{"id":4264,"date":"2014-09-25T20:57:52","date_gmt":"2014-09-25T14:57:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=4264"},"modified":"2024-02-05T14:13:27","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T20:13:27","slug":"fear-numbers-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=4264","title":{"rendered":"Fear – Numbers, Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

To Korah the Levite, the Reubenites Dathan, Abiram and On, and the 250 leaders of the community<\/em>[1]<\/sup><\/a> who accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the community of the Lord<\/em>,[2]<\/sup><\/a> Moses said (Numbers 16:16, 17 NET):<\/p>\n

You and all your company present yourselves before the Lord \u2013 you and they, and Aaron \u2013 tomorrow. \u00a0And each of you take his censer, put incense in it, and then each of you present his censer before the Lord: 250 censers, along with you, and Aaron \u2013 each of you with his censer.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The first time<\/a> Moses said this[3]<\/sup><\/a> I wrote it off as sarcasm.\u00a0 Here it sounds more like a princely summons to appear at their own executions, considering what happened to Nadab and Abihu<\/a>, authorized priests who presented unauthorized fire before the Lord.\u00a0 They appeared as commanded, and not only those who were summoned.\u00a0 When Korah assembled the whole community against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting, then the glory of the Lord appeared to the whole community<\/em>.[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

In the Septuagint<\/a> the whole community<\/em> assembled was \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03c0\u1fb6\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9\u03b3\u1f74\u03bd<\/a> (literally, \u201cthe all here synagogue\u201d).\u00a0 And the glory of the Lord appeared to<\/em> \u03c0\u03ac\u03c3\u1fc3 \u03c4\u1fc7 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9\u03b3\u1fc7 (literally, \u201call the synagogue\u201d).\u00a0 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Separate yourselves from among this community<\/em> (Septuagint<\/a>, \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9\u03b3\u1fc6\u03c2), that I may consume them in an instant<\/em>.[5]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 It\u2019s probably worth mentioning that this story recounts ye<\/sup>h\u00f4v\u00e2h\u2019s<\/em> frustration, patience and mercy with condemned Israel rather than redeemed Israel (Numbers 14:28-30a):<\/p>\n

As I live, says the Lord, I will surely do to you just what you have spoken in my hearing. \u00a0Your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness \u2013 all those of you who were numbered, according to your full number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me. \u00a0You will by no means enter into the land where I swore to settle you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A note<\/a> in the NET suggests that this community<\/em> meant only \u201cpeople siding with Korah\u2026 an assembly of rebels.\u201d\u00a0 Moses and Aaron, however, didn\u2019t take it that way: they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, \u201cO God, the God of the spirits of all people<\/em> (Septuagint<\/a>, \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03bc\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03ac\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c3\u03b1\u03c1\u03ba\u03cc\u03c2; literally, \u201cthe spirits and all flesh\u201d), will you be angry with the whole community<\/em> (Septuagint<\/a>, \u03c0\u1fb6\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9\u03b3\u1f74\u03bd) when only one man sins?\u201d<\/em>[6]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I find it particularly affecting that Aaron, who was once on the side of his rebellious people<\/a> and in need of Moses\u2019 intercession, joined Moses here in intercession. And despite Aaron\u2019s former rebelliousness, the Lord answered them favorably. \u201cTell the community<\/em> (Septuagint<\/a>, \u03c4\u1fc7 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9\u03b3\u1fc7): \u2018Get away from around the homes of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram<\/em> (Septuagint<\/a>, \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9\u03b3\u1fc6\u03c2 \u039a\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5; literally, \u201cthe synagogue of Korah\u201d).\u2019\u201d[7]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Moses did as the Lord commanded him (Numbers 16:25-27 NET):<\/p>\n

