Rebel to Redeemed…Sharing HIS Kind of Love
The next mention we have of Mary Magdalene after Jesus heals her, is of her presence at the crucifixion. Luke 23:49 says, “”women who had followed him from Galilee” standing at a distance”, but does not mentioned these women by name. However, the other three gospels do mention these women and among them is Mary Magdalene. Matthew 27:56, says, “Among them […]
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Gideon was the son of Joash, from the Abiezrite clan in the tribe of Manasseh and lived in Ephra. As a leader of the Israelites, he won a decisive victory over a Midianite army despite a vast numerical disadvantage, leading a troop of 300 ‘valiant’ men. The name Gideon means “feller” or “hewer” in Hebrew. A hewer is a person […]
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In thinking about the story of Easter, there are only a select handful of people mentioned as having a first hand view of the crucifixion and resurrection. Mary, the Mother of Jesus is one of those mentioned at these events and with her is Mary of Magda or as we refer to her today, Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene is mentioned at […]
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Rahab was in the promised land when the Israelite’s took possession of the land. She and her family are the only people saved during the invasion. The story of Rahab is found in the book of Joshua. The name Rahab means spacious. Rahab’s story is found in that of the Israelite’s. The chosen people of God are searching out the […]
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When Moses died, he handed his duties over to Joshua, who had been with him for a long time. Joshua was mentored by Moses. He could not have asked for any better training than under Moses. Joshua means “God {Yahweh} is my salvation”. We are told that Joshua is the son of Nun. Moses charged Joshua with selecting and commanding […]
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Last week, we ended the book of Genesis with a look at Joseph. The next person listed in the Hall of Faith is Moses, who picks up the story of the Israelite’s several hundred years later, in the book of Exodus. In the Hall of Faith, Moses story is summed up as “ By faith […]
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Joseph was the son of Jacob, and his father’s favorite son. This is because he was the oldest son of his mother, Rachael. If you’ll remember from the story of Jacob, that Rachael was his favorite wife. Joseph was the eleventh of Jacob’s twelve sons. His mother, Rachael, died giving birth to his brother Benjamin. The name Joseph means […]
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Jacob is the third generation of the great patriarch’s of the Old Testament and Israelite’s. He is the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. Jacob means “holder of the heel” or “supplanter”. When he was born he reached out holding onto his twin brother’s, Esau, heel. Even when they were both in the womb we are told “the children […]
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When the angel told Sarah she was going to have a child in her old age, she laughed. However, God was true to His word and a year later Sarah gave birth to a son she named Isaac. So, it should come as no surprise that Isaac means “Laughter. He laughs.” Isaac, along with his father Abraham, and son Jacob, […]
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For centuries, the entire purpose for women has been perceived as bearing children. Even today, not having children is difficult for some women. This is an area in which I’ve personally struggled greatly. However, imagine living during Biblical times when you don’t have a child. The taunts and jeers from those in your community. Then God tells your husband that […]
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Growing up in church, children learn at an early age that “Father Abraham had many sons, many sons had Father Abraham.” Yet, Abraham did not start out with many sons. Abraham did not even begin as Abraham. When we meet him in Genesis 12, he is known as Abram. Abram is the son of Terah and brother to Nahor and […]
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Have you heard of the saying “older than Methuselah”? Well, Methuselah lived longer than anyone and died at 969 years. Methuselah was the son of Enoch. The name Enoch means dedicated and trained, which describes this man described in the Hall of Faith. Enoch is one of only two men who walked with God until they “were no more.” {The […]
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I am excited about this new series we are starting today. If you turn to Hebrews 11, you will find the Hall of Faith, which begins with many individuals we recognize from the Old Testament. The author of Hebrews is unknown, but the writer definitely knew about the scrolls and scriptures and lives of these religious giants. Today, we start by exploring the […]
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Last week, we took a look at the last mention of Joseph by name or reference. This was when Jesus was twelve at the temple. The majority of what we know about the childhood of Jesus comes from the accounts found in Matthew and Luke. The two books together provide the large picture we have of Jesus birth and childhood. […]
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Last week, Joseph fled with his family to Egypt before returning to Nazareth once it was safe to return. We are not told how old Jesus is when they returned, but he is still at the ages we consider a toddler or young child. The next mention we have of Jesus or his parents, is when Jesus is twelve years […]
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Last week, we looked at the parents of Jesus taking him to the temple where Simeon blesses God. Matthew picks up the story of Jesus and his parents. The Wise Men have just departed from their visit. The Magi or Wise Men originally went to King Herod in search of “King of the Jews”. King Herod is greatly troubled and […]
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Joseph witnessed the birth of Jesus and saw the magnificence of the angels and shepherds arriving to worship the Christ child. The next mention we have is of the parents taking the child to the temple. Luke 2:27, “and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law” The […]
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Last week, we discussed the angel appearing to Joseph and he was obedient to take Mary as his wife. We now switch over to the book of Luke for the next part of the story. Luke 2 says , “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which […]
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Last week we discovered how righteous of a man Joseph was. He decided that he would quietly put Mary away privately. However, God had a different plan he was about to reveal to Joseph. In Matthew 1:20 “ But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son […]
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Last week, we were introduced to Joseph, the husband of Mary. We know that Joseph was betrothed to Mary when the spirit came upon her and she was with child. Matthew 1:18-25 tells us the story of Mary, Joseph and the conception of Jesus. So, what are we told? 18 When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before […]
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