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“He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”” ~ Ruth 3:9

Light shines brightest in the darkness. We all know it. Walk out of a movie theater after an early matinee showing and you have to shield your eyes from the sun. Turn on the bedroom light after waking up in the middle of the night and all you can do is squint. The darkness makes the light brighter.

Reading through the Book of Judges is sometimes like walking in the dark. Over and over, we see sin at work. The Israelites are living in a time when their covenant with God is in shambles. Idolatry, self-centeredness, and darkness mark the lives of God’s people. It can be hard to read. Even the Book of Ruth starts out in a dark place. Naomi and her family leave the Promised Land to walk in Moab. They experience suffering and death. But just when we think that there can be no hope, God intervenes in the lives of His people.

In the Book of Judges, names like Gideon, Ehud, and Deborah shine in the darkness to reveal God’s presence and power. These judges are a picture of the coming Messiah, a picture of hope and salvation, a picture of a redeemer. The Book of Ruth draws a powerful picture of what a redeemer does for man. Ruth has walked out of Moab and is living among God’s people. She needs a future and a life. Under God’s law, Boaz can bring that transformation. So Ruth goes to Boaz and asks him to spread his wings over her. To cover her in love. To give her life and a future. It is a beautiful picture of redemption. It is a picture of Jesus. Our Redeemer.

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” ~ Joshua 24:15

It is the end of Joshua’s life. The man who stands before the people of God at Shechem (Joshua 24:1) has seen a lot in his life. He walked out of Egypt and captivity when Moses was a brand new leader for Israel. He has seen the plagues and God’s power over Pharaoh. He has walked the dry ground on the Red Sea. Joshua has stood at Mt. Sinai and wandered in the wilderness. He has called his people to see God’s might and power while supporting the leadership of Moses through grumbling, complaining, and rebellion. He has been appointed by God to be the successor to Moses and to lead the people of Israel in conquest over the land of Canaan. He has been a servant, soldier, spy, and leader. He has watched Jericho’s walls fall and experienced both victory and defeat on the field of battle. Yes, Joshua has seen a lot in his life. Most of all, Joshua has seen God.

In every moment, Joshua makes a choice. The choice to watch where God is moving and what God is doing. Joshua has led the people and been instrumental in helping to settle the land of Canaan. And every step, every instruction, has come from God. Joshua serves the Lord.

Now, at the end of his life, Joshua stands before Israel and calls them to make a choice about the future. He recounts some of the past, but it is the future that is on his mind. Make a choice. Will you serve God or will you follow the world? Joshua knows who he has chosen.
The Book of Joshua teaches us to choose God. When life is good, when life is hard. When we are on top, and when we are on bottom. God’s people choose God.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” ~ Deuteronomy 6:4

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is known as the Shema. Shema is a Hebrew word that means “hear.” The Shema is the first Bible passage a Jewish child memorizes. It is a call to understand that God is unique and the only authority for life. The Shema calls God’s people to listen to what God says and realize the importance of God’s words. The Shema speaks to the past, present, and future. In its words, we are called to love God with all our heart, soul, and might. It is a call to surrender to God’s will with our entire being and to commit to passing on the teachings of God to the next generation. These are the words of Moses to a people who are about to go into the Promised Land. A reminder of the presence of God and their identity as His people.

As the Book of Deuteronomy opens, we find God’s people on the Plains of Moab, just north of the Dead Sea and east of the Jordan River. It is here that Moses looks at a generation of people who grew up wandering in the wilderness. It is a people one generation removed from the memory of Egyptian slavery. It is a group of people who need to be reminded of their story.

Deuteronomy means, “second-law.” Moses tells the second generation about the Law of the Lord. He defines their identity and purpose as he describes how God has led them to this moment. Moses reminds the people of God’s love and faithfulness as he helps prepare them to experience the fulfillment of God’s promise. This second telling of the Law is intended to bring God squarely to the forefront of the people’s awareness. Their future is shaped by their past, and it is in this moment that they remember that they are God’s people so that tomorrow they can walk in the Promised Land.

