What does leaven represent in the Bible?

It represents evil doctrine or evil morals working under cover.

Why Was The Lord Jesus Born Of A Virgin?

He was born as a virgin because He was man's new representative head. As man's new representative head, He, as a Man, must come into existence in a unique way.

Adam (as a representative head of man) came into existence in a unique way. He was formed not by the union of a sperm cell and an egg cell. In the same way, the Lord Jesus came into existence as a Man not by the union of Joseph's sperm cell and Mary's egg cell. Mary was simply a container or a vessel for His human body.

Why must He come from Mary's womb? Because He was to be Man's representative. Mary was part of the humanity who must be redeemed and brought to the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Moreover, the Lord Jesus, as Man's new representative head, had to be sinless. The sinful nature is passed to a newly born human being from the union of a fallen man and a fallen woman. In order to prevent this, He, the Lord Jesus, must be born of a virgin.

Atheists criticizing God for killing innocent babies

1) First of all, if they are truly atheists, they should not be concerned at all about morality issues. Their worldview, if they are to be consistent with it, has no basis or foundation or justification for right and wrong.

2) Many atheists criticize God for killing innocent babies in the Old Testament but they themselves practice or are in favor of abortion. So much for taking the higher moral ground against God!

Mind you, they are worse in doing it. Why? Because they believe that life is all we have right now. There is no tomorrow. There is no eternity. Therefore when they kill the innocent baby, they are putting it into extinction.

Whereas, when God allowed the killing of babies in the Old Testament, God was only taking away their physical lives, the baby still has an eternal soul that will outlive his or her physical existence.

3) Sometimes, there comes a time when death is better than physical existence. There are a people to whom death would be a gain. There are people to whom departure from this life is far better.

Isa 57:1 The righteous perishes, And no man takes it to heart; Merciful men are taken away, While no one considers That the righteous is taken away from evil.
2 He shall enter into peace; They shall rest in their beds, Each one walking in his uprightness.

Php 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Php 1:23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

If you interview everyone who has gone on in death ahead of us who are now in Paradise, all of them would not want to come back. They would say: "My death, my entrance into Paradise, is better than a long earthly life back down there. Don't grieve for me. I am grieving for all of you down there."

We often take for granted Lazarus. But Lazarus in my estimation, is one of the most obedient men in the Bible. He had to obey when the Lord Jesus commanded him: "Lazarus, come forth!"

And Lazarus had to sacrifice Paradise for a weeping world. He obeyed. He willingly exchanged Paradise for the world in obedience to His Lord. He said: "Lord, not my will but Yours be done." And so, he came.

And so, sometimes it is better for a person to die than to live. Now, atheism cannot say that because death ends it all for them.

Now, the Lord Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (referring to babies and children). They are safe because of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. When they die they go directly to be with God.

How did the conflict between Jews and Samaritans start?

It began when the nation Israel was divided into the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom. The capital of the northern kingdom was Samaria, while that of the south was Jerusalem. The king of the north, established a rival center of worship in Samaria. And that started it all.

It became worse when the northern tribes intermarried with Gentiles during the Assyrian invasion. The southern tribes viewed those who intermarried in the north as half-dogs.

It became worst when the Samaritans gave the returning Jews trouble in rebuilding Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah.

Why Did The Lord Jesus Call Mary "Woman?"

Joh 2:3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."
 4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."

A lot of us moderns find it disrespectful. But in their time and culture, it was not an expression of disrespect. It was in fact an expression of respect and honor. The word "woman" carries the idea of "Lady" or "Madam." The expression: "... what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come" was not uttered with a disrespectful and angry tone. It was said gently.

The Lord was indicating to her that at this point in time He was going by His Father's instructions and time table. He called her "Lady" or "Madam" as an indication to her that at this point in time and in this situation, He was not subject to her as His mother; He will go by the will of His Father, whatever it is He will tell Him to do.

Mary understood. She said to the servants: "Whatever He says to you, do it."