Daily Devotional

[FaithfulWalker]

August 19, 2024 Monday

Revelation 7:9-17 (KJV)
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

The Great Crowd

David Jacobs

Have you ever met someone who recently converted to Christianity? When I attend church, I am often very interested in the stories of people who are new to the faith, and what led to them to eventually follow Christ. Revelation 7:9-17 shows us how really no matter what country we come from, what language we speak, or what our economic status is, we all share a love and belief in Christ which unites us. Even if we do not know those who stand in the crowd with us, we need to accept their pledge to Christ as valid as our own. "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." (Revelation 7:13-15).

There are those who have followed Christ their whole lives, and there are those who have only recently been cleansed in Christ’s blood. No matter what our past holds, if we fully accept God, we will be salvaged.

Prayer
When we encounter people who have recently started practicing their faith in God, it is up to us to accept and share our experiences with them. Remind them that it is never too late to embrace Christ and as we learn from Revelation 7:9-17, when we do, “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.” (Revelation 7:16). Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 20, 2024 Tuesday

Revelation 22:13-21 (KJV)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Home is where God is

David Jacobs

The new city of Jerusalem serves as a metaphor for each and every one of us. Outside of ourselves, there is a world full of sin (similar to outside the city of Jerusalem), and it is through our belief and trust in Christ that we are able to combat the temptations around us. When I was younger, I found myself amongst the “dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Revelation 22:15). It takes great strength and faith in God to turn to him in times of uncertainty and avoid the persuasions of sin.

In the Book of Revelation 22:13-21, we find that God repeats His promise that He is “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:13). These words are emphasized by appearing twice in the same passage. We should feel confident that God is all-powerful and that through Him, we can feel safe and free of temptation.

Prayer
During times in my youth, I was not living my life in a way that would have allowed me to stay in the new city of Jerusalem. I was easily tempted and often found myself giving into things that I knew were wrong. It was only through the guidance of Christ that I was able to tind my way back and live my life in a way that would allow me to find a place in the new city of Jerusalem.

Instead of listening to those that were guiding me wrong, I turned to Revelation 22:17: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” If we find ourselves thirsty, we need only to follow the word of Christ to quench it. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 21, 2024 Wednesday

Genesis 1:1-5 (KJV)
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Where it all begins

David Jacobs

One of my favorite things to do for entertainment is going to the movie theater. I know that is may seem trivial and a waste of money, but there is something about going to the theater that I have always enjoyed. This fascination may stem from childhood memories, remembering all the good times that I had at the movie theater with my favorite characters. Even today, I get so excited when the lights dim and you know that the movie is about to start. I am always excited to be there for where the movie will take me.

I get the exact same feeling anytime I read the first verses in Genesis, no matter how many times I have read them. Even right now, I get chills reading those verse for the millionth time (I may be exaggerating the exact number). Imagine if you had never heard of the Bible before and it was the first time you had ever read those words - how would you feel? The first five verses introduce themes that are important throughout the entire book: God and light is good; darkness is bad. Within a few sentences you know that God is good, light is good, and that God has created heaven, earth, water, light, darkness, day, and night. He goes on to create everything in between.

Prayer
As any Christian knows, however, our God is much more than our creator: He is the alpha and the omega, everything that is and always will be, and our Father in Heaven. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 22, 2024 Thursday

Genesis 1:26-31 (KJV)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

We are like God; God is like us

David Jacobs

The weekend. Most of us cannot wait for the weekend to come. Most of us work hard, many of us work jobs that we do not really love, and when we get home it is often followed by even more work. If only we could be more like God, we would not have to work so hard. Read these verses again and you will see that line of thought is wrong. We work hard just like our creator, God, worked hard. Just like us, God was pretty happy when the weekend came.

