“Così dicendo li guardava uno per uno; poi disse all'uomo: ‘Stendi la tua mano!’. Egli ubbidì e la sua mano fu guarita”. ๐ Luca 6:10
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๐ Apri la porta del tuo cuore
๐ฃ Speaker: Valentina Piazza Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idF4Qb7WNvA
Lesson 11.Ruth and Esther | 11.1 Famine in โThe House of Breadโ | ALLUSIONS, IMAGES, SYMBOLS | LIVING FAITH
Lesson 11: Ruth and Esther
11.1 Famine in the โHouse of Breadโ
Godโs Caring Presence amid Human Need
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Introduction
Bethlehemโthe โHouse of Breadโโsuffers from famine. What a contradiction! In a world so abundant, there is scarcity. In a city whose name promises plenty, lack reigns. This is the opening to the story of Ruthโone of the most moving narratives in the Bible. It does not begin with triumph but with tragedy. And yet: this is exactly where God begins to work. Not with thunder and lightning, but in the small decisions of ordinary people. Ruth shows us that Godโs providence doesnโt always look spectacularโsometimes it starts in the deepest darkness.
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Bible Study โ Ruth 1:1โ5
Verse 1 โ โIn the days when the judges ruledโฆโ
The context is grim: Israel is in the chaotic period of the judgesโan era of spiritual instability and moral decay (see Judges 21:25). Famine was not only an economic problem but also a sign of spiritual distress in the land (cf. Deuteronomy 28:23โ24).
Spiritual principle: Spiritual decline always affects real life. Separation from God brings both inner and outer lack.
Verse 1b โ โ…a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moabโฆโ
Elimelech, whose name means โMy God is King,โ leaves the Promised Landโa prophetic contradiction. Instead of trusting Godโs provision, he seeks help in Moab, a nation steeped in idolatry (cf. Deuteronomy 23:4โ7).
Question: What do we do when the โHouse of Breadโ is empty? Do we stay in Godโs promise or flee from our need?
Verses 2โ3 โ โ…and Elimelech diedโฆโ
Naomi experiences the first blow: the death of her husband. For a woman in that culture, this meant social invisibility and economic insecurity.
Verses 4โ5 โ โ…and also her two sons diedโฆโ
After ten years of marriage, Mahlon and Chilion also die. Now Naomi is not only a widow but childlessโwithout future, without protection. In that time, this was an absolute catastrophe. She is left with two Moabite daughters-in-lawโstrangers in Israel, without hope.
Symbolism: The loss of family represents the rupture of the original line of blessingโa kind of personal โfall.โ Naomi is torn from her inheritance.
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Answers to the Questions
Question: Read Ruth 1:1โ5. What problems did Naomi and Ruth face, and what caused them? How does this reflect the situation of all humanity today?
Detailed Answer:
Naomi and Ruth stand at the beginning of this biblical narrative amid the deepest personal and societal crisis. Their troubles are numerous, intertwined, and painfully real:
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Famine in Bethlehem (v. 1): The โHouse of Breadโ is emptyโa symbolic indication that even in the Promised Land, scarcity can prevail when the people turn away from God. Physical famine mirrors spiritual famine in the era when โeveryone did what was right in his own eyesโ (Judges 21:25). Collective rebellion and moral decay follow from ignoring Godโs ways.
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Migration to a hostile land (Moab): Elimelech moves his family to Moabโa land not only geographically but spiritually the opposite of Israel. Moabites were known for idol worship (Baal, Chemosh) and often led Israel into sin (cf. Numbers 25). They chose what seemed a safe route but abandoned the place of promise.
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Death of the husband (Elimelech): Naomi loses her husbandโmore than grief, this meant the end of security, status, and often economic survival for a woman of her time.
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Loss of both sons (Mahlon and Chilion): After ten years without children, the two sons die. Naomi is left old, childless, and destitute, alongside two foreign daughters-in-law. This symbolizes the extinguishing of her line and her loss of cultural and spiritual identity.
