Reasoning Through the Bible

A war so vast it's pictured as a cloud over the land. A quake so great that every person on earth trembles. Ezekiel chapters 38–39 isn't clickbait prophecy—it's a tightly argued, context-rich vision that sits inside Ezekiel's larger story of judgment, renewal, and God's name defended among the nations. We start by setting the arc of the book—calling, judgment on Israel, judgment on the nations, and then restoration—so Gog of Magog lands where it belongs: in the phase where Israel is regathered, secure, and suddenly threatened by a northern coalition.From there, we unpack who “Gog” is (a title, not a proper name), why “remote parts of the north” matters more than modern name-matching, and how the text itself resists purely symbolic readings. Horses, shields, and wooden weapons reflect Ezekiel's vocabulary, not a denial of modern warfare. What cannot be dismissed are the specific markers: seven months of burial, seven years of fuel, an army like a storm, and a global recognition of God's presence. We show why no known historical episode fits these details and why “last days” timing anchors the passage in the future.Along the way, we lean into the theology most readers miss: God leads nations with “hooks,” yet without canceling human agency; he defends not only his people but his land; and he orchestrates judgment so that “many nations” know he is the Lord. If you've been told Gog equals a single modern capital, we'll help you widen the lens. If you've been told it's all allegory, we'll walk you through the details that argue otherwise. The goal is humble, careful reading that keeps the main thing central: God will magnify and sanctify his name, Israel will dwell securely by His action, and the nations will see.If this conversation helps you read Ezekiel with clearer eyes, share it with a friend, subscribe for more context-first Bible studies, and leave a review with your biggest question from the episode.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

A broken stick can't be truly fixed by a parent's sleight of hand—but God can bind what's split, and Ezekiel 37 shows us how. We walk through the prophet's acted sign of two sticks labeled Judah and Joseph/Ephraim, joined into one in God's hand, and trace the sweeping promise that follows: “I will gather, I will cleanse, I will make them one nation.” This is not a story about human resolve; it's a story about divine initiative, where scattered people are regathered, idolatry is ended, and unity is secured by God's own action.From there, we step into the bold details many skip. Ezekiel names the land—“the land I gave to Jacob”—and names the prince—“My servant David”—promising rule, shepherding, and peace “forever.” We unpack why “forever” matters, why “David” likely means David resurrected, and how the covenant of peace and God's sanctuary in their midst point beyond ancient partial returns toward a future fulfillment. Along the way, we test competing interpretations: intertestamental fulfillment that history does not sustain, and allegorical readings that keep Israel literal in judgment but spiritualize Israel in blessing. Our aim is consistency, clarity, and hope.This conversation is more than eschatology trivia. It's about God's character—faithful to His word, jealous for His name, and determined to be known among the nations. If God can restore a people who broke covenant, He can restore what's fractured in us. Join us as we read the text plainly, honor its promises to ethnic Israel, and consider what it means for the millennial kingdom, the church's witness, and the mission of God's glory in the world. If this stirred your thinking, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review telling us where you land on Ezekiel 37's “two sticks” promise.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

A valley of bones, a prophet's question, and a God who answers with His breath—Ezekiel chapter 37 is one of Scripture's most gripping scenes, and we dive straight into its meaning and momentum. We read the passage aloud and track its movements: bones scattered and very dry, bodies reassembled without life, and finally the Spirit's breath flooding in. Along the way, we explore why Ezekiel names the bones “the whole house of Israel,” how judgment makes room for mercy, and what it means that God—not human effort—brings dead things back to life.We also wrestle with the modern implications. When Israel became a nation again in 1948, many saw echoes of Ezekiel: a people regathered from the four winds, a land revived, a language restored. But the text itself pauses at a sobering midpoint—“there was no breath in them.” We discuss the difference between national reconstitution and spiritual regeneration, and why this two-stage pattern helps make sense of both biblical prophecy and current events without forcing the timeline. That same pattern reaches into our lives: preaching to “dry bones” is futile unless God acts, yet He loves to act—regenerating hearts, restoring families, and rewriting stories marked by loss.The conversation moves from the valley to the bigger story of restoration across Scripture: Moses redeemed from exile, Ruth and Naomi carried from emptiness to inheritance, Job comforted with a double portion after devastation. We consider the debate over whether God is “done” with Israel, and point back to Ezekiel's repeated “I will” promises—placing the focus on God's faithfulness rather than human merit. At the center stands a hope bigger than any nation's resurgence: resurrection itself, the promise of a glorified body and everlasting life through Jesus Christ. If you're waiting in the “no breath yet” phase, take heart—the wind still blows when God speaks.If this conversation sparked thought or hope, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find it. Tell us: where are you praying for God's Spiritual breath to return?Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

A single line in Ezekiel chapter 36 flips the script on everything we think we know about divine favor: “Not for your sake... but for my holy name.” We pick up at verse 21 and walk through the chapter's turning point, where God promises to gather Israel, cleanse idolatry, give a new heart, and put His Spirit within them—then backs it with tangible proof the nations can see: rebuilt cities, fruitful fields, and people filling the land like festival flocks. The claim is bold and public: Yahweh will vindicate His name in history.Together we trace the storyline from Abraham's first land promise to Ezekiel's restoration language, connect it with Jeremiah's new covenant and Zechariah's vision of national repentance, and note how Acts 1:6 preserves the disciples' expectation of a restored kingdom. Along the way, we address a common interpretive tangle: those salvation-sounding phrases—cleansing, new heart, Spirit—do not cancel the plain meaning of land, grain, and fortified cities. Instead, Ezekiel holds physical restoration and spiritual renewal together without blurring them into allegory. God grants the church real spiritual blessings now while pledging Israel a future, corporate restoration that displays His holiness before a watching world.At the heart of it all is national regeneration. “I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes.” Obedience is not self-generated; it's Spirit-ignited. That truth humbles pride and fuels hope—then and now. If this chapter reshaped how you see God's promises, share it with a friend, subscribe for the next deep dive, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so we can keep this study growing.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

A single claim reframes everything: restoration arrives not because the nation of Israel finally deserves it, but because God refuses to let His name be profaned among the other nations. We walk through the first half of Ezekiel chapter 36 step by step—why the prophet speaks to mountains and ravines, how neighboring nations like Edom misread Israel's desolation as opportunity, and what Israel's exile broadcast to the world about God's strength and character. The result is a rigorous, grounded look at land, judgment, and hope that's as historically concrete as it is spiritually piercing.We revisit Israel's entry into the land, the descent into idolatry and bloodshed, and the measured justice that scattered them among the nations. Then we confront the hard edge of the text: when the exiles arrive in foreign streets, the surrounding world sneers, “These are the Lord's people, yet they've left His land.” That line becomes the turning point. God acts—not to reward improved behavior, but to vindicate His reputation and keep promises spoken long before any revival or reform. It's a counterintuitive logic of grace that shatters pride and centers divine fidelity over human effort.Join us for a clear, candid exploration of Ezekiel 36 that steadies faith, sharpens discernment, and widens awe. If this conversation challenges or encourages you, share it with a friend, subscribe for the next installment, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What if the most dangerous thing about a nation isn't its armies, but its envy? In Ezekiel chapter 35, the spotlight falls on Edom—Mount Seir—and a hard truth emerges: God confronts “everlasting enmity,” the kind of hatred that celebrates another people's pain and seizes land under the cover of their loss. We walk through the text line by line and place it in the larger arc of Ezekiel—early judgment on Judah, mid‑book oracles to the nations, and a turn toward restoration—showing how Edom becomes a cautionary tale for every era.We trace Edom's story from Esau and Idumea into the first century with Herod to show that old rivalries have long tails. Then we grapple with God's charges: love of bloodshed, arrogant words against Him, and a bold claim on land He calls His own. It's not a blanket defense of Israel's behavior—Ezekiel spends chapters condemning Israel's sin—but it is a clear boundary against identity‑driven hatred and opportunism. If repentance spared Nineveh, Ezekiel suggests that contempt and violence summon justice. And when nations mock Israel's ruin, they risk mocking Israel's God, who says, “I have heard it.”This conversation leans into the nuance our moment needs. We separate principled critique from corrosive prejudice, ask why the land matters in Scripture, and consider how God's governance of history weighs motives as well as actions. The takeaway is both sobering and hopeful: God judges envy and bloodshed, guards His name and His promises, and prepares a path toward restoration in Ezekiel chapter 36 of — His “I will,” not Israel's merit.If this episode challenged your assumptions or clarified your thinking, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a rating or review so more listeners can join the conversation. What question do you want us to tackle next?Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Turning points can reveal the most profound truths. In the latter verses of Ezekiel chapter 34, we witness a dramatic shift from judgment to restoration as God pivots from condemning Israel to promising their future blessing. This pivotal moment raises fascinating questions about biblical prophecy, God's character, and the future of Israel.After spending more than two dozen chapters pronouncing judgment on Israel for their sins, God suddenly changes course and promises to restore them under the leadership of "my servant David" - despite David having been dead for over 400 years when Ezekiel delivered this prophecy. This specific language challenges us to consider: Is this a metaphorical reference to Jesus as the Davidic Messiah, or does it point to a literal resurrection of David himself to serve as prince under Christ's kingship?We explore the rich promises contained in this passage - a covenant of peace, secure dwelling in the land, abundant harvests, and protection from enemies - examining whether these should be understood literally or spiritually. The specific language used makes it difficult to spiritualize these promises without distorting their plain meaning, challenging theological systems that claim God has permanently set aside national Israel in favor of the church.The stark contrast between Ezekiel's earlier messages of condemnation and this beautiful vision of restoration reveals something profound about God's nature. He is both just and merciful, both wrathful against sin and faithful to His promises. This balanced portrait gives us confidence that God will keep His word, not because of human faithfulness but because of His own unchanging character.What does this mean for believers today? If God remains committed to His promises to Israel despite their repeated failures, we can have absolute confidence in His promises to us through Christ. Join us as we reason through this fascinating chapter that bridges judgment and hope, revealing a God who keeps His covenants throughout all generations.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Corrupt shepherds devouring their own sheep - it's a jarring image that cuts straight to the heart of spiritual leadership gone wrong. When those entrusted with caring for God's flock instead exploit them for personal gain, they face divine judgment.Ezekiel chapter 34 delivers this powerful warning through a scathing indictment of Israel's leaders who had abandoned their sacred duty. Rather than strengthening the weak, healing the sick, or seeking the lost, these shepherds were feeding themselves at the expense of their flock. God's response? "I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out." Eleven times God declares what He will personally do to rescue His scattered people.This ancient message resonates profoundly today as we examine modern church leadership. While many pastors serve faithfully - some barely able to support their families despite full-time ministry - others have transformed spiritual authority into lucrative empires. We share heartbreaking stories of ministers forced to leave ministry because they couldn't feed their children, alongside troubling examples of churches targeting wealthy demographics while abandoning ministries to those with limited financial means.The episode explores how Jesus's claim to be "the Good Shepherd" directly references this Ezekiel passage, creating a powerful contrast between corrupt leadership and His own sacrificial care. When Jesus spoke these words to the religious authorities of His day, He was making a deliberate connection they couldn't miss - identifying Himself as the fulfillment of God's promise to personally shepherd His people.Whether you're a church leader, congregation member, or spiritual seeker, this teaching offers wisdom for discerning authentic spiritual guidance from exploitation. Join us as we uncover this often-overlooked passage that challenges us to examine what true shepherding means and reminds us that when human leaders fail, the divine Shepherd remains faithful to His flock.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

