Ryan: Here in the Old Testament book of Ruth is a story of one of the best examples of living like a “Christian,” in the form of Naomi. Naomi, her husband, and her two sons were Israelites, and each son took a Moabite woman for a wife. When Naomi’s husband and two sons died, Naomi urged her two daughters-in-law to return to their “people” and to “their gods” (Ruth 1:15). Both women resisted at first, wanting to stay with their mother-in-law. Orpah [who, coincidentally, is Oprah Winfrey's misspelled namesake] did finally leave and go back to her mother. Ruth, on the other hand, insisted on going wherever Naomi went. I realize this book is about Ruth and not Naomi, but there’s obviously a lesson to be learned from Naomi. She did not attempt to convert Ruth and Orpah to Judaism (that we’re told), and even insisted they return to their original “gods.” She did not beat them over the heads with Bible verses, so to speak. She simply loved them for who they were and showed her daughters-in-law a large measure of grace and humility. She loved them and watched over them, to the point that neither one wanted to leave her and return to their own families. We don’t really know how much Naomi taught Ruth and Orpah about Jehovah, but we do know that she loved her daughters-in-law, and that was enough to win over Ruth to the point that she was grafted in to the line of the son of God himself. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

Samantha: While I could recite the details, I really didn’t comprehend the story of Ruth until I read Francine Rivers’ Unshaken: Ruth (Lineage of Grace #3). Learning about the culture of that time is invaluable to seeing what it was really like for Ruth. She left everything she had to serve her mother-in-law, even when she had the chance to return home. She endured hardships and possibly ridicule because she was a foreigner (from an enemy country, no less), and she humbled herself with the poorest in Israelite society to glean grain behind the harvesters. The kindness and love she meets in Boaz is one of the most touching love stories the Bible has to offer. This is one of my favorite books in the Lineage of Grace series and I encourage you to go check it out from the library to bring a historical perspective to this beautiful love story.

Ryan: God is immutable and yet mutable. Genesis 18 recounts the first time (recorded) when someone intercedes on behalf of sinning people instead of cheering while God smites the wicked (a lesson to be learned there for modern Christians). God was all ready to destroy Sodom & Gomorrah before Abraham interceded and got the Lord to agree to not destroy it if He found 50 righteous people there (18:26). Of course, Abraham was most concerned with saving his nephew, Lot, and his family, but I do not doubt that he was also concerned with anyone else who might be innocent of the atrocities committed there. Abraham was even able to talk God down to ten righteous people to spare the city (he should have been a used car salesman), which still would have been enough to save Lot’s family and even future sons-in-law. In the end, though, there were not ten righteous people to be found, and God followed through with His initial plan. Even though Abraham was not able to spare the entire cities, it is truly amazing that God listened to his council enough to even entertain the idea. That is why we teach that, if it is within God’s will, you can ask Him to move mountains (Matthew 21:21).

Samantha: One of my favorite shows on the History Channel was Digging for the Truth. This show took a scientific approach to uncovering facts of archaeological myths and mysteries. The Indiana Jones-like host would travel around the world to work with archaeologists, historians, and Bible scholars as he gathered evidence and artificats about the topic of the episode. Topics included everything from the pyramids to Easter Island to the Maya; there were also several episodes on Biblical topics, including an episode on Sodom and Gomorrah. What I really enjoyed about the episode on Sodom and Gomorrah was seeing the modern day ruins in Jordan of Bab edh-Dhra and Numeira, charred remains of what could have been the actual cities God destroyed in our reading today. That area today is a barren wasteland full of sulfur, which they showed how to turn into brimstone–it’s quite flammable! There are also lots of salt deposits, being by the Dead Sea, and there is even one particular pillar that all the local children call “Lot’s Wife.” What a stark contrast to our reading from January 4th; when Abraham and Lot parted ways, Lot “saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah)” (Genesis 13:10). Today it exists as a warning to us to believe and obey God, otherwise Jesus tells us that “it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:24).

As I have been learning more and more about the various historical accounts in the Bible, I am fascinated to research them using maps and globes (I do the same thing for Lord of the Rings too…). Thanks to a very cool website I just stumbled across, called OpenBible.org, they have Google Earth layer files of every “identifiable” location mentioned in the Bible, organized by book and chapter. If you’re into that sort of thing like I am, head over there and take a look.

Thank you to all the people who suggested names, and I wish I could send everyone a free copy of the book, but alas, that was not the deal, now was it? However, feel free to head over to the new Bookshelf and order one for yourself and one for a friend! 50% of the proceeds goes to benefit Carpenter Place.

Thanks again, and make sure to update your RSS feeds (again! last time, I promise… for now).

Nestled quietly at the base of Mt. Sinai in Egypt is St. Catherine’s monastery. Protected by Jews, Christians, and Muslims, this site is home to the oldest Christian monastery still in use. Inside its walls is said to be Moses’ burning bush (complete with a fire extinguisher on a wall not far from it), and up the mountain pathway outside its gates is thought to be where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.

50% of all proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Maude Carpenter Children’s Home in Wichita, Kansas.

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