Tag Archive

Remember that shoot coming out of the stump from yesterday? Well, there is a bit more to that prophecy given to the nation of Israel. It is an image of what the rest God had promised would look like. “In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The … Read More

As the last kings began their reign in Judah, Isaiah, a prophet, was sent by God to both warn and encourage the people. Because of their choice to live independent from God, they stopped fulfilling their role as God’s representatives on earth. Instead they joined the nations around them in worshiping false idols instead of the one true God. They … Read More

The rest that Israel experienced under the reign of King David and King Solomon was short lived. After Solomon the country was divided into the Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah) kingdoms. As a group, the Northern kingdom chose complete independence from God and abandoned him as their Lord. The Southern kingdom again had the same experience as the time of … Read More

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7 As Israel established themselves in the land God had given, kings began to rule over a united Israel. Saul, who started well as the first king of Israel, chose independence from God and went his own way in leading the country. This behavior displeased God so he removed Saul as king. In Saul’s place God anointed … Read More

As Israel entered the promised land and began settling there, judges rose up at specific times to turn the people back to God.  In some ways they kept finding themselves wandering and needed to be reminded of who they belonged to.  During this period we encounter the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz.  Naomi’s was a story of sadness.  While … Read More

Scripture: Numbers 13 & 14 Through many miracles God brought the Israelites to the edge of the land he had promised to Abraham.  God commanded Abraham to send in twelve spies, one from each tribe to explore all of the land.  When the spies returned, their story was one that brought awe and fear into the hearts of most of … Read More

When the people of Israel lived in Egypt they became a large group.  At the same time they were forced into slavery by the Egyptians.  While in Egypt they cried out to God.  God heard them and brought about their deliverance through a man named Moses.  Through different miraculous events, plagues, pillars of fire, parting a sea, and fighting on … Read More

Jacob, who was renamed Israel by God, had twelve sons who would become the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel.  At the time his youngest son Joseph became a favorite of Jacob.  Jacob even gave him a beautiful coat with many colors.  This led to some sinful and deceptive behavior from Joseph older brothers.  One day while the older … Read More

Scripture: Genesis 28:10–22 Remember the first promise to Abraham?  It kept going.  When Isaac was old, he blessed his youngest son Jacob with the blessing meant for the older son.  Actually, Jacob stole the blessing.   Afraid of his brother Esau, Jacob fled from him.    “Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he … Read More

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-13; John 1:29 Years later, after Abraham and Sarah had been given their son Isaac, God asked Abraham to take another step of obedience.      “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. … Read More