These are not only individual tragedies but a mirror of human existence. Humanity began in Edenโwith abundance, intimacy with God, and harmony. Through rebellion, humanity was exiled, vulnerable, and subject to death (Genesis 3). Instead of caring for creation, we now toil โby the sweat of our brow.โ
Just as Naomi lost her home, husband, children, and future, so mankind lost its inheritance. We live with spiritual famine, existential insecurity, the death of loved ones, identity crises, and a longing for redemption. Naomi exemplifies anyone who doubts Godโs promise yet feels there is no true refuge except returning to Him. Ruth represents those who remain loyal amid loss and become instruments of salvation.
Question: How does the earth, even after 6,000 years of sin and death, still reveal the wonders of Godโs love and creative power?
Detailed Answer:
Despite the earth suffering under the curseโwar, hunger, disease, disasters, injusticeโit is still marked by signs of Godโs presence and creative power:
In creation itself:
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A sunrise over the sea: Each dawn is fresh, unique, and beautifulโa daily reminder of Godโs faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22โ23).
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The cycle of seasons: Sowing and harvest, frost and warmthโdespite human rebellion, God sustains natureโs balance (Genesis 8:22).
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The diversity and beauty of life: From majestic mountains to a delicate butterflyโs wing, nature reveals a God of order, creativity, and love.
In human experience:
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Love amid suffering: A mother caring for her ill child, a stranger offering tea to the homeless, a doctor going beyond dutyโthese acts are remnants of the divine image in us, evidence of Godโs Spirit at work.
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Art, music, poetry: Our capacity to marvel, to create, to feel points to our being made in Godโs imageโeven when that image is marred.
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Moral sense: Our inherent sense of justice, truth, and goodness comes from a righteous Creator.
In Godโs dealings with people:
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The story of Ruth: God uses a foreign widow on societyโs margins to prepare the Messiahโs lineage.
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The birth of Jesus: In a world broken by sin, God sends His Sonโnot as a palace king but as a child in a stable.
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The power of the gospel today: Across cultures, people turn to Jesus, experience healing, reconciliation, and hope.
Even after millennia of rebellion, Godโs love flows unabated. The earth is wounded but not abandoned. It groans but still breathes. It dies yet stirs with new life, awaiting the coming redemption (Romans 8:22โ23).
In short, Godโs wonders are everywhereโin nature, in grace, in humanity, in hope. We need only look with the heart.
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Spiritual Principles
God allows lossโbut never without purpose.
Naomiโs experience is painful, yet God continues working. Loss is not the end. He uses broken pieces to craft a new mosaic.
Fleeing the place of promise brings no real security.
Elimelech left Bethlehem seeking safety, only to meet death in Moab. True security lies only in Godโs will.
Faithfulness shows itself in the valley.
Ruth, the Moabitess, makes a choiceโthough we donโt see it directly here, she will become the storyโs heroine. Loyalty often begins in hidden places long before it bears fruit.
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Application for Daily Life
What does your personal famine look like?
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Financial insecurity?
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Spiritual emptiness?
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Family breakdown?
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Identity crisis?
Many today feel like Naomiโdriven from the โHouse of Bread,โ surrounded by loss, alone in a foreign land. Yet here Godโs story begins. Famine is not the end but the start of the journey home.
What decisions do you make in crisis?
Do you trust Godโs unseen hand, or do you flee to your own โMoabโโrelying on people, anger, distraction? Jesus said, โI am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungryโ (John 6:35).
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Conclusion
Ruth 1:1โ5 is no random beginning. It is all of our story. We are Naomi. We are Ruth. We are hungry people in an empty land. But God is not far off.
The famine in Bethlehem was not the endโit was the starting point of a redemption story that leads through Ruth, Boaz, and David to Jesus, the true bread from heaven.
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Thought of the Day
โWhen the House of Bread is empty, God often lights a new oven of grace.โ
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Illustration โ โThe Way Backโ
It was a Tuesday morning, just after six. Fine drizzle tapped the tram windows, which was nearly empty. Lea sat in the back, hood pulled low, fingers buried in her sweater sleeves. Her hands were rough, her nails bitten. She wasnโt going to workโshe had none. No home eitherโonly a bed in a shelter for women in the industrial district. After her husband Jonas died, everything fell apart: first cancer, then debt, then isolation. And eventually, it seemed, the last bit of hope.
