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Sketched X Day 9 Dreams & Designs: Digging deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Dreams & Designs!

The Questions

1) Why is the timing in these verses recorded and how is it emphasized in the narrative? (verses 1-14)

2) What is the reader to learn about God and His revelations from this passage? (verses 15-27)

3) Why would the author record Joseph’s statement regarding the Lord’s determination of His plans? What does this reveal about Joseph’s faith? (verse 32)

Genesis 41:1-32

At the end of two years Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, 2 when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile. 4 The sickly, thin cows ate the healthy, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5 He fell asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and good, came up on one stalk. 6 After them, seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, full ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream.
8 When morning came, he was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
|9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I remember my faults. 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guards. 11 He and I had dreams on the same night; each dream had its own meaning. 12 Now a young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, he interpreted our dreams for us, and each had its own interpretation. 13 It turned out just the way he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”
14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon. He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.
16 “I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
17 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 when seven well-fed, healthy-looking cows came up from the Nile and grazed among the reeds. 19 After them, seven other cows—weak, very sickly, and thin—came up. I’ve never seen such sickly ones as these in all the land of Egypt. 20 Then the thin, sickly cows ate the first seven well-fed cows. 21 When they had devoured them, you could not tell that they had devoured them; their appearance was as bad as it had been before. Then I woke up. 22 In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, coming up on one stalk. 23 After them, seven heads of grain—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind—sprouted up. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven good ones. I told this to the magicians, but no one can tell me what it means.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing. 27 The seven thin, sickly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind are seven years of famine.

28 “It is just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt. 30 After them, seven years of famine will take place, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will devastate the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe. 32 Since the dream was given twice to Pharaoh, it means that the matter has been determined by God, and he will carry it out soon.

Original Intent

1) Why is the timing in these verses recorded and how is it emphasized in the narrative? (verses 1-14)
Immediately before the introductory sentence of chapter 41, “At the end of two years […]”, we read the closing sentence of chapter 40 which provides significant context, “Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” While imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, Joseph interpreted the dreams of two fellow prisoners. Joseph pleaded with the Cupbearer to remember Joseph and his unjust treatment when he was returned to his previous royal position, but the Cupbearer forgot him, and so Joseph stayed in prison for two more years. The author (Moses) also included the small words “the end” to emphasize completion of a term. The Lord God is never in a rush. Though Joseph had surely pleaded with God for freedom from injustice many times in the 2+years he’d been imprisoned, the Lord would answer Joseph’s prayer at just the right time. The series of events, though certainly chaotic and without reason to Joseph, was carefully arranged and allowed by the Lord. The famine was coming, the good years were coming, and the Lord would use Joseph to position him at just the right time in order to save not only his family, but also allow for the flourishing of a new, budding nation of Israel. The Lord loved Joseph, and Israel, too much to allow Joseph’s shortsighted pleadings to short-circuit Joseph’s coming redemption and Israel’s growth. More markers of time passage are included in this passage to emphasize the preciseness of the Lord’s arrangement. “When morning came” (verse 8) speaking of Pharaoh’s passage of time and “today” (verse 9) speaking of the Cupbearer’s negligent forgetfulness and “then” (verse 14) speaking of Pharaoh’s conclusion to send for Joseph all underscore the reality that nothing in this narrative was happenstance. God used every single detail to bring about the next steps in His plan of redemption.

2) What is the reader to learn about God and His revelations from this passage? (verses 15-27)
God is not aloof, far-off, and neither has He posted a “Do Not Disturb” sign on His door. He wants to be known; He wants humanity to seek Him, follow His ways, and learn to trust Him. Though He, as sovereign Lord of the Universe, is absolutely not required to give dreams to people, He does, precisely because He wants to be known. The Lord is also a God of clarity, not mystique, deception, or confusion. God provided dreams to Pharaoh, a man who did not worship the Lord God in any fashion, in order to make Himself known to Pharaoh, but also to demonstrate to Pharaoh His character of orderliness and understanding. Pharaoh didn’t understand the meanings, but that didn’t negate that clear meanings were both intended and would be provided by the Lord. The Lord raised up the “dream expert” in His own time, and in His own way, after He had allowed Joseph time to wrestle with his faith for many years and land in a place of trust in the Almighty. Through the man of God’s own choosing, what had appeared confusing at first, was plainly revealed. In the same way, Jesus, to whom Joseph points us, would one day make very clear what seemed hidden to the Jews. He would shine clarifying light on the Old Testament and show how Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfilled every promising hope hidden in its pages. (1 Corinthians 2:7-8) While the Lord provided a clear interpretation to the dreams, we mustn’t miss there was only one correct interpretation, and everyone knew it, even the pagans. The magicians and wise men in all of Egypt, on hearing the dreams, knew they couldn’t correctly interpret it, for the Lord was holding its meaning. (verse 8) Only the man the Lord had chosen to interpret would have the correct interpretation.

3) Why would the author record Joseph’s statement regarding the Lord’s determination of His plans? What does this reveal about Joseph’s faith? (verse 32)
Joseph was given dreams and their interpretation from the Lord since he was a youth, but now as he stood before Pharaoh, his faith had grown and deepened in ways he couldn’t have fathomed all those years ago when he’d received his first dream. Joseph’s first dreams promised a coming time when his own brothers would bow down to him, but the timing of this dream’s realization, and the picture of what its actualization looked like in real life were likely radically different from Joseph’s first thoughts. Would he be king? Would he move from his father’s house into the lap of luxury? Would his dream make him powerful enough to silence his brothers once and for all? Maybe the “dream expert” spent many hours wondering how his dream would play out and when. In his thoughts, how easily could he cast aside that it was Yahweh, the Lord of All, who had given the dreams and would bring them about in His time? Did Joseph fall for the deception that these dreams were his destiny and it was up to him to make it happen? Perhaps pride puffed him up for years before the Lord began to bring him low, and lovingly teach Joseph how the Lord’s dreams weren’t about Joseph, but about the Lord God. The provision would be the Lord’s, just as the dreams were. The interpretation belonged to the Lord, just as Joseph did. The timing was the Lord’s, not Joseph’s to control. The fulfillment of the dreams rested solely on the Lord. Joseph emphasized how determined the Lord was to bring about the fulfillment of Pharaoh’s dreams because it was a lesson he had well-learned in his time of training with the Lord.

