September 2023 – Praying Pint

48.b. “Wilderness” – 12.h. “Have I now any power of my own to speak anything?”

Num 22:35 And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak. When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border. And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.” Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

This showed how happy Balak was to have Balaam visit, so that this so-called prophet could curse Israel. Normally, rulers have people come to them. This time, Balak took the trouble to meetBalaam and pointed this out to him (Look, I have come to you!). The honor Balak had in mind was money. With almost his first words, Balak told Balaam what he wanted to hear – that he would be paid a lot of money to curse Israel. Balaam again warned Balak that the ability to curse Israel was not in his control. Perhaps he really believed and understood this, or perhaps this was his way of protecting himself in case he failed. Then he could say that it was God’s fault, and not his. (Guzik)

We need to be mindful of those who would tempt us to give thought to doing what is not right in God’s eyes or according to His Word, or that which we have been clearly convicted of and know it is not right. Satan has many devices at his disposal to tempt people away from doing what is right. He will use any opportunity and person and situation to tempt us to do that which is not right. He will gain a small foothold by placing a tempting thought in your mind. The problem is that we do not recognize it as a temptation – Why is that? It would be good if our mind’s eye could see the temptation and cast it out. I know the Holy Spirit can do this but are we committed to wanting to hear it and turn away from it?

I know that if our hearts compete desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all of our thoughts, words, and actions, we will become more and more aware of these temptations and be able to cast them out of our head.

48.a. “Wilderness” – 12.g.

Num 22:34  Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”

Exodus 9:27    Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.

Exodus 10:16-17     Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.

1 Samuel 15:24    Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

1 Samuel 26:21   Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day.

Psalms 78:34    When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly.

Matthew 27:4-5    saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”

1 Chronicles 21:7    But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel.

This sounds humble enough, but it was obvious and easy to say when the Angel of the LORD stood before Balaam with a drawn sword in hand. The threat of immediate judgment humbles most people. 2 Peter 2:15-16 speaks of Balaam’s attitude, telling us he had gone astray, he loved the wages of unrighteousness, was full of iniquity, and was not in his right mind. The root of Balaam’s sin was a love for money. Jude 1:11 calls it the error of Balaam for profit. He was willing to disobey God and curse God’s people if he could do it for money. (Guzik)

He confesses his passion and thoughtlessness in his ill treatment of the ass, and excuses himself for so wilfully persisting in his journey, from his ignorance of the angel’s standing in the way to oppose him; but he makes no confession of his covetousness, which was the dishonest principle that influenced him in all his steps. (Benson)

I have sinned … if it displease thee, I will get me back again—Notwithstanding this confession, he evinced no spirit of penitence, as he speaks of desisting only from the outward act. (Jamieson)

Confessing sin without repentance is not seeing the sinfulness of sin. Confession without repentance allows a person to think they are right with God when their heart and mind are still not right with God. Without repentance there is no forgiveness. Confessing sin without committing to turning away from it is just a weak way of saying sorry, my bad, I’ll try to do better, but I’m only human, and there is no inner desire within their heart to never ever do it again.

When Paul said to confess your sins to one another I think it was for the purposes of having a fellow believer hold you to a repentant heart – and remind you and encourage you in your repentance. Another reason is to keep us humble and not to think more highly of ourselves than we should. And to encourage others by our humbleness and commitment to honoring and glorifying God.

How many times have you been convicted of sin through hearing or reading God’s Word? When this Holy Spirit conviction comes upon your soul – Confess it – Repent of it (turn away from it)- Commit to never entertaining it again

Life happens and then the next thing you know you are in a situation where the temptation to do that which you have committed to not do, you do or are thinking about doing. Resist – confess its temptation – ask God to give you clear eyes to see the sinfulness of sin and His holiness. Stand strong in the Holy Spirit. Ask God to show you what is in your heart so that you can know it, see it, and turn away from it.

