Nephilim, ancient Near Eastern literature and inspiration

It is well known that ancient Near Eastern literature contains creation myths and stories about the flood etc., etc.  In fact parallels with the sons of God and the Nephilim in Genesis 6:1-4 have deep Mesopotamian roots parallels. Some have accused the Bible of copying this material.  There's no need for believers to be threatened by this, but we do need to understand the connections. It's part of loving the Lord with our mind (Mark 12:30). Let's examine the situation. We saw last day, that the sons of God were part of a council of supernatural created beings in the unseen realm. In the Mesopotamian counterpart they are the apkallus, and they are considered to be gods, not created beings.

In Biblical theology, daemons are fallen angels (Matthew 25:41).  In the Mesopotamian literature, “many apkallus were considered evil; those apkallus are integral to Mesopotamian demonology.  After the flood, offspring of the apkallus were said to be human in descent (i.e., having a human parent) and two-thirds apkallu. In other words, the apkallus mated with human women and produced quasi-divine offspring” (Michale Heiser  'The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible' p 102).  Gilgamesh, the hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh, is said to be a giant. The parallels with  Genesis 6 are unmistakable.

The Genesis account is doing what the Bible does frequently, namely speaking into the surrounding cultures sometimes affirming, sometimes correcting, but always bringing in deeper truths. So here in Genesis, the Bible affirms the existence of spiritual beings in the unseen realm, and of giants who were offspring from a mixed union between the sons of God and humans. But the Mesopotamian apkallus are not gods. In fact there is only on God, all else, in heaven and on earth, are created.

All this is consistent with part of the stated purpose of inspiration, namely that is it useful for teaching truth and for correction (2 Timothy 3:16).  And the application of this passage is not just for those who lived way back when! You have to ask where all the  interest in the occult, Ouija boards, reiki, New Age mysticism etc., etc. comes from?  We are commanded not to learn the destructive behaviours of unbelievers (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). The New Testament affirms the existence of wicked spiritual beings in the unseen realm, and of their influence on humanity (Ephesians 6:12; John 10:10a). We read that Satan is able to transform himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).  And are we not instructed concerning the possibility of you and I entertaining angels manifesting in human form (Hebrews 13:2)?

New Age doctrine for example, like that of the Mesopotamians, is surly a mixture of truth and error.  And it seems to me that the anti-supernatural stance of much of the church has driven those with supernatural giftings, into the arms of New Agers. But we should be very cautious about trusting the so called New Age spirit guides. In fact we are told very clearly not to believe every spirit, but to test them to see if they be of God  (1 John 4:1).

Father, the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy,  but Jesus came that we might have life in all its fullness (John 10:10). But in order to have that life, we need to walk in the light and the truth of Your inspired Word. Please give us grace to do this Lord, and to be as wise as serpents, but as harmless as doves, in Jesus Name Amen

Some thoughts by C.S. Lewis on creeds and the Bible

I remember once when I had been giving a talk to the R.A.F., an old, hard-bitten officer got up and said, 'I've no use for all that stuff. But, mind you, I'm a religious man too. I know there's a God. I've felt Him: out alone in the desert at night: the tremendous mystery. And that's just why I don't believe all your neat little dogmas and formulas about Him. To anyone who's met the real thing they all seem so petty and pedantic and unreal!'

Now in a sense I quite agreed with that man. I think he had probably had a real experience of God in the desert. And when he turned from that experience to the Christian creeds, I think he really was turning from something real to something less real. In the same way, if a man has once looked at the Atlantic from the beach, and then goes and looks at a map of the Atlantic, he also will be turning from something real to something less real: turning from real waves to a bit of coloured paper. But here comes the point. The map is admittedly only coloured paper, but there are two things you have to remember about it. In the first place, it is based on what hundreds and thousands of people have found out by sailing the real Atlantic. In that way it has behind it masses of experience just as real as the one you could have from the beach; only, while yours would be a single glimpse, the map fits all those different experiences together. In the second place, if you want to go anywhere, the map is absolutely necessary. As long as you are content with walks on the beach, your own glimpses are far more fun than looking at a map. But the map is going to be more use than walks on the beach if you want to get to America.

