WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.100 Welcome back to the deep dive, everybody. Today 00:00:02.100 --> 00:00:05.679 we're going way back, like way, way back to an 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:08.439 ancient text. Oh yeah, really old stuff. We're 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:10.500 gonna be checking out the final words and like 00:00:10.500 --> 00:00:14.380 the last moments of a guy named Topit. You know, 00:00:14.619 --> 00:00:16.379 somebody sent this in, a listener sent this in. 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:18.179 Right. And they're really interested in, you 00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:20.699 know, sort of timeless wisdom. Yeah. You know, 00:00:21.219 --> 00:00:25.620 how did people, how did people back then think 00:00:25.620 --> 00:00:29.039 about dying? How did they deal with death? Yeah, 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:31.399 exactly. How do they look at the end of their 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:33.200 life and their legacy and all of that? Yeah. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:37.479 And so we have these excerpts here from the end 00:00:37.479 --> 00:00:39.700 of the Book of Tobit. Right. This is the conclusion 00:00:39.700 --> 00:00:43.079 of the Book of Tobit and it details his final 00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:45.240 instructions that he gives to his son Tobiah. 00:00:45.479 --> 00:00:47.640 Okay. And then it goes on to talk about his deaths 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:51.280 and then even a little bit about Tobiah's life 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:53.579 after that. So it really is like the conclusion 00:00:53.579 --> 00:00:56.439 of his life and his final words. Exactly. So 00:00:56.439 --> 00:00:58.500 our goal today is to kind of unpack this. What 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:01.539 are the key pieces of advice that he gives? What 00:01:01.539 --> 00:01:04.780 was going on? What was happening around him as 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:07.260 he kind of prophesies about the future and what 00:01:07.260 --> 00:01:08.959 do we What can we take away from this today? 00:01:09.140 --> 00:01:11.640 Like, why does this matter? Right. Why is this 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:13.519 relevant? Why are we spending time talking about 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:16.180 this today? Yeah, yeah. And so one of the first 00:01:16.180 --> 00:01:17.980 things I noticed is that, you know, the text 00:01:17.980 --> 00:01:21.379 says that Tobit dies in peace at the age of 112. 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:26.620 Wow. And is buried with honor in Nineveh. 112. 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:29.959 That's a long life. And it sounds like kind of 00:01:29.959 --> 00:01:32.840 a good life too. Like that he had a good death. 00:01:33.019 --> 00:01:35.799 You know, it sets the stage, I think, for the 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:38.640 advice he's about to give. It does, yeah. I think 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:42.200 that detail about the peaceful death and being 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:45.219 buried with honor suggests that he was a man 00:01:45.219 --> 00:01:47.560 of significance to his community. Yeah, yeah. 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:51.560 And that I think it lends credence to the advice 00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:53.280 that he's about to give. Yeah, it makes it feel 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:57.299 like it's coming from a place of meaning, you 00:01:57.299 --> 00:02:00.140 know. Right, right. And also, we have to remember, 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:02.659 he lived for a while after he regained his sight, 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:06.459 and he experienced a period of renewed prosperity. 00:02:06.780 --> 00:02:09.039 Yeah, yeah. He went through this really hard 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:12.560 time with blindness, like 58 years. 58 years. 00:02:12.919 --> 00:02:14.500 And then he was able to get his sight back. Yeah, 00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:17.580 and he was able to become financially well off. 00:02:17.699 --> 00:02:21.060 Right. And the text really highlights... you 00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:23.460 know, the fact that he continues to give alms 00:02:23.460 --> 00:02:25.919 and to fear God. Right. It's not just like, oh, 00:02:25.939 --> 00:02:27.580 I got my sight back. Now I'm just going to live 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:29.900 it up. Yeah. You know? He's still, he's still 00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:32.419 got his priorities straight. Yeah. He's continuing 00:02:32.419 --> 00:02:35.099 to live righteously. Yeah. So I think it just 00:02:35.099 --> 00:02:37.719 gives even more weight to what he has to say. 