The story of Jacob and Laban is found in Genesis chapters 29-31. Jacob had fled from his brother Esau and came to stay with his uncle Laban. He ended up working for Laban for 20 years – 14 years to marry Laban’s two daughters Leah and Rachel, and then 6 more years to build up his own flocks (Genesis 31:41). After 20 years, Jacob decided it was time to return to his homeland of Canaan with his family and livestock. However, Jacob left without telling Laban, his father-in-law, which angered Laban when he found out. Laban pursued Jacob and his…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
Necromancy is the practice of attempting to communicate with the spirits of the dead in order to gain information or power. This practice is expressly forbidden in the Bible. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about necromancy: Old Testament Warnings Against Necromancy The Old Testament warns against necromancy multiple times: Leviticus 19:31 states “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.” This verse forbids mediums and spiritists, which were practitioners of necromancy. Leviticus 20:6 declares “I will set my face against anyone who…
The command to “not forget the Lord” is found in Deuteronomy 8:11, which says “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today.” This verse comes in the context of Moses reminding the Israelites of God’s provision for them during their time in the wilderness after being delivered from slavery in Egypt. As they were about to enter the Promised Land, Moses exhorted the people not to forget all that God had done for them once they began to enjoy the blessings of the…
Seeking and receiving guidance from God is an important part of the Christian faith. The Bible encourages believers to rely on God for direction in life rather than trying to figure everything out on our own. Here are some biblical principles about how to receive divine guidance: Pray for wisdom and discernment One of the primary ways to receive guidance from God is through prayer. James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Praying for discernment and wisdom applies to both big…
Philo of Alexandria, also known as Philo Judaeus, was a first-century Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria, Egypt during the time of Jesus Christ. Though he is not mentioned in the Bible itself, Philo played an important role in merging Hebrew scripture and Greek philosophy and interpreting Judaism for the Greek-speaking world. Here is an overview of his life and influence: Background and Early Life Philo was born around 20 BC in Alexandria, Egypt. This city had a large Jewish population at the time but was part of the Greek-speaking world ruled by Rome. Philo came from a prominent Jewish…
1 Corinthians 7:5 states “Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” This verse touches on an important aspect of marriage – the intimate physical relationship between husband and wife. Specifically, it addresses the issue of abstaining from sexual relations for a period of time by mutual consent in order to devote oneself to prayer. The overall message of 1 Corinthians 7 is that husbands and wives have responsibilities and…
The ecumenical councils were a series of gatherings of church leaders and theologians in the history of Christianity aimed at defining doctrine and settling controversies within the church. The word “ecumenical” comes from the Greek word oikoumene, meaning “worldwide” or “universal”, indicating the intention of these councils to represent the universal church. There have been 21 ecumenical councils recognized by the Catholic Church, while the Eastern Orthodox Church recognizes the first seven. Protestants generally accept the teachings only of the first four councils. The first ecumenical council is considered to be the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, convened…
Pornography addiction is a major issue facing many marriages today. If you are struggling with pornography and wondering if you should confess this to your spouse, here is some biblical guidance on this difficult subject. The Damage of Pornography First, it’s important to understand why pornography use is so destructive. Pornography distorts God’s beautiful design for sexuality and marriage. It treats people as objects for selfish pleasure rather than as whole persons made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Prolonged use rewires the brain, potentially leading to escalating habits and addiction (Matthew 5:28). It fuels the evil sex trade that preys…
Based on the accounts in the Bible, Jesus lived approximately 33 years on earth. Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted about 3-3.5 years before he was crucified and resurrected. By piecing together information from the four Gospels and other books of the New Testament, we can estimate the key dates and time periods related to Jesus’ life. Jesus’ Birth Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of King Herod the Great. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Herod ordered the massacre of all male infants two years old and younger in Bethlehem after the wise men told him of Jesus’ birth…
King David is one of the most prominent figures in the Old Testament. He was known as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) and had a deep desire to build a permanent temple for God in Jerusalem. However, despite David’s noble intentions, God did not permit him to build the temple. This seems surprising given David’s devotion to God, his many accomplishments as king, and his meticulous preparations for the temple. Examining the biblical accounts provides insight into God’s reasoning and the lessons we can learn from this. David’s Preparations for the Temple After establishing Jerusalem as…