The first three kings of Israel, Saul, David, and Solomon, ruled over the United Kingdom of all twelve tribes of Israel. After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam was slated to ascend the throne, but before his inauguration, the people made known their grievances. They said, “‘Your father put a heavy yoke [heavy taxes] on us, […]
Reading the first pages of the New Testament, you encounter the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Many people skim over these names. Yet, the Spirit of God purposely included five women in this list of 39 men. The fifth one is Mary, the mother of Jesus. But who were the other four? Tamar – She was […]
Why would God’s people be referred to as a remnant? What is a remnant? I pondered this today and tried to understand it. I thought to compare a remnant from the entire woven bulk of cloth….. and thought, what is a remnant used for? Patching? Quilting? The last of something? What if it is the […]
Three episodes in the life of Israel illustrate how God often waits until things look impossible (the “Eleventh Hour”) to deliver us. “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their […]
You’ve heard of kids turning 180 degrees away from the values of their parents? Well, this is one of those situations. Hezekiah was a good leader of his country. He began his reign at 25 and was king of Judah for 29 years. But after he died, his son, Manasseh, became king. Manasseh was only […]
Mothers have a tremendous influence in the lives of their children. What kind of adults their children become is not entirely dependent upon their mom, but she plays a huge role in how they turn out. Motherhood is no picnic. It is probably the greatest challenge women face, being a 24/7 commitment. Even when the […]
When you think of the Bible’s Love Story, what comes to mind? Many people will respond, “Song of Solomon.” There’s nothing wrong with that choice, but I would like to suggest that there is an even better love story recorded in the book of Hosea. If this short book is not familiar to you, don’t […]