From Mere Christianity
Compiled in A Year with C.S. Lewis

The serpent cursed: Blessings and curses

“So the LORD God said to the serpent: 'Because you did this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life'” (Genesis 3:14). The serpent has many names, which we need to know if we are to understand the various scriptures about him. He is the great dragon, the Devil, Satan etc. (Revelation 12:9). Satan can transform himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Now angels can manifest in various ways,  including as human (Hebrews 13:2).  Satan had manifest himself in the Garden as the serpent. We do not know the original form he took when tempting Eve, but he was likely beautiful and upright. If this were not the case why would the curse result in him crawling in his belly and eating dirt?  It is a sign of disgrace and humiliation by the way! And since that time Satan and his angels are pictured as despised snakes and scorpions (i.e Luke 10:19).  

But what does it mean to be cursed of God? We get something of a  picture from the first man God cursed.  Adam and Eve's firstborn son Cain had risen up and slain his brother Abel (Genesis 4:1, 2, 8). And God cursed Cain as follows “Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its crops to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth” (Genesis 4:11, 12).

Cain was cast out from the fruitful land, and had no place to call home. Likewise the devil and his angels were expelled from heaven and cast down to the earth (Revelation 12:9 again).  Satan now wanders the earth seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). With regrade to not bearing  crops, Satan cannot produce life in any form. The best he can do is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10a). He can also lie, in fact he is the original deceiver. He can imitate signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9), but he cannot produce fruit (Galatians 5:22, 23).  For this reason Jesus told us that it is by their fruit you will know them (Matthew 7:16).  

Satan was cursed, and it fact so are the “seed of the serpent” (Genesis 3:15),  all those who go the way of Cain. After Adam and Eve had in essence chosen rules over relationship there was need of a whole bunch of new rules, and God brought in the Law (Exodus 20:1-17). Living under the Law was tough, for “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do  all things which are written in the book of the law”  (Deuteronomy 27:26). But it's impossible to live up to all that is written (James 3:2).  But for God! Paul quotes Deuteronomy in order to say that “Christ has set us free from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'” (Galatians 3:10, 13). The tree of course is the cross!

Father, thank You Lord that Jesus took our curse in order that we might receive Your blessing (Ephesians 1:3).  You did this Lord so that you could be just and the justifier of those who put their trust in You (Romans 3:26). Thank You Lord,  in Jesus Name Amen

Our misunderstood and often maligned God

It’s not that long ago that I was complaining to the Lord about being misunderstood. You can complain to Him you know, King David did (Psalm 142:2)! And it’s better to complain to Him,  rather than to others,  because when you complain to others, it’s all too easily to be promoting disunity (2 Corinthians 12:10).  But I digress! God’s ‘tongue-in-cheek’  reply to me was “You think you’re misunderstood,  what about all those people who say they represent me,  but don’t have a clue who I am? What about all those who blame Me for everything that goes wrong? What about most of  the over 40,000 registered Christian denominations whom claim to have figured Me out, but don’t have a clue nevertheless tell anyone who is not them,  that they are right and everybody else is wrong?” In other words He was saying “And you think you're misunderstood?” Feeling misunderstood?  There's nothing we go through that He has not gone through in spades (Hebrews 4:15).

I believe that nowhere has God been more misunderstood than in women's issues.  God's blueprint for relationship between men and women is Adam and Eve before the fall. And we are to seek, with His help,  to bring the Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven, and as it was in paradise (Matthew 6:10). Adam and Eve were neither a patriarchal nor a matriarchal society. In paradise Adam did not rule over Eve. And so when we read in Genesis 3:16 that the man will rule over the women, it is to my way of thinking,  a prophecy of what would take place post fall. It was not, and is not,  something that God was desiring, let alone commanding!  And in fact for a long time that was, and in many places still is, an accurate description of what has actually happened.  But God's desire, is that the man love his wife sacrificially,  just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25).

And if we really want to know what God is like, we just need to look at Jesus Christ. He tells us “If you have seen Me, You have seen the Father (John 14:9).  God has revealed Himself supremely in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:2). In fact the whole of Scripture testifies to who He is (John 5:39). But it is not enough to know about Him, we need to know Him,  as in have a relationship with Him. He promises “You will search for Me and find Me when you search for Me with all of your Heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).  To know Him in relationship is the essence of eternal life (John 17:3).

Father, please forgive us for jumping to conclusions as to who You are.  I suspect when we think badly of You,  we have  believed lies,  for You are the very essence of love (1 John 4:8).  Lord Jesus, as the God-Man You show us God and You show us mankind as God intend for us to be (John 14:9-11). In relationship with You we move towards life in all its fullness (John 10:10b). So I pray this morning Lord, that You will continue to teach us who You are, and to draw us to Yourself. I believe we will be fascinated for all eternity with You,  our mysterious, fascinating and wonderful God. Thank You that when time is no more, we will be able to praise You as we aught,  and as You so richly deserve in Your precious Name Amen.

The curse: Rules or relationship

Everything changed the day Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:17; 3:6), but not just for Adam and Eve. In particular the serpent is cursed and the ground is cursed. Now working the soil requires that we deal with thorns and thistles,  and by the sweat of our brow (Genesis 3:17, 18). Murphy's law kicks in “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."  And deep down we know that there's something seriously wrong with what was initially created perfect (1:31). It's the curse, and it's part of the death, both physical and spiritual,  that happen as a result of the fall (Ephesians 2:1)

If  a single disobedience to the command seems too small a thing for everything to change, consider the  Biblical picture of the fly in the ointment (Ecclesiastes 10:1). To obey the one simple command should not honestly have been a big deal.  In fact obedience is no big deal when you heart is right with God. John puts it this way “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).  And the essence of His commandments are that we love Him passionately,  and love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark 12:30-34). And like the loving Father He is, He has only our very best interest at heart. What He wants is relationship. In fact relationship with Him is the very essence of Kingdom life (John 17:3).  The fruit of a heart that is right with God includes love, joy, peace, goodness,  gentleness etc. (Galatians5:22).   But a lukewarm heart does not cut it (Revelation 3:16). A recovery saying advises “half measures profited us nothing!”

As mentioned earlier when we're walking in obedience,  His  “perfect love casts out all fear” (1 John 4:17, 18).  This side of the fall this is a process, and God is so holy that when God reveals Himself to us, we can be terrified (Acts 9:5;  2 Corinthians 5:11; Revelation 6:16).  And this can lead to choosing rules over relationship. When the children of Israel heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire they replied  “If we hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore, then we shall die. You go near and hear all that the LORD our God may say, and tell us all that He says to you, and we will hear and do it” (Deuteronomy 5:25, 27). They were choosing rules over relationship. But when we chose rules, then we will be blessed if we obey, but cursed if we disobey (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).  And the problem is,  that in many things we all fail.

Father, since all have sinned and fallen short of Your Glory (Romans 3:23), no one can be made right with You by following rules. In fact the Law (rules) are there to show us our need of Your salvation. Thank you Lord Jesus that You became a curse for us,  so that in a divine exchange we can be blessed (Galatians 3:13, 14). For these and many other things we give You thanks and praise in Your precious Name Amen

Excuses: “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

This is Eve's response to the Lord asking her what she had done (Genesis 3:13).  So what exactly is Eve saying? She is saying “well,  yes I did it, but there were extenuating circumstances!” Last day we were talking about blame (not my fault), today we are dealing with blame's cousin,  “excuses!” In order to be forgiven by God we need to confess and turn from our wrong doing (1 John 1:9; Mark 1:15). The blame game is light years away from AA's 5th step “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”  Excuses are a little different, but not much. Excuses acknowledge that a wrong has been done, but as with blame, no responsibility is taken.   Eve's excuse was that she was deceived.  So is her excuse valid? Some excuses are, some are not! The full version of the verse I keep quoting is “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). Probably true for females too! Yes she was deceived, the thing is though, she still suffered the consequences of her actions,  and so do we!

