Thomas: when doubt can fuel faith and belief

Thomas is known as the Doubter. Yes, he was a doubter; however, his doubt had a purpose. Many Christians are taught that we should not doubt. That doubt is a lack of faith. However, after studying Thomas and doubters throughout the Bible that is not the case! Thomas wanted to know the truth, so he asked questions and when his questions were answered, he believed! He expressed his doubts fully and had them answered completely. Doubting was his way of responding to new information; but it was not his way of life. Glimpses of Thomas are brief throughout the gospels; however, his character comes through with consistency. He was a man of faith who sought answers to his nagging questions. Thomas is not the first doubter in the Bible. Who was Thomas? Who were other doubters in the Bible? How does God respond to doubters? What lessons can we take from doubt? 

Thomas was an honest and loyal man. He was intense in belief and in doubt. Thomas didn’t idolize his doubt, he gladly believed when he was given reasons to do so. While his occupation is unknown, he was known for courage as well as his doubt. Courage? Yes, courage. In John 11:6, Jesus hears about Lazarus’s illness and to go back to Bethany after Jews tried to stone him (John 10:31) was dangerous for them. While the other disciples tried to talk Jesus out of going back to see Lazarus, Thomas replied, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). He didn’t hesitate to follow Jesus. However, he struggled to believe despite what he felt. Did he doubt because he so wanted to believe but felt it was impossible? The gospels do not tell us why Thomas was absent when Jesus first appeared to the disciples after the resurrection; however, he was reluctant to believe their witness accounts. A week passed before Jesus appeared to Thomas, but he encouraged him to touch his wounds and believe (John 20:26-27). Jesus used Thomas’s doubt to show us that God does not reject honest doubt. 

The Bible is filled with doubters from Abraham and Sarah to Moses to the prophet Habakkuk and even John the Baptist. I would like to discuss three specific doubters. First, Gideon went from fearful farmer to mighty warrior. He was hiding from the Midianities as he was filled with fear about his own abilities and God’s presence. He would make excuse after excuse (Judges 11:15) and asked God to prove himself with sign after sign (Judges 11:17) and God gave him his sign (Judges 11:20-22) and other miracles (Judges 6:36-40). Second, Elijah went from faithful prophet to bold witness. Elijah is remembered as a great prophet; however, he still experienced moments of deep doubt and despair. In 1 Kings 19:3-4, Elijah flees for his life and begs God to end his life. God instead gave him rest and strength. He sent food and water and after a period of rest and with a renewed sense of purpose, Elijah became the prophet we all know (1 Kings 19:5-18). Lastly, the father of the demon possessed boy in Mark 9:14-29 asks Jesus “if he can” help his son. When Jesus questions the man’s if statement, the father proclaims “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” His faith was imperfect but he was trying and for that Jesus honored his prayer and healed his son (Childers, 2018). 

There are four lessons we can take from doubt. First, doubt is a common human experience. Tim Keller wrote that faith without doubt is like the human body without antibodies (Keller, 2008). Just as antibodies help the body’s immune system, doubt can help fuel faith. We can have doubts without living a life of doubt. Doubt can be used to pose questions, to get an answer and come to a decision. Doubt; however, becomes a problem when it is out of stubbornness and that stubbornness becomes a lifestyle that can harm faith and belief. Second, God can work through doubt with patience and understanding. God deals with honest doubters and will meet us right where we are at (Childers, 2018). When we have doubts, we can bring our questions to God. Third, doubt can lead to deeper faith. Lastly, seeking answers and evidence is not wrong. We can ask for evidence to back up our faith. Thomas’s doubt was rational and intellectual and Jesus answered his intellectual doubt with evidence (Childers, 2018). John the Baptist experienced the most painful type of doubt. A doubt when you stand to lose everything if your suspicion is correct. He needed reconfirmation and Jesus provided it (Matthew 11:1-6, Luke 7:18-23). 

In conclusion, Thomas deserves to be respected for his faith and not ignored for his doubt. Doubt is not a character flaw. It is a natural experience to have questions and uncertainty. We can take encouragement from Thomas, We can take our doubts and allow Jesus to lead us to belief. Gideon would eventually embrace his calling and his journey from doubt to faith demonstrates the patience God has for us as he guides and strengthens our faith.Elijah’s transformation serves as a reminder that God meets us in our weakest moments, offering comfort and encouragement to continue our journey of faith. Faith is an attitude of trust and confidence (Hebrews 11:1) and we do not obtain faith without help as it is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). Growing in faith is a constant process of daily renewing our trust in Jesus. It is better to doubt out loud than to disbelieve in silence. 

References

Childers, Alisa (February 2, 2018). 4 Lessons We Can Learn From Doubters in the Bible. Blog. https://www.alisachildersblog.com/blog/4-lessons-we-can-learn-from-doubters-in-the-bible. Retrieved August 10, 2025. 

Keller, Timothy (2008-02-14). The Reason for God . Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition, location 192. Retrieved August 10, 2025. 

The Trouble With Love: a best friend's brother romance with a realistic look into faith and God

The Trouble With Love is the first book in the Faith and Fortune series by Toni Shiloh. Holiday Brown has it all. A successful singing career with a platinum record and a multi-million dollar home in Manhattan that she shares with her two closest friends. Everything was looking great until her roommate’s brother came to stay. W. Emmett Brown has been a thorn in her side for a long time. He is annoying, stubborn and a know it all. He is also the most gorgeous man she has ever seen. Suddenly dynamics charge as Emmett’s sister has a stalker who is getting closer and more threatened. Holiday soon finds that Emmett’s faith isn’t as annoying as it was and he has a softer side that she had failed to notice before. As the two get closer, Holiday starts to question faith, belief and God in ways she hadn’t thought about before. Will it bring Holiday closer to God? 

