Posted on 02/26/2009 1:06:54 PM PST by Bob Ireland
Esau Endorses Nimrod - Josephus reporting; Babel on the Potomac
Well, the title sounds terribly ambitious - almost like an Otto Preminger film. Still, there is a point that can be made, a point that relates critically to America and its peoples right now.
What Scripture tells us about Nimrod is that he is just a few generations removed from Noah and his son Ham. Genesis chapter 10 states: Nimrod... began to be a mighty one in the earth ... He was a mighty hunter before the LORD. Chapter 11 continues: And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. As all readers of Scripture remember, God saw the united effort of Nimrod's people and scrambled their languages, that they might be scattered across the face of the Earth.
The ancient Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, however expanded the view of these events. In his book, Antiquities of the Jews [Book I, Chapter IV], he describes what happened after the flood to the sons of Noah and their offspring:
Now the plain in which they first dwelt was called Shinar. God also commanded them to sendMuch of this exposition can be applied to our history of the past 50+ years. The phrase cultivate a great part of the earth, and enjoy its fruits after a plentiful manner well describes the wishes of our founding fathers, borne from the bosom of a love of freedom and hope for prosperity.
colonies abroad, for the thorough peopling of the earth, -- that they might not raise seditions
among themselves, but might cultivate a great part of the earth, and enjoy its fruits after a
plentiful manner: but they were so ill instructed, that they did not obey God; for which reason
they fell into calamities, and were made sensible, by experience, of what sin they had been
guilty; for when they flourished with a numerous youth, God admonished them again to send
out colonies; but they, imagining the prosperity they enjoyed was not derived from the favour
of God but supposing that their own power was the proper cause of the plentiful condition
they were in, did not obey him. Nay, they added to this their disobedience to the Divine will,
the suspicion that they were therefore ordered to send out separate colonies, that, being
divided asunder, they might the more easily be oppressed.Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the
grandson of Ham, the son of Noah, -- a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded
them not to ascribe it to God as if it was through his means they were happy, but to believe
that it was their own courage which procured that happiness.He also gradually changed the government into tyranny, -- seeing no other way of turning
men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence upon his power. He
also said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again;
for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach! and that he would
avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers!Now the multitude were very ready to follow the determination of Nimrod, and to esteem
it a piece of cowardice to submit to God; and they built a tower...
However, Josephus accurately catalogs where this bountiful wish went awry: but they were so ill instructed, that they did not obey God; for which reason they fell into calamities This well details the attack on God in our schools [ill instructed] and other public institutions since World War II. The result is seen above: supposing that their own power was the proper cause of the plentiful condition they were in, did not obey [God] and they fell into calamities.
Another point follows close upon the skirts of the above: the suspicion that they were therefore ordered to send out separate colonies, that, being divided asunder, they might the more easily be oppressed. This can be translated today as the urge to suppress dissenting opinions to the prevailing 'consensus'. The dynamic of Babel is that 'they were all of one mind.' Scientists that argue against man-made global warming are excommunicated from their profession; conservative speakers are shouted into silence on college campuses; dissenting voices to the agenda of the popular media are simply denied access.
Ever since Babel there has been a human drive to reestablish unity - 'can't we all just get along?' Alexander the Great spread Hellenic philosophy across the known world; Assyria uprooted populations and moved them to foreign lands in order to break their nationalistic, ethnic wills; Stalin believed that socialism could only succeed if it was a world-wide hegemony.
Josephus continues: [Nimrod] persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it was through his means they were happy ... Once the educators removed from one generation the concept of God in the public forum, it was an easy transition from inalienable rights endowed by a Creator to all rights endowed by the governing power ... Nimrod giveth, Nimrod taketh away, blessed be the name of Nimrod! [Esau enters just about here... but first this concluding thought.]
Josephus puts the exclamation point to our commentary: [Nimrod] also gradually changed the government into tyranny, -- seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence upon his power. This is the road marker at which America has now arrived.
Will America now embrace tyranny? Perhaps the answer can be found in the Scriptural story of Esau.
Scripture says of Esau in Genesis 25: And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint; And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint ... And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? ... and he sold his birthright unto Jacob ... thus Esau despised his birthright.
A few obvious simple lessons can be drawn from this cistern. Esau had worked and produced, and pleased his father, but he had NOT put aside for himself and his family for the lean times; Esau lacked inner strength and resourcefulness and thus was susceptible to fear; even though Esau was senior in authority to Jacob, through his fear he subjugated himself to his lesser brother; Esau defined profit as what satisfied his immediate needs; Esau held his heritage - and his family's future - as of small value.
Like Jacob, unprincipled American politicians hold out carrots while hiding the proverbial stick behind their backs.
Are you a farmer worried about the unpredictability of crop yields, or the emotional stability of your dairy cows? You can have a subsidy to help you over the rough spots. Are you retired and worried about health care costs? You can have a medical care plan. Worried about how you will feed your family if you lose your job? You can have unemployment benefits and food stamps... and day care. What will happen if your company's pension plan fails? You can collect on insurance against such a possibility.
hat happens to your savings if your bank fails? There is insurance against that stumbling block. What becomes of your family if you cannot pay the mortgage? There is a bailout program to keep you in your home. Single parent who cannot work? There is a welfare program to keep you at home. Would you like your children to go to college even though none of you can afford it? There are student loans. The complete list would be to voluminous to list in any one forum.
Is there something inherently wrong with these ideas? Not necessarily. Some are of noble origin and instituted by well-intentioned people. However, they are a tender trap. When someone begins to depend upon the program, they quickly find that they cannot do without it. Moreover, carpetbagger politicians wave the threat of withdrawing these bait traps in order to gain votes. Worse, they hold out more entitlements on the taxpayer dollar. In the end, like Esau, the voter says 'what profit shall this birthright do to me?'
America is now selling its heritage to greedy politicians in wholesale shipping containers. Does anyone believe a politician could get elected today if they said they were going to cut spending? ...that they were going to cut your benefit?
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Josephus, described by Wikipedia as 'a first-century Jewish historian and apologist', was probably born in the year 37 of the Common Era. He wrote two works: The Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews; the latter writing recounts the history of the Biblical world from a first century Jewish perspective.
The Bible describes Esau as a grandson of the patriarch Abraham, son of Isaac and Rebekah.
It’s also not difficult to see who “the one” is....and no one will oppose him - until it’s too late.
Such governance is opposed to God and eventually will cease to exist, either via it’s own weight, or Atlas Shrugging or at the ballot box.
Thank you for this post. I have been teaching the Book of Genesis for the last seven years, and this is come interesting insight on an a very troubling story.
BTTT
By far one of the most fascinating - and challenging - books of the Old Testament... much to be learned there... which I would like to write about, but of course not on this forum. Some of those thoughts I posted here:
http://quicksilver899.com/Bible_Mysteries/Index.html.
It is the LORD Himself who sets above nations whomever He will — all to fulfill His plan.
Do remember to teach that our hope is in a different temple - not one made with hands...
FReegards, IR
So true.
voted...
oh sorry.. wrong thread...
why yes, I am blond! How did you ever know?
We have only gotten through the first 5 chapters...it took two years to get through Chapter 1. I am restarting the series at a new church.
Whoooo! $41 on Amazon... still, used from $15... I think the Book of Genesis is an under-studied book today. For example, those who like prophecy could gain much from chapter 49... and what exactly is the difference from Genesis chapter one with the Big Bang theory?
What church, and what denomination if any?
Possibly... how long is it, and how would you convey it me-wards? [I am currently a bit bogged down with medical and family...]
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