"For this is what the LORD
Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Houses, fields and vineyards will again be
bought in this land" (Jer. 32:15).
In the scriptures we discover a difference in the way the Hebrew mind viewed
things compared to the way many Westerners relate to God. Hebrews used something
called Block Logic. That is, concepts were expressed in self-contained units or
blocks of thought. These blocks did not necessarily fit together in any obvious
rational or harmonious pattern.
Greek logic, which has influenced the Western world, was different. The
Greeks often used tightly contained step logic which reason a premise to a
conclusion, each step linked tightly to the next in coherent, rational, logical
fashion.
This is why some Bible stories don't make sense to the western mind. It is
particularly difficult for Westerners - those whose thought-patterns have been
influenced more by the Greeks and Romans than by the Hebrews - to piece together
the block logic of Scripture.
Consider Jeremiah and God's instruction to purchase land in a seemingly
inopportune time. If I asked you to purchase some land when you knew that the
country you were living in was about to be invaded and you were sure to be
placed under arrest, how wise do you believe such an investment would be? Do you
believe God would lead you to make such an investment? That is exactly what God
told Jeremiah to do. However, God had a good reason for having Jeremiah make
such a purchase. It was to be a testimony and a promise that God was going to
restore the Jews to their land.
Hebrews made decisions based on obedience. Greeks (and Westerners) often made
decisions on logic and reason. If the early church made decisions based on a pro
and con method of decision-making, there would be no miracles in the Bible.
i.e., such as getting the coin from the fish's mouth, walking around the walls
of Jericho to take the city, Peter walking on water, etc.
We are not to question God's instructions. We are simply to obey.
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