tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post995317676237575574..comments2023-04-22T12:31:37.714-07:00Comments on Blogging the Bible: March 5Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063678082377147197noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post-12580793056764130472010-03-05T15:29:14.790-08:002010-03-05T15:29:14.790-08:00Yay, Becky! Glad to have you back! Thanks for yo...Yay, Becky! Glad to have you back! Thanks for your comments. They were very helpful. You made good points about the adultery test, and it is also nice to have someone who has a different version of the Bible. The NLT made more sense to me in this case.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063678082377147197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post-71466376722029887322010-03-05T14:45:11.830-08:002010-03-05T14:45:11.830-08:00Okay, I still have posts I need to catch up on (so...Okay, I still have posts I need to catch up on (so forgive me if I say something that has already been said), but I want to jump back in here. (Also, I don't have spell check on this computer. Usually I try not to be so sloppy. I will be SO GLAD once I get my desk top set up again...)<br /><br />I was intrigued by the whole curse thing. I think we tend to look at "curses" as having to do with black magic, but it seems that here it is a legitimate thing that God is doing. In the story of Balaam, he apparently has the power to bless or curse people. Of course, we have already read about the patriarchs giving a "blessing" to their sons. I definitely don't understand how that stuff works, but I believe that it does. My opinion about the infirtility curse is that it has more to do with the belief of the people involved combined with God's power and justice than the physical substance the woman has to drink. I think the water is just a symbol. Of course, I could be wrong.<br /><br />One time I brought a sandwich for lunch to work, and I was concerned that there was something wrong with it. (I think this was when tomatos were giving people salmonila or something.) I expressed this concern to one of my co-workers (a very godly women who was Protestant, but had grown up Catholic in Colombia). She told me in all seriousness that I should pray that God would take away the poison (or whatever it was I was concerned about) in the sandwich, and then just eat it and not worry about it any more. At the time, I was very surprised by her response. Now, I think it makes sense. God has all authority over diseases and blessings and curses, but I guess it is hard for us in our science-centered culture to really believe such things. (BTW, I did pray and eat the sandwich, and it was fine.)<br /><br />As for how God treated the women accused of adultery, I don't think it's as bad as it sounds. First of all, if a woman really WAS guilty, then shame on her. But, if she was INNOCENT, at least she had a way to prove it. It sounds like the whole thing was set up to relieve the suspicions of the husbands. Maybe men moreso than women have a harder time not knowing if their women have been faithful. The thing that is confusing and unfair is that men were "allowed" to acquire other women, but women were only allowed to have the one man.<br /><br />My version (NLT) of the Proverbs passage says, "Lazy people are a pain to their employer. They are like smoke in the eyes or vinegar that sets the teeth on edge." I would think that a person who pays someone to work for them would expect their worker to WORK. If the person they are paying is consistently lazy, the employer will feel like they are throwing their money away. It's like if you pay a plumber per hour to fix a really bad plumbing leak, but you catch them just lounging around. I bet that would set your teeth on edge. :) At least, that's how I interpret that verse.beksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15724637942561747185noreply@blogger.com