The Trouble With Love is a slow burn, enemies to lovers, best friend’s brother, clean romance. It sounds like a lot, so many tropes in one story, but it works. Once I started this story, I could not put it down. One of my favorite quotes is “The trouble with love was it always smacked you in the face when you least expected it,” which is so true! I fell in love with Holiday, Emmett and her roommates, Tori and Octavia. I loved the banter and teasing between Holiday and Emmett. I loved the interactions between all the characters. The friendship and love between the women. I loved the in depth, realistic look into the struggles with belief, the questions and doubts and the honest real answers from the believers in the story. Even before I finished Holiday and Emmett’s story, I knew I would be continuing the series. I highly, highly recommend The Trouble With Love. 

The Trouble With Love is available in paperback and eBook

Gomer: a story of unfaithfulness, redemption and love

Gomer is known in the Bible as the unfaithful wife of the prophet Hosea. We don’t hear from her in Scriptures. We only know of her actions. After she married Hosea, she carried on numerous affairs. She would give gifts to her lovers than were gifted to her by Hosea. She is the symbol of spiritual adultery. A picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. However, Hosea continued to love her despite her unfaithfulness. She is more than just an unfaithful wife. She is an illustration of the redeeming love that God has for us despite our unfaithfulness. What’s her story? What is a redeeming love? How is she an illustration? 

Hosea was a prophet. An important man in Israel. He was the mouthpiece of God to His people. He would be the man to steer the nation with his prophecies; but, he couldn’t control his wife. God had instructed Hosea to take Gomer as his wife and love her as God loved Israel. Many scholars believed that Gomer was faithful in the beginning. Hosea 1:3 says that Gomer bore Hosea a son. However, in verses 6 and 8, Gomer has two more children. However, Hosea’s name is not mentioned. It has led scholars to believe that the last two children were not Hosea’s biological children but the children of her lovers. Sometime after the birth of her first child, she became unfaithful. When Gomer is mentioned again in Hosea 3, Hosea is instructed to buy her back. The Bible doesn’t say why she had to be bought back. Two possibilities is that she sold herself into prostitution or she was another man’s mistress. But he pays and he brings her home. 

A redeeming love is a love that frees someone from a burden. Hosea redeemed Gomer from the burden of being a prostitute or another man’s mistress. God has redeemed us from sin through His Son, Jesus Christ. God loves us and remains faithful even when we are not. He waits with open arms for us to repent and turn back to Him. God remains faithful at all times. When we get busy and put others before Him. Whether it is work, family responsibilities, and even our church and charitable obligations. Like many people, I am prone to pay attention to what needs my immediate attention and push, even unwittingly, aside my time with God. But He always welcomes me back with open arms and forgiveness for my inattentiveness. I try to do my best but I’m not perfect. I will never be perfect. I will fall from time to time but God will be there to help me up when I do. He will let me try again. You may think you are too far gone for help. But you are not. He is there waiting. He will welcome you back and let you try again. 

Gomer becomes an illustration for us. A person who seeks other pleasures and desires, turning from the One who remained lovingly faithful. Like Hosea, with every reason to cut ties with Gomer, God could have walked away from us. Leaving us to our choices and consequences. But God doesn’t walk away from us. He is not asking for perfection. He is asking for consistency, regular meetings. A prayer as you head to work, before a meal, and even before bed. You can pray whenever and wherever you want. A quick “Help me, Lord” in a moment of frustration or a stressful situation counts and He will hear. One of my favorite quiet times is bedtime as I lay my youngest daughter down to sleep, I pray. I pray for my shortcomings as a mom, a wife, and an overall person. I pray for my daughters and their successes and struggles. I pray for my husband as he prepares to rest and face work the next day. I pray in thankfulness for God’s love and mercy. I pray for this continued help as I live this life that He has given me. No fancy words needed, just words from your heart. 

In conclusion, Gomer was a woman who was unfaithful. She turned from her husband who loved her. She is later redeemed when she deserved to be left behind. God doesn’t want to leave us behind. He wants to love us and provide for us. We just need to come to Him. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, we are redeemed. Hosea redeems Gomer with valuables but we are redeemed through the precious blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:18-19). Many people would focus on the fact that Hosea was forced to marry Gomer, a prostitute; however, they miss the most important picture. Gomer’s story is a story of redemption and love. 

Barefoot Summer: one summer can change everything

Barefoot Summer is the first book in the Chapel Springs Romance series by Denise Hunter. Madison McKinley has closed her heart for years, ever since the untimely death of her twin brother, Michael. She has struggled to put it behind her and despite the support of her tight-knit family and her satisfying job as a veterinarian in their small riverside town, the loss of her brother still haunts her. In an attempt to finally find closure, she sets out to fulfill her brother’s dream of winning the town’s annual regatta. There’s one small problem...she needs to learn to sail and fast. Beckett O’Reilly knows Madison is out of his league. Madison is reluctant to work with the infamous Beckett but she knows it's her only chance to meet her goal. Even though she denies it, the chemistry between them undeniable and as the summer wanes, her feelings for him grow. But Beckett harbors a secret that will test the limits of their new romance. Can their new relationship survive the summer’s challenges? Will achieving her brother’s dream give Madison the peace she desperately needs? 

Barefoot Summer is a sweet story of love, summer’s promise and the letting go of the grief which keeps us from living life to its fullest. I love small town stories and the characters who live there. Beckett is the son of the town drunk and Madison, the daughter of The Family of Chapel Springs. At one point, her father, Thomas, is described as the “Charles Ingalls of Chapel Springs.” It also deals with faith, God and coming to terms with unfathomable events. I liked how Ms. Hunter deals with these subjects by not oversimplifying them or being too complex; but presents it with real human questions, reactions and emotions. I also enjoyed how she presents the subject of alcoholism, the effects it has on the individual and his or her family and the misunderstanding and judgment of those who do not understand. I enjoyed every moment of Barefoot Summer and look forward to reading the rest of the series. I recommend Barefoot Summer. It is a fun read with real characters and real questions. 