Then Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel went after him. \u00a0And he said to the community (Septuagint<\/a>, \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9\u03b3\u1f74\u03bd),<\/em> \u201cMove away from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything they have, lest you be destroyed because of all their sins.\u201d \u00a0So they got away from the homes of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram on every side, and Dathan and Abiram came out and stationed themselves in the entrances of their tents with their wives, their children, and their toddlers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In my estimation Moses tried diligently to make what transpired next explicitly clear to all the community (Numbers 16:28-30 NET).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will (Septuagint<\/a>, \u1f10\u03bc\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6; literally, \u201cmyself\u201d).<\/em> \u00a0If these men die a natural death, or if they share the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. \u00a0But if the Lord does something entirely new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up along with all that they have, and they go down alive to the grave (Hebrew, she<\/sup>\u02bc\u00f4l<\/a>; Septuagint<\/a>, \u1f85\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5<\/a>; literally, \u201cto Hades\u201d),<\/em> then you will know that these men have despised the Lord!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On cue, the earth split open. They and all that they had went down alive into the pit<\/em> (Hebrew, she<\/sup>\u02bc\u00f4l<\/em>; Septuagint<\/a>, \u1f85\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5), and the earth closed over them. So they perished from among the community<\/em>[8]<\/sup><\/a> (Septuagint<\/a>, \u1f00\u03c0\u03ce\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf \u1f10\u03ba \u03bc\u03ad\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9\u03b3\u1fc6\u03c2; literally, \u201cthey perished out of the midst of the synagogue\u201d).\u00a0 The rest of the community didn\u2019t feel particularly pious.\u00a0 They ran, saying, \u201cWhat if the earth swallows us too?\u201d<\/em>[9]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 <\/em>With a surgical precision that honored the intercession of Moses and Aaron, a fire went out from the Lord and devoured the 250 men who offered incense<\/em>.[10]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>In their reaction the next day the whole community of Israelites<\/em> offers the most valid and poignant measure of the sanctifying power of scary stuff.\u00a0 I call it scary stuff<\/em> because y\u00e2r\u00ea\u02bc<\/em><\/a>, the Hebrew word translated fear<\/em>, which seems to entail reverence<\/a><\/em> for God and appears to stand as the Old Testament equivalent of New Testament faith<\/a><\/em>, makes no appearance in the telling of this story.\u00a0 The rest of the community either misunderstood or ignored Moses\u2019 explanation of the previous day\u2019s events.\u00a0 They thought he did a magic trick, black magic at that: on the next day the whole community of Israelites<\/em> (Septuagint<\/a>, \u03c5\u1f31\u03bf\u1f76 \u0399\u03c3\u03c1\u03b1\u03b7\u03bb; literally, \u201csons of Israel\u201d) murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, \u201cYou have killed the Lord\u2019s people<\/em> (Septuagint<\/a>, \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bb\u03b1\u1f78\u03bd \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03af\u03bf\u03c5)!\u201d[11]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Scary stuff doesn\u2019t produce fear<\/em>, not the fear of the Lord<\/em>.\u00a0 That fear<\/em>, it seems, like faith<\/em> only comes<\/em> by hearing, and hearing by the word<\/a> of God<\/em>.[12]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 And the Lord, it seems, was prescient when He wanted to destroy the whole community the day before.<\/p>\n

Again, He said to Moses and Aaron, Get away from this community<\/em> (Septuagint<\/a>, \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03c9\u03b3\u1fc6\u03c2), so that I can consume them in an instant!<\/em>[13]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Again, Moses and Aaron threw themselves down with their faces to the ground<\/em>[14]<\/sup><\/a> but made no insinuation that the Lord might be destroying the innocent along with the guilty.<\/p>\n

Then Moses<\/em> [the prophet] said to Aaron<\/em> [the priest], \u201cTake the censer, put burning coals from the altar in it, place incense on it, and go quickly into the assembly and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the Lord \u2013 the plague has begun!\u201d \u00a0So Aaron<\/em> [the priest] did as Moses<\/em> [the prophet] commanded and ran into the middle of the assembly, where the plague was just beginning among the people. So he placed incense on the coals and made atonement for the people. \u00a0He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. \u00a0Now 14,700 people died in the plague, in addition to those who died in the event with Korah<\/em>.[15]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Again, the Lord responded favorably to Moses\u2019 intercession. Through the very same act that fried 250 others He spared the vast majority of the people when Aaron the authorized priest responded obediently to the word of the authorized prophet.\u00a0 Contrast this to a more \u201csuccessful\u201d rebellion in the time of Jeremiah, just prior to the Babylonian captivity of Judah, the southern part of the divided kingdom of Israel (Jeremiah 2:12, 13, 29, 30; 4:21, 22; 5:30, 31 NET).<\/p>\n