God's frustration echoes across millennia in the ending verses of Ezekiel chapter 33: "They come to you as people come and hear your words, but they do not do them." This ancient complaint strikes at the heart of modern faith—our tendency to consume spiritual content without allowing it to transform our daily lives.The Jewish exiles in Babylon had just received confirmation that Jerusalem had fallen, exactly as Ezekiel prophesied. Vindicated as a true prophet, Ezekiel suddenly found himself popular among the people who gathered eagerly to hear his messages. Yet God reveals their fatal flaw: they treated divine revelation like entertainment—"like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice"—appreciated in the moment but forgotten when life's real decisions came calling.This disconnect between hearing and doing remains our greatest spiritual challenge today. We attend services, listen to sermons, participate in Bible studies, yet when facing workplace dilemmas, relationship conflicts, or financial pressures, we often default to worldly wisdom rather than trusting God's guidance. The Israelites claimed Abraham's promise while ignoring God's commands; similarly, we claim Christian identity while compartmentalizing our faith.The chapter ending reveals a crucial theological distinction: God's unconditional promises (like the land covenant) stand firm, but experiencing their blessings requires faithful obedience. For Christians today, this mirrors our salvation security through Christ while reminding us that the quality of our spiritual journey depends significantly on our willingness to trust and obey God daily.Are you sitting before God's Word as an appreciative audience member or as a committed disciple? The difference isn't found in church attendance but in Monday through Saturday decisions that reveal whether we're merely fans of spiritual content or genuine followers transformed by divine truth. Listen again to Ezekiel's ancient warning—it might be the most relevant message you'll hear today.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Have you ever wondered if God truly forgets our sins when we repent? Or questioned whether He's still working with nations as collective entities in our modern world? Ezekiel chapter 33 delivers profound answers to these timeless questions.The backdrop is dramatic – Jerusalem has fallen to Babylon, and the Jewish exiles are questioning their very survival as a people. "Our transgressions are upon us. How then can we survive?" they ask in desperation. Into this crisis, God speaks through Ezekiel with an unexpected message of hope and restoration.We unpack the remarkable principle found in verse 16: when someone genuinely repents, "none of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him." This divine amnesia regarding forgiven sin applies both to individual salvation and national restoration. The passage powerfully refutes the notion that God has permanently rejected Israel, demonstrating instead His consistent pattern of honoring true repentance throughout Scripture.The chapter also addresses skeptics who claim "God's ways are not right" – a challenge that mirrors modern atheist arguments. Yet as we explore, these critics unwittingly borrow from the very moral framework they attempt to reject. Their inconsistency highlights a profound truth: human standards of justice are flawed, while God's are perfect.For Christians today, this passage offers practical wisdom about speaking with divine timing. Just as God controlled when Ezekiel could speak and when he must remain silent, believers should be "so attuned to the Word of God that we know when to say things and when to keep our mouths shut." The chapter marks a pivotal transition in Ezekiel's ministry from prophecies of judgment to messages of restoration.Discover with us how God works through both individuals and nations, and why His promise to remember sins no more represents the greatest hope for humanity. Subscribe now to continue exploring the profound revelations in Ezekiel that remain astonishingly relevant to our modern questions about faith, justice, and divine purpose.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

A watchman who fails to sound the alarm bears responsibility for what follows. This sobering truth frames Ezekiel chapter 33, where God reestablishes the prophet's role as Israel's spiritual sentinel while marking a crucial turning point in the book.After 32 chapters dominated by pronouncements of judgment against Jerusalem and surrounding nations, God begins to shift toward a message of restoration. The timing is perfect—the people have finally reached rock bottom, acknowledging their sin and questioning their very survival. It's in this moment of desperation that God reveals His heart: "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live."This chapter unpacks several vital spiritual principles. First, the responsibility of spiritual watchmen to discern and warn about approaching dangers. Whether ancient prophets or modern church leaders, God holds accountable those tasked with protecting His people from false teaching and spiritual compromise. Second, God's consistent character across both testaments—His judgments are always redemptive in purpose, designed to bring people back to Himself. Three times in a single verse, He urges His people to "turn back"—the Old Testament equivalent of repentance.God also addresses the faulty perception that He's unfair in His judgments. He makes clear that neither past righteousness nor past wickedness ultimately determines one's standing; what matters is one's current orientation toward Him. By addressing the primarily Judean captives as "the house of Israel," God also subtly affirms the unity of His covenant people, challenging any attempt to create ethnic distinctions within His redemptive plan.This powerful chapter bridges judgment and hope, revealing that even God's most severe discipline aims at restoration. What dangers might be approaching your spiritual community? And more importantly, who's watching the walls?Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What awaits us beyond the grave? Ezekiel chapters 31-32 pull back the curtain on one of humanity's most profound questions, revealing startling truths about the afterlife that challenge modern assumptions and comfort those seeking justice.The biblical understanding of death and judgment comes alive as we distinguish between Sheol (the place of the dead) and Hell (the place of eternal punishment). Through prophetic visions, we witness Pharaoh—once worshipped as a deity—stripped of pretense and cast into the same grave awaiting all humanity. The message resonates across millennia: death is the great equalizer, and no amount of wealth, power, or achievement can prevent our ultimate encounter with divine justice.We tackle the challenging question that has troubled believers and skeptics alike: Is eternal punishment fair? Rather than offering simplistic answers, we explore C.S. Lewis's profound insight that "the door to hell is locked from the inside." Would forcing those who reject God into an eternity of worship truly be merciful? This perspective transforms our understanding of divine justice and human choice.God's sovereignty over nations emerges as a central theme, with Egypt, Assyria, and other ancient powers falling under divine judgment for their violence, oppression, and treatment of Israel. The pattern raises sobering questions for modern nations: If God judged ancient civilizations, will contemporary powers escape scrutiny? The evidence of Egypt's fall—once the world's wealthiest civilization, now reduced to crumbling hieroglyphics—stands as a testament to divine justice played out across history.Despite these sobering realities, the message offers profound hope. In a world where justice often seems elusive, we can rest in the assurance that God's perfect judgment awaits—the wicked will be punished, the righteous rewarded, and every knee will ultimately bow before Christ.Listen now to discover ancient wisdom that speaks directly to our modern anxieties about death, justice, and the ultimate purpose of human existence.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What happens when a mighty nation forgets who placed them in power? Ezekiel's lament for Egypt reveals the sobering answer. This powerful examination of Ezekiel chapters 30 and 31 unpacks how God pronounced judgment on one of history's greatest empires—and why.For over 2,500 years, Egypt had stood as a cultural and military colossus, wielding immense influence across the ancient world. Yet God declared its downfall with precise detail through His prophet Ezekiel. The specificity is remarkable: Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon would attack in 568 BC, followed by the Persians in 525 BC who would completely end the dynastic line of Pharaohs that had ruled continuously for millennia.The heart of Egypt's downfall? Pride. "Its heart is haughty in its loftiness," God declares. Through vivid imagery, Ezekiel portrays Egypt as a mighty tree whose branches once sheltered many nations but would become a place where only scavengers feed after judgment. This transformation from protector to prey illustrates the totality of divine judgment—a pattern that repeats throughout history.This message remains profoundly relevant today. God still raises up and brings down nations according to His sovereign purposes. Leaders who believe their countries exist autonomously, without accountability to divine standards, misunderstand the lessons of history. Yet there's hope in this warning—God always sends messengers before judgment, giving opportunity for repentance. The question for nations today is whether they will heed these warnings before experiencing the day of the Lord.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What happens when national pride collides with divine purpose? Diving deep into Ezekiel chapters 28 and 29, we uncover one of the Bible's most overlooked themes: God's sovereignty over nations.The age-old question of Israel's future finds surprising clarity in these ancient texts. While many believers focus exclusively on personal salvation (and rightly so), we discover that God's redemptive plan is far more comprehensive. Through careful examination of Ezekiel's prophecies, we uncover three distinct redemptions woven throughout Scripture: the redemption of mankind, creation, and nations.When God declares "I will gather the house of Israel" to live securely in "their land which I gave to Jacob," He makes a promise that history confirms remains unfulfilled. Despite returns from Babylonian captivity and the Maccabean period, Israel has never experienced the enduring security promised in these passages—suggesting a future fulfillment still awaits.Egypt's story proves equally fascinating. For 2,500 years, this mighty civilization dominated the ancient world, with Pharaohs claiming divine status as they ruled from their Nile-centered kingdom. God's response? "I am against you, Pharaoh... the great monster that lies in the midst of his rivers." With vivid imagery of hooks in jaws and fish clinging to scales, God pronounces judgment on Egyptian pride, ultimately using Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon as His instrument of discipline.The historical accuracy is striking—from descriptions of battle-worn soldiers with baldness from helmets and raw shoulders from equipment to precise dating of prophecies. These details remind us that we're dealing with genuine history, not merely spiritual allegories.As world events continue to unfold today, these ancient prophecies remind us who truly controls the rise and fall of nations. Every leader, every empire serves at God's pleasure. What might this reveal about our own nations and times?Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Pride has been humanity's downfall since Eden, and Ezekiel 28 provides one of Scripture's most penetrating examinations of this spiritual cancer. The chapter opens with God's indictment of Tyre's ruler who, intoxicated by his own success, declared "I am a God." This represents the ultimate expression of human arrogance—a mortal claiming divinity.But what makes this passage truly extraordinary is what follows. After addressing the human prince, God speaks to the "king of Tyre" using language that transcends human description. This being was "in Eden," was a "covering cherub," was "created perfect," and walked among "fiery stones." Biblical scholars widely recognize this as a rare glimpse into Satan's original position and subsequent fall—a being of extraordinary beauty and wisdom who became corrupted by pride in those very qualities.The text reveals a profound spiritual dynamic that operates throughout history: behind human pride often stands spiritual wickedness. The prince of Tyre didn't merely develop arrogance independently—he aligned himself with the original rebel against God's authority. This pattern continues today as leaders who reject divine authority often find themselves spiritually influenced by forces they may not acknowledge.What practical wisdom can we draw from this ancient text? First, success, beauty, intelligence, and power—while potentially beneficial—can become corrupting influences when they lead to self-exaltation rather than gratitude to God. Second, we must recognize that spiritual battles underlie human affairs, with pride being Satan's primary tool for leading humans away from God. Finally, we're reminded that God remains sovereign over all nations and rulers, establishing and removing them according to His purposes.The antidote to pride remains consistent throughout Scripture: "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you at the proper time." When we acknowledge our dependence on God and recognize Him as the source of every blessing, we position ourselves to receive His grace rather than His opposition.Ready to explore more biblical wisdom? Subscribe to our podcast and visit our website for free teaching resources to help you lead Bible studies in your church or small group.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Ezekiel's prophecy against Tyre stands as one of the most remarkable and precise predictions in biblical literature – a stunning demonstration of divine foreknowledge that unfolded over centuries exactly as foretold.The ancient city-state of Tyre was no ordinary settlement. By Ezekiel's time, this 2,000-year-old Mediterranean powerhouse had accumulated wealth beyond imagination. With a monopoly on precious purple dye and control over eastern Mediterranean shipping routes, Tyre had established colonies throughout the region and conducted business with kings worldwide. Their ships featured embroidered linen sails, ivory inlays, and the finest imported woods. Zechariah described their prosperity in striking terms: silver "heaped up like dust" and gold like "mire in the streets" – an observation confirmed by gold flecks that remained in Tyre's beach sand into modern times.Against this backdrop of seemingly invincible prosperity, Ezekiel delivered God's judgment: wave after wave of nations would attack Tyre, ultimately reducing this mighty commercial empire to nothing more than "a bare rock" where fishermen would spread their nets. The prophecy detailed that Nebuchadnezzar would come first, followed by others who would cast Tyre's stones, timber and debris into the sea.History records the astonishing fulfillment of these predictions. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for thirteen years, conquering the mainland but unable to take the island fortress. Later, Alexander the Great accomplished what Babylon couldn't by building a causeway to the island using mainland rubble – literally fulfilling the prophecy about casting materials into the sea. By the time of the New Testament, this once-wealthy nation was begging for food supplies, and 17th-century European explorers found nothing but ruins inhabited by about fifty poor families who survived mainly by fishing.Skeptics attempt to discredit this prophecy, but careful examination reveals its precise fulfillment. The story of Tyre reminds us that God deals with nations as well as individuals, and His word proves trustworthy across millennia. What world powers today might be risking divine judgment through their actions? How might God's patience be working in our own time?Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