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:40.539 Exactly. Now, things get a little interesting 00:02:40.539 --> 00:02:44.560 amidst all this peaceful stuff, like the death 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:48.629 and, you know, all of that. Yeah. He gives this 00:02:48.629 --> 00:02:51.889 urgent warning to his son, Tobiah. Right. He 00:02:51.889 --> 00:02:55.090 commands him to leave, to leave Nineveh, to leave 00:02:55.090 --> 00:02:58.150 and go to media and take his family with him. 00:02:58.310 --> 00:03:00.449 And this is really a key piece of advice that 00:03:00.449 --> 00:03:03.099 he gives. Yeah. And the reasoning behind it is 00:03:03.099 --> 00:03:05.099 really fascinating to me because it has to do 00:03:05.099 --> 00:03:08.500 with his belief in prophecy. Yes. And specifically, 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:12.400 he mentions Nahum, a prophet who spoke against 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:15.560 Nineveh centuries earlier. Right. But he also 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:18.099 kind of groups in other prophets as well, other 00:03:18.099 --> 00:03:20.860 Israelite prophets that spoke of the downfall 00:03:20.860 --> 00:03:23.840 of Nineveh and Assyria. And what I find so compelling 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:27.139 is the certainty in his words. Yeah, the conviction. 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:30.000 It's not just a suggestion. He's giving a command 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:31.830 based on And it's complete belief that these 00:03:31.830 --> 00:03:35.139 prophecies will happen. Yeah, he says to Tobiah, 00:03:35.479 --> 00:04:03.009 I'm quoting here, he says, I know and believe 00:04:03.009 --> 00:04:05.150 that whatever God has said will be accomplished. 00:04:05.530 --> 00:04:08.530 It will happen and not a single word of the prophecies 00:04:08.530 --> 00:04:10.949 will fail. Wow. I mean... That is quite a declaration. 00:04:11.409 --> 00:04:13.889 Quite a powerful declaration of faith and really 00:04:13.889 --> 00:04:16.370 the power of prophecy. Right. And I'm trying 00:04:16.370 --> 00:04:18.350 to put myself in their shoes, you know? Like 00:04:18.350 --> 00:04:20.529 what would it be like to live with that certainty? 00:04:20.910 --> 00:04:23.009 Yeah, to have that level of conviction about 00:04:23.009 --> 00:04:25.430 the future. Yeah. It's really fascinating to 00:04:25.430 --> 00:04:27.290 think about. And, you know, it's not just about 00:04:27.290 --> 00:04:30.610 Nineveh. He kind of broadens the scope to the 00:04:30.610 --> 00:04:32.810 future of Israel, doesn't he? He does, yeah. 00:04:32.889 --> 00:04:35.350 He talks about the Israelites being scattered, 00:04:35.610 --> 00:04:38.750 being taken away from their homeland. Over. He 00:04:38.750 --> 00:04:41.389 predicts that the land itself will become desolate. 00:04:41.569 --> 00:04:43.910 Yeah. He even mentioned specifically Samaria 00:04:43.910 --> 00:04:46.629 and Jerusalem becoming barren. Yeah. And then 00:04:46.629 --> 00:04:48.750 perhaps the most dramatic prediction is that 00:04:48.750 --> 00:04:51.230 the house of God will will be desolate. It will 00:04:51.230 --> 00:04:55.089 be burned. Right. And this is a major thing, 00:04:55.250 --> 00:04:57.610 right? Like the house of God, the temple, is 00:04:57.610 --> 00:05:01.269 super central to their faith. Exactly. It's at 00:05:01.269 --> 00:05:04.370 the heart of their identity. Yeah. And he says, 00:05:04.629 --> 00:05:07.089 and I'm quoting again, as for our kindred who 00:05:07.089 --> 00:05:09.850 dwell in the land of Israel, they will all be 00:05:09.850 --> 00:05:12.509 scattered and taken into captivity from the good 00:05:12.509 --> 00:05:15.949 land. All the land of Israel will become a wilderness. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:18.980 Even Samaria and Jerusalem will be a wilderness. 00:05:19.699 --> 00:05:22.279 For a time, the house of God will be desolate 00:05:22.279 --> 00:05:26.019 and will be burned." So it's a pretty stark picture 00:05:26.019 --> 00:05:28.420 that he's painting, isn't it? It is, yeah. Yeah. 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:32.519 Yeah. It's not a very hopeful picture, but it's 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:34.220 important to remember that this is not all that 00:05:34.220 --> 00:05:36.819 he says. Yeah, yeah. This isn't the end. This 00:05:36.819 --> 00:05:41.079 isn't the end of the story. He does talk about 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:44.060 an eventual restoration. Oh, okay. So there's 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:46.439 hope. There is hope, yes. Okay. So after all 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:49.300 this bad stuff, he's saying, like, good stuff 00:05:49.300 --> 00:05:52.339 is going to happen. He's saying that God will 00:05:52.339 --> 00:05:56.040 show mercy. Okay. And will bring the Israelites 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:59.819 back to their land. Okay. And that they will 00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:02.839 rebuild the house of God. Right, right. But there's 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:04.680 a catch, isn't there? There's a catch, yes. Because 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:09.329 he says that... it won't be like the first temple 00:06:09.329 --> 00:06:12.149 until a future time, like he says until the appointed 00:06:12.149 --> 00:06:14.750 times are completed. Right, right. He's basically 00:06:14.750 --> 00:06:16.550 saying that there is going to be a rebuilding, 00:06:16.870 --> 00:06:19.769 but it's not the final restoration. Yeah, yeah. 00:06:19.889 --> 00:06:22.050 So this isn't like the ultimate, everything's 00:06:22.050 --> 00:06:24.149 perfect again. This is just like step one of 00:06:24.149 --> 00:06:26.850 a longer process. Exactly, exactly. Like God's 00:06:26.850 --> 00:06:29.069 plan is much bigger than just this rebuilding. 00:06:29.449 --> 00:06:32.649 Yeah, yeah. And I like that he acknowledges that. 00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:35.259 Yeah. That it's not just like, oh, everything's 00:06:35.259 --> 00:06:37.540 fixed. We're done. Right. It's going to take 00:06:37.540 --> 00:06:40.420 time. Yeah. And there's more to come. Yeah. And 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:43.639 speaking of more to come, his vision expands 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:45.860 even further, doesn't it? It does, yeah. Because 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:48.199 he starts talking about all nations turning to 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:50.420 God. Right. All the nations of the world. Well, 00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:52.920 just not just Israel anymore. Right. Right. He's 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:55.319 really broadening the scope here. He's saying 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:59.500 that everyone will turn and worship the true 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:02.910 God? Yeah. and they'll cast aside their idols. 00:07:03.230 --> 00:07:06.970 Okay, so he's painting this picture of a future 00:07:06.970 --> 00:07:09.290 where everybody is recognizing God. Exactly, 00:07:09.569 --> 00:07:12.870 the whole world recognizing and worshiping the 00:07:12.870 --> 00:07:16.370 one true God. Yeah, yeah. And he says, all the 00:07:16.370 --> 00:07:18.290 nations of the world will turn and reverence 00:07:18.290 --> 00:07:20.689 God in truth. All will cast away their idols, 00:07:20.889 --> 00:07:23.449 which have deceitfully led them into error. They 00:07:23.449 --> 00:07:25.569 will bless the God of the ages in righteousness. 00:07:26.320 --> 00:07:28.459 It's such a powerful image, isn't it? It is. 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:30.240 It really is. And it kind of makes you wonder, 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:32.120 like, what would that look like? Yeah. What would 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:33.920 that kind of transformation look like? Yeah. 00:07:34.459 --> 00:07:36.019 How would the world be different if that happened? 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:38.800 Yeah. And he goes on to talk about the faithful 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:40.939 Israelites being gathered together in Jerusalem. 00:07:41.500 --> 00:07:42.899 Right. And they're going to be dwelling in the 00:07:42.899 --> 00:07:46.620 land promised to Abraham. Yeah. Living there 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:50.019 securely. Yeah. And he makes this real clear 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:52.970 distinction, doesn't he? Yes. Between... between 00:07:52.970 --> 00:07:56.430 the righteous who will experience joy and the 00:07:56.430 --> 00:07:58.990 wicked who will disappear. Right. So it's not 00:07:58.990 --> 00:08:01.050 just like everybody goes to this happy place. 00:08:01.329 --> 00:08:04.389 Right, right. There's a separation. There's consequences. 