Absalom is the product of a very messed up family. He murdered his brother, usurped his father’s throne, then in broad daylight, slept with his father’s concubines. Still his father David, mourned for this treacherous man. His death was as dignified as his life – he got snagged in a tree. Considering that Absalom’s name means father of peace, this is tragically ironic.

It’s not every day you set out looking for your dad’s lost donkeys and end up being anointed king of a nation. This story is as fascinating as it is puzzling, and therefore worth studying.

Samson is a perplexing personality. For all of his flaws and seemingly violent acts, he’s still mentioned in Hebrew’s “hall of faith.” In this account he sees an opportunity to strike down his enemies with whatever is lying on the ground – the jawbone of a donkey. Why did God preserve this account, and how could it possibly glorify God?

The history of the Israelites is fraught with war, plague, and slavery, and yet God never left their side. It’s time for God’s people to settle into the land promised to Abraham, but there’s an angry king standing in their way. No worries, God makes kings and prophets alike look foolish through the admonition of a talking donkey!

All of creation sings of God’s glory – even donkeys. A silly case-study perhaps, but here we allow a stubborn mule to guide us through scripture! The sacrifice of Isaac is one of the most stunning accounts in the old testament. It reveals the heart of a man committed to honoring God, and the heart of a God committed to redeeming his creation. No, it’s not really about a donkey at all!

God is love and He empowers us to love. The question is, how?

This dynamic couple is often overlooked. Not only are their names catchy, they were rock-solid partners for the cause of Christ. Let’s talk about this gospel power-house tag team.

What a mess! This relationship is fraught with betrayal, rejection, deception, and adultery no less! And yet, it’s so much more.

This may be the love story to end all love stories. Like the fairytales where the poor servant girl is swept away by the handsome young prince, this account has all the ingredients of romance. Would it surprise you that this story is actually about Jesus?

Abraham and Sarah are heralded as two of the most faithful people in history. God said “Go,” and they went, after all, they were people of action. But when God had them wait for a promise, that was another story.