Yahweh Sabaoth– The Lord of Hosts
The name Yahweh Sabaoth first appears in 1 Samuel 1:3, where it is translated Lord Almighty. We are told that Elkanah, who would later give birth to Samuel, every year “went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh.” In different contexts, the word translated “host” is used to…
Read MoreClothed with Humility
R.L. Wilson When I think back on the people who have had the most impact on my live, there’s one thing they’ve had in common—humility. They were (or at least seemed to be) far more concerned for the wellbeing of others than in exalting themselves. For example: A teacher we caught crying one day when…
Read MoreWere the Days of Creation 24 Hours Long? An In-Depth Look at Genesis 1-2
The Structure of Genesis 1 Genesis 1 is a structural masterpiece. The intentionality Moses gives to crafting it is quite astounding. So, let’s start by looking at the overarching arrangement of this account and consider what Moses is meaning to convey through it. Were the days of creation 24 hours long? Let’s dive in. Repeated…
Read MoreYahweh Shalom – The Lord is Peace
As our story opens, Israel is not at peace. In fact, they are being so oppressed they are hiding in caves. Little wonder that our hero, Gideon, voices that age-old question: (to paraphrase) “If there is a God, why are we in so much trouble?” But let’s back up. There is a pattern that repeats…
Read MoreGod and Government
Official UAP Statement (6/25/2021)
After reporting on the UAP (formerly UFO) phenomenon at length in ten previous posts from 11/16/19 to 1/30/2020 and one pre-summary review post on 6/9/2021, we present a follow-up. After the release of the official government statement released 6/25/2021 from the “Office of the Director of National Intelligence” entitled “Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena,” we remind our…
Read MoreYahweh Nissi – The Lord My Banner
Let’s put this in context. The Israelites has already experienced a miraculous escape through the Red Sea. They had already seen God turn bitter water sweet. Only a short time before this, while they were in the Desert of Sin, God had begun to provide daily bread and meat (manna and quail) for them. But…
Read MoreRecognition and Communication of Creation Gifts
How does humanity recognize and communicate its fascination with creation—the universe and everything in it? There are abundant means to perceive, recapture, and communicate its wonders. Many Scripture references to the wonders of creation cite vision. We are encouraged to visually observe the beauty of creation. The Bible also refers metaphorically to other sensory experiences: the voice of the Lord…
Read MoreWere the Days of Creation 24 Hours Long? An In-Depth Look at Genesis 1 – Part 1
Background Information The creation account begins with two verses of background information to help situate us for the narrative that will follow. Unlike English, Hebrew narrative uses a particular verbal form (it is referred to as the wayyiqtol) to distinguish the main storyline events from background information. In this account, the main events of the…
Read MoreThis Is Only a Test
I cannot even begin to tell you how many times it’s happened to me. I attend a spiritual retreat, or a weekend of immersion in Scriptures, and come away on a spiritual high. God is so good; God is so real; my spirit is rejoicing. And then, within a few days something happens that completely…
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