God created men and women in His image. We, like God, have to work! It is not a curse, it is just a fact of life. Even before sin enters the picture, before Adam and Eve take bites out of the apple, God is working. If He is working, we must certainly be working! God has dominion over all things, in heaven and earth, and we, in his own image, have dominion over many of the things on earth. It may seem like a curse, having to work so hard and feeling tired, but think of the alternatives: would you rather be an insect? A fish? A bird? Even a tiger? None of these beasts are made in God’s image. We are. We are the chosen few that get to experience what it is like to be somewhat like God. Every single day that we can work, we should be thankful that we have another day on earth, another chance to better understand ourselves and in turn, our creator.

Prayer
Almighty God, I am humbled by your creation! I am honored to witness all of the things that you worked hard to create. Humble me too, O Lord, so that like you, I can look at what you have created and feel the goodness in it. Lord, I pray that I can be part of that light, part of that goodness, to work to bring more light and good to your creation. In your name, I humbly pray. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 23, 2024 Friday

Genesis 3:1-7 (KJV)
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Fleeting or everlasting: which would you prefer?

David Jacobs

Ah, that clever serpent! If only he hadn’t convinced Adam and Eve to sin. How wonderful life would be…but wait, without sin and pain, how would we understand love and beauty? Without evil, would good exist?

In Genesis 1, God creates everything, including light and darkness (Genesis 1:2-5). Light is good, darkness is bad. Darkness existed, but temptation as we understand it in these verses, is not yet introduced. Adam and Eve were already created in the likeness of God, but they wanted more. They wanted to be even more like Him. It didn’t take much convincing from a creature that they did not even know, but the lure of temptation was too strong. Giving into their temptation, sinning, is rewarded with alienation, pain, and death.

The temptation of drugs, lust, and sloth is strong. It has afflicted much of society today. In fact, it has afflicted so much of society that these temptations and sins have been glorified. Where do these temptations lead? Alienation, pain, and death. There is no glory, no peace, and no reward for giving in. Although it may seem exciting and appealing at first, these temptations are fleeting; these worldly delights will not last, but we have been shown the path to a life everlasting. The choice is ours.

Prayer
Are you struggling with a recurring temptation or addiction? Do you know of someone else that is struggling with one? Go to God and seek His love. Addiction and temptation is usually a result of loneliness. Seek out other devotees of Christ, for there is strength in numbers. Surround yourself with other faithful Christians and your faith will be reinforced. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 24, 2024 Saturday

Genesis 6:12-13, 17-18 (KJV)
And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

If God wanted to start all over, would you be spared?

David Jacobs

My son loves to play video games. In some games, he would make a character that he uses throughout the entire game, and as he progresses, the character gets better. Whenever he makes a mistake or if he dies, he can go back to a point in the game where he saved it, so that he doesn’t have to start over from scratch. It saves him a lot of time, and it makes me wonder how humans’ behaviors would change if we had a similar “save game” feature. We would be more willing to make mistakes, hurt ourselves and others, and to die. We only have one chance to start over, one chance at a life eternal, so we need to make this one life count.

It may feel that we are surrounded by evil in today’s world: violence, greed, and lust are obvious in nearly every part of society. Earth in Noah’s time was similar, and God had seen enough. Like my son’s video games, God has the ability to start over whenever he wants. Unfortunately for anyone living in Noah’s time, they do not have the same luxury. God decided to wipe the corruption, evil, and violence from the world and start anew with his one player.

Noah was devoted to God, so God established an agreement with him. As we all know, God tasked Noah with the responsibility of making an ark as well as gathering two of every living thing on it. Noah obeys, and his devotion leads to his life and his families live being spared. I ask you, believers of the word of Christ: is today’s society so different from society during Noah’s time? Does corruption, evil, and violence not permeate every facet of our lives? We know that a day of reckoning is coming for the wicked. God will come to judge them. We cannot just hit the reset button, we cannot load from a save point. We have one chance to establish a covenant with God. As Christians, we should be eternally grateful to have this chance at all.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, deliver me from evil. Forgive me, merciful God, for I know I have not been free of sin. With every fiber of my being, I long to be like Noah: to establish a covenant with you, and to foster a loving relationship between you and my family. Thank you, Abba Father, my alpha and omega. I will not squander my life. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 25, 2024 Sunday

Genesis 12:1-5 (KJV)
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Journey into the promise land

David Jacobs

I am an American. I am also (mostly) proud to be an American. When I think of my homeland, I mostly consider the incredible landscapes; places so beautiful it is hard to imagine that they even exist. I also consider the people; coming from all over the world yet somehow bound by an underlying culture. Lastly, I think of our beliefs; although some may disagree, it is a country that wants to be free, to be a leader, and to hold strongly onto our beliefs. I have a powerful connection to my homeland, but my true allegiance lies with another power; a power far greater, one that crosses borders, language, and even time. I am a Christian above all else, and no matter what happens to my country, I will always pledge my allegiance to God.

Abram proves his loyalty to God famously in the book of Genesis. Few characters in the Bible are as loyal and devout as Abram, and his loyalty is rewarded. It is rewarded with a covenant between God and his family, one that will last for generations. He trusted in God, venturing out into the unknown, because he knew where his allegiance laid; his allegiance was not to a place, not to a person, not to a country. His allegiance was to God. He encounters a multitude of difficulties but always perseveres because he knows, as we all should know, that God always stands by his side.

Prayer
0 God, my Shepherd, keep me from doubt. I pledge my allegiance, my undying loyalty, to you, now and forever. I know that like Abram, my faith in your word, coupled with a commitment with my own words and deeds, will lead to a reward. I thank you, gracious God, for I know that this reward is one that I truly do not deserve. I pray this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, who died so that I may live. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 26, 2024 Monday

Genesis 13:8-16 (KJV)
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

The Grass is always greener on the other side…or is it?

David Jacobs

As the title of this devotion suggests, people sometimes selfishly consider the short-term benefits rather than thinking for the long-term. A good friend of mine married a woman that he did not love. He came from a fairly poor family and his soon-to-be wife, who he had known for only a few months and had shown little loyalty to him, came from an extremely wealthy family. He was unable to think of her in any other way: a ticket out of poverty and towards a better life. Once he got it, however, he realized that was not the life he wanted at all. He had worked hard to get what he had, and his parents had done the same and treated him well. The opposite was true of his wife, and disagreements between her family eventually led to their divorce.

In Genesis 13, Lot defies the desires of Abram and God, choosing to settle in Jordan. The grass was literally greener in Jordan, with abundant sources of water and a path to a potentially easier life. However, he turned a blind eye to the wicked and sinful was of the men of Sodom, deciding to settle there regardless. Eventually, Lot loses everything when Sodom is destroyed. If he had listened to the urges of God and Abram, his ancestors would not have turn to salt. Unfortunately, his family is turned into the dust of the earth in the end. Open your heart, go to the Lord, and follow God’s path. He is a light at your feet and will not lead you astray. The pastures in Heaven are greener than any we can imagine.

Prayer
My God, my Shepherd, I will follow you to the ends of the earth. Heaven and earth are full of your glory, and I shout your praises from the highest mountains. Strengthen my heart so that I learn to trust and put my faith in you at all times. You have not led me astray, and I know you never will. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 27, 2024 Tuesday

Genesis 22:2-12 (KJV)
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ■■■, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ■■■; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

I know that you fear me

David Jacobs

This story is probably familiar to most Christians: Abraham takes his son, Isaac, up the mountain because God asks that he make a sacrifice. God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham builds an altar, ties up his son, raises the knife to kill Isaac, but is stopped at the last second by an angel. After this episode, God knows that he can trust Abraham completely, and their covenant is strengthened further.

As I previously stated, the actual events in these verses is hotly debated amongst Biblical scholars. In the oldest variations of the text, Abraham seemingly does kill Isaac. In those versions, Isaac is not mentioned again. In other versions, Abraham is stopped. This story fascinated me and sparked my interest in understanding who wrote the Bible.

Whether or not Abraham killed Isaac is something we will never know. However, without these verses, I never would have dove so deeply into Biblical literature. This verse changed my life and was the first time I learned about the “J, E, P, and D” texts (I suggest all Christians research this on their own time). It opened my eyes to a new understanding of the Bible: who actually wrote it, why it was written, and explains much of the political and cultural references that I was unaware of previously.

