Spiritual Nuggets (Schechem)

Ok, I’m at it again. As many times as I read the Bible, I am always finding nuggets of knowledge that makes the Scriptures and history come alive in my mind.

So while I am enjoying my morning quiet in the Word, I just happen to be reason through the book of Joshua; and the chapters I am covering are 13- 21. These are some of those chapters that many consider boring, because they cover peoples names and geographical places being divided between the tribes after Joshua had conquered most of the promised land.

A Harlot's Faith That Moved A Mountain

by Chuck Ness

There are four women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus Christ, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. The second one, Rahab, was the harlot of Jericho who protected the men sent out by Joshua to spy on the city. Besides being a direct ancestor of Christ, Rahab is also one of only two women mentioned in Hebrews for their triumph of faith. The other being Abraham's wife Sarah.

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a
child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
(Hebrew 11:11)

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot
Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
(Hebrew 11:30-31)

Then we read in James,

Why Worry Christian?

By Chuck Ness

It has been said that while money is the biggest stumbling block to the rich, worry is the biggest stumbling block to the poor. However, I have read about many rich people worrying about their money and I have known many poor people who have stumbled with what little money they did have.

We live in the most powerfully affluent society the world has ever seen, not since Solomon ruled Israel has a country been so affluent as America is today. Why even the poor are wealthy when compared to the poorest people in places like Bangladesh. Even with the country in a virtual lockdown over the COVID virus, America is still the country everyone wants to come to for success and tranquility in their lives. Which says something about the rest of the world.

My Thoughts on the Epistle to the Hebrews

By Chuck Ness

I can truly say that my understanding of the salvation I received from Christ has been made abundantly clearer thanks to this letter. I would love to thank the author for the growth I gained in studying this letter. However the identity of the author is unknown, but there is no lack of ideas as to who wrote it. The list goes on and on as to who the author was. The opinions run the gamut from Barnabas, Paul, and Apollos (whom I personally go back and forth in awarding my vote to) some scholars even suggest that either Priscilla or Mary the mother of Jesus was the author. I have my reasons why I do not think the author was a woman, however even if we knew who wrote this, a most excellent of epistles, it would not add, nor take from, one iota of importance to its contents.

That being said, I shall not get into the many minutia of who the author is, except to say the letter is truly inspired by the Holy Spirit and that is really all that matters.