Description:
A clear-eyed, Christ-centered guide to the Old Testament's hardest questions--from creation and conquest to suffering, judgment, and mercy.
How do you face the most troubling things in the Bible without losing hope? With candor and care, this book guides readers through the Old Testament's most challenging questions--creation in six days, the holy Trinity, divine anger, the flood, violence in Joshua, long lifespans, figurative numbers, and sexuality--always returning to the promise of Christ at the center.
Features of Wrestling with God:
- 14 chapters centered around 14 common questions
- Discussion questions at the end of each chapter
- Written by two well-respected and decorated theologians
- Maps, charts, and tables to help your understanding
You'll tackle each question head-on, exploring historical, cultural, and linguistic differences that separate modern life from Israel's ancient world. The authors--seasoned theologians and pastors--shine a light on misunderstood texts, showing how Law and Gospel shape our understanding and why God's promise is never outmatched by life's darkness.
Every chapter ends with thoughtful discussion questions, perfect for your own study or Bible class. With humility, clarity, and gracious hope, you're invited to "wrestle with God" and see those strange, hard passages in the light of Christ's mercy.
Brief description: R. Reed Lessing serves as the Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch chair of Old Testament studies at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He directs the university's Center of Biblical Studies as well as its pre-seminary program. Reed also serves as associate pastor at Cross View Lutheran Church in Edina, Minnesota. He has authored six commentaries in the Concordia Commentary series and books on Exodus, Numbers, and Jeremiah for a broader audience. He has co-authored three books with Andrew Steinmann
Review Quotes:
Readers of the Old Testament are well aware that it contains many puzzling and even disturbing passages. In this volume, Lessing and Steinmann, two seasoned interpreters of the Old Testament, join forces to "wrestle with" some of the most difficult passages. Their thoughtful and reasonable responses to tough questions, including those posed by the violence depicted in the Old Testament and by its portrait of an angry and vengeful God, deserve careful consideration.
-Robert B. Chisholm Jr., chair and senior professor of Old Testament studies, Dallas Theological Seminary
For most Christians, outside of a few familiar places, the Old Testament is a strange, intimidating land into which they dare not venture. Lessing and Steinmann serve as guides to this strange land that makes up three-quarters of the Bible. Their magnificent comprehensive treatment addresses every major misconception of the Old Testament in a way that is easy to understand. Even more helpful are the discussion questions at the end of each chapter, which allow the reader to deepen his or her understanding of the Old Testament and develop a fuller appreciation for God's Word.
-Rev. Dr. Ryan M. Tietz, associate professor of exegetical theology, Old Testament, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne
Wrestling with God clearly comes from pastors who love teaching Bible studies. Rather than dodging the hard questions, this book takes them head-on! With clarity and conviction, Lessing and Steinmann offer us a delightful guide into the murkier parts of the Old Testament. Under the guise of addressing difficult passages, they sneak in a ton of biblical theology-teaching us who God is for us as our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier-all through the prophetic witness of the Old Testament.
-Rev. Dr. Geoffrey R. Boyle, assistant professor of pastoral ministry and missions, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne