Come, Follow Me – 2022 (Old Testament)

About 2,000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the prophet Abraham saw God. (See Genesis 17:1, Abraham 3:11.) Several hundred years later, Moses also spoke with God “face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Exodus 33:11, Moses 1:2, 31). Through modern revelation, we have learned more about what Abraham and Moses……

The beginning of a new year is a good time to contemplate the creation of the world. The Old Testament begins with the Creation story: God organizes heaven and earth in seven phases, called “days.” He divides light from darkness, water from land. He creates celestial bodies. He introduces life: plants, animals, and humans. At……

Why would God give conflicting commandments to our first parents? Immediately after creating Adam and Eve in His image, He gave them the same commandment He had given to the animals: “Be fruitful, and multiply” (Genesis 1:28, Moses 2:28; see also Genesis 1:22, Moses 2:22). Yet Lehi tells us that everything in the Garden of……

Six generations after Adam, there was a remarkable seer named Enoch. He lived in a time when many people had turned their hearts away from God (Moses 6:27-30). He felt unqualified to teach (Moses 6:31). But the Bible tells us that he “walked with God” (Genesis 5:24). He saw amazing things, and he taught the……

Enoch saw the God of heaven weeping and wondered how it was possible. Could the Creator of the Universe feel so much pain for His children on earth? But God testified that it was so: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day……

Noah (Rest) The Hebrew word noach (נֹחַ) means “rest.” In a time of wickedness and turmoil, a child was born, and his parents named him noach, or Noah, because they believed he would bring peace and comfort to a troubled world. (See Genesis 5:28-29, Moses 8:8-9.) Noah preserved his family and many animals during an……

God rewards those who diligently seek Him. (See Hebrews 11:6.) Abraham lived in an idolatrous society, but he somehow came into possession of sacred records kept by his ancestors, and he wanted the same blessings they had received: greater knowledge, greater righteousness, and the Priesthood. (See Abraham 1:1-4.) In response, God led Abraham and his……

Faith looks upward and forward. Like Sarah, we may need to trust in promises which seem not only unlikely but impossible (Genesis 18:1-15). Like Lot and his family, we may need to let things go and step into the unknown (Genesis 19:1-29). Like Hagar, we may need to listen for God’s voice when we feel……

Marriage (Rebekah) How many times had Rebekah filled that pitcher with water from the well? It must have been part of her normal daily routine. And assisting a thirsty stranger must have been in character for her, as was volunteering to help with the camels without being asked. But this was not an ordinary day……

Jacob was ambitious. His name means “heel-catcher,” which is a metaphor for a supplanter, a person who takes a position or a set of privileges belonging to someone else. His (older) twin brother Esau, whose heel Jacob was holding as they were born, constantly felt that Jacob was claiming rights and blessings belonging to him. “Is……

“Pharaoh’s Dream,” by Owen Jones 1. “A Goodly Person” Young Joseph was naive to a fault: sharing dreams with his brothers which were bound to infuriate them and even drawing his father’s rebuke on one occasion. He seems to have been singularly focused on doing what was right and baffled that others didn’t share his……

“Joseph of Egypt,” by Michael T. Malm After reading last week about the adversity that Joseph endured, this week we get to experience the joy of his reunion with his family. We can all imagine his joy in seeing his brothers again and learning that they had changed, that they were no longer the men……

“Moses Before the Burning Bush” by Domenico Fetti Why did God choose Moses to rescue the children of Israel from captivity? What characteristics qualified him for this assignment? We get a clue from three events immediately preceding his calling: Moses saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite. Although he might have been expected to side with……

“The Fifth Plague of Egypt” (detail) by Joseph Mallord William Turner The Plagues Blood, frogs, lice, flies, cattle dying, boils, hail, locusts, three days of darkness, death of the firstborn. As the plagues escalated, I wonder if I would have responded sooner, or if I would have continued to harden my heart like Pharaoh. (See……

“The Resurrected Christ” (detail) by Wilson J. Ong As we prepare to celebrate the Savior’s resurrection next Sunday, we will certainly review the accounts in the New Testament of His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, His crucifixion on Golgotha, and His interactions with multiple individuals and groups after His tomb was found empty. Here……

Decalogue parchment by Jekuthiel Sofer (1768), Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana, Amsterdam “Thou wilt surely wear away.” Although Moses had been raised in Pharaoh’s court, and although he had led the children of Israel out of Egypt by the power of God, he still had a lot to learn about leadership. When his father-in-law, Jethro, visited him in……

“Moses with the Tablets,” detail from a stained glass window in the Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle Washington What an unforgettable experience Israel had at Mount Sinai, near the beginning of their journey to the promised land! Like Nephi in the land of Bountiful, Moses ascended the mountain multiple times to receive knowledge from God……

