Tag: Old Testament

June 3, 2025

June 3rd, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 37

Highlight Verse:

“When they had been gone for some time, Jacob said to Joseph, “Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Get ready, and I will send you to them.” “I’m ready to go,” Joseph replied.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Joseph had his faults.

If he wasn’t downright arrogant, he certainly didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.

But for all his faults, he had one characteristic that served him well throughout his life.

He was willing to serve.

When his father asked him to go to his brothers, he didn’t hesitate.

If he was wiser in the ways of the world, especially when it came to jealous siblings, maybe he would have hesitated.

But he didn’t.

That willing attitude went a long way toward putting him in a position to save his people.

But that’s getting ahead of the story. More in coming weeks.

Has your willingness to serve ever served you?
Have you seen an unwilling attitude hurt those who held that attitude?

One simple example from my life:
When Covid hit, several of us technicians were asked if we would be willing to be reassigned. I volunteered.
I like to say I spent the next 8 months in the hospital (I worked in the print room).
After several months of Covid, layoffs came since they could no longer keep paying people for not working (people weren’t using their copiers so we weren’t needed to maintain them).
None of us who were willing to work different jobs were laid off.
May 30, 2025

May 30th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 64-66

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭65‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I caught a cold last weekend. Until today, I’ve just been powering through it.

Honestly, I only took today off because my workload was less, and it wouldn’t hurt anything to rest.

I’ve been taking meds and finally started taking supplements and the symptoms are improving slowly.

But reading this verse, I realized that I have barely mentioned this cold to God in my prayers.

My “power through it” mode didn’t leave much room for God’s help.

Maybe that’s kind of like what Israel was going through, though magnified in the extreme.

They got caught up in the region’s culture that valued military strength and local religious traditions.

They powered through, relying on their own strength rather than seeking the help and guidance of their Heavenly Father.

That didn’t go so well for them – at least until they turned back to God.

While my problems are minuscule compared to Israel when this verse was written, I can still learn from it.

As of today, I am expressly asking in God to carry me through this illness and to bring me back to strength quickly.

Don’t worry, I believe God would want me to continue to rest and take the right meds, But I will ask for help consistently in my prayers and be open to His guidance and support through it.

How quickly do you think of asking God for help in your day to day problems?
What does it take for Him to get your attention?
May 28, 2025

May 28th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 3-4

Highlight Verse:

“And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’d like to say I’ve heard the audible voice of the Lord.

Nope, though I do believe that is possible.

I have learned to understand His leading most of the time.

It’s not easy to distinguish between God’s actual guidance and what our minds and emotions want to interpret as God’s leading.

But it can be done.

How?

Samuel taught us a few things about how to hear God.

• By getting close to God.

Samuel actually slept in the temple.

We can foster a close relationship with God by staying consistent in prayer and worship and digging into God’s Word.

• By seeking wise counsel.

Samuel went to Eli for guidance. Eli pointed him the right way.

• By asking God for guidance.

Samuel made himself available to listen and directly asked God to speak to him.

These steps might not open our ears to hear the audible voice of God, but they will help us be sensitive to God’s guidance in our lives.

When have you witnessed the guidance of God in your life?
Have you ever misinterpreted God’s guidance in your life? How did you find out you were wrong?
May 7, 2025

May 7th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – Ruth 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.””
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We are saved by grace alone, not by works.

The idea of karma and “What goes around comes around” is misleading.

But let’s be honest, the good things we do often have good results.

Thankfulness to and love for God are far better reasons to do good.

But I don’t think it’s harmful to believe that when we are faithful, generous, and diligent, we are likely to reap some reward for that here on earth.

The reward may only be the satisfaction of knowing you did well.

Then again, sometimes we see a more tangible reward. Promotions, raises, respect, and even gifts are often rewarded to those who are faithful, generous, and diligent.

Ruth is a prime example of blessings received from faithfulness.

Those blessings should not be expected but they can be appreciated and gracefully accepted like in Ruth’s story.

Have you seen blessings as a result of faithfulness, generosity, or diligence?
How did you handle it?
May 2, 2025

May 2nd, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 52-54

Highlight Verse:

““Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense!”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

On more than one occasion, I have heard this verse taken completely out of context.

Usually, it was in conjunction with a church building fund.

But context is important.

This prophecy was given to the people of Israel at the end of the exile.

They had been oppressed for many years at this point and were finally coming back to faith.

God was ready to bless them for that faith.

If you’ve been through the ringer through a time of unbelief and are coming back too a revived faith, then I would say this verse applies to you.

If not, maybe we should just rejoice in the restoration of Israel which laid the groundwork for the coming of Jesus.

And maybe find a more appropriate verse to encourage us to give – there are plenty.

What verses have you heard taken out of context often?
What verse do you tend to take out of context? (For me, it is 2 Corinthians 5:13)
April 30, 2025

April 30th, 2025
Wednesday – History

Reading – Judges 20-21

Highlight Verse:

“So the men of Benjamin did as they were told. Each man caught one of the women as she danced in the celebration and carried her off to be his wife. They returned to their own land, and they rebuilt their towns and lived in them.”
‭‭Judges‬ ‭21‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I gotta admit, this is another one of those Bible stories that proves the accuracy of the Bible to me.

I mean, what other religious writing would admit such an embarrassing event?

This story is significant for other reasons as well.

It was very important that the tribe of Benjamin be preserved.
- King Saul was a Benjamite.
It could be argued that it would have been better for Saul not to be King because of his failures.

It should be remembered that He united and helped preserve Israel during his reign. His shortcomings also paved the way for King David to rise to power.
- Queen Esther was also thought to come from the tribe of Benjamin.
Without her, Israel would have been (or nearly been) wiped out by Haman.
- And then there was another Saul. God changed his name to Paul and used him to spread the Gospel to the Western World.
It can be said that we owe our salvation to his missionary work.

So, yes, there were some questionable methods used to preserve the tribe of Benjamin. I sincerely hope they would never be used today.

But I’m sure glad that the tribe of Benjamin survived.

Can you think of any other bizarre stories that God used to bring about good?
Has God used some of the more unusual parts of your history to bring about good?
April 25, 2025

April 25th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 49-51

Highlight Verse:

“I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Isaiah was what Bible scholars call a Major Prophet.

He not only spoke out against the enemies of Israel; he advised kings and gave numerous Messianic predictions that came true with Jesus.

Yet here he testifies that he felt useless.

There are times that I can relate, though I certainly can’t compare to the likes of Isaiah.

But, if I make myself available to the Holy Spirit, I do believe that I can be effective to bring people closer to God.

A famous TV chef in the 80’s, Martin Yan, used to always say, “If Yan can cook, so can you!”

With that in mind I think Isaiah would say, “If God can use me, He can use you!”

Have you ever felt discouraged especially in how effective your ministry is?
Have you ever left the real work up to the Holy Spirit?
April 23, 2025

April 22nd, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – Judges 17-19

Highlight Verse:

“so they stopped there to spend the night. They rested in the town square, but no one took them in for the night. That evening an old man came home from his work in the fields. He was from the hill country of Ephraim, but he was living in Gibeah, where the people were from the tribe of Benjamin.”
‭‭Judges‬ ‭19‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you read this whole chapter, you know it’s messed up in so many ways.

It starts with a Levite in an unofficial marriage.

When the concubine gets mad at the Levite and goes home, he doesn’t go after her for 4 months.

When he does bring her back, he stops for the night at an Israelite town in Benjamin’s territory.

You’d think that would be a smart move but not this town. As we see in the highlight verses, the only person to help them is an older field laborer from Ephraim, which happens to be where the Levite is from.

The people of Gibeah are so bad, I won’t dare repeat what they did here.

Why did they act like that?

They lived in a time when there was no good leadership in Israel.

Without proper guidance, the people of Gibeah gave into their basest desires to the expense of everyone who wasn’t one of them.

I am certain there were people there who could have made good leaders. They just did not step up to lead.

As a result, sin was allowed to thrive, and God was dishonored. Ultimately, Benjamin was nearly wiped out as a result.

Has God called you to be a leader or an encourager to leaders?
What are you doing about it?
April 22, 2025

April 22nd, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 25-26

Highlight Verse:

“Immediately, Abimelech called for Isaac and exclaimed, “She is obviously your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” “Because I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me,” Isaac replied.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭26‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Isaac must have learned from his dad Abraham.

It didn’t really work for Abraham. Why did Isaac think it would work for him?

I think Isaac trusted his own wits more than he trusted God’s protection.

God chose to protect Isaac and Rebekah anyway.

So did it make any difference that he lied?

I’m sure it didn’t do wonderful things for the relationship between Isaac and Rebekah.

It could also have been a root of the bitterness between Israel and the Philistines.

That, of course, is something we will never know for certain.

What is certain is that lying because we don’t trust God to keep us safe won’t do us any favors. It may help us in the moment but in the long run, it will cause us more grief than it saved.

If we can trust God for our salvation, we can Him to protect us for eternity.

Have you had times when you lied to try to protect yourself?
Have you trusted God to protect you in a difficult situation?
How did either of those work out for you?
April 18, 2025

April 18th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 46-48

Highlight Verse:

““But there is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭48‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse neatly sums up much of what Isaiah talks about.

The nations involved have changed but this principle is no less true today.

People look for peace in the modern-day gods of materialism, tolerance, pleasure, entertainment, sports… and the list goes on.

While not all of that appears to be wicked, there is only one true source of peace.

We asked our high school boys last Monday to define sin.

One of them came up with an excellent definition – “Anything that comes between you and God.”

One very apt name for Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Anything drives us away from that peace is wicked.

Likewise, anything that brings us closer to God is good.

What in your life drives you away from the Prince of Peace?
What brings you closer to Him?

Tag: Old Testament

He was willing to serve.

That willing attitude went a long way toward putting him in a position to save his people.

But reading this verse, I realized that I have barely mentioned this cold to God in my prayers.

My “power through it” mode didn’t leave much room for God’s help.

That didn’t go so well for them – at least until they turned back to God.

But it can be done.

• By getting close to God.

• By seeking wise counsel.

• By asking God for guidance.

But let’s be honest, the good things we do often have good results.

Thankfulness to and love for God are far better reasons to do good.

Those blessings should not be expected but they can be appreciated and gracefully accepted like in Ruth’s story.

But context is important.

If you’ve been through the ringer through a time of unbelief and are coming back too a revived faith, then I would say this verse applies to you.

And maybe find a more appropriate verse to encourage us to give – there are plenty.

I mean, what other religious writing would admit such an embarrassing event?

It was very important that the tribe of Benjamin be preserved.

But I’m sure glad that the tribe of Benjamin survived.

Yet here he testifies that he felt useless.

With that in mind I think Isaiah would say, “If God can use me, He can use you!”

If you read this whole chapter, you know it’s messed up in so many ways.

The people of Gibeah are so bad, I won’t dare repeat what they did here.

I am certain there were people there who could have made good leaders. They just did not step up to lead.

It didn’t really work for Abraham. Why did Isaac think it would work for him?

So did it make any difference that he lied?

If we can trust God for our salvation, we can Him to protect us for eternity.

People look for peace in the modern-day gods of materialism, tolerance, pleasure, entertainment, sports… and the list goes on.

One of them came up with an excellent definition – “Anything that comes between you and God.”

Likewise, anything that brings us closer to God is good.