Podcasts about Promised Land

Jesus tells the parable of the unjust steward immediately after the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Johann Gerhard saw why: Christ knows how easily we misuse that teaching for carnal security, taking the sweetest thing God ever said and turning it into a permission slip. Paul answers that man with a desert full of graves. Israel was baptized into Moses, ate the same spiritual food, drank from the Rock that was Christ, and two of them reached the Promised Land. The warning lands on the man who thinks he stands. So does the promise: God is faithful, the way of escape has an address, and the door behind you was never bolted.

Fr. Matthias Shehad introduces the Book of Deuteronomy, explaining its background, meaning, and connection to the Pentateuch. He outlines the history of the Israelites, from their time in Egypt through the Exodus and 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, highlighting key events such as the sending of the 12 spies and God's promise of the Promised Land. Fr. Matthias discusses Moses' leadership, the establishment of judges among the tribes, and the challenges faced by the Israelites, including their rebellion and lack of faith. He also addresses the symbolic significance of the land's fruit and clarifies biblical interpretations related to the Nephilim. Moses' reminders serve to prepare the people for entering the land God promised to their ancestors, stressing the importance of trust and obedience to God's commands. #DeuteronomyStudy #MosesLeadership #PromisedLand #BibleHistory #OldTestamentLaw #FaithInGod #StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthias Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

In this study we will take a look at the women within the Bible. We will look at each one of them and see how their story influences our lives today.As we continue our study in this fantastic insight of the Women of the Bible, this morning we shall finish Miriam the sister of Moses.Miriam (rebellion) – Moses Sister – A ProphetessMiriam was the older sister of Moses, and it was she who watched over him when he was placed in a basket on the River Nile. She went on to become a leader of the Hebrews when they escaped from Egypt and went in search of the Promised Land.Miriam is best known for helping to deliver Moses at the Nile River and leading the Hebrew women in singing, dancing, and playing drums after crossing the Red Sea. Later, she and her brother Aaron challenge the actions and authority of Moses. She understands leadership to embrace diverse voices, female and male. But the price of speaking out is severe; Yahweh punishes her, after which she never speaks, nor is she spoken to. Centuries later, prophecy remembers her as the equal of Moses and Aaron in representing Yahweh before the people, and as the inaugurator of a performance and composition tradition of song, drums, and dances in Israel.                Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron (Exod. 15:20.), is the first of her order mentioned in the Word of Yahweh. While Yahweh never ordained a woman to be priest, nor do we read of women as bishops or pastors in the New Testament, the vocation of "prophetess" is common to both dispensations. Hannah (1Sam. 1:2) was practically a prophetess, and so was Huldah, to whom King Josiah went in his time of perplexity. Deborah (Judges 4:5) was a prophetess (2Kings 22:14), and there were also false prophetesses, such as Noadiah (Neh. 6:14), as well as false prophets.                Yahweh's order in the family is not according to earthly birthright. Speaking of the leaders of His people Israel, He says: "I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam." (Micah 6:4.) All these children of Amram were of the prophet order. Miriam was the eldest, Moses the youngest; yet Moses is first mentioned, because he knew his Yahweh more fully than either his brother or his sister. Aaron, his elder brother, ranks next, and Miriam, the eldest of the three, ranks last.Miriam was a leader of the Hebrew people during the Exodus, the great founding event of Judaism. The episodes we have about her are disjointed and probably only represent a fraction of the stories originally told in the oral tradition of the Hebrew people.  The story of Miriam contains four different episodes:   1 Miriam saved her brother Moses, Exodus 2:1-10. This well-known story shows that the survival of the leader of the Exodus, Moses, depended on the courage and ingenuity of one young woman, his sister Miriam.   2 The song of Miriam, Exodus 15:20-21. This fragment of the Song of Miriam is one of the oldest poetic couplets in the Old Testament. It is an example of a literary genre devoted to celebrating military victories with triumphal poems.  3 Miriam's ordeal, Numbers 12. This story is about the authority of established law. Moses was the great lawgiver of the Hebrew people Moses' legislation formed the basis of Hebrew life. The story acknowledged that Miriam and Aaron were both popular leaders, but the Law, represented by Moses, bound them.  4 Miriam's death, Numbers 20:1-2. Miriam died in a waterless place in the wilderness, but Yahweh subsequently caused water to appear there.  In this study we finish up with #3 Miriam's ordeal and complete the study with Miriam's death While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had indeed married a Cushite woman); and they said, 'Has Yahweh spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?' And Yahweh heard it. Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth.Yahweh knows when we criticize and snip at each other. No matter our position in the church, we have to remember that all of Yahweh's children are special to Him. In fact, today, we can be even closer to Yahweh than Moses was the one who stood face to face with Yahweh. Our Yahweh now lives inside of us, for we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. How then can we not be afraid to speak against another of Yahweh's servants, His child? If we do so, we may very anger Yahweh and cause Him to depart from us.Numbers 12:10: Suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow = Leprosy was a disease where the body rotted and decayed. It was considered a “walking death” – and Miriam had an advanced case of leprosy (white as snow) instantly. At this moment, Yahweh caused her body to reflect her heart.Leprous = First occurance is in Exodus 4:6. Nine (Denotes Finality of judgment. It is 3x3, the product of Divine completeness. The number nine, or its factors or multiples, is seen in all cases when judgment is the subject.)so afflicted: Exo. 4:6. Num. 12:10. 2Kings 5:1, 2Kings 5:27; 7:3; 15:5. (2Chron. 26:20). Matthew 8:2; 26:6. Luke 17:12. (Nine cases, 21 individuals.)By the way 21 in the Biblical Number for Divine Completion as regardsSpiritual Perfection, Many times, I have read that Yahweh punished Miriam by making her leprous. There is a big debate on whether Yahweh did this or not. Let's read the verse again. Yahweh was angry and left in verse 9 and here in verse 10 we read of the cloud departing, and Miriam was leprous. No where are we told Yahweh made Miriam leprous or even that Yahweh punished Miriam with leprosy. Yahweh went away. There is protection under the shadow of Yahweh's wing, but when we leave that protection or by our actions cause Yahweh to withdraw we lose that protection.11           Oh my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us = Aaron called Moses his master (my lord), and he attributed to Moses the power to strike Miriam with leprosy. Aaron also confessed his previous criticism as foolish and sinful (we have done foolishly…we have sinned).13           So Moses cried out to Yahweh = This was the first word spoken by Moses in this chapter. He had not spoken the entire time he was accused, leaving it up to Yahweh to answer his critics.14           Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and afterward she may be received again = Yahweh did heal Miriam. If she were still a leper, she would not have been allowed to remain in the camp of Israel, and she was received again. Yet, Yahweh allowed her to live with the outward display of her inward heart for seven days – and allowed the whole nation to know it.Miriam's question 'has Yahweh indeed spoken only through Moses?' was a profound one.  It asked   How do we know what Yahweh wants? What ways does Yahweh speak to us? Who has authority over us? These questions are universal, asked by people of every place and era.Numbers 20:2 The people stayed in Kadesh (sanctuary); and Miriam died there and was buried there = Miriam died in Kadesh. Through the years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel came now to Kadesh. This is probably another place named Kadesh but presented to remind us of the failure of faith at the Kadesh of Numbers 13:26.Miriam, with her brothers Moses and Aaron, led the Hebrew people throughout the forty years when they reverted to the nomadic life, searching meanwhile for a land where they could settle.  The life they led was hard, and they must often have yearned for the stability and settled life they had left back in Egypt. Water was always scarce, the food supply was unreliable, and the physical living conditions were rigorous. Eventually these conditions took their toll on Miriam, and she died.  'The Israelites, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there, and was buried there.'  Water, the symbol of life, had played quite a large part in Miriam's life. She saved her brother from the water; she led the song of victory after the parting of the Red Sea; she died in a waterless place. Immediately after her death, Yahweh gave abundant water to the people, in the form of a spring. Unlike most women in the Bible, Miriam is never called wife or mother. She has neither husband nor children. Jewish traditions, however, cannot tolerate her status as single. The historian Josephus deems Hur the husband of Miriam (Antiquities 3.54; see Exod 17:10–12). Rabbinic sources give her Caleb for a husband and Hur for a son (but compare 1 Chr 2:19). Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com

Garr Russell is the Chief Fire Starter of Fireside RV Rental. Russell is an entrepreneur and business leader whose work is grounded in his walk of faith and his adherence to Christian values.    Along the way we discuss – the Journey (1:10), RV Rental Space (4:00), One Camper at a Time (5:45), OPRV (7:00), Classes of RV's (12:00), Demographics of RV users (14:30), Importance of Data (20:00), Travel to the Promised Land (22:30), God and Garr in the Hot Tub (29:15), Scaling a Business (32:15), and Garr's Memo (36:00).  Learn more about joining the Fireside Franchise family @  Fireside RV Rental Grab a copy of Garr's "Wheel-Estate" book @ My Wheel-Estate Story This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com, PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248.  Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day. 

(This podcast was previously published on September 11, 2021)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   Exodus 16   1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.   2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:   (murmured:  complained against)   3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.   4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in MY law, or no.   5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.   (They were not permitted to gather food on the Sabbath nor do any work at all in cooking food on the Sabbath, not even to light a fire for cooking in their tents on the Sabbath.  So they had to gather food the day before the Sabbath and cook food the day before the Sabbath.)   6 And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:   7 And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that HE (God) heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?   (When I start to complain about something, I am often reminded that God hears this and I often stop myself from complaining about the situation and start praying instead.)   8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against HIM: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.   9 And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for HE hath heard your murmurings.   10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.  

"""Death Blows Over"" SHROUD Pax Nocturna ""Compulsion To Regurgitate"" + ""Colorectal Cancer"" SICK SINUS SYNDROME Split w/EAT THE DECAY" ""Blasphemer"" EGATALIPSI Blasphemer ""Idiots"" OUST A Girl Can Dream" "Death Reckoning"" SKUMSTRIKE Flawless Intrigue ""Blasphemic Assault"" RAZORVOID Into the Void" ""Rise and Fall"" HUMULUS Smuggler's Cave ""Fall of the King"" CEIFADOR Preface To Mortem Part II" ""Head"" SUFFERING QUOTA Sisyphean Life ""Black Flame of Samael"" WELTGEIST Alliance Under A Black Flame" ""Third First World"" + ""Truth In the Lie"" DESTRUCT Deafen & Disarm ""Ashes of the Promised Land"" NECRO BLADE Dim the Light of Faith" ""I Hate the Smell of Crust Punx"" DISPARO! Get Confident Stupid ""Life's A Drag"" MASSDEAD New World Hoarder" 1990 EXTREME METAL ALBUMS ""Changing of the Guard"" EXODUS Impact Is Imminent ""Revel In Flesh"" ENTOMBED Left Hand Path" ""Burning Bridges"" RAZOR Shotgun Justice"" ""Phallic Tantrum"" CELTIC FROST Vanity / Nemesis"

Pastor Dana's new sermon series begins in Joshua 1:1-9, where God reassures Moses' successor Joshua that He will be with them as Joshua leads Israel to the Promised Land, telling them to be strong and courageous and follow the laws He laid out to them. This promise comes as part of our relationship with God. God is faithful so we can trust Him even in uncertainty and obey His commands when it's difficult.