Prayer
Who were the authors of the Bible? If you are anything like I was, you assume that it was the actual word of God. The Old Testament was written by humans. Learning about the writers and translations of the Bible opened a door to a world previously unknown to me and only deepened my fascination and love of the Bible even more. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 28, 2024 Wednesday

Genesis 25:29-34 (KJV)
And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Only fools rush in

David Jacobs

If you use computers or Apple products at all, you have all signed the “Terms and Conditions” of software and probably not read a single word of it. I know that I have. We usually just check the box stating that we agree without ever considering what the updated terms and conditions states. These updates are usually fine, but what about the scam emails that many people also receive? These emails usually offer millions of dollars to you, but in order to unlock the funds we must send a small amount of money first. Few people fall for these scams nowadays, but it is only because so many people fell for them before. We have learned to discern what is and is not a scheme, considering all options before we sign the dotted line.

In these verses, we discover some of the major differences between Esau and Jacob. Esau was a cunning hunter, loved by his father, Isaac, and Jacob a more sensitive farmer, loved by his mother, Rebekah. Esau was the elder twin, so he inherited the birthright, which in those times meant he basically inherited all of his father’s fortune. Being second in his father’s eyes became a bit of an obsession of Jacob, and being first made Esau flippant with his birthright, not considering it nearly as important as Jacob did as evidenced by these verses. Esau swears his birthright to Jacob for a meal, an outrageous exchange that sounds familiar today: “I am so hungry I could eat a horse” and “I would die for a hamburger right now” are phrases we might hear in modern society, hyperbolic statements that nobody would take seriously. Esau, exhausted and famished, seems to make such a statement, and Jacob takes it seriously.

Prayer
Like checking the box on the terms and conditions, Esau did not fully think before he spoke, and it cost him in more ways than one: he spurned his birthright, forfeiting his inheritance for a meal, and he dishonored his family name. Consider these verses the next time you agree to something. Being patient may make a difference. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 29, 2024 Thursday

Genesis 27:19-23, 36-41 (KJV)
And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.
And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.
And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

A brother scorned

David Jacobs

I have an older brother and a younger sister and we always got along well. My parents made sure that we were healthily competitive but above all, supportive of each other. I have leaned on my brother and sister at different times for support, and they have never spurned me of been unwilling to aid me. Luckily for us, our parents shared their love equally, and we never thought that one of us was the favorite of either our mother or father, so jealousy was not a part of our household growing up.

The same cannot be said of the family of Isaac and Rebekah. Their sons, Esau and Jacob, are twins but seem to be near opposites of one another: Esau is a cunning and skilled hunter, a big, strong, hairy, and profane man. Jacob on the other hand is a sensitive, passive, obedient, devout, and loyal man, more accustomed to farming than with hunting. Isaac preferred the manly qualities of Esau while his wife, Rebekah, preferred the caring nature of Jacob. Not having his father’s blessing and birthright became an obsession for Jacob, making Esau swear his birthright to him when he was hungry after returning home one day, and in these verses, tricking his blind father into giving Jacob, posing as Esau, his blessing.

Jacob goes to great lengths in order to secure a more stable future for himself, scorning his brother in the process. Esau, realizing that he has sworn his birthright to Jacob and that his father has mistakenly believed that Jacob was Esau and given him his blessing, has lost all hope. Similar to how Jacob was obsessed with gaining the birthright and blessing, Esau becomes obsessed with losing it, pledging that he will one day kill his brother. These verses make me so sad, because I consider my own family. Siblings should be able to rely on each other, not plot to dupe and murder one another! Think about your own family and siblings: have you been on their side or on your own? In some cases it can be a matter of life and death.