00:08:04.990 --> 00:08:08.209 It's about justice. Yeah. Divine justice. Yeah. 00:08:08.529 --> 00:08:11.589 And he actually says, and I'm quoting again, 00:08:12.540 --> 00:08:15.540 All the Israelites, truly mindful of God, who 00:08:15.540 --> 00:08:18.060 are to be saved in those days, will be gathered 00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:21.220 together and will come to Jerusalem. In security 00:08:21.220 --> 00:08:23.680 will they dwell forever in the land of Abraham, 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:26.540 which will be given to them. Those who love God 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:29.420 sincerely will rejoice, but those who commit 00:08:29.420 --> 00:08:31.560 sin and wickedness will disappear completely 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:34.879 from the land. Wow. It's pretty intense. Yeah. 00:08:35.070 --> 00:08:38.370 Yeah, powerful stuff. But along with these prophecies 00:08:38.370 --> 00:08:41.269 about the future, he also gives some really practical 00:08:41.269 --> 00:08:44.370 advice to his children. Right. Yeah. It's not 00:08:44.370 --> 00:08:46.009 all just like, oh, this is going to happen in 00:08:46.009 --> 00:08:48.990 the future. Right, right. There's also this focus 00:08:48.990 --> 00:08:53.110 on how to live in the present. Right. in the 00:08:53.110 --> 00:08:56.009 here and now. Yeah. And he basically commands 00:08:56.009 --> 00:08:58.889 them. He says, serve God sincerely and do what 00:08:58.889 --> 00:09:01.210 is pleasing in his sight. Right. And then he 00:09:01.210 --> 00:09:03.570 also says, you must instruct your children to 00:09:03.570 --> 00:09:05.789 do what is right and to give alms, to be mindful 00:09:05.789 --> 00:09:08.629 of God and at all times to bless his name sincerely 00:09:08.629 --> 00:09:11.230 and with all their strength. Yeah. So there's 00:09:11.230 --> 00:09:15.610 this real focus on... individual faith. Yeah. 00:09:15.830 --> 00:09:18.830 But also the responsibility to pass those values 00:09:18.830 --> 00:09:22.129 on. Yeah. To like teach your kids. Exactly. It's 00:09:22.129 --> 00:09:24.509 not just about you. Yeah. It's about it's about 00:09:24.509 --> 00:09:27.769 creating a like a legacy of faith. Right. And 00:09:27.769 --> 00:09:30.669 good works. Yeah. Yeah. And he also emphasizes 00:09:30.669 --> 00:09:32.990 the importance of leaving Nineveh. Right. Right. 00:09:33.169 --> 00:09:35.350 He goes back to that. He does. He reiterates 00:09:35.350 --> 00:09:38.710 that after he and his wife are buried that Tobias 00:09:38.710 --> 00:09:40.730 should not even stay one night within the city 00:09:40.730 --> 00:09:44.039 walls. Right. because he sees the city as full 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:47.000 of wickedness and treachery. Like, he's really 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:48.779 concerned about what's going on there. And he 00:09:48.779 --> 00:09:51.399 doesn't mince words, does he? No. He says, um, 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:55.899 now, as for you, son, leave Nineveh. Do not stay 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:58.659 here. The day you bury your mother next to me, 00:09:59.019 --> 00:10:01.220 do not even stay overnight within the confines 00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:03.820 of the city, for I see that there is much wickedness 00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:06.120 in it, and much treachery is practiced in it, 00:10:06.220 --> 00:10:09.519 and people are not ashamed. Wow. So he's really 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:12.679 like, you gotta get out of here. Yes. He's very 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:15.139 serious about this. Yeah. And then he shares 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:18.179 this interesting story about Naden and Ayakar. 00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:20.960 Oh, yeah. As a way to really, really kind of 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:22.399 highlight... It's like kind of like drive home 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:26.100 this point. Exactly. Yeah. About the consequences 00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:29.360 of evil and the importance of living rightfully. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:33.019 Yeah, yeah. So tell us this story. What happened 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:35.860 with these guys? So Naden betrayed Ayakar, the 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:38.419 very man who had raised him. Oh, wow. That's 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:41.620 harsh. Yeah. And Tobit points out how... how 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:43.580 Naden's actions ultimately backfired on him. 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:46.960 While Ahikar, who was known for giving alms for 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:52.320 helping the poor, was saved. So it's like a real 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:55.220 -life example of what he's talking about. Exactly. 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:57.379 It's like, look, this actually happened. Right. 