Category Archives: Opening the Bible

The Birth of Moses and the Power of God

When the midwives refused to be part of Pharaoh’s genocide (Exodus 1:15ff), the wickedness escalated. A new policy was instituted requiring all male babies born to be thrown into the Nile. Where surviving birth had meant life, it now meant death.  We can only imagine the sadness and despair that fell upon the Hebrew community. It had toContinue reading “The Birth of Moses and the Power of God”

Silent Night

If you live in the South you know this, but if you grew up in the South, you understand it’s a way of life. You take it for granted that with spring comes azaleas, dogwoods, pollen and bad weather. Fierce thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes dot our existence. Every so often, they result in the tragicContinue reading “Silent Night”

Seeing the Glory of God

“Show me Your glory,” Moses asks of Yahweh (Exodus 33:18). He’s not looking for a fireworks display (Rodeheaver). After all, he’s had a part in, and been witness to some of the most spectacular miracles in history. No, he’s wants something more. His desire is to see God as He is—no pillar of cloud orContinue reading “Seeing the Glory of God”

Sandals Off and Hearts Open

Exodus 3 tells us in brief but balanced terms something of fundamental importance concerning our relationship with God. Through the burning bush, God attracted Moses’ attention so that he would come near (v. 3). When that was accomplished God spoke to him. He didn’t say, “Hey you,” or “Sheep guy,” or anything like that. He called him by name. Since Moses hadContinue reading “Sandals Off and Hearts Open”

Red Sea Music

When we lived in South Carolina we were a little over an hour from the beach. We heard a lot about beach music and in fact, Pat Conroy later wrote a book with that title. The music was associated with Myrtle Beach and for a while (the eighties and nineties), it was quite popular. It’s still around butContinue reading “Red Sea Music”

Learning From a Bush

Moses is eighty years old when God speaks to Him at the burning bush.  But his eighty is not like our eighty. It’s a “new” eighty. After all, he has a tan, works out in the desert, and is going to live forty more years. And even at one hundred and twenty, Deuteronomy 34:7 assures us that he wasn’t feeble. EightyContinue reading “Learning From a Bush”

Israel’s Law and Order (2)

Israel’s system of slavery was rehabilitative—designed to take people who were on the fringes of society and move them to the center. When we look at who sold themselves into servitude, we see people in social distress for various reasons. Some sold themselves due to indebtedness (Leviticus 25:39). Perhaps the debt came about through noContinue reading “Israel’s Law and Order (2)”

Israel’s Law and Order (1)

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups. The police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories. I would guess that most people are able to recognize the above as the words that open every episode of Law andContinue reading “Israel’s Law and Order (1)”

Paul, Gentleness and Gender

When Paul wants to talk about their gentleness among the Thessalonians he says, “We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7). It’s a beautiful picture of tenderness and it’s set in contrast to the idea that Paul showed up barking orders and giving commands. ThatContinue reading “Paul, Gentleness and Gender”