“Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness – Israel, when it went to find its rest.” Jeremiah 31:2 The Context of “Rest” Rest – Did Israel go into the wilderness to find rest? Or did the people go into the wilderness to find fleeting endurance? Unfortunately, the…
“Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness” Jeremiah 31:2 What Was I Looking For? Found – The Hebrew verb masha is used for finding just about anything. The Israelites found grace, but that wasn’t what they were looking for. They were looking for a way of escape. …
“Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness” Jeremiah 31:2 Who Is Stirring the Sand? Grace – At the edge of the Sahara, the sand moves as if it were alive. It writhes, glittering scales of shifting silicon. The serpent of the desert is there, slithering its way…
“Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness” Jeremiah 31:2 At Home in Waste Places Wilderness – Not everyone finds grace in the wilderness. God says that His people, the ones who have survived the sword, the ones He calls Israel, find something unexpected in the desolate wasteland. …
“Then they spoke against God; they said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?”” Psalm 78:19 Wilderness- Can He? Can God prepare a table? Life as it comes to us says, “No! God is not able to provide in the midst of our empty places.” And we go on wandering. Looking for the answer…
“They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region” Psalm 107:4 Dangerous and Divine Desert Region – For most of us, the idea of wilderness recalls pictures of the Arizona desert or the Sahara or the Northern Territories. We think of wilderness as a place where men cannot live. But what we really mean is…
“Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense” Acts 26:1 Personal Apologetics Make a Defense – Apologetics is the technical term for providing defense of the claims of the Bible. If you go into a Christian bookstore, you are more than likely to find several works on apologetics. Some rather famous…
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 The World According to? Double-minded – Spiritually schizophrenic. The Greek is dipsuchos (from dia meaning two, and psyche meaning mind or soul). Are you a split personality Christian? Sometimes we aren’t…
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 Three Steps – Number Three Purify – James aims his command for purification at a particular kind of person – the double-minded. Why does he pick out this aspect of sinful…
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 Three Steps – Number Two Cleanse – Do you remember the leper? “Lord, if you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.” Jesus responded, “I am willing.” The outside needs…