The assassination of Charlie Kirk has exposed a dangerous reality for Christians speaking in the public square. In this sobering episode, we explore what this tragedy reveals about the deteriorating state of dialogue in Western society and what it means for believers going forward.What happens when disagreement becomes a death sentence? Charlie Kirk was known for respectfully engaging with those who opposed his views, allowing them to speak without interruption before responding to their arguments. His murder represents a chilling message to Christians everywhere: "Shut up or we'll kill you." Having spent 16 years in campus ministry doing similar work, Glenn never imagined someone would be killed simply for expressing biblical views in public spaces.We trace how "maximal rhetoric" from all sides of the political spectrum has created an environment where opponents are portrayed not just as wrong, but as existential threats deserving elimination. When political disagreements are framed in apocalyptic terms, violence becomes the logical conclusion for unstable individuals.The biblical prophets identified three primary reasons for God's judgment on nations: bloodshed, sexual immorality, and idol worship. A sober assessment of our current cultural landscape reveals these exact sins dominating Western societies. While God's kingdom will ultimately prevail, there's no guarantee that any particular nation will continue to enjoy His blessing after abandoning its moral foundations.For Christians, this moment calls for greater engagement, not retreat. We must model respectful dialogue while boldly proclaiming truth, disciple the next generation to defend their faith, and work with renewed urgency in kingdom service. The window for freely sharing the gospel may be narrowing—are you prepared to use whatever time remains?Listen now to understand the spiritual implications of this pivotal moment and how you can respond faithfully in increasingly hostile times. Let's make Heaven crowded. Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

God's sovereignty extends far beyond individual salvation to encompass entire nations—a biblical truth often overlooked in contemporary teaching. This eye-opening episode delves into Ezekiel 25, where God pronounces judgment on Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia for their centuries of hostility toward Israel.What's remarkable is how God remembers national sins committed hundreds of years earlier. The Ammonites celebrated when Jerusalem fell. The Moabites claimed Judah was "like all other nations." The Edomites, despite being blood relatives through Esau, took vengeance against God's people. The Philistines maintained "everlasting enmity" toward Israel. For each, God pronounces specific judgments that were historically fulfilled through Babylon's conquests.Throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, we see God actively raising up and tearing down nations, establishing their boundaries and appointed times. This isn't just Old Testament theology—Paul affirms it to the Athenians in Acts 17. Scripture presents three redemptive dimensions: individuals, creation, and nations.This perspective challenges our modern tendency to compartmentalize faith as purely personal. While individual salvation has always been by grace through faith, God simultaneously works out His purposes in the geopolitical sphere. The Bible's consistent pattern shows that how nations treat Israel matters to God—a principle with profound implications for our world today.As we reason through these challenging passages, we're reminded that only God can take righteous vengeance. Our ultimate comfort comes not from national identity but from personal salvation through Jesus Christ [the Messiah], who shields believers from the wrath these nations experienced. Join us next time as we explore God's judgment on Tyre and continue uncovering biblical truths that speak to every dimension of life.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Ever wonder what happens when God steps into the kitchen? In Ezekiel chapter 24, we discover a divine cooking lesson with profound implications. God uses the vivid metaphor of a rusty cooking pot to illustrate Jerusalem's impending destruction—a powerful image that exposes the corruption permeating the holy city. The rust-encrusted pot symbolizes Jerusalem's spiritual pollution, so deeply entrenched that ordinary cleansing methods prove futile.The message intensifies as God pronounces judgment with sobering finality: "I will act, I will not relent, I will not pity, and I will not be sorry." These words reveal a dimension of divine character often overlooked in contemporary theology—a God whose patience, while vast, has boundaries. After centuries of ignored warnings and continued idol worship, God's judgment arrives with devastating clarity.The chapter takes a heartbreaking turn when God commands Ezekiel to become a living object lesson. God takes Ezekiel's wife suddenly and forbids the prophet from publicly mourning—an extraordinary departure from cultural norms that would have shocked witnesses. This painful demonstration serves a dual purpose: it mirrors how the exiles will lose their beloved temple and illustrates how the survivors of Jerusalem's fall will have no opportunity to properly mourn their losses before being marched into captivity.Throughout this exploration of divine judgment, we confront the fundamental spiritual choice that remains as relevant today as it was in Ezekiel's time: Will we submit to God and receive His cleansing forgiveness, or persist in our ways and eventually face His cleansing wrath? The imagery may be ancient, but the spiritual principle transcends time.Join us as we unpack this challenging passage that concludes God's messages against Jerusalem before He turns His prophetic attention to the surrounding nations. Whether you're a seasoned Bible student or just beginning to explore Scripture's depths, this episode offers profound insights into divine justice, human accountability, and the unwavering character of God.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Ezekiel's shocking metaphor of Israel and Judah as prostitutes continues in chapter 23 and unveils God's raw emotions about His people's unfaithfulness. Through vivid, unfiltered language, this episode explores what happens when those who claim to love God pursue relationships with other "lovers" - foreign nations and their idols.We examine God's graphic description of Jerusalem and Samaria as two sisters who began beautiful but degraded themselves through spiritual adultery. After a thousand years of patience, God's judgment finally arrives, not as a capricious reaction but as the natural consequence of persistent rebellion. The imagery is deliberately unsettling: these once-dedicated cities had committed themselves to foreign powers, adopting pagan worship practices that culminated in the horror of child sacrifice to the god Molech.Most offensive to God was their hypocrisy - sacrificing children to idols, then entering His sanctuary on the same day to worship Him. This attempt to maintain divided loyalties provokes one of the episode's most powerful insights: "You cannot have one foot in idols and one foot in God's kingdom. He will not stand for it." The discussion reveals how sin progressively entraps its victims like addiction, leaving them "worn out by adultery" yet unable to break free.The prophetic element intensifies when Ezekiel announces the exact day Babylon began the siege of Jerusalem (January 15, 588 BC) - a prediction verified when refugees later brought news of its fulfillment. This historical precision reminds us that faith isn't a blind leap but rests on evidence of God's fulfilled word.What idols compete for your devotion today? How might you be attempting to serve two masters? Join us as we reason through these challenging passages and discover why exclusive devotion to God isn't just a command - it's the pathway to freedom from spiritual prostitution that only wears us out and leaves us empty.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Ezekiel chapter 23 presents one of Scripture's most graphic metaphors as God depicts the spiritual infidelity of His people through the story of two sisters. These women, representing Samaria and Jerusalem, start as beautiful young women but tragically descend into prostitution, illustrating Israel's persistent pursuit of foreign gods and pagan practices.The striking imagery serves a powerful purpose. God reveals that from their earliest days in Egypt, His people had been spiritually unfaithful, bringing idolatrous practices with them even after their miraculous deliverance. The northern kingdom lusted after Assyria's military might and cultural sophistication, adopting their religious practices rather than remaining faithful to Yahweh. The southern kingdom committed even worse spiritual adultery by pursuing Babylonian and Egyptian influences despite having witnessed their sister's destruction.What makes this passage particularly relevant for today's believers is the parallel to modern spiritual compromise. Just as ancient Israel was seduced by powerful foreign nations, churches today often chase worldly entertainment, impressive personalities, and cultural relevance rather than remaining devoted to simple, biblical worship. We explore how congregations might prioritize charismatic speakers over spiritual maturity or entertaining programs over solid biblical teaching.The most sobering aspect of this metaphor is God's response—He ultimately uses the very nations Israel lusted after as instruments of judgment. This pattern reveals an important spiritual principle: the sins we pursue often become the instruments of our destruction. As one pastor notes, "Sin will take you farther than you ever wanted to go and keep you longer than you ever intended to stay."Yet even amidst this harsh judgment, we discover God's extraordinary patience. For nearly a thousand years, He sent prophets, provided deliverers, and offered opportunities for repentance before finally allowing judgment to fall. This reveals both His long-suffering nature and the reality that divine patience isn't endless when repentance is refused.Join us as we unpack this challenging passage and consider its implications for spiritual faithfulness in our churches and personal lives today. How might we recognize and resist the "foreign influences" that compromise our devotion to God?Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

