“Your people will be my people,” said Ruth to Naomi. So, Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. Ruth obtained permission to gather fallen grain, behind the harvesters, in the field of an owner that was a relative of Naomi. In time, the owner of the field,… Read More »
“I Can’t See!”
“Gouge his eyes out,” shouted the leader of the Philistines. With that, Samson, the previously mighty man of strength was seized, blinded, and led off to a prison where he was forced to grind grain much like a beast of the field that would be harnessed to a millstone. Samson’s vow with God had been… Read More »
“Do You Want To Make A Lot Of Money?”
“Delilah, persuade the Israelite, Samson, to tell you his source of great strength, so that we can overpower him, tie him up and make him helpless. If you do this, each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver,” the Philistine leaders said. With the opportunity to make more money than she had ever… Read More »
“Rule Over Us!”
“Gideon, rule over us,” the Israelites said; for they were grateful that they were released from the slavery of the Midianites. “I will not rule over Israel,” replied Gideon; “The Lord rules over Israel. It is the Lord that destroyed 120,000 Midianite warriors.” The Israelites lived in peace during the next 40 years (the remainder… Read More »
“The Lord Is With You Mighty Warrior!”
“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior,” the angel of the Lord said to Gibeon. “If the Lord is with me, why am I down here threshing wheat in this wine vat, trying to keep out of sight of the Midianites, who would steal the grain?” “God has heard the cry of repentance from the… Read More »
“Will You Go With Me?”
“Hasn’t God commanded you to deploy 10,000 troops to attack King Jabin?” asked the Prophetess Deborah of Barak. “God has responded to the Israelites repentance for their evil ways; and, has promised deliverance.” “I’ll go if you go with me,” Barak replied. “I will go with you,” she replied; “but, you will receive no honor… Read More »
“Down With King Eglon!”
“Look at the nations around us. They have a king, they worship Baal and Asherah. We want to live like they live,” said the Israelites. Their choice to live a lifestyle in disobedience to God resulted in God allowing King Eglon of Moab to defeat the Israelites. After 18 years of oppressive rule by King… Read More »
“I Changed My Mind!”
“Lots of my friends are worshipping Baal, I’m going to join them,” said the Israelites. With that, the Israelites turned their back on God and did evil in His sight. How quickly they had forgotten the 40 years of peace they enjoyed while Israel’s Judge, Othniel, was living. Now, life has, again, become unbearable; because… Read More »
“Lord, Help Us!”
“These foreigners have invaded our land and have made us like slaves,” said the Israelites. “We have forsaken you in our worship and have turned to other gods. We repent of our sins and ask for a leader like Joshua, of our fathers.” God provided a leader (Judge) named Othniel to deliver the Israelites from… Read More »
“I Want To Live My Way!”
“The people that lived in this land before us worshipped Baal. I can see Baal, but I can’t see God. Maybe I can worship both. Or, maybe I can take turns…I’ll worship Baal for a while and then I’ll worship God for a while. Maybe, when I get older I’ll worship God. For now, let… Read More »