“And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped.” ~ Numbers 9:17

Sometime in the fifth century BC, the Chinese philosopher, Lao-Tzu wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.” It is a proverb that has lasted through the years and describes the idea that any journey is made up of small steps. Any goal is made up of smaller pieces that we accomplish one at a time. It highlights the importance of putting one foot in front of the other and heading in a chosen direction.

One of the longest walks in history has to be found in the Book of Numbers. Numbers describes the Wilderness Wanderings of the Israelites. It is a time that starts off with so much promise. God’s people leave Mt. Sinai and walk towards the Promised Land. Each step brings them closer to the land where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob once lived. Each step is a step closer to home. But then the journey takes a detour. After hearing the reports of 12 spies sent into the Promised Land by Moses, the people of God rebel. They lose sight of God’s guiding hand and mighty power to defeat their enemies. The next forty years finds the people of Israel walking in the wilderness. A sad time as a generation simply waits to die. But the journey ends exactly where God has promised, back at the land of Canaan. Now a generation exists that is ready to follow God. They are ready to conquer a land and people as they live in the fulfilled promises of the Lord.

We can learn a lot about our spiritual journey as we read through the Book of Numbers. We can learn that God has a plan, and He is leading us toward a place that He has prepared for His people. We can learn that God is big enough and strong enough to overcome any obstacle in our path, even things that look giant in our eyes. We can learn to have vision to see where God is moving. We can learn to surrender and follow where God leads.

“Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” ~ Leviticus 19:2

The simplest definition of the word holy is “to be set apart.” In the Book of Leviticus, the call to be holy dominates the themes and movements of the book. Often we get caught up in the number of laws, rules, and regulations that we find in the Book of Leviticus. We get a little confused about when things should happen or how people should act. Clean and unclean, feast days and sacrifices, priests and Levites, can all become trees on which we concentrate that may cause us to miss the beauty of the forest. The reality is that Leviticus is a book that paints a glorious picture of God.

Over and over we are called to be holy. The reason you and I are to be holy is because God is holy. Stop and think about it. God’s character is supposed to define my character. God’s heart is supposed to shape my heart. God’s holiness is supposed to be at work in my life, transforming how I think, feel, and act. This is the picture that we get from Leviticus. Leviticus teaches us that cleanliness is about valuing purity and wholeness. Feast days remind us to celebrate the movement and power of God. The sacrificial system teaches us to let go of the world and experience the grace and forgiveness that God provides His people.

There is nothing in the world, or the universe, that is like God. He is distinct from anything and everything else. He is set apart. Though there is nothing like Him, He is in the process of transforming us to mirror Him. He is calling you and I to be holy. To live His love, His passion, His grace, His will, His direction, His character in each moment of our lives. As you read Leviticus this week, don’t “miss the forest for the trees.” Watch for the character of our holy God.

“Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.”
~ Exodus 6:6

Americans value freedom. We understand that freedom comes at a great price. We know that freedom is not simply a luxury to be enjoyed, but a responsibility to be honored. Freedom takes courage, devotion, and sacrifice. We know these things because of our own history. The American Revolution and the writing of the Constitution help us understand the cost and duties of freedom. We are reminded of the responsibilities, privileges, and joys of freedom when we see the American flag, participate in an election, or visit an historical monument or sight. The reminders of freedom are all around us.

Israel, too, understood freedom. There was a time when the people of Israel lived in slavery. God paid a steep price to free them from the bondage of the Egyptians. God instituted the Passover to remind them of His movement and the grace that set them free. God gave them the Law at Mt. Sinai so that they could live free from the world and in the presence of a holy God. Exodus is the story of how God brought freedom to Israel.