It is one thing to confess sin but totally different to repent of it and commit to turning away from it. Many times we try to do this on our own power or within our own strength and 5-step plan. We do well to stand in the power and might of the Holy Spirit and not rely on our own power and strength for surely we will become tired and unable to resist.

48. “Wilderness” – 12.f. “God’s anger was kindled”

Num 22:22-33 But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again. Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”

We must not think, that because God does not always by his providence restrain men from sin, therefore he approves of it, or that it is not hateful to him. The holy angels oppose sin, and perhaps are employed in preventing it more than we are aware. This angel was an adversary to Balaam, because Balaam counted him his adversary; those are really our best friends, and we ought so to reckon them, who stop our progress in sinful ways. Balaam has notice of God’s displeasure by the ass. It is common for those whose hearts are fully set in them to do evil, to push on violently, through the difficulties Providence lays in their way. The Lord opened the mouth of the ass. This was a great miracle wrought by the power of God. He who made man speak, could, when he pleased, make the ass to speak with man’s voice. The ass complained of Balaam’s cruelty. The righteous God does not allow the meanest or weakest to be abused; but they shall be able to speak in their own defence, or he will some way or other speak for them. Balaam at length has his eyes opened. God has many ways to bring down the hard and unhumbled heart. When our eyes are opened, we shall see the danger of sinful ways, and how much it was for our advantage to be crossed. Balaam seemed to relent; I have sinned; but it does not appear that he was sensible of this wickedness of his heart, or willing to own it. If he finds he cannot go forward, he will be content, since there is no remedy, to go back. Thus many leave their sins, only because their sins have left them. (Henry)

And God’s anger was kindled because he went,…. Though he had given him leave to go; but then it was upon condition that the princes called him to go with them, whereas he went without their call, and did not wait for it; and besides, he did not acquaint them, as he did not the messengers before, of what God had said, that he should not curse Israel, nor say anything contrary to this his will, which, had he told them, they would not have taken him with them; moreover, he went with an intention, with a good will to curse Israel, which must be displeasing to God, who knew his heart.(Gill)

“To the great disgrace of the prophet, the glory of the angel was first of all apparent to the ass… He had been boasting before this of extraordinary visions, and now what was visible to the eyes of a beast was invisible to him. Whence came this blindness, but from the avarice by which he had been so stupefied, that he preferred filthy lucre to the holy calling of God?” (Calvin.)

47.z. “Wilderness” – 12.e. “Come, curse this people for me.”

Num 22:15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more. So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.” And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

Balaam said the right words. He told his guests, the elders from Moab and Midian (Numbers 22:7) to return without him. Though Balaam told his guests to go, he said it in a way that told them that Balaam wanted to go, but God wouldn’t let him. The message from Balaam was, “Go back to your land. I would really like to go with you, but God won’t allow me.” It was as if Balaam told them, “God doesn’t want me to do this, but I can be persuaded.” The message would be clear to King Balak. The response of Balak shows that Balaam effectively communicated the message, “God told me no, but perhaps you can persuade me.” King Balak sent messengers more numerous and more honorable, with the promise of greater reward. No longer did they merely carry with them the diviner’s fee of Numbers 22:7; now they also brought a promise of great riches. Balaam refused to decisively put away a temptation the first time it came to him. Now the temptation came back to him stronger than it was before.

We can imagine Balaam’s tone of voice and expression when he said this. With a sense of longing, Balaam found a way to suggest a big offer from these richer messengers of Balak. “Balaam’s words echo the reality that he had indeed had an encounter with the God of Israel, through which the true Elohim had confronted and revealed himself to the pagan diviner. Yahweh God of Israel will use whatever means he desires to reveal himself to humanity.” This was proof that Balaam continued to entertain this sin. There was no need to seek God again when the will of God was clear both from his moral conscience (which troubled him from the beginning) and from the clear revelation of God.

We can say that God did not change His will. God had clearly spoken His will, and Balaam had decisively rejected it. Now God prepared Balaam for judgment, to both test and reveal the wickedness of Balaam’s heart. We know that sometimes, God says “no” to the prayers of His people, because He loves them. But sometimes God also says “yes” to the desires of the wicked because He will judge them.

