God’s Promises
My Struggle with the Story of the Canaanite Woman
Matthew 15:21-28 The incident with the Canaanite woman was one of the hardest things for me to read and grasp in the Gospel accounts. Jesus‘ response to this woman was, from my perspective, completely out of character. I searched many commentaries to gain a better understanding. But the unrest in my heart was not pacified. [...]
A Dire Vision of the Fall of Sin
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 21:2 A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring an end to all the groaning she has caused. The vision about the tremendous fall of Babylon evoked a violent agitation in the heart of Isaiah. He had [...]
Prayer of a Person in Distress
Scripture Reference: Psalm 31:1-5 Psalm 31 inspires us to keep trusting God when we are in distress. Difficult circumstances have a way of distracting us from the true source of our help. This prayer by David brings across the importance of taking everything to God in prayer. Prayer is an expression of our faith in [...]
The Resurrection of Jesus brings Uncountable Blessings
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 54 Isaiah 53 speaks in detail of the future suffering and death of the Servant of the Lord. The next chapter bursts through the darkness of death with the glory of the light of life: “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy…” (Isaiah 54:1) [...]
Weeping will make way for Joy Everlasting
Scripture Reference: Psalm 30:4-5 David characteristically encourages the Lord’s children to sing to Him: Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. The reason? His anger towards our disobedience and unbelief lasts a short while compared to the favour He shows us, which lasts for all eternity. Through reconciliation and redemption by [...]
Who receives Understanding of the Scriptures?
Scripture Reference: Matthew 13:36-43 For many Christians the answer to this question is rather obvious, but it never was for me. If one has been fed lies for years like I was, it is an exceedingly exciting time when the Truth intersects your life and enters your heart. Burdens of deception and lies are hurled [...]
God Gives without Strings Attached
The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it. (Proverbs 10:22) Here’s what I’ve discovered: God does not give us something with the one hand and then takes something else away with the other. God gives without strings attached. His blessings don’t come with hooks in them. Let’s look at the life of [...]
The LORD Almighty Planned it
Suggested Reading: Isaiah 23 It isn’t just bad luck when the high and mighty, proud and arrogant leaders of this world come to a fall. The Lord Almighty planned it. Isaiah 23 is a prophecy against Tyre. It was a hothouse of merchants enriched by seafarers. In Hebrew, the name Tyre means rock. Tyre was a favourite [...]
A Character Portrait of Christ
Suggested Reading: Matthew 12:15-21 One of the outstanding features of the Gospel of Matthew is how he would often connect what Jesus said and did to the fulfillment of a prophecy. Here he says, “This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah…“ This prophecy was written about 600-700 years before the time [...]
Let us Eat and Drink for Tomorrow we Die
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 22:12-14 These words have become quite the cliché even to the point that some believe it is an American Proverb! Since this phrase is often quoted out of the context from which it is written in the Bible, it is also given to much misinterpretation. In order to understand the purpose of [...]
