God Limits Evil in the Earth

In this section of the Bible dealing with the period between the “fall of man” and the initiation of the first “redemptive covenant” (with Abraham), God acted to limit the manifestation of evil in mankind due to the influence of Satan. He reduced the “gene pool” of mankind by causing all future generations to be descended from one righteous family. He reduced the lifespan of man by an order of magnitude (from 900 + years to a theoretical limit of 120 years). Finally, He confused the language at Babel making human cooperation very difficult.

The account of Noah presents us with some insight into way that God views “human progress”. It appears that God has predetermined limits on such development. During the days of Noah, mankind (daughters of Adam) was evidently interactive with spiritual beings (sons of god) resulting in offspring referred to as “Nephilim” or “fallen ones”. These are the “men of renown” from ancient times, literally, from eternity. Since God acted to destroy these “mighty men” we must consider them as evil relative to God’s purpose. Only Noah and his immediate family were survived the flood.

God used the mechanism of the “great flood’ to accomplish His purpose. Noah, his immediate family, and pairs of the various species of the animal kingdom were preserved in the ark. From these the earth was repopulated. The sign of the rainbow was given to assure man that God would not intervene in this same way again. We must understand that God did not indicate that He would not intervene in some other way.

God’s appraisal of the progress being made by mankind was:

“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)

We presume that the reason for this assessment and God’s subsequent intervention is a result of the interaction between the “daughters of man” and the “sons of god” previously stated. Judging from the whole Biblical account, I speculate that man was on the verge of destroying himself at least in the sense of God’s creative purpose for him. He intervened for this reason.

From my study of the Bible both from a historic perspective and from a prophetic perspective, I will set forth the hypothesis that God will intervene in human affairs in order to prevent man from self-annihilation. Later, in the Genesis account, God again intervened to retard human progress at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). This, I believe, prevented man from reestablishing contact with the “sons of god” as had occurred in the pre-flood generations.

Will God intervene in the future? I believe that He is in the process of doing so and has been for millennia. Indeed the whole of Biblical revelation paints such a picture. I believe that we are very late in this intervention. In what way will He intervene? Well, we know that it won’t be by a great flood. Instead, Bible prophecy indicates that God is in the process of establishing a king over all of mankind who will,

“And He shall rule them with a rod of iron”. (Revelation 2:27a)

This is the rule of the Messiah coming to Israel who is “King of Kings and Lord of Lord”. (Revelation 19:16b)

Four thousand years ago God began preparing to establish a king over the human community. We can see it in the revelation through Abraham. Gradually, over long periods of time, the prophetic picture was laid down. Two thousand years ago, God intervened through the person of Jesus. Subsequently, He has chosen individuals to be “born from above” who walk in the Holy Spirit in a manner like that of Jesus. This is the true church that follows Jesus in the Spirit. Now, in our own days, Israel has been gathered in from the nations and dwells in their own land as an independent nation once again. Soon, we believe that Jesus will return from the heavenly realm and establish His rule on the throne of David in Jerusalem in the midst of Israel. God has chosen Israel to be the “host” country for His kingdom and Jerusalem to be the seat of His government.

In the book of revelation, these events are seen as the ultimate judgment on the rebellious human community. John declared:

“The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah and He will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15b)

So we see that God has and will intervene in the human community to limit and ultimately eliminate the manifestation of evil from the world He created. He limited man’s lifespan, reduced the “gene pool” for the generations following Noah and limited human cooperation at Babel. He is now in the process of establishing a reigning King on the throne of David in Jerusalem. God:

“is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity”. (Psalm 98:9b)

Judge in the Hebrew sense means to “rule over” as in the period of the Judges of Israel. The Great King will rule over the house of Israel and through them the whole world population.

Praise the Holy One of Israel. His redemption is near.

The final words of Moses to Israel reveal that he understood what would happen in their future.  Obviously, God revealed to Moses, the prophet, these things.  God knew that Israel would act unfaithfully after they had entered the land that He was giving them (Deuteronomy 31:16-18).  We know now, due to hindsight, that this would lead to Israel being dispersed from the land.  This happened about 800 years after the days of Moses.  Jeremiah was the prophet who functioned at the time when Israel was being judged leading to their dispersion.  He declared the reason for the judgment:

The Lord said, “Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice nor walked according to it.”

Jeremiah 9:13

As a result, God’s people were driven from the land.