Everyday Application

1) Why is the timing in these verses recorded and how is it emphasized in the narrative? (verses 1-14)
It’s interesting to study what people choose to put down on paper, to record, to keep, and be re-read at a later time. It reveals quite a bit about what was important to them and who they are as a person. Old journals are particularly interesting, especially after a person has passed away. We wonder, who were they really between themselves and the page? How much more curious ought we be when approaching Scripture?! This is God’s own Words revealed to us about His heart and purpose for His people. More so, it’s living and active and effective as it teaches us applicable truth for our everyday moments in the middle of our own century! (Hebrews 4:12) Whether you’re an avid journal-keeper or not, what might you choose to record about your life in this season? What are your views of the Lord and His timing? Do you believe you are commander of your own destiny or does the Lord have any rule in your life? How do the words recorded in Joseph’s narrative land inside you? Do they compel you to worship the Lord for His kind goodness and constant presence or do you sense yourself pressing against Him in your soul? Regardless of where you are in your faith journey, be comforted by the truth that even the fact that you’re reading this today, at this moment, isn’t random. The Lord has a purpose for you just as He did for Joseph. As we learn to trust Him more and more, we discover not only our purpose, but also the grand love of the Lord as He thoughtfully pursues us with goodness and mercy. (Psalm 23:6)

2) What is the reader to learn about God and His revelations from this passage? (verses 15-27)
In today’s culture of dreams and visions and “prophetic words”, it can be easy to miss the main reason the Lord has given revelation of Himself through dreams and visions. If we move so fast into interpretation, seek what it could mean, or draw out the course of our lives, or rush to determine a “promise” from a dream, we have missed the Lord’s emphasis. He wants us to know Him for who He is as the Lord of All; everything else flows from this. When it comes to interpreting dreams or Scripture itself, we must remember what the pagans knew so well. The Lord has one correct interpretation to the original intent. We would be wise to consider the warning the Lord gave to the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, “The prophet who has only a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has my word should speak my word truthfully, for what is straw compared to grain?”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “Is not my word like fire”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and like a hammer that pulverizes rock? Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets”—the Lord’s declaration—“who steal my words from each other. I am against the prophets”—the Lord’s declaration—“who use their own tongues to make a declaration. I am against those who prophesy false dreams”—the Lord’s declaration—“telling them and leading my people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people”—this is the Lord’s declaration.” (Jeremiah 23:28-32) Let’s exercise a holy awe and caution when reaching for interpreting dreams; let’s hold fast to the Word of the Lord as our foundation!

3) Why would the author record Joseph’s statement regarding the Lord’s determination of His plans? What does this reveal about Joseph’s faith? (verse 32)
The Lord never wastes suffering for those who have entrusted themselves wholly to Him. (1 Peter 5:10-11) He uses it to shape us into the image of Jesus, so we can more beautifully reflect Him to the world around us. (Romans 8:29) We cannot reflect a God of love if we have not learned to trust Him. Neither can we reflect His kind, humble goodness if we are trapped inside our own pride. Joseph began his faith journey with the Lord full of youthful arrogance and pride. Instead of causing us to look down on him, we ought to be so richly comforted! The Lord called Joseph and gave him the gift of dreams and interpretation. Over time and through hard suffering, the Lord would finish His work and place Joseph in just the right place to use His gift at just the right time that the Lord had pre-ordained. (James 1:2-4) The same is true for each of us. (Philippians 1:6) When we surrender ourselves to Jesus, His Spirit gives us gifts we are to use for the benefit of believers and for the strengthening of the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7) Our pride will puff us up when we look at our gift, but when we lean into the lessons the Lord teaches us about Himself in our suffering, we learn what it looks like to love like Jesus! (1 Corinthians 8:1)

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Dreams & Designs!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Sketched X Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Sketched IX Day 2 Who Is This?: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Who Is This?

The Questions

1) What is significant about knowing the proximity of Lydda and Joppa? (verse 38)

2) What do we learn in verse 39 about Tabitha (Dorcas) that made this scene so poignant?

3) How did Peter’s private encounter with Tabitha in verse 40 impact so many people?

Acts 9:36-43

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works and acts of charity. 37 About that time she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” 39 Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. He called the saints and widows and presented her alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner.

Original Intent

1) What is significant about knowing the proximity of Lydda and Joppa? (verse 38)
Bible commentaries and geographical maps reveal that Lydda was a city northwest of Jerusalem and was about 10.5 miles (16.9 km) from the city of Joppa. With recent news concerning the notorious persecutor, Paul, becoming a disciple of Christ, the apostle Peter had been able to travel in the area with less anxiety. Paul’s conversion story is found in Acts 9:10-31. Verse 31 sets the context for us, “So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.” Peter, having been called by God to Samaria, was now making his way back to Jerusalem with his traveling partner, John. (Acts 8:14-25) He had been staying in Lydda and had healed a man there. Upon hearing that Peter was nearby, some disciples from Joppa sent for him because a beloved woman in town had become very ill and died. We are not told if the people in Joppa had heard the story of the healing God had done through Peter while he was in Lydda, but we do know there was urgency in their plea for him to come. The Bible makes it clear in verse 38 that the proximity of the two towns was significant in several ways. 1) News of Peter’s presence had rapidly traveled from Lydda to Joppa because of the short distance. 2) Disciples could promptly be sent to find him, which strengthened the church through proximity.  3) Peter was able to swiftly arrive in Joppa from Lydda to fulfill the urgent request. The church was growing rapidly, and being free to move between locations greatly aided this spread of the gospel.