What I am saying, is that we cannot let life's circumstances or  unfairness derail us from taking responsibility for our lives.  Zuby, host of the “Real Talk with Zuby” podcasts says “We all confront our own struggles, pain, personal tragedies, and ultimately, death. So, while you’re here, I recommend making the most of the opportunity.”  And we can't do that without doing something about it our part in it all.

The genius of twelve-step programs leads us through what we need to do. Step 3 is: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Step 4 is: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. The God of my understanding is often called my “higher power.” Nobody has complete understanding of God,  or we would be God. But the greatest higher power is the One True God of the Bible (John 17:3).  I can do all things through Him,  not some cardboard replica of Him (Philippians 4:13).   And to tap into this promise, I also need to be growing in grace and in my knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:18). Grace is the wherewithal, the practical help He gives.

In terms of the fearless moral inventory, we need with Eve to realize that our hearts are deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). And the very first thing we need to do,  is to stop playing the blame game and making excuses.  Working the steps helps us to figure out what is our part and what is not. Again,  we call this taking care of our side of the street.  It involves asking for,  and giving forgiveness,  and making amends when and where appropriate (Step 8).  There is a lot of work to do before step 8.  We likely need over the long haul to show that we have changed before. Words are cheap, we need to bear fruit worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8), and producing fruit takes time.


Father, Your Word shows me the path to life in all its fullness, it shows me where I got off the path, how to get back on,  and how to stay on,  the path (John 10:10b; 2 Timothy 3:16). Thank You for the promise that if I continue in Your Word I will know the truth and it will be progressively set me free. In Jesus Name Amen

The blame Game: “The woman You gave

to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate” (Genesis 3:12). God had specifically asked Adam if He had eaten the forbidden fruit, and Adam immediately points to Eve.  Let's just think for a moment what he is saying. “I was helpless, I had no choice, what was I to do?”  Somebody offers you drugs, and you take them, or a friend  leaves a $100 bill in plain sight with nobody around, and you take it.  Do you blame the drug dealer for offering it, or your friend for leaving it there, declaring “it's not my fault?”  The popular speaker Jordon Peterson says that the room gets quiet when he suggests that people take responsibility for their actions.  What a novel idea!

It is strange to me, growing up in the 50's,  that this should come as such a huge revelation.  At that time society still largely embraced Judaeo-Christian values,  including responsibility. But from the 60's on,  the cry was for freedom from rules and regulations and such values. But is it really freedom to be unable to say no to drugs, or to temptation?  I'm not saying I always did that, and I an not saying “Do as I say, not as I do.” I am saying “Please don't do what I did it will cause you endless problems!” The verse I keep quoting says it well “we reap what we sow” (Galatians 6:7), bad choices have bad consequences.

You may have noticed that life is not fair, and I am the last one to say that we should not try and address injustices. From a personal point of view however, I need to ask myself if blaming everyone, or in fact anyone, for my situation is in my own best interest. I am not responsible for the bad things that happen to me, but I do have choices about how I respond the wrong done. And thinking of myself as a victim keeps me stuck in a very unhealthy place. I am not saying it's easy!

If the advice about not taking drugs is too late and you are addicted, you still have options. The first step of twelve-step programs is to admit our powerlessness over our addictions and compulsive behaviours. We are not completely powerless however, for we can choose, or not,  to be part of such a programme. And ultimately the steps are designed, step by step,  to bring us back to the place where we can take control of our lives. We call it taking care of our side of the street.  

The steps are genius level,  and are not just for those in addictions.  They are useful for every conceivable life issue,  including codependency. Many do not know that the founders of the original program (AA) were Christians,  and that the steps themselves are Biblically inspired.  They help us, for example, to deal with many  Biblical concepts such as unforgiveness, and bitterness and resentment. The steps are not the only route to an emotional healthy lifestyle, but one of their strengths is the support of others in recovery.

Father,  help me to come to terms with the fact that life is not fair.  It is so tempting to blame others, and it's not as if they don't deserve a lot of blame. But insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. So please help me to have reasonable expectations of myself and of life (1 Timothy 6:6). In Jesus Name Amen