In the opening chapters of the Bible we find the story of the two brothers, the children of Adam and Eve. Theirs is a story of how jealousy led to anger, causing one brother to turn against the other. In the opening chapters of the Bible we find the… Read More

Sometimes we wonder if God even listens to us when our prayers are filled with anger. Find out how God responds to our angry prayers. The writer of Psalm 77 felt hurt and rejected by God. Take a moment to read Psalm 77:1-10.  Another writer asked God to destroy… Read More

Sometimes it is hard to remember that God knows what is happening to us and will help us. Have you ever been scared about doing something new like starting in a new school or seeing a new doctor? Sometimes it is hard to remember that God knows what is… Read More

Relationships don’t just happen. You have to get to know someone before you can feel close to them. Good things take time. It took the Israelites over 40 years to understand what God wanted them to do. During this time, they wandered around the desert. What is a relationship… Read More

When a friend promises to eat lunch with you, you depend on him or her to be there at lunch time. The Israelites were the same way. They had received many promises from God. God promised to make them a great nation. God promised to take them to the Land… Read More

When people travel and interact with each other, societies change. Find out how biblical society changed through trade and travel. The story of trade and travel in the ancient Near East tells how those civilizations developed. The Bible, other documents of the times, and archaeological discoveries give a general… Read More

What is archaeology and what does it have to do with the Bible? Find out here. Archaeology studies past human cultures by examining the physical objects they have left behind. It includes excavating (digging) to recover objects that have been buried for long periods of time. Often, cities were built… Read More

Idol worship was a major problem for Israelites in the Old Testament. When they adopted the gods of their Canaanite neighbors, they abandoned the Lord. The Canaanites worshiped many gods and goddesses who, together, formed a council. El (“god”), the father of the other gods and humanity, was head… Read More

Israel didn’t always have a king. Find out why the people wanted a king and the struggles and benefits that a monarchy brought to the nation. Although surrounded by nations that had been governed by kings for many years—Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt, and the nations of Canaan—kingship and a centralized… Read More

This title, which first appears in Exodus 3, is God’s personal name. Consequently, Jews regard it as especially holy. Read more about this name of God. God’s personal name appears over 5,700 times in the Old Testament. This name was revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exod 3.1-15). Read More