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Continue readingBut food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
1 Corinthians 8:8 (NIV)
Category: Christianity
In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul discusses sex between a husband and wife. However, during his discourse, he says something that we might misinterpret.
I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
1 Corinthians 7:7 (NIV)
Within context, Paul has been discussing abstinence between a husband and wife for a set period.
Continue readingDo not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control (emphasis added)
1 Corinthians 7:5 (NIV)
In Joshua 9, we read about the Gibeonite deception. While the rest of Canaan was freaking out about Joshua and the Israelites, preparing to go to war with them, the Gibeonites had another idea: They would pretend to be from far away and make a treaty with the Israelites. Such a ruse should never have worked, considering Joshua’s relationship with the Lord. Joshua spent a lot of time with the Lord, so he should have recognized the deception. Exodus 33 gives us this insight about Joshua.
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
Exodus 33:11 (NIV)
Yet, when the Gibeonites tried to deceive the Israelites, they got away with it, and Joshua 9:14 tells us why.
Continue readingOne of the more memorable incidents in the Old Testament is the Israelites’ first defeat when attacking Ai. Shortly after annihilating Jericho, a few thousand Israelites go to take Ai and are routed, with 36 men killed. After a short investigation, Achan, the son of Zerah, took some of the devoted things. Thereby condemning all of Israel to failure. We read about the consequences of Achan’s sin here.
Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.” Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them (emphasis added)
Joshua 7:24-25 (NIV)
Everyone in Achan’s immediate family was stoned to death and then burned, which brings to mind these two verses.
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