God Conversation

In the Hebrew Bible, there are three interconnected passages referencing the nephilim. Two of them come from the Pentateuch. The first occurrence is in Genesis 6:1–4, immediately before the account of Noah's Ark. Genesis 6:4 reads as follows:

The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them; the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.

Where the Jewish Publication Society translation simply transliterates the Hebrew nephilim as "Nephilim", the King James Version translates the term as "giants".

The second reference to the Nephilim is Numbers 13:32–33 where ten of the Twelve Spies report that they have seen fearsome giants in Canaan:

Numbers 13 And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Outside the Pentateuch there is one more passage indirectly referencing nephilim and this is Ezekiel 32:17–32.

Ezekiel 32:27 But they do not lie with the fallen warriors of old, who went down to the realm of the dead with their weapons of war—their swords placed under their heads and their shields resting on their bones—though these warriors also had terrorized the land of the living.

With the traditional vowels added to the text in the medieval period, the phrase is read gibborim nophlim ("'fallen warriors" or "fallen Gibborim"), The verse can be translated like this,

Ezekiel 32:27 They lie with the warriors, the Nephilim of old, who descended to Sheol with their weapons of war. They placed their swords beneath their heads and their shields upon their bones, for the terror of the warriors was upon the land of the living.

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This chapter recounts the account of the flood during Noah’s time and the events leading up to it. It details how the population of the earth increased and became corrupt and wicked, resulting in God’s decision to wipe out all living creatures through the flood. However, Noah and his family found favor with God because of their righteousness and were saved by God's divine mercy through the ark.

Genesis 6 also mentions the "sons of God" with the "daughters of men" and the offspring that resulted. While the identity of these "sons of God" is still a matter of debate among scholars, some suggest that they were angels that disobeyed God by mating with human women. This interpretation is known as the "angelic interpretation" and is also mentioned in other biblical texts.

Regardless of the interpretation, the overarching message in Genesis 6 is that God detests wickedness and seeks to judge it. However, God also shows mercy to those who are faithful and righteous.

In summary, Genesis 6 tells the story of the flood during Noah’s time and highlights the importance of righteousness and faithfulness in the eyes of God.

The Nephilim

**Genesis 6**

1 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them,

2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.

3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with[a] humans forever, for they are mortal[b]; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

== Wikipedia

The Nephilim (Hebrew: נְפִילִים Nəfīlīm) are mysterious beings or people in the Hebrew Bible who are described as being large and strong. The word Nephilim is loosely translated as giants in many translations of the Hebrew Bible, but left untranslated in others. Some Jewish explanations interpret them as hybrid sons of fallen angels (demigods). ==

The word Nephilim is found in the Bible two times. The first is in Genesis 6:1-6 and then again in Numbers 13:33. Scholars and commentators translate the word Nephilim as giants or fallen ones. Even among the most brilliant, there is debate on translating this term.

One reason Nephilim is often translated as "fallen ones" is the relation to the Hebrew word “naphal” (to fall). One school of thought associates these beings with fallen angels or their offspring.

The interpretation of Genesis 6:1–4 is difficult and controversial. The debate centers on the interpretation of the phrase “sons of God.” Who are they?

Option 1: Sons of God = Sons of Seth

One view understands the “sons of God” as descendants of Seth. In this interpretation, Seth’s godly descendants were intoxicated by the beauty of women descended from Cain, thus marrying those who’d rejected God and leading to greater wickedness.

God forbade the Israelites from marrying Canaanite women (Ex. 34:16; Deut. 7:3). This can be an indication that this is the correct explanation,

Option 2: Sons of God = Fallen Angels

The oldest, and likely the most widely held, interpretation is that the “sons of God” are fallen angels (demons). This was the interpretation most favored in ancient Judaism and the early church

In 1 Peter 3:18–22, Peter refers to spirits in prison because they disobeyed in Noah’s day (1 Pet. 3:19–20).

The connection of these spirits with Noah’s day points strongly to Genesis 6. That these “spirits in prison” are fallen angels is further confirmed by similar passages in 2 Peter and Jude.

Option 3: Sons of God = Fallen Men

Lastly, a view held by the minority is the "sons of God" were simply fallen men.

This last view claims that the “sons of God” were godly men who married ungodly women. Not from the line of Seth – just common men.

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Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

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Ecclesiastes 9:11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

Some religious people teach that in order to receive God’s blessings you need to accept Christ as Saviour or to obey to their doctrinal ways. This is a lie! Time and chance happen to all.

God blesses you independently of your spiritual condition. Off course there are blessings promised to those who walk with Him but chance can touch anyone independently of their relationship with God.

Today I would like to invite you to surrender your life to God and as you do so just believe that chance is yours and God is going to bless you in this time. Receive it!

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Job said this just before his time of personal victory:

Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

This knowledge of Job worked on his behalf. when you know that Gods purpose for you can never be thwarted and that HE is able to all things your faith can catapult you to the next level.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

The next level of knowledge is that YOU can do all things through th God who’s purposes can never be thwarted

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ISAIAH 43:19 “SEE, I AM DOING A NEW THING!” 

God’s hope for you is of an entirely different nature than all other hope

God doesn't want to give you a patch or an artificial prosthetic solution but He wants to give you something new.

God is the master of newness. 

In order to receive the new thing that God has for you you must get rid of the old concepts. Religion will lock you into the past and the old truths but God wants to expand your way of thinking and take you into another level.

God is taking you to the next level for His reasons. He wants you to give Him your attention and focus.

It takes a Next Level Mindset to receive the new things that will take you higher than what you have ever imagined.

Some people can never go to the next level, because they won't let go of the old for the new.

All things considered, are you willing to do that?

God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. And to his credit, Abraham was completely willing to do it, believing God’s Word so much that he concluded “God was able to raise [Isaac] up, even from the dead…” (Heb. 11:19).

Will you receive the new thing that God is doing?

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Habakkuk 2:4 ... the righteous shall live by his faith.

In the context  Habakkuk was talking about the unrighteous that where facing God’s judgment. In contrast, the righteous (or the “just”) would live by faith in God. 

By contrast, the righteous are humble in God’s eyes and will never face God’s judgment.

2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Do not be impressed by the way people that have no God live in this world but be always grateful that by the Grace of God one day all accounts will be settled and your God will give you everlating life as your reward.

The righteous will live by faith!

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A Christian is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Be bold in your prayers. God promises in

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

We did not inherit this new nature or just decide to re-create ourselves anew. God created something entirely fresh and unique

Only the Creator could accomplish such a blessing. Claim it from God and receive this new nature, Ask God for something new!

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When Jesus has just arrived in Jerusalem for the final days leading up to His death on the cross. He was in the temple, healing the blind and the lame, the leading priests and scribes saw Jesus performing miracles and even heard children shouting, “Hosanna! Praise God for the Son of David.” The religious teachers grew irate, questioning Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” “Yes,” Jesus responded to His critics,

Matthew 21:16  Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

The older translations say, “out of the mouth of babes You have perfected praise”

Jesus was quoting

Psalm 8:2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

The idea is that God silences His enemies and puts them to shame by the words coming out of the mouths of babies and infants who tell of the Lord’s strength.

The Jewish leaders could not miss the implications as they observed everything taking place. They witnessed Christ’s victorious entry into Jerusalem, the ecstatic crowd of worshippers, His commanding cleansing of the temple, His miracles of healing, and even children proclaiming His praises. The people hailed Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, and it was more than these religious hypocrites could handle. They became outraged.

This lead to the anger that caused the crucifixion of the Messiah. Children are not blinded by pride and hypocrisy and are better able to perceive spiritual truth (Matthew 18:3–4.) Jesus accepts their worship because it is untainted and reserved for God alone.

Conclusion

This concludes our series of 24  devotionals on the prophecies of the Messiah. As I said in the begining of these segments.

Some say that The Old Testament contains over 400 prophecies about the coming Messiah. Others place the number at around 300. This number may be correct but I will teach you about the most relevant ones on this series of my evening devotional.

Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled these prophetic writings and the odds of that happening are just incredible.

Mathematics & Astronomy Professor Peter W. Stoner chances of just 8 prophecies has made the statement that the (like these) coming true by sheer chance is 1 in 10 to 17 (100,000,000,000,000,000).  That would be equivalent to covering the whole state of Texas with silver dollars two feet deep and then expecting a blindfolded man to walk across the state and on the very first try find the ONE coin you marked (roughly equivalent to the Province of Ontario being 1.5 feet deep and Quebec about 1 foot deep).

When we multiply this number by 6 it would be like covering 6 feet deep all that is in our province with coins and expect that a blind person would find at first attempt one that we marked and hid in the whole colossal pile. Jesus fulfilled these prophecies and mathematically we can prove He is the Messiah.

Since I was never strong in Math so most people that I know. He will reveal Himself to us with other signs and wonders of His Glory. I hope that through this series you had more than just learning about Jesus but that you may receive Him as your Messiah.

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What is the order of Melchizedek?

"Melchizedek" comes from two Hebrew words (melek, king and tzedeq, righteous) and can be literally understood as "my king is righteous."

The priest Melchizedek appears in three sections of Scripture. He is briefly introduced in Genesis 14:18–20. In a messianic psalm (Psalm 110:4), David addresses the “order of Melchizedek” specifically:

Psalm 110:4 “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind:‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek’”

The author of Hebrews, in speaking of Christ, quotes this verse in Hebrews 7:17.

Hebrews 7:17 For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews chapters 5, 6, and 7 describe the supremacy of Jesus as the Great High Priest, using Melchizedek’s role as an illustration of Jesus’ priesthood and kingship.

The phrase "the order of" is ued in the Bible to point to a lineage. As an example an Aaronic priest would have been a priest according to “the order of” Aaron.

Another translation of Psalm 110:4 says that the Messiah will be a priest “after the pattern of Melchizedek” (NET) or “after the manner of Melchizedek” (ISV).

A priest is a mediator between God and man. Eventually the priest would die, and his work as mediator would cease. Jesus, our High Priest “in the order of Melchizedek,” is not only our mediator but also because of His resurrection, death does not interrupt His work; Jesus remains our eternal High Priest.

Unlike the Levitical priesthood, Jesus' priesthood and His sacrificial work were able to remove sin, cleanse the conscience, and purify the heart.

Just like Melchizedek was both priest and king, Jesus is also both priest and king.

The title of "Melchizedek” will be His forever, and the "order of Melchizedek” is now an eternal order held by an eternal high priest, Christ.

Hebrews 7:28 "For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.”

In summary, Christ's work in redeeming humanity from their sins is a far greater thing than the Levitical priesthood's work in pointing out the need for such a redemption.

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