The end of Judges. This last bit is just more demonstration of how chaotic and depraved the situation was, really. The whole book is difficult. Like, I find it odd that the language used in each account implies that a judge is raised up to lead the nation and Israel has rest for so many …
I have to address the ‘eye for an eye’ passage. I know a lot of people have used this passage to present the ‘two different characters’ view of the Bible, the idea that the image of God presented in the Old Testament is drastically different than the image presented in the New Testament. This has …
I do not believe we are any longer prohibited from blended fibers for our clothes. I don’t believe this was a moral stance, or a scientific one. I’ve never heard anyone suggest it was either. I can’t say I heard much discussion on it at all. God is pure. His people are to be pure. …
The scapegoat. You’ve heard of it. The person designated to take the blame for a particular failure or offense, usually with the implication that others who are at the very least equally responsible are getting off without being held accountable. Well, this is where that concept comes from. Here you have the literal scapegoat. The …
So I was talking with my husband about the challenges of reflecting on readings from this section of the Bible. What can I say today that I didn’t say yesterday? Well, he reminded me of something I failed to consider yesterday. Yes, this law came directly from God, but it was still influenced by their …
The one thing that caught my attention reading about the priestly garments was the description “for glory and splendor.” These men are serving God. They are to be resplendent! The robes are expensive, colorful, and obvious. They are to catch the eye. They are to be impressive. They are to be glorious. I don’t know …
This is what really started it all for me. I can’t remember how young I was, probably in junior high, when I read the story of Noah for myself. I remember being…upset. I remember wanting to know where the rest of the story was. See, I was told that a) Noah tried to convince his …
Oh, the beginning of the lovely law passages that will continue through Leviticus and Deuteronomy. They’re thick. They’re heavy. They’re boring. By and large, they’re difficult. You know what I take away from this passage? What jumps out at me the most? The emphasis on justice and protecting the vulnerable. Justice is about righting the …
I want to focus on Moses and his father-in-law today. We get taught about the manna and the water from the rock all the time. I haven’t had enough sermons on Jethro and his good advice. Or better yet, on how Moses took that advice. Jethro came to visit his son-in-law, to escort his daughter …
Just a quick word about resources. If you’re going to go about the business of examining, understanding, and deepening your faith, you’re going to need quality resources. Sermons. Devotionals. Bible studies. Teachers. Commentaries. These are all pieces we use to construct our understanding of Scripture. Some people are so intimidated by the Bible that they …