“He was first forbidden, and afterwards commanded to go. The only explanation that is satisfactory is that, while attempting to maintain an external obedience to this supreme will of God, his heart was lusting after the riches offered to him by Balak.” God’s word to Balaam, rise and go with them was no more evidence of God’s approval of Balaam’s greed than the words of Jesus to Judas in John 13:27 (What you do, do quickly) were an approval of the actions of Judas. (Guzik)

I wonder how many times we court sin with thoughts of:

If God wants me to stop He will show me
God’s Word does not specifically say not to do this
I’ve not been convicted of it so it must be ok
Confusing worldly wisdom and Godly living
I’m good in many areas of my life, this one thing is not so bad
I don’t hurt anyone by doing it
It is accepted and tolerated by others
I’ll stop for a new years resolution

Clearly, when our hearts and minds are worldly focused there will be greed, pride, jealousy, hate, anger, bitterness, fear, lust, and tolerance of what is neither God honoring or right in His eyes.

Pathway to Victory – Devotional

Why The Gospel Offends Unbelievers

To the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

–Romans 4:4-5

At the CNN World Report Contributors Conference in 1989, Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, famously called Christianity “a religion for losers.” He went on to say, “I don’t want anybody to die for me. I’ve had a few drinks and a few girlfriends and if that’s gonna put me in hell, well, then so be it.”

Turner’s words illustrate one reason human philosophy rejects the truth of the gospel: the message of the cross assumes the sinfulness of man. To say Jesus Christ died for our sins assumes there is a moral standard in the universe to which we are all accountable, and we have deviated from that moral standard. Not only that, but our deviation is so serious that we deserve to spend eternity in hell for disobeying God.

Unbelievers will have none of that. Even if they concede that they have broken certain rules, they do not believe sin is that serious. I am reminded of the words of Charles Spurgeon: “Too many think lightly of sin, and therefore think lightly of the Saviour.” If you do not believe there is real sin in the world or real sin in your heart, you certainly see no need for a Savior.

People also reject the message of the cross because it rejects self-effort. That is perhaps the most offensive thing about the gospel to unbelievers–the message that we are spiritually bankrupt, and there is nothing we can do to atone for our sins.

The story goes that nineteenth-century preacher Robert Murray M’Cheyne was passing out gospel tracts when he gave one to a well-dressed woman. She was offended by the tract and said, “Sir, you must not know who I am!” M’Cheyne reportedly replied, “Madam, there is coming a day of judgment, and on that day it will not make any difference who you are.”

Unbelievers reject the gospel because they are offended by it. They reject the gospel because it implies the existence of a God to whom we are accountable, it assumes the sinfulness of man, and it rejects self-effort to atone for our sin. That is why the gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing.

Turning Point – Devotional

Forget It and Move On!

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13, NIV

If you’re having trouble getting over an insult, hurt, or injustice, here are two verses that may help. In 1 Corinthians 13:5, we’re told that love “keeps no record of wrongs” (NIV). We have to take that list of grievances, give it to the Lord, then burn it in the fire and turn it to ash, putting it behind us. Isaiah 43:18-19 contains this counsel: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (NIV).

If someone has done you wrong, your anger might lead you to want to seek revenge. Refusing to forgive another for their transgression can keep you bound by this anger. Choose today to forgive in the power of the Lord who has forgiven you, and free yourself from this sort of anger addiction.

Burn the list of past grievances, and go into the future knowing God is doing a new thing in your life.

This devotional struck my heart right where pride and self-worthiness reside.

