Deception

The Lord’s First Promise to Isaac

Isaac found himself overwhelmed by famine and decides to go to Egypt until it was over (v. 1). Abraham had done the same thing with negative results. But the Lord appeared to Isaac and promised to bless him if he stayed in the land (vv. 2-5). Isaac agreed and moved to Gerar, a town …

Confidence Amid Deception

This psalm expresses David’s confidence in the words of God for deliverance amid men who are full of deception. Some think he wrote it during those days when his duties kept him in Saul’s courtroom while Saul was looking for ways to kill him. Others think he wrote it during those days …

Judah And Tamar

Judah, the brother who suggested they sell Joseph, married a Canaanite woman. They had three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah (vv. 1-5). Intermarriage with the Canaanites had been avoided up to this time. Judah’s first son Er died because he was wicked (vv. 6-11). By custom the “husband’s …

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachael

Jacob arrived at a well used by the local shepherds to water their flocks (vv. 2-3). The well had a large stone placed over it. Jacob chatted with the shepherds and asked about his uncle Laban (vv. 4-6). He also asked them why they waited to water the sheep. They said they had to wait for the …

You Are a Slave of What Controls You

Peter goes on to describe these false teachers as “wells without water” (v. 17). Can you picture finding a well of water in the middle of a desert and then discover that it was dry. In conclusion Peter says it is better to be ignorant of the way of the truth than to kno …

IllustrationLawyer Cross-examines Man With an Arm Injury

F. E. Smith was a capable lawyer with a quick wit who served as the British attorney general from 1915 until 1919. Once he cross-examined a young man claiming damages for an arm injury caused by the negligence of a bus driver. “Will you please show us how high you can …

IllustrationResults of Men Who Dared to Be Different

Woolworth conceived the idea of the Five and Ten Cent store. That was different. His fortune was measured by millions when he passed away. Wanamaker, conceived the idea of one-price to everybody in his retail stores. That was different, for at the time he put this policy into eff …

IllustrationJohn Wesley’s Testimony

The words of John Wesley. “As a young boy in the family of a clergyman I had been “carefully taught that salvation could only be obtained by keeping all the commandments of God. I hoped to be saved, by, (1) Not being so bad as other people. (2) Having a kind of religio …

IllustrationUnforgiveness Confuses Others With Your Hypocrictical Lifestyle

“If you are offended and in unforgiveness and refuse to repent of this sin, you have not come to the knowledge of the truth. You are deceived, and you confuse others with your hypocritical lifestyle. No matter what the revelation, your fruit tells a different story. You’ll …

IllustrationBlack Bart The Stagecoach Robber

For 6 years starting in 1877, Black Bart committed 28 robberies wearing a flour sack over his head, brandishing a shotgun demanding, “Will you please thrown down your treasure box, sir?” He was wounded in his last robbery, dropping a handkerchief with the laundry markin …