Be amazed at this, O heavens!\u00a0 Be shocked and utterly dumbfounded,\u201d says the Lord.\u00a0 \u201cDo so because my people have committed a double wrong: they have rejected me, the fountain of life-giving water, and they have dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns which cannot even hold water.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you try to refute me?\u00a0 All of you have rebelled against me,\u201d says the Lord.\u00a0 \u201cIt did no good for me to punish your people.\u00a0 They did not respond to such correction.\u00a0 You slaughtered your prophets like a voracious lion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long must I see the enemy\u2019s battle flags and hear the military signals of their bugles?\u201d \u00a0The Lord answered, \u201cThis will happen because my people are foolish.\u00a0 They do not know me.\u00a0 They are like children who have no sense.\u00a0 They have no understanding.\u00a0 They are skilled at doing evil.\u00a0 They do not know how to do good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething horrible and shocking is going on in the land of Judah: The prophets prophesy lies.\u00a0 The priests exercise power by their own authority.\u00a0 And my people love (Septuagint<\/a>, \u1f20\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd, a form of \u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03c0\u03ac\u03c9<\/a>)<\/em> to have it this way.\u00a0 But they will not be able to help you when the time of judgment comes!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You unbelieving <\/em>(\u1f04\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) generation! How much longer must I be with you?\u00a0 How much longer must I endure you?<\/em>[16]<\/sup><\/a> This was Jesus\u2019 response to an argument<\/a> He walked into after his transfiguration.\u00a0 Actually this is Mark\u2019s version of his response.\u00a0 Matthew\u2019s and Luke\u2019s are quite similar except for \u03b4\u03b9\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03bc\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7 (a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03ad\u03c6\u03c9<\/a>). You unbelieving<\/em> (\u1f04\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2) and perverse<\/em> (\u03b4\u03b9\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03bc\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7, a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03ad\u03c6\u03c9) generation! How much longer must I be with you?\u00a0 How much longer must I endure you?<\/em>[17]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 They were not merely unbelieving but were distorting, turning aside from, opposing and plotting \u201cagainst the saving purposes and plans of God,\u201d according to the definition in the NET.<\/p>\n

On the surface of it this doesn\u2019t sound like a promising prelude to the healing of the boy at the center of the story. Jesus didn\u2019t do many miracles<\/em> in his hometown of Nazareth because of their unbelief<\/em> (\u1f00\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03af\u03b1\u03bd, a form of \u1f00\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03af\u03b1<\/a>).[18]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Yet all three Gospel writers record essentially the same thing, Bring him here to me<\/em>,[19]<\/sup><\/a> Jesus continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Matthew<\/td>\nMark<\/td>\nLuke<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to heal him.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus answered, \u201cYou unbelieving (\u1f04\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2) and perverse (\u03b4\u03b9\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03bc\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7, a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03ad\u03c6\u03c9) generation! \u00a0How much longer must I be with you? \u00a0How much longer must I endure you?<\/p>\n

Matthew 17:16, 17a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able to do so.\u201d\u00a0 He answered them, \u201cYou unbelieving (\u1f04\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2) generation! \u00a0How much longer must I be with you? \u00a0How much longer must I endure you?<\/p>\n

Mark 9:18b, 19a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus answered, \u201cYou unbelieving (\u1f04\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2) and perverse (\u03b4\u03b9\u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03bc\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7, a form of \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03ad\u03c6\u03c9) generation! \u00a0How much longer must I be with you and endure you?<\/p>\n

Luke 9:40, 41a (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Bring him here to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthew 17:17b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Bring him to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark 9:19b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Bring your son here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luke 9:41b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In Matthew\u2019s most abbreviated account, Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that moment<\/em>.[20]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 While this is true to the other accounts, Matthew left out some of the detail and some of the nuance of the story. As the boy was approaching<\/em>, Luke wrote, the demon threw him to the ground and shook him with convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father<\/em>.[21]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Luke captured a bit more of the drama of the story but still left out some of the details.<\/p>\n

So they brought the boy to him<\/em>, Mark wrote. \u00a0When the spirit saw him, it immediately<\/a> threw the boy into a convulsion<\/a>. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth<\/em>.[22]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Though the sight of Jesus set the spirit off, Jesus didn\u2019t immediately rebuke the spirit and heal the boy.\u00a0 He paused to take what sounds to a modern ear like a medical history: Jesus asked his father, \u201cHow long has this been happening to him?\u201d And he said, \u201cFrom childhood.\u00a0 It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him.\u201d<\/em>[23]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 <\/em>It becomes obvious later that Jesus arrived at a diagnosis based on this one question, but it elicited something else as well.<\/p>\n

But if you are able to do<\/a> anything, <\/em>the boy\u2019s father continued, have compassion on us and help us<\/em>.[24]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Here is the dilemma for Jesus.\u00a0 The father\u2019s words were not an expression of faith but something more like putting the Lord to the test (Matthew 4:5-7 NET).<\/p>\n

Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, \u201cIf you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. \u00a0For it is written, \u2018He will command his angels concerning you<\/strong><\/em>\u2019 and \u2018with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone<\/strong><\/em>.\u2019\u201d \u00a0Jesus said to him, \u201cOnce again it is written: \u2018You are not to put the Lord your God to the test<\/strong><\/em>.\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This becomes clearer if I contrast the father\u2019s words to the faith of the Roman centurion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

