Worshipping the Roman God

And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:12b  NIV Gentle whisper – You know the story.  Elijah calls down fire from heaven.  He proves YHVH is the only God.  He slaughters Jezebel’s four hundred false prophets.  Victory is his.  Then a single, wicked woman sends him a threat and Elijah, “ran for his…

Speed Limit

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1 NASB In the beginning – Abraham Heschel’s two volume work, The Prophets, is undoubtedly one of the most important theological texts you can read.  It’s not simply an analysis of the message of the prophets like you would find in commentaries.  It is a tour…

Justice Out of Balance

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  Psalm 103:10  NASB According to  – Is God just?  Frankly, I hope not.  Justice means the application of the law without bias.  It is personified in the famous blind lady holding the balance scales. If God blindly measures me…

The Bipolar God

Thus My anger will be spent and I will satisfy My wrath on them, Ezekiel 5:13a  NASB Will be spent – The biblical God is in serious need of mental health counseling.  Just look at the swings of emotion He displays: Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, …

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”  Matthew 6:25  NASB Do not be worried – God worries about you.  Do…

Law and Order

When God began to create heaven and earth—the earth being unformed and void,  Genesis 1:1-2a  Parsha: Bere’shit JPS Tagged Tanakh To create – Biblically-based religions are susceptible to a subtle but dangerous trap.  They can easily become religions of the book rather than religions of the God revealed in the book.  You and I, being familiar…

Adverb or Noun

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  Romans 3:23  ESV Sinned – Adverb: a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc., that is, an addition to a verb. Noun: a word (other than a…

The Frustrated God

“Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.”  Exodus 32:10  NASB Let me alone – Did God intend to destroy Israel?  Did Moses change God’s mind?  These two questions, and the answers you give, really reveal your exegetical…

Injuring God

The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Genesis 6:6  NASB Was sorry – This verse is a problem for most theologians.  It’s not a problem because we can’t understand the words.  It’s a problem because theology doesn’t think of God in biblical terms.  Theology is the victim…

Empathy

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7  NASB He cares – Peter writes to those who are anxious, suffering, and confused.  They believe.  They live according to their beliefs.  The Messiah is…