Today's Bible Verse: "These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan... He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience." — Judges 3:1–2 Judges 3:1–2 reveals an unexpected truth about God's character. After Israel entered the Promised Land, God allowed certain nations to remain—not because He had abandoned His people, but because He wanted to test them and teach a new generation to trust and depend on Him. What looked like a setback was actually an opportunity for spiritual growth. Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Member today: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/ Looking for a peaceful way to end your day? Listen to "Your Nightly Scripture" to end your day with God's word Meet Today’s Host: Jennifer Slattery Discover more devotions with Jennifer at Your Daily Bible Verse on LifeAudio Jennifer Slattery is a national speaker and multi-published author, She’s passionate about helping believers live with bold faith, rooted in surrender to Christ’s purpose. Jennifer co-hosts both Your Daily Bible Verse and Faith Over Fear, encouraging listeners to step into their God-given identity. Her teachings blend Scripture with personal insight to help others embrace God’s power over fear and move forward with confidence.

We delve into the conquest of the Promised Land under Joshua's leadership. Following Moses' final speech and his death, Joshua leads the Israelites in miraculous victories, starting with Jericho and Ai. The episode explores the challenges and triumphs faced by the Israelites, including the deceitful alliance with the Gibeonites and the miraculous intervention of God with hailstones and the sun standing still. Joshua's campaigns in southern and northern Canaan establish Israel's dominance, beginning to fulfill God's promise of land. Before his death, Joshua apportions the land among the 12 tribes and narrowly avoids civil war.Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @realbiblebriefX: @biblebriefFacebook: @realbiblebriefEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.orgWant to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out our partner Biblingo (and use our link/code for a discount!): https://biblin...

Red Rocks Worship didn't start with an artist dream. It started with a disagreement over song sets. When the church opened a second campus, the worship leaders couldn't agree on what to sing. So they started meeting to pray together, and songs came out of that room. In this conversation, Tyler Roberts unpacks how a logistics problem became a songwriting movement, how a church with campuses in Colorado, Texas, and Belgium manages the tension between creative freedom and alignment, and why he stays open handed with a team where people come and go. Tyler is a founding member of Red Rocks Worship, worship pastor at Red Rocks Church, fifteen years in, with the new record Promised Land out now. The thread underneath it all: the strongest worship teams aren't the ones that sound the best. They're the ones that are unified. Unity starts with a team that shows up prepared. Worship Online gives every member the exact parts, charts, and setlists to walk into rehearsal ready, so your time together builds the team instead of fixing it. Start at https://worshiponline.com     Mentioned in the Episode  Promised Land – Red Rocks Worship  If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! Also, shoot us an e-mail at podcast@worshiponline.com. We want to know how we can better serve you and your church through this podcast.  Don't forget to sign up for your FREE 2-week subscription to Worship Online at WorshipOnline.com!  The Worship Online Podcast is produced by Worship Online in Nashville, TN. 

 In this continuing episode, Dr. Ray explains how to reach the place you were called to be, do what you were created to do, and thereby find your contentment, fulfillment, and purpose.  Jer 32:21 -22 'You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey.   Help Dr. Self continue this show - partner at www.icmcollege.org/donate  Answer your call by enrolling with the International College of Ministry at www.icmcollege.org/enroll  Purchase Dr. Ray's latest book, "The Call." God called you, and you answered: this is what you need to know! Click Here  Follow and subscribe to Self Talk with Dr. Ray Self on our podcast website: https://www.icmcollege.org/selftalk.   Click here to purchase Dr. Self's book – Hear His Voice, Be His Voice, or visit Amazon.com. Click here to purchase Dr. Self's book – Redeem Your Past and Find Your Promised Land, or visit Amazon.com. Or our new podcast website at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2249804   For show topic suggestions, email Dr. Ray Self at drrayself@gmail.com Enjoy free courses offered by the International College of Ministry Free Courses Show host bio - Dr. Ray Self founded Spirit Wind Ministries Inc. and the International College of Ministry. He holds a Doctorate in Christian Psychology and a Doctorate in Theology. He currently resides in Winter Park, Florida. He is married to Dr. Christie Self and has three sons and a daughter. 

When the Babylonian captivity finally ended, the returning remnant didn't find a pristine Promised Land—they found cracked foundations, burned gates, and a pile of rubble. If your faith, your marriage, or your sense of identity currently feels like a collection of broken stones, Ezra and Nehemiah provide the ultimate masterclass on how to reconstruct what has been destroyed. Summary: In this powerful episode, we delve into the twin narratives of Ezra and Nehemiah, books that historically stood as a single text detailing the painful, beautiful work of restoration. We map this journey onto the psychological and spiritual landscape of construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction, discovering how the Lord uses common, unnamed people to do the heavy lifting of the kingdom. The Temple and the Wall: We analyze why Ezra focuses on rebuilding the temple (our spiritual center) while Nehemiah focuses on rebuilding the walls (our behavioral boundaries). You cannot safely have one without the other. The Tears of the Ancient Men: We step into the emotional complexity of Ezra 3, where the shouting of the young blends with the weeping of the old. Discover how beauty emerges from ashes when we confront our history with absolute honesty. Samaritan Sabotage: We break down the subtle tactics of Sanballat and Tobiah—the "counselors" hired to frustrate the work through a war of words rather than an open military conflict. Learn how to navigate modern historical half-truths and secular critiques. The Trowel and the Spear: We dissect Nehemiah's defensive strategy, where workers built with one hand while holding a weapon in the other. We explore our modern duty to build up testimonies while defending the kingdom from relentless intimidation. Saying "Oh No" to Ono: We confront the modern trap of diversion. Nehemiah was targeted with invitations to negotiate in the plain of Ono, but his response stands as a timeless shield against worldly distractions: "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down." The Historical Prayer: We unpack the breathtaking Levitical prayer in Nehemiah 9, tracing how God consistently answers Israel's structural rebellion with manifold mercies, reminding us that He never closes shop on a repentant soul. Call-to-Action: Nehemiah refused to flee into the temple to save his own skin, recognizing that true covenant leadership requires us to stand our ground with a clear conscience and trust the Master. When the modern adversaries of faith tell you that you are trying to "revive stones out of a heap of rubbish," how do you keep your mind focused on the work? Let's build a meaningful dialogue in the comments below. To keep your gospel foundation structurally sound and "Unshaken," please like, subscribe, and share this video! Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:33 Destruction & Reconstruction 11:49 Prequel to the Return from Babylon 19:00 The Decree of Cyrus 24:50 Returning Remnants & Family Trees 38:07 Rebuilding the Temple 51:49 Hindering the Work 1:13:51 Overcoming Opposition 1:27:21 Ezra & the Second Return 1:46:15 Godly Sorrow for Sin 2:16:23 Changing Our Ways 2:35:06 Nehemiah's Prayer of Repentance 2:45:33 Dealing with Depression 2:57:48 Rhetoric & Ridicule 3:08:34 Lift Where You Stand 3:16:24 Ringing the Bells of Hell 3:29:16 Trowel and Sword 3:43:46 Breaking Economic Bonds 3:49:43 Saying "Oh No" to Ono 4:06:53 Reenthroning the Scriptures 4:15:03 A Historical Prayer 4:28:50 Sealing & Resettling 4:35:01 Remembered by God 4:40:22 Conclusion

0:00 - Jerry Jones said he's open to trading assets/draft picks for a big acquisition. What is Jerry looking to add? Not to be too blunt, but is Jerry realizing he's running out of time? Can he get them Cowboys back to the Promised Land before he goes?15:55 - Brett says Aaron Gordon is going down a similar path to Blake Griffin in one particular aspect: health.After that, Notre Dame is entering the patch game! They'll display SoFi patches on the front of their jerseys, netting them $18-20 million per year. That's more money per year than the Big 12 is getting from Monster for the naming rights to the conference. College football has always been about the Haves and the Have Nots. It's more evident today than it's ever been.35:35 - Oh, by the way...Death. Taxes. Moser hopping on the Chargers offseason hype train.Oh, by the way...Plaxico Burress recently said that playing for the Jets and going to prison were basically the same. Sheesh!Oh, by the way...we've reached the "Players Not Showing Up to Camp & Holding Out for Bigger Contracts with More Guaranteed Money" part of the NFL calendar.

He spoke to God face-to-face. He spent 40 days in the thick darkness of His presence. Yet, one single moment of frustration cost Moses the very thing he spent his entire life working toward: the Promised Land. If the man who delivered the Law couldn't keep it perfectly enough to enter, what chance do the rest of us have? In this video, we dive into the prophetic reason behind God's seemingly harsh decision. The answer lies in the rock Moses struck, the man who replaced him, and the beautiful moment centuries later when Moses met Grace face-to-face. Support Rise on Fire Ministries by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/rise-on-fire This podcast is powered by Pinecast.Read transcript

The Milwaukee Brewers are once again leading the NL Central, but can this year be any different from past campaigns that have come up short of the ultimate goal? I delve into what has made the Brewers successful so far this season and what they need to do to be successful come October.Thanks for listening!