She was thirty-eight. Once a florist full of energy and ideasโโthe one with the laughter in her eyes,โ customers had called her. Now she barely recognized herself.
In the shelter lived an older woman named Margit. Quiet, spoke little. But every evening she sat by the window with a worn Bible, sometimes humming old hymns. One day Lea asked, โDo you really think God still does anything? I meanโฆlook around here.โ
Margit was silent a long while. Then she said simply, โI believe Heโs still hereโeven when we canโt see Him. Especially then.โ
Lea laughed. But something about those words stayed with her.
A few days later she went to a church food distribution. Sheโd heard they offered not just bread but warm words. It was cold and damp; wind bit at her face. She stood in line behind a young woman with a headscarf and her little child. The child looked at Lea and smiledโcompletely fearless. And Lea, who hadnโt been smiled at in months, blinked suddenly.
When her turn came, the volunteer handed Lea a bag of bread and canned goodsโand asked softly, โWould you like prayer too?โ
Lea hesitated, then nodded. Something inside her yearned for itโnot loudly or dramatically, just to hear she was still seen.
The woman laid a hand on Leaโs shoulder and prayed. Not a long or fancy prayer. Just:
โLord, see Your child. You have not forgotten her. Be with her.โ
That night Lea lay awake, thinking of all sheโd lostโJonas, the shared life, the little shop, her old home. For the first time in ages she didnโt ask Why? but What if I return? Not to my old life, butโฆto God?
The next day she returned to the church and spoke with the pastor. He listenedโreally listened. No quick answers, no pat answers. Just quiet companionship. Then he told her about Ruthโthe Moabite widow who lost everything but chose to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi and return to a foreign land. โYour God will be my God,โ Ruth had declared.
Lea felt something stir in her. She couldnโt explain why, but it felt like a door opening.
Weeks passed. She found a small job at a gardening business, helping to plant schoolyards. It wasnโt much, but she was among people again, her hands touching soil, and at night she slept tired in a good way.
Margit gave her a used Bible. โJust for you,โ she said.
One evening, after dark, Lea walked through the city park. The trees rustled softly; the wind was gentle. She stopped, looked up at the sky, and whispered,
โGodโฆ Iโm still here. I donโt know if You hear me. But I want to come back. Iโm ready.โ
There was no fireworks, no booming voice from heavenโjust an inner knowing: she had arrived.
In the heart of God.
8.6.2025 โ Exodus Chapter 3 | BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
June 8, 2025
DAILY BIBLE READING
Exodus 3 โ The Call at the Burning Bush โ When God Calls Your Name
Mosesโ Encounter with God at Horeb โ A Story of Calling, Excuses, and Trust
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Bible Text โ Exodus 3 (KJV)
1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
2ย And the angel of theย Lordย appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3ย And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4ย And when theย Lordย saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5ย And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
6ย Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
7ย And theย Lordย said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
8ย And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
9ย Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
10ย Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
11ย And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
12ย And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
13ย And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
14ย And God said unto Moses,ย I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel,ย I Amย hath sent me unto you.
15ย And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, theย Lordย God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
16ย Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, Theย Lordย God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
17ย And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
18ย And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, Theย Lordย God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to theย Lordย our God.
19ย And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
20ย And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
21ย And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty.
22ย But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
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Introduction
The story of Moses at the burning bush is one of the Bibleโs most famous call narratives. It doesnโt take place in a temple or a royal court but right in the middle of everyday lifeโas Moses tends sheep in the wilderness. God appears to Moses in a flame that burns yet does not consume the bushโa sign of Godโs presence: holy yet merciful.
In a world filled with uncertainty where many search for meaning and purpose, this chapter speaks directly to us: God callsโpersonally, by name, in the midst of our daily routines. Yet like Moses, we often ask: Who am I? Why me? What if I fail?
This story shows how God not only calls but also equips, accompanies, and reveals Himself: โI will be with you.โ
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Commentary
1. The Place of the Call โ The Wilderness as Godโs Classroom
Moses is far from Egyptโs power, living a simple, secluded life. Yet it is hereโin the solitude and stillness of the desertโthat he meets God.
Spiritual Principle: God often calls us in our โwildernessโ seasonsโtimes of retreat, silence, and hidden growth.
2. The Revelation โ A Burning Bush That Is Not Consumed
The flame symbolizes Godโs presence: holy, purifying, mysteriousโbut also preserving. God does not destroy what He touches.
Application: When God touches your life, He transforms rather than destroys.
3. Godโs Call and Mosesโ Response
God calls Moses by nameโtwiceโand Moses replies, โHere I am.โ Immediately, God tells him to remove his sandals because the ground is holy, then reveals Himself as the faithful God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Spiritual Principle: God is both deeply personal (He knows your name) and supremely holyโcalling us to reverence.
4. Godโs Mission โ Delivering His People
God has seen Israelโs suffering and heard their cries, and now He actsโthrough Moses.
Application: God changes the world not only by miracles but through people willing to be sent.
5. Mosesโ Objections and Godโs Assurance
Moses asks, โWho am I?โ Godโs response isnโt flattery but the heart of every calling: โI will be with you.โ
Lesson: Itโs not about who you are, but who is with you.
6. Godโs Name Revealed โ โI AM WHO I AMโ
Moses wants to know what name to give, and God declares Himself โI AM WHO I AMโโa name of being, constancy, eternity, presence, and faithfulness.
Spiritual Principle: God is not a distant deity of the past but the ever-present โI AMโ in your life today.
7. Godโs Promised Deliverance Despite Opposition
God foresees Pharaohโs resistance and the need for signs but assures Moses that Israel will leave Egypt with favor and blessings.
Application: God knows your journey and its obstaclesโand promises you will not depart empty-handed.
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Summary
Exodus 3 is not just Mosesโ call storyโit serves as the model for every divine calling:
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God calls personally
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God reveals His character
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God entrusts a mission
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God answers our fears
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God promises His presence
Moses didnโt become a deliverer by his own strength but through the power of the One who sent him.
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Message for Us Today
This story speaks to you, too. Perhaps you find yourself in a โwildernessโ seasonโtimes of retreat, uncertainty, or questioning your purpose. Then Godโs voice comes to you as well:
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โI see your pain.โ
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โI have a mission for you.โ
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โI am with you.โ
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โI AM WHO I AMโyour God.โ
The โburning bushโ still appears todayโin a sermon, a conversation, or a Bible verse that wonโt let go of you. The question is: Will you draw near? Will you listen? Will you say, โHere I amโ?
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Reflection Question
โGod doesnโt call the qualifiedโHe qualifies the called.โ
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June 8 – 14, 2025
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING
Ellen G. White โ Patriarchs and Prophets โ Chapter 10
The Tower of Babel
Read online here
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Introduction
After the Flood, Noahโs family was to repopulate the cleansed earth. But soon Shem, Ham, and Japheth revealed distinct character traits that persisted in their descendants. At the center stands the sinful building project on the plain of Shinar: a city with a tower meant to reach the heavens. Godโs intervention by confusing their language halted construction and simultaneously fulfilled His plan to scatter humanity across the earth.
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Commentary
1. Background and Noahโs Prophecy
1.1 The Three Sons and Their Lines
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Noahโs blessing on Shem and Japheth versus his curse on Canaan.
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Inherited traits: godliness in Shemโs descendants; corruption in Hamโs line.
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1.2 Consequences for Their Descendants
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Shem: Godโs chosen people and heirs of the covenant.
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Japheth: Participants in the blessings of the Gospel.
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Canaan: Degeneration into pagan idol worship and eventual slavery.
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2. Settlement in Shinar and the Tower Construction
2.1 Reasons for Unity and Building
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Desire for security and unity after a shared history.
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Fertile land and a false sense of independence from divine threat.
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2.2 Architecture as a Symbol of Power and Religion
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The city as the center of a future world empire.
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The tower as a monument to human wisdom, security, and idol worship.
