God’s Battle Axe

Last September, while we were in living in Massachusetts, I joined an online Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) group. My daughter, who leads a BSF group in the Dallas area, suggested it to me when I mentioned that I was missing women’s Bible study while traveling. I had attended a few in-person meetings with her but didn’t realize there was an online version.

Now, almost nine months later, I am wrapping up my first semester of online BSF. My group is called “God’s Battle Axe”. I found that name pretty amusing because in my mind, it is not a flattering name, however, it is actually from a verse in the Bible …

“You are my battle-ax and sword,” says the LORD. “With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms. With you I will shatter armies— destroying the horse and rider, the chariot and charioteer. With you I will shatter men and women, old people and children, young men and young women. With you I will shatter shepherds and flocks, farmers and oxen, captains and officers. “I will repay Babylon and the people of Babylonia for all the wrong they have done to my people in Jerusalem,” says the LORD.

Jeremiah 51:20-24

My leader lives in England but is originally from Kenya (I think). We have ladies in our group from China, Italy, Kenya, Puerto Rico, NYC and several other US states. It’s pretty cool actually! We have two more weeks, then we are off for the summer. I hope to continue with the group in the Fall as we study the book of John, which will be much easier than the study we are about to conclude.

A Divided Kingdom

The focus of our study this semester was: People of the Promise: A Kingdom Divided. We covered the rise and fall of kings, prophets and nations, in detail. We spent a lot of time in the books of Kings and Chronicles, as well as many of the prophets. I felt like the message God was sending then, is on point for us today, and that has been difficult for me.

This week we are studying Habakkuk, which has been strangely comforting to me. One wise old sage (Wikipedia) says that Habakkuk is about “trying to grow from a faith of perplexity and doubt to the height of absolute trust in God. Habakkuk addresses his concerns over the fact that God will use the Babylonian empire to execute judgment on Judah for their sins.” Just call me Jeremiah, but look out America, God’s wrath is going to fall upon us. There is no way we can disregard God’s laws and think we will not suffer the consequences.

After all of the highs and lows of this study, I think the book of John will be so good! Yes, let’s focus on the deity of Jesus and His love for us!

There’s only one draw back … as I move west in our travels, I will have to join our weekly Zoom meeting earlier and earlier. I think 5 am is too early to be productive and amiable! I will persevere!