2) What do we learn in verse 39 about Tabitha (Dorcas) that made this scene so poignant?
Read verse 37! A serious and sorrowful situation had occurred. A woman named Tabitha (Dorcas is the Greek translation of the Aramaic name Tabitha, netbible.org) had died. Tabitha was well known for her acts of service and charity, as a result of her outpouring of love, her death was deeply felt by her community. We learn in verse 39 that the deep sorrow was a response to the life she had lived so well. As Peter approaches the place where they had laid Tabitha’s body, her weeping friends approached him first. They showed him gifts she had given them and expressed to him the ways she had cared for them. I wonder if, at that moment, Peter thought about another incident where someone beloved had died. Did his mind go back to the day his Lord Jesus had taken him to the family gathering on the occasion of Lazarus’ death? John 11 records the scene. As Jesus neared the place where the dead body of his friend lay, the sisters of Lazarus ran out to Jesus to tell Him what happened. Jesus was evidently so deeply moved by their sorrow that those standing around noticed and commented. I cannot help but believe that Peter’s heart was stirred by the memory as he was approached by the mourners on this day. Not only that, did Peter quickly rehearse in his mind the outcome of that day with Jesus? Did he reflect on the resurrection power of his Master? Whether he thought about it in that moment, we do not know. What is clear is that a community’s love for Tabitha moved Peter to action. In faith, Peter knelt by the body of the beloved woman, awakening her to life by God’s resurrection power. (verse 40)

3) How did Peter’s private encounter with Tabitha in verse 40 impact so many people?
It is not apparent in the passage that the disciples from Joppa came to Peter in Lydda with the hope he would raise their beloved Tabitha from the dead. It is possible they simply hoped for him to come back to serve and care for their grief-stricken community. But on this day, God chose to respond to Peter’s faith with a resurrection! Had Tabitha not been raised, we would probably not know what happened in the privacy of her room that day. I wonder if there would even be a record of the day as Peter simply followed some disciples to minister to a group of mourners. This was the common life for Peter as He followed the Holy Spirit leading him. Reading through Acts, we don’t find any indication that bringing back the dead was common practice. Though the New Testament records resurrections happening (Mark 5:35-43, Luke 7:11-16, John 11:1-44), this was a remarkable event among believers. Just as the sisters of Lazarus thought the death of their brother was final, these mourners were not expecting Tabitha to wake up that day. (John 11:38-39) But she did! As a result, her amazing story was shared throughout the community, leading many to believe the gospel and prompting Peter to remain in Joppa. (verses 42-43)

Everyday Application

1) What is significant about knowing the proximity of Lydda and Joppa? (verse 38)
You have likely heard, or used the phrase, “bad news travels fast”. With social media, this seems truer than ever! But I love to think about how good news also finds its way to people quickly. Lydda and Joppa were “near” enough to each other that news of Peter’s visit quickly passed to other believers in the area. Do you remember reading stories of Peter as a disciple when Jesus walked the earth? In today’s vernacular we would call him a “wild card” for his impetuous spirit! What Peter had witnessed in his years of following Jesus continued inspiring him to do bold things in Christ’s name. In Acts 8 and 9 we find Peter speaking the word of the Lord and preaching the gospel in many villages as he traveled from place to place. What a beautiful picture of God’s grace to know that the believers in Joppa called for Peter, the same disciple who had once fearfully denied even knowing Jesus. (Matthew 26:69-75) We don’t know what these grieving believers expected from Peter, but we do know they felt it necessary to have him come to them. God had placed Peter in Lydda to also do miraculous things through him in Joppa. Dear Sister, you may not understand why God has you where He does right now. Like Peter, maybe you have failed Him (we all have!) and wonder if He will still use you to do great things. Thankfully, we know our failures don’t thwart God’s purposes. Though we cannot always see all He is doing where we are, you never know what God is working out around the corner from you.

2) What do we learn in verse 39 about Tabitha (Dorcas) that made this scene so poignant?
Tabitha’s life gives us a picture of what it means to be a true friend, deeply invested in biblical community. If she was living in 2021, I imagine her to be one of those friends everyone considered to be their “bestie.” We all need those kinds of sisters and friends in our lives. If we follow Jesus, we should desire and strive to be a generous friend like this to others. Sincere and selfless deeds demonstrate we have been changed by Jesus’ life at work within us! The Bible tells us that on the night before He died, Jesus picked up a basin of water and a towel and washed the feet of His disciples. (John 13:3-15) He was modeling how all of His followers are to treat others. Tabitha lived this kind of life. The sorrow felt by so many in her community at her loss inspires us to find ways to be this same kind of woman; one who leaves a lasting impact on those around us. I am confident the traveling missionary, Peter, was inspired by Tabitha’s reputation. Though there are a variety of ways we can serve in our churches and communities, we all have gifts to share with others. All believers are to “to remember the poor”. (Galatians 2:10) Sincere religion, the kind God accepts, is “to look after orphans and widows in their distress”. (James 1:27) Peter witnessed the gospel in action by observing the effects of true religion practiced by Tabitha.

3) How did Peter’s private encounter with Tabitha in verse 40 impact so many people?
I doubt that bringing Tabitha back from the dead was done for her own sake. I believe Peter knew her death meant she was in the presence of God. (2 Corinthians 5:8) But maybe he considered those dear widows and others in need. Her presence in their lives brought them comfort and joy and pressed them closer to knowing God. It reminds me of how the apostle Paul came to view his life surrounded by those he loved, as well as longing for life with Christ through death. “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-22) If we have put our faith in Christ, and if we trust His work on the cross for our salvation, then while we live here on earth we are to live for Jesus. When our time on earth ends, we get to be with Jesus. But beyond that practical concern for her friends, this resurrection had a far-reaching impact. The miracle of Tabitha’s resurrection was spread among the community. Because of it, many people in Joppa came to believe in the God of miracles. This event opened the door for Peter to come to Joppa and stay a while, strengthening and teaching the local believers. And friends, I just can’t help but think that he did not waste a second of his time there sharing the story of Jesus! John Piper said, “the book of Acts is written to encourage us again and again that the Jesus who began to do and to teach on earth is now alive with omnipotent power and continues to do what he began to do and teach what he began to teach. He is turning things around all over the world—from huge political upheavals to personal periods of gloom and discouragement.” (John Piper)

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Who Is This?

