Elijah and Elisha: Empowered by the Holy Spirit Elijah and his successor, Elisha, were prophets who served God faithfully in a time when most of God’s people had turned to idol worship. In the Bible, nothing is revealed about Elijah’s life before he warned King Ahab of an upcoming famine in 1 Kings 17. But the accounts of his …
Empowered to Depend on God
Faith in a Famine “For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” 1 Kings 17:14 The bills mounted. With two kids in college, our budget was tight. Income generated …
But God Prospered Joseph
A Remnant Preserved But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Genesis 45:7-8 Can you look …
But God Made Sarah a Ninety-year-old Mother
Never Too Old “But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” Genesis 17:21 Sarai, the wife of Abram, was barren (Genesis 11:30). When God told Abram to go to a land he’d show him, Sarai accompanied him. Over the years, she dutifully submitted to her husband even when he …
Faith-filled Prayers
A Canaanite Woman’s Prayer I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16-17 We don’t know her name. She could be called many things—a Syro-Phoenician, a Canaanite, and a Gentile. Jews usually considered Gentiles unclean and …
Joseph, Legal Father of Jesus
A Significant Role An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20 We don’t know when Mary told Joseph she was pregnant, but we know his reaction: he …
Mary of Bethany
At the Feet of Her Teacher, Friend, and Lord When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:32 Three biblical events feature Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha, and in each one we find her at …