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2.3 Motives and Misbelief
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Doubt in Godโs promise: โNo further Flood will come.โ
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Quest for scientific โunderstandingโ of the Floodโs causes.
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3. Godโs Intervention and Judgment
3.1 Confusion of Languages
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The relay system of communication collapses.
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Complete dispersion through incomprehensible speech.
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3.2 Destruction of the Structure and Scattering
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A lightning strike as a sign of divine displeasure.
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Fulfillment of Godโs original plan: distribution of nations and languages.
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4. Theological Significance
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A warning against human arrogance and estrangement from God.
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Demonstration of Godโs patience, mercy, and righteous judgment through history.
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A foreshadowing of later โBabelโ phenomena: unity apart from Godโs Word leads to chaos.
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Summary
The Tower of Babel illustrates how human pride and the attempt to unite independently of God lead to confusion, dispersion, and divine judgment. Godโs intervention preserved His original design to fill the earth with diverse nations and languages.
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Message for Us Today
โBabelโ projects still exist: ideologies that challenge Godโs authority and promise unity apart from biblical truth. We are reminded to align our plans with Godโs Word and to approach His sovereignty with humility.
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Reflection Question
What โtowersโ are we building todayโin technology, culture, or religionโthat draw us away from God? How can we foster genuine unity through obedience to truth?
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June 8 – 14, 2025
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING
Ellen G. White โ Patriarchs and Prophets โ Chapter 11
The Tower of Babel
Read online here
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Introduction
After the Babel dispersion and worldwide idolatry, God chose Abraham from Shemโs line to preserve His law and promises for future generations. Born into a family surrounded by pagan superstitions, Abraham faithfully responded to Godโs call and thus became the father of the nation from which the Savior of the world would come.
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Commentary
1. Historical and Theological Background
1.1 The World after Babel
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Idolatry spreads and people turn away from God.
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God allows the unrepentant to follow their own paths.
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1.2 Shemโs Line and the Preservation of Faith
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A continuous transmission of divine revelations from Adam through Noah and Shem.
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Abraham as heir of this sacred heritage.
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2. Godโs Promise to Abraham
2.1 Promises and Conditions
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Many descendants and a great name.
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Through him, all nations on earth will be blessed.
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2.2 Testing through Obedience
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The command to leave his homeland and relations.
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Faith described as โthe assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.โ
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3. Abrahamโs Responses and Experiences
3.1 Departure for Haran and Canaan
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Obediently sets out into the unknown, accompanied by relatives and Lot.
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Key stops: Haran as a temporary home, then Shechem and Bethelโeach marked by an altar.
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3.2 Life and Trials in Canaan
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A fertile land occupied by pagans with their altars.
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Abraham builds altars to signify Godโs presence.
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3.3 Famine and Flight to Egypt
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A test of humility, patience, and faith.
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Abrahamโs lapse of faith: presenting Sarah as his sister.
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3.4 Godโs Protection and Lessons Learned
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Pharaoh is afflicted by plagues, then honors Abraham.
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Lessons about Godโs safeguarding and the consequences of human distrust.
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4. Theological Insights
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True faith requires leaving behind familiar securities.
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Trials serve to purify character and prepare for Godโs work.
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Godโs promises remain steadfast despite human shortcomings.
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Summary
God called Abraham to leave a pagan environment and follow Him in faith. Abraham obeyed, faced tests in Canaan and Egypt, yet remained faithful despite his mistakes. In doing so, he laid the foundation for the chosen people and revealed Godโs protection and patience.
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Message for Us Today
We too are invited to trust Godโs promises and may be called to leave our comfort zones. Trials expose our weaknesses, but they also shape our character and demonstrate Godโs faithfulness even in our failures.
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Reflection Question
What โcallingsโ from God in your life might require stepping into uncertainty and making sacrifices? How can you express your faith through obedience and trust in your daily life?
