“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me (El Roi)…’” (Genesis 16:13) In the journey of life, wilderness-like trials often arrive without warning. Like Hagar, there are times when we are pushed out of the familiar fences of our daily lives, standing alone in a […]
“For the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance (Nachalah).” (Deuteronomy 32:9) In Hebrew, ‘Nachalah’ signifies ‘inheritance’ or ‘legacy.’ To the ancient Israelites, this word represented the land passed down through generations, to be kept at all costs. However, the Bible uses this term to declare a stunning reversal of identity. It is
“Place me like a seal (Chotam) over your heart, like a seal (Chotam) on your arm; for love is as strong as death…” (Song of Songs 8:6) In the ancient world, a seal (Chotam) represented a person’s name, honor, and non-transferable proof of existence. The woman in the Song of Songs desperately asks her beloved
Chotam (חֹתָם): The Only Seal Engraved on God’s Heart Read More »
“For you are a holy people (Am Kadosh)to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 7:6) When we hear the word holy, we often think of moral purity or
Am Kadosh (עַםקָדוֹשׁ): A People Set Apart, Cut Off from the World’s Current Read More »
“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed (Limmud)tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary… He wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed (Limmud).” (Isaiah 50:4) When we hear the word ‘scholar,’ we imagine an intellectual who has accumulated vast knowledge. However, the original Hebrew word ‘Limmud,’ translated as the learned
Limmud (לִמּוּד): The Humility of a Disciple Tamed by God’s Hand Read More »
Judges 9:1-21 Gideon declared, “The Lord will rule over you,” refusing to exalt himself. Yet after his death, Abimelech, like a bramble, pierced his brothers and crowned himself, leading the community to ruin. Jotham’s parable reveals the truth: the olive, fig, and vine refused to reign to keep producing fruit that honors God and man.
Judges 8:22-35 After defeating Midian, the people asked Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your descendants.” Gideon refused, saying, “The Lord will rule over you.” It seemed like a perfect, faithful answer. However, Gideon immediately asked for gold earrings from the plunder and fashioned them into an ‘ephod.’ This ephod was set up in his town,
Between the Confession of Lips and the Ephod of Life Read More »
“For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble(Anawim) with victory.” (Psalm 149:4) In the journey of life, we all encounter moments when our inner resources are utterly depleted. When betrayed by those we trusted, when health fades, or when the ivory towers we built come crashing down the world brands us
Anawim (עֲנָוִים): The Person Who Has Only God Left Read More »