The purifying fire of God's judgment takes center stage as we dive into Ezekiel chapter 22, where divine discipline meets holy purpose. Using the powerful metaphor of a metallurgist's blast furnace, God reveals His plan to purify His wayward people by burning away their impurities like dross from precious metal.We unpack this striking imagery that speaks to believers across millennia: will we voluntarily submit to God's refining process through confession and repentance, or resist until we face the more painful heat of divine discipline? The question resonates with remarkable relevance for modern spiritual life.The episode takes a particularly sobering turn as we examine God's scathing indictment of Israel's spiritual leaders. Priests, prophets, and rulers all stand condemned for blurring the lines between holy and profane, inviting worldly corruption into sacred spaces, and failing to teach God's standards. Their failure resulted in a society marked by oppression, violence, and injustice – a cautionary tale for today's church leaders who might similarly accommodate cultural trends that contradict scripture.Most heartbreaking is God's lament: "I searched for someone to stand in the gap... but found no one." This profound statement not only reveals the absence of righteous leadership in ancient Israel but points forward to Christ, the ultimate gap-stander who bridges the chasm between our sin and God's holiness. Through this exploration of divine judgment and mercy, we discover that humility remains our safest refuge from the purifying blast furnace of God's discipline.What impurities might God be calling you to surrender today? Listen, reflect, and discover how ancient warnings about spiritual compromise speak directly to our modern walk of faith.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

The ancient words of Ezekiel chapter 22 send shivers down the spine with their unsettling relevance to our modern world. As this prophetic text is unpacked, God's meticulous catalog of Israel's sins is revealed —a list that reads like today's headlines.What makes this episode particularly powerful is the way it bridges ancient and modern contexts. We identify how Israel's transgressions—oppression of foreigners, mistreatment of widows and orphans, sexual immorality, religious hypocrisy, and economic exploitation—mirror the moral landscape of contemporary nations. This parallel raises profound questions about divine patience and judgment in our time.The conversation takes a thought-provoking turn when examining how modern churches often splinter into camps that emphasize either social justice or doctrinal purity. Glenn and Steve make a compelling case that this represents a false dichotomy not found in scripture. God's comprehensive indictment in Ezekiel demonstrates His equal concern for how we treat the vulnerable, how we conduct ourselves morally, and how we worship Him. The hosts argue persuasively that the church's primary mission remains connecting sinners to Christ, which naturally produces both social concern and personal holiness.Perhaps most striking is the episode's exploration of God's purifying judgment. Through the vivid metaphor of a metalworker's furnace, they illustrate how divine discipline—though painful—aims at purification rather than mere punishment. This leads to a stark choice for believers: voluntarily confess and repent or potentially face the refining fire of God's corrective measures.You'll find yourself reflecting deeply on where your own faith community might be imbalanced and how confession might spare you from more severe divine intervention. Join us as we continue reasoning through the Bible, discovering God's timeless truths that speak with remarkable clarity to our current condition.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

