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Then the Lord said, "Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. This is how the Lord will fulfill to Abraham what He promised him." – Genesis 18:17-19 HCSB

God looked throughout the world[1] for someone who would help Him accomplish His mission. He had all the kingdoms, empires, languages and cultures…  ( Click for more )

Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful. – James 5:14-16 HCSB

As an elder of Yeshua’s church, some people have deeply desired my prayers when they were hurting. Some have…  ( Click for more )

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. – 2 Timothy 2:2

There are two Jewish words for tradition – kabalah (which is not the same thing as the Jewish mysticism the pop-singer Madonna follows called Kabbalah) and masoret. Kabalah is what we receive and masoret is what we pass on to others.

All of us are steeped in some form of kabalah. We have a history that is uniquely American. Another people have a culture that is uniquely Iranian. Ours is a religious…  ( Click for more )

“Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. For I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”… Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. – Jonah 1:12,17

Jonah was trying to take credit for the storm. “Don’t you mean ‘took the blame’?” you ask. No – I mean the credit. Jonah had a serious pride problem. It was always about his reputation. Apparently, he was something of a national hero, having successfully…  ( Click for more )

It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment – Hebrews 9:27

I live every day with the effects of a terrible tropical disease contracted while living in Africa. I am going deaf, am often completely crippled and live in constant pain. But one of the most vexing effects is to my heart. Because of the damage to my nervous system, I sometimes have arrhythmias. Someday, the signal to my heart may be so mixed up that it might simply stop beating.

So I go to sleep every night and awake every morning with the thought that my heart could stop beating at any…  ( Click for more )

In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, where she entered Zachariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your offspring! How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! Blessed is she who has believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord…  ( Click for more )

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing those from whom you learned, and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:14-17 HCSB

There is a Hebrew phrase concerning the Scriptures that goes “Hafokh ba, v’hafokh ba k’kula…  ( Click for more )

Still, you did well by sharing with me in my hardship. And you, Philippians, know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that is increasing to your account. But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided--a fragrant offering, a welcome sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will…  ( Click for more )

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me, but lacked the opportunity to show it. I don't say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content--whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:10-13 HCSB

Paul experienced trials that would…  ( Click for more )

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me, but lacked the opportunity to show it. I don't say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content--whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:10-13 HCSB

Paul was grateful for the gift that…  ( Click for more )

For the Lord is going to devastate Babylon; He will silence her mighty voice. Their waves roar like abundant waters; the tumult of their voice resounds, for a destroyer is coming against her, against Babylon. Her warriors will be captured, their bows shattered, for the Lord is a God of retribution (El G’mulah); He will certainly repay. I will make her princes and sages drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up. [This is] the King's declaration; the Lord of Hosts is His name. – Jeremiah 51:55-57 HCSB …  ( Click for more )

Sisera's mother looked through the window; she [peered] through the lattice, crying out: "Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why don't I hear the hoofbeats of his horses?" Her wisest princesses answer her; she even answers herself: "Are they not finding and dividing the spoil- a girl or two for each warrior, the spoil of colored garments for Sisera, the spoil of an embroidered garment or two for my neck?" Lord, may all your enemies perish as Sisera did. But may those who love Him (Hashem) be like the rising of the sun in its strength. And the land was peaceful…  ( Click for more )

"I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress the widow and the fatherless, and cheat the wage earner; and against those who deny [justice to] the foreigner. They do not fear Me," says the Lord of Hosts. "Because I, Yahweh, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.” – Malachi 3:5-6 HCSB

There has been a very popular fallacy propagated among American Christians over the last half of a century. It purports that the God…  ( Click for more )

Then Moses said to the people, "Remember this day when you came out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, for the Lord brought you out of here by the strength of [His] hand… - Exodus 13:3 HCSB

A characteristic of the wise is that they not only survive life lessons, but they recall what was learned and apply that knowledge to future challenges.[1] Perhaps that is why Jesus became so frustrated with the crowd that asked for another miracle.[2] Right after He fed four thousand men, plus all their women and children with seven loaves and a few small fish[3], they asked…  ( Click for more )

You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah – Psalm 32:7 HCSB

A young boy ran, ducking and dodging, trying desperately to avoid the hail of rocks that flew through the air. His persecutors yelled instructions to each other in their hunting language as they tried to head him off. He cried as he ran, though he despised himself for the weakness. A couple of the rocks had landed hard, leaving bleeding gashes on his shoulders and head.

He was used to running and hiding, and soon was able to elude his tormentors.…  ( Click for more )

A patient person [shows] great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness. – Proverbs 14:29 HCSB

One of the greatest gifts we can give is an honest answer.[1] Though it may take a while to be truly appreciated, any wise person will value honesty over flattery.[2] Being dishonest with our spouse is as harmful as physical abuse[3] and in the end, will only cause trouble.[4] El Emet[5] expects and deserves truthful followers[6], so we need to strive for honesty and openness with each other[7], especially about our motives.[8]

However, honesty must be…  ( Click for more )

You are my God. I worship you. In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert. I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship. You love means more than life to me, and I praise you. – Psalm 63:1-3

“I love you.” We think of our first grade school crush. We demonstrate it by punching her or pulling her pony tail if we’re male. If we’re female, we ignore him or call him names.

“I love you.” We tell our lover as we show them the ring. In our search for their hearts we seek first their hands…  ( Click for more )

As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. - Mark 1:16-20 (NASB)

Being a disciple of Christ…  ( Click for more )

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. – Acts 2:42

My grandmother is a great, godly lady. For as long as I can remember, she has read the Bible once a year, the New Testament twice a year and the book of Proverbs once a month. Year after year, decade after decade, she has followed this disciplined practice. As a result of constantly bathing her mind in the Word, her daily conversation is filled with Scripture. She doesn’t make a show of it – she has simply so filled her spirit…  ( Click for more )

…for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace – Ephesians 1:4-7 HCSB

Eons ago, long before creation, Elohim Elohay decided to create self-determining creatures and give them the opportunity to choose to love Him on…  ( Click for more )

I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know Me, so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. – Isaiah 45:5-7 HCSB

There is a lot of talk in the modern American church about God being Love. Obviously, the Bible agrees[1]ALL He is. Do you love only? Do you hate completely? Is any person truly that simple? , but the problem…  ( Click for more )

The Israelites' cry for help has come to Me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." – Exodus 3:9-10 HCSB

One day while minding his own business, Moses came across a thing of wondrous beauty – a bush that burnt continuously without being consumed[1]. While gazing at it in awe, a voice suddenly emanated from the bush telling Moses to remove his sandals, because the ground he was standing on was holy.

Moses did exactly as Adam and…  ( Click for more )

The nations will see your righteousness. Kings will be blinded by your glory. And the Lord will give you a new name. – Is. 62:2

A great general was surrounded one time. He was in his tent discussing strategy with his subordinates when an aide came running in. “General, the enemy has surrounded us with eight regiments! We are outnumbered 20 to one!” Everyone turned to the great man as he gazed calmly at the panicked aide. “Well that’s outstanding!” he replied “We’ve got them right where we want them. We can shoot anywhere…  ( Click for more )

He is the one who was in the congregation in the desert together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our forefathers. He received living oracles to give to us. Our forefathers were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him away, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. They told Aaron: Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what's become of him. They even made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to the idol, and were celebrating what their hands had made. – Acts 7:38-41 HCSB

The…  ( Click for more )