00:10:58.039 --> 00:11:00.559 This isn't just a theoretical idea. He's like, 00:11:00.820 --> 00:11:03.139 this happened in our history. Exactly. It's a 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:06.700 powerful example of how... how wickedness can 00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:09.279 lead to destruction and how righteousness can 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:13.039 lead to life can lead to being saved. And he 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:17.980 quotes, see my son, all that Nadin did to Ahikar, 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:21.480 the very one who reared him. was not Ahikar brought 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:24.500 down alive into the earth. Yet God made Nadin's 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:27.519 disgraceful crime rebound against him. Ahikar 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:29.779 came out again into the light, but Nadin went 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:32.080 into the everlasting darkness for he had tried 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:35.059 to kill Ahikar. Because Ahikar had given alms, 00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:37.299 he escaped from the deadly trap Nadin had set 00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:39.980 for him. But Nadin fell into the deadly trap 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:43.559 himself and it destroyed him. So he's really, 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:45.659 really showing the contrast between these two 00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:49.019 people and their actions. Exactly. And then he 00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:51.039 brings it all together with this really powerful 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:54.120 statement about the consequences of generosity 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:57.419 and wickedness. Yeah. Yeah. This is his last 00:11:57.419 --> 00:12:00.740 lesson, isn't it? Yeah. His final message to 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:05.100 his children. Yeah. What does he say? He says, 00:12:05.379 --> 00:12:09.879 so my children, see what almsgiving does and 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:13.700 also what wickedness does. It kills. But now 00:12:13.700 --> 00:12:15.899 my spirit is about to leave me. I mean, it's 00:12:15.899 --> 00:12:19.700 a pretty powerful way to end his counsel. It 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:21.340 is. It really sticks with you. It really makes 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:23.500 you think about the choices that we make. Right. 00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:25.879 And the consequences of those choices. Right. 00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:28.960 Yeah. And then we shift gears a little bit. The 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:31.139 story shifts and we start focusing on Tobiah. 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:34.240 Right. You know, what does he do after his father 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:36.980 dies? Well... He does what his father told him 00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:38.840 to do. Okay. He buries his parents and then he 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:41.139 moves to media with his family. Yeah. He takes 00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:43.379 that warning very seriously. Yeah. So he, he 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.779 doesn't mess around. He's like, all right, dad, 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:47.059 I'm out of here. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And then 00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:49.340 we get a little snapshot of his life in media. 00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:52.500 Right. We learned that he takes care of his wife's 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:56.320 parents. Okay. He eventually inherits their estate. 00:12:56.759 --> 00:13:00.500 And he lives to be 117 years old. Oh, wow. So 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:03.740 he also has a long life. Yes. Okay, so it seems 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:06.740 like he found that safety and prosperity Yeah, 00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:09.059 that his dad had talked about it seems that way. 00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:12.100 Yeah. Yeah, but but here's the kicker, right? 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:14.659 Yeah, he actually lives to see the destruction 00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:19.080 of Nineveh. He does he sees his father's prophecy 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:21.360 fulfilled, right? Right, so it wasn't just like 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:23.860 a crazy old man talking exactly like this really 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:26.860 happened and And he's there to see it. He's there 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:30.110 to witness it. Yeah, that's wild And it's interesting 00:13:30.110 --> 00:13:35.129 that the text specifically mentions that he praises 00:13:35.129 --> 00:13:37.509 God for this outcome. Oh, wow. So he's not like, 00:13:37.570 --> 00:13:40.110 oh, that's terrible, my home dad. No, he rejoices. 