I watched “Crazy Rich Asians” last week, a romantic comedy that was reviewed as one of the best films of 2018. One of the supporting characters gets to make her “hero’s speech” near the end of the movie as she walks out on her husband, who was having an affair. The trouble is, what she says is exactly backward.
The Book of Deuteronomy is a series of speeches from Moses, giving final words of wisdom and warning before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, challenging the next generation to be faithful to their God.
The Book of Numbers is about a road trip gone really bad. Israel perpetually complained, sinned, and rebelled against God at every step. But their repeated rebellion was met by God’s justice and mercy.
The Book of Leviticus is a solution. God took the initiative to provide a way to reconcile his relationship with rebellious Israel. He invited them to live in his holy presence despite their sin, through a series of rituals and sacred institutions. Leviticus is all about God’s grace!
Israel’s exodus from Egypt is the event that forms them into a nation and is the model for God’s plan of redemption throughout Scripture. God invited Israel to enter into a covenant relationship with him, but their own sin and idolatry became the greatest threat to God’s covenant promises.
Genesis is composed of two main movements. Chapters 1–11 are a story about all of humanity over thousands of years. Then chapters 12–50 are a story covering a few hundred years of one man’s family. Somehow, what is happening with this single family is linked to the fate of all humanity. Genesis establishes the basic plot line and basic themes of the entire biblical story.
Torah is the Hebrew title for the first five books of the Bible—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books aren’t easy to read, and most of us wouldn’t choose to read them for leisure. But they’re important because they create the need for Jesus.
On October 14 the Evangelical Lutheran Synod observes the centennial of its reorganization. Although the synod was reorganized in June 1918, the date of October 14 bears special significance because of its importance to the Norwegian Synod.
2018 is the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Learn about the origins of the synod in this video documentary produced by the Centennial Committee of the ELS and read a brief history in the pamphlet “Growing in His Mercy.”
Jonah chapter 3 could have been a beautiful finish to the book. The prophet preached, God’s Word was effective, the Ninevites repented. But there is a chapter 4. And this last chapter reveals that the story was never about Jonah and the Ninevites all along. This is a story about God and his own people—about how God deals with his own angry children. God is trying to get his own people to see that they need his grace as much as anyone else.
