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The prophet Isaiah pronounced a woe upon Israel: "Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord" (Isaiah 30:1). The Hebrew word for woe here signifies a deep sorrow and grief. What had God's people done to hurt him so deeply? And why did he call them rebellious? After all, these weren't heathen; they were his own children. What awful sin did they commit that caused him to say they were rebellious?

The word Isaiah uses for rebellion in this verse means backsliding, stubbornness, a turning away. What, exactly, were God's people turning away from? And what caused their backsliding?

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."

To me, one of the most interesting people in the Old Testament is Jacob. Here was a cheating, deceiving, conniving, manipulating, supplanting man - an incredible character. Yet God loved this man dearly! In fact, his life is filled with marvelous lessons for us about God's dealings with human nature.

I'd like to pick up Jacob's story just as he's fleeing for his life from his older twin brother, Esau. Jacob had already outwitted Esau twice - and now his brother was full of wrath!

In a famous passage in John 13, Jesus took a towel and a basin and washed the feet of His disciples. He told them:

"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14).

Some devout Christians take this verse literally. They have made it their custom to have "foot washing" services. This is commendable — yet, if it remains only a ritual, the true meaning of foot washing has been lost.

"But the tongue no man can tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8).

In this verse from his epistle, James is talking about the tongues of believers. He is issuing a call to the church to gain control of their tongues — before they are destroyed by them!

How serious is this matter of taming the tongue, you ask? Can an "unruly tongue" really be that sinful?

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14).

Beloved, if we did not know God's Word is absolutely true, I believe we would think this verse a mockery!

It is amazing to me how long people can continue living with hidden sin in their hearts. By putting on a good front, they can get away with it for a long time. They can hide their sin from their husband, wife, children, friends and pastor. But the Bible warns: "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23).

The children of Israel were in a hopeless predicament!

The Red Sea was before them; the mountains were to the left and right; and Pharaoh and his iron chariots were closing in from the rear. God's people seemed helplessly trapped — like sitting ducks, just waiting to be cut down. Yet believe it or not, God purposely had led them into this precarious spot!

A precious sister came to the microphone to pray at one of our recent meetings at Times Square Church. Tearfully, she prayed, "O God, your people are hurting! Lord, all your children are hurting — real bad! Help us — please!" All over the auditorium you could feel the response from the people, as if to say, "Yes! That's me. I'm hurting — badly!" All the way home that night I wept inside. I prayed, "Lord, it's not just your precious sheep out there in the congregation who are hurting. I'm one of your shepherds and at times I hurt too."

Many Christians avoid the book of Revelation because it seems so mysterious. Yet John wrote, "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near..." (Revelation 1:3 NAS).

Though written by John, it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1). It is the heart of God revealed to Christ and shared by John.

John was one the three pillars in the church at Jerusalem. Much of what we know about him was recorded by Iraneus, who got it first hand from Polycarp, a student of John.

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a placed for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.