Imagine all the emotions going through Mary’s heart and mind after being told by the angel Gabriel that she would be carrying and giving birth to God’s son! Then realize that, instead of worrying about being unmarried and the resulting stigma, she praised God, [...]
The Roman government gave their local rulers dictatorial powers to keep the status quo. The governors could do as they pleased to maintain order and to collect taxes. For example, it was well-known that Herod killed his former wife (didn't want her around any more) and [...]
The simplest answer to this question is “to test their faith.” God had personally made a promise to Abraham that he and Sarah would have a very special son, through whom the entire world would receive blessings. Genesis 17:19, “And God said, Sarah thy wife [...]
God is not a god of revenge. When Paul accepted Jesus as his savior, his sins were completely forgiven. 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Additionally, God [...]
Genesis 19 tells the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his family were saved by the angel of the Lord and pulled out of the city before its impending punishment. They were instructed to flee to the mountains and not [...]
The Bible does not tell us what color Moses’ skin was. However, we do know Moses married a Negro woman, and when Miriam and Aaron spoke poorly of the marriage, God became very angry with them. Numbers 12:1-15, “And Miriam and Aaron spake against [...]
Jeremiah was a faithful servant of the LORD. He strove for the highest good of his nation following the direction of divine wisdom. His driving force was “God first.” He encouraged worship and morality. Judah was in great moral decline. The practices of the Jews [...]
The scholarly community is divided as to where these ancient rivers and countries are located. The following answer presents one view: There are more than one land of Havilah and of Cush respectively mentioned in the Bible, wherein lies the confusion. However, the verses [...]
The Pentateuch is the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. "Penta" means five and "teuch" refers to scrolls or books. Some call the Pentateuch the five books of Moses; while Jewish people call this collection the Torah.
The Genesis 2:1-25 account of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden omits any reference to other cavemen or species of humans. The oneness of the human family is reaffirmed by the Apostle Paul when speaking in Athens, “And [God] hath made of [...]
The requirements, prohibitions, sacrifices of the Old Testament Law were not addressed to the whole world, but only to the unique nation of Israel. God made a covenant with them and required them to obey him. On the other hand, the teachings of the [...]
Leviticus 18:1-19 (NIV): “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them…You must not do as they do in Egypt…You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the LORD your God…’ ‘No one is to approach [...]
Unlike some of the other books of the Bible, the books of 1st and 2nd Kings do not name its author. Accounts such as Kings and Chronicles cover many centuries of history and are typically thought to have been recorded during the lifetime of [...]
Shem is one the three sons of Noah as recorded in Genesis 5:32 and 6:10, “And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” His name means “Name” or “Renown” (Fame). Shem was probably the firstborn son of Noah [...]
The book of Titus is a letter written by the Apostle Paul, approximately 62 to 67 A.D., to Titus, a mature brother in Christ. Paul and Titus were missionary traveling companions at one time. Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete to [...]
In the beginning, Adam and Eve were created with the ability to make decisions and to choose their own actions. There was no evil at that time, so they did not understand evil or its consequences; they only knew good. God knew that Adam [...]
Genesis records that Adam had only one wife, Eve. Some confuse the two accounts of the creation of man (Genesis 1 and Genesis 2) as different creations of different people. However, Genesis 1 simply gives a general overview of man’s creation. Genesis 2 offers [...]
Numbers used as symbols in the Bible are of special importance. Sometimes the number itself has an exact, literal meaning. Other times, the number represents a scriptural concept. So what is the biblical, symbolic meaning of the number forty? Some examples of the use [...]
Ishmael had twelve sons: Nebajoth, Kedar, Abdeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. (Genesis 25:14-18) According to McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia, Arab historians divide the Arab peoples into the descendants of Joktan (Genesis 10:25-29); and descendants of Ishmael. Some of [...]
John the Baptist immersed Jews into the Jordan River with the baptism of repentance. Acts. 19:4, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” Therefore, John’s purpose was to [...]
