and people have assembled. Who among them could have revealed this? Who among them could have foretold this to us? They should bring their witnesses to prove that they were right. Let the people hear them. Then they will say: 'It is the truth.' YOU ARE MY WITNESSES, DECLARES JEHOVAH! I have chosen you as my servant so that you can know and believe in me and understand that I am the one who did this. No god was formed before me, and there will be none after me. I ALONE AM JEHOVAH, AND THERE IS NO SAVIOR BESIDES ME. I have revealed it to you. I have saved you, and I have announced it to you. There was no foreign god among you. You are my witnesses that I am God, declares Jehovah. From the beginning I was the one who did this. No one can rescue people from my power. When I do something, who can undo it? This is what Jehovah, your redeemer, and the Holy One of Israel, says: For your sake I will send an army to Babylon. I will bring back all the Babylonian refugees in the ships that they take pride in. I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. Jehovah makes a path through the sea and a road through the strong currents. He leads chariots and horses, an army and reinforcements. They lie down together and do not get up again. They are extinguished and snuffed out like a wick. This is what Jehovah says: Forget what happened in the past, and do not dwell on events from long ago. I am going to do something new. It is already happening. Do you recognize it? I will clear a way in the desert. I will make rivers on dry land.
I permitted myself to be sought by those who did not ask for me. Those who did not seek me found me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said: 'Here I am, here I am.' All day long I held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations (thoughts), a people who continually provoke me to my very face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on altars of brick. read more.
They sit among the graves and spend their nights keeping secret vigil. They eat the flesh of pigs. Their pots are full of unclean meat. They say: 'Keep away! Do not come near me, for I am too sacred for you! Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.' See, it stands written before me. I will not keep silent but will pay back in full; I will pay it back into their laps both your sins and the sins of your fathers, says Jehovah. This is because they burned sacrifices on the mountains and defied me on the hills. I will measure into their laps the full payment for their former deeds. Jehovah says: As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and men say, 'Do not destroy it, there is yet some good in it,' so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all. I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess my mountains. My chosen people will inherit them and my servants will live there. Sharon will be pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for my people who seek me. But as for you who forsake Jehovah and forget my holy mountain, which spread a table for the God of Fortune (Babylonian diety) and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bend down for the slaughter! I called but you did not answer. I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty. My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame! My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit. You will leave your name to my chosen ones as a curse. The Sovereign Lord Jehovah will put you to death, but to his servants he will give another name. Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of (amen, so be it) truth; he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.
They sit among the graves and spend their nights keeping secret vigil. They eat the flesh of pigs. Their pots are full of unclean meat. They say: 'Keep away! Do not come near me, for I am too sacred for you! Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.' See, it stands written before me. I will not keep silent but will pay back in full; I will pay it back into their laps both your sins and the sins of your fathers, says Jehovah. This is because they burned sacrifices on the mountains and defied me on the hills. I will measure into their laps the full payment for their former deeds. Jehovah says: As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and men say, 'Do not destroy it, there is yet some good in it,' so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all. I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess my mountains. My chosen people will inherit them and my servants will live there. Sharon will be pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for my people who seek me. But as for you who forsake Jehovah and forget my holy mountain, which spread a table for the God of Fortune (Babylonian diety) and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bend down for the slaughter! I called but you did not answer. I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty. My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame! My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit. You will leave your name to my chosen ones as a curse. The Sovereign Lord Jehovah will put you to death, but to his servants he will give another name. Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of (amen, so be it) truth; he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.
It is said: If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, her first husband should not go back to her again. The land would become completely polluted. You have behaved like a prostitute who has many lovers. Now you want to come back to me! Says Jehovah. Lift up your eyes to the bare hills and see. You have had sex with men in every place. You sat by the roadside waiting for them like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled (corrupted) (profaned) the land with your prostitution and wickedness. Accordingly the rain has been withheld, and there have been no spring showers. Yet, you have the unashamed (conspicuous) (impudent) look of a prostitute, and you refuse to be ashamed. read more.
Now you call to me. You say, 'Father!' You have been my friend ever since I was young. Will you hold a grudge forever? Will you always be angry? You have said and done all the evil things that you could. During the reign of King Josiah, Jehovah asked me: Did you see what unfaithful Israel did? She went up every high mountain and under every large tree, and she acted like a prostitute there. I thought that after she had done all this she would come back to me. But she did not come back, and her treacherous (unstable) (unreliable) (false) sister Judah saw her. Judah saw that I sent unfaithful Israel away because of her adultery and that I gave Israel her divorce papers. But treacherous Judah, her sister, was not afraid. She also acted like a prostitute. Because she was not concerned about her prostitution. She polluted the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. Even after all this, Israel's treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart. She was deceitful, says Jehovah. Jehovah said to me: Treacherous Judah was more reprehensible than unfaithful Israel. Go and proclaim this message to the north: 'Come back, unfaithful Israel. It is Jehovah speaking. I will no longer frown on you because I am merciful,' declares Jehovah. 'I will no longer be angry with you. Admit that you have done wrong! You have rebelled against Jehovah your God. You have given yourself to foreign gods under every large tree. You have not obeyed me,' says Jehovah. Return, you disobedient people, proclaims Jehovah. I am your husband. I will take you, one from every city and two from every family, and bring you to Zion.' I will give you shepherds after my own heart. They will be shepherds who feed (shepherd) (lead) (tend) you with knowledge and understanding (learning) (reasoning) (insight).
Now you call to me. You say, 'Father!' You have been my friend ever since I was young. Will you hold a grudge forever? Will you always be angry? You have said and done all the evil things that you could. During the reign of King Josiah, Jehovah asked me: Did you see what unfaithful Israel did? She went up every high mountain and under every large tree, and she acted like a prostitute there. I thought that after she had done all this she would come back to me. But she did not come back, and her treacherous (unstable) (unreliable) (false) sister Judah saw her. Judah saw that I sent unfaithful Israel away because of her adultery and that I gave Israel her divorce papers. But treacherous Judah, her sister, was not afraid. She also acted like a prostitute. Because she was not concerned about her prostitution. She polluted the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. Even after all this, Israel's treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart. She was deceitful, says Jehovah. Jehovah said to me: Treacherous Judah was more reprehensible than unfaithful Israel. Go and proclaim this message to the north: 'Come back, unfaithful Israel. It is Jehovah speaking. I will no longer frown on you because I am merciful,' declares Jehovah. 'I will no longer be angry with you. Admit that you have done wrong! You have rebelled against Jehovah your God. You have given yourself to foreign gods under every large tree. You have not obeyed me,' says Jehovah. Return, you disobedient people, proclaims Jehovah. I am your husband. I will take you, one from every city and two from every family, and bring you to Zion.' I will give you shepherds after my own heart. They will be shepherds who feed (shepherd) (lead) (tend) you with knowledge and understanding (learning) (reasoning) (insight).
But you say: Jehovah's way is unfair. Listen, nation of Israel, is my way fair? Is it your ways that are unfair? When a righteous person turns away from doing right and does evil things, he will die. He will die because of the evil things he has done. When a wicked person turns away from the wicked things that he has done and does what is fair and right, he will live. read more.
He realized what he was doing and turned away from all the rebellious things that he had done. He will certainly live. He will not die. But the nation of Israel says: Jehovah's way is unfair. Is my way not fair, nation of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unfair? That is why I will judge each of you by what you have done, people of Israel, declares the Lord Jehovah. Change the way you think and act. (Repent!) Turn away from all the rebellious things that you have done so that you will not fall into sin. Give up all the evil you have been doing. Get yourselves new minds and hearts. Why do you Israelites want to die? I do not want anyone to die,' says the Lord Jehovah. 'Turn away from (repent of) your sins and live.'
He realized what he was doing and turned away from all the rebellious things that he had done. He will certainly live. He will not die. But the nation of Israel says: Jehovah's way is unfair. Is my way not fair, nation of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unfair? That is why I will judge each of you by what you have done, people of Israel, declares the Lord Jehovah. Change the way you think and act. (Repent!) Turn away from all the rebellious things that you have done so that you will not fall into sin. Give up all the evil you have been doing. Get yourselves new minds and hearts. Why do you Israelites want to die? I do not want anyone to die,' says the Lord Jehovah. 'Turn away from (repent of) your sins and live.'
Son of man, say to the house of Israel: 'You people have said: Our transgressions and our sins are upon us. We are rotting away in them. How can we survive?' Say to them: 'As I am alive! Declares the Lord Jehovah. I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Only that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back! Turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?' Son of man, tell the Israelites that when someone good sins, the good he has done will not save him. If an evil person stops doing evil he will not be punished, and if a good man starts sinning, his life will not be spared. read more.
I may promise life to someone good, but if he starts thinking that his past goodness is enough and begins to sin, I will not remember any of the good he did. He will die because of his sins. I may warn someone evil that he is going to die, but if he stops sinning and does what is right and good, and if he returns the security he took for a loan or gives back what he stole, if he stops sinning and follows the laws that give life, he will not die, but he will live. None of the sins that he has done will be remembered. He has done what is fair and right. He will certainly live.' But your people say: 'Jehovah's way is not right.' Yet, their ways are not right. If the righteous person turns from the right things that he has done and does evil, he will die because of it. If the wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is fair and right, he will live because of it. The people of Israel say: 'Jehovah's way is not right.' I will judge each of you by your own ways, people of Israel.
I may promise life to someone good, but if he starts thinking that his past goodness is enough and begins to sin, I will not remember any of the good he did. He will die because of his sins. I may warn someone evil that he is going to die, but if he stops sinning and does what is right and good, and if he returns the security he took for a loan or gives back what he stole, if he stops sinning and follows the laws that give life, he will not die, but he will live. None of the sins that he has done will be remembered. He has done what is fair and right. He will certainly live.' But your people say: 'Jehovah's way is not right.' Yet, their ways are not right. If the righteous person turns from the right things that he has done and does evil, he will die because of it. If the wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is fair and right, he will live because of it. The people of Israel say: 'Jehovah's way is not right.' I will judge each of you by your own ways, people of Israel.
Listen to what Jehovah said: Arise, plead your case before the mountains. Let the hills hear your voice. Hear Jehovah's indictment you mountains and you enduring foundations of the earth! Jehovah argues a case against his people. He will contend with Israel: O my people, what have I done to you? How have I grieved you? Respond to me. read more.
I brought you out of the land of Egypt. I redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him. Remember from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of Jehovah. With what shall I come before Jehovah? Shall I bow down before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with year old calves? Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for my sin? He told you, O lowly man, what is good and what Jehovah requires of you. You should display justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God! The voice of Jehovah calls to the city. The man of wisdom will see (respect) your name! Hear the rod and who appointed it.
I brought you out of the land of Egypt. I redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him. Remember from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of Jehovah. With what shall I come before Jehovah? Shall I bow down before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with year old calves? Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for my sin? He told you, O lowly man, what is good and what Jehovah requires of you. You should display justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God! The voice of Jehovah calls to the city. The man of wisdom will see (respect) your name! Hear the rod and who appointed it.
Like your fathers before you, you have turned away from my laws and have not obeyed them. Return to me and I will return to you, said Jehovah of Hosts. But you ask, 'how will we return to you?' I ask you: 'will you rob and defraud God? Of course not, yet you are robbing and defrauding me!' 'How have we robbed and defrauded?' You ask. 'In the matter of tithes and offerings.' A curse is on all of you because the whole nation is cheating me. read more.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. Test me, said Jehovah of Hosts, and see if I will open the windows of heaven and pour out showers of blessing upon you until there is no more want. I will not let insects destroy your crops. Your grapevines will produce abundantly. All the nations will pronounce you happy because your land will be a good place to live. You have said terrible things about me, said Jehovah of Hosts. Yet you ask: 'What have we said about you?' You have said: 'There is no value to serve God. What is the use of doing what he says or of trying to show Jehovah of Hosts that we are sorry for what we have done?' We call arrogant people happy. Evil people test God's patience with their wicked deeds. They not only get away with it, they also prosper.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. Test me, said Jehovah of Hosts, and see if I will open the windows of heaven and pour out showers of blessing upon you until there is no more want. I will not let insects destroy your crops. Your grapevines will produce abundantly. All the nations will pronounce you happy because your land will be a good place to live. You have said terrible things about me, said Jehovah of Hosts. Yet you ask: 'What have we said about you?' You have said: 'There is no value to serve God. What is the use of doing what he says or of trying to show Jehovah of Hosts that we are sorry for what we have done?' We call arrogant people happy. Evil people test God's patience with their wicked deeds. They not only get away with it, they also prosper.
Condescension of God » Scriptures relating to
But God demonstrates (commends) his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Verse Concepts
Both he who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all from one. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
Verse Concepts
For God loved the world so much, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever has an active faith in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Verse Concepts
what is man that you remember him or the son of man that you take care of him? You made him a little lower than god-like ones (God) (Son of God) (angels). You crowned him with glory and honor. (John 1:18) You made him rule what your hands created. You have put everything under his control:
Who is like Jehovah our God? He is seated on his high throne. He bends down (humbles himself) to look at heaven and earth.
Jehovah, what is man, that you notice him or the son of man, that you regard him!
Verse Concepts
Jehovah, the Holy God of Israel, the one who shapes the future says: You have no right to question me about my children or to tell me what I ought to do!
Verse Concepts
When God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this to offer encouragement so we may rely on the hope offered to us. We have taken refuge in that hope and it is impossible for God to lie. These two things can never be changed.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (atonement) (sacrificial payment) for our sins.
Verse Concepts
We love, because he first loved us.
Verse Concepts
Condescension of God » Reasons with job
Condescension of God » Enters into covenant with abraham
Jehovah appeared again to Abraham by the oak grove of Mamre. He was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. He looked up and noticed three men coming toward him. He ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed to the ground. Abraham said: My Lord, if I have now found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. read more.
Please. Let a little water be brought. Wash your feet and rest under the tree. I will bring a bite to eat to refresh you. Stay a while before you continue your journey. They responded: Very well, do as you have said. Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said: Quick! Make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes. Then Abraham ran to the herd. He selected a fat calf and told a servant to butcher it and prepare it. He took butter and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him: Where is Sarah your wife? He responded: Here, in the tent. He said: Next year I will give you and Sarah a son. (Sarah was listening in the tent door behind him.) Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself. She said to herself: After I have grown old, shall I have a baby? My lord is old also. Jehovah said to Abraham: Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life. Sarah shall have a son! Sarah denied saying: I did not laugh! She was afraid. He said: But you did laugh! Then the men stood up from their meal and started in the direction of Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them on the way. Jehovah said: Shall I hide what I am doing from Abraham? Abraham will definitely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him. I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household; and that they may remain in the righteous and just way of Jehovah. Jehovah will bring to Abraham what he told him. Jehovah said: Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done the bad things I have been told. Then I will know. The men left there and went toward Sodom. Abraham still stood before Jehovah.
Please. Let a little water be brought. Wash your feet and rest under the tree. I will bring a bite to eat to refresh you. Stay a while before you continue your journey. They responded: Very well, do as you have said. Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said: Quick! Make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes. Then Abraham ran to the herd. He selected a fat calf and told a servant to butcher it and prepare it. He took butter and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree as they ate. Then they said to him: Where is Sarah your wife? He responded: Here, in the tent. He said: Next year I will give you and Sarah a son. (Sarah was listening in the tent door behind him.) Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself. She said to herself: After I have grown old, shall I have a baby? My lord is old also. Jehovah said to Abraham: Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life. Sarah shall have a son! Sarah denied saying: I did not laugh! She was afraid. He said: But you did laugh! Then the men stood up from their meal and started in the direction of Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them on the way. Jehovah said: Shall I hide what I am doing from Abraham? Abraham will definitely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him. I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household; and that they may remain in the righteous and just way of Jehovah. Jehovah will bring to Abraham what he told him. Jehovah said: Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done the bad things I have been told. Then I will know. The men left there and went toward Sodom. Abraham still stood before Jehovah.
Condescension of God » Invites sinners, saying, "come now, and let us reason together,"
Come now, let us reason together (make things right) (correct matters) between us! Says Jehovah. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will become as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they will become as white as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land. Refuse and rebel and swords will devour you. Jehovah has spoken.
Condescension of God » Indulges moses' prayer to behold his glory
Then Moses said: Please show me your glory! Jehovah said: I will make all my goodness pass in front of you. I will call out my name, JEHOVAH. I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to. But he said: You cannot see my face, because no one may see me and live. read more.
Then Jehovah said: Look, there is a place near me. Stand by this rocky cliff. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a crevice in the cliff and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen.
Then Jehovah said: Look, there is a place near me. Stand by this rocky cliff. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a crevice in the cliff and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen.
Condescension of God » Indulges abraham's intercession for sodom
Abraham came near and said: Will you destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city. Would you also destroy the place and not spare it because the righteous people are there? Surely you would not do that! Would you slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked? Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? read more.
Jehovah said: If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I will spare the entire place for their sakes. Then Abraham answered and said: Indeed now, I who am only dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous. Would you destroy the entire city for lack of five? So He (God) said: If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it. Abraham spoke again: Suppose there should be forty found there? God replied: I will not do it for the sake of forty. Abraham then said: Do not be angry, and let me speak. Suppose thirty should be found there? God replied: I will not do it if I find thirty there. Abraham then said: Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah: Suppose twenty should be found there? God replied: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. Abraham again queried: Please do not be angry as I speak once more: Suppose ten should be found there? God said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. Jehovah went his way as soon as he finished speaking with Abraham. Abraham returned to his place.
Jehovah said: If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I will spare the entire place for their sakes. Then Abraham answered and said: Indeed now, I who am only dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous. Would you destroy the entire city for lack of five? So He (God) said: If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it. Abraham spoke again: Suppose there should be forty found there? God replied: I will not do it for the sake of forty. Abraham then said: Do not be angry, and let me speak. Suppose thirty should be found there? God replied: I will not do it if I find thirty there. Abraham then said: Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to Jehovah: Suppose twenty should be found there? God replied: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. Abraham again queried: Please do not be angry as I speak once more: Suppose ten should be found there? God said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. Jehovah went his way as soon as he finished speaking with Abraham. Abraham returned to his place.
Condescension of God » In reasoning with his creatures » Sets forth his reasons for sending the flood
The earth was corrupt in God's sight. It was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become. All the people on earth had corrupted their ways. God said to Noah: I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am going to destroy them with the earth.
Condescension of God » Indulges gideon's tests
Gideon said to God: You have said you will rescue Israel using me. Look I will place wool on the threshing floor where we thresh the wheat. If in the morning there is dew only on the wool but not on the ground, I will know that you are going to use me to rescue Israel. That is what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the wool and wrung enough dew out of it to fill a bowl with water. read more.
Then Gideon said to God: Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet. That night God did it. The next morning the wool was dry, but the ground was wet with dew.
Then Gideon said to God: Do not be angry with me. Allow me to speak just once more. Please let me make one more test with the wool. This time let the wool be dry, and the ground wet. That night God did it. The next morning the wool was dry, but the ground was wet with dew.
Condescension of God » Warns abimelech in a dream
God appeared to the king in a dream and said: You are going to die, because you have taken this woman. She is already married. Abimelech had not come near her. He said: Lord, I am innocent! Would you destroy my people and me? Abraham said that she was his sister. She said the same thing. I did this with a clear conscience. I have done no wrong! read more.
God said to him in a dream: Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. In fact, I kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. Give the man's wife back to him now. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not give her back, you and all who belong to you are doomed to die.
God said to him in a dream: Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. In fact, I kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. Give the man's wife back to him now. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not give her back, you and all who belong to you are doomed to die.
Condescension of God » Reasons with moses
Jehovah asked him: What is that in your hand? He answered: A shepherd's staff. Jehovah said: Throw it on the ground. When Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran away from it. Jehovah said to Moses: Reach down and pick it up by the tail. So Moses reached down and caught it. Suddenly it became a walking stick again. read more.
Jehovah said: Do this to prove to the Israelites that Jehovah, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to you. Jehovah spoke to Moses again: Put your hand inside your robe. Moses obeyed. When he took his hand out, it was diseased, covered with white spots, like snow. Jehovah said: Put your hand inside your robe again. He did so, and when he took it out this time, it was healthy, just like the rest of his body. Jehovah said: If they will not believe you or be convinced by the first sign, then this one will convince them. If in spite of these two signs they still will not believe you, and if they refuse to listen to what you say, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the ground. The water will turn into blood. Moses said: O Jehovah I am not a man of words. I have never been so, and am not now, even after what you have said to your servant. Talking is hard for me, and I am slow of tongue. Jehovah said to him: Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, Jehovah? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth. I will teach you what you are to say. But Moses said: Please, Jehovah, send the message by whomever you will. Then the anger of Jehovah burned against Moses, and He said: Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. He is coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth and his mouth. I will teach you what you are to do. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people. He will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him. Take your staff in your hand with which you shall perform the signs.
Jehovah said: Do this to prove to the Israelites that Jehovah, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to you. Jehovah spoke to Moses again: Put your hand inside your robe. Moses obeyed. When he took his hand out, it was diseased, covered with white spots, like snow. Jehovah said: Put your hand inside your robe again. He did so, and when he took it out this time, it was healthy, just like the rest of his body. Jehovah said: If they will not believe you or be convinced by the first sign, then this one will convince them. If in spite of these two signs they still will not believe you, and if they refuse to listen to what you say, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the ground. The water will turn into blood. Moses said: O Jehovah I am not a man of words. I have never been so, and am not now, even after what you have said to your servant. Talking is hard for me, and I am slow of tongue. Jehovah said to him: Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, Jehovah? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth. I will teach you what you are to say. But Moses said: Please, Jehovah, send the message by whomever you will. Then the anger of Jehovah burned against Moses, and He said: Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. He is coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth and his mouth. I will teach you what you are to do. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people. He will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him. Take your staff in your hand with which you shall perform the signs.
Condescension of God » Sends flesh to the israelites in consequence of their murmuring
I have heard my people complain. I said to them: 'Each evening you will have meat and each morning they will have more than enough bread.' Then you will know that I am Jehovah their God.'
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