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...

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...

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...

Isaiah 7:9b “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. 2b). So the Lord sent Isaiah to warn...

Exodus 16:7b “…but what are we that you should complain against us?” Observation: Shortly after their miraculous Red Sea crossing the Israelites accused Moses and Aaron of bringing them to the desert to “kill the whole assembly with hunger” (Ex. 6:3). Moses rightly...

Exodus 16:1 “…and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin…after they departed from the land of Egypt.” Observation: The early stages of their exodus had brought them to a beautiful resting place, an oasis called Elim. Exodus 15:17...

Exodus 16:19 “Let no one leave any of it ’till morning.” Observation: The nation of Israel was in the Wilderness of Sin after the Exodus from Egypt, and they “…complained against Moses and Aaron.…” (v.2). Essentially, they said they had rather died in Egypt’s slavery...

Genesis 12:2 “I will bless you and make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great. And you shall be a blessing.” Observation: The context of this and surrounding verses is part of the Abrahamic Covenant, in which God promises unilaterally to cause...

Genesis 8:15–16 “Then God spoke to Noah saying, ‘Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.’” Observation: The flood had ended and waters receded to the point of revealing dry ground upon which the ark had lodged. At last the...

Leviticus 14:34 “When you enter the land of Canaan that I am giving you as a possession and I place a mildew contamination in a house in the land you possess.…” Observation: These are among the instructions the Lord gives for dealing with contaminations that would...