Prayer
Reach out to a sibling or friend and tell them that you will be there for them if they need. These words are usually assumed but rarely said, and verbalizing them can make a big difference in mending wounded relationships. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 30, 2024 Friday

Genesis 32:24-30 (KJV)
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Wrestling with God

David Jacobs

Sometimes the flood of life can be overwhelming. Have you heard the phrase, “When it rains it pours”? There have been moments in my life where that certainly felt true. One stressful situation leads to another and it has seemed like I cannot get a good break my way. The problems just stack one on top of the other until I can hardly bear the weight. Once the problems have passed, I can hardly remember them and it seems that going through these trials have made me a stronger person as a result.

Jacob may have been feeling the same way in these verses. Although many good blessings have come his way, his twin brother, Esau, has come to his camp with 400 men. They left each other on unpleasant terms, with Jacob posing as Esau in order to win the blessing of their father, Isaac. This action left Esau with no birthright and without the blessing of his father, and he swore to kill Jacob.

It brings us to this scene, with Jacob worried about meeting Esau, praying to God saying, “Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.” (Gen. 32:11) He prepares a gift for Esau, hoping that the gift will soften the wound that Jacob inflicted on their relationship. He is eventually left alone, and we can assume he is wracked with stress and unable to sleep, when an unnamed man comes into his camp and wrestles with him. They wrestled until the next day, neither of them victorious, and Jacob will not quit even though he has been hurt. The other man wants to stop since the day has broke, and Jacob will only quit if the man gives him a blessing. The man does, and it is then that Jacob realizes he was wrestling with God.

When times are tough, we can all feel that we are wrestling with God. Jacob, fearing for his life, problems stacking up, refuses to quit. Against all odds, tired, injured, he keeps persevering. It may seem like it pours when it rains, but when we make it out of the storm, the world will seem that much brighter.

Prayer
Powerful and loving God, I thank you for aiding me with my struggles. Help me to view life’s challenges as chances to prove my worth to you. Strengthen my will, O Lord, so that my resolve is improved with each trial and tribulation that I get through. I will not quit, as Jacob did not quit, as I wrestle demons on my march towards your Holy Kingdom. In your Holy name, I pray, Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

August 31, 2024 Saturday

Genesis 34:1-2, 13-16, 24-27 (KJV)
And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:
But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;
Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.
And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.
The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.

An eye for an eye…

David Jacobs

There have been a number of salacious scandals in Hollywood recently where men in positions of power have abused it, forcing women to sleep with them. This subject has sparked the #metoo movement, with women around the world joining together to share their stories of sexual abuse. It has shed light on a great tragedy of global society: women are often the targets of sexual abuse and rape and their voices have been ignored and they have had difficulty protecting themselves. The question arises: what is the best way to protect women and eliminate sexual abuse? This question has been pondered for thousands of years. Let us turn to the scripture.

In these verses, Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, is raped by Shechem. In the time that this was written and even today in some countries, a woman that is raped shoulders a large part of the blame. I am a man and have a wife, daughter, and sister, and it is hard to know how I would react if any of them were victims of similar abuse. I honestly do not know how I would react, but an evil action like this often generates an evil repercussion. In these verses, the sons of Jacob fool Hamor and his sons, including Shechem, into getting circumcised so that they will be allowed to marry Jacob’s daughters. Again, as a man, I can imagine how uncomfortable an adult circumcision would feel, and Jacob’s sons use this opportunity to kill all of the men in Hamor’s camp to avenge their sister’s defilement. The evil that Shechem sparks by defiling Dinah only begets more evil.

As Christians, we are told to turn the other cheek to an enemy that strikes us, but how can we protect ourselves? In my opinion, the #metoo movement is a good example of a positive and constructive attempt to reduce or eliminate sexual abuse. Unlike the sons of Jacob, we should not just consider our case; we must consider all cases. By working together and shedding new light on the situation, we can fight evil with good. Light will shine in the darkness, and the darkness will not overtake it. (John 1:5)

Prayer
Remember these verses the next time you feel the urge to hurt another person. Fighting evil with evil is like fighting fire with fire: it only creates more evil. We should turn the other cheek to show others an example of good instead of evil. Join with other Christians by doing good and we can show the entire world what good is. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

September 01, 2024 Sunday

Exodus 32:1-5 (KJV)
And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.
And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.

