Category Archives: Exodus

The kingdom of God has come near to you

Key Readings: Exodus 3:1-9; Luke 10:1-16 The phrase ‘come near’ in verses 9 and 11 of Luke 10 is common across the Biblical text. One well-known early instance is in Exodus 3, when God calls to Moses from the burning bush, warning, “Do not come near here.” Moses must remove his sandals, discarding the dustContinue reading “The kingdom of God has come near to you”

Leaving everything behind

There is a lovely tension to explore in Luke 5:27-29, as Jesus meets the tax collector whose name was Levi. After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. Earlier in the sameContinue reading “Leaving everything behind”

His Hands Oustretched

One story I frequently return to when times are tough is the defeat of the Amalekites in Exodus 17. Amalek comes to challenge Israel, and as Joshua fights them with the men of Israel, Moses stands above, on the hill of Rephidim. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed,Continue reading “His Hands Oustretched”

The Word of the Lord came

In Genesis 1, the Triune God speaks the world into existence as His Spirit hovers over the surface of the waters. King David brings the Creation account into sharper focus, declaring, “by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host” (Ps. 33:6). I’ve written already about the breathContinue reading “The Word of the Lord came”

Ruth and Esther

Ruth and Esther are the only two Biblical books bearing the names of women. This alone draws our eye to them, asks us to consider them together. By the time we get to Ruth, God has already primed us many times over to watch closely for women, to trace their place in the Bible’s storyContinue reading “Ruth and Esther”

Face to Face

In the Bible, the face reveals the heart of both God and man, angel and demon (Prov. 27:19), and the Bible’s nearly 400 references to faces signal the magnitude of meaning they carry in God’s redemptive story. Yesterday, I wrote about Hazael, whose shamelessly intense gaze caused Elisha to weep since he knew the wickednessContinue reading “Face to Face”

Daughter, take courage.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Six times He spoke, separating light from darkness and water from land, calling into life all vegetation, plants and trees. He made the two great lights, the stars also, and placed them in the expanse of heaven. He formed all fish, the great sea monsters,Continue reading “Daughter, take courage.”

Colours of the Gospel

The Bible is a Book of Colours, all carrying meaning and purpose in the story of God’s Redemption of His People. As Israel journeys away from slavery in Egypt towards the promised land across the Jordan, God gives them instructions for His Tabernacle in the wilderness. The Israelites are to weave together blue, purple andContinue reading “Colours of the Gospel”