The divine hammer falls on Jerusalem in Ezekiel 21, as God reveals His impending judgment through the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. We witness one of Scripture's most vivid contrasts - the world's most powerful ruler making life-or-death decisions through occult practices while fulfilling the sovereign plans of the one true God.Nebuchadnezzar stands at a literal and figurative crossroads, throwing arrows, consulting idols, and examining animal entrails to determine his military path. Meanwhile, Jerusalem's inhabitants cling to false security, convinced God will protect them despite centuries of rebellion. This dangerous cocktail of presumption and unrepentance sets the stage for their devastating fall.What makes this passage particularly striking is how it simultaneously delivers both crushing judgment and messianic hope. When God declares, "Remove the turban and take off the crown... A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. This also will be no more until he comes whose right it is," He effectively ends the Davidic monarchy with Zedekiah while pointing forward to Jesus Christ - the rightful heir who would one day reclaim the throne.For modern believers, this passage offers profound wisdom about guidance. While Nebuchadnezzar relied on superstition, we have Scripture as our foundation, the Holy Spirit as our guide, and the church community as our support system. This episode reminds us that presuming upon God's protection while living in disobedience is spiritual suicide, yet even amid His severest judgments, God weaves threads of redemption and restoration.Listen as we navigate this challenging text that forces us to confront the reality of divine judgment while clinging to the promise that one day all wrongs will be made right when the rightful King takes His throne.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Ever wonder how long God's patience lasts? Ezekiel chapters 20-21 reveals that pivotal moment when divine patience reached its limit with ancient Israel.The imagery is striking—God drawing His sword against His own people after centuries of disobedience. "Behold, I am against you," He declares, words that stand in stark contrast to His earlier promises to be with them. This reversal marks one of the most significant turning points in biblical history.We explore the vivid metaphors God uses to communicate His impending judgment: a consuming fire in the forests of Negev and a polished sword "flashing like lightning." These aren't just poetic figures but prophecies that found literal fulfillment. The once-lush landscape described in Joshua's time as "flowing with milk and honey" transformed into the arid desert we see today—physical evidence of divine judgment that has endured for millennia.Most significantly, this judgment permanently altered Israel's national identity. The Babylonian captivity ended the line of Jewish kings, and even after their return from exile, they would never again enjoy true independence under their own monarch. The scepter departed, fulfilling ancient prophecies and setting the stage for the future Messiah—the only one who can legitimately claim David's throne.This episode challenges popular notions of God's character. Yes, He is loving, merciful, and patient, but these passages reveal He will not tolerate persistent rebellion forever. When judgment finally comes, it arrives with the speed of lightning, comprehensive and inescapable.What does this mean for us today? God's patience remains vast but not endless. His love doesn't negate His justice. This sobering reality calls us to examine our own lives and recognize that, sooner or later, all accounts must be settled with the divine King.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Dive deep into Ezekiel 20 as we explore one of Scripture's most fascinating prophecies about Israel's future. What happens when God's righteous anger and faithful love collide? The answer reveals a divine plan that spans thousands of years.We begin by examining God's emotional response to Israel's persistent idolatry—their shocking practices of child sacrifice and worship of pagan deities that continued for centuries despite repeated warnings. Yet even amid this justified wrath, God reveals His unwavering commitment to the covenant He made with their ancestors.The heart of this passage describes an extraordinary future regathering of the Jewish people from their worldwide dispersion. But this isn't a simple homecoming. God declares He will bring Israel "into the wilderness of the peoples" where He will "enter into judgment" with them face to face. This divine sifting process will separate faithful believers from persistent rebels, with only the former entering the promised land.When will this happen? We carefully analyze the text's clues that point toward an end-times fulfillment rather than past historical events. Neither the return from Babylonian captivity nor first-century Israel satisfied the requirements of this prophecy—particularly the promise that "all of them will serve me in the land" and will "loathe themselves" for their former sins.This beautiful vision of restoration, where a purified Israel dwells in their ancestral homeland serving God wholeheartedly, parallels similar prophecies throughout Scripture. From Isaiah to Zechariah, the prophets consistently speak of this future kingdom where God's purposes for Israel reach their ultimate fulfillment.Whether you're fascinated by biblical prophecy, interested in God's plan for Israel, or simply want to understand the balance between divine judgment and mercy, this episode offers profound insights into God's character and His unwavering faithfulness to fulfill every promise He has made.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What happens when God's chosen people continually reject His goodness? Ezekiel 20 delivers a striking revelation as Israel's leaders approach the prophet seeking divine guidance, only to receive a history lesson they never expected.God takes us on a journey through Israel's repeated pattern of rebellion, systematically listing His countless blessings—bringing them out of Egypt, giving His statutes, establishing the Sabbath as a sign between them—followed by their persistent disobedience. Three times God declares He resolved to pour out His wrath, yet each time He relented "for the sake of my name."The haunting refrain throughout this passage reveals Israel's continual attraction to idolatry despite witnessing divine power firsthand. More disturbing still is their adoption of child sacrifice from surrounding pagan cultures—the very practices God had commanded them to destroy. When rebellion persists long enough, God eventually "gives them over" to harmful desires, withdrawing His restraining hand.This ancient message speaks powerfully to our modern context. Have our churches grown dangerously comfortable with God, presuming upon His grace while ignoring His commands? The relationship God desires—portrayed throughout Scripture as a marriage covenant—demands genuine fidelity, not casual disregard.The ultimate answer to this cycle appears not in Ezekiel's time but centuries later when God Himself enters human history through Jesus Christ. Rather than sending another prophet, He becomes the final word—offering Himself as the sacrifice that breaks the cycle of rebellion and judgment.Whether you're a longtime believer or simply curious about biblical prophecy, this exploration of Ezekiel 20 offers profound insights into God's character, human nature, and the dangerous territory we enter when we persistently choose our own way over His.Listen now to discover timeless wisdom from this often-overlooked passage, and consider what it means for your own relationship with God.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What does it mean when the Creator of the universe grieves? In this profound exploration of Ezekiel chapter 19, we uncover a side of God rarely discussed—His deep sorrow over having to judge His beloved people.Through two striking metaphors, a lioness with her cubs and a withered vine, Ezekiel conveys God's lamentation over Israel's fallen kings. These rulers, descendants of David's royal line, had become predatory and violent, "devouring men" rather than protecting them. Kings Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin, specifically mentioned in the historical record, were carried off to Egypt and Babylon respectively as divine judgment for their wickedness.The episode reveals a crucial theological truth: God takes no pleasure in judgment yet cannot ignore sin without compromising His righteousness. This tension between justice and compassion permeates the entire biblical narrative and ultimately finds its resolution at the cross.We also examine a fascinating moment at the beginning of chapter 20, when Israel's elders approach Ezekiel seeking divine guidance, only to be met with God's refusal: "I will not be inquired of by you." Instead, God recounts their centuries-long pattern of rebellion dating back to Egypt, where—astonishingly—they clung to Egyptian idols despite witnessing the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea among other miracles in their exodus from Egypt.This ancient struggle with idolatry speaks directly to our modern experience. While few of us bow before physical statues, we often elevate money, relationships, careers, or even religious traditions above our devotion to God. Anything that captures our primary allegiance becomes an idol, potentially leading us down the same destructive path as ancient Israel.Join us as we explore God's heart in judgment, the danger of taking divine patience for granted, and the crucial spiritual practice of remembering God's faithfulness throughout our lives.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Are children guilty for the sins of their parents? This age-old question has challenged believers for centuries, and Ezekiel 18 provides a fascinating window into God's perspective on personal responsibility, generational consequences, and divine justice.The exiled Israelites had adopted a fatalistic proverb: "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." They were essentially claiming their suffering in Babylon resulted from their ancestors' sins rather than their own disobedience. God directly confronts this excuse, systematically dismantling it through a series of powerful examples involving three generations.What makes this passage particularly intriguing is how it seems to contradict other biblical teachings about generational consequences and original sin. However, when we understand the proper context—that Ezekiel is specifically addressing Israel's physical presence in the Promised Land rather than eternal salvation—the apparent contradiction dissolves. The life and death mentioned throughout the chapter refer to prosperity in the land, not spiritual salvation.God's message through Ezekiel reveals His consistent character—He judges each person according to their own actions while maintaining His covenant promises. The chapter builds to a beautiful crescendo with God's heartfelt appeal: "I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies...therefore, repent and live." This invitation culminates in the promise of "a new heart and a new spirit," foreshadowing the new covenant that would later be fulfilled through Christ.Through our verse-by-verse analysis, we explore how this theological question impacts our understanding of divine justice, personal accountability, and God's redemptive plan. Whether you're wrestling with questions about generational patterns, divine fairness, or the path to restoration, this episode offers biblical clarity on one of scripture's most profound teachings about God's character and our relationship with Him.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

A cedar branch plucked by an eagle becomes a low, spreading vine. Another eagle appears, and the vine bends toward it, withering in judgment. Yet from this broken royal line, God promises to plant His own branch that will become a mighty, fruit-bearing cedar where birds of every kind will nest. This vivid forestry metaphor in Ezekiel 17 masterfully reveals God's plan spanning millennia.The chapter begins with Ezekiel delivering a cryptic parable about eagles, cedar trees, and vines. As we explore the text, God himself provides the interpretation: Babylon (the first eagle) taking King Jehoiakim captive and installing Zedekiah, who then betrays his oath by seeking help from Egypt (the second eagle). The result? Devastating judgment on Jerusalem and the scattering of Israel.But hidden within this prophecy of judgment lies an extraordinary promise of restoration. God declares He will personally take a tender sprig from the royal line and plant it on "the high mountain of Israel" (Jerusalem). Unlike the lowly vine produced by Babylon's interference, God's planting will grow into a magnificent cedar bearing fruit—something cedars naturally cannot do.This prophecy points unmistakably to Jesus Christ, the "root and descendant of David," who will establish His millennial kingdom from Jerusalem. Jesus himself drew from this imagery when teaching about the kingdom of heaven. The birds nesting in its branches represent all peoples benefiting from this kingdom, including both believers and unbelievers living under Christ's rule.What makes this prophecy particularly significant is that it remains unfulfilled. "All the trees of the field" (nations) have never acknowledged God's sovereignty through Jerusalem. This can only happen during Christ's future millennial reign when He returns to establish His kingdom on earth.Ready to deepen your understanding of biblical prophecy and its connection to Christ? Subscribe now and join us as we continue reasoning through Ezekiel, revealing how ancient prophecies illuminate God's unfolding plan for humanity.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Prepare for a raw and unflinching look at divine disappointment as we explore one of Scripture's most graphic passages in Ezekiel 16:35-63. Using the powerful metaphor of marriage betrayed, God confronts Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness with language that still startles readers today.The discussion opens by examining God's portrayal of Israel as a beautiful bride who degenerates into a shameless prostitute—but one who remarkably pays her lovers rather than receiving payment. This shocking imagery represents Israel's eager adoption of pagan worship practices, including the horrific sacrifice of their children to foreign gods like Molech. As Glenn and Steve carefully work through the text, they reveal how Israel's failure to drive out the Canaanites led to their corruption by the very practices God had warned against.What makes this passage particularly devastating is God's declaration that Israel acted "more corruptly" than places like Sodom and Samaria—cities synonymous with wickedness. The conversation explores why Israel bears greater responsibility: they possessed God's law, experienced His deliverance, and knew His presence, yet willfully turned away. This principle carries profound implications for formerly Christian nations today that have abandoned their spiritual heritage.Just when the message of judgment seems overwhelming, a dramatic shift occurs in the final verses. God unexpectedly promises to remember His covenant and establish an "everlasting covenant" with Israel. The teachers carefully analyze this reference to what theologians identify as the New Covenant, connecting it to passages in Jeremiah 31, Hebrews 8, and Hebrews 10, while exploring its implications for both Israel and the Church.This episode powerfully demonstrates how Scripture uses provocative imagery to convey spiritual truths about covenant faithfulness, the consequences of idolatry, and God's redemptive purposes that persist even through judgment. Despite Israel's profound unfaithfulness, God's commitment to His promises remains unshaken—offering hope to all who have strayed from His path.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