Barefoot Summer is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Rahab: a woman of faith over fear and uncertainty

The story of Rahab is one of my favorites in the Bible. Rahab was a clever and wise woman who devised an escape plan for her and her family. As the stories of the Israelites traveled to Jericho and whispered among its citizens, she heard about the amazing things the Israelite God could do. She decided that she would put her faith in this God she didn’t know in an amazing act of faith. Her decision would mean her death if she was find out but she still took the risk. Although she was a prostitute and an idolater and would see her city and her people destroyed, her act of faith would be rewarded as God gave her a new life among his people and a place in the ancestry of his Son. What was her story? Why would she take such a risk? What does her story tell us about fear and God?

Jericho may be one of the world’s oldest cities as its ancient ruins can be found approximately 17 miles northeast of Jerusalem. The walled city was the gateway to Canaan, the final obstacle for the Israelites to overcome to claim their promised land. Rahab’s home was inside the thick surrounding walls. She would entertain the visitors to the city as well as many of the locals. This is how she heard the strong and marvelous stories of the God of the Israelites including the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15-28) and the victory against Sihon and Og (Numbers 21:21-36). When the spies that Joshua sent into Jericho made their way to Rahab’s house, she hid them on the roof under stalks of flax which were out drying. When the king asked Rahab about the two men, she claimed not to know who they were or where they were from. She tells the king they left at dusk and men were sent out in pursuit. When it was safe, Rahab tells the men a warning and asks them for their assurances that she and her family would be spared (Joshua 2:12-13). They agreed and tells her to hang a scarlet cord out her window and her family would be spared. Rahab watched from her window the gathering army, their strange walking around the city, the final thunderous cry, and the crumbling of city’s walls (Joshua 6:12-20).  Rahab and her family were spared and joined the Israelites into the promised land.

The significance of the red cord cannot be overlooked. Scarlet has become synonymous with salvation and redemption. In similar fashion of the lamb’s blood on the doorframes of the Israelites, the red cord spared Rahab and her family from the coming siege (One for Israel, 2018). While the Messiah was promised to the Israelites, the scarlet cord in Rahab’s story is a connection that the promised Messiah was coming for the Gentiles as well. The scarlet cord is a fore of how redemption will come to faithful Gentiles (Jews for Jesus, 2001). Rahab’s faith was rewarded with the honor of being the great grandmother of King David and an ancestor in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) and one of only two women mentioned in the Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11. Rahab’s redemption is also an example of how God’s grace no boundaries. Anyone who comes to him with faith will be saved. It would seem strange that God would choose to save Rahab, a prostitute, however; God saw her heart, not her profession. God often chooses many people of various backgrounds, especially those who are on the lowest rung of the societal ladder. No one is beyond his influence or his grace. The scarlet cord saved Rahab and her family just as the blood of Jesus saves those who believe in him. Rahab’s story is just another example of God’s willingness to use the less than perfect, the outcasts, anyone who society may see as unsuitable to accomplish his holy purposes

Fear and feelings of failure will often keep us from moving forward in our faith. While she was afraid, as she heard the stories of God, she rose above her situation with faith and trust. Her faith gave her the courage to risk her life. She knew it was certain death if the king of Jericho found out she lied. It would also certain death if she turned the spies in. She would have been destroyed along with the city. In the face of certain death, Rahab placed her faith and trust in the Israelite God who had accomplished the unbelievable. She was resourceful and willing to help others at great cost to herself. Despite her profession, she is remembered for her faith. Rahab is an example of how not to let feat affect your faith in God’s ability to deliver. One of my favorite quotes from Tessa Afshar’s Pearl in the Sand is “It’s time to leave fear behind or you’ll be robbed of your destiny. You don’t need confidence in yourselves or in your own power. Be strong in the Lord. When disaster seems close, don’t be discouraged. God will never leave you.” Acting on faith is like the saying, which has many forms but generally says, that courage is being afraid and going forward anyway. That’s what Rahab did. She put her faith over her fear. If we can find the strength to put our faith over our fear, what wonders could God do in our lives?

In conclusion, Rahab was a woman of great faith in a God she didn’t know. She heard the stories and believed that the Israelite God was more powerful than the idol gods her city worshipped. Her story is another example of who God doesn’t wait for us to be spotless or matured faith. He takes the ordinary, the willing and accomplishes the extraordinary both in their lives and the lives around them. There is a saying that goes around that says roughly that God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. Rahab didn’t set out to be important or honored or rewarded. She simply wanted to survive. God saw her heart and saw a woman of great faith. He honored her in many ways.  Her story matters as our stories matter today. Rahab’s simple decision to help the spies made a huge difference. What simple decision in our lives could make the difference?

                                                                  References

 

Jews for Jesus (October 1, 2001). The Scarlet Cord of Redemption. Jews for Jesus. www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/newsletter/newsletter-oct-2001/the-scarlet-cord-of-redemption. Retrieved December 19, 2020.

 

One for Israel (June 10, 2018). The Secrets Of Rahab’s Rope. One for Israel. www.oneforisrael.org/israel/jericho-rahab-and-the-rope-of-hope/. Retrieved December 19, 2020.

 

For Further Reading

 

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar, a fictional account of Rahab’s life including the events of Jericho and her life after marrying Salmon and becoming an ancestor of Jesus.

 

Jesus (Yeshua) is a Worm…and a Snake too Among Other Things by Kendall T. Shoulders, an analysis of often overlooked metaphors and symbols which point to the coming Messiah in the Bible.

 

both books are available in paperback and eBook

 

 

Tamar, Judah's daughter in law: a story of desperation, double standards and God's work through it all

This month I studied the story of Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law. Tamar is one of five women mentioned in the Genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:1-16. Driven by one overwhelming need, she sacrificed her reputation and nearly her life to achieve her goals. Her life was filled with sorrow as the men in her life failed to fulfill their responsibility and leaves her a childless widow. It is only by her daring behavior resulted in the fulfilment of her hopes to bear children. Her story is told in Genesis 38. While prostitution was common in their day, it presents a sexual double standard which still exists today. Tamar’s story is another example of God using the imperfections of humans for his perfect plans.

