Wisdom-Trek © - Archive 3

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 846 of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. The past several months on Wednesday, we have been focusing on interpreting current events through a Biblical worldview.

To establish a Biblical worldview, it is important that you also have a proper understanding of God’s word. Especially in our western cultures, we do not fully understand the scriptures from the mindset and culture of the authors. In order to help us all have a better understanding of God’s word, we are investing the next several months on Wednesday reviewing a series of essays from one of today’s most prominent Hebrew scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser which he has compiled into a book titled I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Our personal moral code and that of every country are based on a set of values. In most western cultures, this code is or was based on what we consider “The Ten Commandments.” Most of the world’s modern cultures have a similar value system, even if it does not have the same base. In today’s essay, let’s look at some of the details and even the number of actual commandments which were given by God…

One of the most enduring elements of the Bible and the Judeo-Christian worldview within Western culture is the Decalogue, or what we refer to as the Ten Commandments. Even if you can’t recite them all, most people have seen the fiery finger of God etch the commandments into two stone tablets as Moses, played by Charlton Hesston, watches in awe.

It seems to go without saying that the list of the Ten Commandments is something that Judaism and Christianity have always agreed upon. Well, that is not exactly true. Historically speaking, Jews and Christians—and even denominations within Christianity—have disagreed on exactly how the Ten Commandments should be listed and expressed. In fact, how to precisely spell out the commandments was an issue of considerable importance during the Protestant Reformation.

The difference concerns how many commands are to be found in the first six verses and last two verses of Exodus 20:2-17. As I read the initial listing of the commandments received by Moses at Sinai, it may become evident why there were some confusion and disagreement.

Then God gave the people all these instructions:

“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

“You must not have any other god but me.

“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.  You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you.  For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

“You must not murder.

“You must not commit adultery.

“You must not steal.

“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”

One point of context is required before we can understand the thinking behind the differences in the listing and expression of the commandments. Any listing of the commandments must result in a total of ten, because three other passages of scripture fix the number of commandments at ten. Exodus [34:28], Deuteronomy [4:13], and Deuteronomy 10:4 each clearly tell us that God gave Moses asereth hadvarim, which means “ten words” or “ten statements” at Sinai.

Interestingly, the Jewish tradition treats the statement in Exodus 20:2 as a command when the wording has no imperative force to it at all. This latitude arises from the fact that the Hebrew text of the Old Testament exclusively uses asereth hadvarim or “ten words” instead of asereth hamitsvot or “ten commandments,” which is used for the same translation in Deuteronomy 5:6. After regarding Exodus 20:2 as the first “word of the ten,” verses 3 through 6 are then thematically understood as speaking to a single prohibition: making idols for worship.

There are actually three imperative statements in this group of verses. “You must not have any other god but me.”  “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.” “You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.” These three imperative statements must be considered as one otherwise it would extend the total commandments beyond ten.

Christian perceptions of Exodus 20 are not rooted in the Hebrew terminology asereth hadvarim “ten words,” and so Christian formulations do not regard verse one as the first point of the Decalogue. As a result, all of Exodus 20:2-6 is considered the starting point, and the imperative wording “You must not” prompted the “commandment” terminology so widely known and used today.

The enumeration adopted by Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Lutheranism originated with Augustine. While they prefer it, the enumeration of Augustine is not a point of dogma. Section 2066 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is representative of the acknowledgment that “The division and numbering of the Commandments have varied in the course of history.” Reformed Protestants and Greek Orthodox Christians also reject verse 1 as a command, but distinguish verse 3 from verses 4 through 6 as the first and second commands. This position is likewise not dogmatically taken.

The last two verses are the other major point of divergence in expressing the number and contents of the commandments. Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Lutheranism divide Exodus [20:17] into two commands to achieve the number ten, a necessity in view of seeing Exodus 20:2-6 as the first command. This dichotomy is perhaps puzzling, since the entirety of the content of verse 17 speaks about one’s household and possessions, and in light of the thematic grouping at the beginning of the Decalogue.