The Boy\u2019s Father<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

The Roman Centurion<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

But if you are able to do<\/a> anything, have compassion on us and help us.<\/p>\n

Mark 9:22b (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

But the centurion replied, \u201cLord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. \u00a0Instead, just say the word<\/a> and my servant will be healed. \u00a0For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. \u00a0I say to this one, \u2018Go\u2019 and he goes, and to another \u2018Come\u2019 and he comes, and to my slave \u2018Do this\u2019 and he does it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthew 8:8, 9 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

If Jesus had required this kind of faith as a prerequisite to healing someone, He would have healed no one in Israel at all: When Jesus heard<\/em> [the centurion\u2019s faith] he was amazed and said to those who followed him, \u201cI tell you the truth, I have not found such faith in anyone<\/a> in Israel!\u201d<\/em>[25]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 And as a rule He didn\u2019t require those possessed by evil spirits to exhibit any faith at all.\u00a0 On the contrary, He seemed to want to silence the evil spirits.\u00a0 Still, the boy\u2019s father (inadvertently, I assume) had challenged Jesus\u2019 authority.\u00a0 So Jesus fed him the correct answer: Then Jesus said to him, \u201c\u2018If you are able<\/a>?\u2019 All things are possible for the one who believes<\/em> (\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9, a form of \u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9<\/a>).\u201d[26]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Concerned for his son\u2019s welfare this father didn\u2019t look a gift horse in the mouth: Immediately<\/a> the father of the boy cried out and said<\/a>, \u201cI believe<\/a><\/em> (\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03c9); help<\/em> (\u03b2\u03bf\u03ae\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9, a form of \u03b2\u03bf\u03b7\u03b8\u03ad\u03c9<\/a>) my unbelief<\/em> (\u1f00\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03af\u1fb3, a form of \u1f00\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03af\u03b1)!\u201d[27]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Medical science has begun to grasp the importance of faith in the context of the natural healing process.\u00a0 But I don\u2019t think Jesus was interested in the placebo effect<\/a> here.\u00a0 I think He would have questioned and instructed this father more on the subject of faith in God and miraculous healing if the boy\u2019s antics hadn\u2019t drawn a crowd (Mark 9:25-27 NET).<\/p>\n

Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, \u201cMute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.\u201d\u00a0 It shrieked, threw him into terrible convulsions, and came out. \u00a0The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, \u201cHe is dead!\u201d\u00a0 But Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Two different versions of Jesus\u2019 disciples asking Him privately<\/em> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1fbf<\/a> \u1f30\u03b4\u03af\u03b1\u03bd<\/a>) what they did wrong follow (Matthew 17:19, 20 NET).<\/p>\n

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately (\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1fbf \u1f30\u03b4\u03af\u03b1\u03bd)<\/em> and said, \u201cWhy couldn\u2019t we cast it out?\u201d\u00a0 He told them, \u201cIt was because of your little faith (\u1f40\u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03bf\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03af\u03b1\u03bd, a form of \u1f40\u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03cc\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>).<\/em> \u00a0I tell you the truth, if you have faith (\u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd, a form of \u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c2<\/a>)<\/em> the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, \u2018Move from here to there,\u2019 and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This was the more public privately<\/em>.\u00a0 Jesus was clearly concerned that bystanders grasped the importance of faith even as He healed a man\u2019s son who had challenged (tested, or tempted) Him more than he had trusted Him.\u00a0 The key here is \u1f40\u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03bf\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03af\u03b1\u03bd (a form of \u1f40\u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03cc\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2).<\/p>\n

<\/a>In a world where \u201cfaith\u201d is the work we do to merit heaven and distinguish ourselves from those sinners condemned to hell, the translation of \u1f40\u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03cc\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9 (another form of \u1f40\u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03cc\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2) as you people of little faith<\/em>[28]<\/sup><\/a> sounds like the harshest slander and condemnation.\u00a0 But the disciples saw Jesus\u2019 face and heard the tone in his voice when He said it, and knew that \u1f40\u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03cc\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9 was one word in the Greek language, and that He used that word like a pet name[29]<\/sup><\/a> for them.\u00a0 Because they knew this they were not afraid<\/a> to ask Him the very same question again, a more private privately<\/em> (Mark 9:28, 29 NET).<\/p>\n