47.y. “Wilderness” – 12.d. “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

Num 22:7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message. And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.” So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

Immediately, the heart of Balaam was revealed. Though he was obviously a man with significant spiritual gifts, he was not a man with a genuine heart after God. He was “seeking God’s will” regarding something that was plainly not His will. Balaam began on a dangerous course – entertaining, planning, setting his heart on something he knew to be sin, and looking for a spiritual excuse to pursue the sin. Because of his love for money, Balaam tried to manipulate God into granting him a special exception. God had no obligation to respond to a greedy, self-seeking heart like Balaam’s. But in mercy God did respond, warning Balaam to have nothing to do with these men. Balaam did know these were evil men who had come for an evil purpose – to hire a prophet – but Balaam did not act accordingly. (Guzik)

If Balaam had been a true prophet and a faithful servant of Jehovah, he would at once have sent the messengers away and refused their request, as he must then have known that God would not curse His chosen people. But Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness. This corruptness of his heart obscured his mind, so that he turned to God not as a mere form, but with the intention and in the hope of obtaining the consent of God to his undertaking. And God came to him in the night, and made known His will. (Keil)

When we know God’s Word and it is clear on right and wrong, and yet, we try to come up with a way to lessen our sin or tolerance of what is wrong, we fall into a path that will allow human reason and logic to cloud the Word of God. We do well to stand firm against taking part in any plans that we know are not of God, God-honoring, being an example for others to follow, or that cause us to lose unity within our fellowship with other believers. Just because we are weak in our understanding and knowledge does not give us room to play in the realm of what is wrong in God’s eyes.

47.x. “Wilderness” – 12.c. “Balak and Balaam”

Num 22:1 Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Israel was, at this point, on the move. They had basically finished their 38-year exile in the wilderness, and then progressed towards Canaan, coming closer than the previous generation of unbelief. They would remain in this general area (the plains of Moab…across from Jericho) for about a year, when the book of Joshua describes their crossing the Jordan and attack on Jericho.

A man named Balaam suddenly appears in Numbers. We do not know how he came to be regarded as a prophet or a man with spiritual powers, but King Balak certainly knew Balaam’s reputation. As the account continues, it will be clear that Balaam had some knowledge of the true God, the God of Israel, that went beyond a vague spiritual connection (such as the specific mention of the LORD in Numbers 22:8). How Balaam came to know the true God is unclear; he was (in this regard) like Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18) and Jethro (Exodus 18), men who were not Israelites, but they came to some knowledge of the true God. King Balak wanted Balaam to curse Israel, to cripple them spiritually so they could be defeated in battle. Balak seemed to know the strength of Israel was spiritually rooted, and they had to be cut off from their source of power if they were to be conquered. (Guzik)

None had so great a reputation as Balaam; and Balak will employ him, though he send a great way for him. It is not known whether the Lord had ever spoken to Balaam, or by him, before this; though it is probable he had, and it is certain he did afterwards. Yet we have abundant proof that he lived and died a wicked man, an enemy to God and his people. And the curse shall not come upon us if there is not a cause, even though men utter it. To prevail with Balaam, they took the wages of unrighteousness, but God laid restraint upon Balaam, forbidding him to curse Israel. Balaam was no stranger to Israel’s cause; so that he ought to have answered the messengers at once, that he would never curse a people whom God had blessed; but he takes a night’s time to consider what he should do. When we parley with temptations, we are in great danger of being overcome. Balaam was not faithful in returning God’s answer to the messengers. Those are a fair mark for Satan’s temptation, who lessen Divine restraints; as if to go against God’s law were only to go without his leave. The messengers also are not faithful in returning Balaam’s answer to Balak. (Henry)

47.w. “Wilderness” – 12.b. “God’s battles, Israel’s victory”

Num 21:21-25 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into field or vineyard. We will not drink the water of a well. We will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.” But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong. And Israel took all these cities, and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.

Num 21:31-35 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.