Thematic grouping at the beginning of the Decalogue and thematic splitting at the end doesn’t make sense—unless one keeps in mind the need to wind up with ten! Despite the numerical disagreement over how to count the commandments, the moral core of the Judeo-Christian ethic has never been in doubt among those Jews and Christians who take the Bible seriously.

In all Biblical interpretation, we must compare scripture with scripture, and it is clearly written in three other verses that the commandments or words that God gave Moses on Sinai were 10. A lack of certainty on how to count the Ten Commandments is no impediment to understanding their importance for honoring God and our fellow human beings.

Next Wisdom Wednesday we will continue with Moses as we look at Dr. Heiser’s next essay titled, “Is There Really a Sin Offering?” I believe you will find this another interesting topic to consider as we build our Biblical worldview.

Tomorrow we will continue with our 3-minute wisdom nugget that will provide you with a bit of wisdom that, if followed, will allow you to grow healthier, wealthier, and wiser each day. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along with us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. If you would like to listen to any of our past 845 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 845 of our trek, and it is time for a 3-minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from Cecil Beaton, and it is,“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.”

So often we muddle through life without a purpose or vision. We are on a treadmill of life where the scenery never changes, and we really don’t make any advancement. We are stuck in one place going through the same motions as if we were robots with little artificial or real intelligence. We become slaves of the ordinary.

This should not be. We have an abundance of God-given abilities and talents, and yet we choose not to utilize them. We would rather wallow in mediocrity that is comfortable than excel in the challenges that require effort.  Break free of the shackles that bind you. Be daring, different, even impractical at times. Move forward faster and farther than you feel that you can, but always with the integrity of purpose and imaginative vision.

The Apostle Peter puts it this way in 1 Peter 2:9.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 10,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com. As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you would like to listen to any of our past 844 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast or Google play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Wisdom Wednesday!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 844 of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy.

For some, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. Some may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life meditation includes reading and reflecting on God’s Word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind. 

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This past weekend we had the privilege of attending the show Annie: The Musical, in which our granddaughter Aurora, who is six, played one of the orphans in the orphanage where Annie was also an orphan. The performance was amazingly good and was presented to a sold-out crowd at “The People’s Bank Theater.”

Of course, we are very proud of the great job that Aurora did. As I reflect on the performance, my mind keeps going back to one of the theme songs in Annie, which is called “Tomorrow.” The message is clear that regardless of how difficult some days may be, there is always hope in our tomorrows. In today’s meditation, let us explore…

All of us have difficult days and even difficult seasons of life. Sometimes it seems like those seasons will never end. This is not the case, though. Just as night always turns to day and winter always turns to spring, so our difficult and dark todays will always turn into our better and brighter tomorrows.

Since I have the opportunity to travel by plane a lot, one thing that I know will always happen is that the sun will always be shining bright above the darkest of clouds. Think about your tomorrows as I read the lyrics to the song.

The sun’ll come out

Just thinkin’ about

When I’m stuck a with day

Oh

The sun’ll come out

Tomorrow, tomorrow

When I’m stuck a with day

The sun’ll come out

Tomorrow, tomorrow

Tomorrow, tomorrow

When our days are difficult, we also have a loving God that we can turn to. Yes, the pain and darkness of today may be severe, but the hope of tomorrow will shine ever brighter. Meditate today on Lamentations [3:19]-24.

The thought of my suffering and homelessness

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

And as we close our meditation for today let us think about tomorrow in Proverbs 4:18, “The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.”

Next week we will continue our trek on Meditation Monday as we take time to reflect on what is most important in creating our living legacy. On tomorrow’s trek, we will explore another wisdom quote. This 3-minute wisdom supplement will assist you in becoming healthy, wealthy and wise each day. Thank you for joining me on this trek called life. Encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you would like to listen to any of the past 843 daily treks or read the daily journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast and Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 843 of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time where we can Ask Gramps.

Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask dad or gramps questions about life in many areas. We will address areas such as finances, relationships, health/fitness, business/work, home repairs/renovations, seasons of life, spiritual/Biblical questions, and any others areas that come our way.

