Old Testament

Joshua 2:15-21 Rahab – Example of Faith

The fear of God among the nations is strong. When God is with his people, not only do his people know, but also other nations (Joshua  2:11). What a change from Numbers 13 when the  Israelites were completely petrified by the  inhabitants of the land of Canaan (with the  exception of Joshua and Caleb). As [...]


Joshua 3:7 – God with us

And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. There has been an important pattern in the Pentateuch, which the book of Joshua immediately picks up. It is the theme of [...]


Genesis 15 – Oath to one’s hurt

God knows the limitations of our faith. Even Abram, the man known for his faith (Romans 4) wavered at times. Genesis 15 is such an instance. God, instead of rebuking him by reminding him of his faithfulness thus far, shows great patience and offers another sign. God tells Abram to get a number of animals [...]


Deuteronomy 12:8-9 – Worldviews

“You are not to do as we do here today, everyone doing as they see fit, since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you.” This passage shows how incompatible the world is with a biblical worldview in the final analysis. The modern world prides [...]


Deuteronomy 8:1-10 Church & Wilderness

The Israelites went through some hard times in the wilderness. Often they were without food, water and faced other difficulties that challenged their faith in God. Reading through the narrative of the Old Testament shows this point all too clearly. During these times it is easy to forget about God’s purpose and perspective, and for [...]


Genesis 8, Psalm 13-14, Isaiah 9, Matthew 8 – Wonder of grace

Five chapters for today at least according to the schedule. They may seem like random texts, but there is internal harmony, because in the end they are a part of one story, the story of redemption. Genesis 8 speaks of the outcome of human depravity (the flood), and God’s promise of faithfulness. God explicitly says [...]


Deuteronomy 1 – God’s presence

Deuteronomy 1-3 recounts the history of the wanderings of Israel. It is always great to read these kinds summaries, because all of them have a perspective in view. Here we have Moses’ perspective. One of the things that struck me was his point that God accompanied them. According to Deuteronomy 1:33, God is the one [...]


Leviticus 17:8-12, John 6:53-59 – Unsuccessful Sermon?

“Say to them: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice and does not bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to sacrifice it to the LORD must be cut off from the people of Israel. “‘I will set my face against any Israelite or [...]


Exodus 20:1-21 – Holiness of God

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the [...]


Exodus 5:22-23 Who gives up a son?

Then you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, “Israel is My son, My firstborn, so I said to you, Let My son go that he may serve Me; but you have refused to let him go, Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.” These verses are difficult to read. Pharaoh is recalcitrant [...]


Genesis 18

God and Abraham negotiate over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. Will God save Sodom and Gomorrah on account of 50 righteous people? The answer is yes. Abraham, a good negotiator, lowers the number to 45, 40, 30, 20 and then finally 10. God agrees to save the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, if there [...]


Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 – Mourning or Feasting?

  1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. 2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. 3 [...]


Psalm 133:1-3

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, 
running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD [...]


Proverb 31

Proverb 31:30 “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.” This verse challenges much about our culture, because we live in a world that prizes charm and beauty (not only in women, but also men). Our society, I think it is fair to say, is [...]


Proverb 18

The imagery of Proverb 18:8 is vivid: “The words of gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.” The perspective is pointed, because it seems to me that the one in view is not the one who gossips, but the one who likes to listen to it.