Reflections and meditations about the Bible by Peter DeHaan, PhD.
Here is a trio of thoughts from the book of Job: What Job Feared Most Happened to Him The enemy (that is Satan, the devil) knew Job’s fears and exploited them. Although everyone fears something, we are best advised to turn our fears over to God and not dwell on them. Job Believed that Through […]
Some People Don’t Have Biological Offspring, but Everyone Can Have Spiritual Descendants Paul wraps up his letter to the church in Rome with a long list of people Most of these names stream past our eyes as unfamiliar. We’re tempted to skim. But slow down. Consider Rufus (Romans 16:13). That name only appears in one […]
A common lament of Job throughout the story bearing his name is his begging God to answer his pleas. However, it seems that Job (and his friends) are too busy talking to give God a chance. When God does respond, Job’s friends are rebuffed, and Job’s righteousness is affirmed. Now we can read Job’s conclusion […]
A Refreshing Perspective At the conclusion of the book of Job, God blesses him even more than before. One of the blessings mentioned is that Job has ten children. Seven are sons and three are daughters. Let’s look into Job’s daughters. What is interesting is that in an age when sons are revered and daughters […]
Though the Bible Tells Us to Judge, Who We’re Supposed to Judge May Shock You When Paul writes to his friends in Corinth, he has much to say because they struggle with many things, including judging others. He spends a whole chapter in his first letter addressing sin within their assembly: sexual sin, specifically incest. […]
Among those who care about such things there is a debate as to the veracity of the story of Job. Succinctly, was Job a real person or is the book about him a work of fiction? Supporting evidence that Job wasn’t a real person: Supporting evidence that Job was a real person: So was Job […]
Protection From the Evil One To the Thessalonians Paul writes that God will strengthen and protect them from the evil one. He will give them protection from evil. This excites and comforts me, because I want to be protected. But that’s only half the of the promise. The other part is that we will be […]
Earlier I wondered if Job was real person or a fictional character. Despite support for both perspectives, my conclusion was that it doesn’t really matter. We can learn from him regardless if his life is a fictitious or historical account. Another debated question, which is without definitive answer, is when was Job written? While some say […]
Paul and Barnabas Respond to Hostile Nonbelievers with Boldness and Perseverance In the Old Testament, the Israelites, God’s chosen people, are a set apart nation. They are to keep separate from the other nations around them and if they will, God promises to bless them. They also look forward to a promised king who will […]
Helping Others Is One of Many Ways to Worship God I like the stories about Jesus helping people in need, such as by feeding them and especially by healing them. Even more I like it when Jesus confronts the religious practices of the day. We have so much to learn from his example. It’s a […]