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Sketched IX Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Sketched IV Day 11 Zechariah

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 1:5-25
Luke 1:57-80
Genesis 17:1-27

Sketched IV, Day 11

The lot has been cast; I am the chosen priest to burn the incense in the temple.
What an honor!
I love serving the Lord and have always taken the entrustment of priestly role seriously. There is a humility required that draws me closer to Him and challenges me to honor Him with my actions.

I made sure all my priestly attire rested properly in place, no stains or blemishes marked it. I spent time purifying myself – mind, body, and soul – before approaching the altar of incense. The actions were a routine I’d walked through before, but even then, the holiness of the movements humbled me.
Who am I to serve the Lord of Lords?

I approached the altar of incense with reverence, focusing on the faithfulness and intentionality of the Lord. His parameters were specific, and the expectations were high, but the palpable holiness I felt in this moment only motivated me to honor Him more.

Suddenly I was not alone in the space.

An angel of the Lord stood beside the table. How I knew it was an angel was slightly beyond me, but fear coursed through me due to the heavenly presence.
Why was he here? What had I done?

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.
There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.
He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

The adrenaline coursed through my body and I fought to comprehend what He had just said to me. “How can I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

The moment the words were out of my mouth I wished I could retract them. The angel’s response only confirmed my desire to have thought through my words before speaking.

“I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God,
and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.
Now listen.
You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

Several long, yet joyous, months later the proper time approached. In a few moments, our baby boy, our miraculous gift, would be officially named. Over the months, I had replayed my conversation with Gabriel and thought through what I wished my response would have been that day:
“May the Lord be glorified. The God of Abraham who gave Sarah the ability to conceive, is great and powerful. When He speaks, all of creation responds. He is entrusting us with John, and we seek His wisdom and strength in raising him.”

That had become my prayer over the months of silence.
The Lord was the only one to whom I could speak and know my voice was heard.
How many times had I talked to Him about His faithfulness and ability
to bring to pass what He has promised?
How many times had the silence been a reminder of His power and sovereignty?

Ever since Elizabeth told me she was pregnant, I dreamed of the moment I would be able to speak.
To look at my wife and say her name again.
To look at my son and call him John.

He had arrived eight days ago. Elizabeth had called him John the first moment she held him in her arms. I had nodded my agreement and waited for the words to flow.

None came.
The silence continued.
Now neighbors and relatives were gathered, all talking about how the child would be named after his now mute father.
I shook my head and yet again Elizabeth spoke for me,
“No. He will be called John.”

Great argument arose from those surrounding us since John was not a family name.
I motioned for a tablet to write on while they argued. With great joy and determination, I wrote four words on the tablet and showed it to the crowd.

His. Name. Is. John.

In that moment, the floodgates released as my faith was manifested before witnesses.
The silence ended, and with it I proclaimed all that was within me.

No doubts and no fears; Yahweh was trustworthy!
Sometimes it is in the waiting to speak that the power to believe rises up.

As I spoke, watching the reactions around me, the words of Gabriel whispered in my ear:
“Many will rejoice at his birth.”

Perhaps John’s legacy will be something like my silent lesson.
Silence before a proclamation that would break all expectation.
A proclamation delivered in pure, solid faith of the Almighty.
A proclamation that would point unequivocally to the coming Messiah.
The proclamation John would make, again just as Gabriel had said,
“to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched IV Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched IV!

Sketched IV Day 10 Delilah

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Judges 16:3-20
Proverbs 14:1
Proverbs 22:14
John 8:3-11
2 Corinthians 5:16-6:1

Sketched IV, Day 10

If you ask me, people are too quick to judge.
If other people had been in the same shoes that, I, Delilah, found myself, perhaps they would’ve made the same choices.

Who’s to say?
All I know is that I did what I felt I had to.

I’ll never forget the infamous day I met Samson.
I knew he wasn’t from my area of town, the Valley of Sorek.
No, he was from the dreaded Israelite territories.

The valley I call home is centered directly between Israelite land and Philistine land, so one might imagine how torn I felt. I live in the midst of intense fighting and constant land disputes between the two dueling nations, but then Samson came along.

This strong, rugged, handsome man whose reputation (for……) went before him clearly loved me, and I him, I suppose.
But sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

Samson was Israel’s hero.
Judge and mighty conqueror, he was their rescuer and our feared enemy.
Philistine leaders approached me in order to trap him and win the upper hand politically.
They gave me an offer I felt I couldn’t refuse.
I went for it.

In exchange for thousands of pieces of silver, all I had to do was find out from whence came all of Samson’s strength. Easy, right?
And I needed the money!
Silver is hard to come by these days. The land is constantly being divided, lives are being lost, blood is being spilt, and the Israelites are taking land that doesn’t belong to them.
Why wouldn’t I cash in on this offer from the Philistines?

Cash in, I did.
I went to Samson to determine the cause of all his superhuman strength. The stubborn oaf didn’t answer me truthfully the first time. He made me look like an idiot in front of the Philistine leaders. He did this not once, not twice, but three times.
What was he holding on to?! And Why?!

Finally, I knew what would get to him. We women can be quite wily and manipulative when the situation calls for it. So, that’s what I did – I harnessed my immense power of influence as a woman, turned on the waterworks, and accused him of not truly loving me since he refused to tell me the truth. That worked, and the “strong” man caved.
I knew he would.
No man can resist the waterworks.