The haunting allegory found in Ezekiel 16 reveals one of Scripture's most graphic depictions of spiritual unfaithfulness. God portrays Jerusalem as an abandoned infant He rescued, cleaned, and raised to become a beautiful bride – only to have her turn to prostitution with pagan gods using the very gifts He had lavished upon her.We explore this powerful metaphor that uses emotionally charged language to describe Israel's spiritual adultery. The nation had taken God's generous provisions – fine clothing, jewelry, oil, and food – and redirected them toward idol worship, building pagan shrines "on every street corner." Unlike typical prostitution where payment is received, Israel was so eager to sin that they paid to do so, revealing the depths of their spiritual corruption.Most disturbing is God's condemnation of child sacrifice, where Israelites offered their own children to pagan deities like Molech. This horrific practice represented the ultimate betrayal of God's covenant and shows how far God's people had fallen from His commands. We draw a sobering parallel between ancient child sacrifice and modern abortion practices, challenging listeners to consider whether today's society stands on any higher moral ground than ancient Israel.The passage raises profound questions about God's patience and judgment. After centuries of prophetic warnings, Israel reached a tipping point where God "delivered them to their enemies" – language similar to Romans 1 where God "gives people over" to their sinful desires. This withdrawal of divine restraint represents God's final judgment on persistent, unrepentant sin.For believers today, Ezekiel 16 serves as both warning and invitation. We examine how easily we too can redirect God's blessings toward modern idols of comfort, wealth, status, and pleasure. As 1 John 2:15-16 warns: "Do not love the world or anything in the world... the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." Let this powerful chapter challenge you to examine your heart, identify competing loyalties, and renew your commitment to wholehearted devotion to God alone. Share this episode with others struggling with divided spiritual loyalties.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Ever felt disheartened looking at a world that seems increasingly distant from God? You're not alone—and you're not the first. In this deeply insightful exploration of Ezekiel chapters 14, 15 and into 16, we discover that God's ancient prophet faced remarkably similar circumstances to our own.The episode begins with God's sobering revelation that even if the most righteous biblical figures—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were present in Jerusalem, they could only save themselves through their righteousness. This powerful message speaks directly to believers today who wonder how to remain faithful when surrounded by spiritual indifference.We dive into one of scripture's most profound metaphors: Jerusalem as an abandoned newborn, unwashed and left to die, whom God rescues, nurtures, and transforms into a beautifully adorned bride. Through vivid imagery and historical context, we see how God took Israel from humble beginnings through to Solomon's glorious kingdom—and the tragic consequences when they abandoned their divine purpose.The allegory of the useless grapevine delivers a particularly potent message about spiritual fruitfulness. Unlike other trees whose wood remains useful, a fruitless vine serves no purpose—mirroring the reality of what happens when believers disconnect from their divine source. This imagery, later echoed by Jesus in John 15, reminds us that our primary calling is to remain connected to God regardless of cultural currents.Despite the heavy themes of judgment—foretold through sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—this episode ultimately delivers hope by emphasizing God's faithfulness to preserve a remnant of believers in every generation. For anyone feeling increasingly isolated in their faith, this timeless message offers both challenge and profound reassurance.Join us as we unpack these ancient words that speak with surprising relevance to our modern spiritual journey. Discover how to stand firm when society separates from God and find courage in knowing you're part of a faithful remnant with deep historical roots.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Have you ever sought guidance from God while knowingly holding onto things He's asked you to surrender? Ezekiel 14 confronts this spiritual hypocrisy head-on with a message that remains desperately relevant today.When the elders of Israel approached Ezekiel seeking divine wisdom, they appeared to be doing the right thing. Yet God revealed their hearts were cluttered with idols – not physical statues, but attachments and sins they refused to relinquish. "They came to the real God for answers with a false god in their heart," as our hosts observe. This profound contradiction continues to plague our spiritual lives today.The passage delivers a sobering wake-up call: God refuses to be treated as a cosmic vending machine, dispensing blessings to those who ignore His previous instructions. Instead, He calls for repentance before offering new guidance. What's particularly convicting is the warning to spiritual leaders who comfort the unrepentant instead of calling them to change. Such teachers will share in the judgment of those they mislead.We also explore God's accountability for nations, not just individuals. Even the presence of exceptionally righteous people like Noah, Daniel, and Job cannot save a society bent on rebellion. Each person bears responsibility for their relationship with God while nations face collective consequences for their moral choices.This episode challenges us to examine what idols we might have placed "right before our faces" – whether success, comfort, relationships, or even religious tradition itself. Are we approaching God sincerely, or are we seeking His blessings while holding onto what He's asked us to release?Take time to reflect on your heart's true condition. Are there areas of known disobedience you've been ignoring while still expecting God's favor? Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

The plague of false prophets is nothing new. From ancient Israel to today's church, those claiming to speak for God while promoting their own ideas have caused immense spiritual damage. In this powerful examination of Ezekiel 13, we explore God's strong condemnation of false teachers and the striking parallels to modern religious deception.What should alarm every believer is how false teachers operate – not by announcing their falsehood but by claiming divine authority. "Thus says the Lord" rolls off their tongues while God has said nothing of the sort. Throughout Scripture, God commands us not to tolerate such deception but to actively oppose it. This stands in stark contrast to today's "feel-good" church culture where confronting false teaching is often considered divisive or unloving.Christian mysticism – the belief that we can receive direct, new messages from God – receives particular attention in our discussion. When someone says, "The Lord told me," they position themselves as either a true prophet or a false one. The metaphor in Ezekiel of a poorly built wall covered with attractive whitewash brilliantly illustrates how false teaching appears solid while being fundamentally unsound. We examine how many contemporary churches have built their ministries on what "seems right" rather than biblical foundations, incorporating entertainment and worldly elements that might attract crowds but cannot withstand divine judgment.The ultimate consequence for false teachers is sobering. Jesus' words, "I never knew you," echo Ezekiel's warning that false prophets will have no place among God's people. This episode serves as a challenging reminder that discernment is not optional for believers in any age. How firm is your foundation? Are you following God's revealed Word or chasing after new "revelations" that tickle your ears?Curious about idolatry in its most subtle forms? Subscribe now and join us next week as we explore Ezekiel 14 and God's warnings about the idols we harbor not just in our homes, but in our hearts.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What happens when God finally decides enough is enough? In this sobering journey through Ezekiel 11-12, we witness one of the most haunting scenes in scripture: the moment God's glory abandons Jerusalem.The vision begins with the God's Shekina glory presence departing from the temple - first from the Holy of Holies to the front of the temple building, then to the outer court, through the east gate, and finally resting on the Mount of Olives before disappearing. This progressive withdrawal symbolized the removal of God's protection before Jerusalem's destruction by Babylonian forces.We explore how this ancient vision connects profoundly to Jesus Christ, who would later enter Jerusalem from that same Mount of Olives, effectively bringing God's glory back to the temple, only to ascend from that same mountain after His resurrection with the promise to return one day.Ezekiel is commanded to perform a strange prophetic action - packing exile baggage in daylight, digging through his wall at night, covering his face, and departing in darkness. This bizarre behavior precisely prefigured how King Zedekiah would attempt to escape Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege, only to be captured, blinded, and taken to "Babylon, though he would not see it" - a prophecy fulfilled with chilling accuracy.Most striking is God's response to people claiming these warnings were for the distant future: "None of my words will be delayed any longer." The repeated refrain "then you will know that I am the LORD" serves as both warning and promise - some recognize God's sovereignty through mercy, others only through judgment.This episode challenges us to consider: are we listening to false messages of peace and prosperity while ignoring divine warnings? The glory that departed Jerusalem will once again return in Jesus Christ. Are we ready for His final return?Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

