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I spend a good part of my day and almost all of my frustration on handling electronic (computerized) equipment.  The computer, telephone, TV, Kindle, and car weigh heavily on my life. I remember the day when my wife and I decided to rid ourselves of our electric can opener.  It…

Jacob had an extraordinary encounter at the Jabbok River as he and his family were fleeing from his brother Esau whom Jacob had wronged many years before.  Esau was approaching his company as Jacob drew close to home.  Jacob divided his company into two camps.  He estimated that if one…

These two biblical books, Ruth and Jonah, have much in common though their stories are quite different.  Ruth is set in the context of the Deuteronomic history that extends from Deuteronomy through II Kings.  Jonah is among the minor prophets. In the Jewish ordering of the books of the canon,…

The Book of Acts contains several speeches.  In previous articles I have referred to Paul’s speeches in defense of the faith.  Now I wish to compare speeches directed toward the Jews and those directed to the Gentiles.  The inspiration comes from a book by Alister McGrath, Mere Apologetics, where he…

Before the people at Shechem, a religious sanctuary of Israel, Joshua recited an historical creed.  In this address Joshua begins with mention of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, delivered from their idolatry. Then Moses and the deliverance from Egypt, the central event that Israel commemorates, is recounted, followed by…

Gideon had a habit of testing the Lord.  When the angel of the Lord came to him, Gideon asked him to show a sign that it was the Lord who was speaking.  The Lord instructed Gideon to tear down an altar of the Asherah and Ba’al and build an altar…

“To be or not to be” are words Hamlet spoke in Shakespeare’s play of the same name.  Hamlet was grieving for the loss of his father and suspecting his uncle of having murdered him.  It causes Hamlet (no surprise) to go into a tailspin.  At one point in the play,…

The Book of Judges has a clear structure.  The people would begin worshipping other gods; God would send an opponent to oppress them; the people would cry out to God for help; and God would send one who delivered them.  This cycle is repeated a number of times in the…

At places in the New Testament, Jesus is called the Lamb of God.  What is the meaning of this title? At the beginning of the Gospel of John,  John the Baptist, when seeing Jesus approach, proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”  (John…

The Israelites left Egypt, shortly to be pursued by Pharaoh’s army.   At the sea Moses lifted up his staff, as the Lord instructed, to divide it before the Israelites entered the sea bed.  After they crossed, the sea came tumbling down on the Egyptians, drowning them. One version of the…