As your fellow sojourner and mentor on this trek that we call life, it is Gramps’s goal to provide you with practical wisdom and advice about any area of life. It is crucial that I receive a constant flow of questions, so please submit your questions to [email protected]. And Gramps will answer your questions on our Friday podcast.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Money is something that affects us every single day of our lives. It’s used to pay for our shelter. It’s used to purchase food for our families. It’s used to purchase heat in the winter. It’s used to purchase necessary medical care. The list could go on and on.

So our question for today is…

“Hey Gramps, I have a very difficult time controlling my spending. Even when we receive more money than expected, or needed, it seems to be gone so quickly. What can I do to help control the money I have so I can get ahead in life.”

This is a topic that is near and dear to me because I see so many of my friends, family members, and associates struggle to get control of how they use their money. Financial controls seem relatively easy for me, but I realize that I am the exception. Since money is so important to our daily lives, you’d think we’d devote more time trying to keep it. However, it seems like most people regularly devote more time trying to find new ways to spend it. It is akin to an addiction for most people.

First, as with so many aspects of life, you need to change your thinking. All the money and other resources we possess is not really ours. It has been given to us by God, and during the few years we have on earth, we are only managers or stewards of God’s resources. We are held accountable for how wisely we manage the money and other resources that we have. You came into this world naked with nothing, and so it is when you leave this world. At best, we are stewards of what we are blessed with. Once you have this mindshift firmly engrained in your mind, then you start looking at those resources differently.

Due to this interesting paradox, I find it necessary to occasionally sit back and reflect on my financial life. To do this, I ask myself a few questions regarding my current financial health. Each question is very short and is designed to get me thinking about the bigger picture of keeping and investing the money I have been given to manage. I encourage you to ask yourself these same questions in order to keep a proper mindset of the resources that you are responsible for managing.

Are there items in your budget that could be removed or reduced to help better utilize your income? Does your use of money reflect your values? Do you even attempt to budget your money?

Why did you regret purchasing it? What was your mood when you purchased it? Can you implement strategies to avoid making the same mistake again?

Why do you fear financial freedom? What’s standing in your way? How can you eliminate that obstacle?

Is a large portion of your income going towards interest payments? What would you do with all of that extra cash flow? Would you save and invest that money to prepare for later in life and to assist furthering God’s Kingdom? Would you give it to those less fortunate? How would conversations about money in your house change?

Are you surrounding yourself with good financial influences? Is the advice you’re receiving best for your situation? Does your spouse want nothing to do with the financial issues at hand? Are you taking advice from others who are struggling or from those who are successful in managing their God-given resources?

When you’re faced with an issue related to your finances, are you researching solutions or are you just giving up? Are you utilizing your local library and the internet to read everything you possibly can about personal finance?

After commuting costs, time getting around for work and clothing expenses, how much are you really making per hour? How can you reduce those extra costs? Can you do away with miscellaneous purchases for meals out or even coffee?

How long has it been since you asked for a raise a work? Can you take on a part-time job? Do you want to change careers? Do you have a small business idea and the capital to make it happen?

Would your family be able to sustain their current standard of living? If not, how can you ensure that they are able to?

Are you teaching your children good financial values? Do you want your children to have the same issues that you’re currently having? How can you help them avoid your mistakes? If you don’t have children, think about your future children or other young people that you influence.

What steps can you take today to get started on that goal? What’s holding you back?

Hopefully, these questions sparked some critical thinking regarding your finances.

Are these the only questions you should be asking? Absolutely not. Your questions might be completely different, but just as important to ask yourself.

When you change your thinking about who owns your resources, it helps you to be more careful on the use of those resources. We are each responsible for handling the resources God has given to each of us, whether that is little or much. I encourage you to read Matthew [25:14]-30 about the wise and foolish managers of their master’s resources.

Here are verses 19-21, “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’” “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”

When you have the mindset of this servant, you will have learned to manage your resources effectively.

Next week we will have a different question to Ask Gramps. Gramps will answer any questions you may have about life and will provide you with practical wisdom about any area of life. Please submit questions that you have to [email protected], and Gramps will answer them on our Friday podcast with wisdom and philosophy that Gramps has gained over the years of experience and study.

I know you will find these insights interesting, practical, and profitable in living a rich and satisfying life. Our next trek is Mediation Monday where we will help you reflect on what is most important in life. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along on Monday for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you would like to listen to any of the past 842 daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you on Monday!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 842 of our trek, and it is time for our 3-minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from Laura Schlessinger, and it is, “People with integrity do what they say they are going to do. Others have excuses.”

Is your word your bond? There was a time where a handshake was as good as a contract because the reputation and integrity of an individual were based on the fact that if he gave his word he followed through.

We should always follow through with our commitments, which are promises, no matter what. We do not have to make excuses because our word is more important than any personal loss that may result from following through with our commitment.   We can be the same today.

Even if contracts are required, and most of the time recommended, our actions should be exactly the same whether there is a contract in place, or not. It seems to be a rare person who consistently follows through with his promises. Instead of trying to make excuses for non-performance focus on performing as you promised, we need to accept responsibility for our actions, and not make excuses or place blame on people, places, or circumstances.

It may cost you dearly in the short term, but throughout your life, if you are a person of integrity, you will follow through and do what you said you would.  Jesus taught us in Matthew 5:37, “Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”

That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged. If you enjoy these quotes, I have created and published a searchable database of over 10,000 quotes that I have collected for many years. If you would like free access to my database of inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com. As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you would like to listen to any of our past 841 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on Apple Podcast or Google Play so each day will be downloaded to you automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Philosophy Friday!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 841 of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. The past several months on Wednesday we have been focusing on interpreting current events through a Biblical worldview.

To establish a Biblical worldview, it is important that you also have a proper understanding of God’s Word. Especially in our western cultures, we do not fully understand the scriptures from the mindset and culture of the authors. In order to help us all have a better understanding of God’s Word, we are investing the next several months on Wednesday reviewing a series of essays from one of today’s most prominent Hebrew Scholars Dr. Micheal S. Heiser, which he has compiled into a book titled I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. There were some practices during the Old Testament timeframe and culture that are difficult for us to understand today. As we continue to explore the Old Testament, our topic today is one such situation. Many preachers and Bible scholars avoid such passages, but we will look at one in our essay today titled…

Moses’ encounter with God in Exodus [4:21]-26 is arguably one of the strangest, most confusing events recorded in the Bible. In this passage, Moses is heading back to Egypt, seemingly following God’s call to deliver the Israelites from Pharaoh’s vice-like grip. But then something shocking happens…

And the Lord told Moses, “When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go.  Then you will tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son.  I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me.” But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!’” 

On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him.  But Moses’ wife, Zipporah, took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She touched his feet with the foreskin and said, “Now you are a bridegroom of blood to me.”  (When she said “a bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the Lord left him alone.

This passage is not only difficult and confusing, but it raises numerous questions. Why would God want to kill Moses right after calling him to deliver Israel? In addition to this theological conundrum, there are other uncertainties. We are startled and confused when Zipporah, Moses wife (Exodus [2:21]), deals with this threat by immediately circumcising her son Gershom and touching the foreskin to Moses “feet.” What does that mean? And why would her action pacify God’s wrath?

If we looked at the original Hebrew text of this passage, we would notice that the name Moses does not actually appear in the phrase translated as “touched Moses’ feet.” The text literally reads, “touched his feet.” Consequently, Zipporah could have taken the foreskin and touched either Moses or Gershom, which would affect our interpretation. However, since Moses is the major character in the wider context, it seems logical to conclude that God is angry with Moses, not Gershom.

Why is God angry? We can infer the answer from two considerations: the difference between Egyptian circumcision and that prescribed by the Abrahamic covenant (Joshua 5:2-9; Gen 17), and the circumstances of Moses’ birth and childhood (Exodus 1-2).

Circumcision was practiced in Egypt, but Egyptian circumcision did not remove the foreskin; instead, the foreskin was split. Any Israelite born in Egypt who was circumcised in this way would not have been in accordance with God’s covenant. Since Joshua 5:2 says some Israelite men were being circumcised “a second time,” we can infer that something was unacceptable about their Egyptian circumcision.

Therefore, the ceremony in Joshua 5 would be a second circumcision for some men, but the first circumcision for those males born in the wilderness (Joshua 5:4). Circumcision was not only a sign for Israelite men, but also for women, who needed to be certain they were marrying Israelites and not men who worshiped other gods. Every married Israelite man was thus a “bridegroom of blood,” a man who had undergone the blood ritual of circumcision.

Since the other Israelite males were circumcised prior to the conquest at Gilgal (some a “second time” Joshua 5:2), we can reasonably assume that Moses had never been circumcised or was circumcised according to Egyptian custom. Had he been marked by Hebrew circumcision, he would likely have been in danger in Pharaoh’s household.

God’s anger at Moses in Exodus 4 is apparently due to Moses negligence in obeying God’s covenant ritual as a free man in Midian after he had fled Egypt. Exodus informs us that the Midianites knew the God of Sinai and practiced circumcision—Zipporah knew how to perform the ritual (Exodus [4:25]). Since God chose Moses as His representative to deliver Israel. Moses laxity in covenant obedience became an issue.

What about the meaning of touching the foreskin to the “feet”? This is not part of the normal circumcision ritual. However, the Hebrew word translated “feet” (-n, regel) is also used as a euphemism for genitalia or genital functions, including sexual exposure (see Judges [3:24]: 1 Sam 24:3: Ezekiel [16:25]: Ruth 3:4,7). The phrase in Exodus [4:25] makes sense only if Zipporah circumcised her son, Gershom, and then symbolically transferred that circumcision to Moses by taking the foreskin and touching Moses genitals.

Performing this rite was not only prudent but courageous. Circumcision in Israel was performed only by religious duty—and only by men. Moses had neglected the ritual, and now he, Zipporah, and little Gershom were already on the road back to Egypt. A circumcised Moses would be unable to travel, so Zipporah performed the ritual on Gershom and, symbolically, on Moses. Her deed was unprecedented but necessary. Zipporah acted in faith, and God relented. She saved Moses’ life and also atoned for his negligence. Moses was now a proper “bridegroom of blood.”

We shouldn’t shy away from the difficult passages of scripture. By exploring the context of this passage, we understand that God’s anger is not capricious or unreasonable. This odd episode also presents us with several lessons. We must not neglect to do what God requires. Had Moses been obedient to the covenant ritual of circumcision after leaving Egypt, his life—and his role as God’s servant—would not have been in danger. We also need the courage to do what’s right, even if it seems out of place. Failure in any of these regards will create obstacles to God’s desire to use us for His glory.

Next Wisdom Wednesday we will continue with Moses as we look at Dr. Heiser’s next essay titled, “Counting the Ten Commandments.”  I believe you will find this another interesting topic to consider as we build our Biblical worldview.

Tomorrow we will continue with our 3-minute wisdom nugget that will provide you with a bit of wisdom that, if followed will allow you to grow healthier, wealthier, and wiser each day. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along with us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. If you would like to listen to any of our past 840 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 840 of our trek, and it is time for a 3-minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from Ray Lammie, and it is,“One person you can never get away from is yourself. Be true to yourself. Respect yourself. Live life with integrity.”

The primary person which you must face in life is the one you see when you look into the mirror. Yes, we are ultimately accountable before God, but every single moment of each day you are accountable to yourself. You must accept the responsibility, and the consequences, of every decision and choice that you make in life.

When you look into the mirror, deep into your eyes, to your very soul, who do you see? A person you love, respect, and admire? A person that has unchanging and unwavering integrity? You can fool almost everyone for a period of time, even close family members. You can never get away from yourself, nor from God’s omniscience.