Relief of Israelite Scouts Returning from Canaan, parish church in Marazhofen, Germany In Hebrew, the book of Numbers is called Bemidbar (בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר), which means “In the Wilderness.” It tells the story of the children of Israel from the time they left Mount Sinai until they were ready to enter the promised land. Here are some……

“Moses Sees the Promised Land from Afar,” by James Tissot The word “deuteronomy” comes from the Greek words deuteros (δεύτερος), which means “second,” and nomos (νόμος), which means “law.” At the end of Moses’ life, after wandering in the wilderness for forty years, he gave the children of Israel his final words of instruction to……

“Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still upon Gibeon,” by John Martin (1816) Crossing Jordan After the death of Moses, the Lord made it clear to the children of Israel that Joshua was his successor. How? By having Joshua replicate, on a smaller scale, the most impressive miracle Moses had performed. Moses had parted the……

“Gideon’s Army” (detail) by Daniel A. Lewis The period between the death of Joshua and the establishment of a kingdom was a chaotic time for the Israelites. For more than 400 years, the people struggled to remain loyal to God. When they turned away from Him, they fell into captivity. When they prayed for help,……

“Ruth and Naomi” (detail) by Ary Scheffer After the conquest of Canaan in the book of Joshua and the epic battles in the book of Judges, we read three personal stories: Ruth’s assimilation into Israel, Hannah pleading for a son and then dedicating him to God, and Samuel’s willingness to hearken to the voice of……

“Samuel Anoints David,” by Antonio Gonzalez Velazquez The children of Israel wanted a king. Samuel tried to persuade them that it was a bad idea, but his own credibility had been diminished by the corruption of his sons, whom he had appointed as judges. (See 1 Samuel 8:1-5.) Under God’s direction, Samuel identified and anointed……

“King David Playing the Harp,” by Gerard van Honthorst (1622) This week, we are studying the reigns of King David and King Solomon. Here are some of the major themes: The City of David (2 Samuel 5-7) Jerusalem has deep symbolic significance. Soon after David became king, he took possession of the city, made it……

“Widow of Zarephath,” by James Johnson “Jehovah is God.” That’s the meaning of the name Elijah (אֵלִיָּה) in Hebrew. His very name is a testimony. Elijah was a Tishbite, which might indicate where he is from, or it might be a variant of the Hebrew word toshab (תּוֹשָׁב), which means a stranger or a sojourner….…

“The Prophet Elisha and the Woman of Shunem” (detail) by Gerbrand van den Eeckhout In a Whirlwind Elijah didn’t die. Instead, he was carried to heaven by a whirlwind in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11). This places him in a unique category of prophets who were translated, changed into a state where they……

“The Flight of the Prisoners,” by Jacques Joseph Tissot Even before the Israelites inherited their promised land, the Lord warned them that they would be scattered if they persistently rebelled against Him. (See Leviticus 26:33, Deuteronomy 4:27, Deuteronomy 28:25, 37, 64.) But God also promised that even after they were scattered, He would remember His……

“Nehemiah Inspects The Walls of Jerusalem,” by Robert Theodore Barrett Seventy years after being taken captive by the Babylonians, the former inhabitants of Judah were permitted to return. Jeremiah had prophesied, “After seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10). About a……

“Esther,” by Jean-François Portaels When I think of Queen Esther, I remember how little control we have over our circumstances, but how much control we have over our actions within those circumstances. Esther’s people were a minority ethnic and religious community scattered across the Persian Empire. Through a sequence of events that she could not……

“Job and His Friends” (detail), by Ilya Repin One of the features of mortal life is that we experience suffering we don’t deserve. Why does God allow that to happen? The book of Job explores this question through an extreme example: a good man who loses nearly everything—wealth, family, and health—in a short period of……

“King David,” by Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri), 1651 You can learn a lot from sacred music. The book of Psalms, the hymnbook of the Israelites, is packed with powerful spiritual truths. Jesus quoted from the book of Psalms more than from any other book of scripture. (See Jeffrey R. Holland, For Times of Trouble :……

“David Playing the Harp,” by Jan de Bray, 1670 What is contrition? The English word descends from the Latin word contritus, which means literally “worn out” or “ground to pieces.” (See “contrite,” Online Etymology Dictionary.) In many of the psalms we are studying this week, we see David’s overwhelming feelings of guilt for his sins and his……

“King David,” by Peter Paul Rubens, When God gives us responsibilities, He also provides power to help us fulfill them. That assurance returns time and time again in the last 50 psalms. Melchizedek received the eternal priesthood power of God (Psalm 110:4). Joseph became resilient through the trials he experienced (Psalm 105:17-18). And parents are……

“Learning to Trust the Lord” (detail) by Kathleen Peterson The Hebrew word mashal (מָשָׁל) means “proverb” or “parable.” It’s a brief statement of truth intended to help us make wise decisions. When used as a verb, the term means “to rule” or “to govern.” A mashal is a tool to help us govern ourselves wisely….…