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9 Biblical courage is not bravado or self-confidence. It is faithfulness rooted in the presence and promises of God. That kind of courage matters in every area of life—including the way we handle money. Following Christ may require us to give when we would rather hold tightly, resist cultural pressures, act with integrity when compromise would be easier, or obey God when doing so comes at a personal cost. Dr. Craig Bartholomew, Director of the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge, England, joined the show today to close out our Financial Virtues series to explore the virtue of fortitude and what it means for faithful stewardship. More Than a Moment of Bravery When we hear the word courage, we may picture dramatic acts of bravery. Scripture certainly includes those moments. Joshua needed courage as he prepared to lead Israel into the Promised Land. But fortitude is broader than courage in a single crisis. It is resilience. Resolve. Endurance. The Christian life is less like a sprint and more like a marathon. Fortitude is the strength to continue following Christ over a lifetime—to remain faithful not only in dramatic moments, but also through the ordinary decisions, pressures, disappointments, and temptations we encounter every day. That distinction matters because some of the most important acts of courage in our financial lives may never look heroic to anyone else. It may mean living below your means when everyone around you is upgrading their lifestyle. It may mean refusing a dishonest opportunity even when the money is attractive. It may mean continuing to give generously when fear tells you to hold tighter. Fortitude is the courage to keep choosing faithfulness. When Money Becomes Our Security Money has a way of exposing what we fear. We fear not having enough. We fear an uncertain future. We fear losing the lifestyle we have built. We may fear falling behind others or disappointing the people around us. But the deeper question is this: Where have we placed our security? If our identity, security, or sense of worth rests primarily in wealth, then anything that threatens our finances can begin to threaten our sense of self. That is a burden money was never meant to carry. Scripture continually redirects our trust away from created things and toward the Creator. Money is a good gift and a useful tool, but it makes a terrible foundation for our identity. Christian fortitude begins by remembering who we are and whose we are. Our ultimate security is not found in the size of an investment account, the value of a home, or the stability of an income. It is found in God, who promises to remain faithful to His people. That does not mean financial losses or uncertainty become easy. It means fear no longer has the final word. Jesus Shows Us What Courage Looks Like Jesus gives us the clearest picture of true fortitude. At the beginning of His public ministry, Satan tempted Him in the wilderness, offering shortcuts to power and glory that would bypass the path of suffering and obedience. Jesus refused. He remained faithful to the Father and continued toward the cross. His courage was not merely displayed in one final moment. It characterized His entire life—a steady obedience to the Father regardless of the cost. That same pattern should shape His followers. Money can easily become one of the competing loyalties of our hearts. Jesus repeatedly warned about the spiritual danger of wealth when it moves from being a tool we steward to a treasure we worship. Money must remain in its proper place. Fortitude helps us keep it there. Generosity Requires Courage One way we loosen money's grip on our hearts is through generosity. Giving shifts our attention away from ourselves and toward God and our neighbors. Rather than asking only, “What can this money do for me?” generosity teaches us to ask, “How might God use what He has entrusted to me to serve someone else?” Sometimes that requires real courage. Giving can confront our desire for control. It can challenge our instinct to accumulate more before deciding we finally have “enough.” It may require us to trust God with what happens after we release what we have been holding. But generosity reminds us that life is not ultimately about us. As we put God first, He turns our attention outward—to the neighbor down the street, the family facing hardship, the ministry serving people in need, or even someone across the world whose circumstances are far different from our own. Fortitude gives us the courage to hold God's provision with open hands. The Courage to Choose Integrity Fortitude also matters when faithfulness costs us financially. There may be moments when telling the truth threatens a business opportunity, refusing to compromise means walking away from profit, or acting justly puts us at a disadvantage. Those moments require more than good intentions. They require discernment to recognize what is right—and courage to do it. Our culture constantly communicates messages about success, wealth, status, and power. Christians must learn to examine those messages carefully rather than simply accepting the assumptions around us. Not everything profitable is good. Not everything financially advantageous is wise. And not everything considered normal in our culture is consistent with following Jesus. Fortitude enables us to remain faithful when obedience becomes costly. Courage Is Cultivated in Community Christian courage should never become another form of self-reliance. We can be extremely determined about the wrong things. That is why fortitude must be shaped by wisdom, discernment, prayer, Scripture, and Christian community. We need other believers who can help us recognize blind spots, challenge our assumptions, and remind us of what is true when fear begins to distort our perspective. This is especially important with money. Financial decisions can be complex, and our hearts can easily rationalize what we already want. Wise counsel helps us discern where genuine stewardship ends and where fear, greed, pride, or self-interest may be taking over.  The goal is not simply to become more resilient. It is to become resilient in following Jesus. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction Most of us will face moments when courage is urgently required. But much of Christian fortitude is formed in thousands of smaller choices. Choosing generosity again. Choosing integrity again. Choosing contentment again. Choosing to trust God again. Faithful stewardship is not built through one extraordinary financial decision. It is shaped over a lifetime of ordinary obedience. That is fortitude: not the absence of fear, but the courage to remain faithful because we know the One who is with us wherever we go. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: What's the process for setting up a trust for my children, and do I need an attorney to do it? Is it best for a husband and wife to share a checking account? If so, how can we manage it well and avoid conflict? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Ecclesiastes (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament) by Dr. Craig G. Bartholomew Money and Marriage God's Way by Howard Dayton FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough?  Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

God will keep every promise He ever made to you. He will not fulfill your potential. That part is on you.If that makes you uncomfortable, good.We've been handed a soft version of faith. Just believe, and God does the rest. Sit back. Let go and let God. It sounds humble. It sounds spiritual. And it's leaving good men stranded.Because there's a difference between a promise and your potential, and almost nobody teaches it.In this episode I walk through:Why the Bible reads like a graveyard of men who had the calling and still died short. Moses on the mountain, looking at a Promised Land he never entered. A whole generation that died in the desert. The servant who buried what he was given and got called wicked and lazy.The line that changes everything: God's promises are guaranteed. Your potential is not.Why Paul says work out your salvation with fear and trembling, and in the same breath, for it is God who works in you. Both. Take out God's part and it's self-help. Take out yours and it's wishful thinking.The two ways a man forfeits his potential. Passive, waiting on a feeling and calling it faith. Or presumptuous, grinding in his own strength and calling it ambition. Both die short of the land.This is not a call to strive harder on your own steam. It's a call to move with God, and to move now. He made you for dominion. To cross the river and take the territory with His hand on your shoulder.The version of you on the other side of that river gets a little further away every year you don't cross. Someday is where potential goes to die.New episodes every week on biblical masculinity, Christian manhood, calling, and what it takes to become a Kingdom Driven Man.FREE DOWNLOAD: Built to Dominate breaks down the 3 lies that keep driven Christian men stranded on the wrong side of the river. Get it here: https://www.standard59.com/freeSubscribe if you refuse to die in the desert.Lead. Fight. Win.

Send us Fan MailDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

Terah set out for the Promised Land but stopped halfway and settled in Haran, and the same thing that stopped him, heartbreak, disappointment, and exhaustion, is still stopping people today. In this message, we explore what makes us quit on God, our calling, and the life He has for us, and why settling for comfort is one of the greatest dangers to our purpose. Just like Abraham picked up where his father left off and finished the journey, it is not too late to get moving again. Get a word from God, take everything you have, dedicate it all back to Him, and keep moving forward.

Send us Fan Mail"God Wills" - Deus Vult. When the Israelites were promised the Promised Land - they discovered that every promise has problems... enemies to conquer. And demon idols to completely tear down and remove from the land. God has directives for us today as well - and we dare not allow sin or compromise or self-righteous pride to live in the life God is calling us to, today. Deus Vult - we are called to live for God's glory and will!

The Pirates of our Times   Huge! This Changes Everything! Secrets Revealed! The Real Reason… ALL CAPS! What You're Not Supposed to Know About… Something That Shouldn't Exist… See Recipe in Comments Below[1]     Is this what it takes to get our attention now?   You would think so. When we search through YouTube looking for a favorite news outlet, we now slog through sensationalist titles and AI-generated title pages that entice us to view by showing extreme emotions: anger, fear, distress, shock.   Not comforting, is it?   It's a weekly challenge for me when I try to choose a graphic that authentically represents the content of the teaching. At some point I think we have to admit that no matter how intriguing the title or graphic, mostly the same people will read and the same people will delete. Probably at most, an especially intriguing title will cause a tiny percentage of people to open an email who normally delete it. We are becoming more wise…or perhaps fatigued…with sensationalist content.   The ability of AI[2] to offer us not just curated viewing, shopping, music, or social media posts, but to communicate with us like an actual person in Customer Service chats or Chat GPT, creates an illusion of an interested and caring person we know. How cool is it that YouTube lets me know when a new beading or archaeology video is released?   Honestly, though, it's digital machinery that has been fed immeasurable amounts of data. As I found out last week, it's also been fed pirated books (Creation Gospel workbooks!) and videos (Creation Gospel videos!). The AI in turn cheerfully offers the information free to seekers.   There was a foreshadowing of this back in 2003 when we first went online with www.israelnet.tv, offering teaching programs from some of the best-known Messianic teachers of the day. Our tech guy contacted us and said he was watching someone download multiple programs simultaneously in real time. This was in spite of clear copyright cautions. We only had permission from the teachers to stream to our audience, not to re-distribute the programs for personal use.   With a little bit of investigative work, we tracked down the email address of the pirate. My burning question was, what kind of person steals Bible teaching? There's much more lucrative content out there. Bible teaching? Really?   I sent the faceless Torah pirate an email, and kindly but firmly explained that we knew he was downloading copyrighted programs. I also explained that we did not have permission to distribute the material randomly; we were only licensed for the specific use on Israelnet.   Instead of an apology, the pirate went into the old trope: The Bible doesn't belong to anyone. It's free. Bible teaching should be free.   Pretext.   Aaargh, matey!   Sure the Bible is free. They're in the top drawer of any hotel nightstand. An institution known as the Gideons gives away free Bibles. Most people have an extra copy they'd be happy to give away. But there was a reason Yeshua chose one of the disciples to carry the donation money bag.   Even though Yeshua was quite handy with multiplying loaves and fishes, they had to eat.   Relying on miracles instead of working is not the Scriptural example. Miracles are for when we reach the limit of human skill, access, or knowledge.   In my reply to the gentleman pirate, I agreed that the Bible is free. In fact, our Creation Gospel programs and workbook royalties are designated to support Torah-based orphanages, not pay salaries. My husband and I had full time jobs, so we didn't rely on donations to pay the grocery bill or car payment. We donated our time and money. Other teachers, however, were full time ministers. They needed the income to support their ministries and families.   Not being as handy with loaves and fishes as Yeshua, they had to eat.   At the least, if this gentleman wanted to re-distribute the teachers' programs, then he should obtain permission like Israelnet did. He should explain why the costs the teachers incurred, such as travel, studio, equipment, utility bills, (our streaming T-1 line back then was $1000 per month!), software, etc., was okay for him to remove from their pockets because he knew better than they did to whom their teaching and production work should be disseminated.   So in our times, AI developers are free to redistribute all the intellectual property it can consume, even apologizing for not listing everything due to “copyright rules.” It's like nodding and saying “no” at the same time.   It's not something we'll change, however. In fact, it's so incorporated into our daily activities that it's probably impossible to disconnect unless we go off-grid. We're being sluiced down that funnel faster and faster. The current Western trend toward socialism and communism is a symptom. The pirate's reasoning that all Biblical content should be free is rapidly expanding. We feel entitled to confiscate anyone else's hard work because it's the “moral” thing to do. Share. Lift up the downtrodden. Love your neighbor.   Sometimes we feign asking permission by passing onerous laws to tax and take property. Others simply take without permission and know that the wealth from it will more than equip them to face their accusers in court by the time it makes it that far. The ultimate settlement is calculated as the cost of doing pirated business. The Author's Guild reports that the median annual income from book sales is just $15,000 for full-time authors. We're not all John Grisham. The authors are never going to recover the income they've lost to pirates and AI even when the case makes it to court.   Yes, I agree. Love your neighbor as yourself.   But what about “Thou shalt not steal”? That's in the Bible, too.   Pretext.   Yes, that's what the Torah calls it.   A pretext is when we make up a reason to conceal the actual reason we do or don't do something. Pretext tends to spread like wildfire. We'd all like to avoid confronting our own fears, failures, laziness, aggressiveness, greed, or apathy if someone can come up with a pretext that sounds way better than “my fear,” “my laziness,” “my aggressiveness,” or “my greed.”   Numbers 11:1-6 is an example of a pretext:   “Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp… The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”   The fire started with a taste for free meat and fish. This was the pretext. They even invented facts to go with the pretext: we ate free fish in Egypt; we have no appetite.   The opposite was true. The fish wasn't free in Egypt. Even the straw for the bricks they had to find for themselves. They did, too, have an appetite. The ignoramuses even listed all the things they were craving.   The manna, the Word of Heaven was not tasty enough for their uncontrolled, greedy appetites.   It helps to know what preceded the complaining. For the first time, the organized camp moved with the Tabernacle, following the Ark of the Covenant and expected to give feet to the commandments they'd learned:   “So they moved out for the first time according to the commandment of the LORD through Moses.” (Nu 10:13)   The Israelites had entered a new stage of responsibility in their walk to the Promised Land. No longer newly-saved milk-dependent babes in the wilderness, they had multiple commandments in which to walk. They were now organized by camp, directed by leadership. There was no map to their journey, only the Ark that traveled ahead looking for the place for them to rest.   When we don't know exactly what lies ahead, we often look back. What we see when we look back takes on a glory and sheen that it never had when we were living it. Truth be told, we were miserable. But those reconstructed memories and invented facts make great pretexts.   Our present challenge is more than just leaking away of intellectual property or orphanage funds through pretexts or outright theft. Like I said, we won't stop this flood until Yeshua returns. There's no way to separate out an answer on a search engine that was stolen versus one that was taken from an open source. Our present challenge is more than just clickbaiting viewers or listeners to read, watch, or listen to a program when they have thousands of choices each day.   Let's put the two together.   We are in a transition period. We hear the footsteps of Messiah. We also know that the period just preceding his return is one of chaos, turmoil, war, weather phenomena, family conflict, rebellion, and mass confusion.   In the middle of this, a remnant is called out of that darkness in the “wilderness of the peoples.” What we feel as tribulation is really just a test. Tribulation is for the unrepentant. Yet, we, too, become scared, nervous, anxious, and angry. We're not sure we know how to follow the Ark. Organization? The Beast uses those! Help!   Yes, the Beast is full of cravings and greedy desires. He does use organizations to clickbait and entice us, to offer us any pretext for complaining about the journey. To overwhelm us with “free” choices: Cucumbers? Fish? Melons? Garlic? Onions? Pick me! Pick me! I love free!   All our choices do cost something no matter the pretext or the truth of the Word. The only free thing is our salvation. After that is a wilderness journey of learning, and each lesson costs us some effort. And unlike the wilderness of the first Exodus, this Greater Exodus doesn't come with a visible Moses or a leadership appointed by him. This is a bit scarier because it's more than a bit greater than the first one! (Je 16:14-15; 23:7-8; Is 43:16-19)   You know what? I used AI to look up those verses faster than I could on Logos. I don't think AI is the Beast. It's a tool, but we need to know how to and how not to use it, just like we need to know how to use and not use the organizations to which we belong or which we use. We don't put faith in government, medicine, recreation, education, or any other system. We use them, but they will ultimately fail…repeatedly. They are tools, but they are not the Kingdom. We must recognize where they fail and use them wisely where they are honest and successful.   While the wicked and lukewarm world with no clear direction enters this stage of confusion that precedes the Kingdom, knowing only an indiscriminate throwing off of every yoke, we are to walk with clarity. Training in the Word equips us, calms us, balances us.   This is why I know that trying to find the most enticing graphic or clickbait title is not going to get lots more people to open a newsletter. In fact, statistics tell me that fewer than 50% even open the weekly email.   People are weary and wary. When they do open those links that imply they HOLD THE NEXT GREATEST SECRET CONSPIRACY, they already anticipate that it will under-deliver.  They know we're overrun with the pirates of our time. It's kind of like those sea monkeys I ordered from the back of a comic book when I was seven years old. I still have no idea what that cloudy mess was, but the ads made me think something alive, mysterious, and fascinating could be had for the cost of postage and few bucks.   And I get it.   I, too, have to search for ways to promote books like Scorpions Ascent or a conference, to politely ask the readers or viewers for a minute or two to consider whether the book or event is a good fit for them. I don't want to be a time pirate, yet on the other hand, if we don't do something to attract the eye, the message is shouted down by edgier content producers. At what point do we become a time pirate? These are wilderness dilemmas, but Yeshua goes ahead of us so we won't get lost.   My prayer is that we are quietly growing a trained remnant that doesn't need superlatives, all caps, world-shaking prophecy insights, and carnival ride doctrines. They are faithfully collecting tasty manna in the Torah portions each week. They don't need pretexts to justify their lust for the doctrinal carnival rides because they are not afraid of walking in the chaos Scripture warned us would accompany the period before Yeshua's return.   AI can only appear to know you by your first name. It cannot know you at all. It is data programmed to identify your habits captured either legally or illegally by analyzing your keystrokes, questions, searches, and preferences. The upside is a quick search for a simple, non-life-changing question. The downside is that from now until Yeshua comes, we will not likely know for sure what images or voices are real. Oh yeah, that's in the Bible, too.   A minister of pretext doesn't really know you, either. He or she knows human fears, greed, cravings, laziness…even the good desire to do righteous things for your neighbor. The minister of pretext's bait draws out the “rabble,” sharing confusion and darkness because they feed one another half-truths that become whole lies. In the end, it consumes them together. It doesn't bear the fruit of righteous things. He's a pirate who baits our scroll…em…scrolling time.   As we navigate this greater exodus, let us deliver what the apostles of Yeshua delivered and what Moses and the leaders in the wilderness delivered. Truth. Truth still matters.   A human being doing the honest work of the Kingdom can hold truth and the good of others at the same time. It can give without stealing. Truth can be firmly upheld without being unkind. It can make manna tastier than anything from The French Laundry.   That is something the world desperately needs right now. Real human beings unafraid of the giants, robots, and raging, confused nutters. Strong, yet gentle messengers of Yeshua aren't driven by their own fears, but by the good news promises of the gospel. They may not remember where you shopped online six months ago or that you like loom beading videos, but they know you are the Father’s treasured possession. This kind of knowing becomes a comfort to others:   For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness—nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Th 2:3-8)   Isn't this a great passage Paul wrote to comfort the Thessalonians? These are words of relationship, not something Paul asked AI to write for him. Even back then, the recipient of a letter could sniff out a genuine letter from AI. A pastor who loves the flock is a gift from above AI will never duplicate.   This Shabbat is “Shabbat Nachamu,” the Shabbat of Comfort that follows the fast of Tisha B'Av. The readings for the weeks following are also comforts that the destructions will someday come to an end, and the hard work of walking through the chaos and confusion of the wilderness will come to an end.   The great thing about the Ark seeking out a resting place for the Israelites three days' journey ahead of them in the wilderness? It is said that its cloud lifted up the low places, leveled the high places, and killed the scorpions and snakes in their path. It shaded them from the heat or cold. The journey was nothing to be afraid of, nothing  for which they needed to collect pretexts beforehand for failures. They were being afforded the comforts they would need even through the challenges of the journey.   It was those on the fringes the cloud had expelled for complaining who were consumed by the fire. It's way bumpier and hotter out there where the cover of the clouds of glory is thin. The Presence of the Father can also sniff out a reluctant traveler on this journey. Leave the pretexts out there in the fire with the pirates, and report to your place in the cloud.   Complaining is the opposite of comforting. Complaining is the opposite of comforting. Complaining is the opposite of comforting.   “'Comfort, O comfort My people,' says your God. ‘Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.'A voice is calling, ‘Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together;' for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Is 40:1-5)     [1] The recipe in Comments will be a link that ka-chings the content provider's account and takes you to a “recipe page” that buries the recipe within dozens of ads. Clickbait. [2] Fun Hebrew/English Coincidence Fact: The first AI pirate: in Hebrew: ?????, Ai means “heap of ruins.” It was a Canaanite city located just east of Bethel. It was the site of a major battle in the Book of Joshua. At first, the Israelites were defeated because a warrior named Achan (“troubling, troubler”) took treasure and hid it. After Achan was put to death, Joshua led a successful military ambush to capture and destroy the city. Pirates of Ai are in a heap of trouble. Please SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to get new teachings.

It's time to stop playing to victim! We have agency to pursue God by faith and believe for His promises in our lives. Often, however, we're behaving like the Israelites did when they got a bad report about the Promised Land: "But God, there's giants in the land!" It's time to combat the spirit of fear and believe God at His Word! Let's study together.Foundation Stones, Volume 2 - Buy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/069E4xWQSupport the show

Today on our Genesis series, we follow Jacob's journey into Egypt as God fulfills His promises in unexpected ways. Though Jacob settles in the best land Egypt has to offer, he never forgets that it is not his true home. In this episode, Pastor Matt explores how the life of faith is marked by living as strangers in this world while longing for the better country God has prepared. Together we'll see that what believers willingly forsake for Christ will be restored beyond imagination when Christ returns, and why Jacob's final request to be buried in the Promised Land points beyond Canaan to the hope of new creation. As Christians, we don't merely bury our dead—we plant them in hope, trusting that what is sown in weakness will be raised in glory. This passage challenges us to live today with eternity in view, investing not in what fades, but in what has eternal value.

Moses spent his life moving toward the Promised Land, yet never entered it himself. It's one of the most surprising and poignant endings in Scripture. If life hasn't unfolded the way you hoped, if some dreams remain unfinished, or if you're learning to trust God with outcomes beyond your control, this final chapter of Moses' story may be exactly what you need.

In Numbers 13–14 and Joshua 14, we follow the life of Caleb, a man who walked by faith and not by sight. While the other spies saw giants, fortified cities, and reasons they couldn't, Caleb believed the promise of God. The Israelites had many reasons for not entering the Promised Land, but God gave only one: unbelief. Forty-five years later, Caleb is still following the Lord fully. At eighty-five years old, he declares, "Give me this mountain," because his confidence was never in his own strength but in the strength of God. He didn't let fear, doubt, or circumstances determine his faith. He started with faith and let it lead his sight. When we walk by faith, giant challenges lose their power, faith reframes the facts, and our weakness becomes His strength. Whether you've stopped walking, grown weary, or you're ready to take the next step, God is calling you to trust His promises. When Jesus returns, may He find us walking.Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/0jU1qlfDlLcSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zkLearn more about us at chestnutmountain.orgFollow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_

Jericho: The God Who Keeps His Promises  Joshua 6 The story of Jericho reveals God as the perfect promise keeper, faithful to fulfill His Word in His perfect timing. His faithfulness calls us to trust while we wait, obey while He works, and continue following even when we cannot see the outcome. Sermon Preached by Steve DuBransky on July 26, 2026 Foothill Church exists to glorify God by living as disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus. https://foothill.church

Every journey with God includes moments of stepping into the unknown. In this message, Joy Skidmore explores the literary theme of Crossing the Threshold through Joshua leading Israel across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Discover how God's presence, our obedience, and a life of consecration and remembrance prepare us to step into His promises with faith, courage, and trust.Reflection QuestionsExamine your daily/weekly rhythms. Do you need to make adjustments so that you can fully enjoy being in God's presence without time pressure or interruption?Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a specific place in your life that needs consecration. What do you need to actively surrender to God so that He can refine you and build you up in His holiness?Where is God asking you to stand in the river? Will you do it?Who can you tell this week about the wonders God has done in your life and in His Word?

Introduction: Why is Complaining So Serious? (Numbers 21:1-9) Because It INSULTS GOD . (Num 21:1-5) Because It INFECTS OTHERS . (Num 21:4-5) Because It INFLICTS A PENALTY THAT MUST BE PAID . (Num 21:6-9) John 3:14-15 - “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? God, I give you thanks for... ____________________________________________________ Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! For Our Example: Ancient Warnings for the Church Today - Do Not Be Complainers Taylor Brown Download Audio Transcript 00:48Numbers chapter 21.00:53Do you ever suffer from decision paralysis?00:57Trying to figure out what to watch on a Friday night, and you end up spending the whole night scrolling through all your various streaming services because you can't figure out a movie to watch?01:08You and your family have decision paralysis about where you're going to go on vacation next year, the lake, the beach, a road trip across America.01:17You and your spouse have no idea where to go for your next date night. Do you know where I experience the greatest sense of decision paralysis? The Cheesecake Factory. Has anyone else ever been there? Does anyone want to guess how long their menu is? 21 pages. 21 pages.01:47on those 21 pages. Over 250. That's insanity. There are so many good options to choose from. Whenever I'm in that booth, I have decision paralysis. I don't know what to pick. I don't know what to eat. I felt that same exact way that I always feel in the Cheesecake Factory booth as I decided what to preach on this morning.02:16This is the final week of our latest series for our example, Ancient Warnings for the Church. Today, we have been digging into the books of Exodus and Numbers and learning from the negative example of the Israelites and receiving warnings from God Himself. Warnings like, do not be idolaters. Do not be doubters. Do not be fake repenters. This morning, we will receive our fourth and final warning.02:45Do not be complainers. So why did I experience decision paralysis as I was planning out this series and this sermon in particular? Because there are so many stories of the Israelites complaining in Exodus and Numbers. Their complaint menu is long and extensive. There are so many options to choose from.03:15their work harder in Egypt. In Exodus chapter 5 verse 21. They complained at the Red Sea. In Exodus 14. 11 through 12 that they would die. And they finally shut up whenever God rescued them. They complained about food and water in Exodus 15. Exodus 16. Exodus 17. Numbers 11. Numbers 20. The people complained about how hard their lives were in Numbers 11 verses 1 through 3. And as a result, some of them were consumed by fire from heaven. And number 16, a group is not happy with God's choice of leadership and they rebel against Moses and Aaron. They grumble, they complain. And as a response, God opens up a sinkhole and swallows the rebels. A much more serious sinkhole than the one outside Passman Hospital a few weeks ago.04:14People are very upset. They think Moses is the one who killed these rebels. They complain. And then God kills those complainers with a plague from heaven. Do you see why I suffered decision paralysis? There are so many options to choose from on the Israelite complaint menu. What about your complaint menu? Is it short and almost non-existent? Or is it long?04:44and extensive.04:47If I asked you to list all the things you complain about, would that be difficult for you?04:53Would it be difficult to filter out all the options, to list out every single thing you complain about because you complain about most things in your life?05:02Or maybe you even complain about everything in your life.05:07Complaining may seem like small potatoes compared to idolatry, doubting, and fake repentance, but it isn't. Complaining may seem like a small issue, but it isn't. It is a big deal. It is a serious issue that you need to take seriously right now. It is a serious issue that I need to take seriously right now. Thankfully, I eventually overcame my decision paralysis.05:40And I forced myself to make a decision. I settled on the last recorded example of the Israelites complaining in the book of Numbers. Numbers chapter 21 verses 1 through 9. This passage shows us why complaining is so serious and how we can take it seriously moving forward. So let's go to the Lord and ask for his help. Let's ask the Lord that we would take our complaining seriously and we would take his word very seriously as well.06:10Go to the Lord in prayer. Father, there is not a single person in this room or watching online who can say that they did not complain this past week. And the same for me. Lord, we are so sorry that we complain so often. We are so sorry that we often do not recognize Your goodness in our lives.06:40We walk out of this service with a renewed desire to worship you and give you the thanks that you deserve. We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen. So why is complaining so serious? Why is complaining so serious? Reason number one, because it insults God. Because it insults God.07:10I know that many of you have been in and out of service over the past month so let me give you an idea of where we are in Israel's history they have been rescued from slavery in Egypt and many of them survived worshipping the golden calf at Mount Sinai two weeks ago we studied a sad story of doubt the Israelites refused to go into the promised land they chose to trust themselves more than God and as a result God gave them a consequence The Grumbling and Complaining Older Israelites will never ever see the Promised Land. They will die during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The younger generation will see the Promised Land. It will take 40 years to see that come true. Last week we focused on the Israelites' response to this bad news. They tried to take the Promised Land by force against God's wishes.08:10for them? Not at all. They were quickly defeated and they were sent away. Now we are fast forwarding in time and we're picking up their story near the end of the wilderness wandering. The older generation is fading away and the new generation is replacing them. Let's see if the new kids on the block do any better than the older generation when it comes to complaining. Look at verses 1 through 3 of chapter 21.08:40When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Otharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive. And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction. And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.09:10The Canaanites pick a fight with the Israelites, which leads to the defeat of the Canaanites. God is giving His people a preview of what their conquest of the promised land will look like. It looks like a new day is dawning. It looks like the Israelites have turned over a new leaf. It looks like they are closing the book on their disobedience. And they are starting a new chapter of obedience.09:39Maybe not so much. Check out their response to God's victory. The victory that God gave them in verses 4 through 5. From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses. Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is no food and water and we loathe this worthless And we're back.10:14It looks like the apple hasn't fallen very far from the tree.10:17New generation, same old sins.10:21The Israelites are impatient again.10:23They are accusing their leaders again.10:26They are complaining again.10:30At its core, complaining is dissatisfaction with God and His good gifts to you.10:38Complaining is an unspoken thought or a spoken word of dissatisfaction with God and His good gifts to you. And that's what the Israelites are doing here. They are complaining. They are acting like God hasn't done anything for them lately. They are completely ignoring His provision in the past and in the present. The Lord just showed up for them in a huge way in their battle against the Canaanites. God could have chosen to sit this one out, but He didn't.11:08He could have sat on the sidelines and did nothing, but He didn't. He gave them victory. And all along their journey in the wilderness, food and water has miraculously been provided for them. More on that in a minute. These are the facts. But the Israelites have forgotten the facts. They have lost sight of their many blessings. Very often, spiritual defeat comes right on the heels of spiritual Spiritual Victory. One minute the Israelites are riding high after the defeat of the Canaanites, and the next minute they are down in the dumps. They are feeling sorry for themselves. They are moaning and groaning about what they do have and what they do not have. You realize the same trend happens to you and me as well. Spiritual defeat often follows Spiritual Victory. You're on the mountaintop, and then you're down in the dumps. You tend to sabotage yourself after God helps you, after God blesses you greatly. You forget the facts. You lose sight of his many blessings. You moan and you groan about what you do have and what you do not have. You and I complain. Yes, this complaining in the wilderness is an ignoring of God's past and present provision, but it's even worse than that. It is an utter insult to God. It is a slap in his face. It is an attack on his character and reputation. Look again at what they say in verse 5. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, why have you brought us up out of the land of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.13:08This first reminds me a lot of my son, Sam. Whenever he finds out that he's about to be served his least favorite meal, which is my favorite meal that my wife makes. Chicken with ranch potatoes and green beans. I love that meal. Sam does not feel that way at all. When he asks his mom, what are you making for dinner? And she breaks the news to him. He complains before he eats it, as he eats it, and after he eats it.13:43It's the same for the Israelites in this passage. God's best is not good enough for the Israelites. Let's go through their list of grievances to see what is not good enough for them. God brought us up out of the land of Egypt to die in the wilderness. Really? That is your view of what happened. God rescued you from back-breaking labor, slavery in Egypt.14:08He was your personal GPS who led you with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He annihilated the Egyptians whenever they chased after you. He led you through dry ground on the Red Sea. Really? That's your view of what God was doing? He brought them to the edge of the promised land where they blew it. They chose not to go in. They chose to doubt Him. That was their fault, not God's.14:38I'm sure none of us in this room or watching online can relate to complaining about circumstances that we have brought upon ourselves. Next grievance. For there is no food and water. Seriously, over and over again, God has miraculously taken care of them. Water from a rock. A literal quail storm that rains down quail from the sky. Manna. Miraculous manna.15:07every single day. All they have to do is bend over and pick it up. But again, that is not good enough for the Israelites. That's their last grievance. We loathe this worthless food. The Israelites view this miraculous manna as monotonous manna. They walk out and are like, manna again? God, can't you do something better for us? Can't you give us something that tastes better? Can't you at least give us, like, nachos?15:37or Flamin' Hot Manna, can't you do something different for us? Come on, I'm sick of this. The gift that used to look good seems pretty bad right now. The blessings that they used to give thanks for seem like curses to them. God's best is no longer good enough for them. You know, at times, God's best doesn't seem good enough for you and me.16:08The gifts that used to look good seem pretty bad right now. The gifts that you used to give thanks for seem like curses right now. You and I can look like those miserable people in those memes that say something like, me at the job I prayed to God for. Or me parenting the kids I asked God for. We're just so unthankful for what God has given to us. The things that we begged Him for and asked for now we can't stand them maybe god has blessed you with friends and fellow christians who love you and care about you but you make it clear to everyone who will listen that they don't do enough for you they don't reach out to you enough they don't make enough of an effort you say that you're just telling it like it is but you know what you're doing you are complaining and insulting god Maybe God's blessed you with a means of providing for your family, but you constantly think negative thoughts about every single aspect of your job and you constantly say negative things about your boss and your coworkers. You say that you're just venting, but you know what you're doing. You're complaining and insulting the Lord.17:29Maybe you are very quick to point out how your family does not meet your high expectations.17:35You are very quick to critique and to lash out.17:40You say that you're just being honest, but you know what you're doing.17:44You are complaining and insulting the Lord.17:49Here's a big one for me.17:51Maybe the Lord has blessed you with a house that you constantly rattle off things you hate about.17:58You constantly talk about other people's houses and how they're way better than your house. Again, you say you're just venting, but you know what you're doing. You're complaining and insulting the Lord. Here's the thing. You cannot insult a gift without insulting the giver of the gift. You cannot grumble about the blessings of God without grumbling against the God of the blessing.18:29Your complaining is serious because it insults your God. Why is complaining so serious? Second reason, because it infects others. Because it infects others. As I studied this past week, I couldn't stop thinking about the origin of this complaining. How did it start? Who did it start with? We're told this in verses 4-5. The people became impatient along the way, and the people spoke against God and Moses. This is a communal sin that must have started at an individual level. While they are wandering in the wilderness, the germ of complaining, the germ of grumbling, begins in the mind. It begins in the mind of individuals, and then it exits the mouth. It starts in the mind something like this.19:27I can't believe we're doing this again we're wandering in circles again this is so stupid and so senseless it's so hot out my throat is so dry my stomach is eating itself the germ of grumbling starts in the mind and then it quickly exits the mouth individuals begin to vocalize their thoughts as they walk sit around the campfire at night and lay in their tents personal protesting turns into corporate complaining It snowballs very quickly and gets out of control. That's how complaining works. It doesn't just stay with you. During the school year, my kids bring home a variety of viruses and illnesses. When one of my kids is stricken, it's just a matter of time before all of us are stricken. One sore throat turns into four sore throats. A solo cough turns into a family.20:27In my house, viruses are easily caught. Sickness effortlessly spreads. The same goes for complaining in your house, your workplace, and even this church. Grumbling is a sinful virus that is easily caught. Complaining is a sickness that effortlessly spreads. One grievance turns into an unending list.20:57of grievances. One complaint invites another complaint. One person complaining leads to many people complaining. It only takes one complainer to infect your small group and this church. Are you patient zero? Are you a contagious complainer who corrupts your home.21:30Are you a contagious complainer who corrupts this church?21:37You have to understand that more than just your health is at stake.21:41The health of your family is at stake.21:43The health of harvest is at stake.21:48Would you purposefully sneeze in someone's face after service and intentionally spread your sickness to them?21:57Would you do that? You answered that way too slowly. I'm going to stay away from all of you after service. Would you purposefully sneeze on someone and intentionally spread your sickness? Okay, I guess I'll shake your hand after service. Then why would you purposefully grumble and intentionally infect someone else with your spiritual sickness? That should be as unthinkable. That should seem as rude.22:26as literally sneezing in someone's face.22:31It's infinitely more destructive than physically passing on a cold or a fever.22:37Deal with the germ of grumbling when it first pops up in your heart.22:41Do not give it room to breathe.22:45Your complaining is serious because it sickens your soul and infects the people you care about the most.22:54Why is complaining so serious?22:55third and final reason. Because it inflicts a penalty that must be paid. Because it inflicts a penalty that must be paid. The Israelites don't want God's best, which results in a serious penalty in verse 6.23:21Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people so that many people of Israel died. The Lord has responded to Israel's complaining with a lot of creative penalties in the past. A plague, a fireball from heaven, a literal sinkhole, but He reserves His hardest and most challenging penalty for this act of complaining.23:50fiery serpents. And no, this doesn't mean that the snakes are on fire like flamethrowers. It means that they have bites that inflict severe inflammatory pain. These bites don't just hurt you. These bites kill you. These snakes slither into the camp, bite many of the Israelites, and many of them die. The new generation of Israelites quickly change their tune. They go from complaining to crying, Look at verse 7.24:24And the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned and we have spoken against the Lord and against you.24:30Pray to the Lord that he take away the serpents from us.24:35So Moses prayed for the people.24:40Once again, Israel messes up big time.24:43And once again, Moses stands in the gap and intervenes to them.24:46He prays for the Lord's mercy.24:49And once again, the Lord responds to his request. And he gives his mercy to his people who do not deserve it. What is the method of the Lord's mercy? You see it in verses 8 through 9.25:19and live. Does this method of mercy seem odd to you? It's kind of a strange way to be healed, right? You know, the guys in my small group went to an all-we-can-eat wing night this past Wednesday. It was a lot of fun, but I gotta tell you, the last thing I wanted to see after eating 24 wings was another plate of wings in front of me. My stomach wasn't feeling very great. Doug can tell you he was there.25:49But imagine if the waitress came up to me and said, oh, your stomach hurts. I have just the thing for you. Here, eat some more wings. That'll make you feel better. What? No, get those things away from me. I don't want that. That method of healing my stomach wouldn't make sense to me. Again, the last thing I want to see after eating all those wings is more wings. On a human level, the bronze serpent solution seems as crazy as the just eat more wings solution. It doesn't seem to make much sense. The way to be healed of your snake bite is to look at a fake snake on a pole. I'm guessing the last thing the Israelites wanted to see after being bitten by snakes is another snake. Why does God choose this method of mercy and healing? Why does God go this route? Because it requires faith.26:49of human wisdom and acceptance of divine wisdom. It requires a rejection of self and a deep trust in the Lord. To be clear, the bronze serpent is not a magic trick. The fake snake has no healing properties of its own. The healing comes through looking. The healing comes through trusting. Faith is the method of salvation and forgiveness. Faith is the method.27:19of healing.27:21The Israelites have a choice in this moment.27:23They have two options.27:25They can pay the penalty of their complaining on their own.27:29They can refuse to look at the serpent and die.27:32Or they can in faith look to the serpent and live.27:36They can obey God's command even though it doesn't make sense.27:42Those are the only two options available to them.27:47And you may be thinking, this is all super interesting. But what does this random snake story from over 3,000 years ago have to do with me and my complaining today? Well, you and I must understand that every single sin is a complaint against our Creator. Every single sin we commit is an act of discontentment. And this goes back to the very beginning.28:16with Adam and Eve. They were tricked into believing that God's best was not good enough for them. They were tricked into believing that something more satisfying must be on the other side of disobedience. Eating that fruit was an act of discontentment and complaining. Adam and Eve communicated a loud and clear message to God that we've been talking about this entire sermon. God, your best is not good enough for us and we want better.28:46All the sins we have studied over this past month find their root in discontentment. The Israelites are expressing their discontentment to God by committing idolatry, by doubting His promises, by refusing to genuinely repent, by complaining about His provision. They are shouting, Lord, Your best is not good enough for us.29:16same message to God every single time that we sin. Your sins are acts of discontentment and complaining. The penalty for insulting a good and perfect God is eternal death. The penalty must be paid by someone. The penalty must be taken care of by someone.29:45Do you know that this bronze serpent story isn't a random and isolated incident in the Old Testament? Do you know that the bronze serpent pops up in the New Testament as well? Jesus makes it crystal clear that this bronze serpent points forward to himself. It points forward to the most important person, the most important event in human history. The bronze serpent points forward to Christ and his sacrifice upon the cross.30:15Look at what Jesus says in John 3, 14-15.30:19And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.30:32Like the Israelites, you have two options.30:36You can pay the penalty for your complaining on your own, or the penalty for your complaining can be taken care of by looking to Jesus Christ in faith. By believing that His death is enough for your forgiveness and cleansing. By believing that God's best is all that you need. There is no option C. There is no third way. There is only trusting in yourself which leads to eternal death in hell. Or there is trusting in Christ which leads to eternal life.31:13in heaven.31:17Charles Spurgeon was one of the greatest preachers of the 1800s.31:21I'm sure you've heard him quoted and misquoted many times in church.31:24Every single time a pastor shares a quote in church, it's either Spurgeon or C.S. Lewis.31:30But Spurgeon came to Christ as a teenager when he stumbled into a random church during a snowstorm.31:37And the preacher that morning wasn't particularly gifted or eloquent, But the Lord used that sermon to grab ahold of Spurgeon's heart and save him. At one point, the preacher looked directly at him and spoke to him in the sermon. And Spurgeon describes it this way. Just fixing his eyes on me as if he knew all my heart, the preacher said, Young man, you look very miserable. Well, I did, but I had not been accustomed to have remarks made from the pulpit on my personal appearance before. However, it was a good blow.32:11struck right home. He continued, and you will always be miserable. Miserable in life and miserable in death if you don't obey my text. But if you obey now this moment, you will be saved. Then lifting up his hands, he shouted, young man, look to Jesus Christ. Look, look, look. You have nothing to do but to look and live. I saw at once the way of salvation. I know not what else he said. I'd not take much notice of it. I was so possessed with that one thought. Like when the bronze serpent was The people only looked and were healed. So it was with me.32:45I had been waiting to do 50 things.32:47But when I heard that word, look, what a charming word it seemed to me.32:51Oh, I looked until I could have almost looked my eyes away.32:54There and then the cloud was gone.32:56The darkness had rolled away.32:57And that moment I saw the sun.32:59And I could have risen that instant and sung with the most enthusiastic of them of the precious blood of Christ and the simple faith which looks to Him alone.33:09Oh, that somebody had told me this before. Trust Christ and you will be saved. Friends, look to Christ and live. Trust in Christ and be saved. Have you looked yet? Have you trusted yet? If you haven't, there is no time like the present. Next year may be too late. Next month, may be too late. Tomorrow may be too late. Now is not too late. Now is the perfect time. Look to Christ. Trust in Christ. You will be forgiven. Maybe you've already looked to Christ. Maybe you've already trusted in Christ. If you have, continue to look to Him. Continue to trust in Him. There is no other way to grow.34:09There is no other way to fight against the germ of grumbling when it pops up in your heart. Whenever you are tempted to complain, look to Christ who suffered, bled, died, and bore the wrath of God for your discontentment. Look to Jesus and never forget that God gave you His best. He gave you His own Son so that you could be His son or daughter.34:39forever.34:42When you are tempted to complain about anything, remember the words of Romans 8.32, He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?34:57You have been given everything in Christ.35:01What more is there to strive for?35:03What more is there to gain?35:05What could this world possibly give you that compares to what God, has given to you? Nothing.35:13What is there to complain about when God has given you everything that He has? Nothing.35:21Your complaining is serious because it inflicts a penalty that must be paid.35:28I hope and pray the penalty for your complaining has been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.35:37The worship team can now make their way forward. It's so easy to walk away from a sermon series like this and say, you know what? I'm going to buckle down and I'm going to stop committing idolatry. I'm going to stop doubting. I'm going to stop fake repenting. I'm going to stop complaining. Well, that's great to hear. But what will take the place of those unproductive sins? Sin loves evacuations.36:07If you do not replace an unproductive sin with a productive discipline another sin will just rush in and take its place For right now let's focus on complaining What will you replace complaining with?36:24What will you replace grumbling with?36:28Thankfully the Bible gives us the clear answer You are to replace complaining with thanksgiving You are to replace grumbling with gratitude But as Pastor Jeff often says It's not enough just to feel thankful You need to actually give thanks And I'm going to give you the opportunity right now On the bottom of your outline There is a fill in the blank prompt that says God I give you thanks for Fill in the blank I want you to fill in the blank for what you are most thankful for right now. Be very specific because specific praise honors God's specific blessings. Write down what you are thankful for. The Thanksgiving party doesn't end here. Now we are going to give you an opportunity to share what you are thankful for with the rest of the congregation. I'm going to have a microphone. One of our elders, Brian B., he's also going to have a microphone. And we ask you to come down one of the aisles.37:34and to share one sentence with us. Fill in the blank. God, I give you thanks for fill in the blank. I guarantee that you will not regret giving thanks to God and sharing that blessing with the entire congregation. So come forward if you would like to share. Let's stand and continue to thank the Lord together. Small Group DiscussionRead Numbers 21:1-9What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Why is complaining such a big deal?What do you tend to complain about the most and why?What are you thankful for right now?BreakoutPray for one another.

This message is based on Genesis 13:14-17. God told Abram to lift his eyes and to look northward, southward, eastward and westward in order to see the land that God had given him. We have to lift our eyes from where we presently are to be able to beyond where God is taking us. For Abram it was the Promised Land. For us in the New Covenant it is the promises that God makes to us in Jesus Christ.  

Episode Summary Judson and Janna Shoultz recount how a group of teenagers faced their fears and shared the gospel in mosques and other places of worship during a missions trip to Muslim communities in Michigan. Connecting their experiences with Israel's crossing of the flooded Jordan River in Joshua 3–4, they show that God often waits for His people to obey before He opens the way. This Faith Talks episode challenges young people to recognize the specific step God has put before them and to trust Him enough to take it. Topics Discussed Israel's crossing of the flooded Jordan River in Joshua 3–4 Teenagers sharing the gospel in mosques in Hamtramck and Dearborn, Michigan Developing a genuine burden for Muslims, Hindus, and others without the gospel Bringing the Bible into difficult gospel conversations The influence of Scripture and the Holy Spirit in a new believer's life Everyday steps of faith in witnessing, giving, prayer, and Christian obedience Key Takeaways Faith acts on God's direction before the circumstances change. God can use teenagers to speak biblical truth with courage, compassion, and clarity. Seeing spiritual darkness firsthand can deepen a believer's burden for lost people. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit equip believers for conversations that feel beyond them. A first step of obedience can become a defining moment that makes future steps easier. Faith does not merely talk about trusting God; faith walks into the water. If you've been encouraged by this podcast, please take the time to give us a five-star rating and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the Thee Generation for others. For more faith inspiring resources and information about joining Thee Generation, please visit theegeneration.org.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a calling, uncertain about the future, or afraid you weren't enough? In today's Crosswalk Devotional, we reflect on Deuteronomy 31:8, where God promises to go before His people, remain with them, and never leave or forsake them. His presence doesn't always remove our fears—but it gives us the courage to move forward in faith. Just as Joshua was called to lead Israel into the Promised Land, we often face assignments that feel bigger than our abilities. Yet God never calls us to walk alone. He goes before us, prepares the way, provides what we need, and faithfully holds us through every challenge. Our confidence is not found in our own strength, but in the God who never lets go. Highlights: Discover how Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us that God goes before us and never abandons His children. Learn why God's presence gives us courage even when we feel inadequate or afraid. Be encouraged to trust that God equips those He calls to fulfill His purposes. Understand how Joshua's story points to the confidence we can have in God's faithfulness today. Reflect on how fear loses its power when we remember God is already preparing the way. Find peace knowing your future rests in God's hands—not your own abilities. Join the Conversation Where is God asking you to trust Him in a situation that feels bigger than you? How does His promise to never leave or forsake you give you confidence to take the next step? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: How God’s Presence Strengthens Our Faith By Jennifer Slattery Bible Reading:The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” - Deut. 31:8, NIV When first invited to podcast, I wrestled with God for some time. I wondered why anyone would want to listen to me when there are so many other great podcasts from which they can choose. What if I was boring or ran out of things to say? But my biggest concern was that I’d make a fool of myself. I’d spoken to live audiences numerous times. People I could look in the face and respond to their cues. But speaking into a computer screen? Learning about all the technological elements felt a bit overwhelming. The more I prayed on this, however, the more the Lord made it clear that this opportunity came from Him. And that changed everything, because I knew, deep in my soul, when God assigns, He always provides everything we need to do all that He asks. More importantly, I also knew He would remain with me each step of my journey. Although that didn’t remove my insecurity, it gave me the courage to step into something that’s brought satisfaction and a lot of precious, prayerful moments with the Lord. Now, I realize my situation was nothing like Joshua’s. God gave this warrior-commander a massive assignment—to lead ancient Israel, a challenging group to say the least, into the Promised Land, an area occupied by powerful people groups with organized armies, living in fortified cities. And Moses, the man who had led them through many frightening situations in the forty years prior and who spoke with the Almighty face-to-face, wouldn’t accompany him. But Joshua wouldn’t be alone. The Lord would remain with him. He promised to go before Joshua—charting the way, removing what would hinder God’s purpose, and preparing him for everything he’d encounter. He also went ahead of His people in the sense that He’d already provided the blessing Joshua and the people needed to possess. Again, God had already given them the land, but they still had to actively take hold of it. They had to cross the Jordan River and engage in battle, but would do so from a place of victory. The Lord would never leave or forsake them. In the original Hebrew, one could phrase this as, “He will never turn His back on you, and He will never release His grip on your life.” He’s made that same promise to you. Intersecting Life & Faith: God is always moving closer, especially when you feel overwhelmed, insecure, or afraid, and He always keeps you locked in His loving gaze. That is why we don’t have to feel discouraged or afraid. Discouragement often rises when we realize something is beyond our control, and we lack the strength, clarity, or ability to fix whatever stands before us. But according to today’s verse, that will never be the case. We always have the power, presence, and provision of the Almighty Creator God with us. He goes before us, works within us, stands behind us, and surrounds us with His all-encompassing love. Fear often follows discouragement—it’s the what-if scenarios that flood our minds when we think about our sense of powerlessness. Faith grows when we remember that we’re not alone, nor must we navigate our problems on our own. We are always held, helped, protected, and empowered by the One who remains with us, fights for us, and has already secured our victory—your victory!—through His death and resurrection. This weekend, when stress or anxiety rise, pause and reflect on today’s verse. Let it remind you that your safety and future don’t rest on your ability to figure things out—God goes before you, remains with you, and faithfully leads you on the best path for your life. Remind yourself that your success and safety aren’t up to you. God’s got you. He’ll never turn His back or release His strong yet gentle grip on your life. And, if you’d like additional encouragement, I invite you to download my free resource: When Fear Hits: a 7-Day Reset for Anxious Hearts. Find it on my website’s freebie page. And may you live with the confidence and courage of one who is chosen, called, and empowered by the Almighty. Further Reading:Deuteronomy 31:1-8Joshua 1:1-9Exodus 23:20 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

If the Book of Kings (Sefer Melakhim) records the corporate fall of man (Israel) in the Promised Land, the Book of Chronicles (Divrei Hayamim) records the covenantal return of man upon a restored foundation. Covering much of the same historical ground, Chronicles is not a duplicate account but a theological re-presentation. Where Kings moves toward exile, Chronicles writes from the other side of it, asking not how the kingdom died, but how it can live again. The Temple and the Kings of Judah (2 Chronicles 1–36): Solomon builds the House, and the history of Judah unfolds as a single question: will the people seek the LORD at the place where He has set His Name? The northern kingdom largely recedes from view. The decisive moments are not military but liturgical: humility or pride, reform or neglect, seeking or forsaking. Here the logic is immediate and instructive: those who seek the LORD find Him; those who abandon Him fall. The Open Ending (c. 539 BCE): The book concludes, not with the destruction of Jerusalem, but with the decree of Cyrus: “Let him go up.” The final word is not exile, but invitation. The foundation remains. The way back is open. Authorship: Jewish tradition associates Chronicles with Ezra, and its language, priestly focus, and genealogical concerns place it firmly within the post-exilic scribal world reflected in Ezra and Nehemiah. Drawing on the same historical traditions as Kings, the Chronicler does not merely preserve the past; he reshapes it for a people who must now live again in light of it. Here, the author is no covenantal prosecutor. He is a theologian of return. His measure is not only whether Israel avoided the error of “YHWH-plus,” but whether they have learned, through judgment, to seek the LORD with a whole heart and to order their life around His presence. History here is not only the record of a fall, but the meaning of that fall, now known in the wisdom of the return.

Parashat Va-et'hanan [Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11] features the Ten Commandments and the 1st paragraph of the Shema, to which we customarily refer as the Shema and Ve-ahavta. There are also a number of p'suqim [verses] which made their way into the liturgy. And there is still more. For example, the discerning reader/listener will note that part of the reading will seem familiar, due to the fact that it is the Tisha B'Av morning reading. Off hand, I believe this is the only time a Shabbat Torah Reading includes a Torah Reading for a special occasion earlier in the week. Despite the richness of the parashah, we spent most of our time talking about Tisha B'Av, the Jewish national day of mourning, since we recorded Thursday afternoon. Near the end we worked in the parashah, discussing Moses' final plea to God to be allowed to enter the Promised Land. With Tisha B'Av now behind us, we look forward to Shabbat Nahamu [haftarah from Isaiah 40:1-26, which has its own riches]. We have progressed another major step toward the High Holidays, little more than seven weeks away. Shabbat Shalom! Please note that we will not be recording next week. Our next scheduled Parashah Talk is for Re'eh, the week of August 8th. Stay tuned!

In this show, Dr. Ray explains why you are consistently discontented. The answer lies not only in purpose but also in place. The show will identify the problem and how to overcome it. Jer 32:21 -22 'You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey.   Help Dr. Self continue this show - partner at www.icmcollege.org/donate  Answer your call by enrolling with the International College of Ministry at www.icmcollege.org/enroll  Purchase Dr. Ray's latest book, "The Call." God called you, and you answered: this is what you need to know! Click Here  Follow and subscribe to Self Talk with Dr. Ray Self on our podcast website: https://www.icmcollege.org/selftalk.   Click here to purchase Dr. Self's book – Hear His Voice, Be His Voice, or visit Amazon.com. Click here to purchase Dr. Self's book – Redeem Your Past and Find Your Promised Land, or visit Amazon.com. Or our new podcast website at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2249804   For show topic suggestions, email Dr. Ray Self at drrayself@gmail.com Enjoy free courses offered by the International College of Ministry Free Courses Show host bio - Dr. Ray Self founded Spirit Wind Ministries Inc. and the International College of Ministry. He holds a Doctorate in Christian Psychology and a Doctorate in Theology. He currently resides in Winter Park, Florida. He is married to Dr. Christie Self and has three sons and a daughter. 

If you think your flaws and failures automatically make you a better, more "authentic" leader, you've completely misunderstood the lesson of Moses. Most civilizations turned their founders into saints. The Hebrew Bible does the opposite. Abraham falters. Jacob deceives. David sins. Moses—the greatest prophet in Judaism—is denied entry into the Promised Land. This isn't a bug in the Torah. It's one of its most revolutionary ideas. In this episode of Madlik, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz explore why Judaism insists that greatness and imperfection can coexist—but never confuses failure with virtue. Along the way they examine the Torah's portrait of Moses, the Beatitudes, Isaiah, Jonathan Sacks, Nahum Sarna, David Flusser, Martin Luther, Bret Stephens, and the surprising connection between biblical leadership and today's culture of authenticity, victimhood, and populism. Can a society acknowledge human weakness without celebrating it? That question may be as relevant today as it was in the wilderness. Key Takeaways The Torah Tells the Truth About Greatness - Unlike most ancient cultures, the Hebrew Bible doesn't turn its heroes into flawless saints. Moses, Abraham, Jacob, and David are remembered in all their greatness—and all their humanity. Their failures don't diminish them; they make their greatness credible. Flaws Are Lessons, Not Credentials - Judaism teaches us to acknowledge weakness, learn from it, and overcome it. There is a profound difference between recognizing imperfection and celebrating it. The Torah preserves failure to cultivate humility—not to make failure itself a virtue. Leadership Is Measured by Character, Not Victimhood Moses never reaches the Promised Land, yet he remains Judaism's greatest leader because of his faithfulness, courage, and willingness to serve a mission larger than himself. In an age that often confuses authenticity with virtue and grievance with authority, the Torah reminds us that true leadership is earned by responsibility, not by imperfection alone. Timestamps [00:00] Flawed Heroes Thesis [01:14] Parsha Setup and Welcome [02:07] Moses Pleads to Enter [04:37] Rav Lachem Midrash [06:49] Vetchanan and Human Limits [07:43] Mythic Moses Rejected [11:02] Sacks on Mortality and Mistakes [18:31] Flaws Versus Virtue [19:11] Beatitudes and Isaiah [25:58] Essenes and Poverty Ideal [31:09] Modern Populism and Privilege [32:58] Closing Shabbat Shalom Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/739882 Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/  

If the Book of Kings (Sefer Melakhim) records the corporate fall of man (Israel) in the Promised Land, the Book of Chronicles (Divrei Hayamim) records the covenantal return of man upon a restored foundation. Covering much of the same historical ground, Chronicles is not a duplicate account but a theological re-presentation. Where Kings moves toward exile, Chronicles writes from the other side of it, asking not how the kingdom died, but how it can live again. The Temple and the Kings of Judah (2 Chronicles 1–36): Solomon builds the House, and the history of Judah unfolds as a single question: will the people seek the LORD at the place where He has set His Name? The northern kingdom largely recedes from view. The decisive moments are not military but liturgical: humility or pride, reform or neglect, seeking or forsaking. Here the logic is immediate and instructive: those who seek the LORD find Him; those who abandon Him fall. The Open Ending (c. 539 BCE): The book concludes, not with the destruction of Jerusalem, but with the decree of Cyrus: “Let him go up.” The final word is not exile, but invitation. The foundation remains. The way back is open. Authorship: Jewish tradition associates Chronicles with Ezra, and its language, priestly focus, and genealogical concerns place it firmly within the post-exilic scribal world reflected in Ezra and Nehemiah. Drawing on the same historical traditions as Kings, the Chronicler does not merely preserve the past; he reshapes it for a people who must now live again in light of it. Here, the author is no covenantal prosecutor. He is a theologian of return. His measure is not only whether Israel avoided the error of “YHWH-plus,” but whether they have learned, through judgment, to seek the LORD with a whole heart and to order their life around His presence. History here is not only the record of a fall, but the meaning of that fall, now known in the wisdom of the return.