Did I feel bad when I saw the subsequent treatment he endured at the hand of the Philistines as a result of what I had done?
I admit I did for a time.
But I don’t see how the treatment he suffered was any worse than the treatment he had dished out to the Philistines.
Turn-about is fair play, I say.
Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the look of all this silver in my home!
No more wondering where the next meal will come from for me!

~~~~
It’s so easy for me to look at people like Delilah, in the Bible or otherwise,
and instantly jump to judge them.
Perhaps you can relate?
But wait, put yourself in her shoes and consider why she may have done what she did.
Not to say the actions were right, simply that sometimes, they are at least understandable.
Realizing this helps us to approach others
with humility and grace,
even when dealing with outright sin that must be addressed.

In the story of Samson and Delilah from Judges 16,
Samson, the strongest man of his time,
became a weakling in the hands of a woman,
and as he surrendered his vows to the Lord.

We see this happen all the time, even today.
Proverbs 14:1 explains,
“The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.”

As women, we carry with us incredible power of influence, either for good or evil.
Proverbs 22:14 says,
“The mouth of a forbidden women is a deep pit;
he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.”

Delilah was a forbidden woman to the Israelite Samson, because God had set apart the Israelites for the purpose of declaring His glory to the nations around them and not becoming like them, worshipping false gods.
Israel was to be holy as God was holy (Leviticus 19:2),
putting the Lord on display.

Samson chose to honor and please himself, forsaking the Lord,
and we see what became of him.

Throughout the Word we are given examples of sinful women who destroyed the men who pursued them. On the flip side, however, we also see wonderful examples of godly women who influenced the men around them for good.

In the Garden of Eden, the serpent went to Eve, knowing that if he could seduce her, turning her eyes from the fullness of God, Adam would come tumbling down as well with her power of influence.
Sure enough, he did. They both did.

So, today, I ask you sweet sisters, how are you wielding your power of influence?
For good? Or for evil?
How are your words and actions impacting the spouse, child, friend, co-worker, boss, neighbor, parent, or grandparent near you?
Are you building up the Kingdom with your own hands?
Or are you, perhaps inadvertently, working to tear it down?

The good news of the Gospel is that even if you have used your power in ungodly ways in the past, by coming to Christ, you are “...a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Cling to that truth and rejoice in it; harnessing it to spur you on to faith and good works!

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Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched IV Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched IV!

Sketched IV Day 8 Peter

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 21:15-19
Mark 14:66-72
John 1:35-42 

Sketched IV, Day 8

“Simon, do you love me with a love that is selfless, pure, and passionate?
Do you love Me most?”  

My eyes lifted from my hands, meeting Jesus’ gaze. His question lingered, as the juice from the fish dripped down my forearms, my heart pounding.
I couldn’t stop the scene playing out in my mind’s eye as I recalled the darkest moment in my life…
—
“Aren’t you one of His disciples?” she asked as I walked into courtyard where Jesus was. I quickly shook my head, “I’m not!” But guilt consumed me. 
I am. I am His disciple. 
But I didn’t want to die.  

“Aren’t you one of His disciples?” I was asked again. “No!” I insisted. 
“But I saw you in the garden with Jesus,” another said.
“No, you didn’t! I do not know this Man!”  

The rooster crowed. Just as He’d said it would. 
I had denied my Lord three times. 
…
“Lord, You know I love you as a friend and brother,” I respond quickly, my focus returning.  

Yet, my heart would not be stilled.
How could I say I love Him selflessly?
How could I say I love Him most?
I denied Him when He needed me most.  

But Jesus continued, 

“Feed my lambs, Simon.”

His words brought a new scene to mind. It was winter, and we were listening to Jesus as we walked the grand colonnade of Solomon’s temple. His words, as always, had arrested my wandering attention.
…
“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers… The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:1-10)
…
Feed His lambs? But He is the Good Shepherd.
Besides, I’m a fisherman. What does this mean? 

I still can’t look Him in the eyes.
He knows me, He knows I denied Him three times, He knows I turned my back on Him.
How could He even ask if I love Him?  

Jesus was speaking again, insistently, “Simon, Son of John, do you love me with a love so strong you will put Myself before you?
Do you love me with a love so passionate, you would protect My truth and build others up with it?

My heart flew to another impossible invitation by the Lord as we’d stood by the Sea of Galilee.
It was my fishing boat, my empty nets, and His winsome offer…
…
“Hello, Peter. Would you do me a favor and let me get in your boat?”, Jesus asked.
I noticed the crowd of people behind him, moving closer and closer to Him. 
His only other option would have been to stand in the sea.  

“Yes! Of course. I haven’t caught any fish anyways; my boat is empty.”  

He asked me to row out, then He stood and began speaking to the people. I tried to listen as He talked, but I’d been awake all night fishing, exhaustion was setting in.  

Suddenly, He had my full attention as He’d turned His gaze on me, 
“Put your net out to catch some fish.” 
I was embarrassed; I’d caught nothing after an entire night’s worth of work, but who was I to say no?  

“I’ve been fishing all night and caught nothing, but I’ll try it again for you,” I shrugged and tossed the nets overboard. After a moment, my nets began to tug and tear! Fish flooded my nets! I whistled to our boating partners, and with all of our might, we pulled loads of fish into our boats. 
There were so many we began sinking! 
A miracle! 
I’d been wondering how I would make money today and this Miracle Worker brought in enough fish to cover my wages for days! 
It was then I knew, I knew He was Lord! 

I fell to my knees, fully aware of my unworthiness and utter sinfulness; I’d begged Him to leave. How could He even associate with me?  

“Do not be afraid! From now on, you will be catching men.”  

I caught those fish that day, but I gave them to another local fisherman. 
Instead, I chose to follow Jesus… this man who was Lord. 
The same one I later denied…
…
“Jesus, You know I love you as my friend.” I dug deep for a response to His incessant questioning, my sorrow continuing to burn hot in my belly.
I loved Him with everything in me. But how could I convey it?  

Before I could attempt a better response, He instructed.
“Tend my sheep.”

Or was it an invitation?
