The cities of refuge were locations where those accused of murder, but innocent, could flee for refuge. Once inside the city, the accused was free from the wrath of the accuser. Not only was this a great blessing to those in the Old Testament, but in Christ we have a refuge that far exceeds the benefits of the cities of refuge.
Mark 8:22-26 gives the only Biblical record of the healing of the blind man of Bethsaida. It is also the only miracle in the life of Christ that is not immediate, for it takes two attempts in order to bring the man perfect sight. What can be the meaning of this?
God is always providing for His children. Satan exhausts himself poisoning what God has provided. What can we learn from this passage about how to protect what God has given us?
The Bible refers to the enlarging of something 26 times. To enlarge simply means to make larger. Yet, as with so many Bible words, it has many blessings in the use God makes of the word.
Ab is the Jewish name for the fifth month in the religious calendar and the eleventh month of the civil calendar. This non-biblical name began to be used during the Babylonian captivity. The Bible simply calls this month the “fifth month.” This designation is found ten times in the Bible. The month of Ab begins with the new moon of August and always has thirty days. Agriculturally, the month of Ab is known in Israel as the time for the ripening of grapes, figs, and olives.
