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NASB | Genesis 28:15 "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 28:15 "Behold, I am with you and will keep [careful watch over you and guard] you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this [promised] land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." |
Bible Question:
I was just reading this thread and found it to be interesting. I noticed you didn't really complete the line of thought you started with this post. So this line of reasoning begs the question: ARE we indeed our brother's or sister's keeper? I don't really see how we could consider this question from God, Creator of the Universe to be rhetorical. I'll wait for your response and then sumit my opinion. I would humbly suggest Ja 5:13-18 could be included in this discussion. What do you think? Blessings to you. Country Girl |
Bible Answer: Hi Country Girl, "This question from God", you wrote. However, this question was the question from Cain. One of the reasons why we know that the Scriptures are the word of God is that the thoughts and words of people are not censored and people's actions are recorded whether they put them in good light or not. Nothing has been glossed over or meant to be edited by man. Thus, Cain's words to God, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" are included in the Genesis account. I study from the NASB and NKJ which have the words of Deity in capital letters, so it is very apparent to me that the words are Cain's. Gen 4:9, NASB, "And he [sic] said,..." I believe that James can be a good book to include in the discussion. James 3:8, "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." As a counter of pronouns, I go with the NKJ for James 4:5, "Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." 1) Cain should have submitted to God. We know from Gen 4:5 that God had no regard for his offering and that Cain was angry and unhappy. God told him that he should master these choices and attitudes that have sin crouching at the door. Instead, after discussing these things with Abel, he killed him. The prison "keeper" has to be aware that in the discussions with the inmates that indeed sin may be crouching at the door. He should be willing and anxious to share spiritual things with them, but also be aware that discussions do not always result in good conclusions. 2) Yet, the book of James and Genesis would tell us that all men were made in the likeness of God. Genesis 5:1, "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God." Also James 6:9 above. James 5:15, "and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16, Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." I didn't include verse 14 with the James 5 quote. Could a prison keeper bring spiritual healing and forgiveness of sins without the inclusion of the church and its elders, and the annointing oil? I know that Elijah prayed alone, and verse nineteen talks about "the one who turns him back." Perhaps we can go from James to Acts 15:14-19 for comparison/contrasts. Acts 15:19 says, "Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles..." The prison keeper should be turning the inmates to God for forgiveness and healing. From the heart, Ray |