The cooking metaphor in Ezekiel 11 packs a powerful punch. God reveals Jerusalem as a pot where rebellious Israel will be "cooked" through the fires of Babylonian judgment. Yet remarkably, this severe message comes with an unexpected promise of restoration.Standing at the temple's east gate, Ezekiel confronts false prophets spreading dangerous security messages. The archaeological confirmation of specific leaders mentioned—Jehozaniah and Pelatiah—adds striking historical credibility to this ancient text. When Ezekiel accurately predicts Pelatiah's death from his exilic position in Babylon, he establishes his prophetic authority in real-time.The heart of this passage reveals God's complex relationship with His covenant people. Despite centuries of rebellion culminating in child sacrifice and temple desecration, God makes a stunning promise. Not only will He regather scattered Israel to their land, but He will perform spiritual heart surgery—removing their "heart of stone" and replacing it with a "heart of flesh" capable of genuine obedience.This transformation transcends the physical return from Babylonian exile. It points to a future spiritual renewal where obedience becomes natural rather than forced. God emphasizes that this restoration comes not because of Israel's merit but for the sake of His own name and covenant faithfulness.The tension between judgment and promise creates a profound spiritual principle: God must judge rebellion, yet remains unwaveringly committed to His covenant promises. This paradox reveals divine character in its fullness—righteous in judgment, faithful in promise.Have you experienced this tension in your spiritual journey? Consider how God's discipline might actually demonstrate His deeper commitment to relationship and transformation in your life.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What happens when God's patience reaches its limit? Ezekiel chapters 9 and 10 deliver one of Scripture's most sobering messages—the departure of God's glory from the temple and the subsequent judgment on Jerusalem. This powerful, often-overlooked passage reveals crucial spiritual principles that remain startlingly relevant today.The vision begins with God marking those who mourned over Jerusalem's idolatry for protection, while commanding judgment on everyone else. The Israelites had adopted horrific practices including child sacrifice, turned their backs on God's prophets, and mixed pagan worship with true worship despite centuries of warnings. This historical context helps us understand God's severe response.Most striking is the progressive departure of God's glory—moving from the Holy of Holies, to the temple threshold, and eventually out of Jerusalem entirely to the Mount of Olives. This symbolic withdrawal of divine blessing and protection carries profound theological significance, connecting to Christ's later movements in the same locations. The burning of Jerusalem with coals from God's throne represented both punishment and purification, fulfilled historically through the Babylonian conquest.For today's believers, these ancient warnings speak directly to our churches. When we incorporate worldly values into worship, prioritize cultural relevance over biblical truth, or focus worship on ourselves rather than God, we risk the same spiritual judgment. "We have churches in our day doing the exact same thing," the hosts observe, noting how easily we can justify compromise that seems good but contradicts God's Word.Despite its severity, Ezekiel's message reminds us that God distinguishes between those who embrace sin and those who grieve over it. He knows His children and protects them even amid judgment. While God's patience is vast, it isn't endless—a sobering reality we must acknowledge while there's still opportunity to return to authentic worship and obedience.What's the state of your heart toward God today? Are you grieving over compromise or embracing it? This challenging episode invites honest reflection on our worship, our churches, and our personal walk with a God who is both merciful and holy.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What happens when God's own people corrupt His sacred space with pagan practices? Ezekiel's temple vision provides a startling glimpse into divine patience reaching its limit.The prophet receives a disturbing revelation of what's happening in Jerusalem's temple: women openly weeping for the pagan deity Tammuz, while men turn their backs on the sanctuary to worship the rising sun. These weren't secretive acts but brazen displays of spiritual unfaithfulness in the very place dedicated to Yahweh. The parallels to contemporary religious compromise are unmistakable.Throughout our discussion, we wrestle with a perplexing question: How could people who had witnessed God's miracles and received His law repeatedly return to false gods? This pattern of spiritual amnesia resonates today as churches incorporate cultural elements that contradict biblical teaching. We examine the fine line between sincere religious practice and false worship that merely imitates true devotion.What makes this passage uniquely comforting amid its severe warnings is God's protection of the faithful minority. Those who "sigh and groan" over the abominations—who recognize and mourn the corruption around them—receive a protective mark. This foreshadows the New Testament concept of believers being sealed by the Holy Spirit, a reminder that even in times of judgment, God preserves those whose hearts remain true to Him.The ultimate message of Ezekiel's vision speaks directly to modern believers: God's patience with corruption has limits, but His recognition of genuine faith never fails. As we navigate a world of competing spiritual claims, this ancient prophecy challenges us to examine what truly captures our devotion and whether we're grieved or comfortable with compromise in our worship.Join us as we reason through these challenging passages and discover timeless principles about authentic worship, divine justice, and the mercy extended to those who remain faithful when surrounded by spiritual corruption.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What happens when God's people bring idolatry into the holy place? Ezekiel's prophetic vision reveals a shocking scene that should make every believer pause and examine their own worship.We journey through one of Scripture's most overlooked passages in Ezekiel 7-8, where God pronounces severe judgment on Jerusalem and its temple. The language is deliberately harsh—"disaster upon disaster"—because Israel had repeatedly ignored prophetic warnings despite numerous opportunities to repent. God declares He will "turn His face from them," allowing their sacred spaces to be violated by enemies.The most startling revelation comes when Ezekiel is spiritually transported to the temple, where he witnesses seventy elders worshipping before walls carved with images of unclean animals. These leaders had convinced themselves that "God does not see us" while they mixed elements of true worship with pagan practices. They maintained the outward motions of devotion while introducing "abominations" into their sacred spaces.This ancient warning speaks powerfully to modern believers. How many of us have introduced elements into our worship or private lives that God might find detestable? The human tendency to want tangible objects to focus our devotion—something visible to represent the invisible God—continues today, though in different forms. Sometimes our idolatry appears as pride in accomplishments, materialism that displaces God, or theological compromises that make faith more acceptable to our culture.God's judgment isn't a comfortable subject, but it's one we must confront. The sobering reality is that God remains the same "yesterday, today, and forever." While believers experience grace through Christ, this doesn't mean He overlooks persistent rebellion. Examine your worship and life for any "mixed" devotion. Have you introduced elements contrary to God's revealed will? Are you taking comfort in the idea that God overlooks sin simply because judgment hasn't yet fallen?Take time today to reflect on what truly belongs in your worship and what might be displacing your devotion to the one true God.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What happens when God's patience finally runs out? Ezekiel 6-7 provides a sobering glimpse into divine judgment as we explore God's response to Israel's persistent idolatry.The ancient Israelites had established "high places" throughout their land – mountain shrines and valleys filled with pagan statues where they burned incense and even sacrificed their children to false gods like Molech and Baal. After centuries of warnings through prophets, God's patience reached its limit. Through Ezekiel, He pronounces a devastating judgment: worshippers will be slain before the very statues they pray to, cities will become waste, and death will come through sword, plague, and famine.Throughout these graphic prophecies, one phrase echoes repeatedly: "Then you will know that I am the Lord." This declaration appears seven times in just these two chapters, and a remarkable 63 times across Ezekiel's book. God's judgment serves to demonstrate His uniqueness and sovereignty – there are no other gods.Yet even in judgment, mercy appears. God promises to preserve a remnant who will remember Him during exile and loathe themselves for their former idolatry. History confirms this worked; when the Jews returned from Babylonian captivity, idol worship had been purged from their national life.These ancient warnings speak powerfully to our modern context. While we may not bow before carved images, the idols of money, sex, power, and self can just as effectively displace God from our hearts. The God who judged ancient Israel still takes sin seriously today.Join us as we wrestle with these challenging passages and discover how they illuminate both God's holiness and the redemptive purpose behind His judgments. Subscribe now to continue exploring how these ancient prophecies reveal timeless truths about our relationship with God.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Ever wondered what would happen if God sent His prophet to the barbershop? In Ezekiel chapter 5, we witness one of Scripture's most unusual prophetic demonstrations as Ezekiel is commanded to take a sword, shave his head and beard, and perform a series of symbolic actions with his hair.Far from being merely theatrical, this peculiar haircut serves as a powerful visual prophecy about Jerusalem's impending destruction. The sword used as a razor foreshadows the violence awaiting the city. The careful weighing of the hair on scales represents divine judgment against God's standard. Each third of the hair meets a different fate – burning, cutting, and scattering – vividly illustrating the three ways Jerusalem's inhabitants would perish: by fire during the siege, by sword in battle, and through exile to foreign lands.Most poignant is the small remnant of hair Ezekiel tucks into his garment hem, symbolizing the faithful few God would preserve. Yet even from this protected remnant, some hairs are cast into fire, delivering a sobering message that even God's people aren't immune from accountability.The prophecy pulls no punches with its graphic language of famine, wild beasts, and God declaring "my eye will have no pity and I will not spare." This rarely-preached aspect of God's character challenges our modern tendency to emphasize divine love while ignoring divine justice. As one listener noted, "We've created a caricature of God as a sugar-coated uncle who brings presents on our birthday."This episode forces us to wrestle with difficult questions: How do we reconcile God's love with His wrath? Why don't churches address God's judgment more often? What does this mean for believers today who think membership in God's remnant guarantees immunity from consequences? Join us as we reason through these challenging passages and discover their timeless relevance for contemporary faith.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

A clay model of Jerusalem under siege. A prophet lying on his side for 390 days. Bread cooked over animal dung. These aren't theatrical props—they're God's dramatic teaching methods deployed through the prophet Ezekiel to convey urgent messages to an obstinate people.When words alone fail to penetrate hardened hearts, God escalates to visual demonstrations. As we explore Ezekiel chapter 4, we discover how the prophet became a living object lesson, enacting bizarre but powerful scenarios that would have drawn crowds and sparked conversations throughout the exiled community in Babylon.The symbolism runs deep—an iron plate representing the separation sin creates between God and His people, precise day counts (390 for Israel, 40 for Judah) showing God's meticulous accounting of rebellion, and severely restricted food rations depicting the coming horrors of Jerusalem's siege. Each element conveyed what the exiles refused to believe: Jerusalem would fall, the temple would be destroyed, and their hopes of quick return were false.What makes these ancient demonstrations relevant today? The fundamental human condition remains unchanged—we all face the iron barrier of sin. But where Ezekiel could only symbolize the problem, we encounter its solution through Christ, who tore the temple curtain and removed the separation.The prophetic reliability displayed in Ezekiel challenges us too. Those same principles of accountability and divine discipline extend to modern believers, as the letters to the seven churches in Revelation make clear. God's love doesn't make Him lenient toward persistent rebellion—whether in ancient Israel or today's church.Journey with us through these peculiar prophetic acts and discover timeless lessons about sin's ugliness, God's precision in judgment, and the extraordinary lengths He goes to communicate with those He loves. Subscribe to be notified as soon as new episodes are published and join us as we continue through Ezekiel's remarkably relevant ancient message.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What does it take to stand firm when delivering God's message to a resistant audience? The extraordinary account of Ezekiel's commissioning reveals how God equips His messengers for seemingly impossible tasks.Ezekiel chapter 3 takes us deep into the prophet's preparation for ministry to the rebellious house of Israel. The divine encounter begins with a remarkable symbolic act - Ezekiel consuming a scroll filled with "lamentations and mournings" that tastes "sweet as honey." This powerful paradox captures the essence of God's Word - though often containing difficult truths, it remains sweet to those who submit to Him. For believers today facing challenging biblical teachings, this offers profound reassurance that even hard truths ultimately work for our good.God doesn't sugarcoat the difficulty of Ezekiel's mission. Instead of sending him with encouraging promises of success, God bluntly states that Israel won't listen because "they are not willing to listen to Me." But rather than lowering expectations, God equips Ezekiel with supernatural stubbornness: "I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads." This divine empowerment resonates with anyone who has felt inadequate for spiritual challenges - God never sends us into battle without proper equipment.The central metaphor of Ezekiel as "watchman" establishes a sobering principle about spiritual responsibility. Like sentinels on ancient city walls who sounded alarms about approaching danger, believers today must exercise discernment and warn others about false teaching. The passage makes clear that failing to speak truth when necessary makes us partially responsible for others' spiritual destruction. This timeless principle challenges modern Christians to lovingly but firmly confront deception rather than remaining silent for the sake of false peace.Join us as we reason through this extraordinary prophetic commission that remains surprisingly relevant for anyone seeking to represent God faithfully in a resistant world. Whether you're facing opposition in sharing your faith or struggling to stand firm in biblical truth, Ezekiel's story offers both encouragement and profound spiritual wisdom.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Ever wondered what goes into creating detailed Bible studies that reach across continents? Pull up a chair as we share a rare behind-the-scenes look at Reasoning Through the Bible.After three and a half years of consistent teaching, we've produced over 550 episodes covering 22% of Scripture. That's thousands of verses examined and explained, all while maintaining our commitment to start where the average churchgoer is comfortable and gradually elevate understanding to deeper theological concepts. The goal has never changed: provide thorough Bible teaching that serves both casual learners and theology enthusiasts.What began as two Bible teachers recording lessons has grown into a global ministry reaching 128 countries and over 1,900 cities worldwide. Our approach is distinctive—verse-by-verse study without skipping the challenging passages, offering theological insight without overwhelming detail, all while creating free resources churches can use. Every book study includes downloadable teacher guides and student materials designed for small groups and Bible classes.Your support has allowed us to expand our reach while remaining focused on Scripture. Rather than spending 15+ hours weekly on editing, we now direct that time toward research and teaching. Soon, we'll establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and explore live streaming to connect more directly with listeners. Whether you're listening during your commute, teaching a Bible study using our materials, or simply seeking deeper understanding of Scripture, we invite you to partner with us. Share our resources with friends, consider supporting financially through options on our website, or simply pray for this ministry. Together, we can continue making comprehensive Bible teaching accessible to anyone seeking to understand God's Word more deeply.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What does it mean to truly consume God's Word? In Ezekiel's remarkable commissioning narrative, we witness a prophet who literally eats a divine scroll as preparation for ministry.After experiencing the overwhelming majesty of God's presence in chapter 1, Ezekiel finds himself face-down in worship. But before he can speak for God, something extraordinary must happen. The Spirit enters him, setting him on his feet and empowering him for the challenging task ahead. This powerful sequence reveals a timeless principle: no one can stand before God or perform His work without divine empowerment.God doesn't sugarcoat Ezekiel's assignment. Repeatedly referring to Israel as "rebellious," "stubborn," and "obstinate," God prepares the prophet for significant resistance. Yet whether they listen or not, Ezekiel must faithfully deliver the divine message.The most striking element comes when God extends a hand holding a scroll covered with "lamentations, mourning and woe." Ezekiel is commanded to eat it – a vivid metaphor for internalizing God's message before proclaiming it. This symbolic action connects directly to Revelation 10, where John experiences a similar prophetic meal, highlighting the continuity between these apocalyptic books.For believers today, this passage offers profound insights about spiritual nourishment. Just as physical sustenance requires daily intake, our souls need regular feeding on Scripture. Through devotional reading, systematic study, memorization, or verse-by-verse exploration, we must internalize God's Word for it to transform us from within.Join us as we explore how God prepares His messengers through the power of His Spirit and the nourishment of His Word. Whether you're facing your own "rebellious house" or simply seeking deeper spiritual sustenance, Ezekiel's commissioning offers timeless wisdom for every believer's journey.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Have you ever wondered what God's arrival somewhere actually looks like? Ezekiel chapter 1 gives us perhaps the most vivid glimpse found anywhere in Scripture—and it's absolutely mind-bending.Glenn and Steve dive deep into the prophet's extraordinary vision, exploring the whirlwind of fire, the four-faced living creatures, the mysterious wheels within wheels covered with eyes, and the overwhelming splendor that caused Ezekiel to fall flat on his face in reverent awe. But rather than getting lost in symbolic interpretations, they focus on experiencing the emotional impact and theological significance of this cosmic encounter.The conversation reveals how modern believers have often domesticated our concept of God into something comfortable and manageable. Biblical encounters with the divine were never casual—they were overwhelming, sometimes leaving prophets physically ill for days afterward. This should make us skeptical of contemporary claims about casual heavenly visits where people claim to high-five Jesus or treat Him like an ordinary friend.What emerges from this exploration is a portrait of God whose omniscience is depicted through beings with faces looking in every direction and wheels covered with watchful eyes. His omnipresence and responsiveness are illustrated through supernatural mobility in any direction without turning. His transformative glory causes everything in His presence to shine with reflected light.Most profoundly, the hosts reflect on the theological depth of this vision: "Would we really want a God we could fully understand and explain? That's not really a God—it's a pet or a machine." True divinity transcends our comprehension while inviting our worship.Whether you're a longtime Bible student or just curious about Scripture's more mysterious passages, this episode offers fresh insights into the awesome nature of God and reminds us that approaching Him requires both reverence and wonder. Take a journey with us beyond the veil and discover a God who's bigger, more glorious, and more present than you might have imagined.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