We have previously summarized our position concerning the addendum to the Sinai covenant announced by God at Mt. Nebo.  This is sometimes referred to as the “Covenant in Moab” or “the Palestinian Covenant”.  This latter label is absurd but is commonly used.  The Covenant made at Mt. Sinai dealt with the relationship between God and His people.  This was an extension of the previous covenant made with Abraham and is eternal (Genesis 17:19).  The covenant addendum made at Mt. Nebo established what would be required of Israel to occupy and continuously possess the land of Israel.  This was Israel’s work of ministry and was conditional upon their faithfulness.  If they were unfaithful, they would be judged.  The ultimate judgment if they continued in unfaithfulness would be their exile from the land.   When Israel failed with regard to this addendum, God did not want anyone to conclude that He had cut off His people.  Jeremiah understood this.  He declared at the time of the dispersion:

Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The Lord of hosts is His name; “If this fixed order departs from before Me, declares the Lord, “Then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever,  Thus says the Lord, “If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out below; Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah 31:35-37

Note that Jeremiah is referring to the relationship aspect of the covenant.

Paul, in his letter to the church at Rome, declared the same message.  He wrote,

I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! ; and “I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be!.”

Romans 11:1a; Romans 11:11a

Clearly, Paul understood the distinction between the relationship aspects of Israel’s covenant and the ministry aspects of it.  It is unfortunate that the Church Fathers of subsequent centuries did not grasp what Paul understood.  They concluded that God revoked His relationship with Israel and replaced them with the Church.  This is the unscriptural doctrine of “Replacement Theology” common in Christian thought today.

God is calling real, committed believers to recognize the simple truth of Israel’s election and to identify with Israel rather than with the “universal church” and to function alongside of Israel in the quest for the Kingdom of God coming to planet earth.  A famous rabbi once prayed:

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven….”

Matthew 6:10

In order to grasp the significance of the events leading to the death of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, we must consider the entire setting for this event.  The Tabernacle had been erected and the Glory of the Lord had filled it.  All the congregation of Israel witnessed this awesome heavenly event.  Afterward, the Lord called Moses and commanded him concerning the offerings (Korban or approaches) which outlined how Israel was to approach the Lord.  Next came the distinguishing of the priest from the common people (ordination).  Moses dressed Aaron and his sons in their priestly attire and made sin, peace, gift and burnt offerings for them.  He sprinkled them with the blood of the offerings and with the anointing oil.  Aaron and his sons were not permitted to leave the tent of meeting for seven days, the days of consecration.

On the eight day, after being instructed by Moses, Aaron and his sons prepared to make offering for the sons of Israel.  This was the first time Aaron and his sons acted in this capacity.  When the “olah” was prepared and placed on the altar, fire came out from the Lord and consumed the offering.  All the people saw this.  They shouted and fell down on their faces.  A “holy fire” had been kindled on the altar.

Evidently, following the seven days that Aaron and his sons were separated from the sons of Israel and from their families, they must have left the tent of meeting and returned to their families.  They must have been in a celebratory mood from completing the days of consecration and having been greatly exalted before the congregation.  From the comments made after the death of Nadab and Abihu, they must have gotten into the toddy at bit too much (Leviticus 10:9). 

A part of their priestly duty was to place fire in their firepans and burn incense before the Lord.  Later, we see the incense as representing the “prayer of God’s people” symbolically being placed in the presence of the Lord (Revelation 5:8).  The fire that should have been used was from the supernatural burning on the altar which occurred when fire from the Lord had devoured the “olah” (burnt offering) which had just been made.  We conclude that due to their intoxication, Nadab and Abihu must have placed something like burning coals from their home fire and carried it into the Holy Place.  The fire of the Lord came out and consumed them.  They died there.  Their bodies were carried out by Levites who were chosen for that duty and they were buried outside the camp.

We learn an awesome lesson from this event.  The Lord declared to Moses:

“By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored” (Leviticus 10:2).

The Lord declares:

“Be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44b)

As a follower of Messiah Jesus, I believe that we should take this message very seriously.  We, as believers, confess that in Messiah Jesus we have been called to come near to the Lord, to know Him and to serve Him.  I have no tolerance for false humility or fake honor, but I believe that when we come before the Lord in prayer or worship, we should do so exhibiting the deepest respect and honor to the Lord.  I don’t believe in wearing such things as exalted religious robes, but I don’t believe we should be too casual either.  Certainly, God is moved more by a loving, humble spirit than by our outward attire.  I always think in these terms: if I were invited to attend an important function to honor some individual who had attained great fame or honor, would I come in jeans, t-shirt and shower shoes.  No, I would dress appropriately for the occasion.  In prayer and worship, we confess that we are appearing before the King of Kings, and the Lord of the Universe.  Don’t come drunk and bring a coat and tie.