Her story begins as she is married to Judah’s oldest son, Er who was a wicked man whom God killed for his sins. Then, she married Onan, Judah’s second son, as was the custom. Their children would carry Er’s line. Unfortunately, Onan did not want any son of his to be considered a son of his brother, so he slept with Tamar but spilled his semen on the ground, ensuring no child would be conceived. Onan would die for his wickedness. Judah had one more son, Shelah, but he was losing him as well. Judah sent Tamar home to her father.  When Tamar learned her father-in-law would be taking his sheep to be sheared, she took desperate action. She impersonated a temple prostitute and slept with Judah, who gave her his personal seal, cord, and staff in pledge for future payment. Three months later, Judah learns Tamar is pregnant, outraged he orders her to be burned. Tamar shows the seal, cord, and staff as evidence to the identity of the man responsible. When Judah sees the items as his, he proclaims that Tamar is more righteous than him (Genesis 38: 26). Tamar would give birth to twin boys, Perez and Zerah. Perez would later be an ancestor of Jesus.  

Prostitution was a form of worship in the ancient world. It was believed fertility gods granted blessings to those who practiced it. When Judah traveled and mistook Tamar for a shrine prostitute, he slept with her to ensure a good crop of wool. Judah’s outrage at Tamar’s pregnancy is proof of a sexual double standard as he orders her death but never thinks about the man who is also responsible. Proverbs 20:23 “The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.” God does not create double standards, man does. Double standards exist today, especially in terms of sexuality. Men are studs as they boost of their sexual exploits, but a woman would be a slut. According to Mark Ballenger (2018), there are a few reasons why they exist in today’s church. First, men idolize a woman’s sexual purity. Men see sex as the secret treasure to everlasting happiness and a perfectly pure virgin is the key to that happiness whereas woman are more concerned with a man’s ability to provide and support. Second, common dating advice gives all the power to men especially in Christian churches as well as the pressures related to Christian courtship rules especially who initiates and pursues a relationship. Lastly, men and women aren’t confronting the double standards and therefore they will always be there. Woman aren’t holding men to the same sexual purity standard and men aren’t calling out other men when they operate with double standards.

Tamar’s story often takes readers by surprised, repulses us and recoil from the sordid details. Her story is often overlooked as many may think there isn’t much about her story to inspire us. However., we see God’s work in Tamar’s story. Only God of eternal surprises to use such a sordid tale for his glory. When Judah had shown little concern regarding his descendants, God had used a woman to ensure the tribe of Judah would not only survive but thrive and one day bear the Messiah. It is another story as proof that God takes the unfit, the desperate, and the profane, and uses them to his eternal and holy purpose. It is also another story as evidence that we don’t always know when the power of God is at work, but he is at work. We may see it tomorrow or next week, or next year or we may never see it in our lifetimes. It doesn’t mean that it won’t happen. We must have faith that God is at work and it will be revealed at the proper time. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we live by faith, not by sight” and “faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).

In conclusion, Tamar’s story is an example of human imperfections and misdeeds are molded to God’s plan and glory. Her story is also a story of double standards. God judges men and women by the same standards, whereas humans create these double standards While sexual purity is a good thing; however, maturity in Christ is much more important. Sexual purity is not an indictor as to a person’s maturity and ability to be a godly spouse. We need to keep each other to the same standards. If you expect purity in your spouse, then you, yourself, need to be pure as well. Tamar’s story is also another example of our legacy, the fulfilment of God’s promises isn’t always seen in our lifetimes.

References

Ballenger, Mark (July 30, 2018). Why Is There a Double Standard in Sexuality for Christian Males and Females? Apply God’s Word.com. https://applygodsword.com/why-is-there-a-double-standard-in-sexuality-for-christian-males-and-females/. Retrieved August 22, 2020.

Leah: unloved by man, loved by God

As we learned in last month’s study on Rachel, Rachel wanted a child as Leah had and she did all she could to achieve it. We see in Leah’s story, Leah wanted Jacob’s love as Rachel had and she did everything she could receive it. Through her story, we see the marriage customs of the time as well as lessons about love, beauty and seeing what God sees. Even though she was insignificant in Jacob’s eyes, she was particularly important to the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel and to us. With her story, we learn that no one is insignificant in God’s eyes.

Capable of both strong and enduring love, Leah was a faithful wife and mother. She was manipulated by her father; she became jealous of her sister. With each child, the unhappy Leah hoped to gain her husband’s affection and each time her disappointed grew. Maybe Jacob resented Leah for her part in Laban’s deception, although she hardly had the power to refuse. She had known heartache. Her only daughter, Dinah, was raped by a local prince when they returned to their homeland (Genesis 34:2) and her sons, Levi and Simeon, avenged their sister by murdering the men in an entire village (Genesis 34:25). Her son, Reuben would disgrace himself by sleeping with his father’s concubine, Bilhah (Genesis 35:22). It wasn’t all bad for Leah. The promise of a Savior was carried, not through one of Rachel’s sons, but through Leah’s son, Judah, whose descendants were including David, Israel’s great king and Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah. With her son, Levi, the priestly line would be established. The story of these two sisters remind us that life is fraught with sorrow and peril, much of it caused by sin and selfishness.

Marriage customs in ancient biblical times are quite different than our current customs. Marrying for love is a modern requirement, tracing back to the Romantic Era (approximately 1800-1890). Most marriages occurred for money or politics and alliances. It was also frowned upon that a younger sister marry before an older sister. A bride and groom are usually young, about 12 and 13, and the union is arranged by their parents with the couples’ consent is rarely requested or required. The ceremony itself is usually short but the festivities would go on for days. The groom would dress in colorful clothing and sets our for the bride’s parents’ home, accompanied by his friends, attendants, and musicians. The bride awaits, having been washed, perfumed, and dressed in an elaborate dress and jewels. The bride and groom then would lead a procession through the village with music and torchbearers to the groom’s parents’ home. Once there, the feasting and celebration would begin and last for several days.