00:13:40.389 --> 00:13:42.009 He's like, yes, this is what was supposed to 00:13:42.009 --> 00:13:46.710 happen. He says, but before he died, he saw and 00:13:46.710 --> 00:13:51.029 heard of the destruction of Nidava. He saw the 00:13:51.029 --> 00:13:53.269 inhabitants of the city being led captive into 00:13:53.269 --> 00:13:57.349 media by Syaxarys, the king of media. Tobiah 00:13:57.349 --> 00:13:59.549 blessed God for all that he had done against 00:13:59.549 --> 00:14:02.990 the Nidavites and Assyrians. Before dying, he 00:14:02.990 --> 00:14:05.250 rejoiced over Nineveh and he blessed the Lord 00:14:05.250 --> 00:14:08.330 God forever and ever. It really brings everything 00:14:08.330 --> 00:14:10.570 full circle, doesn't it? It does. Like the prophecy, 00:14:10.850 --> 00:14:13.509 the warning, like it all comes to pass. It's 00:14:13.509 --> 00:14:15.549 really, really a powerful ending to the story. 00:14:15.669 --> 00:14:17.990 So what are your big takeaways here? What sticks 00:14:17.990 --> 00:14:19.889 out to you the most? Well, I think it's amazing 00:14:19.889 --> 00:14:23.789 how strong Tobit's faith was. Yeah. Like he truly 00:14:23.789 --> 00:14:26.389 believed in these prophecies. Yeah. even though 00:14:26.389 --> 00:14:28.190 he wouldn't live to see them fulfilled himself. 00:14:28.549 --> 00:14:31.470 Right. He was willing to uproot his family. Exactly. 00:14:31.769 --> 00:14:34.889 To send them away. Yeah. Based on what he believed. 00:14:35.009 --> 00:14:37.169 On his conviction. Yeah. And for you listening, 00:14:37.610 --> 00:14:39.929 what are you taking away from this? What resonates 00:14:39.929 --> 00:14:42.570 with you? Is it the faith? Is it the importance 00:14:42.570 --> 00:14:45.289 of righteousness? Or maybe it's the contrast 00:14:45.289 --> 00:14:48.509 between generosity and wickedness? Yeah. Yeah. 00:14:48.690 --> 00:14:50.909 What about his warnings about, like, societal 00:14:50.909 --> 00:14:55.820 decay? and the hope for restoration. Right. Those 00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:57.600 are all really important things in this story. 00:14:57.919 --> 00:15:00.379 And they're still relevant today. Yeah. And it 00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:02.100 makes you think, doesn't it? Like, what does 00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:04.279 it mean to live with that kind of conviction? 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:06.960 Right. What does it mean to believe in something 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:10.000 so strongly that you're willing to act on it, 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:12.299 even if you don't know for sure what the outcome 00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:15.620 will be? Yeah. I mean, Tobit's decision to... 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:19.399 send his family away was based on faith, not 00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:21.159 on what he could see happening right in front 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:24.500 of him. So how do we balance our present realities 00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:27.100 with our beliefs about the future? That's a great 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:30.039 question. That's a really great question. Something 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:32.120 to ponder. It is. It's something we can all think 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:34.240 about. If you want to keep exploring this, by 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:36.960 the way... You can look into the historical context 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:39.460 of those prophecies, like the one from Nahum 00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:42.500 that we talked about. You can also look at the 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:44.379 history of Nineveh and the kingdom of Israel 00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:46.700 and see how all of this actually played out. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:49.539 Exactly. And see how it aligns with what Tobit 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:52.960 predicted. Yeah. As always, you know, our deep 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:55.139 dive just scratches the surface. Yeah, there's 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:57.559 so much more to explore. But hopefully it sparks 00:15:57.559 --> 00:16:00.000 some good thoughts, some good questions. Exactly. 00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:04.549 And yeah. Thanks for joining us as we delved 00:16:04.549 --> 00:16:07.129 into the final moments of TOEVIT. Thanks for 00:16:07.129 --> 00:16:08.570 being here. See you next time.