Three & One

Tragedy from compromising your convictions, a courageous daughter-in-law, bundles fall on purpose, the kinsman redeemer and Jesus teaches on “unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”

Idolatry, immorality and civil war, all a result of doing what is right in your own eyes, indifferent to what is right in the eyes of God and Jesus is angry at death and does something about it.

Samson is deceived by Delilah. God mercifully makes Samson strong, one last time. A man named Micah makes up his own religion.  And, Jesus is THE Good Shepherd.

Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. Disobedience, discipline, despair and deliverance, by the hand of a man named Samson, a conflicted man.  And, Jesus heals a man born blind physically AND spiritually.

Then the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, testing the limits of the mercy of the Lord. Jephthah a most unlikely judge is enlisted in the Lord’s service to deliver the Lord’s people. And, an adulteress faces the Light of the world.

Impossible odds from man’s perspective made even worse by God so that He would get all the glory. Abimelech appoints himself by slaughtering seventy of his family. And, Jesus is inspected by the skeptics, including His own brothers.

Two women willing to take the lead, a jug of milk, a hammer, a tent peg and a defeated foe. A song of gratefulness to God.  Gideon is enlisted in the Lord’s service. And, The Bread of Life miraculously feeds five thousand.

A house divided starts to wobble, The Angel of the Lord makes an appearance to warn, but instead Israel starts the slippery cycle of sin, desperation, deliverance and right back to sin again, and again, and again. And, Jesus gives an impossible command.

The Eastern tribes return to their land and erect an altar on their side that almost starts a war, Joshua gathers the people for a farewell address challenging them to courageous obedience and a Samaritan woman meets her Messiah.

Joshua considers others interests above his own. The cities of refuge are implemented. The Levites are assigned their cities to live in. And, a Pharisee named Nicodemus visits Jesus at night for a conversation that is foundational for our faith.