In our "People to Meet, Lessons to Learn" conclusion, we meet Zacchaeus, the chief among the tax collectors.  As such, he was despised by the majority of Israel, especially the religious elite.  But Jesus demonstrates once again, that He came to seek and to save that which was lost. 

In one of the greatest moments of the Old Testament, God parts the Red Sea for the children of Israel.  They cross on dry ground while the Egyptians trying to do the same were destroyed.  Today God still makes a way for His people when there seems to be no way! 

When the Israelites left Egypt, God did not take them the shortest path to the Promised Land.  Instead, He took them by the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea.  God had His reasons although they probably didn't make sense to them at the time.   However, God reminded them of His constant presence with the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. 

Paul reminded the Corinthians of their humble beginnings as a means of rebuking their pride.  To quote an old preacher saying: "we're a bunch of nobodies, telling everbody that there's a Somebody that can save anybody".  God has chosen the foolish things to confound the wise.

Immediately after the miracle at the Red Sea, God led the children of Israel to "Marah", the place of bitter water.  It was there that He tested them, and revealed to them that He is "Jehova Rapha"- the Lord who heals all our diseases. 

Paul declares that we preach "Christ Crucified".  To the Jews this seemed a weak status for the Messiah.  For the Gentile, the story of a Crucified God seemed to be folly.  But unto those of us who are called, we glory in the wisdom of God! 

Though the Corinthians were blessed with many spiritual gifts, they were immature.  Their immaturity was manifested by their divisions.  Paul urged them to be of the same mind and to be in one accord.  Unity among brothers and sisters is a mark of spiritual maturity! 

In the opening chapter of I Corinthians, Paul addresses a church with a lot of problems.  But he starts out by giving them a proper perspective.  Though they had many problems, they were called the saints of God.  He urges them to live up to their high calling in Christ Jesus.

In this song of degrees, David remarks how pleasant and good it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.  So holy and precious, it's like the sacred anointing oil for the high priest and as fruitful as the dew from Mt Hermon to Mt Zion. 

Every person of faith will encounter difficulties that make them wrestle with doubt and disappointment.  These Psalms (42-43) instruct us to "hope in God" and seek the light of His countenance in the dark times.