There are a few lessons we can learned from Leah’s story. First, what God considers beauty is far different than what we would call beauty. Leah She is described to have “weak eyes” (Genesis 29:17), obviously wasn’t very pretty as Rachel. People will often judge others by outward appearances, but God always sees and judges ones’ heart. In Max Lucado’s book, In the Eye of the Storm (1991) in which he talks about holiness in a bathrobe. We are at our holiness with that first look in the mirror in the morning and what makes it holy is its honesty. We see what God sees and loves. No makeup, no jewelry, no fancy clothes, just us. Second, jealousy often blinds us to God’s blessings. While Leah was focused on her jealousy of Jacob’s love for Rachel, she ignored the blessings that God had given her, that he didn’t give to Rachel: six sons. Third, the same God who saw Leah’s misery and sorrow, sees ours. No mater how small or large, God knows our circumstances, our feelings, and hurts. He is moved by our sorrow and he is willing and able to step in and create something in and through us.

In conclusion, Leah was a woman who longed for the love of a man who probably couldn’t or wouldn’t give it. She wanted the devotion her younger sister got and when she didn’t, she turned to jealousy. But through Leah’s sons, two powerful tribes of Israel would be created. While we view marriage today as an act of love, marriage in the ancient world had strategic planning. Even if we don’t know it, think it or possibly believe it, God sees us. He sees our tears. He is moved by our sorrows and he will work in our lives in ways we couldn’t possibly fathom.

Rebekah: a warning against parental favoritism

This month’s study is on Rebekah. Her story is filled with initiative and strength as well as a warning against parental favoritism. She was hard-working and generous. Her faith was so great that she left her home to marry a man she had never met or seen. Rebekah would be like her mother-in-law, Sarah. Her heart would be divided between faith and doubt. She believed in God’s promise but also believed it involved her intervention. Yet she played favorites between her sons and failed to trust God fully for the promises he had made. She would favor one child over another, and she would deceive her husband to help her favored child. In many ways, Her story is told in Genesis 24, 25:19-34, and 26:1-28:1-9. What was her story? Why was her initiative her greatest strength? How was her parental favoritism a lesson to us all? 

At a well outside the village of Nahor, approximately 500 miles northeast of Canaan, a young woman named Rebekah was fetching water when she was approached by a stranger. She offered him a drink, as it was the custom, but she did something extraordinary. She offered to water the stranger’s 10 camels as well. This stranger was on a mission. He had been sent by his master, Abraham, to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac. He had to look for certain criteria. He knew he had found the one God wanted for Isaac in Rebekah. She quickly agreed to marry Isaac and later would give birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was favored by Isaac and Rebekah favored Jacob. Years later when Isaac was old and blind, Esau was sent hunting to prepare Isaac a meal in exchange for a blessing. Rebekah overheard this exchange and began to devise a way for Jacob to receive the blessing instead. Since Jacob was born at Esau’s heel (Genesis 25:26), she believed that Jacob should have been the firstborn and deserved the blessing. Following his mother’s plot, Jacob disguised himself to trick his father into thinking he was Esau and receive his blessing. When Esau found out, he vowed revenge for his stolen blessing and essentially his birthright as the eldest son. To save Jacob’s life, Rebekah, then persuaded Isaac to send Jacob find a wife among her brother, Laban’s daughters.

Rebekah was an initiator. She got the ball rolling. When she saw an opportunity, she acted even if it was not always right. It was Rebekah’s initiative that caught the attention of the stranger. While it was common courtesy to offer a drink to a stranger, it was an added generosity to offer water to the camels (Genesis 24:19-20). Her story also is evidence of how initiative can be misdirected. She knew that God’s plan would be channeled through Jacob and not Esau as Genesis 25:23 says, “the older will serve the younger.” So, Jacob became her favorite and she planned ways to ensure Jacob overshadowed his brother. Meanwhile, Isaac preferred Esau, perhaps because he was the older son. Whatever the reason, it may have caused conflict between Isaac and Rebekah. She may have felt justified to deceive her husband and allow Jacob to her the greater blessing. Most of the time we try to justify the things we choose to do, like Rebekah felt she was justified to help Jacob in fulfilling God’s plan. We are responsible for our action and must be cautious about our motives. Are we trying to follow God’s plan or follow our own desires into what we think is God’s plan? Initiative and action are admirable and right when they are informed by God’s word and wisdom.

Parental favoritism hurts families. The story of Rebekah, Isaac and their sons is an example of how it can tear apart a family. We see that favoritism again with Jacob as he favors his son, Joseph, over his other sons (Genesis 27:3) and caused tensions between the siblings (Genesis 37:4). Parental favoritism is said to occur in one-to-two-thirds of American families (Shira, 2009). There are several factors that lead to parental favoritism including gender, birth order and personality. Parental favoritism is problematic when there are consistent and arbitrary differences in treatment (Shira, 2009). The long-term effects of parental favoritism are largely negative as unfavored children are more likely to struggle with intimate relationships and depression as well as have a weakened self-esteem. They become people pleasers to get attention and develop a chronic need to feel special. “Perceived favoritism from one's mother still matters to a child's psychological well-being, even if they have been living for years outside the parental home and have started families of their own” according to Karl Pillemer, a Cornell University researcher (Bryner, 2010). Parental favoritism can be avoided, according to Pillemer, by avoiding “obvious remarks about favoritism, or comparing one child to the other in discussions” (Brynner, 2010). Most parents worry about showing favoritism while other parents may use it to gain cooperation or compliance from the unfavored child.

In conclusion, Rebekah was a woman who saw a need and would move into action to fulfil it. While she was generous to a stranger, going above and beyond the common courtesy, her initiative would cause issues in her family as she felt the need to intervene in fulfilling God’s plan. She is also a cautionary tale against parental favoritism. Favoring one son over the other lead to a sibling strife that would last for generations. It also taught Jacob to favor one child over his other children. The lasting effects of parental favoritism can be evident into adulthood. Initiative and action can be a great assent. However, we need to evaluate our motives behind our proposed actions. Are we answer the call of God’s will? Or are we following a more selfish motive? As parents, we need to be aware of any perceived favoritism as it may have lasting effects.

