“You are not to boil a kid in the milk of its mother.” This odd commandment is repeated three times in the law. God must think it’s important. But what does it mean? Jews interpret it as a food law that forbids them to eat milk and meat together. But the law is more specific. It . . . . Continue Reading »
Exodus 20:23-24: You shall not make other gods besides me, gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves. You shall make an altar for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be . . . . Continue Reading »
The Ten Words deal with perennial sins. Idolaters are everywhere all the time. We all hate, lust, envy. Poison of asps is under our lips too. The Ten Words are addressed to us because they are addressed to everyone. But what use are all these detailed commandments? Why do we need to know that God . . . . Continue Reading »
Aaron Cummings writes: “In response to your post on cherubic faces corresponding to temple furniture. One significant item missing is the golden altar. We know from Hebrews 9:3-4 that the golden altar was a part of the HOH even though it was placed in front of the veil. Thus the altar of . . . . Continue Reading »
Human life is shot through with envy. Envy whispers in our ear about a neighbor who has slightly more than we do –a nicer car, more recognition, a prettier wife, more accomplished children. Envy wants to silence praise for others and grows angry when praise continues (Nietzsche). Enslaved to . . . . Continue Reading »
When Adam sinned, he abandoned his Father to become a child of the devil, the father of lies. Ever since, the history of humanity has been a history of lies. “All men are liars, the Psalmist says. Paul agrees: “Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving. The . . . . Continue Reading »
We steal because we think we don’t have something we need or should have. We don’t have enough money, the right kind of electronic device or blouse, our favorite candy. We steal because we believe good things are scarce. Sometimes we steal intangible things. Our co-worker or friend has . . . . Continue Reading »
“We always marry the wrong person.” And if by chance you married the right person, “just give it some time and he or she will change” (Hauerwas). We search the world for a partner to help us build a little kingdom where all our selfish dreams come to pass. We want someone . . . . Continue Reading »
James Jordan offers this argument to conclude that only firstborn between the ages of one month and five years died at Passover: 1. The redemption payment for the excess number of firstborn, when the Levites replaced them, was five shekels apiece (Numbers 3:46-48. 2. In the redemption schedule in . . . . Continue Reading »
Land of Pharaohs and pyramids, Egypt is about stasis. Israel leaves Egypt and builds a mobile sanctuary. They don’t even remain camped at the Mountain of theophany. They remain the people of Abraham, called ahead to a land they haven’t yet seen. Because Yahweh is a living God. . . . . Continue Reading »
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