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/8-6-2025-exodus-chapter-3-believe-his-prophets/
8.6.2025 | When Godโs words touch our hearts | HEART ANCHOR | Youth Devotional
ย 8.6.2025 | Like Honey on the Tongue | HEART ANCHOR
ย When Godโs words touch our hearts
ย Psalm 119:103
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Bible Text
โHow sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!โ
โ Psalm 119:103
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ย Devotional
Imagine taking a spoonful of pure honey: at first you taste only a delicate sweetness that makes you want to close your eyes. Then the warm, creamy flavor spreads in your mouth and makes you blissful. In exactly this way the psalmist describes how he experiences Godโs words.
Godโs Word is not merely information but an experience: it tastes sweet because it brings life, offers comfort, and shows the way. When we read the Bible, we experience in our inner senses the warmth, the comfort, and the clarity that dwell in every verse. It is a flavor for heart and soul that nourishes and strengthens us.
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Story โ โThe Honey Treasure in the Jacket Pocketโ
Lea was fifteen and life wasnโt easy. Things were stumbling along at school, there was fighting at home, and in the evenings she often felt alone. One day she found, in her motherโs jacket pocket, a small jar with Bible-verse stickers and a tiny plastic spoon. On it was written: โGive it a try: Psalm 119:103.โ
Curious, Lea opened the jar, pulled out a note, and read:
โHow sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!โ
She laughed. A verse about honeyโhow silly! But she took the spoon and pretended to eat honey. Suddenly she remembered that her grandmother used to speak of โspiritual honey.โ So she searched her room for the Bibleโit was way down on the dusty bookshelf. She opened Psalm 119 and read the words out loud:
โHow sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!โ
Something happened: in that simple sentence she felt comfort for the first time. The school problems, the quarrels, all the worriesโfor a moment, they seemed less heavy. It was as if she had a tiny drop of real honey on her tongue. That evening she decided to read a small portion of the Bible each day. And every time she found a verse that touched her, she wrote it on a slip of paper and placed it in the jar. Before long, the jar became her own personal โPot of Encouragement Honey.โ
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Thoughts on the Devotional
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Warmth instead of Cold: Godโs Word meets us not cold or abstract but warmly and personally. Every verse invites us straight into the heart.
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Closeness instead of Distance: Just as honey sweetens everyday life, the promises of the Bible sweeten our livesโthey let us feel: I am not alone.
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Direction instead of Confusion: When we donโt know which way to go, the Bible gives us clarity: it shows us how to love, how to forgive, and how to learn trust.
Psalm 119:103 reminds me that God is not contained in theories, but in lived, honest words that want to strengthen us. His promises โtasteโ like security and hope.
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Impulses for Today
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โBiblical Spoonful of Honeyโ: Take five minutes today to read a Bible verse unfamiliar to youโslowly read it out loud. Close your eyes and notice what sensation it stirs in you. Which word feels especially sweet to you right now?
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Reminder Postโit: Write your favorite Bible verseโperhaps Psalm 119:103โon a small note and stick it where youโll see it at least five times today (mirror, phone case, notebook). Each time you see it, say to yourself briefly: โGodโs Word strengthens me.โ
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HoneyโTea Meeting: Meet a friend for tea or juice and share what Bible verse has encouraged you recently. Intentionally share a passage that felt โsweetโ to your heartโand pray for each otherโs strengthening.
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Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
You have given us Your Word so that it tastes like fresh honey in our soul. Help us to discover anew each day the richness of Your promises. Grant us eyes that see how sweet Your words are, and ears that listen closely when You comfort and encourage us.
When we become lost in worries and fears, remind us that You strengthen us with Your truth. Give us the courage to open the Bible with clear hearts and to develop a renewed longing for You. Let Your Word become so alive that even in difficult times we find comfort and share it with others.
Bless us so that we pass on Your Wordโlike honey that flows sweetly over the lips and sweetens everything that is fleeting. In Jesusโ name, Amen.
