by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD TRANSFORMS DESPERATION INTO DELIGHT IN SURPRISING WAYSINTRODUCTION:The personal deliverance of Esther and Mordecai was certainly significant. But the larger issue remains = the fate of the Jewish people as a whole. God’s promises about...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS SOVEREIGN CONTROL EVEN WHEN THE WICKED IMAGINE THAT THEY ARE IN CONTROLINTRODUCTION:What a reversal of fortunes! Haman starts out this chapter rejoicing in his recent promotion and looking forward to the extermination of the hated Jews....
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD PREPARES THE WAY FOR A REVERSAL OF FORTUNESINTRODUCTION:It is one thing to know the right thing that God wants you to do. It’s quite another thing to boldly step out in faith and do it. Here we see Esther breaking out of her passive...
by Paul Apple | Mar 25, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PROVIDENCE POSITIONS YOU TO LEVERAGE YOUR GOD-GIVEN CALLING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR GOD’S PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:There are watershed moments in every person’s life where you are faced with critical decisions regarding fulfilling your God-given calling. Esther...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SATAN’S GOAL IS NOTHING LESS THAN THE EXTERMINATION OF GOD’S PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:The age-old conflict between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman is manifested here in the anti-Semitism of the Agagite Haman. Satan is acting behind the scenes in...
by Paul Apple | Mar 8, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD SOVEREIGNLY WORKS BEHIND THE SCENES DESPITE THE OSTENTATIOUS EXCESSES OF PAGAN DESPOTS AND THE CULTURAL ASSIMILATION OF GOD’S PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:When it seems like God is absent; when it seems like God is silent; when it seems like God...
by Paul Apple | Mar 2, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: IMPRESSIVE DISPLAYS OF SECULAR OPULENCE AND DOMINION EXPOSED AS IMPOTENT AND FUTILE AS GOD’S PROVIDENCE WORKS OUT HIS OWN KINGDOM AGENDAINTRODUCTION:Who really is in control on the world stage and in our own lives and destiny? This satirical treatment of the...
by Paul Apple | Feb 23, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE BLESSED PRESENCE OF GOD’S PROTECTION, FAVOR AND PEACE MEET ALL OF THE NEEDS OF THE BELIEVING COMMUNITYINTRODUCTION:Here is the classic OT benediction passage. I can remember as a child my pastor frequently closing sermons with this text. It has such a...
by Paul Apple | Feb 22, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: OCCUPYING HOLY LAND REQUIRES EXTREME EXTERMINATION OF THREATS TO COVENANT WORSHIPINTRODUCTION:These final marching orders issued by God to His elect nation Israel through His chosen leader Moses show that God doesn’t mess around when it comes to spiritual...
by Paul Apple | Feb 20, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: COMPROMISE WITH GOD’S REVEALED AGENDA LEADS TO A QUAGMIRE OF COMPLEXITYINTRODUCTION:Obedience is the simplest course of action. When we start to compromise and introduce our own wisdom as if we have devised a better plan than God, it opens the door to...
by Paul Apple | Feb 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE SEVERITY OF GOD’S VENGEANCE EXPOSES THE FALLACY OF ATTACKING THOSE WHO ARE UNDER HIS PROVIDENTIAL PROTECTION AND PROMISED BLESSINGINTRODUCTION:Balaam thought he had figured out a way around God’s prohibition of cursing the Israelites so that he could...
by Paul Apple | Feb 2, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS MUST BE BASED IN DIVINE SELECTION, MUST FUNCTION ACCORDING TO THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE SPIRIT, AND MUST ISSUE IN PASTORAL GUIDANCE AND CAREINTRODUCTION:In verses 12-14 Moses had just been reminded by the Lord of his exclusion...
by Paul Apple | Feb 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE DESTRUCTION FROM SPIRITUAL HARLOTRY CAN ONLY BE MITIGATED BY THE ATONING ZEAL OF A FAITHFUL HIGH PRIESTINTRODUCTION:Here we see the height of Israel’s rebellion and failure in the wilderness – just after experiencing victory and just before entering the...
by Paul Apple | Jan 31, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ENEMY OPPOSITION CANNOT UNDERMINE GOD’S PROMISED BLESSING ON HIS CHOSEN, CONQUERING, COVENANT PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:Balak enlists the prophetic word of the famous seer Balaam to curse God’s people and undermine God’s kingdom agenda. But the covenant-keeping God...
by Paul Apple | Jan 28, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE OPPORTUNISTIC PROPHET OF IMPURE MOTIVES RECEIVES EMBARRASSING PERCEPTION AND PROTECTION FROM HIS DUMB DONKEYINTRODUCTION:This story is best known from being acted out in children’s Sunday School classes. Everybody loves a talking donkey! What an...
by Paul Apple | Jan 19, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: IMPURE MOTIVES LEAD TO COMPROMISING SITUATIONSINTRODUCTION:Chapters 22-24 cover the story of Balaam and Balak as the Lord assures Israel of His covenant promise to bless the chosen nation. In this introductory portion, Balaam demonstrates the tension between...
by Paul Apple | Jan 16, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD GRANTS VICTORIES OVER POWERFUL FOES WHEN WE FOLLOW HIS GAME PLAN AND DON’T SHRINK BACK IN FEAR FROM THE CHALLENGEINTRODUCTION:Israel certainly had abundant testimony to God’s power and faithfulness. However, Israel also had a track record of disbelief...
by Paul Apple | Jan 15, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE ONGOING GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING, THE LORD’S PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HIS GRACIOUS SALVATIONINTRODUCTION:Our spiritual journey involves a myriad of different experiences. Sometimes the Lord graciously provides victory where previously we had suffered...
by Paul Apple | Jan 13, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE LEADERSHIP TRANSITION FOR THE NEW GENERATION THAT WILL ENTER THE PROMISED LAND (DESPITE THEIR CONTINUING CONTENDING AND COMPLAINING) REQUIRES THE DEATH OF ITS FAILED LEADERSINTRODUCTION:This is a sad chapter indeed. Sandwiched between the accounts of the...
by Paul Apple | Jan 8, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: CLEANSING FROM CONTAMINATION CAUSED BY CONTACT WITH DEATH MAINTAINS CLOSE CONTACT WITH A HOLY GODINTRODUCTION:The previous chapters in Numbers have already addressed the distinctive roles of the priests and Levites and the protection against usurpers who...
