Today I want to write about how the story of the Gibeonites, beginning in the ninth chapter of Joshua, is commonly misinterpreted. For generations, Bible story books, reference Bibles and Sunday School lessons have selected one portion of the story of the Gibeonites and used it to make a big thing of how the Gibeonites … Continue reading Confusion about the Gibeonites
Joshua
The enemy within
The Israelites were witnesses to miracle after miracle in Egypt and for a few hours believed that it was really God's plan to lead them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. The evening of the first day they came to a road block, the Red Sea was in front of them, with no … Continue reading The enemy within
Introduction to the books of the Old Testament
The Torah, all five books written by Moses Genesis - Describes the Creation, its beauty and goodness, and then its corruption when our first parents fell for the deception of the serpent. The first promise of a Saviour is in the third chapter where it is said that the seed of the woman will bruise … Continue reading Introduction to the books of the Old Testament
Mixed up about the Gibeonites
God had miraculously led the children of Israel through Jordan and to victory over Jericho and Ai. Before them now were the mountains; the nations in those mountains greatly outnumbered the Israelites and they were men of war. These were the people who had so frightened their fathers forty years earlier; the challenge before them … Continue reading Mixed up about the Gibeonites
Let my people go
During the course of my lifetime I have heard the Nativity story told in many different forms at Christmas concerts and read still others in children’s books. Some have stayed quite close to the Biblical narrative, others have veered off into the land of make-believe in ways that left me bewildered. Fear not, I’m not … Continue reading Let my people go
Confusion about the Gibeonites
Four years ago I published a post entitled Moralistic, Therapeutic Deism. The first two paragraphs read as follows: Moralistic, therapeutic deism, a term first used by Christian Smith, seems a fitting description of much of what passes for Christianity in North America. The followers of this religion believe in a God who wants them to … Continue reading Confusion about the Gibeonites
Am I a soldier of the cross?
“Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof” (Judges 3:1-2). … Continue reading Am I a soldier of the cross?
Hitherto hath the LORD helped us
What is it that prompts us to want to make resolutions about all the things we want to do better in the coming year? Isn't it the consciousness of all the ways that we have failed to live up to what we wanted to be and do in the past year? Why do we think … Continue reading Hitherto hath the LORD helped us
Restless Christians
Throughout the Bible there is a promise of rest for the people of God, typified by the seventh day when God rested from His labours. The Bible tells us that after Joshua led the people of God into the promised land they had rest from all their enemies round about (Joshua 23:1). However, the book … Continue reading Restless Christians
Straight and narrow?
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Our Lord uses … Continue reading Straight and narrow?
Flatlander Faith 