Much of Hebrews chapter 3 centers on a quote from Psalm 95, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness….” Psalm 95 is referring to an incident in Exodus 17. Israel’s wilderness journey brings them to Rephidim where there…
Tag: sonship
A Mile in Our Shoes
The writer of Hebrews observes that God hasn’t subjected the world to come to angels. Then he quotes Psalm 8, which marvels at God putting creation under the lordship of humans. Yet it was not to run of the mill humanity that God subjected creation. After the fall, people lost their lordship in a way;…
What Is Greatest to the Father
“Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son” (Heb. 1:1-2). Jesus is not just a prophet or messenger that spoke about God. He is the Son, God’s very speech, God’s message to man. The Son…
Not to Destroy but Fulfill
“Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17). I have heard the verse above used to prove that Christians are still required to keep the law. Jesus said He didn’t come to destroy the law so we need to keep…
Away
Photo by James Bellwood *** Abraham gave everything he owned to Isaac. And Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines, but while he was sill alive he sent them eastward, away from his son Isaac, to the land of the East” (Gen. 25:5-6). Isaac was the promised heir from Abraham’s own body (Gen….
Gremlins, Leeches, and the Failure of the Serenity Prayer
I have a toddler. Anyone who has raised one knows it is among the most exhausting things you will ever do. They are in constant motion—usually in the wrong direction. Whether toward danger or irresponsibility they jigger gigglingly toward it. Toddlers survive because parents constantly jerk their verbal leashes and, sometimes, their literal…
One from Your Own Body
In Genesis 15, Abram laments that he has no son, and that a household servant will be his heir. But the Lord said, “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir” (Gen. 15:4). Isaac was the immediate fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to Abram….
The Voice of One 