Don't Miss This Study: "A GOD WHO WEEPS"

Hosts: Emily Freeman & David Butler
Episode Date: January 25, 2026
Scripture Focus: Moses Chapter 7

Episode Overview

In this episode, Emily Freeman and David Butler dive into Moses Chapter 7, a unique and powerful portion of scripture focusing on the visionary experience of Enoch. The hosts explore themes of hope amidst a wicked world, the possibility of creating Zion in challenging times, the compassionate nature of God ("A God Who Weeps"), the destructive power of division and scarcity, and the personal role individuals can play in establishing goodness. The tone is warm, empathetic, reflective, and deeply hopeful.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical and Scriptural Context (02:40)

• The lesson draws from Moses Chapter 7—a vision given to Enoch not found elsewhere in Genesis or the standard Old Testament.
• The chapter addresses the exhaustion and discouragement that come from living in a troubled world and provides a "zoomed out" perspective to gain God's understanding.

2. The World of Enoch: Mess vs. Zion (03:57)

• The State of the World:
  • World full of war, bloodshed, hard hearts, and chaos. (Moses 7:16)
  • Freeman reflects, “They weren’t living in an easy world… this is the world where this story begins, a messy one, a complicated one, one that Satan is trying to control.” (07:43)
• Contrast: The City of Enoch / Zion
  • In contrast to chaos, Enoch’s people are blessed, flourishing, unified ("one heart and one mind"), and experience abundance. (Moses 7:17-18)
  • Key insight: Zion was created in the middle of a Canaan world—goodness is possible even in darkness.

3. Comparing Canaan and Zion: Scarcity vs. Abundance (09:12)

• Canaanite Lifestyle:
  • Division, exclusion (“being exclusive, having cliques”), barrenness, unfruitfulness.
  • “They were being exclusive, they were having cliques… division is still common.” – Grace (10:56)
  • Barren = “You can’t get what you need… left wanting something more—feeling empty at the end of the day.” – Grace (11:40)
• Zion Lifestyle:
  • Inclusiveness, community effort, flourishing, abundance, and unity.
  • "It takes sacrifice to be of one heart and one mind." – Dave (12:45)
  • Reflection: Are your relationships like Canaan (divisive, barren) or Zion (flourishing, unified)?

4. The Cost and Blessing of Building Community (13:58)

• “Everyone wants a village and no one wants to be a villager.” – Grace (14:04)
• Being a true member of a community is ‘inconvenient’ and ‘takes work’, but it results in an enriched, unified life.

5. Mindsets: Scarcity vs. Abundance (16:07)

• Canaan’s scarcity mindset: “There's not even enough for me. Why would I want anyone else to come in and be involved in my life?” – Grace (16:26)
• Zion’s generosity and abundance: “My words can have an impact... all of our words can.” – Dave (23:08)
• God’s blessings flow when we focus on others and embrace abundance.

6. The Power of One Person to Make a Difference (17:28)

• Enoch as an example: he continued ("didn't give up"), called upon all the people, and used powerful, hopeful language.
• “One person can make a difference… whether you’re a lady, a young lad or an old lad, with skill sets or not.” – Dave (20:31)
• The ‘process of time’ (Moses 7:21) – Zion-building is gradual; allow grace in “unfinished” stages.

7. The Chain of Satan vs. the Language of God (25:25)

• Satan's Tool: Chains, discouragement, making people believe progress is impossible.
  • “The goal of a chain is to hold people back… to stop progress.” – Grace (25:56)
  • Limiting beliefs (“It’s going to take too long,” “What I say doesn’t matter”) are as much chains as bad habits.
• God as Chain-Breaker:
  • “We believe in someone who breaks chains.” – Grace (28:53)
  • Writing down limiting beliefs and trusting Christ to break them is a powerful practice.

8. A God Who Weeps: The Compassionate Creator (29:12)

• Profound Moment: “And he wept.” (Moses 7:28)
  • “The God we believe in cries… How is it possible that you could be crying? You’re so holy…” – Grace (30:08)
  • God is “not too big for his own kids,” emotionally involved in our pain and cares about even our specific troubles.
  • “A weeping God is evidence of a caring God… not just a God who cares about bad things, but a God who cares about all things for all his kids.” – Grace (33:17)
• Mini-Lesson Suggestion: Write the things you care about; remember, God cares too.

9. God’s Judgments & Restoration (35:07)

• Judgments described (fire, flood), but their intent is restoration, not destruction.
  • “All judgments of God… the intention is not destruction. The intention is restoration.” – Dave (36:24)
• Even “prison” and “torment” (v. 39) are temporary, with the goal to ultimately return God’s children to Him.

10. Sin is the Enemy, Not the Children of God (39:08)

• “God doesn’t hate his kids. God hates sin. That’s the real enemy.” – Grace (39:12)
• God’s judgments target the things that hurt His children.

