(Zechariah 10:1-12) Ask rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain—
The Lord who makes the storm clouds; and He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man.
2 For the teraphim speak iniquity, and the diviners see lying visions and tell false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep, they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.
3 “My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the male goats; for the Lord of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like His majestic horse in battle.
4 “From them will come the cornerstone...
2 For the teraphim speak iniquity, and the diviners see lying visions and tell false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep, they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.
3 “My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the male goats; for the Lord of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like His majestic horse in battle.
4 “From them will come the cornerstone...
From this we see:
- "teraphim" (idols) only speak and/or represent evil (10:2)
- diviners make up things to bring false hope, and if they do see a vision, it will only be based on demonic lies (10:2)
- male goats represent false spiritual leaders who teach lies which lead people astray (10:3)
Personal experience: I have heard quite a few stories about people seeing a statue crying actual tears, or a statue that bleeds, or something to that effect. And because of that, people will start to believe that the statue has special powers and they then begin to worship and pray to it.
However the demons are able to make this happen, it is only done to keep people distracted and looking away from God. And because people can be so gullible, they will look for answers and signs in almost anything.
Back when I was still single, there was a young man that I hung out with, in order to see if this Christian was someone I should consider dating. But after he experienced a mishap on his motorbike, he considered this a sign that he should not date me. I thought (a little sarcastically) that him seeing that as a sign - was a clear "sign" to me that I should not date him!!!
Today's takeaway: the "mystery" is not as mysterious as people like to make it. Truth and knowing God's will is not convoluted in such a way that we are unable to understand it. Jesus is actually very clear and to the point! So one just has to desire to know the TRUE truth, and not just what they would like to see as truth (which is pretty much opposite to what the world "wants")...
(1 Corinthians 1:20-31) Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
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