Understanding that God doesn’t punish the innocent is helpful, but it doesn’t completely clear things up, does it? In fact, it just merges us into the much larger question: Why do the innocent suffer have to suffer at all? Why doesn’t God simply punish the wicked and spare the righteous? Wouldn’t that send a much clearer message toContinue reading “What About The Amalekites? (3)”
Author Archives: A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green
What About The Amalekites? (2)
A look at the text God tells Samuel, “I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt,” (v. 2). You can read about this in Exodus 17:8-16 and Deuteronomy 25:17-19. Saul observes this part of the command quite carefully as he separates the Kenites from the Amalekites (v. 7). Whatever else then isContinue reading “What About The Amalekites? (2)”
What About The Amalekites? (1)
What are we to do with texts like 1 Samuel 15:3: Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys. How are we to understand them? A few things seem clear. The first isContinue reading “What About The Amalekites? (1)”
A Healthy Sense Of The Holy (2)
There is more to Leviticus 10 than the death of Nadab and Abihu! We’re told more so we can place the event in context. It is to our detriment when we ignore this. After Nadab and Abihu’s relatives were summoned to carry their bodies away, Moses tells Aaron and his remaining sons that they are notContinue reading “A Healthy Sense Of The Holy (2)”
A Healthy Sense Of The Holy (1)
The death of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10 is often ripped from its context and treated as a “shock story.” (I’m sorry to say I know this from personal experience). Along with other incidents (Uzzah touching the ark, Saul offering the sacrifice, and to a lesser extent, Moses striking the rock), it has been usedContinue reading “A Healthy Sense Of The Holy (1)”
Leviticus
A Healthy Sense Of The Holy (1) A Healthy Sense Of The Holy (2)
Adam And The Hallelujah Chorus
After God created Adam, He said this: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18). If we were reading Genesis for the first time, we’d be struck by the fact that the phrase not good is used in connection with the creation. Throughout the firstContinue reading “Adam And The Hallelujah Chorus”
A Rebel And The Prince Of Peace
Rome didn’t crucify thieves. Crucifixion was reserved for crimes against the state. It was their way of saying, Mess with us and this is what will happen. From the state’s point of view (not necessarily Pilate’s), Jesus was crucified because He was perceived to be an enemy of Rome. He was a king, and as such, potentially a threat to themContinue reading “A Rebel And The Prince Of Peace”
Anything But Minor
(This is adapted from Known Intimately, Loved Ultimately, Vol. 1 and is available through 21st Century Christian.) Bad decisions—we’ve all made them. Fortunately most of the ones we make are known only to us and perhaps a few others (hopefully people who love us). Then there are those bad decisions made on the world-wide stageContinue reading “Anything But Minor”
Always There To Explore
The 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing was celebrated on July 20th, 2019. My father worked in the space industry in Huntsville, so it was a big event for our family. I remember we pulled the dinner chairs out from the table and parked them in front of our black and white Zenith television. TheContinue reading “Always There To Explore”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 