Named Before Birth – Ishmael. “The Angel of the Lord said to Hagar, ‘You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, which means ‘God Hears,’ for the Lord has heard of your misery” (Genesis 16:11). Abraham and Sarah (at that time, Abram and Sarai) were unable to conceive a …
Holy Chutzpah – Abraham. “Then they turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. And Abraham came near and said, ‘Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, …
Phos Hilaron – Joy and Light. “Hail Gladdening Light of His pure glory poured Who is the immortal Father, Heavenly Blest Holiest of Holies, Jesus Christ our Lord Now we come to the sun’s hour of rest The lights of evening around us shine We hymn the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Divine Worthiest are …
Morning Prayer. “Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again, and sustain …
The Red Heifer. “According to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22). What is this ritual? At first glance, God’s peculiar instructions to Moses and Aaron were puzzling and mysterious. There appeared to be no logical reason for parts of this ritual …
Aaron and His Unusual Walking Stick. “Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.”(Numbers 17:8). Aaron’s big walking stick, in Biblical terms …
Ezekiel’s Vision of the Dry Bones. “The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.” (Ezekiel 37:1). PROPHETS. From Deborah to John the Baptist, prophets have been live wires …
King David and the Census. Please read 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21. GOD and SATAN. The Biblical story of David’s sinful census starts right off with somewhat of a mystery. In the 2 Samuel account, God is angry with Israel for unnamed reasons, and decides to use David to punish them. So God …
The Second Song of Isaiah – Further Thoughts. Isaiah 55:6-11 “Seek the Lord while He wills to be found; Call upon Him when He draws near. Let the wicked forsake their ways And the evil ones their thoughts; And let them turn to the Lord, and He will have compassion, And to our God, for He …
Stewards of the Mystery of the Kingdom. “A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and as stewards of the mysteries of God. Think of us as Messiah’s official underlings and as those who are entrusted with the mysteries of God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1). SERVANTS: (Greek, “hyperetas”); literally the under-rower, the …
Stewards of the Mystery of Christ Within. “A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and as stewards of the mysteries of God. Think of us as Messiah’s official underlings and as those who are entrusted with the mysteries of God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1). SERVANTS: (Greek, “hyperetas”); literally the under-rower, the …
Stewards of the Mystery of God’s Wisdom. “A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and as stewards of the mysteries of God. Think of us as Messiah’s official underlings and as those who are entrusted with the mysteries of God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1). SERVANTS: (Greek, “hyperetas”); literally the under-rower, the …