Category: Bible (Page 369 of 419)

A bizarre story closes Judges, perfectly illustrating the book’s theme of everyone did what was right in their own eyes.

After wiping out most of the tribe of Benjamin in civil war, then swearing to never give the surviving men their own daughters for wives, the leaders of Israel paused. None wanted to see the tribe of Benjamin fade away, and so they hatched a plan to provide the 600 survivors with wives.

First, they murdered everyone in a small town that failed to send anyone to fight with them against Benjamin, keeping only the young virgins. This provided 400 traumatized young women. Still short, the leaders encouraged the remaining bachelors to raid a festival and carry off whatever girl they could catch.

While the innocent women danced, each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife.

I am not making this up.

I wonder what these marriages were like? How did their kids turn out? What a great research study – how does a community, where every marriage was founded on murder and kidnapping, develop and grow?

One thing is clear. The philosophy of everyone does what is right in their own eyes, leads to chaos. The powerful, the aggressive, the hateful flourish, while innocent people bear the brunt.

Unfortunately, a similar view of hyper-individualism, personal autonomy, and living my truth abounds in our society. It’s trumpeted in advertising and blooms across social media. The fruit produced feels like the stories in Judges – broken, hurting people looking for the next fix to make us happy.

On the flip side, the Lord heard and responded to the cries of his people in Judges. Our cries reach the same Lord, and our hope rests in his hearing and response.

Judges 21 in week fifteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

Benjaminites seize wives from Shiloh – 1860 woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld

The crowds attracted to the sound of a rushing wind and a cacophony of voices stood dumfounded. Galileans, uneducated followers of Jesus, spoke boldly in the specific language of each hearer.

Due to the power of the Holy Spirit, each person present heard the gospel in their heart language – the language of home and family. Dialects of Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean world filled the air.

Oddly, no mention of English, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish or French, the five most widely spoken languages in the world today. Yet I first heard the gospel in English, my native language (albeit of an Ozarks variety).

Bible translations exist in these five languages, along with thousands of others. Thanks to the tireless and at times dangerous (people died to provide me with the Bible on my desk) work of various Bible translators, and people like my friends at the Jesus Film Project, the gospel is available today in the heart language of most of the planet.

But not quite all. Some people still wait to discover that Jesus speaks their language. Hopefully, in our generation, everyone hears this good news.

Acts 2 in week fifteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

The incongruity seems obvious to anyone reading through the Old Testament. The mother of Micah took 200 silver coins, dedicated them to the Lord, then sent her son to cast them into an idol (Judges 17).

But the Lord specifically prohibited idols in the Ten Commandments – You shall not make for yourself a carved image (Exodus 20:4).

What happened between Mount Sinai and the hills of the promised land?

Time, complacency, and lack of reverence for the Scriptures given to Moses from the hand of God.

You and I face the same problem. The faith we follow remains only one generation deep. Young people reap encouragement to wander off into desolate fields, to carve their personal image to worship.

How do we show a better way?

The same writings of Moses, along with those of the prophets and the disciples, live for us today. I serve future generations by helping them study and live the Scriptures. I serve by passing down my reverence for the Scriptures to others. I serve by not just talking my faith, but walking my faith.

Hard, challenging, and slow, this type of life remains the only antidote to a world constantly encouraging me to do whatever is right in my own eyes.

Week fifteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

I enjoyed several unforgettable meals over the years. One at an outdoor restaurant in Mexico with peacocks strolling between tables. Another in China where, as the guest of honor, the host served me the head of a duck. Not to mention many wonderful family gatherings around a table.

Following the resurrection of Jesus, Cleopas and his companion walked with an unknown man who cleared up their confusion about the event. At the end of a long day, they all sat down to supper.

The meal started when the unknown man gave thanks and broke bread. Then Cleopas and his friend recognized Jesus, who immediately vanished.

Unforgettable.

The painting displayed is entitled Supper at Emmaus, painted by Carravaggio in 1601. The original hangs in the British National Gallery, where I discovered it for myself several years ago.

I love the way the artist captured the exact instant these men recognized Jesus, the shock on their faces and the tension in their bodies. Total surprise.

A copy now hangs in my study, where I see it every day, reminding me of the many people waiting to be surprised by Jesus.

Luke 24 in week fifteen of reading the Bible cover to cover