At last! I graduated!!!
That’s a joke – a lame one. What I actually did was retire. Every May, as the graduating senior class – dressed in black robes and tasseled caps – filed past their excited fans, the thought used to pop into my mind, “Someday I’ll graduate too.”
It was a bitter-sweet thought. Now, it’s a bitter-sweet reality. I’ll miss working with friends and helping young scholars in their march to adulthood. But it was time, so I packed up and moved on.
Fresh Starts
My mother always used the term “commencement,” instead of “graduation.” Her vision for her students went far beyond that precious diploma. She saw them spilling out into the exciting adventures of college, careers, and families. She saw beginnings for them, not an ending.
But what about retirement? Now, that word sounds like an ending. And it is, but it is only the ending of one phase of life. Anybody can strike out in new directions and explore new trails. Even me…
My New Direction
A few months ago, I signed on to a business called Brand Ambassadors so I could join the vast army of marketers who recommend the products on amazon.com. Actually, I’m still trying to learn how the business works – it’s harder than it looks. But I finally took the step of becoming an Amazon Associate.
The creator/CEO/trainer for Brand Ambassadors is Chris. Chris strongly advises that we write about and recommend products we love. Otherwise, the business becomes tedious and draining. Accordingly, I have an idea I’m going to be doing a lot of writing about books. And the first book I’d like to tell you about is The Unseen Realm, Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible by Michael S. Heiser.
Say What?
I’ve always marveled at the lie Aaron told Moses after he made the golden calf. “I tossed a hunk of gold into the fire, and this calf just popped out,” Aaron said. (My paraphrase of Exodus 32:24.) I never understood why Moses’ response wasn’t something like, “Say what?!”
Now, I realize YOU never lie, but if you were going to lie, wouldn’t you make your lie sound reasonable? I’m sure Aaron was no dummy. Does that mean his lie WAS reasonable? Back in those days, did anybody EVER toss gold into a fire and then pull out fully formed idols? If they did, it’s a guarantee that God didn’t shape the gold into calves. Or frogs. Or birds. Or fishes. Or whatevers. Then who did?
What about this? How were the Egyptian magicians able to duplicate a couple of Moses’ miracles – namely turning rods into snakes and turning water into blood? I always told myself it was some kind of clever trick. But that’s not what the Bible says.
The Unseen Realm
Enter Michael S. Heiser, Ph.D. …
Now, I know Dr. Heiser isn’t the only person who has ever written about the unseen mysteries surrounding us. But he is knowledgeable and authentic. His prose is understandable. And his books are the ones God chose to bring across my path – a fact for which I am devoutly grateful because The Unseen Realm, Uncovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible was the book I had been looking for. (Although I didn’t know it at the time.)
Like the golden calf incident, there are many passages in the Bible that generate question marks in the reader’s mind. As for me, I have generally wondered about them a few minutes – if I paid them any attention, at all – but then I would usually shrug and move on to passages easier to understand.
Not Dr. Heiser! He has written whole books to share his understanding of puzzling passages. On page 20 of The Unseen Realm, he writes, “…my contention in this book is that if it’s weird, it’s important.” (Author’s emphasis.) Ya gotta’ luv a guy with that much curiosity and spunk!
The Book I’d Been Looking For
I came across Dr. Heiser by the merest fluke. I was watching a webinar by a guy who was, for some forgotten reason, showing his audience around his house. In his library, he pulled out a book by Michael Heiser. I don’t remember what he said to spark my interest, but I ordered it.
Of course, I purchased it on audible first. As I listened to it, I realized I needed a hard copy. I was missing too much “meat” by just using my ear gate. I needed to see the words.
When I received the book, I used it in my devotional time for weeks. I would look up every Bible verse, as it was mentioned in the text, and some days I was reading a few paragraphs and a lot of Scripture. Since I finished reading the hard copy, I have listened to the audio version a couple more times.
I believe my understanding of the Bible is now deeper and more accurate. I’m usually the last person on the block to know what’s going on, so you may have read The Unseen Realm years ago. But if you haven’t read it, it just might be the book you’ve been looking for!
Michael Heiser
Dr. Heiser, who died in February at the age of 60, studied Bible languages (Hebrew and Semitic), also the history of Bible times. He had extensive experience teaching those subjects at the college level. He also lectured and authored books in his areas of expertise.
One of Heiser’s passions was to help students of the Bible understand the importance of reading Scripture from the perspective of those who wrote it. When we study the Bible, assuming its writers thought the same way 21st century Christians think, we miss much of the depth and even the truth of what God wants us to understand.
Please rest assured that Dr. Heiser’s Christianity is completely orthodox. However, because of his years of study and research, he is able to bring light and richness to scripture passages that have long been shrouded in mystery.
If you want to know more, Dr. Heiser’s website provides a wealth of information. There, you will find podcasts, blogs, and videos. Here’s a link to his site: Michael S. Heiser.
The Book You’ve Been Looking For
I hope you’ll check out Dr. Heiser’s The Unseen Realm, Uncovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible. If you’ll go to amazon.com and read Chapter One of the book, I believe you’ll be intrigued. That chapter certainly captured my attention! (It’s a short chapter, only 3 pages.)
Photo credit: Rtanvir on pixabay
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