References

Bryner, Jeanna. (June 28, 2010). Mom's Favoritism Stings, Even for Adults. Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/8385-mom-favoritism-stings-adults.html. Retrieved May 13, 2020.

Shira, Ilan. (January 10, 2009). When Parents Play Favorites. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-narcissus-in-all-us/200901/when-parents-play-favorites. Retrieved May 13, 2020

From Sky to Sky: a new book in the Christian science fiction series

From Sky to Sky by Amanda G. Stevens is the second book on the No Less Days series. It is the story of Zac Wilson, a man who cannot die. He and others like him, known as longevites, received a mysterious serum to heal from serious illnesses and injuries and the result was the inability to age and eventually die. Zac soon meets another pair of longevities who are looking for their missing friends, fearing that something has happened to them. Zac helps them search and discovers that someone is killing longevites. Zac is confronted with his anxiety stemming from his longevity and his indifference to God. Will Zac finally listen to the whispers of God? Who is this person killing longevites? How does he find them? Can Zac and his friends find the person responsible before they hurt anyone else?

Marketed as Christian science fiction, I was intrigued when I saw this book, although I wasn’t aware it was the second book in a series. However, if there were references to the first book or knowledge I needed before reading this one, I couldn’t tell. It would still be an advantage to read them in order. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I was intrigued how Ms. Stevens was able to weave God and Scripture into a story that would normally not have any reference to God or religion. The story was slow build and when the individual is revealed to be behind the killings, it was a bit of a letdown. There was no real excitement. Nothing to really pull me in to keep me glued to the page. Maybe if I had read the first book it would be different. If you are a fan of the first book, you will probably enjoy the continuation of the series. If you are interested in the premise, I would recommend reading the first book, No Less Days, and then From Sky to Sky.

From Sky to Sky

is available in paperback and eBook

The Possibility of America: an examination of America and God

The Possibility of America: How the Gospel Can Mend Our God-Blessed, God-forsaken Land by David Dark is an examination of American culture, democracy and its spirituality. America had brought this great experiment in to the world and extended the argument that human beings owe one another the basics of respect and decency. Mr. Dark examines American patriotism as well as being honest about the darkness that is in American history. Any relationship cannot be at its best when its lying to itself about itself. Americans need to acknowledge its dark history as well as its flaws. Using examples from American movies, music, literature, television and its political figures, David Dark shows that America is on the right track with areas of improvement. He also uses these areas to show that God and Christian values, and even its faults, have been a part of the American fabric from the beginning. He advocates for the Beloved Community, an idea postulated by the late Martin Luther King Jr, in which a society is based on justice, equal opportunity, and love of one’s fellow man.

The Possibility of America is a difficult read as Mr. Dark goes into great depth and analysis in order to support his argument. He likes to use heavy vocabulary with sentences that seem to drag on. He often gets too bogged down in summarizing a book, movie or music before making his point. However, his points were eye-openers and I made notes in order to back and examine his examples on my own. It is a book that I will revisit again after I have made my own examination of his examples. It is a fairly short book, only 188 pages, but it is jampacked with information and insights. I recommend The Possibility of America for its honest look at America, it’s history, it’s culture and its spirituality.

The Possibility of America

is available in paperback and eBook

Philippians and Colossians: encouragements and instructions

Today’s study is on the books of Philippians and Colossians. Paul’s purpose in writing the letter of Philippians was to thank the church of Philippi for their gifts they sent to Paul as he was in a Roman prison at the time and to strengthen believers everywhere by showing them that true joy comes from Jesus Christ alone. It is a letter of joy and encouragement. For the letter to the Colossians, Paul’s purpose was to combat errors in the church and to show that believers have everything they need in Christ. The church had been infiltrated by religious relativism and Paul confronts these false teachings and urges to let go of harmful behaviors that poison us and seek behaviors which build us up.

One of my favorite verses is Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God began a good work in us when Christ died on the cross and we believed in him and accepted his gift of salvation through faith. That good work will continue until we meet God face to face either through death or the second coming of Jesus. The focus on this verse is that we aren’t done yet. Many people who are Christian believe because they have accepted Christ, they are done and perfect in Christ. While yes, we are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17); however, we are still human, with human failings that need help, guidance, molding and reminders to overcome those failings. The Holy Spirit comes to us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day as we seek him through prayer and studying God’s word. It is a process that begins when we accepted Christ and as long as we are breathing, will continue. While we are on Earth, we aren’t done yet. So even you have been a Christian for many years, there’s always room for improvement. There’s always a new lesson to learn or an old lesson to relearn.

Another one of my favorite verse is Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” A simple phrase with a great meaning. Being in union with Christ has sufficient power to do God’s will and face the challenges that arise with our commitment to him. It is not superhuman abilities we receive to accomplish anything we want but strength through Christ as we seek him through faith as we face troubles, pressures and trials. It is not a verse about personal achievement but reliance on Christ for strength to endure whatever circumstance may come our way. For example, praying for strength to do God’s will if it be talking about a topic that is uncomfortable or a forging a new path that may takes us from what we know and love. It is strength to endure whatever circumstance you may face when doing God’s will. It may be the loss of a friend or loved one due to your commitment to God. It may be leaving home for a country far more dangerous and puts your life in danger. When we read this verse, we need to be reminded of where Paul was when he wrote these words. He was in a Roman prison. He wasn’t living the high life of prosperity but in chains due to his commitment to the message of Christ. God is the God that can do anything (Job 42:2). There isn’t anything on earth or in heaven that is too difficult for God (Jeremiah 32:17). Therefore, we, as believers, can do anything, through God’s strength.

The church of Colosse had a lesson to learn and Paul’s letter is filled with love as he strives to correct the errors in their thinking and teaching. In Colossians 2:8, Paul warns about hollow and deceptive teachings. These teachings depend on human traditions and the basic principles of the world rather than on Christ. Teachings or philosophies which credits humanity with being the answer to life’s problems, an approach that becomes the focus of many false religions. There are many man-made approaches to life’s problems which disregard God. For example, attacks on Christ and his teachings. Laws, rules and handed down regulations that have no biblical basis or are no longer needed. Paul uses the example of circumcision throughout his letters. While the practice of circumcision was first commanded by God to set his people apart, it had become so ingrained in the lives of the Jewish people that many early Christians who were of Jewish heritage held on to the practice even though Christ died on the cross to fulfill the law and thus had done away with the need for circumcision. These same Jewish Christian were insisting that Gentile Christians follow the same tradition to be a true follower of Christ. Paul writes to focus on Christ, on his truth and not on human preference. A true follower of Christ starts unseen in the heart and mind which translates into one’s actions of love, kindness and spreading the gospel, not the physical changes to one’s body.  

Paul writes that we need to put to death to whatever belongs to our earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed (Colossians 3:5). Like a tree with dead limbs, we need to remove these things before they poison us and destroy our lives. We need to make a daily, conscious decision to remove anything that supports or feeds these practices. It’s easier said than done, I know, especially when the behavior is such a habit that we are often cannot fight the urge. It was easy to lie, cheat, steal, anything to satisfy our desires. He also writes that we need to rid ourselves of anger, rage, malice, slander and lying to each other (Colossians 3:8-9) as these things disrupts unity and destroys trust. Relationships are torn down and leads to serious conflict. It is a very human response to lash out in anger and plot revenge when someone hurts us, to make them feel the same pain we did from their actions. It takes great discipline and God’s strength to turn away from such a response. As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12) and these practices are bound together with love (Colossians 3:14). Loving someone doesn’t mean we let them continue to hurt us but when we response in anger and seek revenge, we hurt ourselves far worse then the payback hurts the offender. The best response we can do sometimes is pray, let go and let God.

In conclusion, the letters to the churches of Philippi and Colosse are great reminders and lessons for us. In Philippians, Paul reminds us that we aren’t done yet. Christ is still molding us in his image. We will fall. We will fail. But when we look to him, we can move forward, learn from our mistakes and improve. Paul also reminds us that our strength to do God’s will comes from Christ. We do not do it with our own power. In Colossians, Paul confronts false teachings that was prevalent in the early church (and still today, unfortunately). We need to focus on Christ and his teachings when confronted with new teachings. We also need to focus on getting rid of behaviors which harm ourselves and others and focus on those which build us and others up.

My faith: its personal and unshakable

Recently a close friend of mine asked me what the purpose of my spiritual practices is, even after I answered her I still thought about it. Beyond my attempts to read the Bible every day (some days are so busy that I forget my daily reading) and my prayers throughout the day, I really don’t have spiritual practices. I don’t attend a church regularly. I don’t light candles. I don’t participate in the common practices that most people may think of. I don’t because my faith is very personal. It is different than anyone else’s. And I say I have a faith, not a religion because religion is a set of rules, traditions and customs that many are man-made and not Biblical (i.e. Lent). I was baptized in the Catholic Church as an infant and had my first Communion at 8, however, we didn’t really attend Mass on a regular basis. When I was 9, I began to question my mom about confession and she couldn’t answer me. It was the first and last confession to a priest.

My first encounters with a true relationship with Christ was when I was visiting my aunt while on Spring Break. I don’t remember how old I was exactly, definitely in my teens. It was Saturday night and I was lying in bed. I was praying about the struggles in my life. Struggles with family, friends, school and life in general. The next morning, the pastor was teaching from Romans. He read this verse: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). I sat there stunned. Three little words were the answer to my prayer: patient in affliction. God had answered my prayer. The Creator of the universe had heard my feeble voice. From then on, I read all I could, I asked questions and even looked for a church to attend in my area. I accepted Christ into my life on August 16, 1997 at a Harvest Crusade. And while I struggled with what it meant to be a Christian and I studied different Christian thought, it wasn’t until college when I learned I had to do it my own way. I read the Bible for myself and use the words of well-known pastors and teachers as supplement rather than the focus. My experiences with God and Jesus is very personal. He has seen me through very difficult times. I’ve felt his presence in my darkest moments.

A big part of my faith is prayer. Before reading my daily chapters, I ask him to guide me and open my eyes to what I need to see today. I don’t pray at set times, like Muslims are required to do. I pray whenever I feel I need to reach out to him. I pray in bed, in the shower, at kitchen sink as I wash dishes. Sometimes there are no words in my prayers. My tears and the ache in my heart speak for me. While he doesn’t always answer prayers with the answers I want, he does answer them. God answers prayer in three ways: yes, no, and not yet. Many people will focus on the yes answers to prayers. I see the no and not yet answers as more significant. I’ve received a no when my daughter, Ziva, passed away shortly after birth. I’ve received a not yet when I prayed for a certain relationship to become more. Each time, I’ve received a no or a not yet, I have received something greater in the future. You may think wait, how can something be greater than your child? The way I look at it, without the death of my daughter, I would not have had the capacity to meet and counsel so many women in similar situations. And I’ve met some amazing women and remain friends with them today. My ability to help these woman gave my daughter’s brief life meaning beyond anything I could have imagined.

There is nothing anyone can say or do that would tear down my faith because He has been a powerful presence in my life for 20 years. When someone asks a question and I don’t know the answer, it shows me where I need to do more studying and more prayer for God’s guidance. It doesn’t mean you’ve won the argument, you are the tool that God uses to show me where I need to know more. Do I always act and speak in a way Jesus would want? No, I don’t. I’m human and I will fail. I do my best to learn from my sins but I know I could stumble in the future. Which is why I need a Savior. Recently, I heard that faith, religion and essentially God is all made up to comfort people about death. While I am assured that I will be in Heaven with Jesus, my faith doesn’t comfort me about my death. I still think about and worry about my death. The thought of not being here for my husband and my daughter still frightens me. Why, you may ask. Because I’m human. It isn’t because my faith isn’t strong. It is because I am human and do not want to leave my loved ones behind.

