Please read part one *** Thirty-two thousand men answered Gideon’s trumpet-call, a promising number. But God said, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with…
Category: Discipleship
Crack Pots and Dogs (Part 1)
The following is from my booklet, “Crack Pots and Dogs” *** Gideon was a judge of Israel, whom God raised up to deliver His people when the Midianites were raiding and oppressing them (Judges 6:1-6). Gideon began his ministry by demolishing an altar of Baal and hewing down an Asherah pole (Judges 6:28). When this…
All the Answers or All Truth?
I talk with Christians of all stripes about scripture. Regardless of background or denomination, I can usually connect with people in the Lord. Sometimes, though, I’m concerned that we mainly look at the Bible as a place to find the right answers about creation, sexuality, church structure, and a host of other subjects. Certainly, the…
There, There
Spiritually, we don’t mature unless God brings us “there,” to those places of pressure and pain. We may well ask, “Why?”, and this is the question most on our lips during such seasons. It is tempting to think we can grow without going “there,” to assure ourselves that suffering isn’t a necessary part of spiritual…
There
After Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, he asked them to bring his father, Jacob, and the rest of their family to Egypt. Jacob was stunned and didn’t believe his sons at first. But when he at last accepted their report, he couldn’t wait to see Joseph (Gen. 45:26-28). His first night on the…
Seeding and Seeing
I assure you : Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop (John 12:24). The other night, I was reading John 12:24 to my son. I was struck by the context. A few verses earlier, some Greeks come to Jesus’s…
Process
“God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Gen. 45:7-8). Joseph said the above words after revealing his identity to his brothers. It is striking that he absolves…
No Harm?
Psalm 91 talks about living under God’s protection. It details various dangers the believer will be kept from. In sum, “Because you have made the LORD—my refuge, the Most High—your dwelling place, no harm will come to you” (Psalm 91:9-10). Similar sentiments are expressed in other verses. Some take these verses at face value: if…
The Stranger Inside
Because there was famine in Canaan, Jacob sent 10 of his sons to Egypt, where he heard there was grain for sale (Gen. 42:2-3). When Jacob’s sons came before Joseph, he recognized them, but they didn’t recognize him (Gen. 42:7-8). We have seen how Joseph’s life foreshadows Christ’s death and resurrection. Joseph’s brothers hated him…
Despising the Lamb
The following article appeared in our local paper last weekend. It is adapted from my booklet, Despising the Lamb: Contempt for Christ in First Samuel. *** Hophni and Phineas were priests in Old Testament times (1 Sam. 1:3). The Bible says Hophni and Phineas were wicked men (1 Sam. 2:12). Why? When someone brought a…
