Tag Archives: the Old Testament

The Redemptive One

Posted on December 26, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Nicknames have a way of taking on their own identity. Depending upon the person and setting in which this nickname was derived, this can bring a new dimension to someone’s personality. As for Moses, God introduces Himself as El-Shaddai. While I have heard Michael Card’s classic song on numerous occasions, I never realized that this name refers to God as the Redemptive One.

I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty [El-Shaddai], but by My [a]name the Lord [Yahweh—the redemptive name of God] I did not make Myself known to them [in acts and great miracles], Exodus 6:3.

Over the course of the Old Testament, followers of God mention more than 20 distinct names when addressing this Supreme Being. Twelve of these reflect personalities of God in the form of Jehovah. Each title distinguishes the abilities, nature and power of God. In the passage above, God introduces Himself to Moses as the Redemptive One.

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him, John 3:16-17.

Thousands of years later, Jesus meets with a first century Pharisee named Nicodemus. This religious leader wanted to know more about Jesus’ teaching of being born again. After a touch of sarcasm from Nicodemus in John 3:1-4, Jesus privately reveals God’s plan of salvation. John 15:12-13 and Romans 5:7-8 both highlight the spiritual powers of the Redemptive One.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Standing in Fearless Faith

Posted on October 31, 2023 by expressyourself4him

When I attended high school, there was always at least one person in my numerous classes that wanted to be known as the teacher’s pet. Whether this was out of some sort of emotional or psychological need, teenagers back in the 1980’s didn’t care about having this label attached to them. When I started teaching in 2002, a spirit of apathy prevented most of my students from raising their hands. Perhaps, a fear of embarrassment kept hands from being raised.

And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none, Ezekiel 22:30.

Back in the days of the Old Testament, faith became more like a fad, especially in the days of the Judges. When everyone started doing what’s right in their own eyes, Judges 21:25, humanism replaced a fearless faith. Subsequently, when the prophet Ezekiel asked someone from Israel to stand in the spiritual gap that existed, no one responded to this call. Apparently, complacency reigned during this period in the history of Israel.

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love [g]turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear [h]brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection], 1 John 4:18.

The New Testament addresses fearless faith by a couple of authors. Paul suggests that fear comes from pleasing people rather than God, Galatians 1:10-11. Peter uses an open-ended question asking Christians why they’re afraid of doing what’s right, 1 Peter 3:12-13. Finally, John highlights how fear comes from a lack of maturity in God’s love. When you add this all together with Jesus’ advice in Matthew 10:28, standing in fearless faith is possible with God’s help, 2 Timothy 1:7.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Responding to Another Broken Promise

Posted on September 11, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The only prisoner in Shawshank penitentiary that knew Andy Dufresne was innocent, played by Tim Robbins, arrives halfway thru the film. Tommy played by Gil Bellows reveals a confession from a former inmate who has proof that Dufresne did not kill his wife. Unfortunately, Tommy is set up by the Wardon and shot dead, leaving Andy without the key witness for a potential retrial. Whenever you experience the heartache of a broken promise, it’s hard to press on.

When Joseph came to them in the morning and looked at them, he saw that they were sad and depressed. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were in custody with him in his master’s house, Why do you look so dejected and sad today? 8 And they said to him, We have dreamed dreams, and there is no one to interpret them. And Joseph said to them, Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me [your dreams], I pray you, Genesis 39:6-8.

When the Chief Butler of Pharaoh is released from prison, Joseph was waiting in eager anticipation for his own release. In the Old Testament, when an individual gave someone their word, this was regularly carried out and fulfilled. Two years later, Joseph was still in prison as the Chief Butler of Pharaoh forgot to recall Joseph’s good deed. Moses doesn’t mention what Joseph did during this period except grow a long beard. Nonetheless, Joseph was forced to wait and wait and wait.

And on the third day, Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the heads of the chief butler and the chief baker [by inviting them also] among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief butler to his butlership, and the butler gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand; 22 But [Pharaoh] hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 But [even after all that] the chief butler gave no thought to Joseph, but forgot [all about] him, Genesis 39:20-23.

Every adult in America knows what it feels like to be on the wrong side of a broken promise. This could be in the form of broken relationships, divorce or being played by someone who calls themselves your friend. Whenever you’re on the unpleasant end of a broken promise, trusting someone again can be difficult. Whatever current situation this blog finds you in, may the Lord give you a spirit of maturity and wisdom to cope with and respond to another broken promise.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Peniel

Posted on July 25, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The Old Testament is filled with words that if you’re reading too fast, you’ll miss what this term means. At the conclusion of his wrestling match with an angel of the Lord, Jacob receives a revelation from God. Jacob was so moved by outlasting God, he named this particular place Peniel. The context of this dedication is the realization that Jacob has seen the face of God and lived.

Then Jacob asked Him, Tell me, I pray You, what [in contrast] is Your name? But He said, Why is it that you ask My name? And [b][the Angel of God declared] a blessing on [Jacob] there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [the face of God], saying, For I have seen God face to face, and my life is spared and not snatched away, Genesis 32:29-30.

 According to the scholars who completed the King James Version of the Bible, there are 783,137 words in this particular translation. Meanwhile, other theologians suggest that there are actually 790,676 totals words in the entire Bible. When I took a speed-reading course in my junior year of high school, this was designed to prevent me from daydreaming as I read. However, even when I daily study the Bible, I often glance over words like Peniel.

And as he passed Penuel [Peniel], the sun rose upon him, and he was limping because of his thigh. 32 That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the hollow of the thigh, because [the Angel of the Lord] touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh on the sinew of the hip, Genesis 32:31-32.

Dr. Temperance Brennan played by Emily Deschanel in the television series Bones would be fascinated by the above passage of the Bible. This is the type of knowledge that scientist’s geek out over. However, the more sentimental the individual, the place where this happened to Jacob will be more appealing. Subsequently, Peniel symbolizes the beginning of Israel, a new identity, and the end of Jacob. As modern Christians put into practice the apostle Paul’s advice in Colossians 3:5-14, you too can have a fresh start as a new creation in Christ Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Erecting a Place for the Lord

Posted on July 23, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Erector Sets was one of the first commercial products made for children to learn how to build things. Legos and Lincoln Logs were later introduced to enhance a child’s creativity and imagination. Based upon the number of items available today, Legos continues to be a popular toy. Throughout the book of Genesis, Israel’s forefathers erected a place for the Lord, often in the form of an altar, monument or well.

When Jacob came from Padan-aram, he arrived safely and in peace at the town of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, and pitched his tents before the [enclosed] town. 19 Then he bought the piece of land on which he had encamped from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel [God, the God of Israel], Genesis 33:18-20.

When my parents moved to Ohio during my sophomore year of college, I had to start over from scratch. While I met new friends at work, my dad was still envisioning what this new property could become. After damming up a small stream into a pond just beyond our back deck, I began to erect my own place for the Lord. Since my concentration in college was Plant Science, I began to grow a fern garden along the banks of this small pond. While I didn’t erect a physical monument, I called this secluded portion of our yard, Rehobeth, a place of rest.

For as I passed along and carefully observed your objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this inscription, To the unknown god. Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth to you, Acts 17:23.

Couples tend to come with up their own song to commemorate a special date, moment or time in their relationship. If human beings do this for their own significant others, why can’t Christians do something similar to remember their personal relationship with Jesus. The Old Testament is filled with symbols designed to keep Israel meditating upon the Lord day and night, Joshua 1:8. Although you should avoid erecting an image to replace the Lord, do something for God’s honor and glory.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Living Your Life Based Upon the Children You Bear

Posted on June 26, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Whenever parents are expecting their first child, there is usually some sort of conversation about what their name will be. Two lists will be made, names will be added and crossed out until an ultrasound determines the sex of your soon to be child. As I recently studied the life and children of Jacob, two interesting observations stuck out. First, it appears that Jacob allowed Leah and Rachel to name all of his boys. Second, Leah and Rachel based their overall success in life on the total amount of children they helped conceive.

 When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister, and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I will die! 2 And Jacob became very angry with Rachel and he said, Am I in God’s stead, Who has denied you children? 3 And she said, See here, take my maid Bilhah and have intercourse with her; and [when the baby comes] she shall deliver it upon my knees, that I by her may also have children. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her maid as a [secondary] wife, and Jacob had intercourse with her. 5 And Bilhah became pregnant and bore Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God has judged and vindicated me, and has heard my plea and has given me a son; so she named him Dan [judged], Genesis 30:1-6.

In the absence of television and social media, activities and conversations were likely an integral part of daily life in the Old Testament. The storyteller of the family would likely recount funny and meaningful events depending upon the audience. At some point, Jacob would have revealed the blessing that he received from Isaac as well as God’s promise to have numerous descendants, like counting stars in the sky on a clear evening. This topic likely triggered a competition between two sisters who appear to place their success is life based upon how many children they each bear.

And Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, With mighty wrestlings [in prayer to God] I have struggled with my sister and have prevailed; so she named him [this second son Bilhah bore] Naphtali [struggled]. 9 When Leah saw that she had ceased to bear, she gave Zilpah her maid to Jacob as a [secondary] wife. 10 And Zilpah, Leah’s maid, bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, Victory and good fortune have come; and she named him Gad [fortune], 12 Zilpah, Leah’s maid, bore Jacob [her] second son. 13 And Leah said, I am happy, for women will call me blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied); and she named him Asher [happy], Genesis 30:7-13.