People may ask how I can believe in God when there is no evidence he exists. But I do see evidence he exists. I see the wonders of science and see God. I see the laws of physics at work and see his design. I believe in the power of modern medicine and the power of prayer. I see the brilliance of man who creates wonderful machines which have led to the conveniences of life and I see guidance of God. I saw a meme recently that said that atheist claim not to believe in God because it was written by men and at the bottom of the meme says tell me about who wrote their textbooks. Yes, the Bible was written down by men but it was inspired by God. When atheist and non-believers try to use the Bible to how crazy beliefs, they focus on the Old Testament. For me, the Old Testament law was fulfilled and done away with when Jesus died on the cross and resurrected. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says “Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” What he talking about the ceremonial laws, specifically in Leviticus, and the offerings. Jesus become the ultimate and final offering for our sins. His blood covers our sins as the blood of the offerings in Leviticus covered the sins of the Israelites.

Some may still read this and think I’m foolish for believing as I do. That I cannot think for myself. The funny thing is they don’t want to believe that I do think for myself. I don’t blindly follow a pastor who claims that all non-Christians need to be killed. I certainly do not interact with only Christians as Jesus did not only associate with the religious leaders of his day. And yes, there are scriptures that I struggle with but I trust God to guide me and show me how to apply the scripture in my life. So when you spout off about Christians these days, be careful because not all Christians are the same. There are some who are in your face and using the word of God in all the wrong ways. There are some Christians who are comfortable in the limelight and doing God’s work. And there are Christians who are honorably doing God’s work with whispers, quietly in the background that you never would know they were there. 

Job: story of suffering, faith and trust in God

This month’s study is on the book of Job. It is an illustration of God’s sovereignty and the meaning of true faith. It addresses the question, “why do the righteous suffer?” A question that is still debated today. The book of Job is believed to have been written during the time of the patriarchs (approximately 2000-1800 BC) and the first book of the Bible to be written. It is the first poetic book of the Bible. The book of Job opens in the land of Uz where Job is living with his family among vast wealth. Job was “the greatest man among all the people of the East” (Job 1:3).

Satan approaches God in heaven and the discussion turns to Job. Satan believed that Job was a righteous man because he had everything and if it were taken from him, he would turn from God (Job 1:9-11). God gives Satan permission to take everything Job has but he could not physically harm him (Job 1:12). Soon, Job loses his children, his herds and still does nothing wrong. Job is given a second test in which God allows Satan to physical harm Job but he could not take his life (Job 2:6). There Job sits with every sign of his wealth taken and illness has claimed his body but Job still refused to turn from God (Job 2:10). Job discusses his sufferings with his friends who all give their view as to why he is suffering.

First, Job’s view about his suffering is “the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21) and “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10). His attitude is that we should not give up on God simply because he allows bad experiences. Faith in God does not guarantee prosperity and a lack of faith does not guarantee troubles. Job was a man of faith, patience and endurance. As his friends claim that he is suffering for something he has done, he is willing to confess it if he knew what it was. He demands to be shown what sins he could have committed to deserve such punishment (Job 13: 23-24). Job wanted to know why and claimed he could bear the suffering if he could only know why (Job 23. It is a very human demand to know why we are suffering. Does understanding the reasons help the pain and suffering? If God were to answer why would it be easier to accept and bear the pain? The question why is the hardest to answer because you may get the reason but you may not like or accept such an answer.

Second, his friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, come to comfort him and offer advice. They soon turn to accuse Job of an unresolved sin in his life. Eliphaz’s view is simply that man is responsible for his own troubles for “those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it” (Job 4:8). Bildad claims that Job’s suffering is because he is unjust as God would not reject a blameless man (Job 8:20). When Zophar joins the discussion he adds that only does Job have sin in his life but his sin deserves more punishment that he already is suffering (Job 11). It is a sentiment the friends will repeat several times. It is also a sentiment repeated in churches today: “Oh you are dealing with financial issues because there’s sin in your life.” Or “You are in pain because you haven’t confessed a sin.” While God does allow the consequences of our sin and bad decisions to play out despite our confession, it does not mean that the bad circumstances are the result of your personal sin. Good and innocent people will suffer bad circumstances because people don’t always do what is right and innocent parties will suffer. Does this mean that you shall lose faith? No, because faith in the bad times shows a stronger character than faith in the good times.

Lastly, the Lord speaks to the group. He first addresses Job and demands to know why he speaks with knowledge (Job 38:1). The Lord rebukes Job for daring to demand an answer, to question God and the workings of the universe he couldn’t possibly understand. God uses His questions to Job to demonstrate how little he really knows (Job 38-39). Job acknowledges that he cannot understand what God understands (Job 40:4). In Job 42:2, Job says “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” This is a concept that many believers must face and learn. There’s a Yiddish proverb which states, “Man plans and God laughs.” We can carefully plan but if it is against the will of God, it will not come to fruition. As believers, we must submit to the will of God in our lives. As it says in the Lord’s Prayer, “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). The Lord then addresses the three friends because they “have not spoken of me what is right” as Job has (Job 42:7). The Lord blesses Job’s life with far more than he had originally because he passed the test of faith.

In conclusion, the lessons learned from Job is bad circumstances are not always the result of sin and knowing the reason why isn’t the point. The point is our faith in God in times of prosperity and in times of troubles, especially in times of troubles. It may sound easier said than done and it is something I still struggle with from time to time. There has been other times when my faith was tested and it will continued to be tested for the rest of my life. There are times where I worry and I think “how am I going to do this?” And I forget to lean on my faith in Christ. However, there is always something that reminds me to trust in Him. It would be a whisper in my dreams, a voice of a friend, or a verse I read during my studies. Even in his anguish, Job never turned from God. And in mine, I won't either.