The book of Joshua contains some of the hardest material to get our heads around. How can a loving God command his people to go to war like that? But upon closer inspection, we learn that this was not about God against the Canaanites; this was God against sin, and his people need to rid the land of sinful activity before they can settle there. Despite Israel’s failure to do so, God is faithful towards them, and his faithfulness points us towards his Son Jesus Christ who was faithful until the end.

When God freed the Israelites, it wasn’t just for the sake of their own freedom, as good as that is. God freed his people from slavery so that they could worship him. The story of Moses leading God’s people out of slavery in Egypt is also the story of God bringing his people under his good blessing and rule; he was showing how to stop being slaves and how to start being the children of God.

Joseph is an important link in understanding God’s faithfulness to fulfil his covenantal promises and to bring his people back into his place under his rule. This story shows us how God uses dysfunctional people to bring about his good purposes, and we see in Joseph a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, Joseph shows us what Jesus is like in his unconditional love and forgiveness of his brothers—he does not hold a grudge, but forgives to the uttermost.

Abraham is one of the most important figures in the storyline of scripture. Paul calls him the Father of all who believe. The events of his life not only have a historical impact, but also a theological impact on the world, as the covenant that God made with him became the landmark principle of justification by grace the faith in Christ alone. Salvation comes from Christ alone; it is by his initiative and it depends upon his faithfulness towards us, and not the other way around.

We’re looking at the Big Picture of the Old Testament, and the opening chapters of Genesis provide us with the beginnings of an incredible story of a gracious God who created a people to live with him under his blessing. And even though they rebelled and were snatched away from him, he would get them back—even if it cost him everything.

Suffering is promised throughout the Bible, therefore we need to have a robust theology and faith in God to remain faithful in those times.

Paul is in prison, his companions have deserted him, and the church that he planted in Ephesus is apparently coming apart at the seams because of some false teaching. Paul responds to these trying circumstances with a letter to a young pastor named timothy to strengthen him in the grace of Jesus Christ.