Is it possible to have idols and worship God?

David Jacobs

I once had the pleasure of having dinner with an environmental scientist. I asked him how he got into that field, and as it turned out, he was a Christian who had fallen in love with God’s creation and wanted to dedicate his life to studying it. We must have talked for more than an hour about the importance of preserving biodiversity. After dinner, I walked with him out to the parking lot to say goodbye. As he was unlocking his car, I said “wait a minute, don’t you care about air pollution?” He replied, “Yes of course, as a father I am particularly concerned about the effect it could have on my children and grandchildren.” I had to point out, “But you are driving a diesel car!” This got him all in a huff and he started stumbling on about improved gas mileage. It was clear that he knew there was a contradiction between his beliefs and the car he was driving, but somehow he has kept driving that diesel car as long as I have known him.

This conflict between belief and behavior isn’t at all unusual - in fact we see it in God’s own people again and again. In Exodus 32, verses 1-5, the people ask Aaron to make an idol, as Moses has gone up the mountain to talk to God. Aaron gives in and makes a golden calf. But notice he doesn’t stop there. He builds an altar to God in front of the calf. He tried to let the people worship both God and the calf at the same time! Of course, this didn’t sit well with God, as it was a contradiction to worship both Him and an idol.

All too often we try to put some aspect of our lives on equal footing with God. Yes, we go to church and pray, but we are really focused on getting ahead at work or on getting a date. How do we square this with the fact that God demands that we put Him above all? The fact is, we can’t, and just as God wouldn’t like His altar being placed next to a Golden calf, he also won’t tolerate us putting our own desires on the same level as His.

However, as the story of the golden calf shows us, people are always looking for leadership. God has said, make Me your leader! We know that we must follow him, but sometimes as we begin to feel disconnected from God, we begin looking for leadership in other places. It’s important that we stay on track for God, and one way we do that is by surrounding ourselves with leaders who are dedicated to God’s path. Aaron did not stay on God’s path, but led God’s people astray when they asked him to. When we choose our leaders, we must be sure that they will not make Aaron’s mistake – and that we will not make that mistake when people look to us for leadership.

Prayer
Lord, we are constantly being tempted to stray away from your path. I pray that when we forget you, you will remind us. I pray for the strength of our leaders, so that when we ask for idols, they lead us back to you. I pray also that you will make us each a strong leader, so that we will always remind each other that yours is the righteous path. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

September 02, 2024 Monday

Exodus 3:9-14 (KJV)
Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

I AM THAT I AM

David Jacobs

When a good friend of mine died, I spent countless hours studying the Bible, trying to find an explanation for God’s purpose. I read and reread verses and chapters and books trying to get a better understand on the reason that God decided to take my friend’s life. My ego had gotten the better of me; I felt that I was important enough to demand an explanation from God. Why did He do this? What did He have to say for Himself?

Unlike Moses, I came to God thinking that I was something special. I felt that my friend deserved better. Moses came from a humble place; he thought that he was nothing special, wondering why God had chosen him instead of someone else. My questions and Moses’ question to God can be answered in the same way: I AM THAT I AM. Moses questioned his own ability to do what God asked of him, and I spent my time wondering about God’s purpose rather than asking the more important question: what is my purpose? Reading these verses, some of the most important verses in the Old Testament, helped me gain a better perspective on my friend’s passing, a better understand of my reaction to his passing, and a better understand of what God is. As was the case with Moses, God chose my friend and chose me in some way. It was my responsibility to heed the call and believe in myself rather than questioning God.

Prayer
Dearest Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and Earth are full of your glory. Forgive me Abba Father for questioning your ways and help me to remember that you are always with me. Use me as a tool as you did with Moses, for I know that you are what you are, and that you have made me in your likeness to share your light with the world. Give me the courage to do so, even when I feel that I am too weak. In your name I pray, Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

September 03, 2024 Tuesday

Exodus 4:20-23 (KJV)
And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ■■■, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

Let my people go!

David Jacobs

What is your greatest fear? In surveys, many people claim that they fear public speaking more than they fear even death! I shared this fear as a child, constantly feeling anxiety in front of crowds and embarrassed by even the smallest speech mistake that I made in front of people. This changed when I performed a scripture reading as a teenager in front of a large crowd at my church on Christmas. I had practiced reading these verses aloud and was well prepared. I read the verses and could see the looks on the crowds’ faces, happy to see a young boy reading such important words. From that point on I relished performing in front of crowds because I knew how much people would appreciate it if I did a good job.

Moses shared this fear of public speaking and felt inadequate for the mission that God had asked of him. “Why me?” he asked God. God replies with the famous verse: “I AM THAT I AM…I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14)

In the verses of this devotion, Moses is still unsure of his mission. God makes the objectives of his mission more clear: Moses will go to Egypt and tell the Pharaoh to free the Israelites or else God will kill every first-born. Poor Moses must have felt the pressure! God had even performed several miracles to show Moses his miraculous power, but Moses was still unsure. Like me, a shy boy in front of a big Christmas congregation, it took Moses being in that moment, being on that stage, before he realized that he could do it. We must place our trust in God. He will not ask of us something that we cannot handle. Remain faithful and good. Leave everything else to God.

Prayer
Are there aspects of your life that make you feel inadequate? Go to God and ask Him for strength. Trust in God and face your fears as Moses did. Each time you do, the fear will be slowly transformed into strength. Amen

[FaithfulWalker]

September 04, 2024 Wednesday

Exodus 6:1-9 (KJV)
Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.
And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.
And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

How can we lead anguished spirits to God?

David Jacobs

War, terror attacks, sexual abuse…the world is filled with people committing acts that are not in line with the word of God. People turn to things to give them comfort: religion, alcohol, drugs, sex, greed, exercise, food. It may seem hopeless, like the world is filled with too many challenges for us to overcome. What is the point in trying if the problems will keep resurfacing?

Moses faced a staggering challenge at the request of God: free the Israelites from Egypt. Moses balked at first, thinking that he was not capable of performing the tasks that God commanded. Moses probably felt the same way that I described in the first paragraph: hopeless. What would be the point in even trying when he would surely fail? Even when Moses finally musters the courage to speak to the Israelites, they are unable to listen “for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.” (Exodus 6:9) Life had beaten them down so hard they had lost all hope.

Consider many of the problems that I mentioned in the first sentence. Why are people committing such heinous acts? They have lost hope. Why do people turn to alcohol, drugs, greed, food, corruption, and sex? They have lost hope. Brothers and sisters! We must lead as an example, as a shining beacon on a hill, to show the hopeless that there is hope! (Matthew 5:14) Moses became hopeful; survivors of the Egyptian captivity eventually became hopeful; the early Christians that were persecuted and killed remained hopeful; survivors of the Holocaust and world wars remained hopeful. Let our light shine in the darkness for all to see. If not us, then who?

Prayer
There are so many things that divide us: countries, race, religions, politics, economic factors. Think about what things make us all distinctly human. How can we focus on the things that unite us to bring us closer together? Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

September 05, 2024 Thursday

Exodus 14:21-31 (KJV)
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

Afraid or in love?

David Jacobs

Do you think that you have ever witnessed a miracle? Picture yourself in Moses’ time: you would have witnessed plague after plague, one unexplainable miracle after another (and still the Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go). How did the witnesses to these miracles feel? Afraid. In the Old Testament, much of the miracles that God performs are meant to make the witnesses fearful and obedient. God parts the Red Sea, finally allowing the Israelites to escape to freedom and in turn killing many of the Egyptians. When the Israelites saw this, “the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.” (Exodus 14:31) Are you fearful of God or not?