Then, after he went into the house, his disciples asked him privately (\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1fbf \u1f30\u03b4\u03af\u03b1\u03bd)<\/em>, \u201cWhy couldn\u2019t we cast it out?\u201d\u00a0 He told them, \u201cThis kind can come out only by prayer.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And here I have Jesus\u2019 diagnosis derived during that brief medical history.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>As an aside, I read something online<\/a> about Amen<\/em>.\u00a0 The writer was concerned that we who used it at the end of our prayers were invoking an ancient Egyptian deity, a demon in other words.\u00a0 I thought that was silly even as I read it, but I couldn\u2019t come up with any compelling reason to end my prayers in tongues<\/em>, a foreign language.\u00a0 So I began to end them with \u201cI believe,\u201d the translation of Amen<\/em> as I understood it.\u00a0 Though I hadn\u2019t really considered it when I prayed Amen<\/em>, praying \u201cI believe\u201d seemed quite disingenuous at times.\u00a0 So I amended my prayers then to \u201cI believe; please help my unbelief.\u201d\u00a0 This is, of course, exactly what Jesus does through his Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23 NET).<\/p>\n

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (\u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c2),<\/em> gentleness, and self-control. \u00a0Against such things there is no law.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Fear – Numbers, Part 5<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 49\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Apostles and Prophets, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to My Reasons and My Reason, Part 6<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Apostles and Prophets, Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 55<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 66<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Funeral, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

<\/a>[1]<\/sup> Numbers 16:2 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[2]<\/sup> Numbers 16:3 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[3]<\/sup> Numbers 16:6, 7 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[4]<\/sup> Numbers 16:19 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[5]<\/sup> Numbers 16:21 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[6]<\/sup> Numbers 16:22 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[7]<\/sup> Numbers 16:24 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[8]<\/sup> Numbers 16:33 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[9]<\/sup> Numbers 16:34 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[10]<\/sup> Numbers 16:35 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[11]<\/sup> Numbers 16:41 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[12]<\/sup> Romans 10:17 (NKJV)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[13]<\/sup> Numbers 16:45a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[14]<\/sup> Numbers 16:45b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[15]<\/sup> Numbers 16:46-49 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[16]<\/sup> Mark 9:19a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[17]<\/sup> Matthew 17:17a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[18]<\/sup> Matthew 13:58 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[19]<\/sup> Matthew 17:17b (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[20]<\/sup> Matthew 17:18 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[21]<\/sup> Luke 9:42 (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[22]<\/sup> Mark 9:20 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[23]<\/sup> Mark 9:21, 22a (NET)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[24]<\/sup> Mark 9:22b (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[25]<\/sup> Matthew 8:10 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[26]<\/sup> Mark 9:23 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[27]<\/sup> Mark 9:24 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[28]<\/sup> Matthew 6:30 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>[29]<\/sup> Matthew 8:26<\/a>; 14:31<\/a> (\u1f40\u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03cc\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5, another form of \u1f40\u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03cc\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2); 16:8 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To Korah the Levite, the Reubenites Dathan, Abiram and On, and the 250 leaders of the community[1] who accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the community of the Lord,[2] Moses said (Numbers 16:16, 17 NET): You and all … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2356,2719,1240],"tags":[415,2548,2549,2550,2551,2555,2557,2554,2428,2558,2559,2560,2564,2365,2565,2568,2553,2552,2556,2566,2561,2567,2563,2562,2411,2535,2536,2534,2537,2538,2539,2540,2541,2401,2542,2543,2544,2545,2546,2547,1057],"class_list":["post-4264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-numbers","category-section-three","category-the-fear-of-the-lord","tag-galatians-522-23","tag-jeremiah-212-13","tag-jeremiah-229-30","tag-jeremiah-421-22","tag-jeremiah-530-31","tag-luke-940-41","tag-luke-942","tag-mark-918-19","tag-mark-919","tag-mark-920","tag-mark-921-22","tag-mark-922","tag-mark-923","tag-mark-924","tag-mark-925-27","tag-mark-928-29","tag-matthew-1716-17","tag-matthew-1717","tag-matthew-1718","tag-matthew-1719-20","tag-matthew-45-7","tag-matthew-630","tag-matthew-810","tag-matthew-88-9","tag-numbers-1428-30","tag-numbers-1616-17","tag-numbers-1619","tag-numbers-162","tag-numbers-1621","tag-numbers-1622","tag-numbers-1624","tag-numbers-1625-27","tag-numbers-1628-30","tag-numbers-163","tag-numbers-1633","tag-numbers-1634","tag-numbers-1635","tag-numbers-1641","tag-numbers-1645","tag-numbers-1646-49","tag-romans-1017"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4264"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22825,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4264\/revisions\/22825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}