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Old Testament

A collection of 7 issues

Ezekiel 4—7: Idolatry Matters Because It Hurts People

Ezekiel 4—7 begins the in-earnest doom-and-gloom chapters of Ezekiel's oracles against Israel and Judah. Our morning Bible study read through these verses, and I'll tell you, they are rough going. There are certainly conversations to be had about the violence, famine, cannibalism, and warfare all

God's glory is best seen among the oppressed

Thoughts on Ezekiel 1 The prophet and would-be-priest Ezekiel is sitting with his fellow exiles in Babylon. He's thirty years old, the age when priests take up their duties. He was 14 years old when King Josiah was killed in battle, and the temple revival ended. Now he

Exodus 14

Setting aside, briefly, the issue of divine violence in the Old Testament, I want you to notice this brilliant literary touch in Exodus. The book begins with the command to commit genocide against the Israelite slave population in Egypt. Pharaoh commands that every Israelite male infant is to be drowned

Amos and Advent

My Advent Bible reading has me in Book of the Prophet Amos. Amos is the author of such gems as: For four crimes I won't hold back punishment: they have sold the innocent for silver and those in need for a pair of sandals; they crush the head

Ezra and Ruth

Let me tell you a Bible story. In this story you'll hear why you think the Bible is backwards and xenophobic; but is more progressive than you'll ever be; why we need to listen to our Jewish cousins when we study Scripture; and why chronological Bibles

How to read Genesis 1—3

I wanted to highlight just a couple of pitfalls to avoid when reading Genesis 1—3. 1. Genesis 1 is all about proper division and separation (pushing back the forces of chaos). However, that division language should not be confused with binary ontological categories. For instance, there is separation between

Reckoned for Good

In Genesis 50, Joseph is speaking to his brothers. The brothers that threw Joseph in a pit and then sold him into slavery. Joseph's brothers are afraid that Joseph is going to take revenge on them. But Joseph says, No worries. And then, there's this famous