Either way, He knew exactly the story His words would bring to mind.
…
“Which of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost? And on finding it, he lays it on his shoulder, rejoicing.” 

Jesus would leave ninety-nine sheep just to go after one. 
He would do that for me, for anyone. 
He loved the wealthy and the poor, the Jews and the Gentiles, the adulteress and the leper. 
He was more than Jesus Christ to me, He was my Lord, and my friend. 
…
Jesus saw my eyes return to His, my fish breakfast long since forgotten.  

“Simon,” He questioned slowly for the third time.
“Do you love me as your friend and as your brother?”

This time it was different.
This time, He knew the answer, and my heart was shattered.
What’s more, I knew the answer. 
I knew I just simply loved Him, and that was enough.
Wherever He took me, whatever it cost, whatever the task, I loved Him. 

“Lord, You know me; You know everything. You know I  love You.”  

Again, He invited and commanded, “Feed My sheep.”  

“Simon, the cost of following Me is your full surrender. You may lose physical freedom, but you will truly be free. FOLLOW ME.”  

Our eyes locked and I knew the depth of this invitation.
I was forgiven.
He trusted me with His sheep.
I was to make fishers of men, continuing to extend the invitation I’d been given.  

Why would I say yes?
I loved Him.
He loved me. 

Simon Peter’s life is one of transformation and sanctification that we get to watch transform through the pages of Scripture. From the quick and wordy fisherman who was called by Jesus, to the wise and heroic martyr and was an essential piece of the founding of the Church, Peter shows us that even when we fall, even when we deny Jesus, He isn’t finished with us. God’s plan for us is deep and wide. We can accomplish His purposes because of His unconditional love. 

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched IV Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched IV!

The GT Weekend! Sketched IV Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Nehemiah was faithful to the task before him and didn’t waver when he was mocked or when division crept in. What is God asking you to be faithful to? Are there places you know you are doing what God asked, but it’s getting difficult to carry on? Cling to Scripture for your encouragement; our God’s promises and His character are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!  

2) Life can feel mundane and ordinary very quickly! Scripture says we are to offer our lives to God as a sacrifice. Its our way of stopping what we want to do and following in faith that God will lead us well into whatever is coming next. Where is your life feeling boring? Offer that space to the Lord and watch Him use it to further His kingdom! 

3) Our past mistakes can hold us down like a ball and chain, constantly taking us back to where we’ve sinned and messed up. However, if we’ve repented of the sin and asked forgiveness, we can hold tight to the truth that we’ve been forgiven. God isn’t holding those mistakes over our head, taunting us with our failures. Where are you holding on to old history that God has set you free from? Where do you need to ask for forgiveness? Any places you need to walk forward in victory? 

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Hebrews 13-14-16  back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

14 For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices. 

Prayer Journal
O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, Have mercy upon us. 
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy upon us. 
O God the Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the faithful, Have mercy upon us. 
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God, Have mercy upon us. 
Remember not, Lord Christ, our offenses, nor the offenses of our forefathers; neither reward us according to our sins. 
Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and by thy mercy preserve us for ever.
Spare us, good Lord. 
From all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; and from everlasting damnation, Good Lord, deliver us. 
By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension; and by the Coming of the Holy Ghost, Good Lord, deliver us. 
In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, Good Lord, deliver us. 

Taken from the Common Book of Prayers
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/files/book_of_common_prayer.pdf  

 

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

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Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Sketched IV Day 3 Boaz

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ruth 1-4
1 Samuel 16:10-13
Matthew 1:1-6

Sketched IV, Day 3

I’ve been faithful to Yahweh all my days.
When I was a boy my father, Salmon, took me to temple to hear the scrolls read.

I knew my father was faithful and Yahweh blessed him for it. His crops were always plentiful – enough to sell at market what we didn’t store for the family’s use.

I have admired the love of my father for my mother, and hers for him, and hoped to find that same kind of love. She would have to be a rare and special woman to accept a man with a mixed heritage. My parents met in Israel after my mother, Rahab, was spared from the destruction of Jericho. She left behind her prostitution in the rubble, but would always be a Gentile. My father’s compassion toward her has been an inspiration in my life.

As I grew into adulthood, I felt Yahweh had a special plan for me.
Something greater than farming.

Since He hadn’t yet revealed the whole plan to me, I followed in my father’s footsteps. I planted and harvested crops, which were abundantly fruitful. Soon, I hired workers and still the production increased. Before I knew it, my income had doubled, then tripled! I was thankful to Yahweh for blessing me, but I never let the money control me.

Instead, I chose to put people first.
I paid fair wages to my workers, allowing them to join the feast on the threshing floor. For the poor souls who had nothing to eat, I left a little more than most field-owners around the edges of the fields for them to glean.

But with all this success, I still had an ache in my heart.
I watched as all my friends married.
I rejoiced with them at their wedding feasts,
but inside my heart I questioned Yahweh.

When would I be blessed with a wife? Was I not faithful? Was I not obedient?
Then something told me: Maybe a wife was part of the special plan that Yahweh had for me.

I saw her as I returned from the marketplace one day.
The fields were full of workers, but she was different…pleasant.
She looked foreign, but that wasn’t what struck me.
She worked hard, but she had a calm, unflappable demeanor.
She was respectful to the hired workers and kind to fellow gleaners.
As I observed her interactions, my fascination grew.
Who was this beauty and what terrible circumstances had reduced her to gleaning a field to survive?

I asked my workers if they knew anything about her.
They said, “She is Ruth the Moabitess, and she stays with her mother-in-law, Naomi.”