As we look into the mirror of our heart and mind, let us see a person that is true to ourselves, a person that we can love, respect, and admire. A person that we would want to emulate. A person of integrity

As we are instructed in Hebrews 4:13, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”Let us not only be accountable before God, but also ourselves. It is then we will be the person that we want our spouse, children, grandchildren, and everyone else we impact to emulate.

That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 10,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com. As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you would like to listen to any of our past 839 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast or Google play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Wisdom Wednesday!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 839 of our trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy.

For some, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. Some may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life meditation includes reading and reflecting on God’s Word and praying. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and make sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you too will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind. 

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. As I grow older, although it is hard to accept, I realize I am not a child, or a teenager, or a young adult anymore. Even with the advances in medical technology and understanding of human physiology, I am still aging.  The Apostle Paul instructs us in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.”Yet Jesus said there is one area where we should not be. In today’s meditation let us explore…

When we read the verses below, I want you to notice Jesus’s interactions with His disciples regarding a rich public official who turned away from following Him. Jesus challenged His disciples to think through His rejection of His call to focus their attention on those who are worthy of their emulation. Religion gets far off track when the focus becomes a question of who is most important, most religious, and most deserving of the Father’s love.

Jesus came to us as God. The rich public official in the story that I will read today missed this truth. He called Jesus “good,” and only God is truly good. So Jesus challenged him to listen to Him as God. Jesus told him that he needed to drop his religious game of trying to earn the Father’s love.

He needed to quit trying to outdo all the others around him in his religious practices. He needed to look deep into his own heart and see that there was an idol he held as more important than obeying the voice of the Father. However, he dismissed what Jesus said. He refused to give up his idol — his great wealth — for two reasons:

Sadly, he walked away from Jesus and from the joy of His kingdom because he couldn’t give up what was false.

Just before the description of this rich public official’s visit with Jesus, you meet children who are the model for the kind of heart that receives His kingdom. Just after this official, you meet Jesus’s disciples. In childlike amazement, they wonder how anyone can be saved if someone who has lived a good life, like this rich public official, couldn’t find his way into His kingdom.

Jesus reminded them that they were thinking in human terms. In human terms, it is impossible. But the Father, Son, and Spirit — make the impossible, possible. All that Jesus’s disciples had to do was look at themselves and what they had given up.

You see, nothing is impossible for the heart totally yielded to Jesus. You cannot give up more for Him than you will receive many times over in the age to come.

However — and this is a huge “however” — you have to be willing to follow Jesus as a child. So let’s become like a child in our faith as Jesus’s disciples

During Jesus’s time on earth, children were not an important part of society. They were trained, loved, nurtured, and apprenticed at home. They were not important in adult society. For Jesus to hold them up as a good example of a disciple was shocking. To elevate children above a rich, devoted-to-the-law public official was shocking. Listen with your heart. Invite the Holy Spirit to attach these words to your soul.

Jesus is the good teacher. Jesus is God among us. Jesus is the One teaching the eternal truth. You either renounce all of your idols and follow Jesus as a child, or you walk away from Him with a sad heart. If you leave, you forfeit your hope of enjoying His kingdom. Listen now as I read today’s passage.

Luke [18:15]-30 

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. 

Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.  I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 

Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 

 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good.  But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’” 

The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 

But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!  In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 

Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”

He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.” 

 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”

Next week we will continue our trek on Meditation Monday as we take time to reflect on what is most important in creating our living legacy. On tomorrow’s trek, we will explore another wisdom quote. This 3-minute wisdom supplement will assist you in becoming healthy, wealthy, and wise each day. Thank you for joining me on this trek called life. Encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you would like to listen to any of the past 838 daily treks or read the daily journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast and Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week, wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 838 of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy.

As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time where we can Ask Gramps. Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, you are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask dad or gramps questions about life in many areas.

We will address areas such as finances, relationships, health/fitness, business/work, home repairs/renovations, seasons of life, spiritual/Biblical questions, and any others areas that come our way. As your fellow sojourner and mentor on this trek that we call life, it is Gramps goal to provide you with practical wisdom and advice about any area of life. It is crucial that I receive a constant flow of questions, so please submit your questions to [email protected]. And Gramps will answer your questions on our Friday podcast.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We all desire to be liked and accepted by others; it is part of our nature. To expand that into having close friends is more difficult.

