I have had a few conversations with people recently where they claimed the Bible contradicted itself. The argument rests in the fact that God forbids murder but there is all the bloodshed that happens. I was reminded of the conversation I had because of all the bloodshed and killing in Joshua 11 and 12. Why did God allow these people to be killed? Is this a contradiction? How do we find the answers? As I have blogged my way through the Bible I have developed a greater understanding of the story. Let me share my thoughts with you. Continue Reading…
Tag Archive - The Story
Pondering the Nephilim brings Hope for tomorrow: Joshua 11 and 12
In the midst of wonder temptation entangles: Joshua 7 and 8
Does a moment of great spiritual devotion, amazing christian fellowship, intense prayer, or dynamic worship exclude you from temptation allowing you to relax? I have at times in my life equated my spiritual relationship with God as tank of gas that I only fill up when the chime and light goes off to warn me that I am running low. It is easy to think that I can live life focusing on my own routine and needs until I am confronted with the feeling I need to be closer to God. Can you function in this way? Is this the kind of life that God wants a christian to live? Continue Reading…
What is the true meaning of sacrifice: Deuteronomy 17 and 18
Why does God require an unblemished ox or sheep to be used as a sacrifice? In Deuteronomy 17 Moses reminds the people of Israel that they shall never offer a blemished sacrifice to God. It seems a little weird to me at first to think that God wanted perfect animal to be sacrificed. I tried to place myself into the story of the Israelites in Deuteronomy and that is when I started to understand why it was important. Let me put this command in a more modern sense. My sacrificing a blemished animal would be me giving my church money only after I have everything I need or it is like donating your car to your church only after you have upgraded to a new and better one. Continue Reading…
Loving God, loving people, and The Story: Deuteronomy 15 and 16
I love how reading through Deuteronomy is not seeming as burdensome as I thought when I started working through the book. I initially thought that I would become bored because of all of the repeated information that I have already blogged about from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. I have however found that the repeating of key details and commands within Deuteronomy were what Moses knew the people of Israel needed to remember and those facts are also necessary for me to remember. Every chapter as I remember that these are the final words from Moses to the people that he led for over forty years I become sad because I know that change is coming within the story. Continue Reading…
Details on an ark, a tabernacle, and some furniture: Exodus 25 and 26
Chapters 25 and 26 in Exodus make me just wonder why? What is the purpose of giving us the detail of how the ark, tabernacle, and furniture was to be made? One reason to include the detail of how everything was assembled is to help people understand what an ark and tabernacle would look like. It is the same idea of simile that I mentioned before. It helps to have such detailed instructions and details to help us understand and visualize what God was commanding the Israelites to do. In the details of the construction it also shows how much wealth God had blesses the people of Israel with. Continue Reading…
