One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 NIV To pray – “The purpose of prayer is not the same as the purpose of speech. The purpose of speech is to inform; the…
And they shall make Me a Tabernacle, that I may abide in their midst. Exodus 25:8 Robert Alter Abide – The Hebrew root describing God’s desire to abide with His people is šākan. Perhaps you’ll recognize that this is precisely the same root of the word miškān, “Tabernacle.” Here the author chooses a nice play…
When God started creating, He chose to abdicate control. Genesis 1:1 Skip Moen paraphrase When – “Bereshit, ‘in the beginning,’ describes not the clarities of origin and cause, but the potentialities of purpose.”[1] So writes Avivah Zornberg, reflecting on Rashi’s comment on creation. Potentialities demand alternatives. Things might not work out as we expect, and…
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB Are higher than – The transcendent God is a staple of classic theology. Consider this example: Question: “What…
Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” Genesis 1:6 NASB Expanse – Birth is painful. If you’re the mother, I don’t have to tell you that, but I’m not talking about birthing. I’m talking about being born. It’s a blessing that…
