Tag: god
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(8′) Jonah & Taking A Chance
~ In the story of Jonah, in the Old Testament, Jonah’s running away is the cause of stormy seas. And apparently, the only way that the stormy seas can be allayed is if Jonah is thrown into the sea. Here is an excerpt: 12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and…
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(7′) The Lord, God our RearGuard
Isaiah 52:12 says But you will not leave in haste or go in flight;for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Comment/Devo:~ Isaiah is recognized by many scholars as a masterful writer. His Hebrew, while among the most difficult in the Bible, is also among the most…
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(40) Either/Or vs. One-Sided Contentedness
~In the Bible, I think we can see two forms of contentedness: 1. Either/Or Contentedness: “Stay tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good…” (Ruth 3:13a). “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to…
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(6′) Wisdom & Action Pattern in the Bible
Indeed, turn anywhere you want in the Bible, especially the Poetic and Wisdom literature (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, etc.) and you will find that wisdom is associated with action. For example, “… when hands are idle, the house leaks” (Eccles. 10:18b). “As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed” (Prov.…
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(38) Job and Multiplying Thoughts, Emotions and Words
In the book of Job in the Bible, after Job is hit with harsh trials, he is initially calm. His early/first response is, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) Even when his wife tells him to curse God and die, he refuses. His…
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(35) Negativity Bias & Miserable Comforters
You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! ~ Job 14:4 “I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you! ~ Job 16:2 It turns out we humans are naturally inclined to think more negatively than positively — a tendency researchers call negativity bias. This…
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(5′) Knowing vs. Teaching | Bezalel & Oholiab
~ In the book of Exodus, we find mentioned, two artists par excellent. These are Bezalel and Oholiab. One place among many that you can read about them is Exodus 35:30-35, 30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of…
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(4′) Two Kings, Two Outcomes
“And Jehoshaphat said … ‘O our God, will you not judge them, for there is no power in us before this great multitude that is coming against us. Now we do not know what we shall do, for our eyes are upon you.’ … Then the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Jahaziel … And he…
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(25) Psalm 22 & Self-Deprecation
Psalm 22:6 – “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.”Psalm 139:14 – “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” I thought that I had finally found a Psalm with self-deprecation, viz. Psalm 22:6, but as I analyzed it, I saw that I was…
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(23) Taking From the Lord vs. Receiving From the World ~ Jacob’s All-Nighter (Part 1)
“So Jacob was left alone, and a Man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the Man saw that He could not overpower him, He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the Man. Then the Man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’ But Jacob…
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(22) Filling Out Providence without Passivity or Presumption
“So, I went out at night…” (Nehemiah 2:13a).“After an all-night march from Gilgal, …” (Joshua 10:9a). ~ Nehemiah got some bad news about the city of Jerusalem being in ruins and prayed about it. Then he took up the matter with the king, praying even as he did, and got green signals to head to…
The Dew and the Rain 