There is one major difference between the Old and New Testaments: God sent His son, Jesus, to live amongst us, to better understand us, and to save us. We have talked about the miracles of the Old Testament and how they typically strike fear into witnesses. Ponder the miracles of the New Testament: Jesus heals people, feeds people, even resurrects a person! How would you react to witnessing these events? The differences in the Old and New Testament God and the miracles that were performed in each allow us to get a better understanding of God’s desires for us. He certainly wants us to obey and follow Him, but he no longer wanted to do it through fear. He sent Jesus to convey his message in a way that would not strike fear in our hearts.

In these verses, a final miracle occurs, with God allowing Moses to part the Red Sea so that the Israelites could escape and stop the Egyptians. It struck fear in the witnesses but it allowed for the ancestors of Christ to survive, to remain obedient and devout, so that the most important messenger, God’ son Jesus Christ, could relay God’s word so that we could all understand.

Prayer
Abba Father, precious Lord, I am amazed at your power and grace. I thank you for allowing me to understand your message in a way that other believers have not had the opportunity, understanding the sacrifice that you and your son, Jesus Christ, made for me, I pray that you grant me the wisdom to better understand your word, to better convey your word to others, and have the bravery to share it with those that need it the most. I pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

[FaithfulWalker]

September 06, 2024 Friday

Exodus 19:3-11 (KJV)
And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

A peculiar treasure unto God

David Jacobs

I lived in Africa for one year on a mission trip in my 20s. Although some people spoke English, most of the people in the village that I was living did not speak any. It was difficult leaving everything that I knew and was accustomed to and moving to a place with different food, language, and culture, but I was lucky to become great friends with a couple about 20 years older than me. We had a peculiar bond: they were decades older than me and we could not speak the same language. For whatever reason, they cared for me like I was their own son, getting me out of trouble more times than I even care to remember! Although we would eventually be able to have basic conversations as I learned their language, it was hard for me to explain why I treasured their friendship as much as I did. Basically, I just knew that they were good people.

God says to the Israelites that He too, treasures them in a peculiar manner. He carried them out of horrible slavery in Egypt, and had shown favor to them once again. The Israelites remained fearful and obedient, and God rewards their obedience by making them a “kingdom of priests.” Why the Israelites and not another nation? As was the case with my friends in Africa, it might be difficult to explain why. God knew they were good, knew they would continue to be good, and the Israelites did not let Him down. This loyalty is rewarded and although God and the Israelites talked through a medium in Moses, we too, can learn to grow closer to Him by knowing that He treasures us. Like my friends in Africa, if God knows that we are good, we do not need to directly speak. We can feel it.

[FaithfulWalker]

September 07, 2024 Saturday

Exodus 23:1-8 (KJV)
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ■■■ going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
If thou see the ■■■ of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

Serve the Lord your God and be blessed

David Jacobs

I enjoy reading about psychology, especially social psychology, in my free time. One subject that has been studied closely is obedience. How can people follow along when a group is telling them to do something they know is not right? The answer is simple: people generally do what they are told. The more people or higher the authority, the more likely it is that they will obey.

Perhaps the most famous study on obedience was conducted by Stanley Milgram. In his study, subjects are told that they are the “teacher” and another group is the “learner.” Learners are asked a series of questions and teachers are told to punish them by administering an electric shock if the answer is wrong. The learners are part of the experiment group and are not actually being shocked, nor can the teachers see them. The learners intentionally answer many questions wrong, and the teachers are told to increase the power of the electric shock to 450 volts, a potentially lethal amount. Surely people would not kill a person that they do not know simply for the sake of an experiment, right? Wrong. More than 65% of subjects were willing to go that high, and all of them were willing to go to 300 volts (a dangerous shock level). What does this tell us about people and how does it relate to God?

People will generally do what they are told. If they are told to do bad things, like in the Holocaust, they will commit atrocities. If they are told to do good things, like in the verses above, they will do good things. They will fight to not bear false witness, to uphold justice, and not follow a multitude to do evil. Humans are obedient in general, so these commandments from God are necessary and important.

If He had told us to do evil things, we would probably do them! Conforming and being obedient is often viewed as a bad thing by society, but conforming and being obedient to God and Christianity is certainly not. Follow God’s word closely and you will make the world a better place and enjoy your just reward in Heaven.