In this episode of IsraelCast, Steven Shalowitz sits down with author, policy advisor, and Israel advocate Aryeh Green to discuss his new book, Finding Peace in the Promised Land. Drawing on decades of experience in public diplomacy, policy, and regional engagement, Green presents a new approach to resolving the Arab Israel conflict through five transformative principles: humility, acceptance, gratitude, forgiveness, and purpose. Green explains how these ideas were inspired by his personal experiences and expanded through years of working to promote freedom, democracy, and stronger relationships across the Middle East. The conversation explores the role of education, religious leadership, media, governance, and grassroots engagement in creating the conditions for lasting peace. Green also reflects on the lessons of the Abraham Accords, the challenges that continue to shape the region, and why meaningful change requires both courageous leadership and cultural transformation.

Wednesday July 22, 2026VIII Week After PentecostIn today's episode, we begin the book of Deuteronomy, where Moses reminds Israel of God's faithfulness and calls a new generation to trust and obey the Lord as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. In Romans 9, Paul wrestles with Israel's unbelief while magnifying God's sovereign mercy and His faithful purposes. In Matthew 23, Jesus grieves over Jerusalem, exposing empty religion while expressing His deep desire to gather His people to Himself. Together, these passages remind us that God is both holy and merciful, faithfully accomplishing His purposes while inviting us to respond with humble faith and wholehearted obedience.

On the next LEADING THE WAY AUDIO, Dr. Michael Youssef continues his series, YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT? Practical words of life-giving truth from the account of how God led and preserved Joshua in the Promised Land! (Joshua 11) Support the show: https://au.ltw.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 6, Episode 16 (Flashback to Season 5, Episode 16) - A flashback to a favorite in our series ⁠Exploring State Parks in the Poconos⁠. Jim explored ⁠Promised Land State Park⁠ which is in Pike County - not far from Interstate 84. We learned some great insights from Park Manager Sara Jade Woodsmith about the park's beach, campgrounds, history and more. We also paddled for a bit around the lake with Kara Derry, who's helped lead the new group ⁠Friends of Promised Land⁠. And we learned a lot about the history of the park, one of the oldest in the state and with ties to the New Deal programs.The Poconos is a year-round destination for millions and with 24-hundred square miles of mountains, forests, lakes and rivers with historic downtowns and iconic family resorts, it's the perfect getaway for a weekend or an entire week. You can always find out more on ⁠PoconoMountains.com⁠ or watch ⁠Pocono Television Network⁠ streaming live 24/7.

If the Book of Kings (Sefer Melakhim) records the corporate fall of man (Israel) in the Promised Land, the Book of Chronicles (Divrei Hayamim) records the covenantal return of man upon a restored foundation. Covering much of the same historical ground, Chronicles is not a duplicate account but a theological re-presentation. Where Kings moves toward exile, Chronicles writes from the other side of it, asking not how the kingdom died, but how it can live again. The Temple and the Kings of Judah (2 Chronicles 1–36): Solomon builds the House, and the history of Judah unfolds as a single question: will the people seek the LORD at the place where He has set His Name? The northern kingdom largely recedes from view. The decisive moments are not military but liturgical: humility or pride, reform or neglect, seeking or forsaking. Here the logic is immediate and instructive: those who seek the LORD find Him; those who abandon Him fall. The Open Ending (c. 539 BCE): The book concludes, not with the destruction of Jerusalem, but with the decree of Cyrus: “Let him go up.” The final word is not exile, but invitation. The foundation remains. The way back is open. Authorship: Jewish tradition associates Chronicles with Ezra, and its language, priestly focus, and genealogical concerns place it firmly within the post-exilic scribal world reflected in Ezra and Nehemiah. Drawing on the same historical traditions as Kings, the Chronicler does not merely preserve the past; he reshapes it for a people who must now live again in light of it. Here, the author is no covenantal prosecutor. He is a theologian of return. His measure is not only whether Israel avoided the error of “YHWH-plus,” but whether they have learned, through judgment, to seek the LORD with a whole heart and to order their life around His presence. History here is not only the record of a fall, but the meaning of that fall, now known in the wisdom of the return.

What does Tisha B'Av ask of us after October 7? Tisha B'Av is the saddest date on the Jewish calendar, but Rachel Goldberg-Polin argues it also offers hope and opportunity. In a conversation shaped by the personal and collective trauma of October 7, she explains why Jewish tradition gathers centuries of loss onto a single day, why it compels us to look inward, and how mourning is meant to become the first step toward repair. Rachel's suggested reading:  This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation by Rabbi Alan Lew ___ Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going. Become a Subscriber - Inside Call me Back This episode was sponsored by Birthright: Invest in the Jewish future today at onetripchangeseverything.com. ____ In this episode: - Why Tisha B'Av became Judaism's day of mourning -  The original national failure: The spies and the Promised Land,  - The centrality and importance of the Temples we can't comprehend - Sinat chinam and the danger of baseless hatred - Why Jewish tradition looks inward after catastrophe - How Tisha B'Av is observed and why the rituals matter - Rav Kook's answer: from baseless hatred to baseless love - Finding hope, repair, and "yet" after grief More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to Ark News Daily Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What's Your Number? Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer's book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Ryan Lohr, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Anchor Passage: (Numbers 26-27; 36)The second generation of God's people stands on the edge of the Promised Land, counted in a census after their parents died in the wilderness. Right in the middle of that list of names, five daughters step forward with a bold request, asking to be included in the inheritance of land for God's people. Join us as we discover what the outcome teaches us about who is included in God's promise today!

In JT's Mix Tape #89, JT is joined by Brian of Demon Erasers and Aaron of Tune Thy Heart to examine the growing problem of “conspiracy slop.” The conversation begins with CERN and the latest Mandela Effect claims before moving into celebrity alien videos, demonic imagery in children's entertainment, deceptive social-media advertising and the spiritual cost of sacrificing truth for influence. The guys also confront sensational stories spreading through Christian deliverance and supernatural podcasts. Are these testimonies leading people toward Jesus—or creating fear, pride and dependence upon self-appointed deliverance ministers? Finally, the discussion turns to theories connecting America with Egypt, ancient Israel and the biblical Promised Land. Could America contain remnants of the Old World, or are creators forcing biblical geography to fit viral narratives?In this episode:CERN and the newest Mandela Effect claimsThe difference between being wrong and knowingly lyingWhy false information spreads so quicklyJames Franco's alleged “alien” videosThe demonic symbolism surrounding the MinionsHow social media rewards deceptionChristian deliverance ministries and spiritual fearKatie Souza's supernatural claimsChrist's authority over demonsKathie Lee Gifford's appearance on Blurry CreaturesThe corporatization of independent podcastsWas ancient America connected to biblical Israel?Utah, Judah, the Red Sea and Mount NeboEvidence surrounding Mount Sinai and Sodom and GomorrahHow to explore mysteries without abandoning discernmentThe goal isn't to mock everyone who gets something wrong. We have all changed our minds and corrected past mistakes. The real issue is whether truth still matters once a false story begins generating money and attention. Watch early and uncensored episodes on Patreon, support the show through Modern Roots Life, grab JT Follows JC merchandise and learn more about social-media coaching through the Echoes of Truth Network using the links below. Question for the audience: Where is the line between honest speculation and irresponsible conspiracy content?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jt-s-mix-tape--6579902/support.Please support our sponsor Modern Roots Life: https://modernrootslife.com/?bg_ref=rVWsBoOfcFPatreon: https://patreon.com/JT_Follows_JC?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkJESUS SAID THERE WOULD BE HATERS: https://jtfollowsjc.com/product-category/mens-shirts/JT's Hats: https://jtfollowsjc.com/product-category/hats/Coaching Program: https://www.echoesoftruthnetwork.com/joinTelegram Group: https://t.me/jtsmixtapeNew Trucker Hat: https://www.shopmmca.com/shop/p/jt-follows-jc-hat

Artificial Intelligence continues to infiltrate every aspect of life including the pulpits of America’s churches. On In The Market with Janet Parshall this week, tech expert Doug Smith was back to explain how more and more pastors are turning to these programs to prepare sermons and why we should be concerned about programs designed to become addictive. Israel continues to be the focal point of word’s ire and Jim Scudder explained why there is an ongoing spiritual war against the Promised Land and its people. Aaron Armstrong explained why so many believers do not live in the true transformative power of their faith and how to get back to a relational faith with God that opens the door for life altering change. On July 30th, 1945, the Japanese sank the U.S.S Indianapolis. Of the 900 cast in shark infested waters only 316 survived. One of those survivors, Edgar Harrell joined us to share his harrowing account of that event and how his faith sustained him during one the worst naval disasters in history. Join Janet & Craig for another exploration of the headlines through the lens of God’s unchanging word.Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week takes us to Summer tour 1976 - to the first night of a six night run on the home turf of San Francisco California for a delightful show at the intimate Orpheum Theater on July 12, 1976.  'The Music Never Stopped' provides a fine and fitting opener as the boys return to the stage on the West Coast following their hiatus from touring and the completion of 'Blues for Allah' and an East Coast swing.  This first set is filled with old favorites colored with new tempos and some very sweet jams. Some of my favorites include 'Tennesse Jed' (here included from an audience recording), 'Row Jimmy', 'Lazy Lighting into Supplication' and a short but sweet 'Deal'. We'll listen to set 2 next week with more 'new' material included....    Grateful Dead Orpheum Theatre San Francisco, CA 7/12/1976 - Monday One The Music Never Stopped [5:23] Brown Eyed Women [4:25] Cassidy [4:05] Tennessee Jed [8:27] New Minglewood Blues [4:22] Candyman [7:04] Looks Like Rain [6:26] Row Jimmy [9:33] Lazy Lightnin' [2:55] Supplication [4:46] Deal [4:37] The Promised Land [4:08] You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:   https://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod071726.mp3   My thanks for your kind support my friends 

Today's Bible Verse: "I will not drive them out before you; they will become traps for you, and their gods will become snares to you." — Judges 2:3 Judges 2:3 comes after Israel failed to fully obey God's instructions when they entered the Promised Land. Instead of removing the influences that would lead them away from Him, they compromised. As a result, God warned that those remaining nations would become a source of temptation and spiritual struggle. It's a sobering reminder that our choices have consequences. Yet the story of Judges is not only about failure—it's about God's relentless grace. Again and again, God's people wandered from Him, and again and again, He responded with mercy, raising up judges to rescue and restore them. Their failures were real, but they were never beyond God's ability to redeem. Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Member today: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/ Looking for a peaceful way to end your day? Listen to "Your Nightly Scripture" to end your day with God's word Meet Today’s Host: Jennifer Slattery Discover more devotions with Jennifer at Your Daily Bible Verse on LifeAudio Jennifer Slattery is a national speaker and multi-published author, She’s passionate about helping believers live with bold faith, rooted in surrender to Christ’s purpose. Jennifer co-hosts both Your Daily Bible Verse and Faith Over Fear, encouraging listeners to step into their God-given identity. Her teachings blend Scripture with personal insight to help others embrace God’s power over fear and move forward with confidence.