Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob in the Old Testament. He was born to Jacob and Leah and was Jacob’s fourth son (Genesis 29:35). Judah’s name means “praise” in Hebrew. He became the leader of one of the twelve tribes of Israel and gave his name to the southern kingdom of Judah. Here is an overview of Judah’s story and significance in the Bible: Judah’s Birth and Early Life When Judah was born, his mother Leah declared, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah (Genesis 29:35). As a child, Judah likely lived…
Author: Erin Weitzman
Shame and regret are common human experiences that can weigh heavily on our hearts and minds. When we feel ashamed or full of regret, it’s easy to isolate ourselves, believing that God is disappointed with us or that we are irredeemable. However, the Bible offers hope and freedom from shame and regret through God’s unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness. Defining shame and regret Shame is an emotionally painful feeling that arises when we feel exposed, inferior, or inadequate. Shame makes us want to hide and pull away from others and God. In the Bible, people hid from God after sinning…
Yoga has become incredibly popular in Western cultures over the past few decades. What originated as an ancient spiritual practice in India has morphed into a mainstream fitness routine and lifestyle in the West. For Christians, this raises important questions. Is yoga compatible with Christian beliefs? Should Christians practice yoga? What does the Bible say about yoga? To answer these questions, we must first understand what yoga is. The word “yoga” means “union” in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. The goal of yoga is to unite the mind, body, and spirit through physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation. Traditional…
Crying out to the Lord is an act of prayer and supplication, bringing our needs and desires before God. It involves calling upon the name of the Lord from a heart of humility, dependency, and trust in God’s power and willingness to hear and answer. Throughout Scripture, believers are instructed to cry out to the Lord in both good times and in distress. Crying out implies an intense, fervent prayer. It is the “heart cry” that arises from a place of urgent need, pain, or passion. A cry arises from our inmost being – it is not a mere intellectual…
The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination that originated in the mid-18th century Methodist movement in England. Methodism started as a reform movement within the Church of England led by John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley. John Wesley emphasized having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, living a holy life, and serving those in need. The Methodist movement quickly spread to America in the 1760s, where it took root and grew rapidly. Today, the UMC is the largest Methodist denomination in the United States with over 6 million members. It has congregations worldwide, with 12.5…
The Bible has a lot to say about prejudice, which is defined as preconceived judgment or opinion, usually based on limited information. Prejudice involves having negative attitudes and feelings toward individuals or groups simply because of their race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics. Old Testament Teachings on Prejudice In the Old Testament, God chose the Israelites as His special people, but also made it clear through the prophets that His love extended to all nations. For example, the book of Jonah recounts how Jonah initially resisted going to the enemies of Israel, the…
Prayer is one of the most important practices for Christians. Through prayer, we communicate with God, bringing our requests, praises, and thanksgivings before Him. We are instructed in the Bible to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17). But what makes prayer truly effective? According to Scripture, there are several key components to meaningful, powerful prayer. Faith First and foremost, effective prayer requires faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” When we come to God…
The phoenix is a mythical bird that is associated with rebirth and renewal. It appears in various ancient mythologies and has become a popular symbol in modern culture. But is the phoenix actually mentioned in the Bible? The short answer is no. The word “phoenix” does not appear anywhere in most major English Bible translations. There are also no clear symbolic references to the phoenix in the biblical text. So while the phoenix is a culturally significant mythical creature, it does not seem to have a basis in biblical literature. However, there are a few interesting connections that can be…
The verses Joel 2:32 and Romans 10:13 both contain the promise that “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” This is a profoundly important statement that goes to the heart of the gospel message and what it means to become a Christian. In order to properly understand this promise, it is helpful to examine the context and background of these verses, what it means to “call on the name of the Lord”, who the “Lord” is that is being referred to, and what “being saved” entails according to Scripture. Context and Background Joel 2:32 occurs in…
Who was Lo-ruhamah in the Bible? Lo-ruhamah is a symbolic name given to the daughter of the prophet Hosea and his wife Gomer in the book of Hosea in the Old Testament. The name Lo-ruhamah translates to “not loved” or “not pitied” in Hebrew. Hosea’s Marriage to Gomer as a Prophetic Sign The book of Hosea uses the prophet Hosea’s tragic marriage to the unfaithful Gomer as an allegory for God’s relationship with unfaithful Israel. Hosea is commanded by God to “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom…