Whatever conclusions you draw about Jacob’s character (or the lack of it), you have to grant that he had some help getting there. His grandfather and father struggled with telling the truth at times (Genesis 12:11ff, 20:1ff, 26:7ff), while his mother, Rebekah, instigated and served as his accomplice in the deception of his father, Isaac (27:5ff).Continue reading “Limping Into The Sunrise (1)”
Author Archives: A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green
Limping Into The Sunrise (2)
We’ve rehearsed the account of Jacob wrestling with the angel before his reconciliation with Esau and his return to Canaan. As with all communication though, the question isn’t simply knowing what was said—we have to continue down the road by determining what was meant. Why did Moses tell us this story? What is its purpose?Continue reading “Limping Into The Sunrise (2)”
Lighting Or Cursing
Times were dark for Israel and there was a reason for it. We’re told by the writer of Judges that, “another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel,” (2:10). Their problem wasn’t a lack of information; it was a lack of appreciation. The nation had been given all kinds of tools toContinue reading “Lighting Or Cursing”
Judges
Lighting Or Cursing? Perplexed By God (6) Exhausted Yet Keeping Up The Pursuit (7-8)
Joseph’s Brothers
It shouldn’t be that difficult for us to understand why Joseph’s brothers have a problem believing that he has forgiven them. After all, they were used to treating others in a manner that was much less than what they deserved (see Genesis 34 & 37), so they can’t relate to someone treating them better than they deserve. I don’t think they’reContinue reading “Joseph’s Brothers”
1 Samuel
Humble Hannah (1) The Strength of the Insignificant Two Kings and the School of Suffering (13) What About The Amalekites? (1) (15) What About The Amalekites? (2) (15) What About The Amalekites? (3) (15) When The Spear Is Pointing At You (18-19) It’s A God Thing (1) (26) It’s A God Thing (2) (26)
Follow The Gold
Israel must have been quite a sight as they were leaving Egypt. On their shoulders they carried their kneading troughs full of unleavened dough wrapped with clothing to keep the sand out (12: 34). They were also loaded down with parting gifts from the Egyptians consisting of gold, silver, and clothing (v. 35-36). They had just beenContinue reading “Follow The Gold”
Everything Else Is Just Hype
There’s more to the account of Simon the magician (Acts 8:4-24) than sometimes meets the eye. One of the overarching concerns in Luke-Acts is the kingdom of God. Luke uses the phrase almost 40 times in the two books. He begins Acts by telling Theophilus about the 40 days Jesus spent with the apostles after His resurrection, and howContinue reading “Everything Else Is Just Hype”
Defying The Darkness
In his inspirational book, A Touch of Wonder, Arthur Gordon tells of a grave stone put up somewhere in England after one of the horrific bombings of WWII. Inscribed on it were these words: There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one small candle. The stone marked the grave of aContinue reading “Defying The Darkness”
When Jesus Sang
It’s one of those “orphan” verses in the Bible. You know, the kind that sit by themselves, alone, isolated—usually because what comes before or after grabs our attention. In fact, it might be one of those verses that someone unfamiliar with the Bible would notice before a regular Bible reader because regular readers tend to read inContinue reading “When Jesus Sang”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 