The Sunday evening message (“Are Christians Hateful?”) introduced a six-part series answering questions asked by teenagers hostile to Christian faith. As noted, American teens confuse opposition to homosexuality with hatred. But refusing to wave the rainbow flag isn’t hateful. Homosexual behavior puts people at higher risk for depression, anxiety, domestic violence, and terminal illness. Worst…
Israel’s 40 years of desert wandering were almost over. God’s people were moving north along the eastern boundary of Moab. Soon they would turn west and wage war against the land of Canaan. Balak, king of Moab, felt trapped and afraid. What if the formidable Israelites invaded and seized his territory? Perhaps Balak had trusted…
Record temperatures and fierce storms always seem to focus attention on the theory of manmade global warming or climate change. Is the earth’s average temperature rising? Are diesel engines and factory emissions heating up our planet? Or do temperature fluctuations result from normal climactic cycles? And are environmentalists using climate change as an excuse to…
Moses appoints 12 men to spy out the land of Canaan, each man a tribal leader in Israel. The spies are to bring back answers to some key questions. How heavily is Canaan populated? Are its people militarily strong? Are its cities fortified? Is its soil fertile? Is it rich with natural resources? After investigating…
People with deep concerns about the legalization of same-gender marriage regularly hear themselves labeled “homophobes.” This insult aims at silencing debate. “The Supreme Court has already decided this issue. Let’s just move on.” But this tactic can never still the voice of a true disciple. In 1973, the same court legalized abortion. All these years…
Miriam envies her younger brother. Who does Moses think he is? Why has he assumed leadership of the nation of Israel? Her brother’s second marriage gives Miriam an opportunity to complain and criticize. Apparently, Zipporah (Moses’ Midianite wife) is dead. Miriam’s new sister-in-law is a Cushite. Does Miriam resent the woman because of her dark…
Isaiah’s aim is to draw the heart of disobedient Judah back to God. Toward the end of his great prophetic book, he acknowledges that his people are religious. “They seek me daily,” the Lord says, “and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the…
Moses marries a Cushite woman. Probably, his first wife has died, and this woman is a second spouse. Miriam is critical of her brother’s marriage. Maybe she doesn’t like her new sister-in-law’s black skin, or maybe she feels threatened. As a prophetess Miriam is the “first lady” of Israel and wants to keep it that…
On the Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh Jewish month, Israel’s high priest entered the inner sanctum of the temple. In his hands was a golden censer filled with coals. The sweet incense burning on them filled the most holy place with fragrant smoke. The high priest also carried blood into the…
Since people are so weak, sinful, and foolish, we wonder how God could love us. Even the most mature Christian often has thoughts in his head that make him feel ashamed in the Lord’s presence. We have the assurance, of course, that Jesus has walked in our sandals. The Bible explains that “we have not…
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