I decided to read through What the Bible Teaches, by R.A. Torrey again. It’s a great book – you can download a free PDF here - so we’re doing a little Bible study every Thursday. The collection is here. Subscribe over there to make sure you don’t miss anything. >>>
Can God make a rock so big that even He can’t lift it?
John is hosting the conversation on “The Omnipotence of God,” from RA Torrey’s What the Bible Teaches. Read along, and chime in here!
I decided to read through What the Bible Teaches, by R.A. Torrey again. It’s a great book – you can download a free PDF here - so we’re doing a little Bible study every Thursday. The collection is here. Subscribe over there to make sure you don’t miss anything, but come back and add your voice in the Comments! >>>
I like how Torrey opens this chapter by stating the necessity of it:
Propositions in Chapter 5:
Honestly, Propositions four through eight kind of make me squirm a little.
As I read over the chapter, I have to ask myself if the scripture references given (listed below) really support some of Torrey’s propositions. Or maybe Torrey and I don’t think the same thing when we write/read terms like “government.”
Thoughts? Are some of those verses misplaced? Where IS free will in this? Continue Reading…
The back-story is here. The collection is here. You can subscribe over there. >>>
58. How old was Benjamin when his clan migrated to Egypt? Genesis 44:20, 22 vs. Genesis 46:8, 21
At least it seems someone actually read the text this time. Although it doesn’t seem to have helped.
Genesis 44:20
And we said to my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age (Benjamin), who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mothers children, and his father loves him.
Genesis 44:22
But you said to your servants, Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.
Genesis 46:8
Now these were the names of the children of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben was Jacobs firstborn.
Genesis 46:21
The sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
None of these verses give any numerical indication of Benjamin’s age.
I’m assuming that the critic takes issue with Benjamin being referred to as “young” in Genesis 44, and then as having 10 sons in Genesis 46. Which issue would be more reasonable in a modern, western history, but that’s not what we’re reading.
When I was seven, I thought I’d never be old enough to drive. Now that I’m 28, 30 is looking younger and younger.
Benjamin’s father, Israel, was 130 when he moved his family to Egypt. What’s “young” to a 130 year-old man?
Benjamin didn’t stay home with his father in Genesis 44 because he was too young to make the journey. Joseph, Israels’ favorite son, was presumed dead, and Benjamin was the only other son Israel had by his favorite wife, Rachel – now deceased. He didn’t want to lose his second-favorite son just yet, if they happened to meet with trouble during the journey (Genesis 42:4).
If Benjamin had been a child, this reason for not sending him with his brothers would be weird and unnecessary. Who needs to give a reason for not sending their five-year-old on a cross-country tour for food? This wasn’t about age; it was about favoritism.
We can do a little research and come up with an estimate. First of all, we know how old Joseph was: Continue Reading…
