Moses Strikes the Rock

Dr. Couch, how do we reconcile the fact that there seems to be a conflict in narration between Moses simply striking the rock in the desert (Exod. 17:6) and in anger striking the rock twice in Numbers 20:8-13. Is there a conflict? ANSWER: No, because by careful observation, and context, we see that there are actually two different occasions, or two different stories. This is agreed upon by the best of commentators, such as Ellicott and by the orthodox Jewish Rabbis. You have to look carefully to spot the distinction.    In Exodus 17 we find the people with Moses at Rephidim (v. 1). There they "quarreled with Moses" (v. 2) and "grumbled" (v. 3). In the other story in Numbers 20:7-13, they are called "rebels" (v. 10); this was not mentioned in the Exodus 17 story. The place in Exodus where Moses struck the rock is called "Massah" ("to test") and also "Meribah" or the "place of quarreling" (v. 7).    In the Numbers 20 story the place is identified as the waters of "Meribah" ("quarreling") and Kadesh. Or there, it is identified as "Meribah-Kadesh." This is not what it is called in Exodus.    In Numbers 20:10 "rebels" is the Hebrew word "marim". It carries the idea of being "fools" or even in some places "teachers." The Rabbis note that to render the word as "teachers" carries the idea: "You have presumed to teach your teachers," or "You imagine yourselves to be wiser than your leaders."  The Rabbis point out:    "In that moment of irritation and gloom, Moses gives expression to doubt in front of the masses of the people as to the fulfillment of God's promise."    More differences:    In Exodus 17 we note that the people were moving about the wilderness "by stages" and they had camped at Rephidim (v. 1). Moses was to strike the rock as he had struck the Nile in Egypt (17:5; 7:20). Moses did what God commanded and struck the rock "in the sight of the elders of Israel" (v. 6).    In the Numbers 20 story the entire congregation was gathered to see Moses strike the rock, not just the elders were gathered to see this happen (Num. 20:8-10), as mentioned in Exodus 17:5.    In Exodus 17 God said He would be with Moses before the elders. In Numbers 20 Moses (with Aaron) said "we [shall] bring forth water for you out of this rock" not simply God (v. 10). In Exodus 17:6 God said Moses was to strike the rock just once, which he does. In Numbers 20:11 Moses strikes the rock twice. Thus, the passage said, Moses "did not believe" God nor treat Him "holy in the sight of the sons of Israel" (v. 12a), therefore, he would not bring the assembly "into the land which I have given them" (v. 12b).    In the first story, in Exodus, the people are camped at Rephidim (17:1), but in Numbers 20 they are near Kadesh (v. 14).    The differences in the two stories are striking. And remember too, the people are moving around in the land, almost circling, and traveling by stages. It is certainly credible that they would need water from time to time (when there was none to find), and come to different rocks, or locations, when they were thirsty.     By the way, Kadesh was about 200 miles or more north of Rephidim. This clearly shows we have two different stories going on here.    The rock of course is a type of Christ as Paul mentions (1 Cor. 10:4-6). The people were drinking from a "spiritual rock" which was Christ (v. 4). Nevertheless, "God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness" (v. 5), and those things happened "that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved" (v. 6).    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (6-10)

Spiritual Kingdom

Dr. Couch, Paul says that God has delivered us out of this present evil age because of what Christ did on the cross (Gal. 1:4)? Does this mean that we could currently be living in this way? And, are we living in a spiritual kingdom now? ANSWER:  "To deliver" is an Aorist Middle Subjunctive in the Greek. The Greek Lexicon says it could read: He "Himself might take [us] away out of a place, that is, out of this evil age." "He Himself might remove, deliver us out of this evil age." Paul is speaking about the influence of this evil age on us now, today. This is happening "according to the will of our God and Father."    I wrote in my Galatians commentary with Dr. John Witmer, "There is a past benefit with Christ's death. He took the judgment that was placed on all humanity. He also died that believers might be presently liberated from the power and clutch [the influence] of sin. But eternal salvation also awaits believers after death." The Greek word used here for "age" is "aion." Each period of history is a specific age that we are walking through in time.    We know we are not now in the physical and literal messianic earthly kingdom. The church is not that Jewish, Davidic kingdom over which Christ will someday rule for one thousand years. Paul says that we are on our way to that kingdom. Though the Jews are the key earthly people, the church will be there co-ruling with the Lord and enjoying His worldwide reign. Therefore Paul writes that "He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son" (Col. 1:13). "Delivered" is an Aorist Tense of "ruomai" which should be translated "to cause us to escape, to be rescue, to be delivered." This again carries the idea of "to be influenced by." We still see the workings of "the domain of darkness" all around us! And yet we are headed for His earthly kingdom that has not yet arrived.    In my commentary series on Colossians, Gromacki points out that this "transfer" is like taking people from one country to another. In terms of influence we have been transferred from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of Christ, that is, its influence on us, as to where we are headed—someday into Christ's earthly domain! Thanks for asking, Dr. Mal Couch  (6-10)

The Sin of Sodom and Gomorrah

Dr. Couch, I recently debated a woman on the internet who argued that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was not about homosexuality but rather about the attempt of gang rape of the visitors [the angels] who had come to these cities, specifically the angels who came and spoke with Lot (Gen. 19:1-29). How do we answer?

ANSWSER: First of all, I would not argue with a woman. They are more emotional and are not to be Bible teachers according to Paul. The apostle writes in 1 Timothy 2:12-15: “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet [that is, not to be flapping the jaw]. Because it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.”

Women are emotionally fooled whereby men are simply sinful by the evilness of the heart. This is why we don’t want women pastors. They can so quickly mislead, thus this woman you debated with!

