Hebrew Bible and Christian Scriptures

Our conversation in class about election added terminology that was new to me.   “Growing” or “moving” into election explains more concisely what I believe and what the simple term “election” misses.  The term “election” by itself presents a semantic problem that doctrinal teachings and theological ideals exaggerate in some traditions and that other traditions attempt to explain away.  Viewing the Hebrew people as growing into the place as God’s chosen is much more in keeping with the New Testament (Baptist) traditions of free will choice balanced with election.   It also provides a picture of the grace and mercy of God and His dealings with a willful, stubborn people.  The nation – the people as a whole were not all among the chosen – not all of them chose to be chosen.  Some who chose to be chosen were not racially connected or connected through familial bonds to the Hebrew race – but for those who did choose there were blessings and honored promises within conditional covenant with God.

Im very curious concerning the development of satan in the hebrew culture.  I think he was first sen in Chronicles  and then shows up in Job.  The power that Satan posses in Job seems extreme to what has been seen so far through the scriptures.  One could argure the the book of Job is where Satan seems the most powerful.  Why is this abd where did this figure come from?

Satan seams to have control over whatever God grants him.  Therefore almost making God the cause of all evil since Satan must ask permission for him to act.  How does this effect the Hebrew vision of God?  He can do both good and evil and still be all good.  It reminds me a lot of Luther’s hidden God.  I wonder what the Hebrews would think of that sort of view of God.

Also this book is very miss understood today.  The end of Job really confuses a lot of people and God look like a punk at the end.  What about the Hebrew culture does the world need to know before they understand Job.

Here is how some people view Job today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdDD5O0t64A&feature=related