Twice in today’s Bible reading* we see people making vows to God. The first is a judge named Jephthah. Although human sacrifice was strictly forbidden to God’s people he made a vow that if God would deliver the Ammonites to him, he promised to sacrifice the first person that went through the doorway when he…
One of the most common mental images of a Biblical woman is that of Proverbs 31. Proverbs 31 describes a woman who takes care of her husband and family while also earning a living in the marketplace. In today’s Bible reading* we see another picture of a Biblical woman. Deborah and Jael are mentioned in…
Remember Caleb? Other than Joshua, Caleb is the only person left who fled from Egypt. He and Joshua spied out the land and told the people that with God’s blessings, they could be victorious. In today’s Bible reading*, rather than asking for an easy life at eighty-five years old, Caleb asks for the Hill Country…
Joshua takes his position as the leader of the people in today’s Bible reading*. In His first one-on-one encounter with Joshua, God tells him that he must be strong and courageous. But God doesn’t leave Joshua to his own devices to figure out what strength and courage will look like. And God tells Joshua how…
Today’s Bible reading* is basically a summary of the forty years the people of Israel wandered in the desert after not believing God’s promises for provision and protection if they would proceed into the Promised Land. But forty years have passed and everyone who escaped their Egyptian slavery has died, except for Caleb and Joshua,…