One of the most insightful classes I had in Pastoral Ministry class in Seminary wasn’t taught by the professor. He was out that day and his grader stepped in for him. He used an illustration of placing “Danger! Bridge Out!” signs on a mountain road. He pointed out the church’s strength of warning of the…
In today’s Bible reading* we see a stark contrast to yesterday’s reading about Caleb choosing the Hill Country because he wanted the challenge of slaying the giants in the land. Today we read the descendants of Joseph complain that the Hill Country isn’t large enough for them. It appears that they don’t want to clear…
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 ask for an easy life at eighty-five years old, Caleb asks for the Hill Country…
Isaac gives his son Jacob an important blessing in today’s Bible reading. In Twenty-first Century Western culture, we miss the importance of a father giving his son (or daughter) a blessing. But a blessing is so very important, even today! In the case of Isaac and Jacob, Isaac thought he was giving his blessing to…
In today’s Bible reading, John offers the comforting words that haters are going to hate Believers. Gee, thanks John! You sound just like Job’s encouraging friends! But hould we really expect anything else from lost people? Lost people are going to act like lost people! Besides, if they hated Jesus, why would they feel different…