The Bible readings from 1 Kings 19:1-9, Ezekiel 4, 1 Samuel 17:1-19, Numbers 13, and Acts 1:1-5 present a tapestry of narratives about divine calling, human frailty, and the transformative power of faith.

The Lord now said to Moses, “Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.”

Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall!

“And now, son of man, take a large clay brick and set it down in front of you. Then draw a map of the city of Jerusalem on it. Show the city under siege. Build a wall around it so no one can escape.

When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”

For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.

Jonah 3 is a powerful chapter that unfolds the nature of God's call to humanity—emphasizing repentance over guilt, the ongoing journey of repentance, and the profound impact repentance has on the heart of God.

In the enigmatic narrative of Jonah 4, the prophet's unexpected anger at the Lord's compassion unfolds as a profound exploration of human emotions, divine mercy, and the complexity of God's dealings with His creation.

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home?

Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.”

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me.

The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.”

For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.

The narrative of Jesus' temptation in Luke 4:1-13 unveils profound insights into the formational nature of experiences, the timing of temptation, and the deceptive allure of seemingly good things.

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region.

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.