The focus in the early chapters of Second Kings is on the prophet Elisha, who succeeded the prophet Elijah. A prophet was a courageous person who received his message directly from God and spoke that message to the people, boldly emphasizing the need for them to turn...
Sun, heat, and dirt. When I think about my first archaeological excavation, these three elements come immediately to mind. I remember sitting on the dusty earth under the scorching sun, sweating from the heat of central Israel in early summer. Trowel in hand, I...
In the wilderness after the Exodus, the Israelites complained to Moses and Aaron about their lack of food. Their complaint is recorded in Exodus 16:3: “And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the...
Recently, there has been growing interest in Orthodox Christianity in the United States and Canada, especially among young men. Several major news outlets have covered the trend, including the New York Post with the headline “Young men leaving traditional churches for...
Martin Luther had tried everything: sleeping on hard floors, fasting for days, even upon bloodied knees climbing the staircase of the church of St. John Lateran in Rome. His teachers said he was doing enough to have peace in his soul, but he had no peace, for his...
In the political powder keg of first-century Judea, two men sat at the same table who, under any other circumstances, would have been sworn enemies. One was a collaborator with the Roman occupiers; the other was a radical revolutionary committed to their violent...
If someone asked you what the greatest hindrance to the spread of Christianity was, what would you say? Would your answer be the sway of atheism, materialism, skepticism, or humanized religion? Well, these ideologies have been around for a long time and the Church has...
The Paradox of Leadership When we think of the word "leadership," a certain set of virtues typically comes to mind. In the high-stakes arena of professional sports, we define it by physical strength, unwavering perseverance, and the courage to take the final shot. In...
At first glance, it seems almost jarring to include Judas Iscariot in a study of the disciples of Jesus Christ. After all, this is the man whose name has become a global synonym for betrayal, the one who sold the Savior for thirty pieces of silver. Yet the biblical...
We are living in a rapidly changing world. Events are drawing us closer to a one-world government, a one-world religion, and a one-world trade system. These significant developments affect all of humanity, regardless of country or culture. Politically, religiously,...
The book of Psalms is a multi-themed book. In it, we encounter themes of worship, thanksgiving, suffering, and redemption, to name but a few. Yet, in some of the Psalms, we also find celebrations of creation. The flagship of the Psalms of Creation is Psalm 8. Here we...
As you open the Book of Job, you discover that God chose a righteous man who was full of pride, and that His method of bringing brokenness and humility to Job was through suffering. Chapters 1 and 2 establish the foundation for this divine work, which is shrouded in...
The false doctrine of generational curses (“ancestral curses”) is very popular within some groups of Christians, especially in charismatic circles. Generational curses refer to judgments or consequences that are believed to be passed on to individuals because of sins...
“Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” Romans 4:24-25, ESV With all the diverse yearly celebrations, it seems that many people believe the most important religious holiday is Christmas, when we celebrate the...
Today boredom, fear, loneliness, emptiness, and a feeling of uselessness grip the hearts of millions. Ultimately, only the One who is called “Wonderful” can restore wonder to anyone’s life. His Name Is Wonderful Isaiah, the prophet, introduces us to one of the most...
It is often claimed by unbelieving Bible critics that Matthew pulled Old Testament Scriptures out of context to make it appear that Jesus had fulfilled prophecy. Such perspectives can influence the way believers themselves approach Scripture. Some genuine believers...
Abraham rejoiced (John 8:56) to see the incarnation of the promise made to him and awaited the city with rock-solid foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). It would have brought him great joy to read the first verse of the New Testament which...
Like the burnt offering, drink offerings seem to have been offered before the giving of the Mosaic law. The first mention in Scripture of a drink offering is when Jacob returned to Bethel. While fleeing from his brother, the Lord had appeared to him in a dream (Gen....
You never forget a first impression. When you first meet Elijah, you notice his confidence in the Lord: “And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain...
Before investigating the sin offering, it is important to understand how the two non-sweet aroma offerings differ. The sin offering was demanded for the offense of sin, but the trespass offering was required for the damages of sin. The sin offering deals with the...