Long before the word Halloween ever existed, the ancient Celtic peoples observed a festival called Samhain (pronounced Sow-in). It was celebrated on October 31st, marking the end of harvest and the beginning of the “dark half” of the year. The Celts...
Abimelech, the son of Gideon (also called Jerubbaal), is one of the most tragic figures in the book of Judges. Unlike the judges whom God raised up to deliver Israel, Abimelech seized power for himself and declared himself king. His life reveals the dangers of...
The book of Acts introduces us to the Hellenists, a group that played a pivotal role in the growth of the early church. Their presence reveals both the diversity and the challenges the first believers faced as Jews and Gentiles alike came to Christ.Who Were the...
Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly calls His people to care for the stranger, the widow, the fatherless, and the poor. These groups were the most vulnerable in society, those without land, family, or security... and their treatment was a test of...
When we study the tribe of Levi, we often focus on Aaron and the high priesthood, or on the Levites in general. But within Levi’s family there were three distinct lines... Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Of these, the Kohathites held the most solemn and...
Deuteronomy is more than a book of laws; it is the final sermon of Moses to a new generation standing on the edge of promise. In its pages, we hear a shepherd-turned-leader pleading with God’s people to remember the Lord, to love Him with all their heart, and to...
Two mountains rise over the valley of Shechem in central Israel. Mount Gerizim stands to the south, Mount Ebal to the north. Between them the Lord staged a covenant drama that still speaks. One mountain was appointed for blessing, the other for curse. The people...
When Israel asked for a king, God had already given a charter that would govern the throne. Unlike the nations, Israel’s king was to sit under the Word, not above it. The centerpiece of that charter is startling and beautiful: the king must write his own copy...
Among the seven appointed feasts of the LORD in Leviticus 23, one stands apart in its mystery and anticipation... the Feast of Trumpets. Known in Hebrew as Yom Teruah (“Day of Blowing” or “Day of Shouting”), it was the only feast commanded...
The figure of the great harlot, or Babylon the Great, in Revelation is one of the most vivid images in all of prophecy. To understand who she is, we cannot start in Revelation; we must first look back. The Bible already laid the foundation in the Old Testament,...
