Musings from My Sun Porch

                 When I consider the life of Hannah, I picture a woman of deep sorrow.   Like many women who are unable to bear children, she wept because her anguish was so great.   Much like Job in his suffering, she had become “bitter in her soul” (I Samuel 1: 10).             Out of her great sorrow and grief (1: 16), she prayed to the Lord.   Her prayer was so fervent in her spirit that the High Priest thought she must be drunk.   She had not been drinking, but she was “pouring out her soul to the Lord” (1:15).   If you have ever had a time of intense emotional pain and suffering, then you know exactly what it feels like to “pour out your soul”.   It is a gut-wrenching emotion as you recognize that you have nowhere else to turn but to the Lord.   That was Hannah’s prayer.             ...

                 The book of Ruth is most often described as a love story.   Ruth 1: 16b is often read at weddings.   However, I see it as not only a story of love but a picture of kindness, devotion, and redemption.             When Naomi found herself alone in a strange land, her only alternative was to return to Israel.   Her husband and sons were dead, and a woman alone had little hope, especially in a strange land.   Ruth changed all that.             Ruth had no blood ties to Naomi.   She was only the daughter-in-law, and we know that often mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law can be a lethal combination.   Ruth’s best option was to stay in her homeland where she would have a good chance of finding a husband.   She also had her family for support.   Naomi had nothing to offer her e...

                 As we continue our look at the women of the Bible, one of the most unpleasant ones we will encounter is Delilah.   Samson, one of the Judges of Israel, whom God had selected to rescue them from the control of the Philistines, fell in love with Delilah. It’s unclear whether she ever loved him or not.   What is clear is that her greed was stronger than any feelings she may have had for Samson.   She readily accepted the Philistines’ challenge to determine what made Samson so strong.   On three occasions, she begged Samson to tell her the source of his great strength.   Each time he tricked her with his answer, and the Philistines’ efforts to subdue him failed.   Even so, her devious ways didn’t affect Samson’s love for her.   Ultimately, her pouting and nagging convinced him to share his secret.   That misguided trust led to his downfall. Delilah didn’t show any redeeming traits ...

                 Today, our news is filled with war stories.   While it often appears that there are wars or threats of war at every turn, war is nothing new to humanity.   It has been a constant threat over the centuries of human existence.   Today, I want to share with you about the only woman warrior in the Bible, Deborah.   After the death of Joshua, God raised up Judges to lead the nation of Israel.   Deborah was the 4 th in the line of succession, and the only woman.   She began to lead Israel over 140 years after the death of Joshua.             When Deborah came to power, Israel was not in a good place.   Time and again, they had done “evil in the eyes of the Lord” (Judges 4: 1 NIV84).   At this time, God had sold them into the “hands of Jabin, a king of Canann” (Judges 4:2 NIV84).   Jabin was a cruel man, and the iron chariots ...

                 As Father’s Day approaches, I want to say a few words about my father, Earl Duncan.   He’s been gone for 13 years, but he’s still an important part of who I am.             He and I were a lot alike, both stubborn introverts.   Surprisingly, though we didn’t often butt heads.   That’s probably because I was a “daddy’s” girl.   Losing him so suddenly was one of the most difficult days of my life.             So, what can I tell you about this man who was the cornerstone of our family?             First, and foremost, he loved my Mother dearly!   His letters to her during his time in the Army state that fact very clearly.   However, even greater evidence of his love was the way that he devoted himself to her during her illnes...

                 God made it apparent very early on that He would accept anyone who believed in His Kingdom.   There is no better evidence of that than the fact that Rahab was included as one of Jesus’ ancestors.               Rahab was a prostitute, although some translate that word as innkeeper.   She was probably a little bit of both.   She was also a Gentile!   She lived in Jericho where her home was built into the city walls, a common occurrence at that time.   It gave her a clear vantage point to view the comings and goings of the city.   The arrival of two Jewish spies did not go unnoticed by her or the King of Jericho.   However, rather than comply with the King’s order to turn them over, she hid the men and then sent the King’s soldiers on a wild goose chase.              ...

                 Today, I want to talk to you about an unusual story from the Old Testament, involving a lawsuit.   After the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and the generation that God had delivered from Egypt had died, God began to prepare the people to enter the promised land.   He began by calling a census of all the men 20 years and older.   These were the men who could go to battle (Numbers 26: 1, 2).               After the census was completed, God told them how to divide the land (Numbers 26: 52 – 56).   It was to be allocated first to each tribe based on their population and then each man identified in the census would receive a portion of his tribe’s share.   There was just one problem, what about those families consisting of women only?   Enter the daughters of Zelophehad (that’s a mouthful, I know).  ...

                 “Jochebed” is a name most of us won’t recognize.   However, the decisions that she made as a mother are well known.             Jochebed gave birth to an Israelite son at a time when the Israelites had become slaves in Egypt.   As they grew in number, Pharoah decreed that every male Israelite baby be put to death.   When Jochebed’s son was born, she saw that he was “a fine child” (Exodus 2:2), and she was determined to save his life.             You probably know the rest of the story.   She placed baby Moses in a basket in the Nile River and sent his big sister to stand watch.   Ultimately, Pharoah’s daughter found the baby, took him into the Palace, and raised him as her son.   Jochebed became the nursemaid for him.           ...