Oh, my heart exploded with compassion!

I had heard of Naomi’s tragedies from the people in the marketplace. She had lost much, suffered so deeply, she even asked to be called “Mara” meaning bitter. Rumor had it her Gentile daughter-in-law had returned from Moab with her. This woman must know Yahweh, despite being outside the Jewish faith, to follow Naomi rather than staying with her own family in the wake of her husband’s death.
Again, compassion drew me back to the face of the worker in my field.

Special kindnesses were due here, so I instructed my hired workers to casually drop sheaves so Ruth could pick them up while she gleaned.
Even dirty and tired from the day’s work, Ruth still glowed.
Could I be falling for this woman half my age?

The workers harvested the barley, then the wheat.
Ruth was there each day, diligently gleaning for herself and her mother-in-law.
I was there each day to casually check on the work, but truth be told,
I couldn’t keep myself away from her.

After the threshing of the harvest and the feasting and drinking, I woke up – cold – to discover a beautiful woman lying at my feet. Startled, I asked, “Who are you?!”
She quickly awoke, trembling, yet with graceful boldness said, “I am Ruth, your servant. Take me under your wing, for you are a family redeemer.”

I knew she was right, the Law of Moses said I could indeed redeem her.
I could marry Ruth and give her a child, ensuring she and Naomi would be cared for in generations to come.

Now, joy filled my heart! I blessed her for her kindness, because she was a beauty who could have any man, especially one much younger than myself! Ah, but there was also a catch…another family redeemer who was first in line. This man would need to be found, and soon.

Before the daybreak while it was still dark, I sent her home to Naomi with more grain to prove my willingness to redeem her. I immediately went into town to find the man who was positioned as Ruth’s closest family redeemer. Foolishly, he said he would not redeem Ruth…something about the inheritance to his children.
His foolishness, my joy!!

Ruth and I were married and soon had a son named Obed.
Yahweh had a greater plan for me, indeed!

—

Obed later had a son named Jesse.
Jesse had eight sons; the youngest was a scrappy sheep-herder named David. 

The Lord Jesus Christ came from the lineage of David.
Boaz and Ruth were blessed to be in the bloodline of our Savior!

Never discount your “ordinary” circumstances; the Lord Himself may be using them in a mightier way than you could imagine!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched IV Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched IV!

Sketched IV Day 2 Nehemiah: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Nehemiah!

The Questions

1) What is the significance of completing the wall in 52 days?

2) Why were Judah’s nobles speaking well of Tobiah, who was staunchly against them?

3) Why were gatekeepers, singers, and Levites listed first in order of who was being appointed to stand at the new wall?

Nehemiah 6:15-7:4

15 The wall was completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul. 16 When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.

17 During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. 19 These nobles kept mentioning Tobiah’s good deeds to me, and they reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

1 When the wall had been rebuilt and I had the doors installed, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. 2 Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. 3 I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot, and let the doors be shut and securely fastened while the guards are on duty. Station the citizens of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their homes.”

4 The city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and no houses had been built yet.

Original Intent

1) What is the significance of completing the wall in 52 days?
The walls of Jerusalem had been severely destroyed, and in many places, nearly leveled. The gates had been burned and were rendered useless (Nehemiah 2:13). The toppled walls had created such narrow passages that a horse or mule couldn’t even pass through. (Nehemiah 2:14) For comparison, these same walls would be destroyed and rebuilt several times after Nehemiah’s initial rebuilding, but these projects took years instead of one and half months. (see Wikipedia). 52 days compared to multiple years is extremely significant, especially given the tools available to Israel at the time. Clearly, this was something ONLY God could do through His mighty Spirit as His people chose to be obedient to His calling.

2) Why were Judah’s nobles speaking well of Tobiah, who was staunchly against them?
Tobiah was an Ammonite who was “greatly displeased” to hear that Nehemiah had come to protect, guard, and rebuild Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 2:10) The Ammonites would have liked nothing more than to obliterate the Judeans from the earth. So, if Tobiah was such a bad dude, why would Judeans be advocating for him to Nehemiah? Here’s the catch, the Judeans had intermarried with the Ammonites, something the Lord God had strictly forbidden because He knew the Ammonites, with their false religion, would lead Israel away from Yahweh, the One True God. Jews had been deported to Persia, a 70-year exile, while Jerusalem was razed, for exactly the reasons that led to these intermarriages. Israel had forgotten the first Love. They had stopped worshipping Him as their Redeemer, choosing instead to follow their pride and arrogance. As a result, they reaped nothing but sinful havoc for the nation as a whole and Nehemiah personally.

3) Why were gatekeepers, singers, and Levites listed first in order of who was being appointed to stand at the new wall?
It seems odd doesn’t it? A wall being rebuilt for the whole purpose of protecting the people within and the very first who are sent to their posts as guards are worshippers. From beginning to end, Jerusalem and her wall was never about trusting in her own strength, it was about returning to the God who loved her. Israel’s choice to abandon Yahweh time and time and time again, was a decision that had huge ramifications. Because of Israel’s disobedience, their land was destroyed, their kingship removed, and their people exiled to a foreign land for an entire generation. When they were invited to return home, rebuilding their walls was one thing, but being restored by the One True God was another matter entirely. Nehemiah understood that more than a military presence, Israel’s heart was what mattered most. Trusting God for protection meant worshipping Him first and foremost, exactly what they hadn’t done 70 years prior. When it came to priorities for Nehemiah, he knew worship had to be first, signifying trust in God and not their own strength.

Everyday Application

1) What is the significance of completing the wall in 52 days?