As was the case with the Edomites, the Amorites would not let Israel pass through their land – even though the Israelites promised it would be of no expense or trouble to the Amorites. The Edomites threatened Israel and gathered their army, but they did not attack Israel. The Amorites were different. They attacked Israel and King Sihon led the battle. It was not unrighteous of God to harden Sihon because he was not originally favorable towards Israel. God did not change Sihon’s heart to make him attack Israel. God simply gave Sihon over to what his evil heart desired. (Guzik)

Sihon went with his forces against Israel, out of his own borders, without provocation, and so ran upon his own ruin. The enemies of God’s church often perish by the counsels they think most wisely taken. Og, king of Bashan, instead of being warned by the fate of his neighbours, to make peace with Israel, makes war with them, which proves in like manner his destruction. Wicked men do their utmost to secure themselves and their possessions against the judgments of God; but all in vain, when the day comes on which they must fall. God gave Israel success, while Moses was with them, that he might see the beginning of the glorious work, though he must not live to see it finished. This was, in comparison, but as the day of small things, yet it was an earnest of great things. We must prepare for fresh conflicts and enemies. We must make no peace or truce with the powers of darkness, nor even treat with them; nor should we expect any pause in our contest. But, trusting in God, and obeying his commands, we shall be more than conquerors over every enemy. (Henry)

It is not a good thing to harden your heart against things of God and His plans and purposes. When we become complacent and neglectful there is a hardening of the heart. It is a hardening against the things of God. It might not be as blatant as these two Ammorite kings but surely it is just as fruitful in the lack of hearing and knowing the will of God. Just because you are not aware does not mean there is no battle being fought. The effects of neglect and complacency are not having a growing knowledge and understanding of the things of God. You can see this in the confusion and discernment between what is right and wrong. Social and news media outlets proclaim the most foolish reasons for homosexuality, transgender, gay pride, pornography, abortion, not to mention – looting and destruction, climate change, etc…….. The problem is that too many people who say they believe in God, do not have a firm stance or commitment against these things because they have no desire to grow in knowledge and understanding. They are not blind to it, but rather, they have no reference to understand it is wrong. They bite on to the false sound bites and narratives of those who deny and reject God, as if it is truth.

Our culture and society boastful proclamations are not a place to find truth. Be careful not to take in too much of it and lose your God honoring and glorifying purpose.

Pathway to Victory – Devotional

The Foolishness Of God

The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

–1 Corinthians 1:25

In the 1990s, William J. Bennett, former secretary of education under Ronald Reagan, published a book about social and educational trends between 1960 and 1997. During that time, though government spending on education increased, there was also a 467 percent increase in violent crime, a 461 percent increase in illegitimate births, and a 200 percent increase in the teenage suicide rate, while SAT scores plummeted by almost 60 points.

That is the paradox of our age: even though we worship at the shrine of human education and philosophy, our society is becoming increasingly illiterate and morally decadent. Why is that? Because the so-called wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. Human wisdom cannot answer the problems of our day, and it certainly cannot answer the big questions of life. Remember, Solomon tried to find meaning in life by pursuing wisdom. But he found that apart from God, philosophy was meaningless. The apostle Paul explored this same theme in 1 Corinthians. The Corinthians, like other Greeks in that day, worshiped human philosophy.

What is philosophy? It is man’s attempt to provide answers to our origin, our purpose, and our destiny in life. In Corinth, there were a number of philosophical parties, and the Corinthian Christians were bringing their philosophies into the church. As a result, the church was divided over different human philosophical systems. But human wisdom is bankrupt to provide real answers in life. Yes, disciplines such as mathematics and science can tell us certain things about this world, but they cannot tell us why we are here or what happens to us after we die.

We are taught that we are just biological accidents, that we sprang from nothingness. Where does that kind of philosophy lead a person? Evolutionist William Provine said it this way: “Let me summarize my views on what modern evolutionary biology tells us loud and clear. . . . There are no gods, no purposes, and no goal-directed forces of any kind. There is no life after death. . . . There is no ultimate foundation for ethics, no ultimate meaning in life, and no free will for humans, either.”

That is the bankruptcy of human philosophy. Apart from God, philosophy is utterly worthless. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, we are going to see the limitations of human wisdom against the power of God’s so-called foolishness.