Sketch by Patrick Murphy The Lord promised Abram and his seed the land of Canaan. Abram grew into this promise through a series of events: the death of his father, Terah (Gen. 11:32); leaving Haran for Canaan (Gen. 12:1); going down to Egypt because of famine (Gen. 12:10); coming up out of Egypt (Gen. 12:13)….
Category: Old Testament
Stepping off the Merry-Go-Round
The golden calf…. It’s as epic an event as is found in scripture. The drama peaks when Moses comes down Mount Sinai and sees the Israelites worshiping the calf. Moses is so angry he *smashes* the stone tablets on which God wrote His commandments. You have to be pretty ticked–boiling, nuclear–to smash God’s commands. But…
Image-Bearing
The idea of image (especially God’s image) runs throughout Genesis. In chaper 1, humans are created in God’s image. After the fall, God’s image in mankind was marred. God intended His image to fill the earth and subdue it (Gen. 1:28). But Adam brought forth after his own image and likeness (Gen. 5:3). By…
The Descending and Ascending One
“Jared was 162 years old when he fathered Enoch” (Gen. 5:18). Jared means “descend, go or come down.” Scripture says, “Enoch walked with God; then he was not because God took him” (Gen. 5:24). It is traditionally understood that Enoch was taken up to heavenly realms. Jared and Enoch picture Christ. Jared shows Christ who…
Despising the Lamb
Painting by Johnny Mays The following is excerpted from my booklet, “Despising the Lamb: Contempt for Christ in First Samuel“ Hophni and Phineas: Priests of Pleasure When Hannah gave her only son to the Lord, Hophni and Phineas were priests (1 Sam. 1:3). Scripture says Hophni and Phineas were wicked men (1 Sam. 2:12). They…
Brothers and Covenants
Genesis chapter four discusses Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve’s first sons. Cain means, “Acquired,” as Eve says, “With the LORD’s help I have acquired a male” (Gen. 4:1). Abel is derived from a word meaning, “Son.” Cain “worked the ground” and offered the Lord produce (Gen. 4:2-3). Abel offered firstborn animals (especially their fat…
Caitlyn, MacBeth, and the Baboons
Bruce Jenner is now calling himself Caitlyn. (Will that get you on a Wheaties box these days?) Gay marriage bells ring the world over. (If you don’t embrace this change, don’t ask for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee). Wealthy politicians use class warfare lingo to exploit voters. (“I’m on your side. It’s…
Fool’s Errand–Cameron Fultz
Cartoon by Gary Larson 1 Samuel 21:9-13 : And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.”…And David rose and…
Interpretive Hypocrisy
At a men’s group this morning, we discussed how to interpret the Bible. Our conversation reminded me of a booklet I wrote: “This Is What Is Written: What the Scriptures Say about Their Interpretation.” Below is the introduction: For most Christians, how to interpret the scriptures is central to their beliefs. After all, the way someone interprets…
The Bible: So Attacked It’s a Sin
Around Christmas, a Newsweek article by Kurt Eichenwald made quite a stir. It was entitled, “The Bible: So Misunderstood It’s a Sin.” It’s a 20-ish paged assault on the Bible in which the author parades a prejudiced ignorance of biblical history and translation. I pray no one is taking it seriously or is troubled by…
The Voice of One 