Far from the common misconception that God will not give you more than you can handle; He most assuredly will! This was clearly the case for Nehemiah as he began the incredibly daunting challenge of rebuilding a demolished wall. With pressure on all sides, and even from within, it was humanly impossible to finish this large of a project without Divine intervention. Even Nehemiah’s enemies knew this and attributed the success to God. (Nehemiah 6:16) This truth is for us, Ladies! The Lord will always call us to do work that is beyond our ability to perform, but take comfort in that; His strength is most beautifully displayed in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:8) Where are you feeling overwhelmed, at the end of your rope, and beyond hope? Bring this to the Lord in prayer, taking confidence in His endless strength! (Psalm 59)

2) Why were Judah’s nobles speaking well of Tobiah, who was staunchly against them?
As famous teacher Ravi Zaccharias says, “Sin will always take you farther than you want to go, cost you more than you wanted to pay, and keep you longer than you want to stay.” Every Single Time. The Lord gives boundaries and sets forth instruction in His Word because it is good, wholesome, and life bringing to us! He know that what we need most is to find our complete satisfaction in Him, and He will continue to pursue us until either we say yes to His invitation of unconditional love or we forever turn our back on Him, choosing instead to trust ourselves. The latter will always lead to eternal death. (Romans 6:23) But the trusting Jesus will always lead to life! Where do you need new life today? Relationships? Finances? Fear? Emotional tension? Physical ailments? Jesus has come to bring hope, eternal hope, but it begins and ends by trusting in His name alone, not a counterfeit, and certainly not ourselves. Take a cue from Tobias and the sin of Israel as they chose to trust themselves and follow their ways instead of God’s. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

3) Why were gatekeepers, singers, and Levites listed first in order of who was being appointed to stand at the new wall?
Nehemiah’s perspective isn’t one we commonly fall back on. Trial. Overwhelming odds. Destruction. Fear. Disrespect. Rumors….and Nehemiah chose worship as his first defense. I know for myself, the temptation to tense up, snap at the ones I love most, become distant, angry, isolated, and fearful come a whole lot easier than worship and praise. I also know from experience that Nehemiah was right. Choosing to worship in the face of extreme difficulty fundamentally shifts our heart perspective to safety in God because we know He is worthy of our trust. If we are in Jesus, when we lay our worship before the King of Kings, our fears slide away and that sense of overwhelmed is covered with indescribable peace. He designed our hearts to find ultimate satisfaction in a deep, living relationship with Him. Need peace? Try worship. Facing insurmountable odds? Try worship. Worship the King, sisters, and find His good heart!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Sketched III, Day 5 Barabbas

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 27:15-26
Mark 15:1-15
Luke 23:1-25

Sketched III, Day 5

After weeks of waiting in prison, the day has finally come.
I, Barabbas, have been convicted of treason against Rome.
My punishment is the worst imaginable – crucifixion at Golgotha.

I joined the insurrectionists because I believed in their mission – to rebel against the iron fist that was Roman rule and the elite upper class of Israel. Joining the zealots gave me a sense of purpose and belonging.

My name means “son of the father”, but I have no family.
This guerilla rebel group took me in and showed me that I could make a lasting impact on the world – for good or for bad.

During the riots, I felt full of fire and passion, like I would never get caught!
I robbed and I murdered.
I became notorious among the people as a revolutionary, gained popularity among other insurrectionists, and sympathy from the common people.
My life was going great, but in the back of my mind,
I wondered when my luck would run out.

Finally, it did.
I was arrested at our most recent uprising, and I’ve been in jail with other rebels ever since. I knew I was in trouble the moment the Roman soldier grabbed me.
The Romans don’t go easy on people like me.
They don’t care if I’ve stolen or if I’ve killed someone.
My sentence is for treason, the highest offense in Roman eyes.
When I was arrested, my first thought was of crucifixion.
I knew that would be my fate.

But I have one small hope, Paschal Pardon, the Jewish Passover custom of releasing to the crowd one prisoner of their choice.
So my fate lies in the hands of an angry mob.

I’ve been told that the governor, Pontius Pilate, is going to offer to the crowd me and one other man, Jesus of Nazareth. This man is also convicted on treason,
but He’s nothing like me.
I’ve heard He’s been creating quite the commotion around the city.
I’ve heard He performs miracles.
I’ve heard He heals the sick and dines with the poor.
Some say He is a good teacher.
Others say He is the Messiah.

Jesus landed himself in this position because the chief priests and scribes are angry at Him. He claims to be the Son of God – blasphemy in their eyes.
He said that the temple would be destroyed, but He would raise it up in 3 days (John 2:19). More blasphemy.

Getting the chief priests and scribes angry may play to my advantage, though.
They have influence and they will be in the crowd today. They want Jesus out of their way and they will do whatever it takes to make it happen!
If they argue for Jesus’s crucifixion, surely the crowd will as well.
—

I’ve gotten word that the crowd seems to be favoring my release over Jesus! I may have a second chance at life! I feel so full of relief, vigor, excitement, deliverance, and…

Guilt.
This man has done nothing to deserve death!
When He came into Jerusalem at the beginning of Passover, He came riding in on a donkey and people praised Him shouting, “Hosanna!” (Matthew 21:1-11).
He has brought hope and healing, not death and destruction like me.
Who could this man be?
Is he a good teacher?
Is he a prophet?
Or is he really the Messiah?

How could this innocent man die in my place?
Me, a sinful and guilty man!
If this Jesus really does die for me, I must find out the truth.
Why He is here and why He died.
——

Barabbas was the forerunner of all people to be saved by Jesus’ death. Barabbas was guilty for his sins. He deserved death. Instead of receiving what he deserved, he was shown mercy. Jesus took his place on the cross so that Barabbas would not that have to die that day.
Today, we are all Barabbas.
We deserve death for the sins we have committed, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life and died the death we deserve. Imagine the relief Barabbas must have felt when he learned that he would not be crucified. May we also experience that kind of appreciation and thankfulness for our salvation through Jesus Christ!

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched Week One!
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Looking for other journeys from this theme? Here’s a link to all past studies
in Sketched III!