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/8-6-2025-when-gods-words-touch-our-hearts-heart-anchor-youth-devotional/
The Secret to “Sabbath”
James 4:8 says, "Come near to God and he will come near to you…" (NIV). This Sabbath, instead of working hard to put distance between yourself and the world or striving to set the Sabbath apart from your normal days, simply draw near to the One who set it apart. God longs to be near you. Embrace Him. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuejNcLLZlA
Allusions, Images, Symbols โ Lesson 11.Ruth and Esther | Sabbath School with Pastor Mark Finley
Series ALLUSIONS, IMAGES, SYMBOLSย with Pastor Mark Finley
Lesson 11. Ruth and Esther
Divine Providence and the Story of Redemption in the Great Controversy
Lesson 11 invites us to discover the deep connections between the accounts of Ruth and Esther and the great spiritual conflict. In both stories, Godโs care meets us in the midst of hardshipโwhether through Boazโs saving hand or Estherโs courageous intervention at the royal court. At the same time, the claims of Satan and the dark context in which God protects and delivers His people are revealed. The typology of Boaz as a foreshadowing of Christ and the parallels to biblical prophecy point to Godโs comprehensive plan to overcome rebellion and suffering. Thus, this lesson encourages us to recognize Godโs sovereign guidance in both small and large matters and to fix our hope firmly on His ultimate intervention.
Content:
11.1 Famine in โThe House of Breadโ
Godโs Caring Presence amid Human Need
The account of the famine in Bethlehem vividly shows how the consequences of human rebellion alienate us from Godโs original blessing. Although the earth still yields abundance, our greed and selfishness lead to scarcity and suffering. Yet even in this apparent emptiness, Godโs unfailing faithfulness is revealed: He remains present and acts in history without violating our free will. Naomiโs and Ruthโs plight reminds us that we share responsibility for our situation, but that does not stop Him from offering rescue and hope. The story encourages us to trust that God will one day finally overcome sin and suffering.
11.2 Ruth and Boaz
The Redeeming Kinsman as a Type of Christ
In the encounter between Ruth and Boaz, Godโs provident care is revealed in a unique way. Boazโs kindness takes on even greater significance when Naomi realizes he is also the kinsman-redeemer who can secure her inheritance. This makes clear that our spiritual poverty need not be the end of the story, for Godโs salvation comes through one who fully understands our plight. In Boaz, we see a picture of Christ, who not only acts generously but also unites Himself with our condition. His incarnation and sacrifice show that God takes us as His bride despite our brokenness. This truth invites us to derive our identity not from our own efforts but from His redeeming love.
11.3 Boaz as Redeemer
The True Heir: Christโs Victory over Satanโs Claim
The account of Boazโs intervention at the city gate demonstrates that love and justice go hand in hand: Boaz is prepared to stand for Ruth and secure her claim. Yet a โcloser kinsmanโ symbolizes Satanโs claim on humanity, asserted through guilt and sin. Just as Boaz bypasses the nearer relative to redeem Ruth, so Christ overcomes Satanโs claim on us by His vicarious sacrifice. The sandal exchange at the gate underscores that ownership and legal right are only truly transferred through payment of the priceโChristโs blood. This image invites us to place our trust not in our own works but in the only One worthy to redeem us.
11.4 Haman and Satan
The Power-Hungry One and His Eternal Adversary
Haman embodies Satanโs pride and obsession with power by elevating himself above all other princes and demanding their homage. Like Lucifer, he rejects any subordination to Godโs sovereignty and directs his wrath at those who remain faithful. The parallel in Revelation shows that Satanโs strategy is the same from then until the end: he offers wealth and security but demands total devotion. Yet the faithfulโwhether in Estherโs story or in Johnโs visionโresist his demands and thereby affirm Godโs ultimate rule. Their steadfastness demonstrates that true loyalty springs not from coerced worship but from unshakable trust in the Redeemer. Finally, this narrative teaches us that those who hold fast in the little things will be victorious in the ultimate test.
11.5 For Such a Time as This
Hope for the Final Act in the Great Controversy
Studying prophecy must not lead us into fear and despair but should keep before us the red thread of divine promise until the end. Though severe trials lie ahead, the story of Esther and the vision in Revelation 12 remind us that God never abandons His bride. Just as Esther was chosen โfor such a time as thisโ to rescue her people, so we are not without divine assistance in the end times. The King Himself advocates for us, and the promise of deliverance is as certain as the announcement of tribulation. Those who read prophecy through to its liberating conclusion maintain their trust in Godโs final victory. Therefore, it is worthwhile to keep the big picture in view so that hope is not lost in the details.
