Testing: what can we learn from Israel's time in the wilderness?
How did Israel go from singing praises to the Lord of their miraculous escape from Egypt to grumbling just three days later?
How did Israel go from singing praises to the Lord of their miraculous escape from Egypt to grumbling just three days later?
Throughout history there are biblical accounts of how God has revealed himself to people. One supernatural encounter was experienced by Moses in Exodus 3 when a flame of fire suddenly appeared out of a bush which did not burn it.
In times of hardship, well-meaning people can give out all sorts of advice and opinions on the theology of suffering. But what we really need is a theology of God. We need to keep our hearts and minds fixed on who God is and his promises…
About 30 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Apostle Peter wrote to believers scattered across Roman provinces—what we now know as modern Turkey (1 Peter 1). These people were suffering some persecution as a result of their faith in Christ. This part of the Bible has its twists and turns, but it doesn’t take long to read on and find out how it ends. By this stage, Jerusalem had not yet fallen; more persecution was to come for the believers.
If you were told to leave now to hide indefinitely in the gully of a mountain and wait there to be fed by ravens, would you go? Most of us probably wouldn’t! But that’s exactly what God instructed Elijah to do and he obeyed.
What will you be doing for the rest of your life? Will you still be a Christian in 30 years? Will you have a heart still turned to God and lips filled with praise on your death bed?
Israel doesn’t often top Australian tourist destination lists. Its history is plagued with conflict and controversy; its territories disputed for millennia. But if you can get past the perilous media and rumours of war, it is a place that will both surprise and reward the intrepid soul. What I discovered in its ancient and holy capital was nothing short of remarkable.
When people think of Bible college they might automatically assume it’s for those who want to be involved in full-time ministry. While there are many desiring to serve full-time, there are also many of us who are working in the secular context, and studying part-time with a desire to be better equipped.
People often make two mistakes when it comes to the book of Revelation. They either think the content is beyond understanding and steer clear of it altogether. Or they read it as though it’s the end of the world and spend their time trying to chart a calendar of events.