Category: Understanding My Bible
Malachi: Honoring God in a Complacent Culture
In this episode, Whit and Casey discuss reverence, honor, and integrity in our relationship with God and others. Check it Out: Malachi is the last prophetic voice before the coming of Christ, bridging the Old Testament and the New. The book was written after the temple had been rebuilt and after the ministries of prophets…
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Joel: From Brokenness to Renewal
In this episode, Whit and Casey explore the prophet Joel, the importance of lament, the steps of genuine repentance, and how to create space for God to move in our lives. Check it Out: The book of Joel is one of the more ambiguous prophetic texts in the Old Testament. Scholars debate whether Joel was…
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Zechariah: The Role of The Holy Spirit
In this episode, Whit and Casey delve into Zechariah chapters 3 and 4, exploring the work of the Holy Spirit and what it means to be a living sacrifice. Check it Out: The book of Zechariah is rich with symbolism and prophetic imagery, and understanding these can sometimes feel overwhelming. Zechariah lived and ministered alongside…
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Habakkuk: Praying Honest Prayers
Prayer is not a place to be perfect; it's a place to be honest. In this episode, Whit and Casey explore the cultural context of Habakkuk, praying honest prayers, God’s relationship to evil, and our hope for the future. Check it Out: In the minor prophets, we often encounter verses we're familiar with, but we…
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The Day of the Lord: Understanding God's Judgment & Deliverance
By Meredith Lindaman Reading through your Bible plan, you may unexpectedly stumble upon this passage: Behold the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, To make the land a desolation And to destroy its sinners from it (Isaiah 13:9). Yikes! This certainly doesn’t show up on refrigerator magnets or in viral…
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A Guide to Understanding the Minor Prophets
By Angela Ekstrum Most of us are familiar with the epic life and legacy of Israel’s most renowned leader, Moses. We know him as the one who turned aside at the burning bush, when he received his divine call from God. He became God’s mouthpiece when he stood before Pharaoh and issued the infamous command…
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Ruth: Uncovering the Power of Vulnerability, Risk, and Story
In this episode, Whit and Lyndsey discuss the power of story, how to make sense of the seemingly risqué actions of Ruth, complete submission and vulnerability, and how it all points to Jesus. Check it Out: We are story-driven creatures. As humans, we have an insatiable appetite for stories. Think about it: how much of…
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Ruth & Naomi: Following God in Hard Times
Life doesn’t always turn out the way we hope or plan. When we face loss and disappointment, we may question if God is who He says He is. We can learn a lot about facing adversity from the story of Ruth and Naomi, who both lose everything they have but continue to move toward God.…
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Reading Ruth: What's Going on In The Old Testament
Getting the most out of reading the book of Ruth requires understanding what's going on in the rest of the Old Testament. Before reading a book like Ruth, it's important to ask some questions: Where does the book fall in the larger story of scripture? What was it like to live during the time this…
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How God Works Through People and Places
To read the story of Ruth as a romantic love story is to miss the full picture of God’s faithfulness in horrific circumstances. It is about love — but the covenantal, sacrificial kind of Ruth to Naomi and God to His people. In the second part of their conversation about Ruth, Whit and Casey explore…
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