The Family Bible Journey Podcast

Jesus was not taken from His disciples in His Ascension. Rather, He ascended to draw nearer to them than ever before. We celebrate the Ascension, seeing God draw near to us, because of the love He has shown us in His dear Son.

A curious note is included with nearly every new king of Judah. Even though many were faithful to the Lord, they allowed idolatry to be practiced in their land. This idolatry is slowly corrupting the nation, as seen in the rise of Ahaz, who makes the worship of false gods the state religion of Judah.

Here we ponder how God used faithful prophets to bless his people, even when their hearts were far from Him. We are encouraged in these texts, because even during evil times, God raises new generations of faithful people to bring His light into the lives of those who live in dark and distressing times.

At the resurrection, just as at Jesus's birth, angels declare the love and peace of God to troubled souls, and the faithful marvel at what God has done. We find ourselves with Mary and Peter at the empty tomb. Even when we don't understand how these things could be, we believe, and receive the peace of God as a gift of His mercy and grace.

Evil Queen Mother Athaliah seizes the throne of Judah by putting to death most of the king's heirs. God intervenes through a faithful and cunning priest named Jehoiada, preserving infant prince Joash. God blesses Judah through the faithful service of the boy king and his faithful spiritual advisor.

Jezebel finally meets her well-deserved, evil end. In this story, we see that justice is done in the Lord's timing. We, who feel like justice is delayed, can be encouraged by knowing that God will make all things right in the end.

While Jesus was on the cross, the sun refused to shine. The Lord and Author of Life was slain. Yet even in death, Jesus shows us how to live by commending Himself to His Father and dying in faith.

It is hard for the faithful to understand why unbelievers can't fathom the Lord and His work. In this story, we see how the faithful receive the Lord's blessing, while those who doubt, sometimes miss out.

When you feel out numbered and out gunned, it is the God of Israel who fights for you! Elisha and his servant saw this with the eyes of faith. Such eyes God gives His faithful, so that they may be aware of His working during ordinary and extraordinary times.

How could Jesus just take the abuse heaped upon Him? Because He loved even those who murdered Him. We marvel at such love. Yet it is ours because of God's loving faithfulness to His wayward children, even those who crucified the Sinless One.

A young slave girl proves a mighty witness of God's saving power and brings an entire family to faith. Her master Naaman becomes a gentile believer who outshines the unfaithful kings of Israel. We also see a great foreshadowing of the blessings of baptism in this episode.

Elisha performs a mighty feeding miracle and raises a young boy from the dead! We will see how these two miracles were mighty types of Christ. Not vague prophecies, but miracles that actually happened in the very same communities where Jesus raised a widow's son and fed multitudes.

One could argue that the betrayal of Peter stung the Lord worse than the betrayal of Judas. Watching Jesus be betrayed by His closest friends gives us opportunity to reflect on how we have betrayed Him. Despite His betrayal, Jesus carried His burden faithfully on to the cross.

Could Enoch and Elijah be the two faithful witnesses mentioned in Revelation, who will be sent shortly before the return of Christ? We explore this possibility in our bonus episode!

As Elijah is taken to heaven, Elisha is annointed by God to continue his prophetic work. These prophets were sent as faithful witnesses to unbelieving Isreal. We are encouraged by them when we find ourselves living in evil and wicked times.

Ahab goes into battle with Jehosophat, King of Judah, against his nemesis, the King of Syria. He disguised himself as a random soldier, thinking he could outwit his own demise, which God had prophecied. Instead, he is killed, and God's judgment is executed.

Immediately following the Last Supper, the disciples begin bickering about who's the greatest. Jesus responds by explaining that honor and greatness are found in service. We, who are exalted by His service, will find our own honor in serving others.

Ahab's greatest victory and great folly are on display in this episode. God grants him repeated victory over the much stronger king of Syria. But then his wife orders the execution of the righteous man Naboth, so that Ahab can have his vineyard. God can not tolerate such wickedness forever!

God meets the prophet Elijah at his darkest hour. The despairing and despondent prophet is encouraged by a face-to-face encounter with the Lord, where God appears to him in a low, still whisper. God promises to send waves of helpers to finish the work that Elijah has begun. Elijah leaves the mountain of the Lord with new zeal for ministry and prepared for the rest of his life's work.

Jesus warns His disciples not to fall to the temptations of depression, drunkeness and distraction. Soon, He will be taken from them, and His work will be handed over to them. If they are to serve Him well, they must keep their eye on the prize of sharing Him and His love with others.

Meet the man behind the podcast and hear how the Family Bible Journey has grown in its first year! With listeners in 44 states and over 30 countries, the Word of the Lord grows. Learn how you can encourage and support our work this holy-day season. Blessings on your day!

This great chapter of the Bible tells us a wonderful story of a single faithful prophet dueling with 450 false prophets. Elijah demonstrated that the God of Israel is the one true God, and He is above all others. We rejoice in this victory, even though we find ourselves often struggling against seemingly impossible odds, because it reminds us of God's mighty power to save.

In this one chapter we see the prophe, Elijah perform three different types of miracles that are mighty types of Christ from the Old Testament. He demonstrates God's power over nature, God's ability to perform a miraculous feeding, and even the ability to raise the dead to life in this chapter. We see you mighty previews of the work that Jesus is going to do as the Christ. As people who live in trying times, we are reminded that God's power is at work even when everything seems to be going off the rails.

A widow, and a warning about the Temple, teach us what's truly important. The reality is that we can't see as God sees. Yet He gives us faith to know that what often seems insignificant to us is counted as most significant to God.

The length of Asa, king of Judah's reign was longer than six evil kings of Israel. Each king of Israel saw an untimely death because he was wicked. Here we see that there are earthly rewards for righteousness, and that godly kings and leaders are a blessing to their subjects and constituents.

Jeroboam's life's work was to lead God's people away from the Lord. Even when he saw miracles performed by God's prophets, and felt the sting of Gd's wrath in his own flesh, he would not listen. For his sin, his days were made very difficult by the God who can not prosper evil.

The things that limit or separate us are overcome in God. This is made blatantly clear to the Sadducees, when Jesus taught them the reality of everlasting life. Equipped with God's eternal perspective, we have hope in the resurrection and reunion with those that we love, regardless of what separates us, because, in Christ Jesus, we are united with God and one another, now and forever.

Solomon, wise as he was, had a chronic weakness for beautiful women. His inattention led the country to fall apart under his watch. Rehoboam perpetuated the decline of the nation by expecting the people to serve him, instead of working to earn their respect. We can learn important lessons in life and leadership from both.

We hear of the great extent of Solomon's wealth, which was so great, the great Queen of Africa came to visit. She was left breathless at Solomon's riches. We learn from Solomon that true wealth is not measured in silver and gold, but rather faith, wisdom and relationships.

When we put anything other than truth and righteousness first, we can quickly fall into playing politics. Jesus' enemies resorted to political claims. When their cause was unjust, they tried to win in the court of public opinion, even though they couldn't outsmart Him. Here we learn important lessons about winning for the sake of winning, even when winning, we may be losing.

Solomon's house gets twelve verses of attention, but the building of the Lord's House receives four chapters of attention. This affirms the importance of the Temple for God's people, and how important it was as Solomon's legacy.

We marvel at the technology and workmanship used to build the Lord's Temple. Solomon dedicated nearly the first quarter of his reign to its construction. Beautiful though it was, it was but a foreshadowing of God's plan to dwell with His people, not it a building, but in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ.

When Jesus wept over Jerusalem, He wept not for Himself, but for all those who would reject Him. By rejecting Him, they rejected the Lord's gift of life and forgiveness.

Solomon was blessed by the Lord with both wisdom and honor. As long as Solomon honored the Lord with these gifts, the Lord promised to prosper him and his descendants. Solomon's blessing gives us a chance to reflect on the relationship between faith and the rewards for righteous living.

The historical books of the kings begins with David firmly establishing Solomon on his throne. There is a peaceful passing of power. The kingdom is secure in Solomon's hands, and poised to do great things for the Lord and His people.

Jesus welcomed those who were rejected. He Himself was rejected because of His great love for them. May we learn from Jesus to embrace sinners in grace, because we ourselves have received great forgiveness and grace from Him.

David's story closes with one last mistake and yet another chapter of the Lord showing David mercy. David's census of the army merited God's wrath. But when the Angel of the Lord descends to strike Jerusalem, David meets Him and receives mercy. David purchases the place of this angelic encounter, and it will become the place where the Temple will be built.

David praises the Lord at the end of his life. Here we see much of Psalm 18 recorded as David's last words. Despite his public sins and many personal struggles, David was greatly blessed, and mighty in faith. He became a tremendous blessing to all God's people as a powerful type and ancestor of Jesus.

Often times, the things that many put their faith in actually get in the way of faith. Burdens, on the other hand, often turn our hearts and minds towards God. We explore this paradox as Jesus teaches and performs His final miracle on His way up to Jerusalem.

The foundation for a healthy monarchy is being laid as David ages. We hear of another insurrection put down, and the Philistines being placed firmly under the thumb of Israel. Despite David's violent and passionate past, he is growing in faith and wisdom as he prepares the kingdom for transition.

David's men overwhelm Absalom's army. King David and the kingdom are saved. But David, instead of rejoicing, mourns the death of Absalom, turning the nation's triumph into sadness. General Joab rebukes the king for his foolishness. David is restored to Jerusalem, and forgives many of his enemies along the way back to Jerusalem.

Jesus teaches us to seek the Father's mercy by leaning on His goodness and kindness, instead of our persistence or personal holiness. After teaching this principle in two parables, He lifts children up as great examples of a humble faith. How nice it is to find the goodness and grace of God in Christ Jesus!

David retreats from Jerusalem, fleeing the pursuit of his own son! David's enemies gloat and plan their own conquests, at the king's expense. Absalom debases some of his father's wives and raises an army to destroy his father.

After three years of exile, followed by another two years of estrangement from the king, Absalom conspires for the throne. He uses his charm and charisma to woo Isreal to his cause. Then, using a religious rouse, he launches his coup.

Too many people have a backwards understanding of the relationship between faith, prayer and healing. Jesus teaches the true spirit of faith. He shows through ten lepers how faith receives His blessing, simply because of His great love for us, not because of how great we are or how wonderful we think our prayers are.

Terrible lessons are learned of lust and murder in this chapter. David's son Amnon, consumed with lust, sexually assaults his half-sister Tamar. In response, Absalom, Tamar's full-blooded brother, murders Amnon. David's adultery has created fault-lines in his family line, as his family is now at war within itself.

Nathan tells David of a rich man who stole his poor neighbor's only lamb, to host a party for a traveler. Enraged by such cruelty, David ordered the man to pay four-fold for his sin. David was the man. The story was a parable telling of David's sin with Bathsheba. Cut to the heart, David repents. Forgiven, he will suffer for this sin, as will the entire nation in time.

The parable of the shrewd manager brings into question how we use our money. Do you view money as a means to godly ends or as an end in itself? We consider the challenge of being good stewards and how the use of our money reveals the intents and desires of our heart.

When he should have been at war, David instead stays in Jerusalem. He who was mighty in battle proves weak in temptation. Succumbing to the beauty of Bathsheba, he has an affair with her. Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, is the hero of this story. Loyal to the end, he is slain by the king he served, who slept with his wife, in an attempted cover-up.

David, well established and blessed by the Lord, seeks a member of Saul's family to bless. He summons Ziba, one of Saul's stewards, who tells David of Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan, who has survived. David demonstrates great mercy to Mephibosheth, giving him all the land of Saul, and making him a part of his royal court.