Today, people, even Christians, are misled by the culture. They foolishly buy into the cultural arguments and do not think for themselves. Satan is “the god of this culture” and controls even what many Christians think on doctrinal issues (John 16:11; Eph. 2:2; 2 Cor. 4:4). Satan “is the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” He is “the god of this culture who has blinded the minds of the unbelieving.” He can pull the wool over the eyes of Christians as well as the unbelieving.

To argue that the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is not about homosexuality is not only stupid but just plain evil, and, it is quoting what the homosexuals want to say about the passage in order to justify their sins of the most evil and the most filthy of practices. This issue is not really worth answering!

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch

Money

Dr. Couch, how should 1 Timothy 6:10 read? Some translations say "Money is the root of all sorts of evil," and some say "Money is the root of evil." The Greek text reads: "For (the) root of all the evils is the affection (love) for money (avarice)." The word "love" is philos (affection, to like) and not agape. "Affection for money" is actually one entire word: "philarguros." The reason some translations used "of all sorts" is because "evils" is in the plural. Often it is translated "Of all the evil things."    Notice what Paul writes in verses 9 and 11. "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation," and, "Flee from these things, you man of God." From the other verses that follow it seems that Paul is directly addressing Timothy. Being a younger minister of the gospel, Timothy may have been open to certain temptations that Paul knew about. We often think that NT personalities walked on water, but that is not true. They faced the same temptations that we face. There is more than one reference where Paul seems to be concerned for Timothy's conduct. In one place he told him to "Flee youthful lusts" (2 Tim. 2:22).    What the apostle is saying in 1 Timothy 6:10 is sobering. The desire for money is the starting point for all kinds of evils! This does not mean that money is bad! And it does not mean that one can not be wealthy. But those who have been so blessed must be aware of what money can do. There are many in the Gospels and in the epistles who appear to have been wealthy. They were not chided for their wealth.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Obama Czars

Dr. Couch, who are the Barack Hussein Obama Czars and what is there purpose in the new Washington D.C.? ANSWER:  The word Czar and Kaiser come from the Latin word Caesar that means "king, emperor." Obama has appointed dozens of czars in order to directly carry out his orders. This way, he bypasses even his own cabinet, the will of Congress, and the laws made by Congress. This has never happened before in American government! Washington is becoming more evil. Like a cloud, darkness is coming over the center of government. A storm will soon destroy what has been built in our nation. The President is becoming a dictator who is answering to no one. This is why he is rushing to put his orders in place, trying to get his agendas passed before the whistle is blown on his dictatorship!    Many conservative African-American pastors have stated publicly on television that they are afraid of what he is doing to America. It seems he is attempting to de-centralize our government and form new power sources that put the country into a socialistic framework. For certain, he wants to be answerable to no one!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

The Lord's Anger

Dr. Couch, does it not seem that the Lord's anger is growing against an evil and sinful world? ANSWER: Absolutely! And, in my opinion, we are moving towards the final days so quickly it makes our head swim! Our younger generation of Christians do not see what is happening. You can see it even in their belief system. They may be born again but they are absorbing the attitudes and thought forms of our evil culture. They do not discern where all of this is going. Statistics show that the Y generation of Evangelicals are turning liberal. For example, more and more of them do not think that abortion is so bad, and they are shifting rapidly to the left in their politics. They have little understanding about wisdom, maturity, and experience. They will select leaders who will be blind guides of the blind! As we dispensationalists and premillennialists knew years ago, that without solid teaching and doctrine, this younger generation would turn against Israel. They are biblically ignorant and like it that way! They are extremely ignorant about biblical prophecy and what the Lord says about the final days. They are spiritually asleep as to where all of this is going! But back to your question, yes, I believe we're rapidly moving into the final days with evil compounding itself. This will lead us to the judgment of the wrath of God, even though the Lord on a continual basis pours His anger out on the world. Because of sin, God "makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations then leads them astray (America?). He deprives of intelligence the leaders of earth's people, and makes them wander in a pathless waste. They grope in darkness with no light, and He makes them stagger like a drunken man" (Job 12:23-25). Psalms 7:11 says: "God is a righteous judge, and a God who has indignation [against the world] every day." Even though His mercy is always available in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, that truth, that message, is being more and more ignored and repudiated! Our evil world does not understand what is coming. In Proverbs 28 we read: "Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all things" (v. 5). Other verses in this chapter seem to speak of our times. "He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination" (v. 9). And, "An arrogant man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper" (v. 25). In 1 Thessalonians 1:10, the Greek text says that the wrath of God is on its way! And the verse could read that Jesus, IS our Deliverer who will deliver us out from (ek) that wrath that will nearly destroy the world. Paul is here speaking about the rapture of true believers! In my opinion the dispensation of mercy and grace is almost over. Those who trust Christ will be taken out of here before the Day of the Lord arrives! I believe we are now coming into the period known as the Apostasy. Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch

What Is Going On In Proverbs 17:13?

Dr. Couch, what is going on in Proverbs 17:13 which reads in the NAS: “He who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.”

ANSWER: The verb returns is the Hebrew word shuv which is a Participle in the Hiphil verb form. This intensifies the meaning. “He who is characterized as definitely going about rewarding that which is good with evil, the evil will not leave from his house.”

The rabbis say: “This man arouses the contempt of his fellows, so that when he is in trouble nobody comes to his aid.” And, sin comes back upon him. The one practicing sin has the fruit of sin returning to him. On the word evil Unger writes “Evil can be translated ‘trouble, misfortune, adversity,’ and it shall not depart from his house.”

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch