20–26 March 2016. Leviticus 27 (click to read). We have all gone through bad times in our lives. In ancient Israel, when people were in trouble they often made a vow to God, a promise to give some great offering if God would only hear their prayer and save them. Sometimes vows were also made during […]
13–19 March 2016. Leviticus 17–18 (click to read). In Leviticus 18 we find a lot of Jewish laws about sexual relationships. For us today, we know that positive sexual relationships are those that focus on loving and respecting each other, relationships where we care for each other’s physical as well as emotional health. But that’s […]
6–12 March 2016. Leviticus 9–10 (click to read). Back when we were children in Australia, we used to watch American TV shows and would see how some actors would have these really complicated handshakes. They would meet each other and do some special moves with their hands – and as kids we used to think […]
28 February – 5 March 2016. Exodus 40 (click to read). In the last few chapters of Exodus, the instructions to the Jews on how they should set up their tabernacle are repeated. In these last chapters we also see a lot of detailed instructions for the priests. These detailed instructions continue into the next […]
21–27 February 2016. Exodus 31–32 (click to read). At the start of today’s long passage from Exodus 31–33, we hear about two skillful craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab, who are chosen to decorate the tent where the Israelites worship God. Wouldn’t that be great, to be called out by God this way as someone with such […]
14–20 February 2016. Exodus 22 (click to read). The Old Testament law contains 613 commands, but as we see in the gospels (e.g. Matt 22:34–40) Jesus gives us only two: love God completely, and love your neighbour as yourself. In today’s text, we see some concrete examples of that second command. In verses 21–27 we […]
7–13 February 2016. Exodus 12 (click to read). Exodus 12 has all the characteristics of a frightening horror story. It begins with the killing of a lamb, holding it down while it kicks and struggles, drawing a sharp knife across its throat and collecting the blood that spurts out. It talks about smearing that hot […]
31 January – 6 February 2016. Exodus 1 (click to read). Sometimes when my family and I walk down the street, a Taiwanese person will yell at us, call us names, and tell us to go back to our own country. Sadly this is an experience that many foreigners have had here. While most Taiwanese […]
24–30 January 2016. Genesis 39–40 (click to read). Things just go from bad to worse for Joseph! He starts as his father’s favourite child, but is then hated, sold into slavery, and sent into a foreign land. Sometimes it looks like things will finally change for Joseph, but then the next disaster quickly comes along. […]
17–23 January 2016. Genesis 27–28 (click to read). In chapter 27 we find a story full of heartbreaking drama. We often think of it as the story of “Jacob the Deceiver” cheating his brother Esau out of his blessing. But the main character here is actually Rebekah, the mother. It’s a story about her treachery, […]