“The Prophet Isaiah Foretells Christ’s Birth” (detail), by Harry Anderson “Great are the words of Isaiah,” said the Savior during His ministry on the American continent (3 Nephi 23:1). “My soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah,” said Nephi (2 Nephi 25:5, 2 Nephi 11:2). And Moroni urged us, “Search the prophecies of Isaiah,” adding,……

“He Comes Again to Rule and Reign,” by Mary R. Sauer The contrast between fragile earthly kingdoms and God’s eternal reign is on full display in this week’s reading. We will cover about 40% of the book of Isaiah this week—chapters 13-39—although we will only read 10 of those 27 chapters. Two of those chapters (13 and……

“Balm of Gilead” (detail), by Ann Adele Henrie You are not forsaken. God is mindful of you whether you are aware of it or not. That is the message of this portion of the book of Isaiah, and the prophet gives us this message in a variety of ways. Here are some of the forms that……

“The Mocking of Christ” (detail) by Carl Heinrich Bloch Jesus Christ endured unfathomable suffering on our behalf. An awareness of this fact can bless us in a number of ways: Chapters 50-57 of Isaiah are full of promises and reassurances that reinforce the active nature of grace in our lives. So it’s not surprising that……

“Christ in a Red Robe,” (detail) by Minerva Teichert The book of Isaiah opens with a wake-up call and then leads us on a journey to a glorious destination. At the beginning of the book the Lord appeals to nature: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth:… I have nourished and brought up children,……

Statue of Jeremiah by Donatello, Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence, Italy Jeremiah was a contemporary of Lehi, and he is mentioned in three verses in the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 5:13, 1 Nephi 7:14, Helaman 8:20). Like Lehi, he lived in Jerusalem during a tumultuous time, after the Babylonian Empire conquered Judah and established……

“Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem,” by Rembrandt In spite of the catastrophic context of this week’s reading, there is a surprising amount of hope and resilience in the text. The kingdom of Judah has been conquered by Babylon. Jerusalem has been destroyed. Everything that Jeremiah and his contemporaries have counted on has disappeared, except for……

The name Ezekiel (יְחֶזְקֵאל) means “God strengthens.” This is an appropriate name for a prophet who saw remarkable visions about future manifestations of God’s power on behalf of his people. Ezekiel was a contemporary of Jeremiah and of Lehi. However, the three prophets were led to different places as the Babylonian Empire conquered the kingdom……

“Daniel’s Answer to the King” (detail), by Briton Rivière Worldly power, no matter how impressive or intimidating, is always subordinate to God’s power. That is the main theme of the book of Daniel. Through a series of miraculous experiences, Daniel and his friends demonstrate that faithfulness to God is a surer source of stability and……

“The Prophet Hosea,” by Duccio di Buoninsegna (c. 1310) Hosea lived in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of its fourteenth king, Jeroboam II, just a few decades before the Assyrian Conquest. His name (הוֹשֵׁעַ) means “salvation,” and his book is about God’s willingness to save Israel, even though they have turned away from……

Bread of Life by Chris Young Prophets Although he was from Tekoa, a village about 12 miles south of Jerusalem and about 6 miles from Bethlehem, Amos prophesied in the northern kingdom of Israel. When the priest Amaziah told him to go home and stop saying unpleasant things about the king of Israel, Amos replied……

“Jonah on the Beach at Nineveh” (detail), by Daniel A. Lewis Jonah How would you respond if God asked you to do something impossible? Running away might not be the wisest course of action, but the instinct might be understandable. “Arise,” the Lord commanded Jonah, “go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up……

Stained glass window depicting Isaiah, Zechariah, and Habakkuk. This window is on the south aisle of St John the Evangelist, Knotty Ash, a church in Liverpool, England. About 50 years after the death of Isaiah, the prophets Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah preached in Jerusalem. All three were likely familiar with Isaiah’s prophecies; all three of……

The Second Jewish Temple. Model in the Israel Museum. After decades in captivity, the Jews were finally authorized to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their city and the temple. As recorded in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, the work moved slowly at first, but “through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the……

“Elijah Appearing in the Kirtland Temple” (fragment), by Dan Lewis The name Malachi (מַלְאָכִי) means “my messenger.” Here are some of the messages Malachi delivered to the post-exilic inhabitants of Jerusalem: Notice how many messengers are highlighted in this short book: Malachi himself, the priests (who should be God’s messengers like their ancestor, Levi), an……

“Flight into Egypt” from the video “The Wise Men Seek Jesus“ As we’ve studied the Old Testament this year, I’ve learned some things which will enhance my celebration of Christmas this week. Here are some of those new insights, with links to the original blog posts: 1. Bethlehem is a small but fruitful place. I……