In the book of 2 Kings, chapter 3, Jehoram reigned over Israel for twelve years. He was a wicked man--but not so much as his father Ahab. He destroyed the pillar of Baal, but he still clung to the worship of idols.
In Ahab's day, the king of Moab gave an annual tribute of lambs and wool. Now, he refused. Jehoram ordered the king of Judah to fight against the people of Moab, and he did as he was told. But during their travels, they discovered lack of water for their men and horses.
The king of Judah asked for a prophet. Elisha appeared. But Elisha refused to help. Judah begged and begged, and Elisha said that the Lord will fill the valley with water.
The next day, water appeared. But the people of Moab knew of the oncoming army, fought, and was killed. In the end, the king of Moab sacrificed his oldest son, much to the disgust of the Israeli people.
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
The death of Elijah
In the book of 2 Kings, chapter 2, Elijah and Elisha were on their way to Gilgal. Elijah knew he was soon to be taken up to Heaven.
Elijah wants Elisha to leave him, but Elisha would not. Their sons in Bethel joined them on their journey, and they too would not leave them.
They traveled on to Jordan where even more joined in their journey. All the way they said, "As long as the Lord lives, and you live, we will not leave you." Along the Jordan River, Elijah struck the water and it parted like Moses and the Red Sea.
On the other side, a whirlwind of fire came down from Heaven and took Elijah to his place by God. Elisha took Elijah's cloak, tore it in two, and struck the water as Elijah did. And for him too the waters parted.
The spirit of Elijah was in Elisha. Those he met bowed to him in honor of the Lord.
Elijah wants Elisha to leave him, but Elisha would not. Their sons in Bethel joined them on their journey, and they too would not leave them.
They traveled on to Jordan where even more joined in their journey. All the way they said, "As long as the Lord lives, and you live, we will not leave you." Along the Jordan River, Elijah struck the water and it parted like Moses and the Red Sea.
On the other side, a whirlwind of fire came down from Heaven and took Elijah to his place by God. Elisha took Elijah's cloak, tore it in two, and struck the water as Elijah did. And for him too the waters parted.
The spirit of Elijah was in Elisha. Those he met bowed to him in honor of the Lord.
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Elijah and the power of the Lord
In the first chapter of 2 Kings, Ahaziah, the king of Samaria, was sick. He sent messengers to inquire of the false god Baalzebub on whether he will recover or not.
An angel of the Lord told Elijah to intercept them, inquiring why they are asking of a false god instead of the Lord Himself.
The messengers returned to their king and told them what had happened. They told him that it was Elijah who told them this.
Ahaziah sent one hundred men to the hill where Elijah was, and the captain ordered Elijah to come down from the hill. Elijah said he was a man of God and that fire would come down from heaven and consume them.
And fire did.
This was repeated again with the same result. When the king of Samaria sent the third group, but the captain fell on his knees, begging for their lives to be saved by the power of the Lord. An angel of the Lord told Elijah that he could go down with the captain. He did. And once there, he told the king that since he sent messengers to inquire about a false god, he was to die.
And the king died.
An angel of the Lord told Elijah to intercept them, inquiring why they are asking of a false god instead of the Lord Himself.
The messengers returned to their king and told them what had happened. They told him that it was Elijah who told them this.
Ahaziah sent one hundred men to the hill where Elijah was, and the captain ordered Elijah to come down from the hill. Elijah said he was a man of God and that fire would come down from heaven and consume them.
And fire did.
This was repeated again with the same result. When the king of Samaria sent the third group, but the captain fell on his knees, begging for their lives to be saved by the power of the Lord. An angel of the Lord told Elijah that he could go down with the captain. He did. And once there, he told the king that since he sent messengers to inquire about a false god, he was to die.
And the king died.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Where to start reading the Bible?
Religious scholars of all sorts may answer this differently. Chronological order from Genesis to Revelations? New Testament first? Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John first? There are a variety of ways and forms of study Bibles.
As a layperson, I think everyone should take this individually. Pray to discover your preferred path to reading the Holy Bible.
For me, I've always been drawn to reading the Bible from cover to cover. Meaning, starting with Genesis and working my way through until Revelations. This has worked for me. I take each chapter at a time, analyzing them here on this blog or simply telling what each chapter is.
Whatever works for you is up to how God wants you to read it.
Pray on how He wants to show you.
And then commit to read.
As a layperson, I think everyone should take this individually. Pray to discover your preferred path to reading the Holy Bible.
For me, I've always been drawn to reading the Bible from cover to cover. Meaning, starting with Genesis and working my way through until Revelations. This has worked for me. I take each chapter at a time, analyzing them here on this blog or simply telling what each chapter is.
Whatever works for you is up to how God wants you to read it.
Pray on how He wants to show you.
And then commit to read.
Sunday, September 16, 2018
God and the square circle
Humans are bound by logic and science.
God is not.
God is omnipotent and omniscient--all-powerful and all-knowing. He knows every single point in everyone's life. There are predictions in the early books of the Holy Bible that come true later on. More specifically, the birth of his Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus was born of a virgin. How is this possible, if not by the supreme will of God? It is beyond our own logic. It is something we need to have faith in that it is true.
Back in college, I minored in philosophy. In my Philosophy of Religion course, we discussed God and His properties: His omnipotence and omniscience. These properties are beyond our understanding, but it is true.
Take the square circle. It's impossible, right? Beyond our own understanding. It goes against the simple definition of both a square and a circle.
But is it impossible for God?
No. God can create a square circle. We, as humans, are incapable of comprehending it. We need to have faith in its existence.
God is not.
God is omnipotent and omniscient--all-powerful and all-knowing. He knows every single point in everyone's life. There are predictions in the early books of the Holy Bible that come true later on. More specifically, the birth of his Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus was born of a virgin. How is this possible, if not by the supreme will of God? It is beyond our own logic. It is something we need to have faith in that it is true.
Back in college, I minored in philosophy. In my Philosophy of Religion course, we discussed God and His properties: His omnipotence and omniscience. These properties are beyond our understanding, but it is true.
Take the square circle. It's impossible, right? Beyond our own understanding. It goes against the simple definition of both a square and a circle.
But is it impossible for God?
No. God can create a square circle. We, as humans, are incapable of comprehending it. We need to have faith in its existence.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
The battle for Ramoth-gilead (Ahab's downfall)
In the final chapter, 22, of 1 Kings, Syria and Israel were without war for three years.
The king of Israel met with the king of Judah and laid claim to Ramoth-gilead. Israel asked to do battle there, and Judah asked to inquire as to the Lord's wishes.
They sought out 400 prophets who said to go do battle there.
The king of Judah wished for one other prophet for his wisdom, that of Micaiah. He too said the Lord wished for them to battle at Ramoth-gilead.
But the king of Israel did not want to believe him, for he has said false things to him before.
The king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. The Syrian soldiers, not noticing the king's disguise, killed him.
The king of Israel met with the king of Judah and laid claim to Ramoth-gilead. Israel asked to do battle there, and Judah asked to inquire as to the Lord's wishes.
They sought out 400 prophets who said to go do battle there.
The king of Judah wished for one other prophet for his wisdom, that of Micaiah. He too said the Lord wished for them to battle at Ramoth-gilead.
But the king of Israel did not want to believe him, for he has said false things to him before.
The king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. The Syrian soldiers, not noticing the king's disguise, killed him.
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Naboth's tragedy
In the twenty-first chapter of the book of 1 Kings, we find a man named Naboth living beside Ahab, the king of Samaria.
Naboth had a vineyard that Ahab wanted. But Naboth refused, telling him that the Lord God forbid him to give up the inheritance of his fathers.
Ahab's wife Jezebel noticed that this disturbed her husband. So much so that he even refused to eat. So she told him that, since he was the king, and that he governed the land in which they were on, the vineyard was as good as his. She plotted with the elders of the city, and Naboth found himself falsely accused of lies and stoned to death.
The Lord God was angry by this. He condemned Ahab and all of those within the city. But upon hearing of what had transpired, Ahab cried out to God and repented.
In the end, God spared Ahab.
But not his sons . . .
Naboth had a vineyard that Ahab wanted. But Naboth refused, telling him that the Lord God forbid him to give up the inheritance of his fathers.
Ahab's wife Jezebel noticed that this disturbed her husband. So much so that he even refused to eat. So she told him that, since he was the king, and that he governed the land in which they were on, the vineyard was as good as his. She plotted with the elders of the city, and Naboth found himself falsely accused of lies and stoned to death.
The Lord God was angry by this. He condemned Ahab and all of those within the city. But upon hearing of what had transpired, Ahab cried out to God and repented.
In the end, God spared Ahab.
But not his sons . . .
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