The Bible contains numerous genealogies—they make dull reading until you use imagination to see further. I ask myself what God is up to, why He chooses certain families. The first, most obvious lesson when reading genealogies is: GOD CARES MORE ABOUT FAMILY TREES/HERITAGE THAN WE DO. Clearly these things are important (and both Moses andContinue reading “FAMILY LINES. 1 Chronicles 23-26.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
KEEP SERVING GOD WHILE YOU’RE WAITING. 1 Samuel 27.
It’s easy to think that when THIS THING finally happens, or when I reach THAT MILESTONE, I’ll start really doing things for God. But life often comes down to what you do while you’re WAITING on that next thing. We need to serve God during the delays; not just after reaching some perfect destination, butContinue reading “KEEP SERVING GOD WHILE YOU’RE WAITING. 1 Samuel 27.”
FAITH CAN BE SCARY. Judges 4:22.
This coffee cup showing Jael slaying Sisera is one of over 90 portrayals of Judges 4 available from fineartamerica.com. Apparently, Jael has quietly become a hero to many. Deborah told Barak God’s message: “Attack Sisera and I will hand him over to you” Judges 4:7. But Barak was scared and said, “If you will goContinue reading “FAITH CAN BE SCARY. Judges 4:22.”
IS FEAR A SIN? Numbers 14:2,4; 7,9.
Does fear make you guilty? Can fear be a sin? If so, is fear a sin—a) always, b) sometimes, or c) never? When God sent ten miracles and delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the wilderness, the former slaves kept wanting to go back to Egypt. Their ingratitude and lack ofContinue reading “IS FEAR A SIN? Numbers 14:2,4; 7,9.”
READING LEVITICUS. Leviticus 5-7.
Leviticus shows how blessed we are today to rely on the atoning work of Christ on the cross. The sacrificial system was INTENSE! First, if anyone sinned UNKNOWINGLY and later discovered it, “he is to confess…. He must bring restitution for the sin …, a female lamb or goat as a sin offering” Leviticus 5:5-6.Continue reading “READING LEVITICUS. Leviticus 5-7.”
GOD’S COURTROOM. Job.
Picture generated by A.I. Have you read the book of Job? The book of Job reads like the transcript of a trial.[1] The room is called to order and Job makes an opening statement—in his lawsuit against GOD: “I have prepared my case. I know that I am right… I was at ease, but GodContinue reading “GOD’S COURTROOM. Job.”
GUESS WHO? Genesis 14.
In Genesis 14, four kings attack five kings; NINE kingdoms go to battle. Initially, the four capture the five and keep them captive 13 years. Then the five escape, and the four pursue and capture the five kingdoms and their people a second time. In the process, they also capture the rich man Lot andContinue reading “GUESS WHO? Genesis 14.”
Jump the R.A.M.P.S.! Joshua 1:8
Boys in the ‘70s and ‘80s loved to jump ramps. We would lay a post on the ground and nail one end of a piece of scrap plywood to it, and voila! a ramp. Most of these were rudimentary, made from found wood that we dragged home from someone’s trash. Some of the ramps wereContinue reading “Jump the R.A.M.P.S.! Joshua 1:8”
LEAVE AND CLEAVE. Genesis 12:1-3; 2:24.
God calls you to LEAVE your parents; even if you do not leave physically, your loyalties MUST change. After Adam met Eve, God announced: “For this reason [marriage], a man will leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” Genesis 2:24. Marriage requires us to stepContinue reading “LEAVE AND CLEAVE. Genesis 12:1-3; 2:24.”
EXALT. Psalm 12:8.
What you like, you THINK about. What you love, you TALK about. What you worship, you SING about. What do Americans sing about? Last week’s top five songs concern: 1) breaking up, 2) drugs, 3) sex, 4) the excitement of a new romance, and 5) a song by the old girl complaining about her ex’sContinue reading “EXALT. Psalm 12:8.”
Household Words: 