We often think that our faith is most severely tested during our times of difficulty. When bad things happen to us or our loved ones, we are often tempted to think that God isn’t there or that God doesn’t care. Today’s passage reminds us that times of prosperity can be…

Many people today believe in some sort of legalism, which means they feel good about their spiritual condition because of things they do or things they leave undone. All societies tend to do this, condemning some sins as worse, or at least as less acceptable than others. But the way…

In today’s passage, we not only see that the second part of the Great Commandment – “Love your neighbor as yourself” – comes from the Old Testament. We also see some examples of how this love should work itself out in all of our relationships. And there are some surprises…

Jesus was no antinomian, believing that His coming made the Old Testament Law of no importance anymore. Instead, He came both to teach and to illustrate the central meaning of that Law – He came to teach unconditional, self-sacrificial love and to model it. For, if we really were to…

Jacob loved Rachel, and had to be tricked into marrying Leah. If Jacob had had his way, Rachel would have been his only wife, and thus he would only have had two sons. But God had other plans – He wanted Jacob’s family to become a great nation. Jacob doubtless…

You may recognize verse 49 as a benediction: “The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.” But Laban did not intend for these words to be a blessing. No, they were an expression of the deepest distrust. In the preceding verses, we learn that…

For today’s Bible study, here is the first Thanksgiving Day proclamation, issued by President Washington on October 3, 1789. For your study, scattered throughout the text are Scripture references which address the suggested points of thanksgiving or petition. On this day when we feast with family and friends, let us…

What are you thankful for during this Thanksgiving season? What sorts of good things would you wish for others? In verses 1-4, David focuses on the sorts of military blessings that soldiers like him would most desire: protection, help and support in the midst of battle. He wants his allies’…

So, what if Jacob had gotten what he had wanted when he first laid eyes on his beautiful cousin Rachel? What if his uncle Laban had played it straight with him? Rachel was unable to bear children for a long time, and died in childbirth with her second son. Simply,…

In today’s passage, the trickster is tricked. Remember, he and Rebekah had conspired to trick his blind father, to make Isaac bless him instead of his twin brother Esau. Well, on the morning he woke up to discover Leah in his bed instead of his beloved Rachel, Jacob realized he…