Exodus is also the story of how God brings freedom to us today. In the pages of Exodus, we see that man often lives in bondage. Today we struggle with the bondage of sin. It is not God’s intention that we suffer in sin. He wants to bring us freedom. So God provides a Lamb, Jesus Christ, to give us the freedom to follow Him and be His children. He teaches us to walk with Him through life. As you read the Book of Exodus this week, remember how God makes you free as you follow the spiritual journey of Israel from Egypt to the border of the Promised Land.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” ~ Psalm 119:105

It is as simple and as common as walking into a room and flipping a switch. Darkness flees as light floods the room. But light is far from ordinary. It is an extraordinary creation that allows us to see. Light causes plants to grow, and the body to produce needed resources for healthy living. Light is fundamental to growth and health.

In Psalm 119:105, we learn that the words of God are light. They illuminate where we walk and how we live. The Word of God is essential for growth and health. God has given us His words in the Bible, the Word of God. If you and I are going to walk the path of discipleship, we need to be saturated with the light of God’s Word.

Genesis 1:3 shows us that God spoke and light was created. It was the beginning of all creation. The Bible teaches us that God leads His people into light. The burning bush, the pillar of fire in the wilderness, the glory of God in the face of Moses. All of these are pictures of light. They point us to John 1:4-5, where we learn that Jesus is the light for all men. He shines to bring us into relationship with God.

Studying the Bible is about being bathed in light. As we begin a journey through the Bible, let’s make a deliberate decision to grow to look like Jesus. Welcome to GROW Through the Bible.

We have reached the end of the year. Over the past 52 weeks, we have walked through the History and Prophetic books of the Bible. We have witnessed the vast array of human emotion. The heights of joy and the depths of despair. We have walked with David and seen the heart of God. We have heard the prophecies of Daniel, Isaiah, Obadiah, and Haggai, learning what it means to fear the Lord. We have seen sin, forgiveness, rebellion, and grace. We have seen God at work to transform the lives of His people as He walks every step of the journey with them. There is so much that we have seen in the Bible this year. So much to embed in our hearts. I hope you have enjoyed the reading. I pray that God has made a deep impression on your heart. I hope you have seen the faithfulness of God as He walks with us in every stage and every moment of our lives. Embedding the Bible helps us to see God in every moment. It helps us follow where Jesus leads. Thanks for making the journey this year.

Isaiah 52 and 53 hold a beautiful Messianic picture. The picture of a servant. The picture of Jesus. Isaiah points God’s people to His compassion. The servant will bring good news, announce salvation, and declare before the world that God reigns. It is easy for us to see Jesus in these words. We know that He went to the cross to create a way out of sin, guilt, and shame. We know that the path to salvation leads us into the heart of God. Jesus died so that you and I might live. By His wounds, we are healed. Through His sacrifice, we experience salvation. What is not always easy to see in the words of Isaiah 52 and 53 is ourselves. To look like Jesus means to live like Jesus. To be the servant of God. To announce the good news of Jesus to the world around us. To announce salvation and proudly declare through our words, thoughts, and actions that our God reigns! You and I serve when we share the life of Jesus with those around us. It may be in words or it may be with deeds, but you and I are called to serve. When the world scorns us, rejects the message, or ridicules our belief, we know what it is to be wounded. But wounds are healed when we walk with Jesus. Just as Jesus gave His life, we are called to give ours.

n Isaiah 43:11, God proclaims that He is the only Savior. Isaiah is prophesying to the people of Israel about the way that God will redeem His people from captivity. God announces that He will go before His people. Whether through water or through the fire, God will be there. God will ransom His people. God will defeat the nations around her. God will redeem His people and call them to Him. It is a message of hope for a people in danger from idolatry, sin, and captivity. But God’s message spans time and eternity. As we, His people, continue to struggle with sin, God continues to ransom us. God continues to offer us a relationship with Himself. God continues to bring light and hope into our lives. He is the only savior. In the promise to Israel, we see the promise of Jesus for us today. We see the work of God in our lives. We find forgiveness, grace, and freedom when we walk with Him. It is a promise that we need to embed in our hearts. This week, read through Isaiah 43 and stop to notice all the ways that God promises salvation. Can you see Jesus in those promises?