God speaks loudest when His people aren't listening. The prophet Ezekiel knew this challenge intimately, serving a "hard-headed" community of Jewish exiles who had lost their homeland, their temple, and seemingly their connection to God. Rather than just delivering another sermon, God directed Ezekiel to become a living demonstration—building miniature siege works, tunneling through walls, lying motionless for months, and employing bizarre visual aids that couldn't be ignored.What makes Ezekiel such a fascinating prophet is how thoroughly God documented His messages. Eleven times throughout this prophetic book, we find precisely dated revelations that create a 22-year ministry timeline beginning July 31, 593 BC. This meticulous dating wasn't just for historical accuracy; it established divine authority for messages that often contradicted what people wanted to hear. While false prophets promised a quick return from exile, Ezekiel delivered the uncomfortable truth that restoration would follow a lengthy period of judgment.The book's clear three-part structure illuminates God's larger purposes: chapters 1-24 pronounce judgment against rebellious Israel, chapters 25-39 address the surrounding nations, and chapters 40-48 provide hope through promises of future restoration. This organizational framework offers crucial context for interpreting Ezekiel's challenging visions, especially his detailed temple prophecies that have perplexed readers for centuries.Perhaps most encouraging is the realization that Ezekiel himself was an ordinary person transformed by extraordinary divine encounter. When "the hand of the Lord" came upon him, this displaced priest became a powerful messenger. The same principle applies to us—our effectiveness in ministry doesn't depend on innate abilities but on God's empowering presence working through willing vessels.Whether you're familiar with prophecy or approaching these ancient texts for the first time, join us in this verse-by-verse exploration of Ezekiel's remarkable visions, dramatic object lessons, and timeless message of judgment and restoration. Subscribe to our podcast and visit reasoningthroughthebible.com for free study materials to help you navigate this prophetic masterpiece.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What happens when your soul begins to leave your body? Terry Wright knows that feeling intimately. Terry founded Lifeline Pregnancy Center, combining her nursing background with her passion for supporting women in crisis pregnancies. The center provides education, material support, and shares the gospel with every client. While standing at a copy machine at Lifeline, she suddenly collapsed and was taken to the Emergency Room.  While there, a shocking discovery was made. Her heart was failing. But why?In this powerful conversation, Terry shares her extraordinary journey from sudden collapse to heart failure that left doctors puzzled. With no prior cardiovascular issues, she found herself declining rapidly until she was hospitalized, waiting for a donor heart while actively dying.Terry takes us to the edge of mortality itself, describing with remarkable clarity how she felt her soul slowly separating from her weakening body. The medical staff's hushed tones told her family "this is what happens at the end of the end." As she prepared to meet Jesus, Terry's overwhelming regret wasn't about missed vacations or career achievements – it was that she hadn't done more for God's Kingdom.Then came the miracle. A late-night call announced a perfectly matched heart was available. The emotional whiplash of moving from death's doorstep to a second chance at life led Terry to profound spiritual insights about God's authority and timing. Her meeting with the donor family – who lost their 18-year-old daughter but honored her wish to donate organs – reveals the beautiful redemption possible even in tragedy.Her powerful testimony illustrates how God's promises become real when we fully surrender to His purposes.Whether you're facing life-altering challenges or simply questioning your purpose, Terry's journey will inspire you to consider how you're using your own "window of opportunity." What race has God set before you? The clock is ticking for all of us – what will you do with the time you've been given?Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

This is Part 5 of a 5 Part series on the evaluation of Reformed Theology, also referred to as Calvinism. We hope you will join us for this complete series.The age-old theological tension between God's sovereignty and human choice takes center stage in this illuminating episode. We dive deep into the most common criticisms of Reformed Theology and examine how its defenders respond to these challenges.What happens when someone claims that Reformed Theology makes God unrighteous? How do Reformed thinkers answer the charge that their theology renders human responsibility meaningless? We examine these provocative questions through quotes from prominent Reformed theologians like R.C. Sproul and A.A. Hodge, while carefully evaluating both sides of each argument.At the heart of this theological divide lies a fundamental question: does regeneration precede faith, or does faith precede regeneration? This seemingly technical distinction dramatically shapes how we understand salvation, God's character, and human responsibility. We explore biblical examples like Cornelius, Rahab, and Ruth that challenge simplistic theological formulations on both sides.The debate isn't merely academic—it touches on our deepest understanding of God's nature. Is God's love conditional or unconditional? Does His sovereignty mean He chooses some for salvation while leaving others without hope? Or does Scripture reveal a God who genuinely desires all people to be saved while respecting their freedom to reject Him?Whether you're a committed Calvinist, a convinced Arminian, a consistent Biblicist or simply curious about these theological traditions, this episode offers thoughtful, balanced perspectives that will deepen your understanding of these vital spiritual questions. Listen now to sharpen your theological thinking and gain fresh insights into how we can faithfully reason through Scripture.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

This is Part 4 of a 5 Part series on the evaluation of Reformed Theology, also referred to as Calvinism. We hope you will join us for this complete series.The tension between divine sovereignty and human free will has challenged theologians for centuries. Nowhere is this more evident than in discussions around Reformed Theology (Calvinism), where seemingly contradictory biblical passages paint a complex picture of salvation.In this deeply engaging exploration, we move beyond theoretical frameworks to examine the actual Scripture passages that form the foundation of Reformed thought. Starting with 1 Corinthians 2:14, which describes the natural person's inability to understand spiritual things, we carefully consider whether context supports applying this to salvation or if it primarily addresses spiritual discernment for believers. The profound statements of Jesus in John 6—"no one can come to me unless the Father draws him"—receive particular attention, including analysis of the Greek term for "drawing" and how it appears elsewhere in Scripture.We tackle passages that strongly suggest divine election (Acts 13:48, 2 Thessalonians 2:13) alongside numerous Old Testament texts commanding people to "seek the Lord" (Deuteronomy 4:28-29, Isaiah 55:6-7). The dramatic moment when Joshua tells the Israelites "you have chosen for yourselves the Lord" presents a particularly compelling case for human volition in spiritual matters. Throughout this journey, we discover Scripture affirming both God's sovereign choice and meaningful human response.What emerges is not a simplistic either/or proposition but a beautiful theological understanding that respects both God's sovereignty and the reality of human choice. Rather than forcing Scripture into rigid systematic frameworks, perhaps we're invited to embrace how these truths coexist. For those struggling with questions of election, predestination, and free will, this episode offers balanced biblical examination that honors the full testimony of Scripture.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve