His Increasing Presence

2 Chronicles 5:6 “…and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the Ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted..” Observation: The temple’s construction was complete. Solomon had...

Back-Seat Fighting

Numbers 14:33 “And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness.” Observation: Judgment had come upon the Hebrews. Of the twelve spies sent into...

The Wet Backside

Genesis 28:8-9 “Also Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please his father Isaac. So Esau went to Ishmael and took…the daughter of Ishmael…to be his wife in addition to the wives he had.” Observation: This odd passage about Esau is tucked into the midst of a...

Rumpled Faith

Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Observation: Abraham was sitting in the door of his tent when three men appeared to him. Most agree that the three were the Lord Himself and two angels. Abraham begins by acting the good host, offering a meal while...

The Windfall

Exodus 34:12 Take heed to yourself lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst.” Observation: Moses is back on Mt. Sinai for a second time to receive God’s instructions and to prepare a new set of...

Jackhammer

Isa. 7:9(b) “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Observation: Ahaz was king of Judah at a time when Jerusalem was under severe attack, such that “…the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken” (v. 2(b)). So the Lord sent Isaiah to warn...