Please explain how there are different races in the world when we are all supposed to be born from Adam and Eve?

Sincerely,
Ethnic Diversity

Dear Ethnic Diversity,

We all came from Adam and Eve (Gen 3:20).  Eventually, mankind was scattered across the whole earth after the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:9).  Different races were created as these scattered groups became more isolated.  This is very similar to how you see parents and children looking alike – they share noticeable physical traits because they are closely related.  The groups that were scattered from the Tower of Babel were isolated by their language differences, and therefore only married amongst their specific language group.  This isolated intermarrying created distinct physical characteristics that differentiated one group from another (i.e. skin color, eye shape, face shape, hair color).  The different races of the world are nothing more than large family groups created after the Tower of Babel.

I am wanting to know what you think of "Bible Codes".  I have heard some things about them, and they seem to be very good at predicting events.  I can’t help but think that we are not supposed to be doing stuff like the “Bible code” and that we should just read the Bible the way it was written.  What do you think?

Sincerely,
Cracking The Code

Dear Cracking The Code,

Yup, you got it right on the money.  When people try and decipher “secret” codes and hidden messages from the Bible, they are missing the point (as well as creating some ludicrous false prophecies!).  Paul said that the Bible was written, so that all could understand it, not just the intellectuals.  God wrote the Bible to be so straightforward that it almost seems foolishly simple (1 Cor 1:18-19).  Peter said that the Bible isn’t a matter of private interpretation (2 Pet 1:20).  There is no trick or fancy mathematical algorithm needed to decipher God’s Word.  God isn’t trying to confuse us (1 Cor 14:33).  When we read the Bible the way it was written, paying attention to context, and accepting it at face value, we are doing what God intended.  God wrote the Bible, so we might understand His will and have hope (Rom 15:4).

I have been told that the early Jews made sacrifices (sometimes on a daily basis) by bringing their animals or birds to the door of the Temple, killing the animal or bird themselves, and then handing it over to the priest to make the offering to God.  Is that correct?  I am very confused if that is the way that it happened.  Please help me in my confusion.

Sincerely,
Too Much Blood

Dear Too Much Blood,

There were certain sacrifices where the priest killed the animal, and there were a few sacrifices where the person offering the animal killed it themselves.  Most of the time the priest killed the animal, but in certain circumstances, the individual would do it.  The most notable of these is the burnt offering for someone’s sin.  When someone sinned, they could bring an animal to the door of the temple, lay their hand on the animal’s head, and then kill the animal and present it as a burnt offering to God (Lev 1:1-9).  This is probably the type of sacrifice you are thinking of.

However, the regular sacrifices were made by the priests: the morning and evening sacrifices (Num 28:1-4), the various feasts, and the weekly showbread (Lev 24:5-9)… just to name a few.  There are very few cases when individuals other than priests were involved with any part of the sacrifices.

I am in chapters 4 and 5 of the book of Job, starting at verse 12.  To my understanding, Eliphaz is trying to judge Job.  The vision he had was not true.  He wanted to know what Job did and the reason why so many bad things were happening to Job.  Please help me to understand these two verses.  Thanks.

Sincerely,
Without A Job

Dear Without A Job,

You are absolutely right about Eliphaz.  Eliphaz had a false vision – just like many of today’s false prophets and teachers.  Eliphaz is arguing with Job and trying to blame Job for what has happened.  Eliphaz believes Job is behaving sinfully and is using this “vision” as proof.  Later on, Job makes it clear that he doesn’t think there is any truth to Eliphaz’s vision.  He accuses Eliphaz of simply trying to scare him with his talk about dreams and visions (Job 7:14).  Eliphaz is wrong – Job hadn’t sinned (Job 1:22).

Job 3:21-25: What is Job trying to tell us about his suffering?

Sincerely,
Jobaphobe

Dear Jobaphobe,

Considering the other two questions we have recently received at the site (see “The Blessings Of Death” and “Job’s Lament”), we must commend some studious AYP reader for their diligent interest in the book of Job.  Nothing makes us happier than to see someone committing themselves to reading and understanding God’s Word.  We are happy to continue to aid you in your study, but we might ask that you include your e-mail address in the future, so that we can respond privately if needed since we sometimes have large sudden influxes of other questions that need posting.

In Job 3:21-25, Job is venting his frustration that God won’t let him die.  Job’s greatest desire is to die and have his suffering ended, and yet, God won’t let Job die.  Job feels hedged in by life (Job 3:23).  His pain is ever before him, and his agony is constant (Job 3:24).  The grave would bring him joy, and he longs for death (Job 3:21-22).  Every day is full of terror, pain, and trouble for Job (Job 3:25).

What Job didn’t understand (and neither do we when we suffer) is that God had a greater plan for him.  Job’s suffering would eventually end, and his blessing would exceed his sorrow (Job 42:12-13).  The Lord works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28).  When our suffering is deep, we often forget that.