So our question for today is…

“Hey Gramps, I desire to have close friends, and also be friends to others, but I find this is difficult for me. What is true friendship, and how can I have friends and also be a good friend to others?”

The first principle is “to have friends and to be a friend you must show yourself friendly.” The second overall principle is that “you cannot like or love others unless you love yourself.”

It is impossible to love and accept others without first loving and accepting yourself. God created you uniquely to be a bearer of His image. You are a child of the King, joint heirs with Christ Jesus. The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me,” John [15:13]-15.

Jesus is the pure example of a true friend, for He laid down His life for His “friends.” What is more, anyone may become His friend by trusting in Him as his personal savior, being born again and receiving new life in Him.

There is an example of true friendship between David and King Saul’s son Jonathan, who, in spite of his father Saul’s pursuit of David and attempts to kill him, stood by his friend. You will find that story in 1 Samuel chapters 18 through chapter 20.

Proverbs is another good source of wisdom regarding friends. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” Also Proverbs 18:24 reads, “There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” The issue here is that in order to have a friend, one must be a friend. Being a friend also means that sometimes you have to confront your friend as found in Proverbs 27:6, “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” Good, close friends, also help each other improve and to become better in all aspects of life. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

The principle of friendship is also found in Amos 3:3, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” Friends are of like mind. The truth that comes from all of this is a friendship is a relationship that is entered into by individuals, and it is only as good or as close as those individuals choose to make it. If you are married, then certainly your spouse should be your closest and best friend, and for some, that friendship will fill the need for other really close friends.

Someone has said that if you can count your true friends on the fingers of one hand, you are blessed. A friend is one whom you can be yourself with and never fear that he or she will judge you. A friend is someone that you can confide in with complete trust. A friend is someone you respect, and that respects you, not based upon worthiness but based upon a likeness of mind. The fact is that few people have the emotional or spiritual capacity to have more than few close friends that they can invest and pour their lives into.

Finally, the real definition of a true friend comes from the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:7-8, “Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Let’s sum up a close friendship with John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Now, that is true friendship!

Next week we will have a different question to Ask Gramps. Gramps will answer any questions you may have about life and will provide you with practical wisdom about any area of life. Please submit questions that you have to [email protected], and Gramps will answer them on our Friday podcast with wisdom and philosophy that Gramps has gained over his years of experience and study.

I know you will find these insights interesting, practical, and profitable in living a rich and satisfying life. Our next trek is Mediation Monday where we will help you reflect on what is most important in life. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along on Monday for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you would like to listen to any of the past 837 daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Apple Podcast or Google Play, so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you on Monday!

Thank you for joining us for our five days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 837 of our trek and time for a 3-minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little bit of additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from an unknown source, and it is, “Integrity starts at home. Learn to be a person of your word and stick with your commitments even when you no longer feel like it.”

No one knows you better than your close family, especially your spouse and kids.  They see you are your best and, unfortunately, at your worse. We all tend to be less patient and considerate of our close family members than we do with those we work with or go to church with.

To build a life of integrity, it must start at home, with those you love most and who love you. You must keep your commitments to your family, even when the demands of work, organizations, and ministry pull you away.

Being available and present is so important. This includes physically, emotionally, and especially spiritually. As the years go by, you will not be remembered for the things that money can buy for your family, but for all the precious moments that money can never buy. Be present, be active, and above all keep your commitments, even when you do not feel like it, even when you feel pulled in other directions.

Your family will learn their integrity from you, especially your children. As we are instructed in Proverbs 20:7 , “The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.”

That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged. If you enjoy these quotes, I have created and published a searchable database of over 10,000 quotes that I have collected for many years. If you would like free access to my database of inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com. As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you would like to listen to any of our past 836 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on Apple Podcast or Google Play so each day will be downloaded to you automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Philosophy Friday!