Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.” So they left, and they came to the house of a woman, a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there. Joshua 2:1 Rahab was a harlot or, in other words, a prostitute. She grew up in a pagan Canaanite culture of Jericho. This culture worshipped Baal and other idols. Joshua was the new leader when we first hear about Rahab. How and why did the spies meet Rahab? Read Joshua 2:2-7. What do we learn from this passage? The king of Jericho learned that spies of Israel were there. He…
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Sarah: Part 2
“Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Genesis 18:14 Do you ever move ahead in God’s plans? Do you tend to do what you think God wants you to do, to realize that it wasn’t at all what he wanted you to do? This what Sarah did. She allowed unbelief in God to keep His promise of a child and did her own plan, trying to achieve God’s plan. It didn’t go well for Sarah, and it doesn’t go well for us either. We face a challenge of God’s plan…
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Sarah
“In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the world, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. And let not your adornment be merely external – braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used o…
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Advent Day: Twenty – Four
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 This Christmas, what are you expecting? What do you want out of Christmas this year? Of this past year, what is one thing you have learned? One thing I have learned is to love and love with the overflow of God’s love. Matthew 22:35-44 says this, “And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with…
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Advent: Day Twenty – Two
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worship him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:10-12 Christmas!!! The feels of Christmas can be different for everyone. There is excitement, happiness, stress, sadness, and fear. Gifts can add to these feelings. The discontent of “This isn’t what I wanted.” “How are we/I going to pay for all this?” “Where do I…
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Advent: Day Twenty
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, an all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:1-3 Everything about Jesus’ birth was unusual. He is King. He is the Messiah. His humble birth challenged the status quo. We, as humans, make a lot of assumptions. What does God do? He shakes it up. He throws a twist to how we think things should or…
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Advent: Nineteen
And all who heard it were amazed a what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorified and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:18-20 Mary is a good role model for us. When everything was said and done, and everyone moved on, Mary stored up these treasures in her heart and pondered on them. She treasured God’s word. What was required of Mary being the mother of the Messiah? She had courage. If we are to walk in our calling, we…
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Advent: Day Eighteen
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. Luke 2: 15-17 Have you ever been in a nature storm? Either a blizzard, a tornado, hurricane, etc. Years ago, my family and I were on a closed road in the middle of Montana’s winter in a blizzard. We could…
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Advent: Day Seventeen
This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:12-14 The angles declared the glory and splendor of God. This year for us humans, we will get to see the Christmas star according to the internet. I really don’t know what people are expecting. I think about the night Jesus was born and all the splendor and majestic it must have been. Can I really grasp…
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Advent: Day Sixteen
And shepherds were living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:8-11 The angel brought the shepherds good news. The angel proclaimed to them that the Messiah had been born. This was a joyful night. What exactly is this great…