Good Word is an invitation. An invitation to explore biblical and theological topics presented in regularly published Bible Study guides. The Bible awaits our continued study and investigation; Good Word provides one way to approach it.
…
continue reading
Walla Walla University Good Word Podcasts
Israel's crossing of the Jordan in Lesson 3 was a miraculous success: We have tried to imagine the logistics of getting thousands of people of all ages, across a swollen river, together with their animals But, in last week's lesson, God accomplished all of that. And this miracle had another effect: It turned out to be psychological warfare, highly …
…
continue reading
Question:Nowadays the Jordan River has almost ceased to exist. What was so special about crossing this river in the time of Joshua?It was spring, when seasonal rains, plus melting snow from Mt. Hermon, put the river at flood stage. Many of the well-known fords were now covered by deep water, swift and dangerous.Questions:Had the two spies returning…
…
continue reading
"Grace is simply receiving what we don’t deserve."Question:Or perhaps is "grace" the usual, natural behavior of a gracious person?"Is it a difficult struggle for God to be gracious?Question:Do we get to decide who "deserves" grace?And should we decide that in this case, grace is "deserved," is it still "grace?"Question:Was God also using psychologi…
…
continue reading
We have recently studied the book of Exodus:Question:As God led Israel's escape through the Red Sea, how many battles did Moses have to win against the Egyptians?Question:How did Moses respond to an unprovoked attack by Amalekites?Question:On this urgent occasion did Moses ask for specific guidance from God?Question:And did this impromptu battle gi…
…
continue reading
Key Verses: Exodus 35-40Key QuestionsWhy does the text emphasize Sabbath again—right before the Tabernacle is built? What does this teach about how we balance action and rest?Why is the spinning of yarn by women mentioned specifically? What might this tell us about valuing unseen or domestic labor as spiritual (35:25-26)? What is the significance o…
…
continue reading
Key Verses: Exodus 32Key QuestionsWhat is more devastating—the loss of the land or the loss of God’s presence? How does this speak to what we truly value in our spiritual lives?Why does Moses ask to see God’s glory—and why does God only reveal God’s “back”? What does this reveal about the limits of human understanding and God’s self-disclosure?What…
…
continue reading
Key Verses: Exodus 32Key QuestionsWhy do the people make a calf? What does this say about how fear and impatience can cause us to recreate false security from our past, even if it enslaved us?Why does Moses break the tablets? Does this act serve as protest, lament, or judgment?How do we wrestle with the Levites’ violence in the name of loyalty to G…
…
continue reading
Key Verses: Exodus 24-31Key QuestionsWhat are some of the possible connections between the Sanctuary and the creation of the world (and the Garden of Eden)? What is the author trying to convey with these parallels?How is God’s desire to to dwell with the people different from Pharaoh’s rule? What does it mean that God chooses to dwell in a movable …
…
continue reading
Key Verses: Exodus 21-23Key QuestionsWhy is God so insistent on protecting the widow, orphan, and foreigner? How does your community embody—or fail to embody—this kind of Divine concern?How do these laws about Hebrew servants attempt to limit power and restore dignity? How do we engage critically with texts that still regulate servitude?What do the…
…
continue reading
Key Verses: Exodus 19-20Key QuestionsWhy does God call the people to the mountain but also set boundaries around it? What does this tension between intimacy and distance say about the nature of divine holiness?What does it mean for Israel to be a “kingdom of priests”? How does that reshape their role in the world? How was this calling applied to th…
…
continue reading
Key Verses: Exodus 16-18Key QuestionsWhat is God teaching the Israelites (and us) through the daily provision of manna and the prohibition on storing it? How does this practice challenge the empire mindset of accumulation and control? How do these wilderness experiences reshape Israel’s understanding of God—not just as deliverer, but as sustainer?H…
…
continue reading
Key Verses: Exodus 13-15Key QuestionsWhy does God ask for the consecration of the firstborn after the Exodus? How might this ritual be understood as a way of remembering that life belongs to God, not Pharaoh?What role does embodied ritual (like eating unleavened bread) play in helping future generations internalize liberation? How do our bodies rem…
…
continue reading
Key Verses: Exodus 11-12Key QuestionsHow does the Passover ritual help shape a collective identity for the Israelites? What role does the household play in Israel’s liberation? How does the command to share the lamb among neighbors reflect communal values, especially under threat? How does shared ritual function in your own community or faith tradi…
…
continue reading