11.6 Summary
Godโs Saving Hand in the Great Controversy
The stories of Ruth and Esther show how Godโs love and care remain effective even in times of need and oppression. In Ruth, Godโs promise is revealed through Boaz, the redeemer who rescues the childless family and thus points to Christ as the true Redeemer. The parallels to Satanโs claimโseen in Jobโs trial, the dispute over Moses, and the temptation of Christโmake clear that the enemy seeks a โcloser kinsmanโ to claim us. In Esther, we see how God protects His people through seemingly coincidental turns of events and courageous intermediaries. Both narratives encourage us to trust in Godโs sovereign salvation in both small and great matters. They invite us to embrace the biblical story of redemption in all its scope, both as a challenge and a comfort until the very end.
Sunday: Famine in โThe House of Breadโ
Daily Lesson for Sunday 8th of June 2025
Critics of the Christian faith have often pointed to the brutal reality of living in this world as evidence that: (a) God does not exist, (b) He is powerless to intervene when bad things happen, or (c) He doesnโt care when we hurt. Many of the stories of the Bible, however, provide abundant evidence that none of these assumptions are correct. True, God is allowing the human race to reap the consequences of rebellion against Him. But without violating our free will, He is always present, always working in human history, always moving us toward the ultimate resolution of the problems of sin and suffering. The story of Ruth provides one such example.
Read Ruth 1:1-5. What hardships fell on Naomi and Ruth, and what caused them? How does this reflect the situation that the entire human race now faces?
Image ยฉ Jim Howard at Goodsalt.com
There is irony to be found in the opening statement of this story: there was a famine that affected Bethlehem, a town whose name means โhouse of bread.โ One is reminded of the abundance of Eden, where God told Adam and Eve, โ โOf every tree of the garden you may freely eatโ โ (Genesis 2:16, NKJV). The human race began its existence in abundance, under the care of a generous Creator, but then exchanged its role as caretakers of creation for the slavery of sin. โ โIn the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground,โ โ God told Adam (Genesis 3:19, NKJV).
Like Naomi, we have been dispossessed from the inheritance that God originally planned for us to have, and our lives have become a hardship. Eden was given as a gift, but not unconditionally: humans were free to rebel, but that would mean they would have to take responsibility for their own well-being. Originally, we were meant to โsubdueโ the whole unfallen world under Godโs blessing, but now we are faced with the task of subduing a fallen one. Selfish human beings competing for scarce resources leads to much heartache and suffering.
The tragedy is unspeakable: the earth still produces abundantly, a powerful testimony to Godโs love. But between human greed and the ravages of sin, the world at times seems to subdue us more than we subdue it. One day, however, all this will end.
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Even after six thousand years of sin and death, how does the earth still reveal the wonders of Godโs love and creative power? |
(0)Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25b-11-famine-in-the-house-of-bread/
Editorial: โThey Shall Deceive the Very Electโ
For there shall arise false christs and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24 I remember as a child reading about false christs and prophets. That last phrase, โThey shall deceive the very electโ stuck in my brain. I […] Source: https://atoday.org/editorial-they-shall-deceive-the-very-elect/
God First: Your Daily Prayer Meeting #1027
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer" (Matthew 21:22, NIV).
Tag someone in need of prayer, and kindly share your prayer requests here:
https://wkf.ms/3DBuapQ Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bMWfP4dDj8
SdS – Allusioni, immagini e simboli nelle profezie bibliche – Lezione 11
RUT ED ESTER
Approfondimento dell'undicesima lezione del 2° trimestre 2025 a cura di Mariarosa Cavalieri, Gabriele Ciantia e Giorgio Iacono. ๐ฉ Trovi i materiali utili qui:
๐ https://uicca.org/2-trimestre-2025-lezione-11
๐ https://uicca.org/nocciolo-2-trimestre-2025
๐ https://uicca.org/edizioni-adv-2-trimestre-2025 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTVJrVkd_54
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