Has our God left us alone?

Use this forum to discuss the August 2019 Book of the month, "I Will Make of Thee a Great Nation: Old Testament Stories" by Val D. Greenwood.
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MatereF
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Re: Has our God left us alone?

Post by MatereF »

ernest mwangemi wrote: 13 Aug 2019, 14:01 I don't think our God has left us alone. he promised to protect the children of Abraham and we are the children of Abraham.
I agree with you. And after Jesus went to heaven, we were sent the Holy Spirit, our comforter, so we are not alone.
"The courage to imagine the otherwise is our greatest resource". Daniel J Boorstin
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MatereF
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Post by MatereF »

abithacker wrote: 08 Aug 2019, 13:25 I'm not quite sure if you're asking for the importance of the Bible or books like I Will Make of Thee A Great Nation. Books that are written to better understand the Bible can't be lumped into one category... but I do agree that not all of these book have any kind of profound impact on one's life. There are some other books, however, such as A Case for Christ, that have made an impact on several lives because it has helped them to better understand the gospel as it is presented in the Bible.

As far as having little effect, I really think that depends on the reader. In the time of the Israelites there were nations that knew of the Torah and the surrounding teachings, and yet they did not follow those teachings and would have considered them useless. It is the same today. Followers of this belief system will find unlimited value in the Bible as well as worth in literature written about it. Those who have no interest will feel that there is no use for these books. But just because you don't have use for something now doesn't mean it's not important. A pacemaker or asthma inhaler will seem of no importance until the moment they are the only thing keeping you breathing.
Great insight. I like your detailed explanation.
"The courage to imagine the otherwise is our greatest resource". Daniel J Boorstin
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Post by Namrata maid »

God's word in Bible is applied on critical situations also in modern age and sometimes it doesn't work.time has changed but his blessings,grace and mercy regards remains.i think God is waiting for us to start doing correct by second chance or choice.
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Post by Joy Catap »

Reading the scripture is not just for fun or for leisure. Just because generations change, doesn't mean morals change. Just because cultures change, doesn't mean the truth of what is wrong and what is right changes too. The Word is firm and fixed. It's up to you if you will stick to what is really right, or go with what the world fabricated as truth.
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Post by MirageParul »

I don't think God has left us alone. Neither do I think that stories from the Bible have no effect on our lives. On the contrary, the stories that we listen to as children, and learn from, stay with us long into adulthood.
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Post by Karina Nowak »

People either forget or don't know altogether that God has always given us a choice. And the world has widely chosen to forget and leave God out of their lives, so why should God stick around for our ungrateful souls? That should be the question being asked. Why shouldn't God leave us in our mess? We don't believe in or want God's help, right? :roll2:
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Post by LV2R »

I think many of the examples of people who had faith in God, made mistakes and repented, were shown God's power, were changed, etc. are ways that make the Old Testament relevant to our lives today. God is the same, today, and forever. If we can know more about God from others, we can believe that He can do the same today for us. Also, people seem to act and behave the same from all time. Are we really any different than the Bible characters? Do we see ourselves complaining like the Israelites in the desert did? Are we fearful and unbelieving to not claim what is promised to us? Do we see ourselves as God sees us? The Bible stories make me think and reflect on many things.
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Post by NIRUPAMA JHA »

I its a belief and it on how you believe in it. If you think that it helps you in life you will feel the you are being helped. Like a positive energy surrounding you all the time. And if you don't believe and see it as a tale you would be able to disconnect it with happenings around you. I feel things work they way they have to and I don't know the factor behind it but our vision matters. Which ever way we chose to walk on , becomes our road eventually. No one can justify the creation of world and no one knows it's beginning so I believe in the existence of God and the religious text because I feel its the key to endless wisdom in the world.
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Post by Samantha Simoneau »

bb587 wrote: 08 Aug 2019, 09:46 If you think reading the bible has no effect on your life, you're not really reading it. Yes, the situations have changed, technology has changed, but His lessons remain. His grace and mercy remain. Books like the BOTM help us to put things into perspective.
I agree. Before I became a Christian, I had read the Bible, but I hadn't read the Bible, and, honestly, it's hard for me to describe the difference.
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Post by Samantha Simoneau »

LV2R wrote: 14 Aug 2019, 22:16 I think many of the examples of people who had faith in God, made mistakes and repented, were shown God's power, were changed, etc. are ways that make the Old Testament relevant to our lives today. God is the same, today, and forever. If we can know more about God from others, we can believe that He can do the same today for us. Also, people seem to act and behave the same from all time. Are we really any different than the Bible characters? Do we see ourselves complaining like the Israelites in the desert did? Are we fearful and unbelieving to not claim what is promised to us? Do we see ourselves as God sees us? The Bible stories make me think and reflect on many things.
I agree! Human nature hasn't changed, regardless of what else has, and the Bible's stories hold up a mirror for us. The potential for the same negative and positive choices of the biblical characters exists in each of us.
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Post by Karen Crumley »

The Bible is MORE relevant today than ever, in my opinion. We are in the time of Revelations and should be on alert.

Not only that, the Gospels, the beatitudes, the psalms, proverbs, and particularly Exodus and Leviticus contain commandments and life lessons, for us all.

And, I believe our God would never leave us alone. He is always present in our lives.
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Post by DD129 »

I believe that the Bible will always be relevant, no matter how much time passes. Its lessons and meanings are still applicable today, and it’s one of the major works of literature from which authors take inspiration for their own writing. God can’t be erased so easily from time alone.
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Othervi wrote: 07 Aug 2019, 16:29 In the past, scriptural stories related to the Bible were very important in human life. They presented a worldview in which they showed human beings important things related to the Hereafter, the fall of man, the afterlife, the rewards and punishments, and so on.

But do these stories still work today? Or are they just read for hobby and enjoyment? Stories like the ones in I Will Make of Thee a Great Nation

In my opinion, they no longer have a role in human life, because our history has changed a lot. Now these stories are important for literal aspects. Also they're noticeable because they are beautiful and probably have some tips. But in our view of the world they have little effect.
History hasn't changed but technology has. Technology has changed dramatically. I think the stories still apply to people living today, but they might not be easy to understand or always relatable because of technology. When I took a New Testament class in college, the prof. made a profound statement that I have never forgotten. I'm paraphrasing what he said; people then are no different than us right now; they worried about having a place to live, work/income, clothes to wear, food to eat, family, relationships, and getting married. Our basic needs are the same. Until he shared that thought, I had erroneously assumed that people then we're somehow different from people of today.
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Post by Petra1791 »

The more I pray and talk to God each day; the more I get a better understanding of the Bible and how the stories relate to us in the 21st century. The people in biblical times had the same problems we have today. The Bible stories focus on the human psychology of making choices to do good or bad things. However, the main focus is God teaching people to choose wisely.
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Post by skindrukas »

Our life, indeed, changed a lot. I'm not a believer, therefore I don't just look up to one religion, but rather all stories that teach something. I too feel that these stories don't reach people's hearts anymore, at least not like they did before.
The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of the flowers. --- Matsuo Basho
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