11. The Heart of Jesus & the Power of Prayer (40:07)

• Enoch’s emotions mirror Christ’s: yearning, weeping, stretching forth arms, wanting to save.
• “One man Enoch” prays for mercy—God responds with a promise never to give up on the earth or His people (Moses 7:51–53).
  • “There’s an unalterable decree from heaven that God won’t give up on your kids, that God won’t give up on your situation. That God will not give up on you. That’s one of the most beautiful promises.” – Dave (44:56)

12. Dealing With Hard Questions (45:36)

• “Why is the world so hard? When do my tears end?”
• Enoch repeatedly asks God “How long?” “Are you going to forget us?”—modeling the reality that such questions are welcome and heard.

13. God’s Constant Answer: “Look—Jesus Is On The Way” (46:58)

• “Look,“ God tells Enoch (and us)—fix your gaze on the coming of Jesus.
• Repeated assurance that Jesus and His redemption are the answer to all yearning and mourning.
  • “Jesus is on his way. Don’t worry.” – Grace (47:50)
• The “Second Coming” is a promise that God comes to help more than once.

14. Promise of Preservation and Final Hope (49:32)

• Even amid tribulation, God promises: “My people will I preserve… you’re going to make it.”
• God will “sweep the earth as with a flood” (not just for judgment, but to flood it with goodness), gathering and blessing His people (Moses 7:62).

15. Happily Ever After: God Dwelling with His People (51:13–end)

• Vision closes with the promise of ultimate reunion, healing, and joy:
  • “We believe in a happily ever after here… One day there will be hugs and kisses and everything will be made right. Zion won’t just be a single spot, it’ll be the whole world.” – Dave (52:26)
• The invitation now: “You and I can choose to live that fruitful, flourishing, blessed life by walking with God in the midst of this Canaan world. The promise is that He’ll be there.” – Dave (53:03)

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

“They weren’t living in an easy world... [It] was really bad. That is the world where this story begins, a messy one, a complicated one.”
— Grace, (07:43)

“Everyone wants a village and no one wants to be a villager.”
— Grace, (14:04)

“My words can have an impact... all of our words can.”
— Dave, (23:08)

“We believe in someone who breaks chains.”
— Grace, (28:53)

“A weeping God is evidence of a caring God… what you care about, I care about. What you cry about, I cry about. I am in the middle of it with you.”
— Grace, (33:17)

“All judgments of God… the intention is not destruction. The intention is restoration.”
— Dave, (36:24)

“God doesn’t hate his kids. God hates sin. That’s the real enemy.”
— Grace, (39:12)

“There’s an unalterable decree from heaven that God won’t give up on your kids, that God won’t give up on your situation. That God will not give up on you.”
— Dave, (44:56)

“Jesus is on his way. Don’t worry.”
— Grace, (47:50)

“We believe in a happily ever after here… Everything will be made right. Zion won’t just be a single spot, it’ll be the whole world.”
— Dave, (52:26)

Important Timestamps

• [03:57] – Introducing Enoch, the state of the world, and the beginning of Zion.
• [09:12] – Worksheet comparing Canaan and Zion; lessons about division, barrenness, and unity.
• [13:58] – Freeman’s "village/villager" insight.
• [17:28] – Power of one person: Enoch’s example, faith, and influence.
• [25:25] – Satan as the “chainer”; discussion of limiting beliefs.
• [29:12] – God weeps over His children; the compassionate heart of God.
• [35:07] – God’s judgments, restoration, and the prison motif.
• [39:08] – God’s anger at sin, not His children; the true enemy.
• [44:56] – God’s promise never to give up on us.
• [46:58] – “Look”—God’s invitation to focus on Jesus’s coming.
• [49:32] – Promise of preservation: "You're going to make it."
• [51:13]– The “happily ever after” ending, vision of universal Zion.

Summary Table: The Tale of Two Cities

| City / Lifestyle | Key Characteristics (Scriptural/Modern Parallels) | Outcome | |-------------------|---------------------------------------------------|----------------| | Canaan | Division, exclusion, barren, unfruitful, scarcity, cliques, self-focus (“not enough for me”) | Emptiness, disconnection | | Zion | One heart/mind, inclusivity, abundance, flourishing, generosity, “villager” spirit, unity, “no poor among them” | Blessing, joy, lasting rest |

Concluding Insights

Throughout this heartfelt episode, Dave and Grace illuminate Moses 7’s vision as both hope and challenge for modern believers. Zion is possible in any world, if we open ourselves to community, generosity, and God’s presence. God is nearer, more loving, and more involved than imagined—a God who weeps with us, fights for us, and promises restoration. The process is gradual (“process of time”), but every act toward community and righteousness plants seeds of flourishing.

Final Thought

“You and I can choose to live that fruitful, flourishing, blessed life by walking with God in the midst of this Canaan world and the promise is that he’ll be there. He’s there with us through it all.”
— Dave (53:03)

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