Like the term “faith,” the word “predestination" is surrounded by diverse and false ideas in our religious world. “Predestined” is a word used in verses 5 and 11 to describe a critical way that God fulfilled His plan of salvation in Christ. In this lesson, we first examine how Predestination, like “faith," is a term that fulfills a pattern of examples from the Old Testament. Then, we examine how these Old Testament examples connect to and clarify the way Predestination is described in this passage. Lastly, we reflect on 3 lessons that can be gained from understanding what Predestination means for us in our relationship with God.

Jesus found joy in suffering on the cross. What sacrifices do we make in our lives?

The last chapters of the book Judges are downright disturbing, especially chapters 19-21. They show the complete unraveling of the morality and faithfulness of Israel in the generations immediately following the grand success of Joshua (listen to last week's lesson). The chapters in this lesson are not as physically unsettling but nonetheless still show the systemic lack of consideration for God's laws in those times. 

One of Moses' very last speeches was to dictate to the nation that once they entered Canaan, they were to do a theatrical exercise of shouting commands from opposing mountainsides. And they did, in Joshua's day. But would their commitment last?

Looking at two short poems that have opposite themes: how to be bad and how to be good.

The story of Jonah that most people are familiar with ends at chapter 3. But the true climax is in chapter 4, where Jonah is bitter about God's mercy.

In the last six verses of chapter 3 (13-18), we see the dangers of our own jealousy, but in chapter 4, we see the gain in being faithful only to a God who is very jealous.