It seems as if Leah had no one in her life whom she could rely on, or who would truly love her. Not her father, her sister, or even her own husband. But what about God? God saw Leah. In Isaiah 11:1 we read, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” Roots are underground, lying in the darkness where you can’t see them. You plant, wait, and hope that new life will one day grow from those buried roots. And this also h

The catastrophe of World War II not only accelerated the Jews’ return but also Israel’s resurrection from the ashes of history. The State’s founding literally occurred in the fire of history and could never have been anticipated, humanly speaking. In light of this, something else is also significant. In 2022, Israeli historian Dan Diner published Another War. In the book [unavailable in English], Diner shows the developments of World War II from a Jewish perspective, as well

Paul and the Exalted, Glorified Christ The twelve Apostles were called by the humbled Jesus, while Paul was called by the exalted and glorified Christ. Yet, the exalted Christ also remains the previously humbled Son of Man, who has not discarded the name Jesus. Saul was called by the Lord with the phrase, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest” (Acts 9:5). Almost all of Paul’s letters begin with the wording, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto

Many people worldwide are asking questions with regard to the work of God among the nations of this world. God is indeed active in the affairs of humanity, and He is absolutely sovereign to accomplish His eternal decrees. Throughout the Bible, it is apparent that the people of God have always struggled with living holy and godly lives in the midst of a very perverse and wicked world. Leviticus is a book that is solely concerned with the holiness of God’s people (cf. Lev 19:1-

In the first four trumpet judgments of Revelation 8, we see how the foundations for life on earth are being increasingly destroyed. According to verse 11, many people die after drinking the water, which was rendered bitter. And finally, with the sixth trumpet (Rev 9:15), one third of what remains of humanity perishes. Doing the math, this would mean that half of humanity perishes through the judgments of Revelation 6 and 9. And, the shocking thing is that the rest of the peop

Israel was born through fire in Egypt, gathered through fire in history, was resurrected as a nation through fire in 1948, and will be saved through fire in the future. A biblical survey through Scripture and redemptive history. In 2004, when Ariel Sharon (Israel’s Prime Minister at the time) addressed the Knesset about the Gaza “disengagement plan,” he said that Israel had been born in blood. He was referring to the events surrounding the nation’s founding on May 14, 1948. A

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal His son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen…” (Gal 1:15-16). About the Apostle Paul’s special assignment. There are, I think, four things that can be said of Paul. First, no one ever experienced such a radical conversion and calling as he did. Second, no one else can so radically testify to turning away from his old life and devotion to a new life in Christ. Th

The day prior to Halloween in 1938, Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre deceived the United States. They performed a radio adaptation of H. G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds,” transforming the four decade old novel into fake news bulletins dramatizing a Martian invasion of Earth. The broadcast was too realistic, with the actors’ voices and sound effects convincing listeners that the bulletins were genuine. Confusion and fear led to phone calls to the police, newspaper offices

During the Tribulation, the Antichrist will masquerade as God. We are already seeing the end-time tendencies that lead to this pinnacle of delusion about our own divinity. Today, these mostly appear in the way people deal with death and the climate. The answer that God gives in Revelation is as striking as it is highly relevant. Revelation 13 shows us the emergence of the beast, the Antichrist. Verses 5-6 make it clear that it is a human being. The beast has a large mouth for

Third Consolation: Perceive What Jesus Did for You “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). This is Jesus’ explanation for leaving the disciples. He’s going to prepare a place for them. We read, “In my Father’s house are many rooms” (John 14:2a). Therefore, the phrase “to prepare a place” must mean something else, since the rooms are already there. The word “prepare” doesn’t necessarily mean to construct a building. This verb often refers to making preparations for some

John G. Paton was a pioneer missionary in the New Hebrides Islands (now Vanuatu) of the South Pacific Ocean. One night, hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters. The natives intended to set the building ablaze and to kill the Patons as they exited. Paton and his wife prayed all night for God’s protection. When morning came, they were amazed to see none of the hostile tribesmen remained, and had no idea what led to their departure. Years later, the chief of the trib

God’s coming kingdom: the biblical evidence for the Millennial kingdom on earth. The expectation of heaven is an essential hope of the Christian faith. It is the goal toward which we strive, the promise that strengthens and comforts us. So, why does the Bible also speak of an earthly kingdom of God? Isn’t the promise of heaven enough? Yet the early Christians were convinced that the earthly kingdom is just as important as the heavenly one. Why? Because it will complete God’s

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Rom 15:13). An interpretation and application for everyday life. Hinduism requires about 6,000 gods to convey a little hope, which then comes to nothing. In the best-case scenario, Buddhism’s highest hope ends in Nirvana; that is, total dissolution or non-existence. Muslims place their hope in an unpredictable god who provides no certainty, and

On the consolation that truly comforts, which the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples in His farewell discourse. When we suddenly find ourselves faced with unexpected, threatening situations in our lives, families, or at work, we wonder how we should live going forward. Where can we find direction? In the Bible. And John 14:1-3 concretely provides an answer in the form of a very personal invitation. The Lord extended it to His disciples when explaining how they should behave in

“The just shall live by faith.” Some call the Epistle to the Romans, “Paul’s Masterpiece on Grace.” An overview and introduction. The Apostle Paul (Rom 1:1) wrote the letter to the believers in Rome around 56 AD. The city was the center of a world empire, and is believed to have had over a million inhabitants. Paul had never been to Rome up to this point, but had a strong desire to visit the believers there on His way to Spain (Rom 1:13-15; cf. 15:24, 28). Although they had a

Fresh fruit can be expensive, especially when organic or not in season. While the average price of fruit at the local grocery store may only cost a few dollars, some fruits can sell for thousands. The most expensive fruit is the rare Kanyao Durian, which costs nearly $50,000. Most of the world’s costliest fruits are grown in Japan, but the greenish-yellow Durian is found in Thailand. Durian is slightly controversial because of its pungent scent, which is compared to rotten me

How Nehemiah’s reaction to the plight of his people in Jerusalem is an example for us today. Nehemiah, who was part of the Jewish exile, served as a cupbearer to the Persian king. He selected the appropriate wine for each food and sampled each meal. He was a confidant of the king, and most likely discussed problems with him. The cupbearer would have informed the king of opinions and rumors from the court. One day, Nehemiah received news that his fellow countrymen in Jerusalem

What has occurred in the Gaza Strip over the last 20 years is actually a textbook example of why a Palestinian state must never be created. To understand this, we need to look back to recent history. The USA’s role as mediator After the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Israel was growing increasingly dependent on the United States (although Israel doesn’t like to hear it). The US mediated the peace agreement with Egypt in 1979, and the later 1994 peace agreement with Jordan. Both of t

There is virtually no news platform that doesn’t mention a war somewhere in the world. And, unfortunately, many wars don’t even attract media attention, as experts claim that dozens of military conflicts are happening in different parts of the world. Furthermore, this is not the only problem. There are also private “wars”—family disputes, fights between neighbors, conflicts at work ... and, of course, widespread crime. Hundreds of thousands of cases of domestic violence also

George Frederick Handel is regarded as one of the greatest composers in church history. His oratorio Messiah is the most popular of his works, as it has captivated and inspired many with its biblical lyrics and musical score. King George II of England was present during the first performance in London on 23 March 1743. When the famous “Hallelujah Chorus” was sung, which contains the words, “For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” the King stood unexpectedly. His act of homage