Like two guys trying to outdo their friend, Leah and Rachel go back and forth, thanking God for each child born either by them or their maid. Unfortunately, Jacob appears to be caught in the middle, trying to please two fragile women and their maids. As this quest continues, the twelve tribes of Israel are being formed, named after Jacob’s sons. While Leah may be the winner on paper, bearing the most children, Rachel’s first boy that she conceived is the most famous, Joseph. Despite this sibling rivalry, it’s clear from Moses’ words that God is still in control through it all.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

More Than Just Deception

Posted on February 15, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Lying is a form of trickery. When an individual is afraid of how someone will respond to something you did or said, words are crafted in such a manner to minimize the truth. This is the decision Abram made on his own when a famine postponed his journey to God’s promised land. Rather than walk in faith with the belief that God will do exactly what He said in Haran, Abram was fearful that a man married to a beautiful wife would be killed and his wife taken by Pharaoh.

And when he was about to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, I know that you are beautiful to behold. 12 So when the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say, I beg of you, that you are [c]my sister, so that it may go well with me for your sake and my life will be spared because of you. 14 And when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into Pharaoh’s house [harem], Genesis 12:11-15.

The passage above is the opposite of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Eve listened to the tempter, convinced Adam that eating from the Tree of Knowledge would be beneficial and gave her husband a bite of the fig in her hand. Meanwhile, this new couple approached Egypt, Abram was the schemer who sold Sarai on the idea that “just say you’re my sister, no one will ever know but us.” Abram’s decision was more than just deception, the choice to lie was a reflection of his lack of faith in God.

You shall have no other gods before or besides Me. 4 You shall not make yourself any graven image [to worship it] or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 You shall not bow down yourself to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, Exodus 20:3-5.

Moses is the author of the first five books of the Old Testament. Moses isn’t afraid to mince words in the passage above. While Moses is writing the Ten Commandments for the nation of Israel to follow, God’s character is unveiled. Human beings who place anyone or anything above the Lord as their top priority open the door for generational sins to be passed down to your children. Subsequently, Abram’s lying was adopted by Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, the next time you find yourself stretching the truth, may the consequence of generational sins convict you to stop this deception before it’s embraced by your future descendants.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

S.A.N.S. Episode 345: Letters from War

Posted on January 13, 2023 by expressyourself4him

In the Old Testament, conquest and war was an annual sessional event. According to the prophet Samuel, kings led their armies off to battle each spring after the snow melt made roads passable. Based upon the account of David being sent by his father to visit his brothers to see how they were doing, communication was usually sent by messengers often riding on horseback. However, today’s song speaks of the connection between spouses after one is sent off to war by their country.

In the spring, when kings go forth to battle, David sent Joab with his servants and all Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites [country] and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 11:1.

While letter writing is becoming a dying art, replaced by emails, Facetime and texts, receiving a letter is a powerful visual aide. As a college student, I wrote anywhere between 20 to 50 letters a month, trying to keep up with friends who chose another path in life. Depending upon the person I was writing, I might ramble on for 3-5 pages, filling in every important detail. This is the context of Letters from War, always eager to find out and know if their loved one in still alive. May the lyrics of Letters from War help you have a better appreciation for life in 2023.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

S.A.N.S. Episode 161: Home

Posted on July 11, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Today’s song was written from the perspective of artists, bands, and groups that spend more time on tour each year than at home. A Room Full of Walters celebrates the joy of coming home, even if it’s for a short period of time in their song simply entitled Home. While there are a couple of other songs that I could have selected from A Room Full of Walters, home is a place where most Christians use as a refuge.

My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting-places, Isaiah 32:18.

In the passage above, Isaiah shares a promise to Israel about their future. While the Old Testament is filled with cycles of disobedience and obedience, the period of time Isaiah is speaking of is centered around peace. Unfortunately, as crime continues to spread throughout the United States, a growing number of Americans struggle to find peace in their home. May God begin to heal our land.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Treasuring God’s Word

Posted on April 27, 2022 by expressyourself4him

One author of the Bible compares the Old Testament with a lamp for your feet and light to guide your steps, Psalm 119:105. Jesus compares the Bible to living water in John 4:13-15. Building upon the concept first introduced in Psalm 1:2-3. When I began to treasure the words in the Bible in college, a transformation started to begin. While I still have plenty of blots and blemishes, finding life in God’s Word will result in eternal treasures.

But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this we may perceive (know, recognize, and be sure) that we are in Him: 6 Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as [d]a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself, 1 John 2:5-6.

One of the members of Jesus’ inner circle, learned to treasure God’s Word. However, in the first century, John only had parts of the Old Testament available to read. Despite this lack of access, John must have clinged to all everything that Jesus taught him. This explains the words in the passage above as those who abide in God follow that same Spirit that guided Jesus.

Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good [b]success, Joshua 1:7-8.

The concept of treasuring God’s Word began with one of Israel’s forefathers. As Moses passed the torch to Joshua, the passage above provides the instruction for all of the Israelites to follow as they prepared to enter into God’s promised land. To avoid going astray spiritually, Joshua called everyone to meditate on God’s Word day and night. If you follow Joshua’s advice today, you will treasure the Bible.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
→