Jacob entered the world grasping-literally. The secondborn of twin boys, Jacob started his life journey by grasping his brother Esau’s heel. The symbolism is difficult to ignore. Jacob wanted what was his-and then some.
Continue reading MEN OF THE BIBLE (JACOB “THE QUEST FOR RECONCILIATION”)
A Pharisee asked Jesus to tell Him which commandment in the law of Moses He considered the greatest of all (Matthew 22:36). This was a trick question. No matter which way Jesus answered. He was sure to leave out some commandments that. He was sure to leave out some commandments that His enemies considered essential.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (THE TWO COMMANDMENTS)
When warfare took place it was normally at a time when food was available to live off the land and when weather conditions made war feasible (2 Samuel 11:1). So far as the Jewish army was concerned, the central “administration” unit (Numbers 2:17) was surrounded by four divisions (Numbers 2) and was preceded by an advance guard.
Continue reading MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE BIBLE (CAMPAIGING)
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (LUKE 6:37-42 “DO NOT JUDGE”)
God’s plan for people who lived before Jesus involved salvation by faith-just as it does for the people who follow Jesus today. Jesus’ atonement for sin on the cross applies backward in history as well as forward.
Continue reading WHAT WAS GOD’S PLAN FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVED AND DIED BEFORE JESUS CAME?
Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Those words would have made a good motto for Israel during its period of the judges. The seemingly endless cycle in which the Israelites found themselves went like this: The people of Israel would rebel against God, so God would allow their enemies often the Philistines-to mistreat them. After serval decades of oppression, the Israelites would call out to God for help. Then God would send a judge-a military leader-to deliver them from their enemies. One of the last of these judges was Samson. Continue reading MEN OF THE BIBLE (SAMSON: A STRONG AND WEAK MAN)