Sin. Betrayal. Evil. Joseph’s brothers’ evil intentions to kill him shaped his life forever. The consequences from their actions are part of his history. Joseph doesn’t excuse their behavior or act as if it never happened. BUT he sees God’s hand in his brothers’ treachery. He believes that God was working His purpose out through their sinful … More Joseph’s story: God’s plan, providence and purposes
Dr. Kim Riddlebarger helps us understand Job 25-26: In Job 25, we have the very short and final speech from Bildad, along with Job’s response. After three increasingly heated exchanges, Job and his friends have clearly run out of steam. But like trains passing on parallel tracks, Job and Eliphaz have been speaking past each … More Like trains passing on parallel tracks
As we approach some days of long readings in Isaiah, let’s pause to understand Isaiah’s purpose in writing. Isaiah was a well-educated man, married with two sons and called to preach in Jerusalem during the period of 740 BC until after 701 BC. This was the period after King Uzziah died (ch6) and the succeeding … More Can you see God in these long passages of Isaiah?
A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way? —Proverbs 20:24 Indeed, how can we understand our life, our steps? As Christians, we believe the Bible, which speaks of the providence of God in every area of our lives. God directs our steps, as “in him we live, and move, and … More The providence of God in every area of life
And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. Behold, … More The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness
John Piper, in the last sermon in a series on Ruth, “Ruth: The Best is Yet to Come” What one main thing does the author want us to take away from reading this story? Here’s what I would suggest as the main lesson: The life of the godly is not a straight line to glory, but … More Frequent signs: “The best is yet to come.”
Bob Deffinbaugh comments: A slight shift in the events recorded in Esther would have doomed the Jews, except as Mordecai said, “help would come from someplace else.” Nevertheless, success in the small details mattered. As an Agagite, Haman may well have used his position against the Jews at the first provocation, whether it came from … More Seeing God’s hand moving behind the scenes
Ezra was ashamed to ask King Artaxerxes for an escort because he previously had told him, The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him. (Ezra 8:22) Almost as if Ezra knew Romans 8:28 says, And we know that for those … More The hand of our God is for good
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15 ESV) J. C. Ryle: It would be vain to decide positively which is the most common sin in the world. It would be safe to … More Ryle: Happy is he who is persuaded that whatever is, is best
John Piper, in the last sermon in a series on Ruth, “Ruth: The Best is Yet to Come” What one main thing does the author want us to take away from reading this story? Here’s what I would suggest as the main lesson: The life of the godly is not a straight line to glory, but … More Not a straight line to glory, but we do get there
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 